In-vehicle control apparatus using smart key provided with display and method for controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10960847-B2
Application number	US-201916700628-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2019
Priority date	Mar 27, 2019
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

A method for controlling a vehicle using a smart key is provided and includes sensing at least one of a vehicle state, an attachment state of the smart key, and a detachment state of the smart key, the smart key including a magnet, and adjusting a magnetic force of at least one electromagnet provided in a smart key recognizer disposed in a predetermined attachment region inside the vehicle based on a plurality of levels and a result of the sensing. The levels include at least a first level occurring before driving and a second level occurring during driving, and a magnetic force corresponding to the second level is greater than a magnetic force corresponding to the first level.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a vehicle using a smart key, comprising:
sensing, by an integrated apparatus, at least one of a vehicle state, an attachment state of the smart key, and a detachment state of the smart key, the smart key comprising a magnet; and
adjusting, by the integrated apparatus, a magnetic force of at least one electromagnet provided in a smart key recognizer disposed in a predetermined attachment region inside the vehicle in a plurality of levels based on a result of the sensing,
wherein the levels include at least a first level occurring before driving and a second level occurring during driving, and
wherein a magnetic force corresponding to the second level is greater than a magnetic force corresponding to the first level.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second level occurs during driving, the levels further include a third level occurring in a predetermined emergency situation, and a magnetic force corresponding to the third level is greater than the magnetic force corresponding to the second level.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
outputting, by the integrated apparatus, a magnetic force adjustment menu in a first display provided in the integrated apparatus based on a designated command input; and
changing, by the integrated apparatus, at least the magnetic force corresponding to the first level based on a setting in the magnetic force adjustment menu.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the outputting of the magnetic force adjustment menu is permitted at a specific gear position.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising disallowing, by the integrated apparatus, shifting of the specific gear position until the setting in the magnetic force adjustment menu is completed.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting, by the integrated apparatus, information regarding a function to be executed corresponding to the vehicle state to the smart key;
outputting, by the integrated apparatus, a user interface corresponding to the information regarding the function to be executed, on a second display of the smart key;
if an operation unit provided in the smart key is operated, transmitting, by the smart key, result information due to the operation to the integrated apparatus; and
executing, by the integrated apparatus, the function based on the result information.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the smart key has a cylindrical external shape, and the second display is disposed at a center of the smart key to have a circular shape.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the operation unit includes a dial having a ring shape configured to surround the second display.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle state includes at least one of the group consisting of: a key box state, a current gear position of a transmission, whether a collision warning is present, an airbag state, and whether the smart key inside the vehicle is sensed.

10. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium containing program instructions executed by a processor or controller, the non-transitory computer readable recording medium comprising instructions for:
sensing at least one of a vehicle state, an attachment state of the smart key, and a detachment state of the smart key, the smart key including a magnet; and
adjusting a magnetic force of at least one electromagnet provided in a smart key recognizer disposed in a predetermined attachment region inside the vehicle in a plurality of levels based on a result of the sensing,
wherein the levels include at least a first level occurring before driving and a second level occurring during driving, and
wherein a magnetic force corresponding to the second level is greater than a magnetic force corresponding to the first level.

11. An in-vehicle control system, comprising:
an integrated apparatus including:
a smart key recognizer disposed in a predetermined attachment region inside a vehicle and having at least one electromagnet;
a wired communication unit configured to acquire information regarding a vehicle state, and
a controller configured to adjust a magnetic force of the at least one electromagnet in a plurality of levels based on at least the vehicle state and an attachment state of a smart key, and a detachment state of the smart key, the smart key including a magnet,
wherein the levels include at least a first level occurring before driving and a second level occurring during driving, and
wherein a magnetic force corresponding to the second level is greater than a magnetic force corresponding to the first level.

12. The in-vehicle control system according to claim 11 , wherein the second level occurs during driving, the levels further include a third level occurring in a predetermined emergency situation, and a magnetic force corresponding to the third level is greater than the magnetic force corresponding to the second level.

13. The in-vehicle control system according to claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to output a magnetic force adjustment menu in a first display provided in the integrated apparatus based on a designated command input, and change at least the magnetic force corresponding to the first level based on a setting in the magnetic force adjustment menu.

14. The in-vehicle control system according to claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to allow the output of the magnetic force adjustment menu at a specific gear position.

15. The in-vehicle control system according to claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to disallow shifting of the specific gear position until the setting in the magnetic force adjustment menu is completed.

16. The in-vehicle control system according to claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:
transmit, upon sensing attachment of the smart key to the attachment region in the smart key recognizer, information regarding a function to be executed to the smart key; and
execute, upon receiving result information due to operation in an operation unit provided in the smart key from the smart key, the function to be executed based on the result information.

17. The in-vehicle control system according to claim 16 , further including:
the smart key having a second display configured to display a second user interface corresponding to information regarding the function to be executed, and the operation unit,
wherein the smart key has a cylindrical external shape, and
wherein the second display is disposed at a center of the smart key to have a circular shape.

18. The in-vehicle control system according to claim 17 , wherein the operation unit includes a dial having a ring shape configured to surround the second display.

19. The in-vehicle control system according to claim 11 , wherein the vehicle state includes at least one of the group consisting of: a key box state, a current gear position of a transmission, whether a collision warning is present, an airbag state, and whether the smart key inside the vehicle is sensed.

20. The in-vehicle control system according to claim 11 , wherein the smart key performs only predetermined smart key functions in a state in which the smart key is not attached to the attachment region.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Chung Jae Hoon
• Kim Sung Un
• Sung Si Hoon

Classifications

• G07C9/00309

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

• B60R25/25

  using biometry · CPC title

• G07C2209/63

  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 title

• B60K35/00

  Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles · CPC title

• G07C2209/62

  Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock · CPC title