Passive entry system and method for a vehicle

• US 9,811,956 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2015
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Ghabra, Riad
• Primary Examiner(s): YANG, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US14/842,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20150371471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

A method includes transmitting polling signals from antennas at respective positions about a vehicle. Each polling signal includes identifying information. The method further includes receiving an acknowledgement signal from a remote unit. The acknowledgement signal includes information indicative of each polling signal received by the remote unit. The method further includes determining a position of the remote unit relative to the vehicle based upon the information of the acknowledgement signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting polling signals from antennas at respective positions about a vehicle, each polling signal including identifying information;

receiving an acknowledgement signal from a remote unit, the acknowledgement signal including data within the acknowledgment signal indicative of each polling signal received by the remote unit; and

determining a position of the remote unit relative to the vehicle based upon the data within the acknowledgement signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the polling signals are transmitted sequentially from the antennas.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the polling signals are transmitted simultaneously from the antennas.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting an authentication signal from the one of the antennas positioned closest to the position of the remote unit.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

controlling a vehicle function in response to receiving a correct response to the authentication signal from the remote unit.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the polling signals transmitted from the antennas include a first polling signal transmitted from a first antenna positioned on a first side of the vehicle and a second polling signal transmitted from a second antenna positioned on a second side of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein:

the position of the remote unit is determined to be on the first side of the vehicle when the data within the acknowledgement signal identifies the first polling signal being received by the remote unit; and

the position of the remote unit is determined to be on the second side of the vehicle when the data within the acknowledgement signal identifies the second polling signal being received by the remote unit.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein:

the polling signals transmitted from the antennas further include a third polling signal transmitted from a third antenna positioned on the first side of the vehicle and a fourth polling signal transmitted from a fourth antenna positioned on the second side of the vehicle;

the first antenna being at a position adjacent a front door on the first side of the vehicle and the third antenna being at a position adjacent a rear door on the first side of the vehicle; and

the second antenna being at a position adjacent a front door on the second side of the vehicle and the fourth antenna being at a position adjacent a rear door on the second side of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the position of the remote unit is determined to be near the front door on the first side of the vehicle when the data within the acknowledgement signal identifies the first polling signal being received by the remote unit;

the position of the remote unit is determined to be near the front door on the second side of the vehicle when the data within the acknowledgement signal identifies the second polling signal being received by the remote unit;

the position of the remote unit is determined to be near the rear door on the first side of the vehicle when the data within the acknowledgement signal identifies the third polling signal being received by the remote unit; and

the position of the remote unit is determined to be near the rear door on the second side of the vehicle when the data within the acknowledgement signal identifies the fourth polling signal being received by the remote unit.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the acknowledgment signal from the remote unit is received by at least one of the antennas.

11. A system comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit polling signals via antennas at respective positions about a vehicle, wherein each polling signal includes identifying information;

a receiver configured to receive an acknowledgement signal from a remote unit, wherein the acknowledgement signal includes data within the acknowledgment signal indicative of each polling signal received by the remote unit; and

a controller configured to determine a position of the remote unit relative to the vehicle based upon the data within the acknowledgement signal.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the transmitter is further configured to transmit an authentication signal from the one of the antennas positioned closest to the position of the remote unit.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the controller is further configured to control a vehicle function in response to the receiver receiving a correct response to the authentication signal from the remote unit.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the receiver is further configured to receive the acknowledgement signal from the remote unit via at least one of the antennas.

15. A method comprising:

transmitting polling signals from antennas at respective positions about a vehicle, each polling signal including identifying information;

receiving, from a remote unit, at least one acknowledgement signal, each acknowledgement signal including data within the acknowledgment signal indicative of at least one polling signal received by the remote unit to which the acknowledgment signal is responsive; and

obtaining a position of the remote unit relative to the vehicle based on a position of each antenna which transmitted a polling signal received by the remote unit according to the data within the at least one acknowledgment signal.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the acknowledgment signal from the remote unit is received by at least one of the antennas.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the polling signals are transmitted sequentially from the antennas.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the polling signals are transmitted simultaneously from the antennas.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

transmitting an authentication signal from the one of the antennas positioned closest to the position of the remote unit.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

controlling a vehicle function in response to receiving a correct response to the authentication signal from the remote unit.