Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) circuit is provided and includes an antenna, a printed circuit board and a RF chip. The printed circuit board includes a stack of layers. The stack of layers includes a grounded layer. The grounded layer includes a slit, a dielectric area, a first grounded area and a second grounded area. The dielectric area includes dielectric material and is disposed between the first grounded area and the second grounded area. The antenna is edge mounted to the ground layer adjacent the dielectric area and offset from a centerline of the ground layer. The second grounded area is disposed between the dielectric area and the slit. The RF chip is mounted to the stack of layers and connected to the antenna via a transmission line and configured to transmit and receive RF signals via the antenna.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) circuit is provided and includes an antenna, a printed circuit board and a RF chip. The printed circuit board includes a stack of layers. The stack of layers includes a grounded layer. The grounded layer includes a slit, a dielectric area, a first grounded area and a second grounded area. The dielectric area includes dielectric material and is disposed between the first grounded area and the second grounded area. The antenna is edge mounted to the ground layer adjacent the dielectric area and offset from a centerline of the ground layer. The second grounded area is disposed between the dielectric area and the slit. The RF chip is mounted to the stack of layers and connected to the antenna via a transmission line and configured to transmit and receive RF signals via the antenna.

Abstract: A mobile device is provided and includes a sensor and a control module. The sensor is configured to detect movement of the mobile device. The control module is configured to: based on an output of the sensor, determine whether the mobile device is moving; when the mobile device is moving, transmit via a transceiver at least one signal to a vehicle indicating movement of the mobile device and an indication of presence of the mobile device; based on the at least one signal, receive an instruction signal or an information signal from the vehicle via the transceiver; based on the instruction signal or an information signal, at least one of reduce a polling rate of the mobile device, cease to indicate presence of the mobile device or transition to a sleep mode; and transition from the sleep mode to an awake mode in response to movement of the mobile device.

Abstract: A mobile device is provided and includes a sensor and a control module. The sensor is configured to detect movement of the mobile device. The control module is configured to: based on an output of the sensor, determine whether the mobile device is moving; when the mobile device is moving, transmit via a transceiver at least one signal to a vehicle indicating movement of the mobile device and an indication of presence of the mobile device; based on the at least one signal, receive an instruction signal or an information signal from the vehicle via the transceiver; based on the instruction signal or an information signal, at least one of reduce a polling rate of the mobile device, cease to indicate presence of the mobile device or transition to a sleep mode; and transition from the sleep mode to an awake mode in response to movement of the mobile device.

Abstract: A base station of a vehicle includes an angle of arrival (AoA) antenna assembly and a controller. The AoA antenna assembly is positioned at a known location of the vehicle. The AoA antenna assembly includes a pair of antennas on a printed circuit board to detect an angle of arrival of a wireless signal as received by the AoA antenna assembly from a portable remote control. The wireless signal may be a Bluetooth™, a Bluetooth™ low energy (BLE), a Wi-Fi™, or an ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless signal. The remote control may be in the form of a phone or a key fob. The controller uses the detected angle and the known location of the AoA antenna assembly to locate the portable remote control relative to the vehicle. The controller may perform a passive entry passive start (PEPS) operation of the vehicle as a function of the location of the remote control.

Abstract: A system and method for wirelessly authorizing access to a charge port for an electric vehicle is provided. The system may first establish a wireless communication link with a charging cord and then receive, from the charging cord, a wireless signal including a charging cord identifier. Upon verifying that the charging cord is authorized for use with the electric vehicle based on the charging cord identifier, a charge port door may be opened providing access to the charge port. A wireless communication link with a charging cord may be established using a challenge-response protocol like some passive entry systems. Alternatively, a wireless communication link may be established using radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology embedded in the charge port and the charging cord handle.

Abstract: A passive entry passive start (PEPS) method for preventing relay attack includes detecting a distance of a wireless device to a vehicle based on a time of flight of an ultra-wideband (UWB) signal between the wireless device and a base station at the vehicle. The method further includes enabling by the base station a function of the vehicle only when the distance of the wireless device to the vehicle is within a zone of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for wirelessly authorizing access to a charge port for an electric vehicle is provided. The system may first establish a wireless communication link with a charging cord and then receive, from the charging cord, a wireless signal including a charging cord identifier. Upon verifying that the charging cord is authorized for use with the electric vehicle based on the charging cord identifier, a charge port door may be opened providing access to the charge port. A wireless communication link with a charging cord may be established using a challenge-response protocol like some passive entry systems. Alternatively, a wireless communication link may be established using radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology embedded in the charge port and the charging cord handle.

Abstract: The current disclosure relates to unlocking at least one vehicle door or a trunk and operating other welcome features on the vehicle, including but not limited to, opening a tailgate, turning on ambient lights or head lights, and starting a vehicle engine. The current disclosure is directed to a system and method for automatically unlocking at least one door or a trunk on the vehicle using a smartphone and a vehicle key fob. Due to the method provided herein, frequent recharging of the vehicle key fob is not required, nor does the size of the key fob have to be large enough to hold large batteries.

Abstract: A base station of a vehicle includes an angle of arrival (AoA) antenna assembly and a controller. The AoA antenna assembly is positioned at a known location of the vehicle. The AoA antenna assembly includes a pair of antennas on a printed circuit board to detect an angle of arrival of a wireless signal as received by the AoA antenna assembly from a portable remote control. The wireless signal may be a Bluetooth™, a Bluetooth™ low energy (BLE), a Wi-Fi™, or an ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless signal. The remote control may be in the form of a phone or a key fob. The controller uses the detected angle and the known location of the AoA antenna assembly to locate the portable remote control relative to the vehicle. The controller may perform a passive entry passive start (PEPS) operation of the vehicle as a function of the location of the remote control.

Abstract: An antenna for a receiver, a transmitter, and/or a transceiver of a base station of a wireless remote-control system is provided. The antenna includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and a metallic stamped antenna structure. The antenna structure is directly mounted on the PCB. The antenna structure includes a lineal antenna body and legs. The antenna body and the legs are unitary with one another. The legs extend from the antenna body and are mechanically mounted to the PCB to support the antenna body over the PCB with the antenna body lying above the PCB within a plane.

Abstract: A fob for a passive entry passive start (PEPS) system includes a LF receiver, an UHF transmitter, an UWB transceiver, a primary battery to power the receiver and the transmitter, a rechargeable secondary battery to power the transceiver, and a controller. The controller may cause the primary battery to recharge the secondary battery when the secondary battery has a low charge. The controller may cause the transmitter to transmit an indication to a base station of the PEPS system that the primary battery has a low charge. This indication is to alert a user to replace the primary battery. The controller may cause the transmitter to transmit an indication that the secondary battery is dead when the secondary battery is detected to be dead. This indication is to alert the base station that PEPS communications of the fob will not involve the transceiver.

Abstract: A fob for a passive entry passive start (PEPS) system includes a LF receiver, an UHF transmitter, an UWB transceiver, a primary battery to power the receiver and the transmitter, a rechargeable secondary battery to power the transceiver, and a controller. The controller may cause the primary battery to recharge the secondary battery when the secondary battery has a low charge. The controller may cause the transmitter to transmit an indication to a base station of the PEPS system that the primary battery has a low charge. This indication is to alert a user to replace the primary battery. The controller may cause the transmitter to transmit an indication that the secondary battery is dead when the secondary battery is detected to be dead. This indication is to alert the base station that PEPS communications of the fob will not involve the transceiver.

Abstract: The current disclosure relates to unlocking at least one vehicle door or a trunk and operating other welcome features on the vehicle, including but not limited to, opening a tailgate, turning on ambient lights or head lights, and starting a vehicle engine. The current disclosure is directed to a system and method for automatically unlocking at least one door or a trunk on the vehicle using a smartphone and a vehicle key fob. Due to the method provided herein, frequent recharging of the vehicle key fob is not required, nor does the size of the key fob have to be large enough to hold large batteries.

Abstract: A fob for a passive entry passive start (PEPS) system includes a LF receiver, an UHF transmitter, an UWB transceiver, a primary battery to power the receiver and the transmitter, a rechargeable secondary battery to power the transceiver, and a controller. The controller may cause the primary battery to recharge the secondary battery when the secondary battery has a low charge. The controller may cause the transmitter to transmit an indication to a base station of the PEPS system that the primary battery has a low charge. This indication is to alert a user to replace the primary battery. The controller may cause the transmitter to transmit an indication that the secondary battery is dead when the secondary battery is detected to be dead. This indication is to alert the base station that PEPS communications of the fob will not involve the transceiver.

Abstract: A fob for a passive entry passive start (PEPS) system includes a LF receiver, an UHF transmitter, an UWB transceiver, a primary battery to power the receiver and the transmitter, a rechargeable secondary battery to power the transceiver, and a controller. The controller may cause the primary battery to recharge the secondary battery when the secondary battery has a low charge. The controller may cause the transmitter to transmit an indication to a base station of the PEPS system that the primary battery has a low charge. This indication is to alert a user to replace the primary battery. The controller may cause the transmitter to transmit an indication that the secondary battery is dead when the secondary battery is detected to be dead. This indication is to alert the base station that PEPS communications of the fob will not involve the transceiver.

Abstract: The current disclosure relates to unlocking at least one vehicle door or a trunk and operating other welcome features on the vehicle, including but not limited to, opening a tailgate, turning on ambient lights or head lights, and starting a vehicle engine. The current disclosure is directed to a system and method for automatically unlocking at least one door or a trunk on the vehicle using a smartphone and a vehicle key fob. Due to the method provided herein, frequent recharging of the vehicle key fob is not required, nor does the size of the key fob have to be large enough to hold large batteries.

Abstract: The current disclosure relates to unlocking at least one vehicle door or a trunk and operating other welcome features on the vehicle, including but not limited to, opening a tailgate, turning on ambient lights or head lights, and starting a vehicle engine. The current disclosure is directed to a system and method for automatically unlocking at least one door or a trunk on the vehicle using a smartphone and a vehicle key fob. Due to the method provided herein, frequent recharging of the vehicle key fob is not required, nor does the size of the key fob have to be large enough to hold large batteries.

Abstract: A fob for a passive entry passive start (PEPS) system includes a LF receiver, an UHF transmitter, an UWB transceiver, a primary battery to power the receiver and the transmitter, a rechargeable secondary battery to power the transceiver, and a controller. The controller may cause the primary battery to recharge the secondary battery when the secondary battery has a low charge. The controller may cause the transmitter to transmit an indication to a base station of the PEPS system that the primary battery has a low charge. This indication is to alert a user to replace the primary battery. The controller may cause the transmitter to transmit an indication that the secondary battery is dead when the secondary battery is detected to be dead. This indication is to alert the base station that PEPS communications of the fob will not involve the transceiver.

Abstract: A system includes a base station at a target device and a consumer mobile device such as a phone. The phone includes a wireless receiver, such as a near field communications (NFC) or low-frequency (LF) receiver. The base station includes a wireless transmitter of the same type. The phone and the base station each further include a transceiver such as a Bluetooth™ transceiver or Bluetooth™ low energy (BLE) transceiver. Upon the base station and the phone in a presence of the target device being detected as being matching devices, the phone turns on its receiver, if it is not already on. The transmitter of the base station then transmits a challenge signal. The transceiver of the phone transmits a response signal having an answer to the challenge signal to the transceiver of the base station. The base station enables a function of the target device when the answer is valid.