# US 10,312,721 B2 · Vehicle unlocking systems devices and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,312,721 B2 - Document ID: US10312721B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/615,600 - Filed: 2017-06-06 - Published: 2018-12-06 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-06 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: David Joseph Orris; Nunzio DeCia; Stephen Jay Orris; David A. Herman; Howard Paul Tsvi Linden; Nicholas Alexander Scheufler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312721B2 ## CPC - B60R 16/03: for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} - B60R 25/24: using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user - B60R 25/403: {Power supply in the vehicle} - G07C 9/00309: {operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks} - G07C 9/00896: {specially adapted for particular uses} - G07C 9/20: involving the use of a pass - H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling - H02J 50/90: involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment - B60R 2325/103: Near field communication [NFC] - B60R 2325/205: Mobile phones - G07C 2009/00579: {Power supply for the keyless data carrier} - G07C 2009/00603: {by power transmission from lock} - H02J 7/42: with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones - H02J 7/47: Arrangements for checking compatibility or authentication between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source - H02J 2105/33: exchanging power with road vehicles - Y02T 90/167: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV] - Y04S 30/14: Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for unlocking a vehicle. An example vehicle includes a power system, a remote unlock system controlled by a remote unlocking device, and a door applique. The door applique comprises a wireless charger coupled to the power system, configured to charge the remote unlocking device, and a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device, wherein the wireless charger is configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a limited time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a power system; a remote unlock system controlled by a remote unlocking device; and a door applique comprising: a wireless charger coupled to the power system and configured to charge the remote unlocking device until a predetermined period elapses, wherein the predetermined period is less than a total amount of period required to charge the remote unlocking device from empty to full; and a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wireless charger is further configured to charge the remote unlocking device outside the vehicle while the vehicle is locked. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wireless charger is embedded in the door applique. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wireless charger comprises a charge coil positioned less than 3 mm from an outside surface of the door applique. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period is a first period, and wherein the wireless charger is further configured to, responsive to a second period elapsing subsequent to the first period, enable the remote unlocking device or a different remote unlocking device to be charged by the wireless charger. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the second period is longer than the first period. ### Claim 7 A vehicle comprising: a power system; a remote unlock system controlled by a remote unlocking device; and a door applique comprising: a wireless charger coupled to the power system, configured to charge the remote unlocking device; and a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device; wherein the wireless charger is configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a limited time, and wherein the ridge is positioned above a handle of a door of the vehicle, and is configured to align a battery of the remote unlocking device with a charge coil of the wireless charger. ### Claim 8 A vehicle comprising: a power system; a remote unlock system controlled by a remote unlocking device; and a door applique comprising: a wireless charger coupled to the power system, configured to charge the remote unlocking device; and a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device; wherein the wireless charger is configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a limited time, and wherein the wireless charger is further configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a maximum of two minutes in a ten minute time interval. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wireless charger is further configured to authenticate the remote unlocking device and responsively charge the remote unlocking device. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: wirelessly charging a remote unlocking device with a wireless charger until a predetermined period elapses, wherein the predetermined period is less than a total amount of a period required to charge the remote unlocking device from empty to full, wherein the remote unlocking device controls a remote unlock system of the vehicle; and unlocking the vehicle with the remote unlocking device; wherein the wireless charger is coupled to a door applique of the vehicle having a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless charger is further configured to charge the remote unlocking device outside the vehicle while the vehicle is locked. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless charger is embedded in the door applique. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless charger comprises a charge coil positioned less than 3 mm from an outside surface of the door applique. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: authenticating the remote unlocking device; and responsively charging the remote unlocking device after authentication. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: wirelessly charging a remote unlocking device with a wireless charger, wherein the remote unlocking device controls a remote unlock system of a vehicle; and unlocking the vehicle with the remote unlocking device; wherein the wireless charger is coupled to a door applique of the vehicle having a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device, and wherein the wireless charger is configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a limited time, and wherein the ridge is positioned above a handle of a door of the vehicle, the method further comprising: aligning a battery of the remote unlocking device with a charge coil of the wireless charger. ### Claim 16 A method comprising: wirelessly charging a remote unlocking device with a wireless charger, wherein the remote unlocking device controls a remote unlock system of a vehicle; and unlocking the vehicle with the remote unlocking device; wherein the wireless charger is coupled to a door applique of the vehicle having a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device, and wherein the wireless charger is configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a limited time, and wherein wirelessly charging a remote unlocking device comprises wirelessly charging the remote unlocking device for a maximum of two minutes in a ten minute time interval. ### Claim 17 A vehicle door applique comprising: a wireless charger coupled to a power system of the vehicle, configured to charge a remote unlocking device of the vehicle until a predetermined period elapses, wherein the predetermined period is less than a total amount of period required to charge the remote unlocking device from empty to full; and a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle door applique of claim 17, wherein the wireless charger is further configured to charge the remote unlocking device outside the vehicle while the vehicle is locked. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The vehicle door applique of claim 17, wherein the wireless charger comprises a charge coil positioned less than 3 mm from an outside surface of the door applique. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The vehicle door applique of claim 17, wherein the wireless charger is further configured to authenticate the remote unlocking device and responsively charge the remote unlocking device. ### Claim 21 A vehicle door applique comprising: a wireless charger coupled to a power system of the vehicle, configured to charge a remote unlocking device of the vehicle; and a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device; wherein the wireless charger is configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a limited time, and wherein the ridge is positioned above a handle of a door of the vehicle, and is configured to align a battery of the remote unlocking device with a charge coil of the wireless charger. ### Claim 22 A vehicle door applique comprising: a wireless charger coupled to a power system of the vehicle, configured to charge a remote unlocking device of the vehicle; and a ride configured to engage the remote unlocking device; wherein the wireless charger is configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a limited time, and wherein the wireless charger is further configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a maximum of two minutes in a ten minute time interval.