HANDS-FREE TRUNK RELEASE AND VEHICLE ENTRY

摘要

A remote keyless entry system including a keyless fob having a transmitter for remote transmission of a semi-passive function control signal to an automobile in which the user does not have to manually actuate the fob while it transitions with the user from a point outside of its semi-passive range with respect to the automobile to a point within its semi-passive range. The user need only actuate the semi-passive signal transmission once and it is repetitively transmitted for a given amount of time whereby the trunk lid for example of the user's automobile will open as the user and the keyless fob move into a predetermined range from the automobile. A vehicle receive may initiate the function only once despite receiving repeated transmissions of the semi-passive function control signal from the fob within the semi-passive range.

主权项

1. A keyless fob for use in a remote keyless entry system including a receiver, the receiver being mounted in a vehicle having a function, the fob comprising:
a manual signal actuator; and a transmitter configured to:
transmit a manual signal for initiating a function in response to manual actuation of the signal actuator for a manual mode; andrepetitively transmit a semi-passive signal for a predetermined period of time for initiating the function in response to manual actuation of the signal actuator for a semi-passive mode, the semi-passive signal including a message indicating the semi-passive signal is for semi-passive functionality, wherein a vehicle is adapted to initiate the function only once in response to receipt of the semi-passive signal by a receiver while the fob is spaced from the receiver by no more than a predetermined semi-passive range, and wherein the predetermined period of time corresponds to an amount of time that enables hands-free initiation of the function after manual actuation of the signal actuator for the semi-passive mode outside of the semi-passive range.