Key fob with valet and car locator feature

• US 20020067249A1
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Clark, Jonathan, Lambert, Deborah Marie, Reese, Jeralyn, Desai, Tejas, Johnson, Susan
• Granted Patent: US 6,518,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/38 using adjustment of real or effective orientation of directivity characteristic of an antenna or an antenna system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that antenna or antenna system, e.g. to give a maximum or minimum signal G01S3/16, G01S3/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/40 adjusting orientation of a single directivity characteristic to produce maximum or minimum signal, e.g. rotatable loop antenna or equivalent goniometer system
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00984 fob
• 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 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7073 Including use of a key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7079 Key rotated [e.g., Eurocylinder]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7876 Bow or head

Abstract

An improved key fob and key combination allows the mechanical key to be removed from the key fob and given to a valet attendant. The key is provided with a mechanical latch which may be easily removed from the key fob. When the key is removed, secured areas on the vehicle are locked. Moreover, the vehicle has limited operation when the mechanical key is not received with the key fob. In a second feature of this invention, a locator function on the key fob provides an indication of an approximate direction to a vehicle in a parking area. The key fob relies upon RF transmissions from the vehicle to determine an approximate direction to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A combined key and key fob comprising:

a mechanical key;

a key fob body including electronic switches for sending RF signals to a vehicle to actuate components on the vehicle; and

a mechanical attachment feature on said mechanical key for allowing said mechanical key to be removed from said key fob body.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said attachment features at least one latch on one of said mechanical key and said key fob biased into an opening on the other.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said latch is on said mechanical key which is biased into an opening on said key fob body and said latch being biased back outwardly of said opening when said mechanical key is to be removed from said key fob body.

4. A combination as recited in claim 3, wherein said key fob body has a sensor to sense when said mechanical key has been removed from said key fob body, and said sensor communicating with a control on said key fob body to send a signal to a vehicle associated with said key fob body that said mechanical key has been removed.

5. A combination as recited in claim 4, wherein said signal actuates security systems on the vehicle.

6. A combination as recited in claim 5, wherein said signal locks secured areas on the vehicle.

7. A combination as recited in claim 6, wherein said secured areas include the trunk and the glove compartment.

8. A combination as recited in claim 1, wherein a control associated with one of said key fob body and said mechanical key limits the operation of an engine associated with the vehicle when the mechanical key is removed from the key fob body.

9. A hand held vehicle locating system comprising:

a transmitter/receiver on a hand held device, said transmitter/ receiver having an identification code which will be recognized by a vehicle associated with said transmitter, said transmitter being operable to send a signal to a receiver on a vehicle, and to receive a signal back from the vehicle, and said hand held device being operable to provide an indication of an approximate direction in which the vehicle is located relative to said hand held device.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein a transmitter on one of a vehicle and said hand held device sends a signal to the other, and said hand held device being moved through an angular range, and a peak on signals received at said receiver is sensed while being moved through said range, and an indication being provided to an operator of the direction of the vehicle by sensing where the peak in said received signal occurs.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said locator is moved through said angular range once to determine what the peak signal is, and then is moved back through said range until the control again senses a peak, at which time a signal is actuated.

12. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein said locator is in a key fob structure.

13. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein said indication is provided by a light.

15. A combination as set forth in claim 14, wherein said locator receiver being operable to receive a signal from a vehicle, and to determine a peak in said signal to determine said approximate direction.

16. A combination as recited in claim 15, wherein said vehicle receiver is operable to determine a distance from said locator, and to determine that said locator is in a first mode of operation if said distance is less than a predetermined distance, and to determine that said locator is in a locator mode if said distance is greater than said predetermined distance.

17. A combination as recited in claim 16, wherein said locator is included in a key fob having controls for operating and controlling components on said vehicle.

18. A combination as recited in claim 16, wherein said first mode of operation is a door request to said vehicle.

14. A vehicle locator and vehicle combination comprising:

a vehicle receiver and transmitter located on a vehicle;

a locator receiver and transmitter located in a locator device;

said locator device being operable to send a signal to said vehicle receiver that said locator is in a locator mode, said locator receiver being operable to determine an approximate direction to said vehicle based upon said received signal.