Key fob transmission compensation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9807704-B2
Application number	US-201514672521-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2015
Priority date	Mar 30, 2015
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A method for adjusting a power setting of a key fob includes receiving an input signal from a sensor by a processor. The processor determines, based at least in part on the input from the sensor, that a person is holding the key fob. Based on the determination that the person is holding the key fob, the processor adjusts an initial power setting of the key fob by a predetermined amount.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a processor in a key fob, a detection signal from at least one sensor;
determining that an object is proximate a transceiver antenna in the key fob based at least in part on the detection signal from the at least one sensor; and
adjusting an initial power setting of a transmitter in the key fob by an adjustment factor as a result of determining that the object is proximate the transceiver antenna.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the initial power setting is determined from calibration data.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment factor is based on empirical data.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the initial power setting includes selecting the adjustment factor from a table of predetermined adjustment factors, wherein the selection is based at least in part on the detection signal from the at least one sensor.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the object is proximate the transceiver antenna includes determining whether the object is proximate a right side or a left side of the key fob.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the key fob has a first transceiver antenna and a second transceiver antenna, further comprising:
determining a tuning between the first and second transceiver antennas for transmitting a first output signal based on the determination of whether the object is proximate the right side or the left side of the key fob.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the processor, an operator input signal from an operator interface on the key fob; and
activating at least one sensor based on the operator input signal.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
activating an operator interface based at least in part on the determination that the object is proximate the key fob.

9. A key fob comprising:
a memory device;
at least one sensor programmed to output a detection signal; and
a processor programmed to access the memory device and further programmed to receive the detection signal, determine that an object is proximate a transceiver antenna in the key fob based at least in part on the detection signal, and adjust an initial power setting of a transmitter in the key fob by an adjustment factor if the processor determines that the object is proximate the transceiver antenna.

10. The key fob of claim 9 , wherein the initial power setting is determined from calibration data.

11. The key fob of claim 9 , wherein the adjustment factor is based on empirical data.

12. The key fob of claim 9 , wherein the processor is programmed to select the adjustment factor from a table of predetermined adjustment factors based at least in part on the detection signal.

13. The key fob of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
determine, based at least in part on the input detection signal whether the object is proximate a right side or a left side of the key fob.

14. The key fob of claim 13 , further comprising a first transceiver antenna and a second transceiver antenna, wherein the processor is further programmed to determine a tuning between the first and second transceiver antennas for a transmitting a first output signal based on the determination of whether the object is proximate the right side or the left side of the key fob.

15. The key fob of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
receive an operator input signal from an operator interface on the key fob; and
activate the at least one sensor based on the operator input signal.

16. The key fob of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
activate an operator interface based at least in part on the determination that the object is proximate the transceiver antenna.

17. The key fob of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
receive a signal representing a battery state-of-charge; and
determine the adjustment factor based at least in part on the battery state-of-charge.

18. The key fob of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further programmed to transmit a message representing the battery state-of-charge.

19. The key fob of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
receive a signal representing a battery state-of-charge; and
adjust based at least in part on the battery state-of-charge a tuning between a first and a second transceiver antenna.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H04W52/28

  using user profile, e.g. mobile speed, priority or network state, e.g. standby, idle or non-transmission · CPC title

• H04W52/22

  taking into account previous information or commands · CPC title

• H04B1/3827

  Portable transceivers · CPC title

• H04W52/281

  taking into account user or data type priority · CPC title

• G07C9/00309

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