USER PROXIMITY DETECTION FOR ACTIVATING VEHICLE CONVENIENCE FUNCTIONS

摘要

A convenience controller activates a small zone high location precision welcoming detecting function (with high current utilization) in response to a detected arrival of an authorized user into a larger zone low location precision welcoming detecting function (with low current utilization) approach region around a vehicle. A short range transmitter broadcasts a polling signal covering the region. The short range transmitter has an approach pending mode wherein the polling signal is broadcast according to a first predetermined repetition and a baseline mode wherein the polling signal is broadcast according to a lower repetition. The short range transmitter has a first power drain in the approach pending mode. A wireless communication system is configured to monitor for user activity outside the approach region corresponding to a potential user entry into the approach region, wherein monitoring by the wireless communication system has a lower power drain. If the short range transmitter is in the baseline mode when the user activity is detected, then the short range transmitter switches to the approach pending mode.

主权项

1. Vehicle apparatus comprising:
a convenience controller activating a user welcoming function in response to a detected arrival of an authorized user of a vehicle into an approach region around the vehicle; a short range transmitter broadcasting a polling signal covering the approach region and having an approach pending mode wherein the polling signal is broadcast according to a first predetermined repetition and a baseline mode wherein the polling signal is broadcast according to a second predetermined repetition which is lower than the first predetermined repetition, and wherein the short range transmitter operating in the approach pending mode has a first power drain; and a wireless communication system configured to monitor for user activity outside the approach region corresponding to a potential entry into the approach region, wherein monitoring by the wireless communication system has a second power drain less than the first power drain; wherein if the short range transmitter is in the baseline mode when the user activity is detected, then the short range transmitter switches to the approach pending mode.