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User proximity detection for activating vehicle convenience functions

  • US 9,858,735 B2
  • Filed: 12/10/2013
  • Issued: 01/02/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. Vehicle apparatus comprising:

  • a convenience controller activating a user welcoming function in response to a detected arrival of an authorized user of a vehicle into an approach region around the vehicle, wherein the welcoming function does not include a door unlocking function;

    a short range transmitter broadcasting a polling signal covering the approach region and having an approach pending mode wherein the polling signal is broadcast according to a first predetermined repetition and a baseline mode wherein the polling signal is broadcast according to a second predetermined repetition which is lower than the first predetermined repetition, and wherein the short range transmitter operating in the approach pending mode has a first power drain;

    a short range receiver detecting a response from a first user-carried wireless device, wherein the short range receiver has a predetermined accuracy for detecting a proximity of the user-carried wireless device;

    a wireless communication system configured to monitor for user activity outside the approach region when the first user-carried wireless device is outside the range of the short range transmitter, wherein the detected user activity corresponds to a potential entry into the approach region, wherein monitoring by the wireless communication system has a second power drain less than the first power drain, wherein the wireless communication system has a coarser accuracy than the predetermined accuracy for detecting the proximity of the user-carried wireless device, and wherein the wireless communication system is configured to communicate with a second user-carried wireless device with a range greater than the short range transmitter;

    wherein if the short range transmitter is in the baseline mode when the user activity is detected, then the short range transmitter switches to the approach pending mode.

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