Keyless vehicle systems
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorVenkatesh Krishnan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A keyless vehicle entry and start system for motor vehicles includes an input device such as a keypad and a backup electrical power supply to unlock the door latch in the event the primary power supply fails, thereby eliminating the need for a lock cylinder. The door latch system is configured to supply electrical power from the primary electrical power supply to unlock the latch upon receiving a signal from a mobile phone, and to supply electrical power from the backup electrical power supply to unlock the latch if an authorized code is input via the keypad. The system is configured to communicate with a portable wireless device such as a smartphone utilizing various frequency bands. The system permits entry and operation of a vehicle utilizing only a smartphone.
Claims20
A keyless entry and keyless ignition system for vehicles, comprising:
- a vehicle latch including an electrically powered lock;
- an exterior vehicle handle having a sensor that is configured to generate a signal if a user's hand is detected;
- a keyless vehicle ignition system including a user input feature;
- an electrical power supply operably connected to the electrically powered lock;
- a vehicle control and communication system including first and second wireless transmitters and receivers, wherein the first transmitter and the first receiver are configured to transmit and receive short range wireless signals to and from, respectively, a wireless device, and wherein the second transmitter and second receiver are configured to transmit and receive cellular wireless signals to a cellular phone network;
- wherein the control and communication system is configured to receive cellular wireless signals utilizing the second transmitter, and wherein the control and communication system is configured to send a short range wireless verification signal request utilizing the first transmitter if a predefined cellular wireless signal is received by the second receiver;
- wherein the control and communication system is configured to unlock the electrically powered lock if an authorized wireless identification signal is received from an authorized wireless mobile cellular device and if the sensor detects a user's hand;
- and wherein the control and communication system is configured to activate the keyless vehicle ignition system upon receiving a signal from the user input feature if an authorized wireless identification signal is received from an authorized wireless mobile cellular device.
A method of providing keyless entry operation of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a vehicle having a latch, the latch including an electrically powered lock, wherein the vehicle further includes an exterior vehicle handle, and a keyless vehicle ignition system including a user input feature;
- providing the vehicle with an integrated vehicle control and communication system including a receiver that is configured to receive cellular wireless signals from a smartphone,
- configuring a smartphone to generate a wireless security signal to thereby authorize the smartphone;
- configuring the control and communication system to unlock the latch if an authorized wireless security signal is received from an authorized smartphone;
- configuring the control and communication system to permit vehicle operation if an authorized security signal is received and the user input feature is actuated.
A method of operating a vehicle having doors, the method comprising:
- configuring a smartphone to generate a wireless security signal;
- providing a vehicle having a wireless receiver;
- causing a vehicle security system to unlock at least one door if the wireless receiver receives a wireless security signal from a smartphone;
- causing the vehicle to actuate a vehicle ignition to permit operation of the vehicle if the receiver receives a wireless security signal from a smartphone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.