The present disclosure relates to determining proximity in a smart car system, and a method for operating a vehicle system comprises the steps of: receiving at least one signal transmitted by a user apparatus; transmitting measurement data for the at least one signal to a management apparatus; and receiving updated mapping data from the management apparatus for the measurement data and proximity data.

Systems and methods are provided for controlling power modes of a vehicle and for providing passive entry to the vehicle. Responsive to a determination that a device is within a first distance from the vehicle, a wake-up action of the vehicle is initiated. The wake-up action includes a central controller transitioning one or more electronic control units (ECUs) or at least one program module from a first state to a second state. Responsive to a determination that the device is within a second distance from the vehicle, a welcome action of the vehicle is initiated. The welcome action includes the central controller causing the one or more ECUs or the at least one program module of the vehicle to execute an action associated with the vehicle.

Systems and methods are provided for controlling power modes of a vehicle and for providing passive entry to the vehicle. A sleep command can be sent from a central controller to multiple domain controllers to enter a sleep state. When the sleep command is received by a first domain controller, a sleep state is entered. When the sleep command is received by a second domain controller, a stealth state is entered. While in the stealth state, the second domain controller periodically wakes up from a sleep state to monitor a condition. In response to detecting a first condition, the second domain controller returns to the sleep state. In response to detecting a second condition, the second domain controller sends a notification of the second condition to the central controller.

A portable device is configured to establish a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication connection with a vehicle and to communicate with at least one sensor in the vehicle using impulse radio (IR) ultra-wide band (UWB) communication after establishment of the BLE communication connection with the vehicle is completed. A location of the portable device is determined by the vehicle based on ranging using IR UWB communication performed by the at least one sensor.

A detection device includes at least one detection module communicatively coupled with a communication device. The detection module includes a controller circuit communicatively coupled with a first antenna. The first antenna receives first electromagnetic signals from a first plurality of antennae located within an interior of a first vehicle. The first antenna receives second electromagnetic signals from a second plurality of antennae located and within an interior of a second vehicle. The controller circuit determines a position of the communication device within the interior of the first vehicle relative to locations of the first plurality of antennae based on the first electromagnetic signals received by the first antenna. The controller circuit determines a position of the communication device within the interior of the second vehicle relative to locations of the second plurality of antennae based on the second electromagnetic signals received by the first antenna.

An affixable device can include a locking mechanism, a force-limiting mechanism, and a sensing mechanism. The locking mechanism can include an engagement component configured to disable the locking mechanism. The force-limiting mechanism can be configured to limit a locking force of the locking mechanism. The sensing mechanism can be coupled to the engagement component, and can be configured to determine that the force-limiting mechanism has limited the locking force of the locking mechanism. In response to determining the force-limiting mechanism limiting the locking force, the sensing mechanism can cause the engagement component to disable the locking mechanism.

A distance estimation device includes a mobile terminal transmitting a radio wave and an in-vehicle device. The in-vehicle device includes a direction determination unit having a receiver, a distance measurement unit, and a correction unit. The receiver receives the radio wave and is arranged on a side of the vehicle. The direction determination unit determines a direction from which the radio wave comes based on a signal strength of the received radio wave. The distance measurement unit receives the radio wave and measures a distance from an installation position of the distance measurement unit to the mobile terminal based on information other than a signal strength of the received radio wave. The correction unit corrects the measured distance to be a distance from an edge of the vehicle to the mobile terminal based on the determined direction and the installation position.

A motor vehicle is controlled using a vehicle-external mobile terminal. A communication connection is established using a first transmission/reception device of the motor vehicle and second transmission/reception device of the mobile terminal. A distance and/or relative position of the mobile terminal in relation to the motor vehicle is ascertained by evaluating a radio signal transmitted via the communication connection. Clearance data is generated using a control circuit of the motor vehicle or of the mobile terminal based on the ascertained distance and/or the ascertained relative position. The clearance data indicates that a predetermined control command can be transmitted from the mobile terminal to the motor vehicle and/or is accepted from the mobile terminal by the motor vehicle. The predetermined control command is transmitted using the communication connection when the clearance data are available in the mobile terminal and a predetermined trigger condition for the respective control command is satisfied.

A reader includes a transceiver and a control module. The transceiver is configured to, during a current connection event, monitor notification messages transmitted from a portable access device to a phone-as-a-key (PaaK) system of a vehicle, where the notification messages are transmitted to establish a communication link between the portable access device and the PaaK system. The control module is configured to: perform an in-phase and quadrature phase capture of the notification messages based on fields in one or more of the notification messages, where the fields include a mobile de-whitened section including two or more series of consecutive bits, where the consecutive bits in each of the one or more series are all zeros or all ones; based on the in-phase and quadrature phase capture, determine an angle-of-arrival of the notification messages, and indicate the angle-of-arrival to the PaaK system for permitted access determined by the PaaK system.

This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for eliminating false activation of components of a vehicle when the vehicle is parked in a garage. Example components can be a door lock, a door latch, a door activation servomotor, or a light. In an example method, a vehicle entry authorization system of a vehicle operates a sensor system to obtain dimensional information of an interior portion of the garage. The vehicle entry authorization system may then detect a presence of a mobile device (such as a smartphone, smart device, or a vehicle key fob) and determines the location of the mobile device based on the dimensional information. If the mobile device is located outside the garage, the vehicle entry authorization system refrains from activating a component of the vehicle. However, if the mobile device is located inside the garage, the vehicle entry authorization system activates the component.