# US 11,113,953 B2 · Vehicle-paired device range extension method and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,113,953 B2 - Document ID: US11113953B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/265,007 - Filed: 2016-09-14 - Published: 2018-03-15 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-14 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Charles Everett Badger, II - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11113953B2 ## CPC - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - B60L 53/68: Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control - H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries - H02J 7/971: {the charge cycle being controlled or terminated in response to non-electric parameters} - H04B 7/145: Passive relay systems - H04B 7/15507: {Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, (network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04)} - H04W 76/14: Direct-mode setup - B60L 2250/12: by confirmation, e.g. of the input - H02J 7/42: with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones - H02J 2105/37: exchanging power with electric vehicles [EV] or with hybrid electric vehicles [HEV] - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - Y02T 90/12: Electric charging stations - Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric 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 30/12: Remote or cooperative charging - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - 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 An exemplary method of controlling a vehicle from a remote location includes receiving a first signal from a vehicle-paired device and initiating a vehicle function in response to the first signal. The first signal is sent by the vehicle-paired device in response to a second signal sent from a secondary triggering device. An exemplary range extending system includes a vehicle-paired device configured to transmit a first signal to a vehicle, and a secondary triggering device that transmits a second signal to the vehicle-paired device to initiate a transmission of the first signal from the vehicle-paired device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling a vehicle from a remote location, comprising: receiving, at a vehicle, a first signal from a vehicle-paired device within a wireless communication range of the vehicle and initiating a vehicle function in response to the first signal, the first signal sent by the vehicle-paired device in response to a second signal sent from a secondary triggering device that is outside the wireless communication range, the first signal is a wireless communication signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-paired device is in a first location remote from the vehicle and the secondary triggering device is in a second location remote from the vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second locations are within an interior of a building, wherein the second location is further from the vehicle than the first location. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a radio communication system of the vehicle can receive the first signal and then initiate the vehicle function when the vehicle-paired device is within the communication range, the radio communication system of the vehicle cannot receive the first signal and then initiate the vehicle function when the vehicle-paired device is outside the communication range. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal is communicated from the secondary triggering device to the vehicle-paired device via a local area network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the vehicle function comprise stopping a charging procedure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the vehicle-paired device is configured such that a user can interact directly with the vehicle-pared device to initiate a stopping of the charging procedure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein a user interacts with the secondary triggering device to send the second signal, and further comprising, after stopping the charging procedure, the user uses a powered device, wherein the powered device and a charging station that charges the vehicle during the charging procedure both draw power from the same circuit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary triggering device is part of a home control system, and the vehicle-paired device is a non-keyfob device mounted in a fixed position within a home having the home control system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary triggering device and the vehicle are unpaired. ### Claim 11 A range extending system, comprising: a vehicle-paired device configured to transmit a first signal to a vehicle when within a communication range of the vehicle; and a secondary triggering device that transmits a second signal from outside the communication range to the vehicle-paired device to initiate a transmission of the first signal from the vehicle-paired device, the first signal is a wireless communication signal, wherein the secondary triggering device is part of a home control system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The range extending system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle-paired device is a non-key fob device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The range extending system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle-paired device is mounted in a fixed position outside the vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The range extending system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle-paired device is in a first position within the communication range of the vehicle, and the secondary triggering device is in a second position that is outside the communication range, wherein the first and second locations are within an interior of a building. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The range extending system of claim 11, wherein the secondary triggering device is remote from the vehicle-paired device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The range extending system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle-paired device is configured such that the vehicle-paired device can transmit a third signal to the vehicle in response to a user interacting directly with the vehicle-paired device, the vehicle stopping a charge of a traction battery in response to the third signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The range extending system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle-paired device includes a first radio communication system to communicate the first signal to the vehicle and a separate, second radio communication system to communicate with the secondary triggering device. ### Claim 18 A range extending system, comprising: a vehicle-paired device configured to transmit a first signal to a vehicle when within a communication range of the vehicle; a secondary triggering device that transmits a second signal from outside the communication range to the vehicle-paired device to initiate a transmission of the first signal from the vehicle-paired device, the first signal is a wireless communication signal; and the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is configured to initiate a vehicle function in response to the first signal, wherein the first signal is a wireless command of a wireless technology standard. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The range extending system of claim 18, wherein the vehicle function comprises stopping a charge station charging a traction battery of the vehicle, wherein a powered device outside of the communication range and the charge station are powered by a common power circuit.