Vehicle communication status indicator

• US 9,922,472 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2016
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Jergess, Rafic, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Linden, Howard Paul Tsvi
• Primary Examiner(s): ALUNKAL, THOMAS D
• Application Number:
  US15/238,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20180053360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/77 comprising sensors detecting the presence of the hand of a user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• 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 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for a vehicle communication status indicator. An example disclosed vehicle includes a body control module and a keyless entry unit. The example body control unit determines whether a mobile device is authorized to act as a key. The example keyless entry unit is communicatively coupled to the body control module. The example keyless entry unit activates an indicator LED when the mobile device is connected to a wireless node. The indicator LED emits a first color when the mobile device is authorized.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a body control module to determine whether a wireless access device is authorized to act as a key; and

a keyless entry unit communicatively coupled to the body control module, the keyless entry unit to vary a brightness of a first LED between fully on and fully off based on an received signal strength from the wireless access device when the wireless access device is connected to a wireless node.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the body control module is to, in response to determining that the wireless access device is authorized to act as the key, prime door electronic latches of the vehicle to unlock.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the keyless entry unit includes a second LED, the second LED emitting a color indicative of a mobile device not being authorized.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a color of the first LED is is different based on whether the wireless access device is authorized.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the keyless entry unit includes the wireless node within a body of the keyless entry unit.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the keyless entry unit includes a keypad and a keypad LED.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the keyless entry unit is to activate the keypad LED in response to detecting a person proximate the keyless entry unit, the keypad LED emitting a first color when a correct pass code has not been entered into the keypad and emit a second color when the wireless access device is authorized or the correct pass code has been entered into the keypad.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the keyless entry unit is located proximate a B-pillar on a door of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the keyless entry unit is located on a front windshield of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the keyless entry unit is located on a rear windshield of the vehicle.

11. A method comprising:

determining, with a processor, whether a wireless access device is authorized to act as a key; and

activating, on a keyless entry unit, a connection indicator LED at a variable brightness between being fully on and fully off when the wireless access device is connected to a vehicle-based wireless node, the connection indicator LED emitting a first color, the variable brightness based on open path signal strength between the wireless access device and the vehicle-based wireless node.

12. The method of claim 11, including, in response to determining that the wireless access device is authorized to act as the key and the wireless access device is within a range threshold from a vehicle, priming door electronic latches of the vehicle to unlock.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the keyless entry unit includes the vehicle-based wireless node within a body of the keyless entry unit.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the keyless entry unit includes a keypad and a keypad LED.

15. The method of claim 14, including:

activating the keypad LED in response to detecting a person proximate the keyless entry unit;

adjusting the keypad LED to emit a third color when the wireless access device is not authorized and a correct pass code has not been entered into the keypad; and

adjusting the keypad LED to emit a fourth color when the wireless access device is authorized or the correct pass code has been entered into the keypad.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the keyless entry unit includes a lock indicator LED;

and including, when the wireless access device is authorized;

activating the lock indicator LED to emit a third color when the wireless access device is outside a range threshold from a vehicle; and

activating the lock indicator LED to emit a fourth color when the wireless access device is within the range threshold from the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the keyless entry unit is located proximate a B-pillar on a door of a vehicle.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the keyless entry unit is located on a front windshield of a vehicle.