Status tests of wireless communication nodes of vehicles
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJohn Robert Van Wiemeersch, David McNabb, Kevin Thomas Hille, Vivekanandh Elangovan, Timothy Thivierge, Jr.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus are disclosed for status tests of wireless communication nodes of vehicles. An example vehicle includes communication nodes including a first node and a second node. The first node is to send a first of test signals to and receive a second of the test signals from the second node. The example vehicle also includes a controller to determine signal strengths of the test signals and at least partially disable passive entry passive start responsive to determining one or more of the communication nodes is impaired based upon the signal strengths.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- communication nodes including a first node and a second node, the first node to send a first of test signals to and receive a second of the test signals from the second node, the communication nodes include an exterior node configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device to initiate passive entry into a vehicle cabin;
- and
- a controller to:
- determine signal strengths of the test signals;
- and
- at least partially disable passive entry passive start responsive to determining one or more of the communication nodes is impaired based upon the signal strengths.
A vehicle of comprising:
- communication nodes including a first node and a second node, the first node to send a first of test signals to and receive a second of the test signals from the second node, the communication nodes include an interior node configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device within a vehicle cabin to initiate passive start of a vehicle engine;
- and
- a controller to:
- determine signal strengths of the test signals;
- and
- at least partially disable passive entry passive start responsive to determining one or more of the communication nodes is impaired based upon the signal strengths.
A vehicle comprising:
- communication nodes including a first node and a second node, the first node to send a first of test signals to and receive a second of the test signals from the second node;
- a controller to:
- determine signal strengths of the test signals;
- and
- at least partially disable passive entry passive start responsive to determining one or more of the communication nodes is impaired based upon the signal strengths;
- and
- an ignition switch sensor to monitor a status of a vehicle engine, the communication nodes to send the test signals responsive to the ignition switch sensor detecting a status change of the vehicle engine.
A vehicle comprising:
- communication nodes including a first node and a second node, the first node to send a first of test signals to and receive a second of the test signals from the second node;
- a controller to:
- determine signal strengths of the test signals;
- and
- at least partially disable passive entry passive start responsive to determining one or more of the communication nodes is impaired based upon the signal strengths;
- and
- an impact sensor to monitor for a vehicle collision event and a hard braking event, the communication nodes to send the test signals responsive to the impact sensor detecting at least one of the vehicle collision event and the hard braking event.
A vehicle comprising:
- communication nodes including a first node and a second node, the first node to send a first of test signals to and receive a second of the test signals from the second node;
- a controller to:
- determine signal strengths of the test signals;
- and
- at least partially disable passive entry passive start responsive to determining one or more of the communication nodes is impaired based upon the signal strengths;
- and
- a sensor configured to record at least one of a temperature measurement and a humidity measurement that is utilized by the controller to normalize the signal strengths with baselines readings.
A method comprising:
- sending a first of test signals from a first node to a second node of communication nodes;
- receiving a second of the test signals at the first node from the second node;
- determining, via a processor, signal strengths of the test signals;
- and
- at least partially disabling passive entry passive start responsive to determining one or more of the communication nodes is impaired based upon the signal strengths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.