System and method for activating vehicular electromechanical systems using RF communications and voice commands received from a user positioned locally external to a vehicle

• US 20090309713A1
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flextronics Automotive Inc
• Original Assignee: Flextronics Automotive Inc
• Inventors: Grills, Reginald C., Baruco, Samuel R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,077,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.110
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for activating electromechanical systems of a vehicle may include at least one antenna coupled to a vehicle and configured to receive wireless communications signals. At least one microphone may be coupled to the vehicle and configured to receive sounds external to the vehicle. A control unit may be in communication with the antenna(s) and be configured to receive the wireless communications signals. A voice recognition system may be in communication with the microphone(s). A transponder/keyfob may be utilized to determine when a user is locally external to the vehicle and, in response to determining that the user is locally external to the vehicle, the microphones may be polled to receive a voice command from the user to activate an electromechanical system.

Claims

1. A system for activating electromechanical systems of a vehicle, said system comprising:

at least one antenna coupled to a vehicle and configured to receive wireless communications signals;

at least one microphone coupled to the vehicle and configured to receive sounds external to the vehicle;

a control unit in communication with said at least one antenna and configured to receive the wireless communications signals; and

a voice recognition system in communication with said at least one microphone.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a transponder/keyfob configured to generate a wireless communications signal in response to receiving a detection signal communicated by said control unit via said at least one antenna.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said transponder/keyfob is further configured to generate and communicate at least one authentication code.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein said control unit is configured to transmit a low frequency signal and, in response to said transponder/keyfob being within range of the low frequency signal, receive a response signal from the transponder/keyfob of the low frequency signal.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is further configured to activate said voice recognition system in response to determining that a wireless communications signal has been received.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said voice recognition system is configured to determine if a valid voice command is received by said at least one microphone.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said voice recognition system is further configured to generate and communicate a command notification signal to said control unit in response to determining a voice command, and wherein said control unit is further configured to generate a command signal to command an electromechanical system to activate.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a multiplexer coupled to said at least one microphone.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one microphone includes a visual indicator to identify when said at least one microphone is activated.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said voice recognition system is part of said control unit.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is configured to:

receive a notification signal indicative of said at least one antenna receiving a wireless communication signal;

receive voice signals representative of a voice command to activate an electromechanical system;

determine voice command received;

generate a command signal based on the voice command; and

communicate the command signal to the electromechanical system to cause the electromechanical system to activate.

12. A method for activating electromechanical systems of a vehicle, said method comprising:

determining that a user is locally external to a vehicle;

activating a voice recognition system in response to determining that the user is locally external to the vehicle; and

in response to receiving a voice command from the user external to the vehicle, activating an electromechanical system of the vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein determining that the user is locally external to the vehicle includes:

transmitting an RF signal from the vehicle; and

receiving a response signal indicative of a user being within an antenna pattern.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein receiving the response signal includes receiving at least one authentication code.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein determining that a user is locally external to the vehicle includes receiving an RF signal from a passive transponder/keyfob.

16. The method according to claim 12, further comprising multiplexing sound signals from a plurality of microphones configured to receive sounds external to the vehicle.

17. The method according to claim 12, further comprising generating a visual indication in association with a microphone when the microphone is activated.

18. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body;

at least one microphone coupled to said vehicle body and configured to receive sounds external to said vehicle body,

at least one antenna coupled to said vehicle body and configured to receive wireless communications signals;

a control unit disposed within said vehicle body and in communication with said at least one antenna; and

a voice recognition system in communication with said at least one microphone.

19. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein said control unit is configured to:

receive a wireless communication signal via said at least one antenna;

determine that the wireless communication signal is indicative of a user being locally external to said vehicle body;

cause said at least one microphone to be activated; and

in response to said voice recognition system receiving a voice command from the user via said at least one microphone, activate an electromechanical system as directed by the voice command.

20. The vehicle according to claim 18, further comprising activating a visual indicator in association with each of said at least one microphone being active.

21. The vehicle according to claim 18, further comprising activating an audible indicator in association with each of said at least one microphone being active.

22. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein said control unit includes a processing unit configured to receive the wireless communication signal and determine if at least one authentication code is received before activating said voice recognition system.