Method and indicating system for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10123401-B2
Application number	US-201715726949-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2017
Priority date	Oct 14, 2016
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

A method to be implemented by a vehicle capable of communication with a portable electronic device is shown. The vehicle includes an electrical system including a power switch, and an indicating system including a processor, a wireless transmission module and an indicating unit. The method includes: controlling the electrical system to temporarily provide electric power to the indicating system when the power switch is switched from a conductive state to a non-conductive state; determining whether a wireless connection is established between the portable electronic device and the wireless transmission module. When it is determined that the wireless connection is established, activating the indicating unit to output an indication signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for a vehicle, the method to be implemented by a vehicle capable of communication with a portable electronic device, the vehicle including an electrical system that includes a power switch, and an indicating system that includes a processor, a wireless transmission module and an indicating unit, the method comprising steps of:
controlling, by the processor, the electrical system to temporarily provide electric power to the indicating system after the power switch is switched from a conductive state to a non-conductive state;
determining, by the processor, whether a wireless connection is established between the portable electronic device and the wireless transmission module;
when it is determined by the processor that the wireless connection is established, activating, by the processor, the indicating unit to output an indication signal.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of activating the indicating unit to output an indication signal includes controlling the indicating unit to repeatedly output the indication signal at a frequency that is directly proportional to a strength of the wireless connection.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , the indicating unit including a display, the indicating system further including a storage module, the method further comprising a pairing procedure including steps of:
displaying, by the display, a vehicle identification code of the vehicle when the power switch is in a conductive state;
sending out, by the wireless transmission module, the vehicle identification code to be searched by the portable electronic device and displayed thereon, after which the portable electronic device allows a user to select the vehicle identification code, and transmits a device identification code of the portable electronic device to the wireless transmission module in response to user selection of the vehicle identification code;
receiving, by the wireless transmission module, the device identification code from the portable electronic device; and
storing, by the processor, the device identification code of the portable electronic device in the storage module and pairing the portable electronic device with the vehicle to allow the wireless connection to be established therebetween.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the indicating unit includes one of a display to generate breathing light as the indication signal, a turn signal to generate flashing light as the indication signal, a horn to output sound as the indication signal, and a decorative light device to emit decorative light as the indication signal.

5. A method for a vehicle, the method to be implemented by a vehicle capable of communication with a portable electronic device, the vehicle including an electrical system that includes a power switch, and an indication system that includes a processor, a wireless transmission module, and an indicating unit, the method comprising steps of:
controlling, by the processor, the electrical system to temporarily provide electric power to the indicating system after the power switch is switched from a conductive state to a non-conductive state;
determining, by the processor, whether a wireless signal from the portable electronic device is received through the wireless transmission module;
when it is determined by the processor that the wireless signal is received, activating, by the processor, the indicating unit to output an indication signal.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the step of activating the indicating unit to output an indication signal includes controlling the indicating unit to repeatedly output the indication signal at a frequency that is directly proportional to a strength of the wireless signal received from the portable electronic device.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5 , the indicating unit including a display, the indicating system further including a storage module, the method further comprising a pairing procedure including steps of:
displaying, by the display, a vehicle identification code of the vehicle when the power switch is in a conductive state;
sending out, by the wireless transmission module, the vehicle identification code, the portable electronic device allowing a user select the vehicle identification code after searching out and displaying the vehicle identification code, the portable electronic device transmitting a device identification code of the portable electronic device to the wireless transmission module in response to user selection of the vehicle identification code;
receiving, by the wireless transmission module, the device identification code from the portable electronic device; and
storing, by the processor, the device identification code of the portable electronic device in the storage module and pairing the portable electronic device with the vehicle to allow transmission of the wireless signal.

8. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the indicating unit includes one of a display to generate breathing light as the indication signal, a turn signal to generate flashing light as the indication signal, a horn to output sound as the indication signal, and a decorative light device to emit decorative light as the indication signal.

9. A method for a vehicle, the method to be implemented by a vehicle capable of communication with a portable electronic device, the vehicle including an electrical system that includes a power switch, and an indicating system that includes a processor, a wireless transmission module and an indicating unit, the method comprising steps of:
controlling, by the processor, the electrical system to provide electric power to the indicating system when the power switch is in a conductive state;
determining, by the processor, whether one of a first condition that a wireless connection is established between the portable electronic device and the wireless transmission module and a second condition that a wireless signal from the portable electronic device is received through the wireless transmission module is satisfied;
when it is determined by the processor that one of the first and second conditions is satisfied, activating, by the processor, the indicating unit to output an indication signal.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the step of activating the indicating unit to output an indication signal includes controlling the indicating unit to repeatedly output the indication signal at a frequency that is directly proportional to a strength of the wireless connection in the first condition or a strength of the wireless signal received from the portable electronic device in the second condition.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9 , the indicating unit including a display, the indicating system further including a storage module, the method further comprising a pairing procedure including steps of:
displaying, by the display, a vehicle identification code of the vehicle when the power switch is in a conductive state;
sending out, by the wireless transmission module, the vehicle identification code, the portable electronic device allowing a user to select the vehicle identification code after searching out and displaying the vehicle identification code, the portable electronic device transmitting a device identification code of the portable electronic device to the wireless transmission module in response to user selection of the vehicle identification code;
receiving, by the wireless transmission module, the device identification code from the portable electronic device; and
storing, by the processor, the device identification code of the portable electronic device in the storage module and pairing the porta

Assignees

• Kwang Yang Motor Co

Inventors

• Lin Chen-Sheng
• Tsai Yi-Yang
• Wang John C
• Huang Ming-San
• Chen Li-Hui
• Hsu Chi-Hui
• Yeh Nai-Kun
• Hsu Chih-Feng

Classifications

• H04W4/80 Primary

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• G08G1/205

  Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental · CPC title

• B60R25/24

  using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user · CPC title

• B60Q1/482

  for locating vehicle in parking lot · CPC title

• G08G1/005 Primary

  including pedestrian guidance indicator · CPC title