Patent ID: 12257978

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a vehicle10that is equipped with a computerized vehicle key absence management (KAM) controller12enabling restart of the vehicle10both when an electronic key fob14is present in the vehicle10, and, under certain conditions, even when the electronic key fob14is absent from the vehicle10. The vehicle10may be any type of vehicle, such as a passenger vehicle, a sport utility vehicle, a pickup truck, etc. The vehicle10has wheels15that may be powered for movement by a powertrain17, which may include an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a battery pack, a fuel cell stack, a transmission, or a combination thereof. In the example shown, the vehicle10is a passenger vehicle having a vehicle body16that defines and encloses an interior space19that may be referred to as an interior cabin. The interior space19also includes any trunk space and other compartments provided in the vehicle10. The vehicle body16includes a plurality of openable and closable doors20through which occupants may enter and exit from the interior space19. As shown inFIGS.2-4, the doors20may each include an openable and closeable window18.FIG.3shows the driver's side door20ofFIG.2in an open position indicated as20A.

The vehicle10is started by placing the powertrain17in an “on” mode such as via a command from an electronic control module (ECM)26. The ECM26is also operatively connected to the KAM controller12. For example, when the powertrain17includes an engine, the “on” mode is when the engine is running. The vehicle operator may depress an on/off button30disposed on a vehicle dashboard32. The on/off button may also be referred to as a start/stop button. When the vehicle10is off, depressing the on/off button30serves as a start request. When the vehicle10is on, depressing the on/off button serves as a shutdown request. Pressing the on/off button30after the vehicle shuts down following a shutdown request is referred to herein as a restart request. The on/off button30may be connected to the KAM controller12by transfer conductors (e.g., wires) or wirelessly to communicate the start request to the KAM controller12. The KAM controller12is operatively connected to ECM26, and the KAM controller12is equipped to authorize and enable powertrain17through commands and information provided to ECM26.

The vehicle10is configured so that if the electronic key fob14is present in the vehicle10(e.g., in the interior space19as shown resting on the console38inFIG.1), depressing the on/off button30in the presence of the authorized electronic key fob14will enable the KAM controller12to authorize and command the ECM26to command the powertrain17to the “on” mode (e.g., start the vehicle10). The vehicle10is referred to as “running” or “on” after it has been started and before it has been shut down. Following the start of the vehicle10with the electronic key fob14present, there are several ways in which the electronic key fob14can become absent from the running vehicle10. For example, when the vehicle10is on and in park, the electronic key fob14may be accidentally or intentionally removed from the vehicle10, such as when one of the doors20is opened and the vehicle operator or another vehicle occupant leaves the vehicle10momentarily and then returns without the electronic key fob14. Alternatively, when the vehicle10is on and in park or out of park with a brake depressed, a vehicle occupant may leave the vehicle10and not return, taking the electronic key fob14with them, such as when the occupant is dropped off at a destination such as the airport. In another example, the vehicle10may be on and in park, and the electronic key fob14may be passed out of an open vehicle window18to a bystander such as when the electronic key fob14is in a bag or jacket which is intentionally being removed from the vehicle. In still another example, the vehicle10may be on, out of park, and in forward or rearward motion, and the electronic key fob14may be accidentally or intentionally discarded from the vehicle10, such as when one of the windows18is open. Out of park may also be referred to as “in gear”.

The KAM controller12is equipped to handle these and other situations to allow a vehicle restart with the now absent electronic key fob14. The KAM controller12may also be operable to implement a key fob missing alert strategy to alert the vehicle operator to the absence of the electronic key fob14so that, perhaps, the electronic key fob14may be retrieved. The KAM controller12may also implement a shift lock strategy that includes shift inhibiting features that also serve as notification to the vehicle operator that the electronic key fob14is not present, although these may be overridden by the vehicle operator in some instances to avoid stranding an authorized vehicle driver.

The vehicle10includes a local wireless communication device (LWCD)34that is equipped to communicate with personal electronic communication devices in the vehicle10via BLUETOOTH® or otherwise, such as with the personal wireless communication device (PWCD)36shown resting on the console38in the vehicle10inFIG.1. The PWCD36may be, but is not limited to, a cellular phone, a tablet, a laptop, or a wearable computing device such as a smart watch. The KAM controller12is operatively connected to the LWCD34. The vehicle10also includes a cellular communications device (CCD)40that is equipped to communicate with a remote server42to receive cellular communications. The CCD40is also operatively connected to the KAM controller12.

The vehicle10includes an operator input device44configured to receive input from a vehicle operator or other vehicle occupant present in the interior space19. The example operator input device44shown includes a touchscreen46, a key board48, a fingerprint pad50, and a microphone62that may be part of a vehicle audio system63. The fingerprint pad50may enable identifying an occupant by their fingerprint. The vehicle10also includes a camera52configured to capture an image of the vehicle occupant to identify the vehicle occupant, and may enable facial recognition and/or retinal recognition of the vehicle occupant. The microphone62may enable voice recognition. The input device44and camera52thus enable data to be provided to the KAM controller12, as the input device44and the camera52are both operatively connected to the KAM controller12.

The vehicle10includes a system56for key absence management in the vehicle10. The system56includes the KAM controller12, the LWCD34, and the CCD40and, in embodiments that include remote access code entry or biometric data as keyless authority indicators as described herein, the system56also includes the input device44and the camera52. In embodiments that do not include remote access code entry or biometric data as keyless authority indicators, the system56need not include an operator input device or a camera.

The KAM controller12executes a method100of key absence management of the vehicle10, illustrated as a flow diagram inFIGS.5A-5B. The KAM controller12is a computerized device including a computerized processor, one or more timers (such as timer60), RAM, and durable memory for storing programming and other system information. The KAM controller12includes an operating system useful for executing stored programs or applications such as the method100. The KAM controller12may include a communications device useful for communication with outside devices or systems, an input/output controller useful for communication with a user and/or other connected devices (such as, for example, the ECM26, the LWCD34, the CCD40, the operator input device44, and the camera52), and a memory device useful for storing data and programming.

The KAM controller12is configured to authorize starting of the vehicle10by monitoring presence and absence of the electronic key fob14in the vehicle10. If the KAM controller12finds the electronic key fob14to be present in the vehicle10, the KAM controller12authorizes starting of the vehicle10when on/off button30is actuated to request starting based on the presence of the electronic key fob14in the vehicle10. However, if the KAM controller12finds the electronic key fob14to be absent from the vehicle10, to prevent vehicle occupants from being stranded due to a lost or unavailable electronic key fob14, the KAM controller12authorizes starting of the vehicle10based on detection of a keyless authority indicator if the request associated with on/off button30activation is associated with a restart event which follows a shutdown during which the electronic key fob14was deemed to be absent from the interior cabin19.

In one example, the keyless authority indicator may be associated with the presence of a PWCD36in the vehicle10both at the time of a last vehicle shutdown request and at the time of a next requested restart. More specifically, if the same PWCD36is present both at the time of a last vehicle shutdown request (or at least after the shutdown request and before actual shutdown) and at the time of a next requested restart, its presence serves as the keyless authority indicator for authorizing restart when detected by the KAM controller12via the LWCD34to which the PWCD36is connected by BLUETOOTH® or otherwise.

The KAM controller12is configured to receive a vehicle shutdown request, such as by the vehicle operator pressing the on/off button30while the vehicle10is running and in park mode. Prior to enabling actual vehicle shutdown, the KAM controller12determines the presence of a PWCD36in the vehicle10, such as by commanding the LWCD34to scan the vehicle for any PWCDs in the vehicle10and communicate an indicator associated with the PWCDs to the KAM controller12. The KAM controller12then stores the indicators associated with each of the PWCDs. Stated differently, each stored indicator is a unique identifier of a specific PWCD36as opposed to any other PWCDs. If multiple PWCDs are present in the vehicle10at the time that the LWCD34scans the vehicle10, a separate, different indicator associated with each PWCD will be stored by the KAM controller12so that any one of the PWCDs may be used to authorize a next subsequent restart with the electronic key fob14absent. The keyless authority indicator on which the subsequent restart is based may then be an identification of the PWCD36associated with the stored indicator being present in the vehicle10when restart is requested. For example, pressing the button30serves as a restart request, which is sensed and acted upon by KAM controller12. The KAM controller12performs electronic scans for the presence of an electronic key fob14. If one or more electronic key fob14devices are detected, starting is authorized and the propulsion system17is enabled to turn on. If an electronic key fob14is not present, the KAM controller12may then command the LWCD34to scan the vehicle10again for any PWCDs and, upon the LWCD34finding the PWCD36to be present and communicating the indicator associated with the PWCD36to the KAM controller12, the KAM controller12communicates a start authorization signal to the ECM26, enabling the propulsion system17.

The KAM controller12may be configured to delay complete vehicle shutdown in the absence of electronic key fob14and wait to store indicators of the PWCDs present until a predetermined period of time has run after the shutdown request, referred to as the restart allowance time period. This timed delay may be implemented because the vehicle10may be configured to maintain the ignition on state while terminating propulsion, and permitting a restart without a keyless authority indicator being required when the restart is requested relatively quickly following a shutdown, (e.g., during that predetermined period of time immediately after the shutdown request). This may be referred to as a restart allowance time period. Accordingly, the KAM controller12may start a timer60included within the KAM controller12when shutdown is requested, and the timer60is run for the restart allowance time period. There is no need for a keyless authority indicator in order to authorize restarting of the vehicle10during the restart allowance time period so the indicators of the PWCDs present are stored after the restart allowance time period.

In another example, the keyless authority indicator may be an access code provided to the KAM controller12by the PWCD36in the vehicle10or by the operator or other vehicle occupant via the touchscreen46or the keyboard48of the operator input device44. The access code may be provided to the PWCD36by the KAM controller12via the LWCD34upon vehicle shutdown for use in the subsequent restart. In another example, if the vehicle operator discovers that the electronic key fob14is not in the vehicle10and therefore cannot start the vehicle10, the operator may use the PWCD36or another communication device to contact a vehicle service that confirms authority of the operator, and the remote server42communicates a grant or confirmation of restart authority to the CCD40which serves as the keyless authority indicator and in turn is communicated by the CCD40to the KAM controller12. In another example, the vehicle may provide an access code on the touchscreen46while the vehicle is in the restart allowance time period. After the conclusion of the period, the access code may be entered via touchscreen46after requesting starting via on/off button30.

In still another example, the keyless authority indicator may be biometric data of a vehicle operator or other vehicle occupant, such as a fingerprint provided via the fingerprint pad50of the operator input device, or facial recognition or a retinal scan provided via the camera52to the KAM controller12.

In some of the above implementations, the KAM controller12may authorize starting of the vehicle10based on the keyless authority indicator a single time. Stated differently, the keyless authority indicator is good for one-time use. Examples include when the keyless authority indicator is based on the presence of the PWCD36in the vehicle10, when the keyless authority indicator is an access code received from the PWCD36as described above, or if biometric data is available.

In addition to managing vehicle restarts in the absence of the electronic key fob14, the system56implements a key fob missing alert strategy that may decrease the potential for an operator to unknowingly further operate the vehicle10without the electronic key fob14present, and may do so based on the power mode of the vehicle, whether in park or out of park, and/or based on the open or closed status of any of the doors20or windows18.

For example, the KAM controller12is configured to receive information indicative of an in park/out of park status of the vehicle10. The ECM26provides signals to the KAM controller12indicative of whether the vehicle10is in park, whether it is out of park, and the speed of the vehicle10(whether stationary or moving). Additionally, sensors are operatively connected to each of the doors20and windows18. The sensors are operatively connected to the KAM controller12and provide sensor signals indicative of an open/closed status of each of the doors20and each of the windows18.

The KAM controller12implements the electronic key fob missing alert strategy to provide audio and/or visual alerts indicative of the absence of the electronic key fob14in the vehicle10and based on the in park/out of park status of the vehicle10and whether any of the doors20or windows18have been opened since the vehicle10has been started. The park, door, and window status is used by KAM controller12to identify cases under which electronic key fob14may have exited the vehicle10and triggers interior scans to determine the key fob status. A slight window opening may not be deemed an open state that triggers alerts under the electronic key fob missing alert strategy. For example, a window may need to open an amount more than a minimal threshold distance that would be sufficient to allow the electronic key fob14to be discarded through the open window before the KAM controller12considers the window18as open and proceeds to scan for electronic key fobs14for which the absence of such would trigger the alerts discussed below. An example threshold distance D is indicated inFIG.4and is measured from a top of the window well to a top edge18A of the lowered window18.

In an example, if the vehicle10is started and in park, then the alerts will inform the operator so that they may then retrieve the electronic key fob14, such as if the operator or another occupant left the vehicle10with the electronic key fob14after the vehicle10was started (as may be indicated to the KAM controller12by a window18or door20moving to the open state after starting the vehicle10) and did not return with the electronic key fob14. In another example, if the vehicle10is out of park, the audio and/or visual alerts will inform the operator that the electronic key fob14has become absent either during movement of the vehicle10or when in gear with the brake depressed. This may happen, for example, if the electronic key fob14has been dropped out of an open window18or was inadvertently left on an exterior surface of vehicle10.

For example, in a situation in which the KAM controller12has determined that the vehicle10is in park, and that a door20or window18has been opened since the vehicle10was started, the KAM controller12will implement a scan to determine whether the electronic key fob14is present in the vehicle10. The scan to determine whether the electronic key fob14is present may be delayed for a set period of time after it is determined that the door20or window18has been opened and/or be delayed until the time that the door20or window18becomes closed. If the operator is already aware that the electronic key fob14is not present, then this may allow a period of time for the operator to retrieve the electronic key fob14or for the electronic key fob14to be passed into the vehicle10through the open window18or door20, for example. If the set period of time passes and the electronic key fob14is not present, then the KAM controller12will command an initial alert such as by commanding the vehicle audio system63to provide, for example, an audible alarm indicating the absence of the electronic key fob14in the vehicle10. In an implementation, the KAM controller12will first wait a period of time after the initial scan for key fob presence and perform a confirmation scan to determine the presence of the electronic key fob14in the vehicle10(e.g., a second scan) and, if the electronic key fob is still not present, only then command the initial alert.

After a set time period following the initial alert, the KAM controller12will determine whether the electronic key fob14is still absent from the vehicle10. If the electronic key fob14is no longer absent (e.g., it has been retrieved and placed in the vehicle10as a result of the initial alert), then the electronic key fob missing alert strategy ends until another door or window is opened, at which point it repeats the above steps. If the electronic key fob14is still absent, then the KAM controller12will implement a secondary alert, which may include a recurring audio alarm indicative of the absence of the electronic key fob14. Additionally or alternatively, any one or more of the following alerts may also be implemented as the secondary alert or as part of the secondary alert: a visual alert on the touchscreen46or elsewhere on the dashboard32, an audio message through the audio system63, a call or text message to the PWCD36in the vehicle10or to a telephone number stored in the KAM controller12(which may be automated, and may provide a message that the electronic key fob14is absent).

If any of the secondary alert(s) provided are acknowledged by the vehicle operator or by another vehicle occupant, the secondary alert (if recurring) will then be inhibited and shifting the vehicle10out of park will be permitted. The implementation of establishing a keyless authority indicator as described herein will then be implemented at or when vehicle shutdown is requested and can then be used for restart authorization as described above.

The KAM controller12may implement a shift lock strategy wherein, if the secondary alert is not acknowledged by the vehicle operator, shifting out of park will be inhibited unless the vehicle operator completes a shift lock override process. For example, the shift lock override process may require the vehicle operator to press a vehicle brake for at least a predetermined amount of time to allow the vehicle10to be shifted out of park. The predetermined amount of time may be monitored by the timer60. The predetermined amount of time is prolonged in comparison to the amount of time that the brake is pressed when the electronic key fob14is present in the vehicle10to shift out of park. In addition to the prolonged brake press, the shift lock override process may require the vehicle operator to specifically confirm a request shift lock override, such as by confirming whether shift lock override is requested via input to the operator input device44.

In a situation in which the KAM controller12has determined that the vehicle10is out of park, the electronic key fob missing alert strategy is implemented to address a situation in which the electronic key fob14has gone missing at some point after the vehicle10has been shifted out of park. For example, a window18may have been opened while the vehicle10is moving (or a window18or door20may have been opened while the vehicle10is stopped but not in park, such as at a stop light) or a passenger may have unlocked and exited the vehicle10with the electronic key fob14while the vehicle remained out of park. After determining that a door20or window18has been opened, the KAM controller12will implement a scan to determine whether the electronic key fob14is present in the vehicle10(e.g., will direct the LWCD34to conduct the scan). If the electronic key fob14is not present, the KAM controller12will implement an alert such as the recurring audio alarm indicative of the absence of the electronic key fob14. Additionally, any one or more of the following alerts may also be implemented as part of the electronic key fob missing alert: a visual alert on the touchscreen46or elsewhere on the dashboard32, or an audio message through the audio system63. The alert strategy for when the vehicle10is out of park differs from that discussed above and provided when the vehicle is in park in that there is no staged alert strategy including an initial alert and secondary alert. Additionally, in one implementation, the alerts provided when the vehicle is out of park may not include the option of a call or text message to the PWCD36in the vehicle10.

If any of the alert(s) provided are acknowledged by the vehicle operator or by another vehicle occupant, the alert, if recurring, will then be inhibited. The implementation of establishing a keyless authority indicator as described herein will then be implemented at or when vehicle shutdown is requested and can then be used for restart authorization as described above.

Referring toFIGS.5A and5B, in implementations in which the presence of a PWCD36both associated with the preceding vehicle shutdown and the next vehicle restart as described above, the method100of key absence management of the vehicle10begins prior to the vehicle shutdown preceding the vehicle restart in which a keyless authority indicator will be used. In any implementations in which the keyless authority indicator is only an access code or the biometric data, the method100may skip steps116-126described herein.

The method100begins at the Start102, in which the ignition of the vehicle10is on. It is assumed that at the Start102, the vehicle10has been started with the electronic key fob14. The method100proceeds to step104, in which the KAM controller12receives the in park/out of park status of the vehicle10, as discussed above. The method100also includes determining the open/closed status of the door(s)20and window(s)18in step106.

Next, the method100proceeds to step108, in which it is determined whether the electronic key fob14is in the vehicle10. If it is determined that the electronic key fob14is not in the vehicle10, the method may include step110, implementing the electronic key fob missing alert strategy discussed above, which varies dependent upon the in park/out of park status of the vehicle10and the open/closed status of the window(s)18and door(s)20as discussed above. Additionally, if the vehicle is in park, the method100may include implementing the shift lock strategy in step112, including the shift lock override steps described above.

The method100then repeat steps104through114(and step112if the vehicle10) remains in park) until the KAM controller12receives a vehicle shutdown request in step114. When shutdown is requested in step114, the method100may proceed immediately to step116to determine the presence of one or more PWCDs36in the vehicle10as described above. Alternatively, in some implementations, the method100may implement the restart allowance time period described above by proceeding to steps118,120, and122before performing step116. There is no need for a keyless authority indicator in order to authorize restarting of the vehicle10during the restart allowance time period. Accordingly, the KAM controller12may start the timer60in step118. If a restart is requested in step120before the restart allowance time period has expired in step122, then restart is authorized, and the method100returns to Start102. If restart is not requested before the restart allowance time period expires in step122, then the method100proceeds to step116.

If the presence of one or more PWCDs36in the vehicle10is determined in step116, then the method100proceeds to step124in which the KAM controller12stores the indicator of any PWCDs36determined to be present in step116, and then to step126in which a one-time use of the PWCD36as a keyless authorization indicator is activated. The method100then proceeds to step128and the vehicle10is shutdown.

The flow diagram inFIG.5Acontinues inFIG.5Bwith Position A indicated inFIG.5Acorresponding with Position A indicated inFIG.5B. At step130, the KAM controller12receives a request for the next vehicle restart following the shutdown in step128in which the electronic key fob14was not present. The method100proceeds to step132to monitor whether the electronic key fob14is present in the vehicle10. If the electronic key fob14is present, the method100proceeds directly to step136and authorizes starting of the vehicle10. If it is determined in step132that the electronic key fob14is not present in the vehicle10, then the method100proceeds to step134to detect any of the keyless authority indicators discussed herein. These include at least one of: an identification of the presence in the vehicle10of the PWCD36associated with the stored indicator of step124, an access code received from the PWCD36or another PWCD in the vehicle10or via the operator input device44, authorization granted via interaction of the CCD40with the remote server42, or biometric data of the vehicle operator or other occupant retrieved by the operator input device44, the camera52, or the microphone62as described herein. If any keyless authority indicator is detected, then the method100proceeds to step136and authorizes starting of the vehicle10in the absence of the electronic key fob14. The method100then moves to step138in which it returns to Start102. If at step134a keyless authority indicator is not present, the method100returns to step130, awaiting a subsequent restart request.

Accordingly, the system56and method100described herein selectively authorize operation of the vehicle10(e.g., restarting the vehicle10after a shutdown in which the electronic key fob14was not present in the vehicle10) in a secure manner by limiting the conditions under which restart is authorized. Additionally, the system56and the method100help to minimize the possibility of an operator inadvertently leaving a key fob14behind by providing an alert management strategy that may be based in part on the in park/out of park status of the vehicle10and/or the open/closed status of a door20or window18of the vehicle10as described herein.

While the best modes for carrying out the disclosure have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this disclosure relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the disclosure within the scope of the appended claims.