VEHICLE DRIVER LOCATOR

• US 20180134212A1
• Filed: 01/31/2017
• Published: 05/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: McNabb, David, Elangovan, Vivekanandh, Lavoie, Erick Michael, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert
• Granted Patent: US 10,384,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• 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: G06T 7/70 Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A vehicle may include: a motor, nodes, sensors, puddle lights, and processor(s) configured to: command the nodes to produce high power signal patterns to link with a mobile device; command at least some of the nodes to produce low power signal patterns to link with the mobile device based detecting the high power link; activate at least some of the puddle lights based on the low power link. The vehicle may activate at least some of the puddle lights based on the low power link by running processing software on measurements captured by the nodes based on the low power link.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a motor, nodes, sensors, puddle lights, and processor(s) configured to;

command the nodes to produce signal patterns to link with a mobile device;

select some of the sensors based on a detected link;

determine one or more properties of an object based on data captured by the selected sensors;

select some of the puddle lights based on at least some of the determined properties;

activate the selected puddle lights.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the signal patterns include a request for the mobile device to reply with the identifier.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the processor(s) are configured to select the some sensors based on which node receives the reply from the mobile device.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the properties include height and the processor(s) are configured to select none of the puddle lights when the height is less than a prestored height.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the properties include position and processor(s) are configured to determine a position of the object when the height is greater than the prestored height.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the processors are configured to select the some puddle lights based on the determined position.

7. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the properties include heading and the processor(s) are configured to select the some puddle lights based on the determined heading.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the vehicle includes a driver door, the puddle lights include first and second puddle lights, and the processor(s) are configured to select first puddle lights, but not second puddle lights, when the determined heading intersects the driver door.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the vehicle includes a driver door and a trunk, the puddle lights include first and second puddle lights, and the processor(s) are configured to select first and second puddle lights when the determined heading intersects the driver door and to select second puddle lights, but not first puddle lights, when the determined heading intersects the trunk.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the sensors include ultrasonic sensors and cameras.

17. The method of claim 3, wherein the properties include heading and the method comprises selecting the some puddle lights based on the determined heading.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the vehicle includes a driver door, the puddle lights include first and second puddle lights, and the method comprises selecting first puddle lights, but not second puddle lights, when the determined heading intersects the driver door.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the vehicle includes a driver door and a trunk, the puddle lights include first and second puddle lights, and the method comprises selecting first and second puddle lights when the determined heading intersects the driver door and selecting second puddle lights, but not first puddle lights, when the determined heading intersects the trunk.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the sensors include ultrasonic sensors and cameras.

11. A method of controlling a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a motor, nodes, sensors, puddle lights, and processor(s), the method comprising, via the processor(s):

commanding the nodes to produce signal patterns to link with a mobile device;

selecting some of the sensors based on a detected link;

determining one or more properties of an object based on data captured by the selected sensors;

selecting some of the puddle lights based on at least some of the determined properties;

activating the selected puddle lights.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the signal patterns include a request for the mobile device to reply with the identifier.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising:

selecting the some sensors based on which node receives the reply from the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the properties include height and the method comprises selecting none of the puddle lights when the height is less than a prestored height.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the properties include position and the method comprises determining a position of the object when the height is greater than the prestored height.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising selecting the some puddle lights based on the determined position.