Vehicle access system
First Claim
1. An access unit configured to control access to a vehicle via communication with a further access unit, the access unit comprising:
- a first transmitter configured to transmit a polling signal; and
a first receiver configured to receive an authentication signal from the further access unit in response to said polling signal;
wherein the first transmitter is a first ultra-wideband transmitter and the first receiver is a first ultra-wideband receiver;
wherein the first transmitter is configured to pulse the polling signal with a time interval between transmissions;
wherein the first transmitter is configured to;
increase the time interval between transmissions of the polling signal in response to an increase in a distance between the access unit and the further access unit; and
reduce the time interval between transmissions of the polling signal in response to a reduction in the distance between the access unit and the further access unit,wherein the distance between the access unit and the further access unit is determined based on a time of flight of communications between the access unit and the further access unit, the first transmitter being configured to set the time interval in dependence on the determined distance;
wherein the further access unit comprises a controller configured to authenticate a response signal transmitted from the access unit in response to said authentication signal; and
wherein the controller is configured to initiate unlocking of at least one vehicle door when the distance between the access unit and the further access unit is less than or equal to a threshold range; and
the controller is configured to initiate locking of at least one vehicle door when the distance between the access unit and the further access unit is greater than or equal to a threshold range.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to an access unit (5; 23) for communicating with a further access unit (5; 23) to control access to a vehicle (3). The access unit (5; 23) comprises at least a first transmitter (11; 25) for transmitting a polling signal; and at least a first receiver (11; 25) for receiving an authentication signal from the further access unit (5; 23) in response to the polling signal. At least the first transmitter (11; 25) is a first ultra-wideband transmitter and at least the first receiver (11; 25) is a first ultra-wide-band receiver. The invention also relates to a vehicle access system (1) which is a combination of the access and further access units (5; 23). The invention also relates to methods of operating a vehicle access system (1) and a vehicle access unit (5; 23).
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An access unit configured to control access to a vehicle via communication with a further access unit, the access unit comprising:
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a first transmitter configured to transmit a polling signal; and a first receiver configured to receive an authentication signal from the further access unit in response to said polling signal; wherein the first transmitter is a first ultra-wideband transmitter and the first receiver is a first ultra-wideband receiver; wherein the first transmitter is configured to pulse the polling signal with a time interval between transmissions; wherein the first transmitter is configured to; increase the time interval between transmissions of the polling signal in response to an increase in a distance between the access unit and the further access unit; and reduce the time interval between transmissions of the polling signal in response to a reduction in the distance between the access unit and the further access unit, wherein the distance between the access unit and the further access unit is determined based on a time of flight of communications between the access unit and the further access unit, the first transmitter being configured to set the time interval in dependence on the determined distance; wherein the further access unit comprises a controller configured to authenticate a response signal transmitted from the access unit in response to said authentication signal; and wherein the controller is configured to initiate unlocking of at least one vehicle door when the distance between the access unit and the further access unit is less than or equal to a threshold range; and
the controller is configured to initiate locking of at least one vehicle door when the distance between the access unit and the further access unit is greater than or equal to a threshold range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11)
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9. A method of operating a vehicle access system, the method comprising:
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transmitting a polling signal from an access unit; transmitting an authentication signal from a further access unit upon receipt of said polling signal; wherein the polling signal and the authentication signal are ultra-wideband signals; wherein the polling signal is pulsed and a time interval is introduced between pulses, and the time interval is increased in response to an increase in a distance between the access unit and the further access unit, and reduced in response to a reduction in the distance between the access unit and the further access unit; determining the distance between the access unit and the further access unit based on a time of flight of communications between the access unit and the further access unit; and setting the time interval in dependence on the determined distance, wherein the polling signal is transmitted continually during an operating period and contact between the access unit and the further access unit is initiated upon receipt of the polling signal by said further access unit, and wherein at least one vehicle door is unlocked when the distance between the access unit and the further access unit is less than or equal to a threshold range, and wherein at least one vehicle door is locked when the distance between the access unit and the further access unit is greater than or equal to the threshold range.
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Specification