Time-of-flight vehicle user localization

1. A method for localizing a user device using a Time-of-Flight (ToF) antenna array disposed on a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining, via a ToF localization controller, that the user device is less than a threshold distance from the vehicle;

determining an angle of arrival via the ToF localization controller and all of the antennas in the ToF antenna array comprising a plurality of ToF modules, wherein the plurality of ToF modules provides location coverage in each of a plurality of regions surrounding the vehicle, such that the ToF antenna array provides 360° coverage surrounding the vehicle, and wherein determining the angle of arrival comprises:

performing a first ToF check for a signal received at a first vehicle exterior antenna of the ToF antenna array;

performing a second ToF check for the signal received at a second vehicle exterior antenna of the ToF antenna array;

performing a third ToF check for the signal received at a third vehicle exterior antenna of the ToF antenna array;

performing a fourth ToF check at a plurality of vehicle interior antennae of the ToF antenna array; and

determining that the user device is localized with a first region external to the vehicle using the first ToF check, the second ToF check, the third ToF check, and the fourth ToF check; and

generating an unlock signal that unlocks a vehicle door responsive to determining that the user device is less than the threshold distance from the vehicle door.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the angle of arrival further comprises:

determining, based on the ToF antenna array, that the user device is localized at a 0° position with respect to a front portion of the vehicle;

measuring a distance from a vehicle portion to the user device, the measuring based on a signal ToF value; and

determining, based on the distance, that the user device is less than the threshold distance from the vehicle door.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein performing the first ToF check comprises:

receiving, via the first vehicle exterior antenna, a first signal from the user device, the first signal comprising:

a first ToF value indicative of a first ToF from a first interior antenna to the user device, and

a second ToF value indicative of a second ToF from a second interior antenna to the user device; and

determining, via the ToF localization controller, that the first ToF value is less than the second ToF value.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining that the user device is less than the threshold distance comprises:

receiving a ToF signal from a plurality of ToF antennae associated with the ToF antenna array; and

determining, based on the ToF signal, that the user device is less than the threshold distance from a vehicle portion.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the threshold distance is 2 meters.

6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the vehicle portion is a driver side door handle.

7. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory for storing executable instructions, the processor programmed to execute the instructions to:

determine, via a Time-of-Flight (ToF) localization controller, that a user device is less than a threshold distance from a vehicle;

determine an angle of arrival via the ToF localization controller and all antennas in a ToF antenna array comprising a plurality of ToF modules, wherein the plurality of ToF modules provides location coverage in each of a plurality of regions surrounding the vehicle, such that the ToF antenna array provides 360° coverage surrounding the vehicle, and wherein determining the angle of arrival comprises:

performing a first ToF check for a signal received at a first vehicle exterior antenna of the ToF antenna array;

performing a second ToF check for the signal received at a second vehicle exterior antenna of the ToF antenna array;

performing a third ToF check for the signal received at a third vehicle exterior antenna of the ToF antenna array;

performing a fourth ToF check at a plurality of vehicle interior antennae of the ToF antenna array; and

determining that the user device is localized with a first region external to the vehicle using the first ToF check, the second ToF check, the third ToF check, and the fourth ToF check; and

generate an unlock signal that unlocks a vehicle door responsive to determining that the user device is less than the threshold distance from the vehicle door.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine the angle of arrival by executing the instructions to:

determine, based on the ToF antenna array, that the user device is localized at a 0° position with respect to a front portion of the vehicle;

measure a distance from a vehicle portion to the user device based on a signal ToF value; and

determine, based on the distance, that the user device is less than the threshold distance from the vehicle door.

9. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the processor is further programmed to perform the first ToF check by executing the instructions to:

receive, via the first vehicle exterior antenna, a first signal from the user device, the first signal comprising:

a first ToF value indicative of a first ToF from a first interior antenna to the user device, and

a second ToF value indicative of a second ToF from a second interior antenna to the user device; and

determine, via the ToF localization controller, that the first ToF value is less than the second ToF value.

10. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine that the user device is less than the threshold distance by executing the instructions to:

receive a ToF signal from a plurality of ToF antennae associated with the ToF antenna array; and

determine, based on the ToF signal, that the user device is less than the threshold distance from the vehicle portion.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the threshold distance is 2 meters.

12. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the vehicle portion is a driver side door handle.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in a Time-of-Flight (ToF) localization controller, the computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine, via a ToF localization controller, that a user device is less than a threshold distance from a vehicle;

determine an angle of arrival via the ToF localization controller and all antennas in a ToF antenna array comprising a plurality of ToF modules, wherein the plurality of ToF modules provides location coverage in each of a plurality of regions surrounding the vehicle, such that the ToF antenna array provides 360° coverage surrounding the vehicle, and wherein determining the angle of arrival comprises:

performing a first ToF check for a signal received at a first vehicle exterior antenna of the ToF antenna array;

performing a second ToF check for the signal received at a second vehicle exterior antenna of the ToF antenna array;

performing a third ToF check for the signal received at a third vehicle exterior antenna of the ToF antenna array;

performing a fourth ToF check at a plurality of vehicle interior antennae of the ToF antenna array; and

determining that the user device is localized with a first region external to the vehicle using the first ToF check, the second ToF check, the third ToF check, and the fourth ToF check; and

generate an unlock signal that unlocks a vehicle door responsive to determining that a user is less than the threshold distance from the vehicle door.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13 , having further instructions stored thereupon to:

determine, based on the ToF antenna array, that the user device is localized at a 0° position with respect to a front portion of the vehicle;

measure a distance from a vehicle portion to the user device based on a signal time-of-flight value; and

determine, based on the distance, that the user device is less than the threshold distance from the vehicle door.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13 , having further instructions stored thereupon to perform the first ToF check by executing the instructions to:

receive, via the first vehicle exterior antenna, a first signal from the user device, the first signal comprising:

a first ToF value indicative of a first ToF from a first interior antenna to the user device, and

a second ToF value indicative of a second ToF from a second interior antenna to the user device; and

determine, via the ToF localization controller, that the first ToF value is less than the second ToF value.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13 , having further instructions stored thereupon to determine that the user device is less than the threshold distance by executing the instructions to:

receive a ToF signal from a plurality of ToF antennae associated with the ToF antenna array; and

determine, based on the ToF signal, that the user device is less than the threshold distance from a vehicle portion.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16 , wherein the threshold distance is 2 meters.