Key fob transmission compensation

• US 9,807,704 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2015
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hermann, Thomas Joseph, Winkel, Tye Arthur, Locke, John, Banasky, Jr., Lawrence, Wisnewski, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): O CONNOR, BRIAN T
• Application Number:
  US14/672,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20160295523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/18 TPC being performed according to specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/226 using past references to control power, e.g. look-up-table
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/265 taking into account the quality of service QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/281 taking into account user or data type priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile

Abstract

A method for adjusting a power setting of a key fob includes receiving an input signal from a sensor by a processor. The processor determines, based at least in part on the input from the sensor, that a person is holding the key fob. Based on the determination that the person is holding the key fob, the processor adjusts an initial power setting of the key fob by a predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor in a key fob, a detection signal from at least one sensor;

determining that an object is proximate a transceiver antenna in the key fob based at least in part on the detection signal from the at least one sensor; and

adjusting an initial power setting of a transmitter in the key fob by an adjustment factor as a result of determining that the object is proximate the transceiver antenna.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial power setting is determined from calibration data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment factor is based on empirical data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the initial power setting includes selecting the adjustment factor from a table of predetermined adjustment factors, wherein the selection is based at least in part on the detection signal from the at least one sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the object is proximate the transceiver antenna includes determining whether the object is proximate a right side or a left side of the key fob.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the key fob has a first transceiver antenna and a second transceiver antenna, further comprising:

determining a tuning between the first and second transceiver antennas for transmitting a first output signal based on the determination of whether the object is proximate the right side or the left side of the key fob.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, an operator input signal from an operator interface on the key fob; and

activating at least one sensor based on the operator input signal.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating an operator interface based at least in part on the determination that the object is proximate the key fob.

9. A key fob comprising:

a memory device;

at least one sensor programmed to output a detection signal; and

a processor programmed to access the memory device and further programmed to receive the detection signal, determine that an object is proximate a transceiver antenna in the key fob based at least in part on the detection signal, and adjust an initial power setting of a transmitter in the key fob by an adjustment factor if the processor determines that the object is proximate the transceiver antenna.

10. The key fob of claim 9, wherein the initial power setting is determined from calibration data.

11. The key fob of claim 9, wherein the adjustment factor is based on empirical data.

12. The key fob of claim 9, wherein the processor is programmed to select the adjustment factor from a table of predetermined adjustment factors based at least in part on the detection signal.

13. The key fob of claim 9, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

determine, based at least in part on the input detection signal whether the object is proximate a right side or a left side of the key fob.

14. The key fob of claim 13, further comprising a first transceiver antenna and a second transceiver antenna, wherein the processor is further programmed to determine a tuning between the first and second transceiver antennas for a transmitting a first output signal based on the determination of whether the object is proximate the right side or the left side of the key fob.

15. The key fob of claim 9, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

receive an operator input signal from an operator interface on the key fob; and

activate the at least one sensor based on the operator input signal.

16. The key fob of claim 9, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

activate an operator interface based at least in part on the determination that the object is proximate the transceiver antenna.

17. The key fob of claim 9, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

receive a signal representing a battery state-of-charge; and

determine the adjustment factor based at least in part on the battery state-of-charge.

18. The key fob of claim 17, wherein the processor is further programmed to transmit a message representing the battery state-of-charge.

19. The key fob of claim 9, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

receive a signal representing a battery state-of-charge; and

adjust based at least in part on the battery state-of-charge a tuning between a first and a second transceiver antenna.