Magnetic field communication arrangement and method

• US 9,256,212 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2013
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Jain, Vivek, Venkatraman, Lakshmi, Hogenmueller, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US14/032,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20140085049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/5.61, 340/435, 340/436, 340/901, 340/903, 340/5.7, 343/702, 343/788
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/22 by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water involving the use of floats G01F23/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/802 Particular electronic circuits for digital processing equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals

Abstract

An automotive communication method includes installing a sensor within a vehicle such that the sensor is submerged in a liquid during operation of the vehicle and/or substantially surrounded by a metallic structure during operation of the vehicle. A long wave magnetic signal is transmitted from the sensor. The signal is indicative of a condition sensed by the sensor. The signal is wirelessly received at a controller disposed within the vehicle. Receipt of the signal at the controller is responded to by adjusting a display and/or a setting within the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of locking and unlocking a door of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning magnetic field sensors at a plurality of locations within the vehicle;

localizing a plurality of doors of the vehicle using the magnetic field sensors;

transmitting a long wave magnetic signal from a keyfob to unlock a desired one of the doors, the signal including an identifier corresponding to a respective vehicle, the keyfob including an actuatable control, the long wave magnetic signal being transmitted in response to the actuatable control being actuated by a user;

receiving the long wave magnetic signal at the magnetic field sensors in the vehicle;

recognizing the identifier as corresponding to the respective vehicle, the recognizing being performed within the respective vehicle; and

in response to the recognizing, using a localization technique to identify the desired door and then automatically changing the desired door of the respective vehicle from a locked state to an unlocked state,

wherein the long wave magnetic signal is transmitted from the keyfob by modulating the long wave magnetic signal with a carrier frequency of approximately between 100 kHz and 500 kHz.