Jaguar Land Rover Limited

Howard Siswick

Mohammed Khan

John Davies

Sean Edwards

David Waddell

An access control system () for a vehicle () having at least one access system associated with a closure () of the vehicle (), the access control system () comprising one or more controllers (), the access control system configured to receive a first signal () from an associated user device (), the first signal () being indicative that the user device () is beyond a threshold distance from the vehicle (); receive a second signal () indicative of a user request to change a lock mode of the access control system (); operate in a lock mode selected from a plurality of lock modes in dependence on receipt of the second signal (); and generate a control signal to activate the at least one access system () into a lock state in dependence on the selected lock mode and in response to the first signal () indicating that the proximity of the user device () to the vehicle () exceeds the threshold distance.

Access control system for a vehicle

The present disclosure relates to a controller () for controlling operation of an access control device () for a vehicle (). The access control device () is selectively operable in a first operating mode (P1) and a second operating mode (P2). The access control device () is in a limited response mode when operating in the first operating mode (P1). The controller () includes a processor () and a memory means (). The processor () is configured to determine a position of the access control device () and to generate a control signal for activating the first operating mode (P1). The control signal is generated in dependence on the determined position of the access control device (). The controller () may be provided in the access control device (). The present disclosure also relates to a method of controlling operation of an access control device ().

Control method and apparatus for controlling operation of an access control device for a vehicle

The present disclosure relates to a controller () for controlling operation of an access control device () for a vehicle (). The access control device () is selectively operable in a first operating mode (P) and a second operating mode (P). The access control device () is in a limited response mode when operating in the first operating mode (P). The controller () includes a processor () and a memory means (). The processor () is configured to determine a position of the access control device () and to generate a control signal for activating the first operating mode (P). The control signal is generated in dependence on the determined position of the access control device (). The controller () may be provided in the access control device (). The present disclosure also relates to a method of controlling operation of an access control device ().

A method of operating an access system for a vehicle, the method comprising: 5 scanning for a first communication signal from a first communications device using a first communication channel; and initiating a vehicle access process in dependence on detecting the first communication signal from the first communications device; wherein the vehicle access process comprises: comparing a received signal strength indication, RSSI, of the received first communication signal to a predetermined 10 threshold signal strength value; sending a challenge signal for a second communications device using a second communication channel in the event that the RSSI of the received first communication signal exceeds the threshold signal strength value; and controlling the vehicle access system in dependence on a response signal received from the second communications device, the response signal having been 15 sent in response to the challenge signal.

Vehicle access system

The present disclosure relates to a key () for operating a lock mechanism (L). The key () includes a shank (); and a blade () having a lock operating bit portion (). The blade () is movable relative to the shank () between an operative position and a non-operative position. The blade () is disposed alongside the shank () in said non-operative position. The present disclosure also relates to key () in combination with a key fob; and a kit comprising a key () and a lock mechanism (L).

Key for operating a lock mechanism and kit of parts

A communication system for facilitating control over a function of a vehicle () comprises a base station () positioned in the vehicle () and a mobile communication unit (). The base station () comprises a first transmitter for transmitting a signal to the mobile communication unit () and a first receiver for receiving a signal from the mobile communication unit (). The base station () is configured to determine a location of the mobile communication unit () relative to the vehicle () and to cause the mobile communication unit () to operate in accordance with a limited-response mode when the location of the communication unit relative to the vehicle () remains substantially unchanged for a predetermined period of time.

Position-based limited-response mode operation in a vehicle communication system

The invention relates to an access unit for communicating with a further access unit to control access to a vehicle. The access unit comprises at least a first transmitter for transmitting a polling signal; and at least a first receiver for receiving an authentication signal from the further access unit in response to the polling signal. At least the first transmitter is a first ultra-wideband transmitter and at least the first receiver is a first ultra-wideband receiver. The invention also relates to a vehicle access system which is a combination of the access and further access units. The invention also relates to methods of operating a vehicle access system and a vehicle access unit.

A communication system for facilitating control over a function of a vehicle () comprises a base station () positioned in the vehicle () and a mobile communication unit (). The base station () comprises a first transmitter for transmitting a signal to the mobile communication unit () and a first receiver for receiving a signal from the mobile communication unit (). The base station () is further configured to cause the mobile communication unit () to operate in accordance with a limited-response duty cycle.

Vehicle communication system

A communication system comprises a base station () positioned in the vehicle () and a mobile communication unit (). The base station () is configured to determine a first location and a second location of the mobile communication unit () relative to the vehicle (), and to determine a baseline pattern of movement of the mobile communication unit () based at least in part on the first location and the second location. The base station () is also configured to determine whether a user-initiated interaction with the vehicle () occurs in connection with the baseline pattern of movement, and if no user-initiated interaction with the vehicle () occurs in connection with the baseline pattern of movement, to classify the baseline pattern of movement as an incidental pattern of movement and apply a zone adjustment to the authorization zone () so as to exclude to the incidental pattern of movement.

Movement pattern detection in a vehicle communication system

A vehicle communication system () for facilitating control over a function of a vehicle () comprises a base station () positioned in the vehicle () and a mobile communication unit (). The base station () comprises a first transmitter for transmitting a signal to the mobile communication unit and a first receiver for receiving a signal from the mobile communication unit (). The base station () is configured to receive a first request from the mobile communication unit (), wherein the first request seeks performance of a first vehicle function, determine a position of the mobile communication unit () relative to the vehicle (), compare the position of the mobile communication unit () relative to the vehicle () to a first criteria, and facilitate performance of the first vehicle function if the position of the mobile communication unit () relative to the vehicle () satisfies the first criteria.

Position-based performance of a vehicle function in a vehicle communication system

A vehicle communication system () comprises a base station () positioned in the vehicle () and a mobile communication unit (). The base station () comprises a first transmitter for transmitting a signal to the mobile communication unit () and a first receiver for receiving an authentication signal from the mobile communication unit (). The base station () is configured to track a position of the mobile communication unit with respect to the vehicle based on a time of flight of a communication between the mobile communication unit and at least the first transmitter and the first receiver, to receive a subsystem status signal relating to performance of a monitored vehicle () function and to determine, based on the subsystem status signal, a monitored function status relating to the monitored vehicle () function. The base station () is also configured to output a status update signal for receipt by the mobile communication unit (), the status update signal being indicative of the monitored function status. The vehicle communication system () is configured to provide a status indication to a user based on the status update signal in dependence on the position of the mobile communication unit ().

Provision of a status indication to a user in a vehicle communication system

The invention relates to an access unit () for communicating with a further access unit () to control access to a vehicle (). The access unit () comprises at least a first transmitter () for transmitting a polling signal; and at least a first receiver () for receiving an authentication signal from the further access unit () in response to the polling signal. At least the first transmitter () is a first ultra-wideband transmitter and at least the first receiver () is a first ultra-wide-band receiver. The invention also relates to a vehicle access system () which is a combination of the access and further access units (). The invention also relates to methods of operating a vehicle access system () and a vehicle access unit ().

Growing community of inventors

Coventry, United Kingdom

Howard Siswick