Apparatus and method for controlling vehicle

Inventors: Ji Hye Lee (Hwaseong-si, KR); Seon Min Kim (Seoul, KR); Hyung Gyu Ra (Suwon-si, KR); Jeong Min Kim (Gwangmyeong-si, KR); Seok Gyu Kim (Seongnam-si, KR); Yong Ho Shin (Siheung-si, KR)

Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION

B60R25/24 B60R25/102 B60R25/30

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12686359
App. No.: 18/492,195
Granted: Jul 21, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a vehicle includes a communication device that communicates with an authentication device of the vehicle, and a processor that searches for the authentication device inside the vehicle and prevents a guide message for authentication from being output when at least one authentication device found inside the vehicle.

Claims (36)

1 . An apparatus for controlling a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a communication device configured to communicate with an authentication device of the vehicle; and

a processor configured to search for the authentication device inside of the vehicle, and to prevent a guide message for authentication from being output when at least one authentication device is found inside the vehicle;

wherein the processor is further configured to output a message informing that the power is applied by using a first digital key when the authentication device is not found inside the vehicle after the first digital key is used to apply the power as the authentication device; and

wherein the digital key performs authentication to apply power to the electric device when the first digital key is provided on a wireless charging device in the vehicle.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to search for the authentication device inside of the vehicle when determining that a state of a door is changed while power is applied to the vehicle, and to output the guide message according to the authentication device used to apply the power, and whether the authentication device used to apply the power is registered in the vehicle when the authentication device is not found inside the vehicle.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to determine that the authentication device is not found inside of the vehicle, and to output a message informing that a smart key and a second digital key are not recognized when the second digital key is registered in the vehicle, and wherein the authentication device used to apply the power includes the smart key and the second digital key.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to determine that the authentication device is not found inside of the vehicle, and output a message informing that the power is applied by using a fingerprint when the authentication device used to apply the power includes the fingerprint.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to search for the authentication device inside of the vehicle when determining a remote start state and at least one of a door closed state of the vehicle, a brake pressed state, or a combination thereof, and to output the guide message according to the authentication device registered in the vehicle when the authentication device is not found inside the vehicle.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to output a message informing that a smart key, the first digital key, a second digital key, or a fingerprint is required as an authentication device for maintaining engine running when it is determined that the authentication device is not found inside the vehicle, and the authentication device registered in the vehicle includes at least one of the first digital key, the second digital key or a combination thereof, and the fingerprint.

7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to output a message informing that a smart key or a fingerprint is required as the authentication device for maintaining engine running when it is determined that the authentication device is not found inside the vehicle and the authentication device registered in the vehicle includes a fingerprint.

8 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to output a message informing that a smart key, the first digital key or a second digital key is required as an authentication device for maintaining engine running when it is determined that the authentication device is not found inside the vehicle, and the authentication device registered in the vehicle includes at least one of the first digital key, the second digital key or a combination thereof.

9 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to output a message informing that a smart key is required as the authentication device for maintaining engine running when it is determined that the authentication device is not found inside of the vehicle and the authentication device registered in the vehicle does not exist.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the authentication device communicating with the communication device includes at least one of a smart key, the first digital key, a second digital key, or a combination thereof.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the communication device is configured to communicate with the first digital key through at least one of near field communication (NFC), Bluetooth low energy, ultra wideband (UWB) communication, or a combination thereof.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to determine that the second digital key is found inside of the vehicle when the second digital key is provided on a wireless charging device.

13 . A method of controlling a vehicle, the method comprising:

searching for an authentication device inside of the vehicle; and

preventing a guide message for authentication from being output when at least one authentication device is found inside of the vehicle;

wherein the method further comprises:

outputting a message informing that the power is applied by using a first digital key when the authentication device is not found inside the vehicle after the first digital key is used to apply the power as the authentication device;

wherein the first digital key performs authentication to apply power to the electric device when the first digital key is provided on a wireless charging device in the vehicle.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

searching for the authentication device inside of the vehicle when determining that a state of a door is changed while power is applied to the vehicle, and outputting the guide message according to the authentication device used to apply the power and whether the authentication device used to apply the power is registered in the vehicle when the authentication device is not found inside of the vehicle.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

determining that the authentication device is not found inside of the vehicle, and outputting a message informing that a smart key and a second digital key are not recognized when the second digital key is registered in the vehicle, wherein the authentication device used to apply the power includes the smart key and the second digital key.

16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

determining that the authentication device is not found inside of the vehicle, and outputting a message informing that the power is applied by using a fingerprint when the authentication device used to apply the power includes the fingerprint.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

searching for the authentication device inside the vehicle when determining a remote start state and at least one of a door closed state of the vehicle, a brake pressed state, or a combination thereof, and outputting the guide message according to the authentication device registered in the vehicle when the authentication device is not found inside of the vehicle.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

outputting a message informing that a smart key, the first digital key, a second digital key, or a fingerprint is required as an authentication device for maintaining engine running when it is determined that the authentication device is not found inside of the vehicle, and the authentication device registered in the vehicle includes at least one of the first digital key, the second digital key or a combination thereof, and the fingerprint.

19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

outputting a message informing that a smart key or a fingerprint is required as the authentication device for maintaining engine running when it is determined that the authentication device is not found inside of the vehicle and the authentication device registered in the vehicle includes a fingerprint.

20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

outputting a message informing that a smart key, the first digital key or a second digital key is required as an authentication device for maintaining engine running when it is determined that the authentication device is not found inside of the vehicle, and the authentication device registered in the vehicle includes at least one of the first digital key, the second digital key or a combination thereof.