System and method for wireless connection set up and / or for wireless communication between a vehicle and a vehicle key

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for wireless connection set up and for wireless communication between a vehicle (1) having at least one first transceiver (11) and a control device (12) and a vehicle key (2) having at least one second transceiver (21) and, in particular, an energy store (22), said method comprising the setting up of a wireless connection, allowing for data exchange, via a first communication method (3) by means of the first transceiver (11) and the second transceiver (21), and then comprising a communication between the first transceiver (11) and the second transceiver (21) via the first communication method (3) in a predetermined first connection interval (31). There follows a setting up of another wireless connection, allowing for data exchange, via a second communication method (4) by means of the first transceiver (11) and the second transceiver (21). Then there is a communication between the first transceiver (11) and the second transceiver (21) via the second communication method (4) in a predetermined second connection interval (41), characterised in that the communication between the first transceiver (11) and the second transceiver (21) is performed sequentially / successively via the first communication method (3) and the second communication method (4). The invention also relates to a system (10) for wireless connection set up and for wireless communication between a vehicle (1) having at least one first transceiver (11) and a control device (12) and a vehicle key (2) having at least one second transceiver (21) and an energy store (22).

Description

[0001] System and method for establishing a wireless connection and / or for wireless communication between a vehicle and a vehicle key

[0002] Description:

[0003] The invention relates to a system and a method for establishing a wireless connection and / or for wireless communication between a vehicle having at least one first transceiver and a control unit and a vehicle key having at least one second transceiver and in particular an energy storage device.

[0004] A variety of systems and methods for establishing a wireless connection and for wireless communication between a vehicle and a vehicle key are known from the prior art. CN 213 565 803 U, for example, describes a vehicle greeting device that uses Bluetooth and UWB (Ultra Wideband) technologies. The vehicle greeting device comprises a key side and a vehicle side. The key side is provided with a first Bluetooth module and a first UWB module, and the first Bluetooth module is connected to the first UWB module. Furthermore, the vehicle side comprises an ECU module, a main module, and at least one third UWB module. The third UWB module and the main module are in a communication connection, and the main module and the ECU module are in a communication connection.According to the automotive digital key system using Bluetooth and UWB technology, the low-power consumption of Bluetooth is utilized. The Bluetooth module in a vehicle performs a polling operation for an extended period of time, and when a user's approach is detected, precise UWB positioning is initiated. This approach aims to reduce the high power consumption of traditional low-frequency polling.

[0005] The document DE 10 2017 103 201 A1 discloses a method for a security system of a vehicle for a keyless and / or passive keyless entry and / or keyless go activation of at least one security function of the keyless and / or passive keyless entry and / or keyless go security system of the vehicle. In particular, this involves monitoring the approach of a mobile identification transmitter to the vehicle, initiating at least one (e.g. first and / or second) distance determination, in particular when the approach is detected, carrying out the distance determination, wherein at least one item of distance information about a distance (e.g.Distance) of the identification transmitter to the vehicle is determined by evaluating at least one communication, in particular radio communication, between a transceiver device of the identification transmitter and a communication device of the vehicle, and evaluating the distance information by a processing device of the vehicle, whereby a localization of the identification transmitter relative to at least one (e.g. first and / or second) security zone takes place. Furthermore, security information for the security system is determined depending on the localization. In other words, a distance determination and / or the localization is used to increase the security during authentication. In particular, at least one communication is used here, wherein, for example, a first and a second communication via different communication types are also used in a supporting manner, and, for example,each activated as a function of a first and second security zone. Preferably, during distance determination and / or localization, the distance is determined as a specific distance, e.g., by a propagation time analysis of a communication signal and / or based on properties of the communication signal that change as a function of the distance. Preferably, the first communication is carried out using a broadband communication method, in particular ultra-wideband (UWB), and preferably the second communication is carried out using LF and / or Bluetooth, in particular Bluetooth Low Energy, and / or HF communication.

[0006] Furthermore, DE102020114403A1 relates to a method for activating at least one security function of a vehicle security system and discloses an access control system with an access element, such as a door, that can be adjusted between a closed state and an open state. The access control system has a detection device configured to detect at least one position of a portable key element relative to the detection device by radio. Furthermore, the access control system has an adjustment device configured to adjust the access element between its respective states depending on the detected position of the key element. The detection device is further configured to detect the position of the key element based on a combination of a Bluetooth radio signal and a UWB radio signal.

[0007] Furthermore, publication CN 212 890 239 U discloses a vehicle-mounted keyless entry and start system based on Bluetooth 5.0 and UWB. The system includes a wearable device with Bluetooth and UWB functions, a base station module with UWB functions, and a main base station module with Bluetooth and UWB functions. According to the publication, UWB positioning and identity authentication on the wearable device are performed via the main base station module and the base station module, enabling keyless entry and vehicle start functions with high positioning precision and low overall system power consumption.

[0008] However, the disadvantage of the above-mentioned state-of-the-art technology is the occurrence of energy peaks and, due to the resulting overall power consumption, voltage drops, which render the BLE key inoperable. Furthermore, the power consumption of BLE and UWB communication is generally higher than that of traditional communication forms, such as LF or HF communication.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system and a method for wireless connection establishment and wireless communication between a vehicle and a vehicle key, in which energy consumption peaks are reduced or avoided.

[0010] This object is achieved by the combination of features according to patent claim 1. According to the invention, a method for establishing a wireless connection and / or for wireless communication between a vehicle having at least a first transceiver and a control unit and a vehicle key having at least a second transceiver and an energy store is proposed, which method initially comprises establishing a wireless connection enabling data exchange by means of a first communication method using the first transceiver and the second transceiver and subsequently comprises communication between the first transceiver and the second transceiver by means of the first communication method in a predetermined first connection interval. This is followed by establishing a further wireless connection enabling data exchange by means of a second communication method using the first transceiver and the second transceiver.Thereafter, communication between the first transceiver and the second transceiver is performed using the second communication method at a predetermined second connection interval. Furthermore, communication between the first transceiver and the second transceiver is performed sequentially using the first communication method and the second communication method.

[0011] The advantage of this is that different energy-consuming communication processes are no longer executed in parallel, but sequentially. This significantly reduces peak power consumption.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the first and second transceivers are each a BLE transceiver and a UWB transceiver. When establishing the connection and during communication using the first communication method, a BLE connection is established and BLE communication is carried out. Furthermore, when establishing the connection and during communication using the second communication method, a UWB connection is established and UWB communication is carried out. These communication methods are particularly suitable for wireless connection establishment and wireless communication between a vehicle and a vehicle key.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, when executing BLE communication, the vehicle shifts an anchor point of the BLE communication using the control unit. In doing so, the predetermined first connection interval is increased. It is advantageous for the connection interval of the BLE communication to be extended such that a connection using a different communication method can be performed within the first connection interval.

[0014] Furthermore, a preferred embodiment is one in which the first connection interval is increased such that exactly one UWB communication can be performed. This optimizes the timing of the method with respect to the respective connection interval.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the control unit regulates the transmission of UWB messages via the second transceiver and the reception of UWB messages via the first transceiver during UWB communication. This optimizes the power consumption of the vehicle key.

[0016] In a further advantageous variant, a limit value for BLE communication is stored in the control unit, and if the limit value is exceeded, UWB communication is established and executed. It is further advantageous if localization / ranging is carried out during communication using the first communication method and the second communication method. In the method according to the invention, in one embodiment variant, the limit value for BLE communication is a predetermined distance of the vehicle key from the vehicle, and a result of the localization / ranging using the first communication method is compared with the limit value, and if the limit value is exceeded, UWB communication is established and executed.This further optimizes the power consumption of the vehicle key, since UWB communication only takes place when the vehicle key is in the vicinity of the vehicle, which is defined by the predetermined limit.

[0017] In a further advantageous variant, the invention provides that the vehicle is unlocked and / or locked during communication by the first communication method and by the second communication method.

[0018] According to the invention, a system for establishing a wireless connection and for wireless communication between a vehicle having at least a first transceiver and a control unit and a vehicle key having at least a second transceiver and in particular an energy storage device is further proposed, in particular for carrying out a method according to the above disclosure. The first transceiver and the second transceiver are designed, as connection partners, to establish a wireless connection enabling data exchange using a first and a second communication method, and to carry out communication between the first transceiver and the second transceiver using the first and the communication method in a predetermined first and second connection interval. Furthermore, the first and the second communication methods can be carried out sequentially / successively, in particular only sequentially / successively.In this way, different energy-consuming communication processes will no longer be executed in parallel, but sequentially / consecutively, significantly reducing peak power consumption. The features disclosed above can be combined in any way, as long as this is technically possible and they do not conflict with each other.

[0019] Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are presented in more detail below, together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the figures. They show:

[0020] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a system for establishing a wireless connection and for wireless communication between a vehicle and a vehicle key;

[0021] Fig. 2 and 3 show a schematic comparison of BLE and UWB communication with and without optimization of the BLE connection parameters.

[0022] The figures are schematic examples. Identical reference numerals in the figures indicate identical functional and / or structural features.

[0023] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a system 10 for establishing a wireless connection and / or for wireless communication between a vehicle 1 and a vehicle key 2. The vehicle 1 comprises a first transceiver 11 and a control unit 12, and the vehicle key 2 comprises a second transceiver 21 and an energy storage device 22. The first transceiver 11 and the second transceiver 21 are designed, as connection partners, to establish a wireless connection enabling data exchange using a first and a second communication method 3, 4, and to carry out communication between the first transceiver 11 and the second transceiver 21 using the first and the communication method 3, 4 in a predetermined first and second connection interval 31, 41. Furthermore, the first and the second communication method 3, 4 can be carried out sequentially / successively.

[0024] According to the schematic representation in Figure 1, the system is suitable for implementing the method described below, which initially comprises establishing a wireless connection enabling data exchange by a first communication method 3 using the first transceiver 11 and the second transceiver 21, and subsequently communicating between the first transceiver 11 and the second transceiver 21 by the first communication method 3 in a predetermined first connection interval 31. This is followed by establishing another wireless connection enabling data exchange by a second communication method 4 using the first transceiver 11 and the second transceiver 21. Thereafter, communicating between the first transceiver 11 and the second transceiver 21 by the second communication method 4 in a predetermined second connection interval 41.Furthermore, the communication between the first transceiver 11 and the second transceiver 21 is carried out sequentially / successively by the first communication method 3 and the second communication method 4.

[0025] The first and second transceivers 11, 21 are each a BLE transceiver and a UWB transceiver. When establishing the connection and communicating using the first communication method 3, a BLE connection is established and BLE communication is performed. Furthermore, when establishing the connection and communicating using the second communication method 4, a UWB connection is established and UWB communication is performed.

[0026] Furthermore, when executing BLE communication, vehicle 1 shifts an anchor point of the BLE communication using control unit 12, and the predetermined first connection interval is increased. The first connection interval is increased such that exactly one UWB communication can be performed. Furthermore, during UWB communication, control unit 12 regulates the transmission of UWB messages using second transceiver 21 and the reception of UWB messages using first transceiver 11.

[0027] A limit value 5 for the BLE communication is stored in the control unit 12 and if the limit value 5 is exceeded, the UWB communication is established and executed.

[0028] In addition, during communication by the first communication method 3 and by the second communication method 4, localization / ranging is carried out.

[0029] The threshold value 5 for the BLE communication is a predetermined distance of the vehicle key 2 from the vehicle 1 and a result of the localization / ranging by the first communication method 3 is compared with the threshold value 5 and if the threshold value 5 is exceeded, the UWB communication is established and executed.

[0030] Furthermore, the vehicle is unlocked and / or locked during communication using the first communication method 3 and the second communication method 4.

[0031] Figures 2 and 3 show a schematic comparison of BLE and UWB communication with and without optimization of the BLE connection parameters. Figure 2 shows that energy peaks occur during BLE and UWB communication without optimization of the BLE connection parameters P3 and P4, and the power provided by the vehicle key's energy storage for BLE communication is significantly higher than during BLE and UWB communication with optimization of the BLE connection parameters P3 and P4, where energy consumption peaks are reduced, as shown in Figure 3.

[0032] The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable that utilize the presented solution even in fundamentally different embodiments.

[0033] * * * * *

Claims

Claims: A method for establishing a wireless connection and / or for wireless communication between a vehicle (1) with at least one first transceiver (11) and a control unit (12) and a vehicle key (2) with at least one second transceiver (21) and, in particular, an energy storage device (22), comprising the steps: a. Establishing a wireless connection enabling data exchange by means of a first communication method (3) using the first transceiver (11) and the second transceiver (21), b. Communication between the first transceiver (11) and the second transceiver (21) by means of the first communication method (3) in a predetermined first connection interval (31), c. Establishing a further wireless connection enabling data exchange by means of a second communication method (4) using the first transceiver (11) and the second transceiver (21), d.Communication between the first transceiver (11) and the second transceiver (21) by the second communication method (4) in a predetermined second connection interval (41), characterized in that the communication between the first transceiver (11) and the second transceiver (21) is carried out sequentially by the first communication method (3) and the second communication method (4). A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second transceivers (11, 21) are each a BLE transceiver and a UWB transceiver, respectively, wherein, during the establishment of the connection and during communication by the first communication method (3), a BLE connection is established and BLE communication is executed, and wherein, during the establishment of the connection and during communication by the second communication method (4), a UWB connection is established and UWB communication is executed. A method according to claim 2, wherein, during the execution of the BLE communication, the vehicle (1) shifts an anchor point of the BLE communication by means of the control unit (12), thereby increasing the predetermined first connection interval. A method according to claim 3, wherein the first connection interval is increased such that exactly one UWB communication is possible.A method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the control unit (12) controls the sending of UWB messages via the second transceiver (21) and the receiving of UWB messages via the first transceiver (11) during UWB communication. A method according to claims 3 and 5, wherein a threshold value (5) for BLE communication is stored in the control unit (12), wherein UWB communication is established and executed when the threshold value (5) is exceeded. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein localization / ranging is performed during communication by the first communication method (3) and by the second communication method (4). A method according to claims 6 and 7, wherein the limit value (5) for BLE communication is a predetermined distance of the vehicle key (2) from the vehicle (1), wherein a result of the localization / ranging by the first communication method (3) is compared with the limit value (5) and, if the limit value (5) is exceeded, UWB communication is established and executed. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, during communication by the first communication method (3) and by the second communication method (4), the vehicle is unlocked and / or locked.System (10) for establishing a wireless connection and for wireless communication between a vehicle (1) with at least one first transceiver (11) and a control unit (12) and a vehicle key (2) with at least one second transceiver (21) and in particular an energy storage device (22), in particular for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first transceiver (11) and the second transceiver (21) are configured as connection partners to establish a wireless connection enabling data exchange by means of a first and a second communication method (3, 4) and to carry out communication between the first transceiver (11) and the second transceiver (21) by means of the first and the communication method (3, 4) in a predetermined first and second connection interval (31, 41), wherein the first and the second communication method (3, 4) can be executed sequentially. * * * * *

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