METHOD FOR ACTIVATING A VEHICLE FUNCTION AND ASSOCIATED ACTIVATION DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of activating a vehicle function, of one vehicle among several vehicles, by an activation device capable of communicating with a portable access device worn by a user, comprising the following steps: selection of a master vehicle, and of slave vehicles; emission by each slave vehicle to the master vehicle of a unique identifier; emission by the master vehicle to each slave vehicle of a command to put their scanning phase on standby; increase in scanning of the master vehicle and generation of a predetermined enlarged zone around said vehicle; if an authenticated user is detected in said zone; then: emission of a wake-up command to the slave vehicle corresponding to the identifier; wake-up and triggering of the scanning phase by said slave vehicle; activation of the function of the slave vehicle if the user is in a predetermined zone around said slave vehicle.Figure for the abridged version: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD FOR ACTIVATING A VEHICLE FUNCTION AND ASSOCIATED ACTIVATION DEVICE technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for activating a vehicle function, such as unlocking / locking the vehicle's doors, preheating the vehicle's seats, pre-selecting radio stations, etc., when the user's presence is detected near their vehicle, as well as an associated activation device. The invention is particularly applicable to a vehicle located in a parking lot surrounded by other motor vehicles. Previous technique

[0002] In a motor vehicle, it is known to use vehicle function activation devices capable of detecting the presence of a user's hand or foot and thus enabling the locking or unlocking of all or part of the vehicle's openings, for example, the doors or the trunk. For example, detecting the presence of a user's hand on or in front of a door handle, coupled with the recognition of an identifier of a "hands-free" access device worn by that user, allows these openings to be locked and unlocked.

[0003] A so-called "hands-free" access system for a motor vehicle allows an authorized user to lock and / or unlock the vehicle's doors without having to physically press buttons on a key. To do this, the vehicle identifies a portable device, such as a badge, remote control, or even a key, carried by the user. If the badge, remote control, or key is located within a predetermined area around or inside the vehicle and is identified as belonging to the vehicle, then the vehicle automatically locks / unlocks its doors according to the user's intention, without the user having to physically handle a key.

[0004] To do this, when the user approaches the vehicle, communication is established on a wireless communication link between the "hands-free" access equipment, for example an electronic badge or a smart mobile phone, and the vehicle function activation device in order to authenticate said access equipment using its identifier.

[0005] To this end, the activation device includes at least one radio frequency antenna enabling the reception of the identifier sent by the "hands" access equipment free”. The activation device is connected to an electronic control unit of the vehicle (“ECU”: English abbreviation for “Electronic Control Unit”) to which it transmits the identifier.

[0006] According to the prior art, the access equipment is generally an electronic badge. The signal received by the activation device's antenna, including the access equipment identifier, is transmitted via RF (Radio Frequency) or LF (Low Frequency) waves. The precise location of the wearable device around the vehicle is achieved by measuring the intensity of the LF signal received by the wearable device (via the antennas and the electronic control unit) from the vehicle, more commonly known as RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) measurements.The power of each signal received by the portable equipment from each antenna of the plurality of LF antennas located on the vehicle V is received and analyzed by an activation device, onboard in the vehicle, which thus determines, by triangulation, the position of the portable equipment relative to said LF antennas, i.e. relative to the vehicle.

[0007] Depending on the location of the portable equipment identified by the vehicle, in said location zones certain actions specific to said location zones are automatically carried out, unlocking / locking or prior activation of the interior lighting (also called "welcome lighting" in English).

[0008] Nowadays, however, it is increasingly common to use a mobile phone for authentication functions, thus avoiding the need for a dedicated electronic badge and reducing the number of devices required. Most mobile phones do not have RF or LF communication capabilities. It therefore becomes necessary to adapt the hands-free access and / or start system to a vehicle so that it can also work with a mobile phone equipped with other communication standards, such as, for example, Ultra Wide Band (ULB), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity), and not only via radio waves and low frequencies (RF, LF).Ultra-wideband (UWB), or Ultra Large Band in French (ULB), is a radio modulation technique based on the transmission of very short pulses, often less than a nanosecond. This allows for very high bandwidth.

[0009] The approach of the access equipment to the vicinity of the activation device (less than 2m) and the recognition of the identifier received by the computer, coupled with the detection of the presence of the user's hand, allows the locking or unlocking of the door.

[0010] The drawback of such a method, regardless of the communication method used—low frequency, high frequency, or ultra-high frequency—lies in the vehicle's need to emit recurring radio frequency signals to detect the user's approach. These successive emissions consume energy from the vehicle's battery. The risk is that if the vehicle is parked for weeks, the battery will be depleted and the vehicle will no longer start.

[0011] Standby strategies exist that allow the vehicle to reduce the frequency of these emissions when it is detected that the vehicle has not moved for a certain period of time. However, the drawback here lies in the inertia of the vehicle waking up to react in a timely and rapid manner to an unlocking request from a user.

[0012] The invention provides a method for activating a vehicle function and an associated activation device that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art, particularly when the vehicle is parked in a parking lot surrounded by other motor vehicles. Description of the invention

[0013] The invention proposes a method for activating a vehicle function, of one vehicle among a plurality of vehicles, by means of an activation device intended to be mounted on the motor vehicle, the device comprising radio frequency communication means capable of communicating with a portable access device worn by a user, the vehicle function being triggered by a detection of the presence of said portable user device in a predetermined area around the vehicle during a scanning phase and by authentication of said device, the method being remarkable in that the plurality of vehicles are equipped beforehand with radio frequency communication means between them, and in that the activation method comprises the following steps: a. From among the plurality of vehicles, selection of a master vehicle based on predefined criteria, and of slave vehicles, b. each slave vehicle emits a unique identifier to the master vehicle, c. transmission by the master vehicle to each slave vehicle of a command to put the scanning phase into standby mode, d. putting the slave vehicle scanning phase into standby mode, e. increasing the frequency and / or power of the master vehicle's scanning emissions and generating a predetermined, expanded zone around the master vehicle, f. if the presence of a user authenticated by an identifier is detected in said predetermined zone extended around the master vehicle; then g. issuance of a wake-up command from the master vehicle to the slave vehicle corresponding to the identifier, h. awakening of said slave vehicle and triggering of the scanning phase by said slave vehicle, i. activation of the vehicle function of the slave vehicle if the authenticated user is in a predetermined area around said slave vehicle.

[0014] Judiciously, the process is repeated for each new vehicle entering the extended emission zone of the master vehicle or leaving said emission zone.

[0015] The selection of a master vehicle is carried out by: a. communication between vehicles, b. exchange between vehicles of predefined criterion values, c. comparison of predefined criterion values ​​with each other.

[0016] More specifically, the predefined criteria include at least: a. a threshold value or a maximum state of charge value for a vehicle battery, b. a maximum transmission range.

[0017] The invention also relates to a vehicle function activation device, intended to be installed on a vehicle, the device comprising radio frequency communication means capable of communicating with a portable access device worn by a user, the vehicle function being triggered by the detection of the presence of said portable user device in a predetermined area around the vehicle during a scanning phase and by authentication of said device, the device being notable in that it is capable of: a. communicate with other vehicles from among a plurality of vehicles, b. select from the plurality a master vehicle and slave vehicles according to predefined criteria, c. receive a unique identifier from each slave vehicle, d. send a command to each slave vehicle to put the scanning phase into standby mode, e. increase the frequency or power of the scanning phase transmission, f. detect the presence of an authenticated user with an identifier (ID) in a predetermined expanded area, g. issue a wake-up command for the scanning phase to a slave vehicle corresponding to the authenticated user's identifier.

[0018] The device is also capable of exchanging predefined criterion values ​​with other vehicles, and of comparing the values ​​with each other.

[0019] More specifically, the predefined criteria include: a. a threshold value or a maximum state of charge value for a vehicle battery, b. A maximum emission range of the vehicle.

[0020] The invention also relates to any computer program product comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of the process according to any of the characteristics listed above when said program is executed on a computer.

[0021] Finally, the invention applies to any motor vehicle comprising an activation device according to any of the characteristics listed above. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description. This description is purely illustrative and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] [Fig.1]: [Fig.1] schematically represents a plurality of vehicles comprising a master vehicle and slave vehicles,

[0024] [Fig.2]: [Fig.2] schematically represents an activation device according to the invention,

[0025] [Fig.3]: [Fig.2] is a flowchart illustrating the different steps of the activation process according to the invention. Description of the implementation methods

[0026] Figure 1 shows a plurality of vehicles VI, V2, V3, V4, VM, each comprising an activation device D1, D2, D3, D4, DM for a vehicle function.

[0027] According to the invention, each vehicle of the plurality represented in [Fig.1] is equipped with an activation device D1, D2, D3, D4, DM of a vehicle function, for example of a "hands-free" locking / unlocking activation device for the vehicle.

[0028] To this end, each vehicle includes radio frequency transmitting antennas, low, high or ultra-high frequency, of the RF, BLE (“Bluetooth”) or UWB (“Ultra Wide Band”) type. For example, each vehicle is equipped with four radio frequency antennas A1...A14, A21...A24, A31...A34, A41...A44, AM1...AM4, each antenna being connected to an electronic control unit E1, E2, E3, E4, EM of the corresponding vehicle.

[0029] Each of these vehicles VI, V2, V3, V4, VM ​​is thus capable of detecting the presence of a user U equipped with portable equipment SD in a predetermined zone ZI around said vehicle during a so-called scanning phase, i.e. emission radio frequency waves, then activate the vehicle function if the user is authenticated, i.e. if the ID identifier of the SD equipment exchanged with the vehicle corresponds to an identifier previously registered and identified as being authorized to activate the vehicle function.

[0030] This method of activating a hands-free function and the corresponding activation device are known to those skilled in the art and will not be further detailed here.

[0031] According to the invention, the plurality of vehicles VI, V2, V3, V4, VM ​​comprises vehicles called "slave vehicles" VI, V2, V3, V4 and at least one vehicle called "master vehicle", VM as will be described below.

[0032] In order to categorize the vehicles as either “master” or “slave”, said vehicles are capable of communicating with each other.

[0033] According to the invention also, the vehicle called "master vehicle" VM is capable of requesting the slave vehicles VI, V2, V3, V4 to enter a standby phase, during which the scanning phase of said vehicles is temporarily stopped, and also capable of waking up said slave vehicles or at least one slave vehicle so that the scanning phase of said vehicles or of the vehicle in particular is operational again.

[0034] During the standby phase of the slave vehicles VI, V2, V3, V4, the master vehicle VM is in operation with an optimized scanning phase, i.e. a scanning phase with either an increased transmission frequency or an increased transmission power so that the predetermined radio frequency emission zone Z2 around it is widened.

[0035] The master vehicle VM is chosen according to predetermined criteria, and each vehicle can either take the role of slave vehicle or the role of master vehicle.

[0036] The activation process will be described later.

[0037] According to the invention, each activation device D1, D2, D3, D4, DM is therefore capable of ensuring either the functions of the slave vehicle VI, V2, V3, V4, or those of the master vehicle VM.

[0038] To this end, each activation device D1, D2, D3, D4, DM comprises: a. Communication means M1 with other vehicles located in the emission zone of said device, b. Selection means M2 of a master vehicle and slave vehicles, according to predefined criteria, c. Means of receiving M3 identifiers specific to slave vehicles, d. Means of transmitting M4 a command to put the scanning phase into standby mode to the slave vehicles, e. Means of increasing the power or frequency of emissions M5 of the vehicle scanning phase in which it is located, f. Means of detecting the presence of a user U and authenticating said user by an ID identifier in a predetermined enlarged area Z2, g. Means of transmitting M7 a command to wake up the scanning phase to the slave vehicle corresponding to the identifier ID.

[0039] The means of communication Ml between vehicles include antennas and means of transmission / reception between each vehicle; vehicle-to-vehicle communication is known from the state of the art and will not be detailed further here.

[0040] The selection means M2 of a master vehicle VM and slave vehicles VI, V2, V3, V4 are capable of receiving predefined criteria values ​​from each vehicle, comparing them, and selecting a master vehicle VM from among the plurality of vehicles based on the comparison results. The selection criteria may be: the battery charge level relative to a threshold value, or a maximum battery charge level, and / or a maximum transmission range, and / or the central location of the master vehicle relative to the slave vehicles, thus enabling the master vehicle VM to communicate with a maximum number of slave vehicles.

[0041] The master vehicle VM is the one with a higher battery charge level than the battery charge levels of the slave vehicles VI, V2, V3, and V4, and is the one with the maximum transmission range, thus enabling communication with the maximum number of slave vehicles VI, V2, V3, and V4. These criteria are neither exhaustive nor limiting; other criteria may of course be taken into account, such as the detection of the absence of wall(s) around the master vehicle VM, for example.

[0042] M3 means of receiving proper ID identifiers thus make it possible to list each slave vehicle VI, V2, V3, V4 by its identifier, each identifier is then recorded in the memory of the activation device DM of the master vehicle VM.

[0043] The means of transmitting a command C to put the scanning phase on standby to the slave vehicles VI, V2, V3, V4 are capable of transmitting a message to all the slave vehicles, said message including a command understandable by the slave vehicle asking it to turn off or temporarily suspend its scanning phase.

[0044] The means of increasing M5 power P or frequency F of the emissions of the scanning phase thus make it possible to extend the range of the emissions during the scanning phase of the master vehicle VM.

[0045] The means for detecting the presence M6 of a user U and for authenticating said user by an ID identifier, make it possible to detect any user U in the extended emission zone Z2 of the master vehicle VM which carries a portable SD device previously paired via its ID identifier with one of the slave vehicles.

[0046] The presence detection means M6 are capable of receiving the ID identifier and comparing it with the identifiers specific to the slave vehicles previously stored in the activation device DM of the master vehicle VM.

[0047] The means of transmitting a wake-up command R from the scanning phase are capable of transmitting a wake-up message to the slave vehicle whose identifier ID corresponds to the identifier ID previously received from the portable equipment SD of the user U by the master vehicle VM.

[0048] The communication means M1, the selection means M2, the reception means M3, the transmission means M4 of a standby instruction C, the frequency F or P increase means M5 of the master vehicle VM's emissions during the scanning phase, the detection means M6 of the presence of a user U and of the authentication of said user by an ID identifier, and the transmission means M7 of a wake-up instruction R from the scanning phase to the slave vehicle corresponding to the ID identifier received by the master vehicle VM are preferably in the form of software included in the microcontroller (not shown) located in the electronic control unit E1, E2, E3, E4, EM of the activation device D1, D2, D3, D4, DM.

[0049] Each central control unit El, E2, E3, E4, EM also includes a processor 100 and a memory 101 (see [Fig.2]) in which instructions are stored to configure the processor to execute certain particular processing, in particular to implement the steps of the activation process, according to the embodiment as described below.

[0050] The method of activating a vehicle function, illustrated in [Fig.3], will now be described.

[0051] During a preliminary step E0, communication is established between the different vehicles VI, V2, V3, V4, VM ​​of the plurality of vehicles during which the vehicles send each other values ​​of predefined criteria, in this case the state of charge of their battery, as well as the range of their radio frequency emission.

[0052] In a first step, E1, from among the plurality of vehicles, a master vehicle VM is selected according to predefined criteria. More precisely, the master vehicle VM is the one whose battery state of charge is above a predetermined threshold, or even the one whose battery state of charge is at its maximum value relative to the battery states of charge of the other vehicles VI, V2, V3, V4. The master vehicle VM is also the one that can communicate with the maximum number of slave vehicles around it and whose emission range is either maximum, or the master vehicle VM is located in a central manner with respect to the slave vehicles VI, V2, V3, V4 as illustrated in [Fig.1], where the master vehicle VM is surrounded by slave vehicles VI, V2, V3, V4.

[0053] During a second step E2, each slave vehicle VI, V2, V3, V4 sends its unique identifier to the master vehicle VM, and said identifier ID is stored in the memory of the master vehicle VM's activation device DM. It should be noted that this step may be included in the first step E1.

[0054] Once the master vehicle VM has been selected, and the ID identifiers of each slave vehicle VI, V2, V3, V4 are recorded in the memory of the activation device DM of the master vehicle VM, the master vehicle VM sends to each of the slave vehicles VI, V2, V3, V4 a standby instruction C of their scanning phase to the third step E3.

[0055] Upon receiving this instruction C, each slave vehicle in the following step 4 E4 puts the scanning phase into standby, more precisely it no longer emits radio frequency waves towards a compatible SD portable device, in order to reduce the consumption of its battery, the vehicle being stationary, engine stopped.

[0056] During step 5 E5, once the slave vehicles VI, V2, V3, V4 While the master vehicle VM is in a state of suspended animation, it increases the power P and / or frequency F of its scouring emissions to achieve a wider emission range, defining an expanded predetermined zone Z2 around the master vehicle VM. This zone encompasses not only the slave vehicles VI, V2, V3, and V4 (see [Fig. 1]) but also their respective predetermined zones. This is illustrated in [Fig. 1], where the predetermined zone of the slave vehicle V4 lies within the expanded predetermined zone Z2 of the master vehicle VM. Similarly, the predetermined zones (not shown in [Fig. 1]) of the other slave vehicles VI, V2, and V3 also lie within the expanded predetermined zone Z2. Consequently, the expanded predetermined zone Z2 includes the predetermined zone Z1.

[0057] During the sixth step E6, if a user U carrying a portable SD device is in the predetermined extended area Z2, the master vehicle VM then requests the ID identifier of said SD device and compares it to the previously registered ID identifiers that it had received from the slave vehicles VI, V2, V3, V4 in the second step E2.

[0058] During the seventh step E7, if the identifier ID corresponds to one of the stored identifiers, then the master vehicle VM sends to the slave vehicle corresponding to the identifier ID a wake-up command R for the scanning phase of said slave vehicle.

[0059] At the eighth step E8, the slave vehicle VI, V2, V3, V4 proceeds to the handover operation of its scanning phase and therefore emits radio frequency waves in order to detect in turn the portable SD equipment carried by the user U.

[0060] In the ninth step E9, if the SD portable device with the previously recognized ID is also detected by the slave vehicle in a predetermined zone ZI around said slave vehicle, thus enabling the activation of a vehicle function, then the slave vehicle activates said function (step E10). In other words, the unlocking of the slave vehicle is activated.

[0061] It should be noted that the process is repeated each time a new vehicle V either leaves the extended emission zone Z2 of the master vehicle VM or enters the extended emission zone Z2. Indeed, the new vehicle V can in turn become the master vehicle VM.

[0062] The activation method and associated activation device according to the invention thus overcome the drawbacks of the prior art. The method according to the invention is particularly ingenious because it saves the battery power of the slave vehicles while continuing the scanning of a portable device compatible with at least one of the slave vehicles by selecting a master vehicle whose transmission range is extended and which will perform said detection.

[0063] This master vehicle is chosen so as to be able to support a more energy-intensive scanning phase and also so as to be able to communicate with the maximum number of slave vehicles in order to reduce the battery consumption of the maximum number of vehicles.

[0064] The invention is inexpensive and easy to implement because it only requires software modifications.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for activating a vehicle function, of one vehicle among a plurality of vehicles (VI, V2, V3, V4, VM), by means of an activation device (D1, D2, D3, D4, DM) intended to be installed on the motor vehicle, the device comprising radio frequency communication means (A1...A14, A21...A24, A31...A34, A41...A44, AMI...AM4) capable of communicating with a portable access device (SD) worn by a user (U), the vehicle function being triggered by the detection of the presence of said portable user device (SD) in a predetermined zone around the vehicle (Z1) during a scanning phase and by authentication of said device, the method being characterized in that the plurality of vehicles are first equipped with radio frequency communication means (M1) between them, and in that the activation method comprises the following steps: a. from among the plurality of vehicles, selection of a master vehicle (VM) according to predefined criteria, and of slave vehicles (VI, V2, V3, V4), b. each slave vehicle (VI, V2, V3, V4) issues a unique identifier (ID) to the master vehicle (VM), c. transmission by the master vehicle (VM) to each slave vehicle of a standby command (C) for the scanning phase, d. putting the slave vehicle scanning phase (VI, V2, V3, V4) on standby, e. increasing the frequency (F) and / or power (P) of the master vehicle (VM) scanning emissions and generating a predetermined enlarged zone (Z2) around the master vehicle (VM), f. if the presence of a user (U) authenticated by an identifier (ID) is detected in said extended predetermined zone (Z2) around the master vehicle (VM); then i. issue a wake-up command (R) from the master vehicle (VM) to the slave vehicle (VI, V2, V3, V4) corresponding to the identifier (ID), ii. awakening of said slave vehicle (VI, V2, V3, V4) and triggering of the scanning phase by said slave vehicle, üi. activation of the vehicle function of the slave vehicle (VI, V2, V3, V4) if the authenticated user (U) is in a predetermined zone (Zl) around said slave vehicle (VI, V2, V3, V4).

2. Activation method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the method is repeated for each new vehicle (V) entering the enlarged emission zone (Z2) of the master vehicle (VM) or leaving said emission zone.

3. A method for activating a vehicle function according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the selection of a master vehicle is carried out by: a. communication between vehicles, b. exchange between vehicles of predefined criterion values, c. comparison of the predefined criterion values ​​with each other.

4. Activation method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the predefined criteria include at least: a. a threshold value or a maximum state of charge value of a vehicle battery, b. a maximum emission range.

5. A vehicle function activation device (D1, D2, D3, D4, DM) intended to be installed on a vehicle, the device comprising radio frequency communication means (A1...A14, A21...A24, A31...A34, A41...A44, AMI...AM4) capable of communicating with a portable access device (SD) worn by a user (U), the vehicle function being triggered by the detection of the presence of said portable user device (SD) in a predetermined zone around the vehicle (Z1) during a scanning phase and by authentication of said device, the device (D1, D2, D3, D4, DM) being characterized in that it is capable of: a. Communicating with other vehicles (VI, V2, V3, V4) from among a plurality of vehicles, b. Selecting a master vehicle (VM) from the plurality, and Slave vehicles (VI, V2, V3, V4) according to predefined criteria, c. receive a unique identifier (ID) from each slave vehicle (VI, V2, V3, V4), d. send to each slave vehicle (VI, V2, V3, V4) a standby command (C) for the scanning phase, e. increase a frequency (F) or an emission power (P) of the scanning phase, f. detect the presence of an authenticated user (U) with an identifier (ID) in a predetermined extended area (Z2), g. issue a wake-up command (R) from the scanning phase to a slave vehicle (VI, V2, V3, V4) corresponding to the identifier (ID) of the authenticated user.

6. Activation device (D1, D2, D3, D4, DM) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the device is capable of exchanging predefined criterion values ​​with other vehicles, and of comparing the values ​​with each other.

7. Activation device (D1, D2, D3, D4, DM), according to any one of claims 5 to, characterized in that the predefined criteria include: a. a threshold value or a maximum state of charge value of a vehicle battery, b. a maximum emission range of the vehicle.

8. Product computer program comprising program code instructions for carrying out the steps of the process according to any one of claims 1 to 4 when said program is executed on a computer.

9. Motor vehicle (V), characterized in that it comprises an activation device (D1, D2, D3, D4, DM) according to any one of claims 5 to 7.

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