Vehicle Smart Key BLE Fallback for Low-Battery Fob Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart key systems fail to perform vehicle door opening, start, remote parking assist, and automatic locking functions when the fob's battery voltage drops below a certain level, preventing communication with the vehicle's UWB module and disrupting essential operations.
Innovation Solution
The system notifies the user to replace the fob battery by transmitting battery voltage information through BLE communication, allowing the vehicle to continue operating using BLE signals for door control, start, remote parking, and locking functions, even when UWB communication fails due to low battery voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UWB communication is used for precise position checking, then door opening, start, remote parking, and automatic locking functions can be performed, but the system fails when battery voltage drops below a certain level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces BLE communication as an intermediary solution when UWB communication fails due to low battery voltage. The system first attempts UWB communication for precise positioning, and when that fails, it switches to BLE communication as a fallback mechanism to maintain the smart key functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively monitors battery voltage levels and prepares alternative communication methods before complete failure occurs. By detecting voltage drops in advance and switching to BLE communication, the system cushions against the harmful effect of battery degradation on communication reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If BLE communication is used as fallback when UWB fails, then smart key functions can continue operating, but the system complexity increases with multiple communication protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The communication module is designed with multi-functionality, supporting both UWB and BLE protocols within a single integrated system. This allows the module to adapt to different communication requirements and battery conditions without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects between UWB and BLE communication protocols based on real-time battery voltage conditions and communication success. The communication method is not fixed but adapts flexibly to current system state, optimizing performance while managing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A smart key system of a vehicle that notifies a user that a fob battery needs to be replaced, including a fob configured to transmit information that the battery needs to be replaced to an in-vehicle communication module configured to transmit the information to an identification authentication unit (IAU); and the IAU configured to transmit the information to an integrated body unit (IBU) configured to notify a user of the information. A smart key system includes: a fob configured to transmit failure information to a BLE module when UWB communication fails due to battery voltage drop; the BLE module configured to receive the failure information, and measure a distance for positioning the fob using a BLE signal; and an IBU configured to transmit an operation signal to a controller configured to control at least one function among vehicle door opening and closing, vehicle start, remote parking, and vehicle door locking.