Key fob transmission compensation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9380540-B1
Application number	US-201514672534-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2015
Priority date	Mar 30, 2015
Publication date	Jun 28, 2016
Grant date	Jun 28, 2016

Abstract

A method comprising for adjusting a power level in a key fob includes transmitting a first output signal at a first power setting. A feedback signal is received via a feedback mechanism that indicates a first power level of the first output signal. The first output level is compared to a threshold level. A second output signal at a second power setting greater than the first power setting is transmitted if the first output power level is below the threshold.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
transmitting a first output signal at a first power setting;
receiving, via a feedback mechanism in a key fob, a first feedback signal indicating a first output power level of the first output signal;
comparing the first output power level to a threshold level; and
transmitting a second output signal at a second power setting greater than the first power setting if the first output power level is below the threshold level.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, via the feedback mechanism, a second feedback signal indicating a second output power level of the second output signal;
comparing the second output power level to the threshold level;
transmitting a third output signal at a third power setting greater than the second power setting if the second output power level is below the threshold level.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the threshold level from calibration data.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the first power setting from calibration data.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback mechanism includes a radio frequency sensing element.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the key fob includes a plurality of transceiver antennas, the plurality of transceiver antennas including a first transceiver antenna and a second transceiver antenna, the method further comprising:
receiving a detection signal from a sensor;
determining a position of an object proximate the key fob based on the detection signal;
selecting one of the first transceiver antenna and second transceiver antenna to transmit the first output signal based on the determination of the hand position; and
selecting the other one of the first transceiver antenna and second transceiver antenna to feedback the first output signal to the feedback mechanism.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting a fourth output signal at a fourth power setting less than the first power setting if the first output level is above the threshold level.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first power setting is increased a first amount to the second power setting, wherein the first amount is based on empirical data.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the first output power level to the threshold value includes calculating a difference between the first feedback signal and the threshold level and determining the first amount based at least in part on the calculated difference.

10. A key fob comprising:
a memory device;
a transmitter;
a feedback mechanism programmed to provide a first feedback signal; and
a processor programmed to transmit a first output signal at a first power setting, receive the first feedback signal indicating a first output power level of the first output signal, compare the first output power level to a threshold level and transmit a second output signal at a second power setting if the power level of the first feedback signal is below the threshold level, wherein the second power setting is greater than the first power setting.

11. The key fob of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further programmed to receive a second feedback signal indicating a second power level of the second output signal via the feedback mechanism, compare the second output level to the threshold level, and transmit a third signal at a third power setting greater than the second power setting if the second output power level is below the threshold level.

12. The key fob of claim 10 , wherein the stored threshold level is determined from calibration data.

13. The key fob of claim 10 , wherein the first power setting is determined from calibration data.

14. The key fob of claim 10 , wherein the feedback mechanism includes a radio frequency sensing element.

15. The key fob of claim 14 , wherein the feedback antenna is a wire trace spaced away from a transceiver antenna included in the key fob.

16. The key fob of claim 10 , further comprising:
a plurality of transceiver antennas, the plurality of transceiver antennas including a first transceiver antenna and a second transceiver antenna; and
at least one sensor; wherein the processor is further programmed to:
receive a detection signal from the at least one senor,
determine a position of an object proximate to the key fob based on the detection signal,
select one of the first transceiver antenna and second transceiver antenna to transmit the first output signal based on the determined position of the object; and
select the other one of the first transceiver antenna and second transceiver antenna to feedback the first output signal to the feedback mechanism.

17. The key fob of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further programmed to transmit a fourth output signal at a fourth power setting less than the first power setting if the first output power level is greater than the threshold level.

18. The key fob of claim 10 , wherein the first power setting is increased a first amount to a second power setting, wherein the first amount is based on empirical data.

19. The key fob of claim 10 , wherein comparing the first output power level to the threshold value includes calculating a difference between the first feedback signal and the threshold level and determining the first amount based at least in part on the calculated difference.

20. A key fob comprising:
a memory device;
a transmitter;
a plurality of transceiver antennas including a first transceiver antenna and a second transceiver antenna;

a feedback mechanism programmed to provide a first feedback signal; and
a processor programmed to transmit a first output signal at a first power setting, receive the first feedback signal indicating a first output power level of the first output signal, compare the first output power level to a threshold level and adjust a tuning between the first transceiver antenna and the second transceiver antenna if the power level of the first feedback signal is below the threshold level.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hermann Thomas Joseph
• Winkel Tye Arthur
• Locke John
• Banasky Jr Lawrence
• Wisnewski Mark

Classifications

• H04W52/18 Primary

  TPC being performed according to specific parameters · CPC title

• G07C2009/00769

  with data transmission performed by wireless means · CPC title

• G07C2009/00984

  fob · CPC title

• G08C2201/63

  Redundant transmissions · CPC title

• G07C2009/00341

  keyless data carrier having more than one limited data transmission ranges · CPC title