Abstract: A method and system for walk-away locking of a vehicle. The vehicle may be automatically locked when an occupant walks away from the vehicle in a passive manner. The automatic locking capabilities may be incorporated within an energy conservation strategy that allows one or more vehicle components and a fob to enter a sleep mode or otherwise become inactive at particular intervals when signals necessary to automatically locking the vehicle are less likely.

Abstract: A location system for use in locating a vehicle or other object. The system may include displaying directional information on a mobile device, such as but not limited to a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), remote vehicle control device (fob, RKE, passive entry, etc.). The displayed directional information may indicate a direction of travel to the vehicle without requiring the mobile device to rely on GPS satellites to determine a position useful in orientating the user in a direction toward the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for identifying unauthorized access to a vehicle having a keyless-passive entry system. An interrogation signal is broadcast from a vehicle based transmission device. The interrogation signal includes a first pulse transmitted at a first amplitude and a second pulse transmitted at a second amplitude where the second amplitude is greater than the first amplitude by at least a predetermined difference threshold. The interrogation signal is received by a portable communication device. A determination is made whether the second amplitude of the second pulse is greater than the first amplitude of the first pulse by a predetermined difference threshold.

Abstract: A remote unit for a keyless entry system for a vehicle. The remote unit comprising a controller configured to generate a command signal in response to a user input. The command signal comprising a first command message and a substantially similar second command message. The first command message comprises a first low data rate portion and the second command message comprises a high data rate portion. The remote unit further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the command.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely controlling a function. The system includes a transmitter and a receiver control circuit having a plurality of antennas. The transmitter transmits a wireless control signal having first and second signal portions. An antenna is selected based on the first signal portion. A function is performed when the second signal portion is received by the selected antenna and successfully decoded.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling a function using a variable sensitivity receiver, including a vehicle having the same. The method may include receiving a wireless control signal segment from a remote transmitter using the variable sensitivity receiver, decoding the wireless control signal segment using a controller in electronic communication with the variable sensitivity receiver, performing an attenuation step when the decoding is successful, generating a count for tracking an amount of attenuation performed, and determining whether to perform the function based at least in part on the count when the count is greater than or equal to a predetermined value or when the decoding is unsuccessful. The wireless control signal segment may include a request for the function and/or a partial request for the function. The attenuation step may include attenuating sensitivity of the variable sensitivity receiver by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely controlling a function. A range-limited function is performed when a wireless control signal is indicative of a range-limited function and an elapsed time value exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: A remote keyless entry system is provided comprising a handheld remote keyless entry transmitter in selectable wireless communication with a car based entry system. The handheld remote keyless entry transmitter comprises an integrated electronic compass element and logic adapted to store a first compass direction when activated and directed towards a destination. The logic further is adapted to display a return compass direction and a return distance from the car based entry system when activated leaving the destination.

Abstract: A system and method for remote activation of a device includes, in one embodiment, a user interface for selecting a command associated with the one or more vehicle functions, a controller for processing the selected command, the controller having a plurality of input ports, and a switch array including a plurality of switches corresponding to the one or more vehicle functions. The plurality of switches can be divided into a first set and a second set with the first set of switches being connected across a fixed voltage and a controller input port and the second set of switches being connected across multiple controller input ports. The at least one of the controller input ports connecting the second set of switches may be temporarily configurable to an output port for determining which of the plurality of switches has been actuated.

Abstract: A remote entry system for a vehicle includes a portable transmitter and a vehicle-mounted receiver. The receiver alternates between a monitoring state lasting for a monitoring period and a sleep state lasting for a sleep period. A remote control is manually activated and a message sequence is transmitted to the receiver in response to the manual activation for initiating a function of the remote entry system. The message sequence comprises a plurality of blocks transmitted at a predetermined block interval, the blocks including a preamble block and at least one message block. If the receiver detects the preamble block then it enters a reception state for detecting the message block. The preamble block has a predetermined preamble length and is comprised of a plurality of bytes separated by respective off intervals between successive bytes. Each off interval comprises a predetermined off period greater than the predetermined byte period.

Abstract: A remote keyless entry system includes a portable communication device for communicating with an electronic control module of a transportation vehicle. The transmitter has at least two selectable communication channels for broadcasting communications signals to the transportation vehicle. A vehicle based electronic control module communicates with the portable communication device. The electronic control module includes a receiver that includes at least two selectable communication channels for receiving RF signals from the portable communication device. A controller selectively energizes the receiver for measuring a RSSI voltage level of each selectable communication channel of the receiver over respective predetermined time periods. The controller determines which of the at least two selectable communication channels includes a lowest noise level based on the measured RSSI voltage level.

Abstract: Remote activation of an automotive vehicle is improved by determining a frequency for the activation signal based on sampled ambient noise conditions. The selected frequency may be transmitted to a passive remote control device in a challenge signal. The remote control device responds with an activation signal at the selected frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for identifying unauthorized access to a vehicle having a keyless-passive entry system. An interrogation signal is broadcast from a vehicle based transmission device. The interrogation signal includes a first pulse transmitted at a first amplitude and a second pulse transmitted at a second amplitude where the second amplitude is greater than the first amplitude by at least a predetermined difference threshold. The interrogation signal is received by a portable communication device. A determination is made whether the second amplitude of the second pulse is greater than the first amplitude of the first pulse by a predetermined difference threshold.

Abstract: A remote unit for a keyless entry system for a vehicle. The remote unit comprising a controller configured to generate a command signal in response to a user input. The command signal comprising a first command message and a substantially similar second command message. The first command message comprises a first low data rate portion and the second command message comprises a high data rate portion. The remote unit further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the command.

Abstract: A remote transmitter system for vehicle applications includes a remote transmitter for carrying by a user and a receiver for mounting on a vehicle and receiving an amplitude modulated signal. The transmitter is operative to transmit the amplitude modulated signal at a plurality of different carrier frequencies. The receiver is programmed to select the carrier frequency for reception by detecting noise due to unwanted frequency modulated signals based on a received signal strength indicator, and detecting noise due to unwanted amplitude modulated signals based on a data decoder. The receiver changes the selected carrier frequency when either noise becomes excessive.

Abstract: A system and method for remote activation of a device includes, in one embodiment, transmitting a command message according to a first modulation, and transmitting a signal representing the command message for the device according to a second modulation. The signal representing the command message transmitted according to the second modulation may be transmitted within the command message transmitted according to the first modulation.

Abstract: A system and method for remote activation of a device includes, in one embodiment, transmitting a command message according to a first modulation, and transmitting a signal representing the command message for the device according to a second modulation. The signal representing the command message transmitted according to the second modulation may be transmitted within the command message transmitted according to the first modulation.

Abstract: An antenna system for a tire pressure monitoring radio frequency (RF) electronic device that includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a ground plane, and an active element. The PCB has a top surface and a bottom surface. The ground plane is on the bottom surface. The active element is mounted on the top surface. The active element includes a first segment positioned in a top surface plane and connected to a second segment oriented at an angle to the top surface.

Abstract: A vehicle remote entry system is provided which includes a keyless entry module for controlling the actuation of at least one vehicle entry function. A remote entry device for transmitting a wireless signal to the remote keyless entry module for activating the at least one vehicle entry function. A human machine interface for selecting at least one vehicle operating parameter including a signal range limitation setting for defining an operating range of the wireless signal for actuating the at least one vehicle entry function. The human machine interface provides the signal range limitation setting to the remote keyless entry module and a controller determines whether the wireless vehicle entry signal is within the signal range limitation setting for allowing actuation of the at least one vehicle entry function.

Abstract: A remote wake-up assembly is provided including a remote device containing logic adapted to: generate a pre-amble signal comprising a plurality of pre-determined signal pulses sequentially varied throughout a pre-amble period; and generate a main message signal after a wake-up time-period. A receiver system is included containing logic adapted to: poll for the signal pulses, the receiver system polling comprising an on-state having a on-state length sufficient for receiving at least two of the sequentially varied signal pulses; determine the wake-up time-period using said at least two of the signal pulses; place the receiver system into a low-power sleep state during the remaining portion of said wake-up time-period; reactivate the receiver system at the end of the wake-up time-period; and receive the main message.