Abstract: An entry system for a vehicle includes a fob, a transmitter on the vehicle, a receiver on the vehicle, a control unit on the vehicle, and a vehicle lock in communication with the control unit. The fob is configured to transmit fob signals and to receive vehicle signals. The transmitter is for transmitting the vehicle signals to the fob. The receiver is for receiving the fob signals from the fob. The control unit is in communication with the transmitter and the receiver. The control unit is configured to determine whether the fob is getting closer to or farther from the vehicle based on the fob signals received by the receiver. The vehicle lock locks or unlocks in response to the control unit determining that the fob is getting closer to or farther from the vehicle and that the fob is not located in a hysteresis zone, which is disposed between a proximal zone, which is closer to the vehicle, and an outer zone, which is farther from the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a plurality of tire sensors, a plurality of low frequency (“LF”) antennas and an ECU. Each tire sensor is mounted in a respective tire of the vehicle. Each LF antenna is mounted on the vehicle and is configured to transmit an LF field to wake up two tire sensors. The ECU is in communication with the tire sensors, via a receiver, and the LF antennas. The ECU is configured to receive identification signals from the respective tire sensors and to determine locations of the respective tire sensors based on which antenna woke up the tire sensor transmitting the respective identification signal and whether the respective identification signal matches other received identification signals. The ECU is further configured to store the identification signals in the memory with the identification signals being associated with the respective tire sensors that transmitted the identification signal.

Abstract: A vehicle entry/tire pressure management system includes a plurality of tire sensors, a plurality of low frequency (“LF”) antennas and an ECU. Each tire sensor is mounted in a respective tire of the vehicle. Each LF antenna is mounted on the vehicle and is configured to transmit an LF field to wake up two tire sensors. Some antennas can also be configured to transmit a SMART entry LF search field to wake up a portable transmission/reception unit for keyless entry of the vehicle. The ECU is in communication with the tire sensors, via a receiver, and the LF antennas. The ECU is configured to receive identification signals from the respective tire sensors and to determine locations of the respective tire sensors based on which antenna woke up the tire sensor transmitting the respective identification signal and whether the respective identification signal matches other received identification signals.

Abstract: A method for localizing tire sensors includes determining a wake up field power, transmitting an LF wake up field having the wake up field power from an LF antenna on the vehicle, receiving an identification signal from each tire sensor awakened by the transmitted LF wake up field, and determining whether a desired number of tire sensors have woken up in response to the transmitted LF wake up field based on the received identification signals. When the desired number of tire sensors have woken up, the method can further include recording the identification signals received from the awakened tire sensors and the respective antennas that awoke the respective tire sensors. The method further includes determining whether a desired number of antennas have transmitted a respective LF wake up field.

Abstract: A vehicle entry/tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle includes an ECU, LF antennas mounted on the vehicle and being in communication with the ECU, and tire sensors mounted in, on or adjacent respective tires of the vehicle. Each LF antenna is configured to transmit an LF tire sensor wake up field and a SMART entry LF search field to wake up a portable transmission/reception unit for keyless entry of the vehicle tire sensor. Each tire sensor includes a two-axis receiver antenna and an RF transmitter configured to transmit an RF signal. Each two-axis receiver antenna is configured such that a first axis of the two-axis antenna is configured to detect a respective LF field transmitted by one of the LF antennas and a second axis of the two-axis antenna is configured to detect a respective LF field transmitted by another of the LF antennas.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system includes tire sensors mounted in, on or adjacent respective tires of the vehicle, LF antennas mounted on the vehicle, and an ECU. Each tire sensor is configured to transmit an RF signal and to detect an LF field. Each antenna is configured to transmit an LF field to wake up the tire sensors. The ECU is in communication with the antenna, the tire sensors and a radio configured to receive AM broadcast signals. The ECU can communicate with the radio to inhibit speakers in communication with the radio from emitting sound while each LF field to wake up the tire sensors is being transmitted.

Abstract: A vehicle system that can overcome at least some of the aforementioned shortcomings includes tire sensors mounted in, on or adjacent respective tires of the vehicle, LF antennas including a door-mounted antenna on a door of the vehicle, a receiver mounted on the vehicle, a door switch associated with the door having the door-mounted antenna mounted thereto, and an ECU in communication with the antennas, the receiver and the door switch. Each tire sensor is configured to transmit a signal and to detect an LF field. Each LF antenna is configured to transmit an LF tire sensor wake up field to wake up respective tire sensors. The receiver is configured to receive signals transmitted from the tire sensors. The door switch is configured for determining whether the door is open.

Abstract: A vehicle entry/tire pressure management system includes an ECU, tire sensors mounted in, on or adjacent respective tires of the vehicle, a portable transmission/reception unit configured to be carried by an operator of the vehicle, and an antenna mounted on the vehicle and in communication with the ECU. Each tire sensor is configured to transmit an RF signal. The portable transmission/reception unit can transmit RF signals for controlling operations of the vehicle including unlocking doors of the vehicle. The antenna is configured to transmit an LF tire sensor wake up field to wake up the tire sensors. The tire sensor wake up field includes a unique header format. The tire sensors only fully wake up upon receiving the unique header format.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling power windows of a vehicle includes a receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving an open window request signal wirelessly from a portable device, at least one exterior condition sensor mounted on the vehicle for detecting an adverse exterior condition relative to the vehicle, and a controller mounted on the vehicle for communicating with the receiver and the at least one exterior condition sensor. The controller commands opening of the one or more power windows when the receiver receives the open window request signal provided the at least one exterior condition sensor does not detect an adverse exterior condition relative to the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for disabling a passive entry key includes receiving a search request into an electronic control unit (“ECU”) on a vehicle to search for a passive key inside a vehicle cabin; emitting a search signal via an antenna in communication with the ECU in response to the received search request; receiving a reply signal via the antenna from the passive key inside the vehicle cabin; and recording in a memory in communication with the ECU an identification of the passive key inside the vehicle cabin in response to the received reply signal. In this method for disabling a passive entry key, the search request can be initiated by an operator at an input device. A passive entry key system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle battery management system and method includes a battery, a battery sensor for measuring a condition of the battery and an electronic control unit that receives a signal from the battery sensor corresponding to the condition of the battery. The electronic control unit selectively connects and disconnects that the battery from each of: at least one accessory load and at least one other load. The at least one other load is disconnected from the battery when the vehicle is in a shipping mode and the at least one accessory load is connected to the battery when the vehicle is in an accessory ON mode. The electronic control unit disconnects the at least one accessory load from the battery when the vehicle is in the accessory ON mode and in the shipping mode when the signal indicates that the condition of the battery is below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A smart entry system and method includes at least one actuating device for operation of at least two vehicle functions, an on-board transmitter for sending request signals to a portable device, and an on-board receiver for receiving an identification signal from the portable device. The on-board transmitter sends a first request signal within a first search field when the at least one actuating device is subjected to a first actuating operation for initiating a first vehicle function. A second request signal is sent within a second search field when the at least one actuating device is subjected to a second actuating operation for initiating a second vehicle function. The first search field varies relative to the second search field.

Abstract: A keyless function system and method includes a portable device having a vehicle function actuator thereon for initiating operation of a vehicle function. The portable device transmits an actuation signal to the vehicle when the vehicle function actuator is actuated. The receiver onboard the vehicle receives the actuation signal from the portable device. A controller onboard the vehicle and operatively connected to the receiver determines at least one of: whether the vehicle is located at a predetermined location or whether the portable device is located less than a predetermined distance from the vehicle. The controller selectively commands performance of the vehicle function when the actuation signal is received by the receiver based on at least one of: whether the vehicle is at the predetermined location or the portable device is less than the predetermined distance from the vehicle.

Abstract: A smart communication system and method for a vehicle includes a master switch for toggling smart functionality on and off. An actuation signal is received by a control unit corresponding to a particular vehicle function. The actuation signal indicates that a corresponding actuating operation is occurring. The control unit determines whether the master switch is in an ON position. A key fob of the vehicle is confirmed to be within a search field of the vehicle when the master switch is determined to be in the ON position. The particular vehicle function is actuated when the key fob is confirmed to be within the search field; otherwise, manual actuation of the particular vehicle function is required.

Abstract: A slide actuated key fob includes a housing having a transmitter disposed therein and at least one slide actuated button disposed on the housing. The transmitter sends an actuating signal when the at least one slide actuated button is slidably moved in a first direction and subsequently depressed in a second direction.

Abstract: A smart entry system and method includes at least one actuating device for operation of at least two vehicle functions, an on-board transmitter for sending request signals to a portable device, and an on-board receiver for receiving an identification signal from the portable device. The on-board transmitter sends a first request signal within a first search field when the at least one actuating device is subjected to a first actuating operation for initiating a first vehicle function. A second request signal is sent within a second search field when the at least one actuating device is subjected to a second actuating operation for initiating a second vehicle function. The first search field varies relative to the second search field.