Input signal management for vehicle park-assist

• US 10,493,981 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2018
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lavoie, Erick Michael, Hassani, Ali, Chatten, Alyssa, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Greene, Daniel L
• Application Number:
  US15/948,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20190308614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/01 operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/34 of conditions of vehicle components, e.g. of windows, door locks or gear selectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/028 using a RF signal

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for input signal management for vehicle park-assist. An example vehicle includes an autonomy unit, a communication module, and a controller. The controller is to perform, via the autonomy unit, remote parking upon receiving, via the communication module, a remote parking signal from a mobile device. The controller also is to receive an unlock request during the remote parking from a first key fob, determine a number of key fobs within a tethering range, and prevent processing of the unlock request when the number of key fobs is one.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

an autonomy unit;

a communication module; and

a controller to;

perform, via the autonomy unit, remote parking upon receiving, via the communication module, a remote parking signal from a mobile device;

receive an unlock request during the remote parking from a first key fob;

determine a number of key fobs within a tethering range; and

prevent processing of the unlock request when the number of key fobs is one.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the autonomy unit is configured to continue to perform the remote parking when the controller prevents processing of the unlock request.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the communication module is configured to communicate with key fobs via a first communication protocol and communicate with the mobile device via a second communication protocol.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the first communication protocol is low frequency communication and the second communication protocol is at least one of is at least one of a Bluetooth®

low-energy protocol, a Wi-Fi protocol, and ultra-high frequency communication.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller enables the autonomy unit to perform the remote parking responsive to:

identifying that a user key fob corresponds with the mobile device; and

determining the user key fob is located within the tethering range.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the controller determines that the user key fob corresponds with the mobile device in response to determining that the user key fob and the mobile device are spaced apart from the vehicle by distances that are within a threshold margin of each other.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the controller determines that the user key fob corresponds with the mobile device in response to determining that the user key fob and the mobile device are located within the threshold margin of each other.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein, when the number of key fobs within the tethering range is two or more, the controller attempts to determine whether the first key fob that sent the unlock request is a user key fob that corresponds with the mobile device of a user.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein, in response to determining that the first key fob is the user key fob, the controller prevents processing of the unlock request.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein, in response to determining that the first key fob is not the user key fob, the controller stops the remote parking.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein, in response to the controller being unable to determine whether the first key fob is the user key fob, the controller stops the remote parking.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, further including a door, a door handle, and a door handle sensor.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein, when the remote parking is stopped, the controller is configured to unlock the door in response to the door handle sensor detecting engagement with the door handle.

14. A method comprising:

receiving, via a communication module of a vehicle, a remote parking signal from a mobile device;

performing, via an autonomy unit, remote parking upon receipt of the remote parking signal;

determining, via a processor, a number of key fobs within a tethering range; and

preventing processing of an unlock request received from a first key fob during the remote parking of the vehicle when the number of key fobs within the tethering range is one.

15. The method of claim 14, further including continuing to perform the remote parking when preventing processing of the unlock request.

16. The method of claim 14, further including enabling the autonomy unit to perform the remote parking responsive to:

identifying that the mobile device corresponds with a user key fob in response to determining, via received signal strength indicators, that the user key fob and the mobile device are located within a threshold margin of each other; and

determining the user key fob is located within the tethering range.

17. The method of claim 14, further including, when the number of key fobs within the tethering range is two or more, attempting to determine whether the first key fob that sent the unlock request is a user key fob that corresponds with the mobile device.

18. The method of claim 17, further including preventing processing of the unlock request in response to determining that the first key fob is the user key fob.

19. The method of claim 18, further including stopping the remote parking in response to at least one of:

determining that the first key fob is not the user key fob; and

being unable to determine whether the first key fob is the user key fob.

20. The method of claim 19, further including, when the remote parking is stopped, unlocking a door in response to a door handle sensor detecting engagement with a door handle.