System and method for profile indication on a key fob

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10127749-B2
Application number	US-201614992913-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2016
Priority date	Jan 11, 2016
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

A key fob associated with a select one of a plurality of driver profiles stored in a vehicle memory is provided. The key fob comprises a memory for storing a profile indication for identifying the driver profile associated with the key fob, and an output device for presenting the profile indication. Another embodiment provides a wireless system comprising a vehicle storing driver profiles in a memory, and a key fob associated with a select profile and comprising an output device for presenting a profile indication assigned to that profile. Another embodiment includes a method of providing a profile indication on a key fob associated with one of the driver profiles stored in the vehicle. The method comprises transmitting an identifier to the vehicle, receiving a profile indication associated with the identifier from the vehicle, and presenting the profile indication on an output device of the key fob.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A key fob comprising:
an antenna to:
communicate a key fob ID to a vehicle when the antenna receives a request from the vehicle; and
receive, from the vehicle, an input associated with the key fob ID for one of a plurality of driver profiles;

an input device;
memory to store the input; and
a display to show a visual assigned to the stored input for a predetermined period when the input device is actuated.

2. The key fob of claim 1 , including an audio device, wherein the antenna is configured to receive, from the vehicle, a sound associated with the key fob ID for the one of the plurality of driver profiles.

3. The key fob of claim 1 , wherein a processor controls the antenna to automatically communicate the key fob ID to the vehicle when the key fob detects the vehicle.

4. The key fob of claim 1 , including an input device, wherein a light device displays a color only when the input device detects a user selection.

5. A method to indicate user profiles associated with key fobs, the method comprising:
responsive to receiving a request from a vehicle, communicating, via an antenna of a key fob, a key fob identifier to the vehicle;
receiving, via the antenna, an input associated with the key fob ID for one of a plurality of driver profiles associated with the vehicle;
storing, via memory of the key fob, the input; and
responsive to actuating an input device, showing, via a display of the key fob, a visual assigned to the input for a predetermined period.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the display is a light emitting diode (LED).

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Schmidt Kyle

Classifications

• G07C9/00309 Primary

  operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks · CPC title

• B60R16/037 Primary

  for occupant comfort {, e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel} · CPC title

• E05B19/24

  Key distinguishing marks {(fluorescent E05B17/106)} · CPC title

• E05B19/0088

  Displays on keys, e.g. LED or LCD screens · CPC title

• B60R25/24 Primary

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