IP Library Granted Patent US 11,031,830
Granted Patent B2
US 11,031,830 · App. 16/360,289 · Granted Jun 8, 2021

Vehicle system for providing WiFi to mobile devices within the vehicle

Inventor: Sean Oliverio (Wolverine Lake, MI)
Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
H02J50/90B60R16/03H02J50/30H02J7/025H04W84/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,031,830
App. No.
16/360,289
Granted
Jun 8, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle system for providing a service to a mobile device includes a WiFi emitter configured to emit a plurality of WiFi signals, each of the plurality of WiFi signals corresponding to a respective zone within the vehicle, and a WiFi control module that selectively controls the WiFi emitter to emit one or more signals to respective zones. Each zone corresponds to a particular occupant area within the vehicle.

Claims (29)

1. A vehicle system for providing a service to a mobile device within a vehicle, comprising:

a WiFi emitter configured to emit a plurality of WiFi signals, each of the plurality of WiFi signals corresponding to a respective zone within the vehicle; and

a WiFi control module that selectively controls the WiFi emitter to emit one or more signals to respective zones, wherein each zone corresponds to a particular occupant area within the vehicle, wherein the WiFi emitter is configured to project a zone-specific signal for each respective zone, the zone-specific signal accessible by the mobile device only when the mobile device is within the respective zone.

2. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein each particular occupant area is a different row of seats in the vehicle.

3. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein each particular occupant area is a different individual seat in the vehicle.

4. The vehicle system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one WiFi indicator that displays a visual indication of an active WiFi signal.

5. The vehicle system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one WiFi indicator includes a light emitting diode configured to emit a light that illuminates a corresponding active WiFi signal.

6. The vehicle system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface through which an occupant can instruct the WiFi control module to activate or de-activate zones.

7. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the WiFi control module is configured to deactivate a WiFi signal corresponding to a driver's zone when an operation of the vehicle is detected.

8. The vehicle system of claim 7 , wherein the detected operation of the vehicle is the vehicle being in a gear other than park.

9. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the WiFi emitter is located adjacent a roof liner of the vehicle, the WiFi emitter configured to project the WiFi signals in a downward direction.

10. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the WiFi emitter is centrally located in a lateral direction of the vehicle and centrally located in a passenger compartment of the vehicle in a longitudinal direction of the passenger compartment.

11. The vehicle system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a narrow beam light control module that selectively controls at least one narrow beam light emitter, the at least one narrow beam light emitter configured to emit a focused narrow beam of light to a corresponding charging zone.

12. The vehicle system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a narrow beam light emitter configured to visually indicate a charging zone.

13. A vehicle system for providing a service to a mobile device within a vehicle, comprising:

a narrow beam light control module that selectively controls at least one narrow beam light emitter, the at least one narrow beam light emitter configured to emit a focused narrow beam of light to a corresponding charging zone, the focused narrow beam of light having a frequency within a predetermined frequency range; and

a WiFi control module that selectively controls a WiFi emitter to emit one or more signals to respective zones within the vehicle, wherein each zone corresponds to a particular occupant area within the vehicle.

14. The vehicle system of claim 13 , wherein each particular occupant area is a different row of seats in the vehicle.

15. The vehicle system of claim 13 , wherein each particular occupant area is an individual seat in the vehicle.

16. The vehicle system of claim 13 , further comprising at least one WiFi indicator that displays a visual indication of an active WiFi signal.

17. The vehicle system of claim 13 , further comprising a user interface through which an occupant can instruct the WiFi control module to activate or de-activate zones.

18. The vehicle system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one narrow beam light emitter is disposed on a first interior portion of the vehicle and the corresponding charging zone is located on a second interior portion of the vehicle that is remotely located from the first interior portion of the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one narrow beam light emitter and the corresponding charging zone are disposed in a charging receptacle.

20. A vehicle system for providing a service to a mobile device within a vehicle, comprising:

a WiFi emitter configured to emit a plurality of WiFi signals, each of the plurality of WiFi signals corresponding to a respective zone within the vehicle;

a WiFi control module that selectively controls the WiFi emitter to emit one or more signals to respective zones, wherein each zone corresponds to a particular occupant area within the vehicle; and

a narrow beam light emitter configured to emit a focused narrow beam of light to each respective zone.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2021
From: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 057337/0758 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: OLIVERIO, SEAN
To: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 048659/0741 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15481124 · Apr 6, 2017
Related Publication 20190222074A1 · Jul 18, 2019