Keyless vehicle systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9725069-B2
Application number	US-201514880377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2015
Priority date	Oct 12, 2015
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A keyless vehicle entry and start system for motor vehicles includes an input device such as a keypad and a backup electrical power supply to unlock the door latch in the event the primary power supply fails, thereby eliminating the need for a lock cylinder. The door latch system is configured to supply electrical power from the primary electrical power supply to unlock the latch upon receiving a signal from a mobile phone, and to supply electrical power from the backup electrical power supply to unlock the latch if an authorized code is input via the keypad. The system is configured to communicate with a portable wireless device such as a smartphone utilizing various frequency bands. The system permits entry and operation of a vehicle utilizing only a smartphone.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A keyless entry and keyless ignition system for vehicles, comprising:
a vehicle latch including an electrically powered lock;
an exterior vehicle handle having a capacitive sensor;
a keyless vehicle ignition system including a user input feature; and
a main electrical power supply operably connected to the electrically powered lock;
a backup electrical power supply that is configured to provide electrical power to actuate and unlock the electrically powered lock in the event the main electrical power supply is unavailable;
an exterior device configured to permit entry of an authorization code by a user;
a vehicle control and communication system including a GPS system and first and second wireless transmitters and receivers, wherein the first transmitter and the first receiver are configured to transmit and receive short range wireless signals to and from, respectively, a wireless device, and wherein the second transmitter and second receiver are configured to transmit and receive cellular wireless signals to a cellular phone network;
wherein the vehicle control and communication system is configured to provide a dormant mode in which short range wireless signals are not sent or received by the first transmitter and first receiver, respectively, and an awake mode in which the first transmitter and first receiver transmit and receive, respectively, short range wireless signals;
wherein the control and communication system is configured to receive cellular wireless signals including GPS location data utilizing the second transmitter when the control and communication system is in the dormant mode, and wherein the control and communication system is configured to switch to the active mode and send a short range wireless verification signal request utilizing the first transmitter if a cellular wireless wakeup signal is received by the second receiver;
wherein the control and communication system is configured to unlock the electrically powered latch if an authorized wireless identification signal is received from an authorized wireless mobile cellular device and if the capacitive sensor detects a user's hand engaging the exterior vehicle handle;
wherein the control and communication system is configured to activate the keyless vehicle ignition system upon receiving a signal from the user input feature if an authorized wireless identification signal is received from an authorized wireless mobile cellular device;
and wherein the control and communication system causes the vehicle latch to unlock utilizing electrical power from either the main electrical power supply or the backup electrical power supply if an authorized security code is input using the exterior device.

2. The keyless entry and keyless ignition system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second transmitter and the second receiver are configured to transmit and receive, respectively, wireless signals at about 824-896 MHz and/or 1850-1990 MHz.

3. The keyless entry and keyless ignition system of claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle latch defines an inner zone having a first boundary extending around the vehicle latch;
the keyless entry and keyless ignition system defines an outer zone having a second boundary that extends around the first boundary at a greater distance from the vehicle latch; and
the control and communication system is configured to switch from the awake mode to the dormant mode if an authorized cellular device is not detected within the outer zone for a period of time exceeding a predefined period of time.

4. The keyless entry and keyless ignition system of claim 3 , wherein:
the predefined period of time is at least five minutes.

5. The keyless entry and keyless ignition system of claim 3 , wherein:
the control and communication system is configured to continue to receive wireless cellular signals from a mobile cellular device when the mobile cellular device is outside the outer zone.

6. The keyless entry and keyless ignition system of claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle latch defines an inner zone having a first boundary extending around the vehicle latch;
the keyless entry and keyless ignition system defines an outer zone having a second boundary that extends around the first boundary at a greater distance from the vehicle latch;
if the keyless entry and keyless ignition system receives a wireless cellular wake up signal from a wireless mobile cellular device and switches to the active mode, the keyless entry and keyless ignition system does not unlock the electrically powered latch unless an authorized wireless mobile device is within the inner zone.

7. The keyless entry and keyless ignition system of claim 6 , wherein:
the keyless entry and keyless ignition system includes a passive entry, passive start (PEPS) module defining active and inactive states; and
the keyless entry and keyless ignition system includes a WiFi module comprising the second transmitter and the second receiver; and
the WiFi module activates the PEPS module if an authorized short range wireless signal is received by the first receiver.

8. The keyless entry and keyless ignition system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second transmitter and the second receiver are configured to transmit and receive long range wireless cellular signals directly with a wireless mobile cellular device without the use of cellular towers.

9. The keyless entry and keyless ignition system of claim 8 , wherein:
the keyless entry and keyless ignition system is configured to transmit and receive wireless signals in the 800 MHz and/or 1900 MHz band directly with a wireless mobile cellular device.

10. The keyless entry and keyless ignition system of claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle latch defines an inner zone having a first boundary extending around the vehicle latch;
the keyless entry and keyless ignition system defines an outer zone having a second boundary that extends around the first boundary at a greater distance from the vehicle latch; and
the keyless entry and keyless ignition system is configured to transmit and receive wireless signals in the 800 MHz and/or 1900 MHz band directly with a wireless mobile cellular device that is outside the second boundary.

11. The keyless entry and keyless ignition system of claim 1 , wherein:
the exterior device comprises a plurality of touch pads.

12. A keyless entry and keyless ignition system for vehicles, comprising:
a vehicle latch including an electrically powered lock;
an exterior vehicle handle having a capacitive sensor;
a keyless vehicle ignition system including a user input feature;
a main electrical power supply operably connected to the electrically powered lock;
a backup electrical power supply that is configured to provide electrical power to actuate and unlock the electrically powered lock in the event the main electrical power supply is unavailable;
an exterior identification device that is configured to determine if a user is authorized; and
a vehicle control and communication system including first and second wireless transmitters and receivers, wherein the first transmitter and the first receiver are configured to transmit and receive short range wireless signals to and from, respectively, a wireless device, and wherein the second transmitter and second receiver are configured to transmit and receive cellular wireless signals to a cellular phone network;
wherein the vehicle control and communication system is configured to provide a dormant mode in which short range wireless signals are not sent or received by the first transmitter and first receiver, respectively, and an awake mode in which the first transmitter and first receiver transmit and recei

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Krishnan Venkatesh

Classifications

• E05B81/78

  as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation · CPC title

• E05B81/04 Primary

  Electrical (electrical circuits E05B81/54) · CPC title

• E05B81/76

  Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles · CPC title

• E05B81/82

  using batteries other than the vehicle main battery · CPC title

• B60R2325/103

  Near field communication [NFC] · CPC title