Lock control apparatus for vehicle and method of controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12017611-B2
Application number	US-202217892631-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2022
Priority date	Oct 13, 2021
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

A lock control apparatus for a vehicle includes anchors to receive a signal transmitted from a terminal; a communication module to communicate using controller area network (CAN) communication; a detector installed on a door to input a detection signal; and a processor to receive the signal transmitted from the terminal from at least one of the anchors through the communication module, calculate a position of the terminal based on the signal transmitted from the terminal, determine whether to unlock the door in response to the position of the terminal and the detection signal, and control an engine to start. The processor controls the anchors to enter a sleep mode in response to waiting times of the anchors and resets the anchors to release the sleep mode and controls the anchors to enter a waiting mode in response to the number of anchors transmitting the signal from the terminal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lock control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of anchors configured to receive a signal transmitted from a terminal;
a communication module configured to communicate using controller area network (CAN) communication;
a detector installed on a door and configured to input a detection signal; and
a processor configured to:
receive the signal transmitted from the terminal from at least one of the plurality of anchors through the communication module;
calculate a position of the terminal based on the signal transmitted from the terminal;
determine whether to unlock the door in response to the position of the terminal and the detection signal;
control an engine to start;
control the plurality of anchors to enter a sleep mode in response to waiting times of the plurality of anchors; and
in case the signal from the terminal is received from at least one of the plurality of anchors, reset the plurality of anchors to release the sleep mode and control the anchors to enter a waiting mode in response to the number of anchors transmitting the signal from the terminal.

2. The lock control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, among the plurality of anchors, the processor is further configured to:
control a first anchor to enter the sleep mode in response to a signal not being received from the first anchor for a first time period or longer; and
maintain a second anchor in the waiting mode in response to a signal being received from the second anchor.

3. The lock control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to reset the plurality of anchors to enter the waiting mode in response to a state in which the number of anchors transmitting the signal from the terminal is less than a set number is maintained for a second time period or longer.

4. The lock control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to reset the plurality anchors to enter the waiting mode at certain time intervals in response to the number of anchors transmitting the signal from the terminal.

5. The lock control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
calculate the position of the terminal based on at least three signals received from the plurality of anchors; and
track movement of the terminal.

6. The lock control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of anchors is further configured to:
receive the signal from the terminal periodically in a unit of a first time;
terminate waiting in case the signal of the terminal is received in a n th round within the first time, and wait again after a next first time; and
maintain a waiting state in case the signal from the terminal is not received within the first time, and enter the sleep mode by the processor in response to the signal from the terminal not being received for a first set time.

7. The lock control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of anchors is further configured to:
operate with a first current in the waiting mode; and
operate with a second current smaller than the first current in the sleep mode.

8. The lock control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of anchors is installed at a plurality of positions of the vehicle to transmit the signal from the terminal to the processor through the communication module in response to receiving the signal from the terminal and an ultra-wide band (UWB) signal of the terminal.

9. The lock control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detector comprises a sensor or a button installed at a handle disposed on each of a plurality of doors.

10. A lock control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of anchors configured to receive a signal transmitted from a terminal;
a communication module configured to communicate using controller area network (CAN) communication;
a detector installed on a door and configured to input a detection signal; and
a processor configured to:
receive the signal transmitted from the terminal from at least one of the plurality of anchors through the communication module;
calculate a position of the terminal based on the signal transmitted from the terminal;
determine whether to unlock the door in response to the position of the terminal and the detection signal;
control an engine to start;
control the plurality of anchors to enter a sleep mode in response to waiting times of the plurality of anchors;
in case the signal from the terminal is received from at least one of the plurality of anchors, reset the plurality of anchors to release the sleep mode and control the anchors to enter a waiting mode in response to the number of anchors transmitting the signal from the terminal;
compare a position of the door at which the detection signal is input with the position of the terminal in response to the detection signal being input;
unlock the door in response to the position of the door matching the position of the terminal; and
maintain the door in a locked state in case the position of the door do not match the position of the terminal.

11. A method of controlling a lock control apparatus for a vehicle, the method comprising:
waiting, by a plurality of anchors installed in the vehicle, to receive a signal transmitted from a terminal;
counting individual waiting times of the plurality of anchors;
switching a mode of at least one of the plurality of anchors to a sleep mode in response to the waiting times of the plurality of anchors; and
resetting the plurality of anchors and entering a waiting mode in response to the number of anchors transmitting the signal from the terminal when a signal is received from at least one of the plurality of anchors.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the switching of the mode to the sleep mode includes:
switching a mode of an anchor in which the waiting time is a first set time period or longer to the sleep mode among the plurality of anchors; and
maintaining a second anchor in the waiting mode in response to a signal being received from the second anchor.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the entering of the waiting mode includes resetting the plurality of anchors to enter the waiting mode in case a state in which the number of anchors transmitting the signal from the terminal is less than a set number is maintained for a second set time period or longer.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
calculating a position of the terminal based on the signal from the terminal in response to the signal from the terminal being received from the at least one of the plurality of anchors.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
comparing a position of a door with the position of the terminal in response to a detection signal input from the door;
unlocking the door in case the position of the door matches the position of the terminal; and
maintaining the door in a locked state in case the position of the door does not match the position of the terminal.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the detection signal is input from a sensor, or a button installed on a handle of the door.

Assignees

• Hyundai Mobis Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lim Jong Chul

Classifications

• H04L2012/40273

  the transportation system being a vehicle · CPC title

• H04L2012/40215

  Controller Area Network CAN · CPC title

• H04L12/40

  Bus networks · CPC title

• G07C2209/64

  using a proximity sensor · CPC title

• G07C2209/62

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