A system and method for enabling a user to provide advanced notice to a vehicle indicating that the user will be approaching the vehicle within a designated period of time and automatically releasing a vehicle latch upon the arrival of the user at the vehicle. A vehicle telematics unit 114 operates with a vehicle body control unit and receives a latch release signal from a user. It then sweeps for a key fob 102. When presence of the key fob is detected, the latch is released. In one embodiment, the users key fob is paired with a mobile device 108 and the users command is transmitted from the key fob to the mobile device. The mobile device, such as a smartphone or a cellular telephone, transmits the command to the vehicle telematics unit via a remote server 112. The vehicle telematics unit communicates with the vehicle body control module to detect the key fob when the user arrives at the vehicle and to automatically release the latch upon the arrival of the user. The invention may be useful when the user is carrying packages such as shopping and has no hands free to actuate a door or truck lid.
System and method for triggered latch release
2017-07-12
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
LATCH RELEASE ACTUATOR AND METHOD FOR ACTUATING A SEAT LATCH
European Patent Office | 2016
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