Control unit for determining the position of portable devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control unit for determining the position of portable terminal devices, comprising a plurality of communication elements, wherein the control unit is configured to establish at least a first connection with a portable terminal device by means of the plurality of communication elements, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a position of the portable terminal device based on the plurality of communication elements and the first connection, wherein the control unit is configured to select a subset of the plurality of communication elements depending on the determined position, and wherein the control unit is configured to establish and / or adapt the first connection with the subset of the plurality of communication elements.

Description

State of the art

[0001] The present invention relates to a control unit for determining the position of portable terminal devices and to a vehicle.

[0002] Numerous solutions exist for determining the position of end devices in vehicles. The increasing number of vehicle functions and heightened safety requirements are driving the need for innovative and robust methods for determining the position of these devices.

[0003] The continuous increase in comfort in the vehicle sector to attract customers, as well as increasing competition, is causing cost pressure, resulting in greater demand for cheaper and more efficient vehicle components. Disclosure of the invention

[0004] The control unit according to the invention for determining the position of portable devices, comprising the features of claim 1, has the advantage over the known unit that its power consumption can be significantly reduced, since only the communication elements required for establishing the initial connection are selected based on the position of the portable device. This allows the power consumption of the control unit for position determination to be reduced without affecting system performance. In particular, not all of the numerous communication elements for position determination need to be used, thus reducing the power consumption of the control unit.

[0005] According to the invention, this is achieved by the control unit having a plurality of communication elements for determining the position of the portable device. The control unit is configured to establish at least a first connection with a portable device by means of the plurality of communication elements, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a change in the position of the portable device based on the plurality of communication elements and the first connection. Furthermore, the control unit is configured to select a subset of the plurality of communication elements depending on the determined position, wherein the control unit is configured to establish and / or adjust the first connection with the subset of the plurality of communication elements.

[0006] In other words, a few communication elements can be selected from a large number of available elements, depending on the position of the portable device, thus saving power, since not all of the available elements need to be active. For example, an initial connection can be established between one of the communication elements, a subset of communication elements, and / or the entire set of communication elements and the portable device. For instance, the communication element could be a Bluetooth or low-energy Bluetooth device, or something similar, so the initial connection could be a Bluetooth connection. The subset of available communication elements can be further refined, for example, by selecting those elements with the shortest distance between themselves and the portable device.Preferably, the subset can also be selected based on the transmission quality of the first connection and / or a combination of transmission quality and distance. The transmission quality can be affected, for example, by metallic elements or similar factors. Thus, communication elements that are too far away and / or have too low a transmission quality between themselves and the portable device can be put into a standby mode to further reduce power consumption.

[0007] The subclaims show preferred developments of the invention.

[0008] Preferably, the control unit is configured to put a residual amount of the multitude of communication elements into an energy-saving mode.

[0009] An advantage of this embodiment is that the response time of the numerous communication elements, which are in energy-saving mode, is still sufficient to allow their use when needed, while simultaneously saving energy. This energy-saving mode can, in particular, be a sleep mode or similar state of the communication element.

[0010] Preferably, the control unit is configured to receive the locking signal, which is indicative of a locked vehicle, wherein the control unit is configured to exclude a communication element located in the interior of the vehicle from the multitude of communication elements when the locking signal is present or a locked state of the vehicle is present and / or implied.

[0011] An advantage of this embodiment is that communication elements with a lower probability of being included in the subset due to their location are excluded from the outset, thus preventing false positive signals. For example, the portable device is likely to be outside the vehicle, given the presence of the lock signal indicating a locked vehicle. Therefore, preferably only communication elements located on or near the exterior of the vehicle are relevant. This allows communication elements located inside the vehicle to be excluded, at least temporarily.

[0012] Preferably, the control unit is configured to determine a change in position of the portable terminal device by means of the first connection and the subset of the multitude of communication elements, wherein the control unit is configured to adjust the subset of the multitude of communication elements based on the change in position.

[0013] An advantage of this embodiment is that when the portable device moves relative to the vehicle or control unit, the subset of the numerous communication elements can be adjusted depending on its current position. This keeps the number of communication elements used to a minimum, thus saving further energy. For example, during the initial position determination of the portable device, it is located on the right side of the control unit. Preferably, over time, the portable device can be carried or moved to the left side of the control unit or vehicle. Consequently, the communication elements on the right side have a greater distance or lower transmission quality than those on the left side, so the subset is adjusted so that only the communication elements on the left side of the control unit or vehicle are used.the vehicle can be used to establish the first connection.

[0014] Preferably, the control unit is configured to establish and / or adapt a second connection with another terminal device by means of the multitude of communication elements and / or by means of the subset of the multitude of communication elements, wherein the control unit is configured to adapt the subset of the multitude of communication elements based on the second connection.

[0015] An advantage of this embodiment is that if several portable devices are in the vicinity of the control unit or the vehicle, the subset can be adjusted to ensure satisfactory communication for both devices. Preferably, the subset is adjusted depending on the first and second connections, or the position of the first and second portable devices. This allows for sufficient quality to be provided for both devices while simultaneously saving energy.

[0016] Preferably, the control unit is configured to determine an angle between a reference of the at least one communication element and the position of the portable terminal by means of at least one communication element of the plurality of communication elements and / or by means of at least one communication element of a subset of the plurality of communication elements, wherein the control unit is configured to adapt the subset of the plurality of communication elements.

[0017] One advantage of this embodiment is that the angle allows for even finer detection accuracy and position determination, thus further reducing the number of communication elements required and saving additional energy.

[0018] Preferably, the control unit is configured to adjust the position of the portable terminal by means of the angle, and the control unit is configured to select a single communication element based on the adjusted position in order to establish and / or adjust the initial connection.

[0019] One advantage of this design is that, due to the increased positional accuracy resulting from the defined position and angle, only one communication element is needed to provide sufficient connection quality. This allows for greater energy savings, further reducing the requirements of the control unit.

[0020] Furthermore, the control unit is preferably configured to put all but one of the numerous communication elements into an energy-saving mode.

[0021] One advantage of this embodiment is that the reaction time for forming further connections or switching connections between a first communication element and a second communication module can be faster, while saving a large amount of energy.

[0022] Preferably, the control unit is configured to receive and / or store a quality requirement for at least the first connection, wherein the control unit is configured to adapt a number of the communication elements of the subset of the multitude of communication elements depending on the quality requirement.

[0023] An advantage of this embodiment is that further energy savings can be achieved by reducing the number of communication elements in the subset when the quality requirement for the first connection is low. More preferably, the number of communication elements in the subset can be increased when, for example, the quality requirement for the first connection is high. More preferably, a quality requirement can be received and / or stored for each individual connection between a communication element in the multitude of communication elements and a respective portable device. More preferably, the control unit is configured to adjust the quality requirement based on the distance between the communication element and the portable device. For example, the quality requirement can be increased incrementally or continuously as the distance decreases.

[0024] Another aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle which has a control unit as described above and below. Brief description of the drawings

[0025] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 to 3 a control unit according to one embodiment, and Fig. 4 a vehicle according to one embodiment. Embodiments of the invention

[0026] Preferably, all identical elements, units and / or steps in all figures are labelled with the same reference symbols.

[0027] Fig. Figure 1 shows a control unit 10 according to one embodiment. The control unit 10 has a plurality of communication elements 12. The plurality of communication elements 12 is configured to establish a first connection 14 with a portable terminal 16. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the first connection 14 is configured from a plurality of data connections 30 between the individual communication elements of the plurality of communication elements 12 and the portable terminal 100. More preferably, the control unit 10 can be configured to determine a position 16 of the portable terminal using the plurality of communication elements 12. Depending on the determined position 16, the control unit 10 can select a subset 18 of the plurality of communication elements 12. As shown in the Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the subset 18 of the plurality of communication elements 12 forms a data connection 30 between the subset 18 and the portable terminal 100. Furthermore, preferably, in the Fig. 1. A change of position 15 is indicated, wherein the portable terminal 100 is in a second position 17. In the second position 17, the portable terminal 100 can again establish the first connection 14 between the portable terminal 100 and the control unit 10 or the subset 18 and / or the plurality of communication elements 12. This preferably occurs as shown in Fig. Figure 1 shows a second data connection 31 between the individual communication elements in the plurality of communication elements 12 and the portable terminal 100. The control unit 10 is configured to redetermine the subset 18 depending on the changed position 17 of the terminal 100 and thus adapt the subset 18 of the plurality of communication elements 12. Preferably, the control unit 10 is also configured to establish a second connection 22 with another terminal 102. The subset 18 of the plurality of communication elements 12 can be adapted in this way.

[0028] Fig. Figure 2 shows a control unit 10 according to one embodiment. The control unit 10 has a plurality of communication elements 12. The plurality of communication elements 12 can determine the position 16 of an end device 100 by means of a first connection 14. More preferably, the control unit 10 can select a subset 18 of the plurality of communication elements 12 and provide the first connection 14 by means of the subset 18. More preferably, at least one communication element of the plurality of communication elements 12 can have a reference 26. Preferably, the control unit 10 and / or a communication element can determine an angle 24 between the reference 26 and the position 16 of the end device 100. Depending on the angle 24, the control unit 10 can select a single communication element 18 in order to establish and / or adjust the first connection 14 with it.

[0029] As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the terminal device 100 is moved to a second position 17 by means of a position change 15. Depending on the second position 17, the subset 18 can be adjusted by the control unit 10. Preferably, an angle 24 for the second position 17 can be determined with respect to the reference 26. Based on the second position 17 and the angle 24, the individual communication element 28 can be reselected from the multitude of communication elements 12 by the control unit 10 in order to establish the first connection 14 between the individual communication element 28 and the terminal device 100 at the second position 17.

[0030] Fig. Figure 3 shows a control unit 10 according to one embodiment. The control unit 10 for determining the position of portable terminals 100 has a plurality of communication elements 12. The control unit 10 is configured to establish at least a first connection 14 with a portable terminal 100 by means of the plurality of communication elements 12. Furthermore, the control unit 10 is configured to determine a position 16 of the portable terminal 100 based on the plurality of communication elements 12 and the first connection 14. Depending on the determined position 16, the control unit 10 is configured to select a subset 18 of the plurality of communication elements 12, wherein the control unit 10 is configured to establish the first connection 14 with the subset 18 of the plurality of communication elements 12.

[0031] Fig.Figure 4 shows a vehicle 200 according to one embodiment. The vehicle 200 has a control unit 10 for determining the position of portable terminal devices 100, as described above and below.

Claims

[1] Control unit (10) for determining the position of portable terminals (100), comprising a plurality of communication elements (12), wherein the control unit (10) is configured to form at least a first connection (14) with a portable terminal (100) by means of the plurality of communication elements (12), wherein the control unit (10) is configured to determine a position (16) of the portable terminal (100) based on the plurality of communication elements (12) and the first connection (14), wherein the control unit (10) is configured to select a subset (18) of the plurality of communication elements (12) depending on the determined position (16), wherein the control unit (10) is configured to form and / or adapt the first connection (14) with the subset (18) of the plurality of communication elements (12). [2] Control unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (10) is configured to put a remaining amount of the plurality of communication elements (12) into a power saving mode. [3] Control unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (10) is configured to receive a locking signal indicative of a locked vehicle (200), wherein the control unit (10) is configured to exclude a communication element (20) arranged inside the vehicle (200) from the plurality of communication elements (12) when the locking signal is present. [4] Control unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (10) is configured to determine a change in position of the portable terminal (100) by means of the first connection (14) and the subset (18) of the plurality of communication elements (12), wherein the control unit (10) is configured to adapt the subset (18) of the plurality of communication elements (12) based on the change in position. [5] Control unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (10) is configured to form and / or adapt a second connection (22) with a further terminal (102) by means of the plurality of communication elements (12) and / or by means of the subset (18) of the plurality of communication elements (12), wherein the control unit (10) is configured to adapt the subset (18) of the plurality of communication elements (12) based on the second connection (22). [6] Control unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (10) is configured to determine an angle (24) between a reference (26) of the at least one communication element and the position (16) of the portable terminal (100) by means of at least one communication element of the plurality of communication elements (12) and / or by means of at least one communication element of the subset (18) of the plurality of communication elements (12), wherein the control unit (10) is configured to adapt the subset (18) of the plurality of communication elements (12) based on the angle (24). [7] Communication unit (10) according to claim 6, wherein the control unit (10) is configured to adjust the position (16) of the portable terminal (100) by means of the angle (24), wherein the control unit (10) is configured to select a single communication element (28) based on the adjusted position (16) in order to form and / or adjust the first connection (14). [8] Control unit (10) according to claim 7, wherein the control unit (10) is configured to put all of the plurality of communication elements (12) into a power saving mode except for the individual communication element (28). [9] Control unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (10) is configured to receive and / or store a quality requirement for at least the first connection (14), wherein the control unit (10) is configured to adapt a number of the communication elements of the subset (18) of the plurality of communication elements (12) depending on the quality requirement. [10] Vehicle (200) comprising a control unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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