Dual range vehicle remote
View Patent ↗A method and system are disclosed for operating a controller of and a RKE system to provide for short distance functions that are actuatable from a key fob at a shorter distance from the vehicle than other long distance functions. This may include receiving a desired type of radio frequency signal; actuating a high gain mode of a receiver of the controller; detecting a message from an acceptable remote keyless entry transmitter; decoding a function code portion of the message; changing the receiver from the high gain mode to a lower gain mode if the function code is not a long distance function; decoding a remaining portion of the message; determining if the remaining portion of the message was decoded properly; and performing the requested function if the remaining portion of the message was decoded properly.
1. A method of operating a receiver in a remote keyless entry system in a vehicle comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a receiver having a high gain mode and a low gain mode;
(b) operating the receiver to receive a wireless signal from a remote keyless entry transmitter;
(c) decoding a function code portion of the wireless signal for identifying a keyless entry function;
(d) changing the gain mode of the receiver from a high gain mode to a low gain mode if the function code is not a long distance function, wherein:
the keyless entry function is a long distance function if the keyless entry function is in a de-activated state when the wireless signal is received, and wherein
the keyless entry function is not a long distance function if the keyless entry function is in an activated state when the wireless signal is received;
(e) decoding a remaining portion of the wireless signal;
(f) determining if the remaining portion of the message was decoded properly; and
(g) performing a requested function of the function code if the remaining portion of the message was decoded properly.
2. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:
(h) determining if an additional wireless signal was received;
(i) decoding the additional wireless signal if the additional wireless signal was received;
(j) determining if the additional wireless signal was decoded properly if the additional wireless signal was received; and
(k) performing the requested function if the additional wireless signal was decoded properly.
3. The method of claim 2 further including the steps of;
(l) determining if a second additional wireless signal was received;
(m) decoding the second additional wireless signal if the second additional wireless signal was received;
(n) determining if the second additional wireless signal was decoded properly if the second additional wireless signal was received; and
(o) performing the requested function if the second additional wireless signal was decoded properly.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) is further defined by operating the controller in a polling state.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) is further defined by operating the receiver to receive a wireless preamble signal.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) is further defined by the keyless entry function being a vehicle alarm function.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) is further defined by the keyless entry function being a remote engine start function.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) is further defined by the keyless entry function being a door lock function.