Patents by Inventor Vivekanandh Elangovan

Vivekanandh Elangovan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11254288
    Abstract: Controlled access to a vehicle is provided. Whether time of flight (ToF) between an access device and a controller of the vehicle indicates a relay attack is identified. Whether a radio frequency (RF) fingerprint of the access device indicates a relay attack is identified. Responsive to the RF fingerprint but not the ToF indicating a relay attack, the ToF determination is retried. Passive access is allowed to the vehicle responsive to the retried ToF again indicating no relay attack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vivekanandh Elangovan, Rita Barrios, Zachary Albright, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Publication number: 20220028184
    Abstract: A Phone-as-a-Key (PaaK) system uses a handheld mobile device (e.g., a smartphone) to act as a remote-control system for a vehicle. The vehicle has a wireless receiver adapted to receive and relay a user message to a vehicle electronic controller. The handheld mobile device comprises a wireless transmitter with an antenna mounted at a predetermined antenna location in the mobile device, an input element activated manually by a user to initiate the user message to control the vehicle electronic controller, and a display panel. A processor in the mobile device is configured to display a help screen on the display panel informing a user of a handholding grip adapted to avoid a blocking of the predetermined antenna location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew Vaccariello, Vivekanandh Elangovan, John R Van Wiemeersch
  • Publication number: 20210380098
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for mobile device tethering for a remote parking assist system of a vehicle. A vehicle includes a camera and a body control module. The body control module sends an instruction to a mobile device and captures, with the camera, an image of the mobile device. The body control module also analyzes the image to determine an initial location of the mobile device relative to the vehicle, and based on the initial location, performs dead reckoning on the mobile device to track the mobile device. When the mobile device is within a threshold distance, the body control module enables autonomous parking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hamid M. Golgiri, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Erick Michael Lavoie, Vivekanandh Elangovan
  • Patent number: 11195344
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring of communication for vehicle remote motive control. An example vehicle includes an autonomy unit for remote motive control, a communication module, and a controller. The controller is to send a diagnostic signal to and receive a return signal from a mobile device via the communication module, determine a time period between sending of the diagnostic signal and receipt of the return signal, and prevent the autonomy unit from causing vehicle movement responsive to determining the time period is greater than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Armin Mueller-Lerwe, Gabrielle Jost, Yuliya Aksyutina, Ali Hassani, Erick Michael Lavoie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Vivekanandh Elangovan, Christoph Hirner, Hamid M. Golgiri
  • Patent number: 11148661
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for mobile device tethering for a remote parking assist system of a vehicle. A vehicle includes a camera and a body control module. The body control module sends an instruction to a mobile device and captures, with the camera, an image of the mobile device. The body control module also analyzes the image to determine an initial location of the mobile device relative to the vehicle, and based on the initial location, performs dead reckoning on the mobile device to track the mobile device. When the mobile device is within a threshold distance, the body control module enables autonomous parking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hamid M. Golgiri, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Erick Michael Lavoie, Vivekanandh Elangovan
  • Publication number: 20210276512
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for reducing power consumption in a smart key of a vehicle. In an exemplary method, an accelerometer in the smart key detects that the smart key is moving. For example, an individual may be carrying the smart key in his/her pocket and walking towards the vehicle. However, an RF transceiver circuit of the smart key may be out of range of a communication system in the vehicle. A processor in the smart key may place some circuits, such as a wakeup receiver, in a power-down condition, based on detecting the moving state of the smart key and a lack of communications between the Bluetooth® transceiver circuit and the communication system of the vehicle. The wakeup receiver typically has a smaller operating range than the RF transceiver circuit and is therefore unnecessary when the smart key is far from the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vivekanandh Elangovan, Aaron DeLong, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Publication number: 20210246693
    Abstract: A system for passive locking and unlocking a vehicle is described that includes a memory for storing executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to unlock the vehicle using a time of flight to transmit the trigger request between the vehicle and the first key fob. The processor receives, from a first key fob, a trigger request to unlock the vehicle, and determines, based key fob identifiers that identify the first key fob and a second key fob that is also near the vehicle, that the first and second key fobs are associated with a vehicle. The processor selects the first key fob based on a key fob characteristic. The processor evaluates the time of flight using the first key fob, and unlocks the vehicle based on the time of flight satisfying a threshold for signal transmission flight time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vivekanandh Elangovan, Michael Hrecznyj, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Ryan Edwin Hanson
  • Patent number: 11037387
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices related to enhanced time of flight (ToF) calculation using phase measurements. A device may identify a radiofrequency (RF) signal received from a vehicle key, wherein the RF signal comprises a command associated with a vehicle. The device may select a first subset of a frequency bandwidth. The device may perform a first time-of-flight calculation associated with the RF signal using a phase shift measurement on a first subset of frequency bandwidth. The device may determine a distance between the vehicle key and the vehicle based on the first time-of-flight calculation. The device may compare the distance to a predetermined threshold. The device may determine a status of the RF signal based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vivekanandh Elangovan, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Ali Hassani
  • Patent number: 11034330
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle, a first passive Near-Field Communication (NFC) device, and a first mobile device communicatively coupled to the vehicle and including a digital vehicle key. The first mobile device distributes the digital vehicle key to the first passive NFC device and informs the vehicle an instance in which the mobile device has distributed the digital vehicle key to the first passive NFC device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Matthew DeLong, Vivekanandh Elangovan, Kevin Thomas Hille, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Patent number: 10988113
    Abstract: A wireless controller is in communication with a plurality of wireless transceivers. An authentication controller is in communication with the wireless controller. The authentication controller is programmed to provide an initial authentication message to a user interface responsive to initiation of an authentication sequence between the vehicle and a mobile device initiating communication with the wireless transceivers, and responsive to completion of the authentication sequence, update the authentication message to indicate that the authentication sequence is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Hassani, Hamid M. Golgiri, Vivekanandh Elangovan, Gerard Edward Szczepaniak, Joshua Wheeler, Kirk Leonard
  • Publication number: 20210086726
    Abstract: A wireless controller is in communication with a plurality of wireless transceivers. An authentication controller is in communication with the wireless controller. The authentication controller is programmed to provide an initial authentication message to a user interface responsive to initiation of an authentication sequence between the vehicle and a mobile device initiating communication with the wireless transceivers, and responsive to completion of the authentication sequence, update the authentication message to indicate that the authentication sequence is complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Ali HASSANI, Hamid M. GOLGIRI, Vivekanandh ELANGOVAN, Gerard Edward SZCZEPANIAK, Joshua WHEELER, Kirk LEONARD
  • Patent number: 10957133
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a keypad including a near-field communication (NFC) sensor, and a processor. The processor is programmed to operate in a normal mode of operation, in which remote keyless entry (RKE) or passive-entry passive-start (PEPS) functions are allowed; operate in a privacy mode of operation, in which the RKE or PEPS functions are disallowed; responsive to detection of an authorized access device via the NFC sensor while in the normal mode, and to receipt of a lock command within a predetermined time from the detection of the access device, transition from the normal mode to the privacy mode; and responsive to detection of the authorized access device via the NFC sensor while in the privacy mode, transition from the privacy mode to the normal mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vivekanandh Elangovan, Aaron DeLong, Ali Hassani
  • Publication number: 20210076208
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a keypad mounted to an exterior of the vehicle, the keypad having a plurality of buttons, each button representing both a first value and a second value. The vehicle further includes a body controller, programmed to receive an input sequence entered via the keypad, validate whether the input sequence matches a predefined keycode, assuming the input sequence correctly entered the first value or the second value according to indications of which values of the keycode are the first value and which are the second value, and confirm pairing a mobile device to the vehicle responsive to the input sequence matching the keycode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Ali HASSANI, Aaron Matthew DeLONG, Vivekanandh ELANGOVAN, Hamid M. GOLGIRI, Ryan Edwin HANSON
  • Publication number: 20210075594
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a wireless transceiver; and one or more controllers, programmed to receive, via the wireless transceiver, a hailing instruction that identifies a user to ride in the vehicle, the hailing instruction including an identifier of a mobile device of the user, responsive to receiving a key from the mobile device via a wireless connection between the mobile device and the wireless transceiver, associate the key with the identifier, and send the key and the identifier as an associated pair to a server via the wireless transceiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Ali HASSANI, Hamid M. GOLGIRI, Vivekanandh ELANGOVAN, John Robert VAN WIEMEERSCH
  • Patent number: 10931150
    Abstract: A vehicle communicates with a remote key fob while ensuring an RF environment is sufficient to maintain adequate power from an RF-harvesting power supply that allows the fob to operate without a battery. The vehicle has a receiver adapted to detect a backscatter communication signal from the fob. A harvesting emulator in the vehicle is responsive to ambient RF around the vehicle to duplicate a concurrent response of the fob power supply. A vehicle-powered RF transmitter is activated to broadcast energizing RF radiation around the vehicle when the duplicated response is below a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Vivekanandh Elangovan, Aaron M. DeLong, John R. Van Wiemeersch
  • Patent number: 10924924
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a keypad mounted to an exterior of the vehicle, the keypad having a plurality of buttons, each button representing both a first value and a second value. The vehicle further includes a body controller, programmed to receive an input sequence entered via the keypad, validate whether the input sequence matches a predefined keycode, assuming the input sequence correctly entered the first value or the second value according to indications of which values of the keycode are the first value and which are the second value, and confirm pairing a mobile device to the vehicle responsive to the input sequence matching the keycode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Hassani, Aaron Matthew DeLong, Vivekanandh Elangovan, Hamid M. Golgiri, Ryan Edwin Hanson
  • Patent number: 10919493
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for mobile device relay attack detection and power management for vehicles. An example vehicle includes a first module for first protocol communication, a second module for second protocol communication, and a controller. The controller is to determine a first distance to a mobile device utilizing a signal strength of the first protocol communication and determine, upon receiving an entry request, a second distance to the mobile device utilizing a time-of-flight of the second protocol communication. The controller also is to prevent entry when the second distance does not match the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vivekanandh Elangovan, Aaron Matthew DeLong, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Patent number: 10917748
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for mobile device tethering for vehicle systems based on variable time-of-flight and dead reckoning. An example vehicle includes a communication module to communicate with a mobile device using multiple frequency bands and a body control module. The body control module at an interval, estimates a location of the mobile device relative to the vehicle based on time-of-flight measurements using one of the multiple frequency bands selected based on a previous location estimate. Between the intervals, the body control module tracks the location of the mobile device using dead reckoning. Additionally, the body control system controls a subsystem of the vehicle based on the location of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hamid M. Golgiri, Aaron Matthew DeLong, Vivekanandh Elangovan, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20210027558
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a keypad including a near-field communication (NFC) sensor, and a processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Vivekanandh ELANGOVAN, Aaron DeLONG, Ali HASSANI
  • Patent number: 10814864
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for mobile device tethering for a remote parking assist system of a vehicle. An example vehicle includes first and second wireless modules and a processor. The processor calculates trajectories of the vehicle and a mobile device and estimates a location of the mobile device. When the mobile device is within a threshold distance of the vehicle, the processor polls a key fob at an interval based on a comparison of the trajectories and estimate a location of the key fob. When the key fob is within the threshold distance, the processor enables autonomous parking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Vivekanandh Elangovan, John Robert Van Wiemeersch