Apparatus for automatically initiating sequence of vehicle functions

• US 8,077,011 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: McBride, Justin P., Keeling, Thomas J., Wiegand, Michael A., Kurpinski, Christopher M., Wakamatsu, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eustaquio, Cal
• Application Number:
  US11/680,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/7.32, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00507 keyless data carrier having more than one function
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically initiating a plurality of vehicle functions is disclosed. The apparatus includes a mobile unit and a detection device operable to automatically detect whether the mobile unit is within a first zone. The detection device is further operable to automatically detect whether the mobile unit is within a second zone. The first zone and the second zone are outside the vehicle, and the first zone encompasses the second zone. The apparatus further includes a controller that is operable to initiate a first vehicle function when the detection device detects that the mobile unit is within the first zone. The controller is also operable to initiate a second vehicle function when the detection device detects that the mobile unit is within the second zone.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatically initiating a plurality of vehicle functions, the apparatus comprising:

a mobile unit;

first means for detecting whether the mobile unit is within a first zone;

a controller disposed within the vehicle, the controller initiating a first vehicle function when the first detecting means detects the mobile unit within the first zone;

second means for detecting whether the mobile unit is within a second zone after the first detecting means detects whether the mobile unit is within the first zone, the first and second zones being outside a vehicle, the first zone encompassing the second zone, the first and second detecting means being disposed within the vehicle;

the controller initiating a second vehicle function when the second detecting means detects the mobile unit in the second zone;

wherein

the controller terminates the first vehicle function if the detecting means does not detect the mobile unit within the second zone within a specified period of time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first detecting means is operable to transmit a first interrogation signal within the first zone, wherein the mobile unit is operable to transmit a first identification signal in response to the first interrogation signal, and wherein the first detecting means is operable to detect whether the mobile unit is within the first zone by matching the first identification signal to a first predetermined identifier.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second detecting means is further operable to transmit a second interrogation signal within the second zone, wherein the mobile unit is operable to transmit a second identification signal in response to the second interrogation signal, and wherein the second detecting means is operable to detect whether the mobile unit is within the second zone by matching the second identification signal to a second predetermined identifier.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first interrogation signal and the first identification signal are each radio frequency (RF) signals, and wherein the second interrogation signal and second identification signal are each low frequency (LF) signals.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second detecting means transmits the second interrogation signal only after the first detecting means detects that the mobile unit is within the first zone.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second detecting means ceases transmitting of the second interrogation when the second detecting means does not receive the second identification signal within a specified period of time.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second detecting means restarts transmitting of the second interrogation signal in response to an input by a user.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle function comprises playing a recording stored by the vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the recording is stored in a device in the vehicle.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for wirelessly downloading the recording to the device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile unit includes a radio transmitter and the second detecting means includes a radio receiver, the radio transmitter periodically transmitting a signal which is received by the radio receiver when the mobile unit is within the first zone.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first vehicle function comprises playing a recording stored by the vehicle.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mobile unit includes a motion sensor, the radio transmitter periodically transmitting the signal when the motion sensor detects motion of the mobile unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mobile unit includes a motion charging unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first vehicle function comprises playing a recording stored by the vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mobile unit ceases transmission of the signal when the mobile unit is not detected within the first zone within a specified period of time.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the radio transmitter transmits a radio frequency (RF) signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the radio transmitter begins transmitting the RF signal after receiving a low frequency (LF) signal from the vehicle.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the radio transmitter begins transmitting the RF signal in response to an input to the mobile unit by a user.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first detecting means includes a radio transmitter, the first radio transmitter transmitting at a first power level to detect whether the mobile unit is within the first zone, the second detecting means includes a second radio transmitter, the second radio transmitter transmitting at a second power level to detect whether the mobile unit is within the second zone, the first power level being higher than the second power level.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first vehicle function comprises playing a recording stored by the vehicle.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile unit includes GPS data for a location of the vehicle and GPS data for a location of the mobile unit, the first detecting means detecting whether the mobile unit is within the first zone based on a distance between the location of the vehicle and the location of the mobile unit.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first vehicle function comprises playing a recording stored by the vehicle.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first vehicle function is associated with a specific location of the vehicle.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

third means for detecting a user action after said second detecting means detects whether the mobile unit is within the second zone;

the third means responding to the detecting of the user action, the responding including unlocking a door.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the second vehicle function comprises changing the door to an unlock-standby state.