Patent ID: 9623839
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: B60R

Claim:
1. A method for operating a motor vehicle having a first detection device detecting radio waves transmitted by a wireless key and a second detection device having a smaller detection range than the first detection device for the wireless key, comprising: detecting operation of an operator control element indicating a request for change in operation status of the motor vehicle; performing a first search process by processing the radio waves in the first detection device in response to said detecting; performing, when the wireless key associated with the motor vehicle has not been found by the first search process, a second search process from a fallback instant using the first and second detection devices one of continuously and intermittently and one of in parallel and alternately; performing, at a switching instant when the wireless key associated with the motor vehicle has not been found for at least one of a predetermined period of time and a predetermined number of search processes using the first and second search processes after the fallback instant, a third search process using only the second detection device; and operating a control device in the motor vehicle after detection of the wireless key.