Vehicle communication status indicator

Abstract

Vehicle, including: a body control module to determine whether a wireless access device is authorized to act as a key; and a keyless access unit that is communicatively connected to the body control module, wherein the keyless access unit turns on a connection indicator LED when the wireless access device is connected to a wireless node, wherein the connection indicator LED is dimmable and wherein the brightness of the connection indicator LED is based on a signal strength between the wireless access device and the wireless node.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to remote keyless access systems, and in particular to a vehicle communication status indicator. GENERAL STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Remote keyless entry systems make it easier to unlock and open a vehicle's doors without inserting a key into a lock. A key fob can contain a wireless transducer that communicates with the vehicle to authorize access, even when the fob is, for example, in the driver's pocket. Increasingly, smartphone-based applications are being used instead of the key fob to activate the remote keyless entry system. The state of the art is known from US 2014 / 0000165A1 and KR 1020130035286A. SUMMARY

[0003] The attached claims define this application. The present disclosure summarizes aspects of embodiments and is not intended to limit the claims. Other implementations are considered in accordance with the techniques described herein, as will be apparent to the person skilled in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description, and these implementations are intended to be within the scope of this application.

[0004] Systems and methods for a vehicle communication status indicator are disclosed. A disclosed example vehicle includes a body control module and a keyless entry unit. The example body control module determines whether a wireless access device is authorized to act as a key. For example, the mobile device can be a smartphone with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication capability and / or a key fob with BLE. The example keyless entry unit is communicatively connected to the body control module. The example keyless entry unit illuminates an indicator LED or backlit graphic when the wireless access point device is connected to a wireless node. The indicator LED emits a first color when the wireless access device is authorized.

[0005] An exemplary disclosed method involves determining whether a wireless access device is authorized to act as a key. The exemplary method further involves activating a connection indicator LED on a keyless entry device when the wireless access device is connected to a vehicle-based wireless node, wherein the connection indicator LED is dimmable and the brightness of the connection indicator LED is based on the signal strength between the wireless access device and the wireless node. The exemplary connection indicator LED emits an initial color. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to embodiments shown in the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, and associated elements may be omitted or, in some cases, proportions may be enlarged to emphasize and clearly illustrate the novel features described herein. Additionally, system components may be arranged in various ways, as is known in the art. Furthermore, corresponding parts in the different views of the drawings are identified by the same reference numerals. The Fig. 1A and Fig. Figure 1B illustrates a vehicle with a vehicle communication status indicator in accordance with the teaching of this disclosure. Fig. Figure 2 illustrates an example of the keyless access unit from Fig. 1. Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B are block diagrams of electronic components of the vehicle from the Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B. Fig. Figure 4 is a flowchart of a procedure for operating the keyless access system, which uses the electronic components of the Fig. 3A and / or 3B can be implemented. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE FORMS OF EXECUTION

[0007] Although the invention can be implemented in various forms, some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments are shown in the drawings and described below, in view of the fact that the present disclosure is to be regarded as an explanation of the invention by means of examples and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

[0008] Key fobs and / or mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, smartwatches, etc.) connect wirelessly to the vehicle to facilitate unlocking via a keyless entry system. "Wireless access device," as used herein, refers to key fobs and mobile devices that include short-range wireless nodes configurable to communicate with the vehicle (e.g., through a pairing process). Keyless entry system users can become frustrated when they are near the vehicle but the system fails to unlock the doors. Additionally, antennas for a short-range wireless node should be positioned so that the wireless access device connects to the keyless entry system when the user is within range of the vehicle.As later revealed, a keyless entry unit includes a wireless node and an indicator to inform the user when the wireless access device is communicating with the keyless entry system. In some examples, the keyless entry unit includes a keypad to facilitate unlocking the vehicle's doors. In some examples, the keyless entry unit is located on a section of the door that covers the vehicle's B-pillar. The B-pillar is a roof support structure located between the front and rear doors. Alternatively, in some examples, the keyless entry unit may be located on an edge on the driver's side of the front windshield or in an upper center section of a rear windshield. It may also be located on a side of the vehicle.

[0009] When the wireless access device communicates with the wireless node of the keyless entry unit, the indicator lights up. In some examples, the indicator includes a blue, dimmable light-emitting diode (LED). In some such examples, the brightness of the blue LED is based on the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) or received transmission strength (RX) between the wireless node and the wireless access device. The RSSI and RX values ​​measure signal strength along the open path between the wireless access device and the wireless node of the keyless entry unit. The RSSI and RX values ​​are determined by the wireless access device when it receives a message from the vehicle. Additionally, messages include the RSSI or RX value that the wireless access device sends to the wireless node of the keyless entry unit.When the wireless access device is within a threshold range (e.g., two or three meters, etc.) of the vehicle and the vehicle has authenticated the wireless access device, the vehicle prepares one or more doors to be unlocked via a body control module (BCM). For example, a door control unit can be set to unlock the corresponding door when a person's hand is detected on the door handle.

[0010] Fig. 1A and Fig. Figure 1B illustrates a vehicle 100 with a vehicle communication status indicator according to the teaching of this disclosure. Fig. 1A represents a standard vehicle 100. Fig. Figure 1B depicts a convertible vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 can be a standard gasoline-powered vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, and / or any other type of vehicle with a drive system. The vehicle 100 includes parts related to mobility, such as a powertrain with an engine, a transmission, a suspension, a drive shaft, and / or wheels, etc. Additionally, the vehicle 100 can be non-autonomous, semi-autonomous, or autonomous. In the illustrated examples, the vehicle 100 includes a body control module 102 and a keyless entry unit 104.

[0011] The body control module 102 controls various subsystems of the vehicle 100. For example, the body control module 102 can control electric windows, the central locking system, an immobilizer, and / or electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, etc. The body control module 102 includes circuits to drive, for example, relays (e.g., for controlling windshield wiper fluid, etc.), DC brush motors (e.g., for controlling electrically adjustable seats, central locking, electric windows, windshield wipers, etc.), stepper motors, and / or LEDs, etc. The body control module 102 communicates with the electronic door locks 106 on the doors. The electronic door locks 106 lock and unlock the vehicle. In some examples, the electronic door lock 106 is equipped with a sensor (e.g., capacitive touch sensors, infrared sensors, a rotary angle sensor, etc.).) connected to detect when a user 108 attempts to open a door. In some such examples, the body control module 102 sends a signal that causes the electronic door locks 106 to unlock the corresponding door in response to the detection, via the sensor, of the user 108's attempt to open the door (sometimes referred to as "preparing the door"). As explained later, the body control module 102 prepares the electronic door locks 106 based on (a) an authorized device that is communicatively paired with the keyless entry unit 104, and / or (b) a password entered at the keyless entry unit 104.

[0012] In the illustrated example from Fig. 1A, the keyless access unit 104 is located on one or more doors (e.g., a driver's side front door, a passenger's side front door, etc.) on a section of the door that covers a B-pillar 110 of the vehicle 100. In the illustrated example from Fig. 1B The keyless entry unit 104 can be located on an edge of the front windshield 112 or an upper central section of a rear windshield 114. Additionally, the vehicle 100 can include a short-range wireless node 116 that is communicatively connected to the keyless entry unit 104. The keyless entry unit 104 of the Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B includes a short-range wireless node 118 and a communication status indicator LED 120. In some examples, the keyless entry unit 104 includes a locking status indicator LED 121. Additionally, in some examples, the keyless entry unit includes a keypad 122 and a keypad LED 124.

[0013] The short-range wireless node 118 includes hardware and firmware to implement a short-range wireless network. In some examples, the short-range wireless node 118 implements Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). The BLE protocol is described in Volume 6 of the Bluetooth Specification 4.0 (and later revisions), maintained by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. Alternatively, in some examples, the short-range wireless node 118 can implement a different wireless protocol, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) 802.15.4 (e.g., Zigbee®) or IEEE 802.11 (e.g., a wireless local area network (WLAN)). The short-range wireless node 118 communicates with a paired key fob 126 and / or a paired mobile device 128.Messages sent by the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 include an RSSI value and / or an RX value. The RSSI and RX values ​​measure the signal strength along the open path between the short-range wireless node 118 and the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128. The RSSI is measured as a percentage of signal strength, with its values ​​(e.g., 0-100, 0-137, etc.) defined by a manufacturer of the hardware used to implement the short-range wireless node 118. In general, a higher RSSI means that (a) the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 is closer to the vehicle 100, and (b) the communication between the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 and the short-range wireless node 118 is more reliable. The RX values ​​are measured in decibel milliwatts (dBm).Additionally, the short-range wireless node 116 of the vehicle 100 includes hardware and firmware to implement the wireless network (e.g. BLE, WLAN, ZIGBEE etc.).

[0014] The short-range wireless node 118 is communicatively connected to the body control module 102. In some examples, when a connection is established between a key fob 126 and / or a mobile device 128, the body control module 102 queries the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 to determine whether the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 is / are authorized to access the vehicle 100. In some examples, the body control module 102 and the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 exchange one or more authorization tokens. In some examples, the body control module 102 determines a distance between the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 and the vehicle 100 based on the RSSI value and / or the RX value.For example, a higher RSSI value means that the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 is closer to the vehicle 100. In such examples, the body control module 102 prepares the electronic door locks 106 when (a) the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 is / are authorized and (b) the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 is within a threshold range (e.g., one and a half meters (five feet), three meters (ten feet), etc.).

[0015] The communication status indicator LED 120 illuminates a communication status indicator panel (e.g., the communication status indicator panel 204 from Fig. 2 below), to indicate when the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 is communicatively connected to the vehicle 100's short-range wireless node 116 and is authorized to act as a key. In some examples, the communication status indicator LED 120 emits a blue color (e.g., between a 470 nanometer (nm) wavelength and a 525 nm wavelength). Alternatively, in some examples, the communication status indicator LED 120 is an LED pixel that incorporates LEDs of multiple colors (e.g., a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED), so that the color of the communication status indicator LED 120 is configurable and / or changeable. Additionally, in some examples, the communication status indicator LED 120 is dimmable, so that the brightness of the communication status indicator LED 120 depends on the signal strength (e.g.,The communication status indicator LED 120 is based on the RSSI value or the RX value) between the short-range wireless node 118 and the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128. The communication status indicator LED 120 emits blue light when (i) the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 is / are communicating with the short-range wireless node 118 and (ii) the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 is / are authorized to act as a key. The communication status indicator LED 120 is off when the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 is / are not communicating with the short-range wireless node 118 or when the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 is / are not authorized to act as a key. In some examples, the communication status indicator LED 120 gives a red or yellow color (e.g.between a 620 nm wavelength and a 580 nm wavelength) when the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 are communicatively connected to the short-range wireless node 118, but the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 are not close enough to the vehicle to activate keyless entry (e.g. more than two to three meters, etc.).

[0016] In some examples, the locking status indicator LED 121 illuminates a locking status indicator panel (e.g., the locking status indicator panel 205 from Fig. 2 below), to indicate when the doors can be opened. In some examples, the locking status indicator LED 121 emits a blue color (e.g., between a 470 nanometer (nm) wavelength and a 525 nm wavelength). Alternatively, in some examples, the locking status indicator LED 121 is an LED pixel that incorporates LEDs of multiple colors (e.g., a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED), so that the color of the locking status indicator LED 121 is configurable and / or changeable. The locking status indicator LED 121 illuminates the locking status indicator panel when the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 (a) is / are authorized to act as the key, and (b) the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 is within range of the vehicle 100 to activate keyless entry (e.g., within two or three meters, etc.).

[0017] The keypad 122 includes numeric and alphanumeric keys (e.g., keys 206 of Fig. 2 below). In some examples, the buttons are toggle switches that display one value when pressure is applied to one side of the button and a different value when pressure is applied to the opposite side. Alternatively, in some examples, the buttons may be capacitive touch-based, piezoelectric, or resistive touch-based buttons. The keypad 122 is communicatively connected to the body control module 102. In some examples, the body control module 102 prepares the electronic door locks 106 in response to the body control module 102 confirming a password entered into the keypad 122.Alternatively, in some examples, the body control module 102 prepares the electronic door locks 106 when (a) the password is entered into the keypad 122 and (b) the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 is / are within the threshold range (e.g. two or three meters etc.) of the vehicle 100.

[0018] The keypad LED(s) 124 illuminates the keys of the keypad 122. The keypad LED(s) 124 illuminates when the user 108 is detected by, for example, a sensor (e.g., an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, etc.) or when the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 is detected. The color of the keypad LED(s) 124 depends on whether the electronic door locks 106 are prepared. If the electronic door locks 106 are not prepared, the keypad LED(s) 124 emits a red or yellow color (e.g., between a wavelength of 620 nm and 580 nm). When the electronic door locks 106 are prepared, the keypad LED(s) 124 emit a green color (e.g. between a 495 nm wavelength and a 570 nm wavelength).In some examples, the locking status indicator LED 121 illuminates a locking status indicator panel to show that the doors can be opened when the electronic door locks 106 are prepared.

[0019] Fig. Figure 2 illustrates an example of the keyless access unit 104 from Fig. 1. In the illustrated example from Fig. In Figure 2, the keyless entry unit 104 is located on a section of the door near the B-pillar 110 of the vehicle 100. In the illustrated example, the keyless entry unit 104 includes a housing 202, a communication status indicator panel 204, and buttons 206 of the keypad 122. In some examples, the keyless entry unit 104 includes a locking status indicator panel 205. Additionally, in some examples, the keyless entry unit 104 does not include the buttons 206. The housing 202 includes the short-range wireless node 118 (e.g., the corresponding controller and antenna) and the communication status indicator LED 120. Additionally, in some examples, the housing 202 includes the keypad LED 124.

[0020] Fig. 3A is a block diagram of electronic components 300 of the vehicle 100 of Fig. 1A. Fig. 3B is a block diagram of electronic components 302 of vehicle 100 of Fig. 1B. In the illustrated examples of the Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B includes the electronic components 300 and 302, the body control module 102, the keyless entry unit 104, and a vehicle data bus 304. In the illustrated example from Fig. 3B includes the electronic components 302 and the short-range wireless node 116.

[0021] The body control module 102 includes a processor or controller 306 and memory 308. The processor or controller 306 can be any suitable processing device or a set of processing devices, such as, but not limited to: a microprocessor, a microprocessor-based platform, a suitable integrated circuit, one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and / or one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The memory 308 can be volatile memory (e.g., RAM, which may include non-volatile RAM, magnetic RAM, ferroelectric RAM, and other suitable forms); non-volatile memory (e.g., disk memory, FLASH memory, EPROMs, EEPROMs, memristor-based non-volatile solid-state memory, etc.); immutable memory (e.g., EPROMs), read-only memory, and / or high-capacity storage devices (e.g., hard disks, solid-state drives, etc.).In some examples, memory 308 includes several types of memory, in particular volatile memory and non-volatile memory.

[0022] The memory 308 is a computer-readable medium into which one or more sets of instructions, such as the software for operating the methods of the present disclosure, may be embedded. The instructions may embody one or more of the methods or logic as described herein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions may, during execution, reside wholly or at least partially within any one or more of the memory 308, the computer-readable medium, and / or the processor 306.

[0023] The terms “non-transitory computer-readable medium” and “computer-readable medium” should be understood to include a single medium or multiple media, such as a centralized or distributed database and / or associated caches and servers, that store one or more sets of instructions. The terms “non-transitory computer-readable medium” and “computer-readable medium” also include any tangible medium capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructions for execution by a processor, or capable of causing a system to perform any one or more of the methods or operations disclosed herein. As used herein, the term “computer-readable medium” is expressly defined to include any type of computer-readable storage device and / or storage disk and to exclude signal propagation.

[0024] The vehicle data bus 304 is communicatively connected to the body control module 102 and the keyless entry unit 104. The vehicle data bus 304 is implemented according to the Local Interconnect Network (LIN) protocol (as defined by LIN specification 2.2A and subsequent revisions). The body control module 102 and the keyless entry unit 104 are directly connected via the vehicle data bus 304, without any other electronic control units (ECUs) communicating with the vehicle data bus 304. Alternatively, the vehicle data bus 304 is implemented according to (i) the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus protocol (as defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 11898-1), (ii) the K-Line protocol as defined by ISO 9141, (iii) the Media-Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) bus protocol, or (iv) the CAN Flexible Data (CAN FD) bus protocol (ISO 11898-7). In the illustrated example from Fig. 3B The short-range wireless node 116 is directly connected to the body control module 102 via the vehicle data bus 304. The short-range wireless node 116 communicates with the keyless entry unit 104. In some examples, the wireless connection between the short-range wireless node 116 and the keyless entry unit 104 has an increased security level (e.g., BLE security mode 2, 3, or 4, etc.).

[0025] Fig. Figure 4 is a flowchart of a procedure for operating the keyless access system, which uses electronic components 300 and 302 from the Fig. 3A and / or 3B can be implemented. Initially, at block 402, the keyless entry unit 104 detects a paired wireless access device (e.g., the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128) via the short-range wireless node 118. At block 404, the keyless entry unit 104 waits until the signal strength between the keyless entry unit 104 and the key fob 126 and / or the mobile device 128 is stable. For example, the RSSI value or the RX value may indicate that the signal strength is weak (e.g., below a signal strength threshold). As another example, after an initial connection, the keyless entry unit 104 may not receive an acknowledgment message from the wireless access device. At block 406, the body control module 102 determines whether the wireless access device is authorized.For example, the body control module can exchange 102 security tokens with the wireless access device to determine whether the wireless access device is authorized. Examples of determining whether the wireless access device is authorized are described in U.S. Patent No. 8,594,616 entitled "Vehicle Key Fob with Emergency Assistant Service," which is incorporated herein in full by reference. If the wireless access device is not authorized, the procedure ends. Otherwise, if the wireless access device is authorized, the procedure continues at Block 408.

[0026] At block 408, the keyless entry unit 104 activates the communication status indicator LED 120 to emit an initial color (e.g., yellow, blue, green, etc.) to indicate that the wireless access device is communicatively connected to the vehicle 100 and authorized to act as a key. At block 410, the body control module 102 waits until the wireless access device is within the range threshold (e.g., two to three meters, etc.) of the vehicle 100. For example, the wireless access device may initially communicate with the vehicle 100 at twenty or thirty meters, but the body control module 102 may not prepare the doors to open until the wireless access device is closer to the vehicle 100.In this way, the process of authorizing the wireless access device can start before user 108 reaches vehicle 100, and the doors remain secure until user 108 is relatively close to vehicle 100. At block 412, the keyless entry unit 104 indicates that the doors are authorized to unlock or unlatch. In some examples, the keyless entry unit 104 changes the color emitted by the communication status indicator LED 120 (e.g., from yellow to blue, etc.). Alternatively or additionally, in some examples, the keyless entry unit 104 turns on the locking status indicator LED 121 to illuminate the locking status indicator panel 205. Alternatively or additionally, in some examples, the keyless entry unit 104 turns on the keypad LED 124. In block 414, the body control module 102 prepares the electronic door locks 106 to be unlocked or released.

[0027] The flowchart from Fig. 4 is representative of machine-readable instructions, which comprise one or more programs that, when executed by the processor (such as the 306 processor from the ), Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B) are executed, causing the vehicle 100 to disconnect the body control module 102 from the Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B and the keyless access unit 104 from the Fig. 1A, Fig. 1B and Fig. 2 implements. Furthermore, although the exemplary program(s) in relation to the flowchart from Fig. In addition to the methods described in Section 4, many other methods for implementing the exemplary body control module 102 and the exemplary keyless entry unit 104 can be used alternatively. For example, the execution order of the blocks can be changed and / or some of the described blocks can be modified, omitted, or combined.

[0028] In this application, the use of disjunction should include conjunction. The use of definite or indefinite articles should not indicate cardinality. In particular, a reference to "the" object or "a" object should also denote one of a possible multitude of such objects. Furthermore, the conjunction "or" can be used to represent features that are present simultaneously, rather than mutually exclusive alternatives. In other words, the conjunction "or" should be understood as including "and / or." The terms "includes," "including," and "enclose" are inclusive and have the same scope as "comprises," "comprising," and "encompassing," respectively.

[0029] The embodiments described above, and in particular any "preferred" embodiments, are possible examples of implementations and are presented solely for the purpose of clearly understanding the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications can be made to the embodiment(s) described above without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of the techniques described herein. It is intended that all modifications herein are included within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.

Claims

[1] Vehicle, comprising: a body control module to determine whether a wireless access device is authorized to act as a key; and a keyless access unit that is communicatively connected to the body control module, wherein the keyless access unit turns on a connection indicator LED when the wireless access device is connected to a wireless node, wherein the connection indicator LED is dimmable and wherein the brightness of the connection indicator LED is based on a signal strength between the wireless access device and the wireless node. [2] Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the body control module is designed to prepare the vehicle's electronic door locks for unlocking in response to the determination that the wireless access device is authorized to act as a key. [3] Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the keyless entry unit includes a second LED, the second LED emitting a color when a mobile device is not authorized. [4] Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a color of the connection indicator LED changes based on whether the wireless access device is authorized. [5] Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the keyless entry unit includes the wireless node within a body of the keyless entry unit. [6] Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the keyless access unit includes a keypad and a keypad LED. [7] Vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the keyless entry unit serves to turn on the keypad LED in response to the detection of a person near the keyless entry unit, wherein the keypad LED emits a first color when a correct password has not been entered on the keypad, and emits a second color when the wireless access device is authorized or the correct password has been entered on the keypad. [8] Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the keyless entry unit is located near a B-pillar on a door of the vehicle. [9] Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the keyless access unit is located on a windshield of the vehicle. [10] Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the keyless access unit is located on a rear window of the vehicle. [11] Procedure, encompassing: Determine, using a processor, whether a wireless access device is authorized to act as a key; and Activation of a connection indicator LED with a variable brightness setting on a keyless access unit when the wireless access device is connected to a vehicle-based wireless node, wherein the connection indicator LED emits an initial color, the varying brightness being based on the signal strength of the open path between the wireless access device and the vehicle's wireless node. [12] Method according to claim 11, including, in response to determining that the wireless access device is authorized to act as a key and the wireless access device is within a range threshold from the vehicle, preparing to unlock the electronic door locks of the vehicle. [13] Method according to claim 11, wherein the keyless access unit includes the vehicle-based wireless node within a body of the keyless access unit. [14] Method according to claim 11, comprising: Activation of a keypad LED of the keyless entry unit in response to the detection of a person near the keyless entry unit; Setting the keypad LED to emit a third color when the wireless access device is not authorized and a correct password has not been entered on a keypad of the keyless entry unit; and Setting the keypad LED to emit a fourth color when the wireless access device has been authorized or the correct password has been entered into the keypad. [15] Method according to claim 11, wherein the keyless access unit includes a locking indicator LED and including when the wireless access device is authorized to: Activating the locking indicator LED to emit a third color when the wireless access device is out of range of the vehicle; and The locking indicator LED will turn on to emit a fourth color when the wireless access device is within the threshold range of the vehicle.

Images