US 12,013,476 B2
Positioning system
Kenichirou Sanji, Nisshin (JP); Nobuyasu Okabe, Kariya (JP); Masakazu Ikeda, Nisshin (JP); and Yuuji Kakuya, Nisshin (JP)
Assigned to DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya (JP)
Filed by DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya (JP)
Filed on Oct. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/508,168.
Application 17/508,168 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/010097, filed on Mar. 9, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-085382 (JP), filed on Apr. 26, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0043101 A1, Feb. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. G01S 5/02 (2010.01); B60R 25/01 (2013.01); B60R 25/24 (2013.01); G01S 5/00 (2006.01); H01Q 1/32 (2006.01); H01Q 9/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 5/0284 (2013.01) [G01S 5/012 (2020.05); H01Q 1/3241 (2013.01); H01Q 9/0421 (2013.01); B60R 25/01 (2013.01); B60R 25/245 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A positioning system comprising:
a vehicle exterior communication device configured to be disposed at an outer surface portion of a vehicle being at least one of a side surface portion of the vehicle or a rear side surface portion of the vehicle, and including an antenna configured to receive a wireless signal transmitted from a portable terminal, the wireless signal being a radio wave of 1 GHz or higher; and
a positioning device configured to determine a position of the portable terminal, based on a reception status of the wireless signal received by the vehicle exterior communication device from the portable terminal,
wherein the vehicle exterior communication device includes an operation mode having a first mode and a second mode,
wherein, in the first mode of the operation mode, a linearly polarized wave whose electrical field vibration direction is perpendicular to the outer surface portion is radiated toward a direction parallel to the outer surface portion at which the vehicle exterior communication device is attached,
wherein, in the second mode of the operation mode, a linearly polarized wave whose electrical field vibration direction is parallel to the outer surface portion is radiated, and
wherein the positioning device is further configured to:
determine whether or not the portable terminal exists at an exterior operating area being a region outside a vehicle compartment within a predetermined operating distance from the vehicle, based on the reception status of the wireless signal received by the vehicle exterior communication device from the portable terminal in the first mode of the operation mode; and
determine whether or not the portable terminal exists inside the vehicle compartment, based on the reception status of the wireless signal received by the vehicle exterior communication device from the portable terminal in the second mode of the operation mode.