System and method for providing a distance to target for remote keyless entry

• US 9,412,274 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2014
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lickfelt, Brian K., Sgueglia, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Tissot, Adam
• Assistant Examiner(s): NESLEY, TIMOTHY ALAN
• Application Number:
  US14/474,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20160063860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

A method and system for providing a distance to target vehicle finder function for remote keyless entry is provided. The method and system include enabling a vehicle finder function from a portable device and transmitting a low power signal from the portable device to a vehicle onboard receiver. The method and system further includes determining whether the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power signal from the portable device and enabling a low power vehicle finding response. The method and system also include transmitting a high power signal from the portable device to the vehicle when it is determined that the vehicle onboard receiver does not receive the low power signal from the portable device, and enabling a high power vehicle finding response when it is determined that the vehicle onboard receiver receives the high power signal from the portable device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing a distance to target for remote keyless entry comprising:

enabling a vehicle finder function from a portable device;

transmitting a low power signal from the portable device to a vehicle onboard receiver;

determining by a vehicle finding control module provided in the vehicle whether the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power signal from the portable device, wherein determining whether the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power signal includes evaluating an identification code contained within the low power signal by a vehicle finding response module provided in the vehicle, wherein evaluating the identification code includes comparing the identification code with identification codes stored on a memory of an electronic control unit of the vehicle to identify matching codes, wherein upon determining that the vehicle receiver receives the low power signal, transmitting by a vehicle onboard transmitter a confirmation signal to the portable device, wherein upon receipt of the confirmation signal, the portable device transmits a low power vehicle finder actuation signal to the vehicle onboard receiver;

enabling by the vehicle finding response module a low power vehicle finding response upon receipt of the low power vehicle finder actuation signal from the portable device, wherein enabling the low power vehicle finding response includes controlling a lighting system of the vehicle to provide a low illuminating light and controlling one or more of;

an audio system to provide a low volume response, and a vehicle horn to provide a low volume response;

transmitting a high power signal from the portable device to the vehicle onboard receiver upon determination that the vehicle onboard receiver does not receive the low power signal from the portable device; and

enabling a high power vehicle finding response upon determination that the vehicle onboard receiver receives the high power signal from the portable device, wherein enabling the high power vehicle finding response includes controlling the lighting system of the vehicle to provide a high illuminating light and controlling one or more of;

the audio system to provide a high volume response, and the vehicle horn to provide a high volume response.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the vehicle finder function includes determining whether a vehicle finding actuation input is received on the portable device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the low power signal includes at least one of transmitting an identification signal containing the identification code.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining whether the onboard receiver of the vehicle receives the low power signal includes the vehicle onboard receiver receiving the identification signal, and the vehicle onboard transmitter transmitting the confirmation signal to the portable device upon finding matching codes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein enabling the low power vehicle finding response is dependent on the portable device receiving the confirmation signal from the vehicle onboard transmitter and the vehicle onboard receiver receiving the actuation signal containing the low vehicle finding actuation command from the portable device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein enabling the low power vehicle finding response includes enabling intermittent actuation of one or more of:

low beam headlights, parking lights, auxiliary lights, signal lights, identification lights, electronic buzzer, and electronic beeper.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein transmitting the high power signal includes transmitting an actuation signal containing a high power vehicle finding actuation command from the portable device to the vehicle onboard receiver when the portable device does not receive the confirmation signal from the vehicle onboard transmitter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein enabling the high power vehicle finding response includes enabling intermittent actuation of one or more of:

low beam headlights, high beam headlights, parking lights, auxiliary lights, signal lights, identification lights, electronic buzzer, electronic beeper, and the vehicle horn.

9. A system for providing a distance to target for remote keyless entry comprising:

a microprocessor of a portable device that includes memory, an interface circuit, and bus lines, for transferring data, sending commands, communicating with various components of the portable device and controlling an overall operation of the portable device;

an electronic control unit of a vehicle that includes memory, an interface circuit, and bus lines for transferring data, sending commands, and communicating with the systems and components of the vehicle;

a portable device transmitter provided on the portable device configured to transmit a low power signal to a vehicle onboard receiver provided in the vehicle;

a vehicle finding control module provided on the portable device configured to determine whether the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power signal from the portable device, wherein the electronic control unit compares the identification code with identification codes that are stored within the memory to identify matching codes; and

a vehicle finding response module provided in the vehicle configured to enable a low power vehicle finding response when the vehicle finding control module determines that the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power signal from the portable device, wherein the vehicle finding response module enables the low power vehicle finding response by controlling a lighting system of the vehicle to provide a low illuminating light and controlling one or more of;

an audio system to provide a low volume response, and a vehicle horn to provide a low volume response;

wherein the portable device transmitter transmits a high power signal to the vehicle onboard receiver when the vehicle finding control module does not determine that the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power signal from the portable device, and the vehicle finding response module is configured to enable a high power vehicle finding response when the vehicle finding control module determines the vehicle onboard receiver receives the high power signal from the portable device, wherein the vehicle finding response module enables the high power vehicle finding response by controlling the lighting system of the vehicle to provide a high illuminating light and controlling one or more of;

the audio system to provide a high volume response, and the vehicle horn to provide a high volume response.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the portable device enabling the vehicle finding function includes determining whether a user input has been received on a vehicle finding actuation input on the portable device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the portable device includes a signal transmission power control module varying the power of a signal that is transmitted from the portable device transmitter.

12. The system of claim 9, further including the vehicle onboard receiver receiving an identification signal sent from the portable device transmitter, and a vehicle onboard transmitter transmitting a confirmation signal to a portable device receiver.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle finding response module enables the low power vehicle finding response dependent on the portable device receiver receiving the confirmation signal from the vehicle onboard transmitter and the vehicle onboard receiver receiving the actuation signal containing a low vehicle finding actuation command from the portable device transmitter.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein further including an electronic control unit of the vehicle enabling intermittent actuation of one or more of:

low beam headlights, parking lights, auxiliary lights, signal lights, identification lights, an electronic buzzer, and an electronic beeper as a low power vehicle finding response.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the portable device transmitter transmitting a high power signal includes transmitting the actuation signal containing a high power vehicle finding actuation command to the vehicle onboard receiver when the portable device receiver does not receive the confirmation signal transmitted from the vehicle onboard transmitter.

16. The system of claim 15, further including the electronic control unit enabling the intermittent actuation of one or more of:

low beam headlights, high beam headlights, parking lights, auxiliary lights, signal lights, identification lights, the electronic buzzer, the electronic beeper, and a vehicle horn as a high power vehicle finding response.

17. A computer-implemented method for providing a distance to target for remote keyless entry comprising:

enabling a vehicle finder function from a portable device;

transmitting a low power lock signal from the portable device to a vehicle onboard receiver based off of a user input of a lock input button on the portable device;

determining by a vehicle finding control module provided in the vehicle whether the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power lock signal from the portable device, wherein determining whether the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power lock signal includes evaluating an identification code contained within the low power signal by a vehicle finding response module provided in the vehicle, wherein evaluating the identification code includes comparing the identification code with identification codes stored on a memory of an electronic control unit of the vehicle to identify matching codes;

wherein upon determining that the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power lock signal, the electronic control unit records an acknowledgement of receipt of the low power lock signal on the memory of the electronic control unit and sends a low power acknowledgement signal to the vehicle finding response module;

enabling by the vehicle finding response module a low power vehicle finding response upon receiving the low power acknowledgement signal;

transmitting an initial high power lock signal from the portable device on a different frequency than the low power signal to the vehicle when it is determined that the vehicle onboard receiver does not receive the low power lock signal from the portable device;

transmitting a secondary high power lock signal from the portable device on a different frequency than the initial high power lock signal to the vehicle when it is determined that the vehicle onboard receiver does not receive the initial high power lock signal from the portable device; and

enabling by the vehicle finding response module a high power vehicle finding response when it is determined that the vehicle onboard receiver receives the initial or secondary high power lock signal from the portable device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein enabling the vehicle finder function includes determining whether a vehicle finding actuation input is received on the portable device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein enabling the low power vehicle finding response includes enabling intermittent actuation of one or more of:

low beam headlights, parking lights, auxiliary lights, signal lights, identification lights, electronic buzzer, and electronic beeper.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein enabling the high power vehicle finding response includes enabling intermittent actuation of one or more of:

low beam headlights, high beam headlights, parking lights, auxiliary lights, signal lights, identification lights, electronic buzzer, and electronic beeper.