US-12618281-B2 - Switchable mode ultra-wideband module

US12618281B2US 12618281 B2US12618281 B2US 12618281B2US-12618281-B2

Abstract

A connectivity module of a vehicle includes Bluetooth and ultra-wideband radios. A processor operatively connected to the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio operates the connectivity module in an anchor mode or a tag mode based at least in part upon a proximity of the vehicle to a movable barrier operator. When in the anchor mode the connectivity module is configured to initiate communication between a user device and both the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio. When in the tag mode, the connectivity module is configured to respond to the movable barrier operator initiating communication between the movable barrier operator and both the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio.

Inventors

Garth Wesley Hopkins
Oddy Khamharn
Maged Riad
Adelaide Zhang

Assignees

THE CHAMBERLAIN GROUP LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20231005

Claims (20)

1 . A connectivity module of a vehicle, the connectivity module comprising: a Bluetooth radio; an ultra-wideband radio; and a processor operatively connected to the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio, the processor configured to operate the connectivity module in: an anchor mode wherein the connectivity module is configured to initiate communication between a user device and both the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio; and a tag mode wherein the connectivity module is configured to respond to a movable barrier operator initiating communication between the movable barrier operator and both the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio; and wherein the processor is further configured to control the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio to switch operation of the connectivity module between the anchor mode and the tag mode based at least in part upon a proximity of the vehicle to the movable barrier operator.
2 . The connectivity module of claim 1 wherein, when the connectivity module is in the anchor mode, the user device operates as a digital key and the processor is configured to: initiate a broadcast of an initial signal from the Bluetooth radio; receive, via the Bluetooth radio, a response signal from the user device in response to the initial signal; determine whether the user device is authorized or unauthorized based at least in part upon the response signal; and initiate a vehicle operation when the user device is authorized.
3 . The connectivity module of claim 2 wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the user device is authorized or unauthorized using the response signal by comparing a credential received with the response signal to known credentials stored in a memory.
4 . The connectivity module of claim 1 wherein, when the connectivity module is in the anchor mode, the user device operates as a digital key and the processor is configured to: initiate broadcast of an initial signal from the Bluetooth radio; receive, via the Bluetooth radio, a response signal from the user device in response to the initial signal; determine whether the user device is authorized or unauthorized based at least in part upon the response signal; determine a distance and angle of approach of the user device relative to the vehicle using signals received via the ultra-wideband radio when the user device is authorized; and initiate a vehicle operation when the distance and angle of approach indicate an intention to enter the vehicle.
5 . The connectivity module of claim 1 wherein, when the connectivity module is in the tag mode, the processor is configured to: receive an initial signal via the Bluetooth radio; and broadcast, in response to receiving the initial signal, a response signal for the vehicle using the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio.
6 . The connectivity module of claim 5 wherein the processor is configured to include a credential in the response signal, the credential identifying the vehicle to the movable barrier operator.
7 . The connectivity module of claim 1 further comprising a secondary communication module operatively connected to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to wirelessly connect with a server computer via the secondary communication module.
8 . The connectivity module of claim 7 wherein the processor is configured to receive an instruction from the server computer to switch the operation of the connectivity module between the anchor mode and the tag mode.
9 . The connectivity module of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to switch the operation of the connectivity module from the anchor mode to the tag mode when a location of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the movable barrier operator.
10 . The connectivity module of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to switch the operation of the connectivity module into the tag mode when a current day and time match a day and time for which a location of the vehicle is predicted to be proximate to the movable barrier operator.
11 . A vehicle comprising: a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) configured to receive GNSS data; a connectivity module comprising: a Bluetooth radio; an ultra-wideband radio; and a processor operatively connected to the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio, the processor configured to operate the connectivity module in: an anchor mode wherein the connectivity module is configured to initiate communication between a user device and both the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio; and a tag mode wherein the connectivity module is configured to respond to a movable barrier operator initiating communication between the movable barrier operator and both the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio; and wherein the processor is further configured to switch operation of the connectivity module between the anchor mode and the tag mode based at least in part upon a proximity of the vehicle to the movable barrier operator determined using the GNSS data.
12 . The vehicle of claim 11 wherein, when the connectivity module is in the anchor mode, the user device operates as a digital key and the processor is configured to: initiate broadcast of an initial signal from the Bluetooth radio; receive, via the Bluetooth radio, a response signal from the user device in response to the initial signal; determine whether the user device is authorized or unauthorized using the response signal by comparing a credential received with the response signal to known credentials stored in a memory; determine a distance and angle of approach of the user device relative to the vehicle based at least in part upon signals received via the ultra-wideband radio when the user device is authorized; and initiate a vehicle operation when the distance and angle of approach indicate an intention to enter the vehicle.
13 . The vehicle of claim 11 further comprising a secondary communication module operatively connected to the processor; wherein the processor is configured to receive, via the secondary communication module, an instruction from a server computer to switch the operation of the connectivity module between the anchor mode and the tag mode.
14 . The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the processor is configured to switch the operation of the connectivity module from the anchor mode to the tag mode when a location of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the movable barrier operator.
15 . The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the processor is configured to switch the operation of the connectivity module into the tag mode when a current day and time match a day and time for which a location of the vehicle is predicted to be proximate to the movable barrier operator.
16 . A method for operating a connectivity module of a vehicle, the method comprising: determining whether the vehicle is in proximity to a movable barrier operator; selecting a tag mode operation of a connectivity module of the vehicle based at least in part upon the vehicle being in proximity to the movable barrier operator; selecting an anchor mode operation for the connectivity module of the vehicle that is different from the tag mode operation based at least in part upon the vehicle not being in proximity to the movable barrier operator; communicating with a user device via a Bluetooth radio and an ultra-wideband radio of the connectivity module when the anchor mode is selected; and communicating with the movable barrier operator via the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio of the connectivity module when the tag mode is selected.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein communicating with the user device via the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio of the connectivity module when the anchor mode is selected comprises: initiating broadcast of an initial signal from the Bluetooth radio; receiving, via the Bluetooth radio, a response signal from the user device in response to the initial signal; determining whether the user device is authorized or unauthorized based at least in part upon the response signal; and initiating a vehicle operation when the user device is authorized.
18 . The method of claim 17 wherein determining whether the user device is authorized or unauthorized based at least in part upon the response signal includes comparing a credential received with the response signal to known credentials stored in a memory.
19 . The method of claim 16 wherein communicating with the user device via the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio of the connectivity module when the anchor mode is selected comprises: initiating broadcast of an initial signal from the Bluetooth radio; receiving, via the Bluetooth radio, a response signal from the user device in response to the initial signal; determining whether the user device is authorized or unauthorized using the response signal; determining a distance and angle of approach of the user device relative to the vehicle using signals received via the ultra-wideband radio when the user device is authorized; and initiating a vehicle operation when the distance and angle of approach indicate an intention to enter the vehicle.
20 . The method of claim 16 wherein communicating with the movable barrier operator via the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio of the connectivity module when the tag mode is selected comprises: receiving an initial signal via the Bluetooth radio; and broadcasting, in response to receiving the initial signal, a response signal for the vehicle using the Bluetooth radio and the ultra-wideband radio, the response signal including a credential identifying the vehicle to the movable barrier operator.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/413,554, filed Oct. 5, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to vehicle systems and movable barrier operator systems and, more specifically, to vehicle systems or movable barrier operator systems that employ radio frequency communications. BACKGROUND Various vehicle systems and movable barrier operator systems are known. Vehicle system may include a Bluetooth or other wireless module for communicating with user devices, such as a smartphone. Vehicle systems may also include a transmitter operable to transmit a control signal to a movable barrier operator in the 300-900 MHz range. Movable barrier operator systems can include garage door operators, gate operators, rolling shutter systems, and the like. Examples of movable barriers include garage doors, swinging or rolling gates, shutters, etc. Movable barriers are movable between closed and open positions to allow ingress and egress of vehicles, people, pets, etc. to and from various secured areas such as a garage of a home. Some operations of these systems may be automatically enabled or triggered based on a location of the vehicle such as using GPS. Known vehicle systems can also include ultra-wideband (UWB) anchors that detect an UWB module of a smartphone operating as a UWB tag and trigger various vehicle functions in response to detecting the smartphone such as unlocking the doors of the vehicle, starting the vehicle, or the like. These in-vehicle UWB modules typically include Bluetooth (e.g., Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)) radios for receiving and verifying credentials of the smartphone and UWB radios for determining distance, position, angle of approach, etc. of the smartphone relative to the in-vehicle UWB module. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic of a network connected vehicle system; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a connectivity module of the network connected vehicle system of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the connectivity module of FIG. 2 FIG. 4 is a view of an example movable barrier operator system for operating a garage door; and FIGS. 5-6 are schematic plan views of the movable barrier operator system and garage of FIG. 4 in relation to a vehicle. Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present disclosure. Certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein that utilize a switchable mode ultra-wideband module of a vehicle to facilitate one or more operations of the vehicle and/or a movable barrier operator system. In particular, such systems and methods described herein can utilize a UWB and Bluetooth module to trigger various system operations for the movable barrier operator system and the vehicle based on the current operating mode of the UWB and Bluetooth module, position information, and/or identification information derived from signals emitted and/or received by the UWB and Bluetooth module. Referring now to FIG. 1, an example connected system 20 is shown. The connected system 20 includes a vehicle 100, a movable barrier operator system 200, and a server computer 300 that wirelessly communicates with the movable barrier operator system 200. As further seen in FIG. 1, the vehicle 100 includes a connectivity module 102 that wirelessly communicates with the movable barrier operator system 200 and the server computer 300. The wireless communication between the connectivity module 102, the movable barrier operator system 200, and/or the server computer 300 may encompass wired and/or wireless communications. For example, the communications between the connectivity module 102 and the server computer 300 may include a wired communication with an in-vehicle communication hub, a wireless communication between the in-vehicle communication hub and a wide area wireless network such as a