Abstract: A method for activating a vehicle function using an activation device, having at least two transceivers communicating with a portable user appliance and communicating with each other via ultra-wideband communication. The method includes: transmitting using a first transceiver; computing a radius of a circle centered around the first transceiver as a function of the time of flight of the waves reflected by the portable appliance, and determining a perimeter of the circle; comparing a profile of received reflected waves originating from the second transmitter with a predetermined received wave profile; detecting a presence as a function of the result of the comparison; computing, if a presence is detected, a distance between the second transceiver and the presence; locating the portable appliance by computing an intersection between the distance and the perimeter; and activating the vehicle function as a function of the location.

Abstract: A method for locating a user equipment with respect to a motor vehicle, including the following steps, carried out iteratively when the user is in motion: determining what is referred to as the “inter-object” distance between an ultra-wideband communication module of the vehicle and the user equipment; computing what is referred to as the “inter-step” distance covered by the user between two consecutive steps based on the measured acceleration and orientation values; and cross-referencing the determined inter-object distance and the computed inter-step distance in order to determine at least one probable location zone of the user equipment. The iterations ending when a single probable location zone of the user equipment with a surface area smaller than a predefined surface area has been determined. The single probable location zone then corresponding to the location of the user equipment around the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for estimating the distance of an element with respect to a vehicle on the basis of a detection module. The method includes, implemented by the detection module, determining the standard deviation of the phase of signals reflected from the element for each distance index of a series of distance indices, determining, in the order of the series, the first index for which the standard deviation is below a predetermined threshold for at least a predetermined length of time, and estimating the distance of the element with respect to the detection module on the basis of the determined index, the estimated distance corresponding to the predetermined distance associated with the determined index.

Abstract: A method for activating a function of a motor vehicle by an activation device, using a portable access device carried by a user. The activation of the function being initiated by detection of the presence of the user in a predetermined area around the vehicle, and in accordance with a result of authentication of the portable access device by the vehicle, the method including: A) the detection of the presence of the user in the predetermined area is implemented by a predetermined profile of ultra-wideband radiation emitted by the activation device in what is known as an ultra-wideband reflective mode and reflected by the user, and B) the authentication of the portable device is implemented by a bidirectional ultra-wideband communication between the activation device and the portable access device.

Abstract: A method for detecting the opening of the openable sections of a motor vehicle by a detection device. The device includes at least two ultra-high-frequency communication modules, each located on a different openable section and connected to an electronic computer. An opening angle of a first openable section is determined based on: a first distance between a rotation point of the first openable section on which a first communication module is located and a position of a second module when the two openable sections associated with the two modules are closed; a second distance between a rotation point of the first openable section and a position of the first module on the openable section; a distance between the two modules when the two openable sections associated with the two modules are closed; a distance between the modules, determined by a time of flight of ultra-high-frequency radiation exchanged between the modules.

Abstract: A computer for a motor vehicle. The vehicle including a plurality of wheels, at least one of the wheels including a sensor for measuring at least one value of a “pitch” parameter, enabling the computer to determine a “pitch” coordinate of the sensor along a predetermined “pitch” axis orthogonal to the direction of movement of the vehicle and parallel to the plane of the road. The computer being capable of receiving from the sensor at least one value of the pitch parameter, determining at least one pitch coordinate of the sensor on the basis of the at least one value received, detecting a geometric anomaly in the wheel including the sensor when at least one determined pitch coordinate is outside a first predetermined range of values of coordinates on the pitch axis.

Abstract: A method for detecting a change in location of the wheels of a motor vehicle, the vehicle having at least one central processing unit, and two wheel units which each includes an electronic assembly of sensors and which are each mounted on one of the wheels. The method including a monitoring step, during which a first pattern representative of the location of the wheel unit is established, when the vehicle is at a standstill, and an evaluation step, during which a possible first variation in each first pattern is measured to estimate if the location of the wheel has changed.

Abstract: A method and a system for ultra high frequency communication with and location of a portable device for “hands-free” access to a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having an on-board communication device comprising an ultra high frequency transceiver, an electrical power supply source and at least one antenna, the motor vehicle including a first arrangement, in which the transceiver is connected to the antenna, and a second arrangement, in which the transceiver is disconnected from the antenna. The transceiver is connected to an attenuation module located at a predetermined distance from the transceiver. The attenuation module includes an impedance of predetermined value connected to ground. The predetermined distance between the transceiver and the attenuation module, as well as the predetermined value of the impedance, defining a locating area of the portable device in and around the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A method for activating a function of a motor vehicle by an activation device on the vehicle having at least one communication unit including at least one radiofrequency antenna and transmission and reception device. The activation coming from a user's portable device. The activation of the function is triggered by detection of the user's presence in a predetermined zone around the vehicle and on the basis of a result of authentication of the portable device by the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for detecting the opening of the openable sections of a motor vehicle by a detection device. The device includes at least two ultra-high-frequency communication modules, each located on a different openable section and connected to an electronic computer. An opening angle of a first openable section is determined based on: a first distance between a rotation point of the first openable section on which a first communication module is located and a position of a second module when the two openable sections associated with the two modules are closed; a second distance between a rotation point of the first openable section and a position of the first module on the openable section; a distance between the two modules when the two openable sections associated with the two modules are closed; a distance between the modules, determined by a time of flight of ultra-high-frequency radiation exchanged between the modules.

Abstract: A method for activating a function of a motor vehicle by an activation device on the vehicle having at least one communication unit including at least one radiofrequency antenna and transmission and reception device. The activation coming from a user's portable device. The activation of the function is triggered by detection of the user's presence in a predetermined zone around the vehicle and on the basis of a result of authentication of the portable device by the vehicle.

Abstract: A computer for a motor vehicle. The vehicle including a plurality of wheels, at least one of the wheels including a sensor for measuring at least one value of a “pitch” parameter, enabling the computer to determine a “pitch” coordinate of the sensor along a predetermined “pitch” axis orthogonal to the direction of movement of the vehicle and parallel to the plane of the road. The computer being capable of receiving from the sensor at least one value of the pitch parameter, determining at least one pitch coordinate of the sensor on the basis of the at least one value received, detecting a geometric anomaly in the wheel including the sensor when at least one determined pitch coordinate is outside a first predetermined range of values of coordinates on the pitch axis.

Abstract: A method for estimating the distance between a vehicle and an authentication device, the vehicle including a computer and a plurality of communication modules capable of communicating with the device over a wireless communication link, each communication module including an electronic clock that defines the sampling frequency of the signals received from the device. The method includes in particular the steps of addition of noise to a response signal received from the device, of sampling of the noisy response signal, of detection, at a second instant, of the noisy response signal when the amplitude of the noisy response signal exceeds a predetermined detection threshold, of calculation of the time that has elapsed between a first instant and the second instant, and of estimation of the distance between the vehicle and the device based on the calculated time.

Abstract: A method for activating a function of a motor vehicle by an activation device, using a portable access device carried by a user. The activation of the function being initiated by detection of the presence of the user in a predetermined area around the vehicle, and in accordance with a result of authentication of the portable access device by the vehicle, the method including: A) the detection of the presence of the user in the predetermined area is implemented by a predetermined profile of ultra-wideband radiation emitted by the activation device in what is known as an ultra-wideband reflective mode and reflected by the user, and B) the authentication of the portable device is implemented by a bidirectional ultra-wideband communication between the activation device and the portable access device.

Abstract: A method for determining the distance between an authentication device carried by a user and a motor vehicle, each including a wireless communication module so as to exchange a data frame, the data frame being modulated by changing the phase of a reference signal. The method includes the following steps of: the vehicle receiving a modulated reference signal, sent by the device, demodulating the received signal in order to extract an in-phase component and a quadrature component therefrom, computing the power value of the signal on the basis of the maximum amplitude value of the in-phase component and of the maximum amplitude value of the quadrature component, and determining the distance between the device and the vehicle on the basis of the computed power value.

Abstract: A method for detecting a change in location of at least one wheel of a motor vehicle, the vehicle having at least one central processing unit, one wheel unit which includes an electronic assembly of sensors and which is mounted on the wheel, and one bidirectional communications assembly. The method notably includes a first comparison step, during which a first evaluation pattern is compared with a first reference pattern to determine whether the location of the wheel has changed, the patterns being representative of the effective location of the wheel unit in the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A method for detecting a change in location of at least one wheel of a motor vehicle, the vehicle having at least one central processing unit, one wheel unit which includes an electronic assembly of sensors and which is mounted on the wheel, and one bidirectional communications assembly. The method notably includes a first comparison step, during which a first evaluation pattern is compared with a first reference pattern to determine whether the location of the wheel has changed, the patterns being representative of the effective location of the wheel unit in the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A UHF communication method for activating a motor vehicle function with a portable item of user equipment, based on the presence of the portable item of equipment in predetermined areas around the vehicle. The portable item transmitting a first signaling event at a predetermined period on at least one signaling channel. The first event including at least one signaling frame having a data block. The method including: a predetermined number of additional signaling events transmitted to the vehicle during the period; a request signal received from the vehicle, for each signaling frame of each event received by the vehicle; sending a response frame upon receipt of the request signal by the portable item; determining the presence of the portable item in one of the predetermined areas based on the strength values of the received signal; activating a vehicle function based on the determined presence of the portable item of equipment.

Abstract: A method for detecting a change in location of at least one wheel of a motor vehicle, the vehicle having at least one central processing unit, one wheel unit which includes an electronic assembly of sensors and which is mounted on the wheel, and one bidirectional communications assembly. The method notably includes a first comparison step, during which a first evaluation pattern is compared with a first reference pattern to determine whether the location of the wheel has changed, the patterns being representative of the effective location of the wheel unit in the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A corner sensor for a motor vehicle capable of communicating over a wireless communication link with an authentication device and including: an array of antennae; and an electronic control unit configured to: determine the phase difference between the segments received by the antennae; determine the probability of each angle of incidence over a range of angles that is predetermined on the basis of the determined phase differences and of a predefined table, so as to determine a probability profile; measure the power of the segments received by the antennae of the array of antennae so as to determine a power profile; determine the actual angle of incidence of the signal by multiplying the probability profile with the power profile; and send the value of the determined actual angle of incidence to a central electronic control unit of the vehicle.