Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to automobiles. More particularly but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a vehicle detection system and a method thereof.
5 BACKGROUND

[0002] Generally, automobiles parked in a parking lot are difficult to locate midst a huge number of automobiles. There may be a number of automobiles resembling the user vehicle when parked in a parking lot. The user will end up spending a lot of time searching for the automobile in the parking lot.
10 [0003] Generally, a vehicle location detection system that can assist the user to locate his / her vehicle in a parking pool by means of a key fob is known in the art. The key fob has a switch and a RF (Radio Frequency) transmitter, which can be used to transmit modulated radio waves at a particular frequency. The vehicle user carries the key fob and presses the switch to locate his / her vehicle. The
15 vehicle has an RF receiver and a control unit that can sense and identify that the key fob switch is pressed and hence activate lamps or buzzers in the vehicle to indicate the presence of the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] However, whenever a vehicle is parked under dark conditions where
20 there is insufficient lighting for the user to locate the ignition switch/ignition lock, then the user is unable to unlock the vehicle.
[0005] If the vehicle is parked amidst a more number vehicles, at night condition, the required vehicle cannot be identified easily. Further, there may arise a situation where common key-fob frequency being present for multiple vehicles,
25 and again confusion with respect to identifying required vehicle among multiple vehicles arises.
[0006] Further, during weather conditions like a rainy day, when the visibility of the speedometer being poor, the user is unable to get information from the

speedometer. Under such conditions, an alternative indication regarding required information by the user needs to be provided for the reference and convenience of the rider.
[0007] If the vehicle is parked in a crowded lot with a lot of other vehicles. It
5 would be difficult to locate the vehicle amid hundreds of other vehicles during the day, and it would be even harder at night.
[0008] To solve the aforementioned- issue when it occurs at night, over the vehicle's ignition lock, a multi-color Ring-shaped LED is installed or attached, and the LED is managed by the key-fob.
10 [0009] Each immobilizer should operate at a distinct frequency to eliminate issues linked to the common or same immobilizer frequency. The frequencies of each immobilizer will be quite distinct from the other immobilizers.
[00010] It will be challenging for users of the vehicle to locate the position of the keyhole in the ignition lock to unlock the vehicle if the vehicle is parked in a
15 dark area or night condition.

[00011] To prevent the situation, the key-fob-controlled ring LED will light up and provide adequate illumination to locate the keyhole to unlock the vehicle.
[00012] While riding the vehicle at night, due to the illumination of LED, the vehicle will be attractive.
20 [00013] While riding the vehicle, the LED color may vary according to the vehicle speed and Vehicle mode.
[00014] The color of the LED may differ according to the selected mode, and it may happen only While selecting the riding mode.
[00015] The LED should glow according to the current mode while selecting the
25 mode in bike.

[00016] For example, if the user is riding the vehicle in economy range the LED will illuminate in GREEN color or suppose if the customer is riding the vehicle in power range the LED will illuminate in RED color.

[00017] If the vehicle is in rain mode the LED should glow in BLUE color, urban mode- yellow, Sport mode – violet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00018] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying
5 figures. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference features and components.
[00019] Figure 1 shows a block diagram illustrating the vehicle ignition lock illuminating system.
[00020] Figure 2 illustrates a detailed block diagram of the vehicle ignition lock
10 illuminating system.

[00021] Figure 3 illustrates an LED ring around the ignition lock as mounted in a vehicle.
[00022] Figure 4a illustrates a part of a flow diagram depicting a method for a system that activates the illumination device for an ignition switch in the vehicle.
15 [00023] Figure 4b illustrates a part of a flow diagram depicting method for a system that activates the illumination device for an ignition switch in the vehicle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[00024] A smart key system and apparatus to control a vehicle is also known in the art, wherein a sensor detects a change in state of a vehicle and only upon
20 change in state of a vehicle an ECU delivers a wake-up signal to the smart key. However, such a system requires an additional sensor to monitor vehicle state.
[00025] Hence, an objective of the present invention is to have a system and a method to prevent the draining of the auxiliary power source for a vehicle detection system. It is another objective of the present invention to have a vehicle
25 detection system without usage of additional sensors. It is yet another objective of the present invention to reduce power consumption utilized by the vehicle location detection system.

[00026] The auxiliary power source drainage is prevented by reducing the auxiliary power source consumption by a vehicle detection system according to embodiments proposed in the present invention. The vehicle detection system is applicable to any vehicle in general. The working of the vehicle detection system
5 can be understood in detail by the following description and the accompanying figures.
[00027] As per an embodiment, the present invention provides a system for illuminating an ignition switch for a vehicle, the system comprising the ignition switch for enabling and disabling of the vehicle. An ignition control unit for
10 enabling and disabling said ignition switch. A power source for providing power to the ignition switch and the ignition control unit, a key fob communicatively connected to the ignition switch. An immobilizer unit for mobilizing and immobilizing the vehicle under predetermined conditions.
[00028] As per an embodiment of the present invention, an illumination device
15 being disposed around said ignition switch, said illumination device being enabled and disabled by said immobilizer unit, wherein, said immobilizer unit being capable of enabling and disabling said illumination device upon reception of an activation signal from said key fob, said immobilizer unit being communicatively connected to said key fob.
20 [00029] As per an embodiment of the present invention, the key fob being activated upon reception of said activation signals only when said ignition switch state is OFF.
[00030] As per an embodiment of the present invention, the immobilizer unit being powered by said power source and said immobilizer unit being
25 communicatively connected to said ignition control unit.

[00031] As per an embodiment of the present invention, the key fob and said immobilizer unit being connected through wireless connection.
[00032] As per an embodiment of the present invention, the illumination device being activated by any one of manual pressing of a button on said key fob and

automatic detection of predetermined frequency of signals being emitted by said key fob for activating of said illumination device.
[00033] As per an embodiment of the present invention, a method for illumination of said ignition lock for a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
5 [00034] monitoring availability of signal and signal strength simultaneously, said signal being transmitted from a key fob at user end;
[00035] pairing of said key fob and an immobilizer unit in said vehicle automatically if signal strength being greater or equal to a predetermined frequency, said signal being transmitted from said key fob being detected;
10 [00036] activating an illuminating device around an ignition switch post pairing of said key fob and said immobilizer unit;
[00037] transmitting mobilize or immobilize signal to an ignition control unit based on a status of said key fob;
[00038] As per an embodiment of the present invention, the method comprising
15 the steps of:

[00039] continuously monitoring said signal strength of said signal being transmitted by said key fob to check if signal strength is greater than said predetermined frequency; and
[00040] if ignition switch state being OFF;

20 [00041] if said signal strength being greater than said predetermined frequency and if said key fob and immobilizer unit being paired, said illumination device being activated.
[00042] As per an embodiment of the present invention, the method comprising the steps of:
25 [00043] said signal strength not being greater than or equal to said predetermined frequency, then said ignition switch state being ON and said signal strength being continuously monitored to check if said received signal strength being greater than said predetermined frequency for activating said illuminating device.

[00044] As per an embodiment of the present invention, the method comprising the steps of:
[00045] If said signal strength not being greater than or equal to said predetermined frequency and said ignition switch state being ON, then an OFF
5 state of said ignition switch being detected through continuous monitoring and said immobilize signal being sent to said ignition control unit.
[00046] As per an embodiment of the present invention, the immobilizer unit being configured to continuously monitor the state of said ignition switch for preventing abrupt shut down of said vehicle in case of any one of unforeseen
10 conditions like abrupt cut off of wireless devices being communicating to said immobilizer unit.
[00047] Figure 1 shows a block diagram illustrating the vehicle ignition lock illuminating system. As per an embodiment of the present invention, the system
(100) comprising said ignition switch (102) for enabling and disabling of said
15 vehicle; an ignition control unit (101) for enabling and disabling said ignition switch (102); a power source (103) for providing power to said ignition switch
(102) and said ignition control unit (101); a key fob (105) communicatively connected to said ignition switch (102); an immobilizer unit (104) for mobilizing and immobilizing said vehicle under predetermined conditions, wherein, an
20 illumination device (201) being disposed around said ignition switch (102), said illumination device (201) being enabled and disabled by said immobilizer unit (104), wherein, said immobilizer unit (104) being capable of enabling and disabling said illumination device (201) upon reception of an activation signal from said key fob (105), said immobilizer unit (104) being communicatively
25 connected to said key fob (105).

[00048] Figure 2 illustrates a detailed block diagram of the vehicle ignition lock illuminating system. As per an embodiment of the present invention, the key fob
(105) being activated upon reception of said activation signals only when said ignition switch (102) state is OFF. The immobilizer unit (104) being powered by

said power source (103) and said immobilizer unit (104) being communicatively connected to said ignition control unit (101).
[00049] The key fob (105) and said immobilizer unit (104) being connected through wireless connection.
5 [00050] The illumination device (201) being activated by any one of manual pressing of a button on said key fob (105) and automatic detection of predetermined frequency of signals being emitted by said key fob (105) for activating of said illumination device (201).
[00051] Figure 3 illustrates an LED ring around the ignition lock as mounted in a
10 vehicle. As per an embodiment of the present invention, the illuminating device 201 being in the form of an LED ring being disposed around the ignition switch
102. The LED ring being disposed to provide sufficient illumination to the ignition switch for the purposes of identification by the user.
[00052] Figure 4a illustrates a part of a flow diagram depicting a method for a
15 system that activates the illumination device for an ignition switch in the vehicle. As per an embedment of the present invention, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring (301) availability of signal and signal strength simultaneously, said signal being transmitted from a key fob (105) at user end;
[00053] Pairing (303) of said key fob (105) and an immobilizer unit (104) in said
20 vehicle automatically if signal strength being greater or equal to a predetermined frequency (302), said signal being transmitted from said key fob (105) being detected;
[00054] Activating an illuminating device around an ignition switch (102) post pairing of said key fob (105) and said immobilizer unit (104);
25 [00055] Transmitting mobilize or immobilize signal to an ignition control unit
(101) based on a status of said key fob (105);

[00056] Figure 4b illustrates a part of a flow diagram depicting method for a system that activates the illumination device for an ignition switch in the vehicle. As per an embodiment, the method comprising the steps of: continuously

monitoring (308) said signal strength of said signal being transmitted by said key fob (105) to check if signal strength is greater than said predetermined frequency; and if ignition switch (102) state being OFF (309);
[00057] If said signal strength being greater than said predetermined frequency
5 (302) and if said key fob (105) and immobilizer unit (104) being paired (303), said illumination device being activated (304).
[00058] As per another embodiment, the method comprising the steps of: said signal strength not being greater than or equal to said predetermined frequency (308), then said ignition switch (102) state being ON (311) and said signal
10 strength being continuously monitored to check if said received signal strength being greater than said predetermined frequency for activating said illuminating device (B).
[00059] If said signal strength not being greater than or equal to said predetermined frequency and said ignition switch (102) state being ON, then an
15 OFF state of said ignition switch (102) being detected through continuous monitoring and said immobilize signal being sent to said ignition control unit (101) (312).
[00060] The immobilizer unit (104) being configured to continuously monitor the state of said ignition switch (102) for preventing abrupt shut down of said vehicle
20 in case of any one of unforeseen conditions like abrupt cut off wireless devices being communicating to said immobilizer unit (104).
[00061] Although the subject matter has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. It is to be understood that the aspects of the embodiments are not necessarily limited
25 to the features described herein. Rather, the features are disclosed as embodiments of the vehicle location detection system 100 of the vehicle.
, Claims:I/We claim:

1. A system (100) for illuminating an ignition switch (102) for a vehicle, said system (100) comprising:
said ignition switch (102) for enabling and disabling of said
5 vehicle;

an ignition control unit (101) for enabling and disabling said ignition switch (102);
a power source (103) for providing power to said ignition switch
(102) and said ignition control unit (101);

10 a key fob (105) communicatively connected to said ignition switch (102);
an immobilizer unit (104) for mobilizing and immobilizing said vehicle under predetermined conditions,
wherein,
15 an illumination device (201) being disposed around said ignition switch (102), said illumination device (201) being enabled and disabled by said immobilizer unit (104),
wherein,
said immobilizer unit (104) being capable of
20 enabling and disabling said illumination device (201) upon reception of an activation signal from said key fob (105), said immobilizer unit (104) being communicatively connected to said key fob (105).
2. The system for illumination of said ignition switch (102) for said vehicle as
25 claimed in claim 1, wherein said key fob (105) being activated upon reception of said activation signals only when said ignition switch (102) state is OFF.
3. The system for illumination of said ignition switch (102) for said vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said immobilizer unit (104) being powered by

said power source (103) and said immobilizer unit (104) being communicatively connected to said ignition control unit (101).
4. The system for illumination of said ignition switch (102) for said vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said key fob (105) and said immobilizer unit
5 (104) being connected through wireless connection.
5. The system for illumination of said ignition switch (102) for said vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said illumination device (201) being activated by any one of manual pressing of a button on said key fob (105) and automatic detection of predetermined frequency of signals being emitted by
10 said key fob (105) for activating of said illumination device (201).
6. A method for illumination of said ignition switch (102) for a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
monitoring (301) by a controller for availability of signal and signal strength simultaneously, said signal being transmitted from a key
15 fob (105) at user end;
pairing (303) of said key fob (105) and an immobilizer unit (104) in said vehicle automatically if signal strength being greater or equal to a predetermined frequency (302), said signal being transmitted from said key fob (105) being detected;
20 activating an illuminating device around an ignition switch (102) post pairing of said key fob (105) and said immobilizer unit (104); transmitting mobilize or immobilize signal to an ignition control unit (101) based on a status of said key fob (105);
7. The method for illumination of said ignition switch (102) for said vehicle as
25 claimed in claim 6, wherein said method comprising the steps of: continuously monitoring (308) said signal strength of said signal
being transmitted by said key fob (105) to check if signal strength is greater than said predetermined frequency; and
if ignition switch (102) state being OFF (309);

if said signal strength being greater than said predetermined frequency (302) and if said key fob (105) and immobilizer unit (104) being paired (303), said illumination device being activated (304).

5 8. The method for illumination of said ignition switch (102) for said vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said method comprising the steps of:
said signal strength not being greater than or equal to said predetermined frequency (308), then said ignition switch (102) state being ON (311) and said signal strength being continuously
10 monitored to check if said received signal strength being greater than said predetermined frequency for activating said illuminating device (B).
9. The method for illumination of said ignition switch (102) for said vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein said method comprising the steps of:
15 If said signal strength not being greater than or equal to said predetermined frequency and said ignition switch (102) state being ON, then an OFF state of said ignition switch (102) being detected through continuous monitoring and said immobilize signal being sent to said ignition control unit (101) (312).
20 10. The method for illumination of said ignition switch (102) for a vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein said immobilizer unit (104) being configured to continuously monitor the state of said ignition switch (102) for preventing abrupt shut down of said vehicle in case of any one of unforeseen conditions like abrupt cut off wireless devices being communicating to said
25 immobilizer unit (104).