Orientation independent antennas with direction finding for remote keyless entry
AssigneeAntenum, Inc.
InventorsJohn T. Apostolos, William Mouyos, James D. Logan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved remote keyless entry (RKE) system for a vehicle to provide enhanced capabilities to a user. The improved RKE system may utilize directional antennas in the vehicle and in the FOB. Directional antennas may utilize devices equipped with orientation-independent antennas to determine the location. The system can exist in many different customizable configurations, sometimes utilizing orientation-independent antennas embedded in the vehicle or the FOB. The devices, systems and methods described herein may be used for an RKE in personal or commercial vehicles.
Claims7
A method for remote keyless entry direction finding comprising:
- receiving, at an array of orthogonal antenna elements, a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted by a remote wireless device;
- detecting by a processor the received RF signal to determine positional data representative of a relative direction and distance of the remote control wireless device with respect to a vehicle;
- forwarding the positional data to an in-vehicle processing unit;
- the in-vehicle processing unit further configured for receiving status data representing a current state of one or more systems or components within the vehicle;
- and
- comparing by the in-vehicle processing unit the positional data and the status data to determine a subsequent action to be taken by at least one component or system associated with the vehicle or the remote wireless device;
- wherein the array of orthogonal antenna elements further comprises two mirror image antennas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.