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Future Ford Vehicles Could Get Path-Based Passive Entry System

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a path-based passive entry system that may be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on July 17th, 2023, published on January 23rd, 2025, and assigned serial number 0026307.

A Ford patent filing for a path-based passive entry system.

The Ford Authority Take

In recent months, Ford has published a number of patents outlining various ways that we may one day be able to gain access to its vehicles, aside from existing methods. That list includes ideas for a window based keyless entry system, a remote keyless entry method that uses NFC key cards, a biometric authorization system, and a keyless entry keypad with a biometric system. Now, this newly published patent keeps that trend going with a new idea for a path-based passive entry system that may be used in future Ford vehicles, too.

As Ford notes in this patent filing, over the past few years, passive entry and start systems have become increasingly popular, which we’ve seen in features like Phone-As-A-Key – giving owners the option to hop in a vehicle and drive off without having to use a key or even take their phone out of their pocket. Thus, the automaker proposes a system that would take this concept one step further by using a path-based approach that could predict when a user is approaching the vehicle and may want to gain access.

When a user with a mobile device approaches the vehicle, this system would be able to first verify that the user’s device is authorized, and then, when the user is in a predetermined range, it could automatically unlock the doors. It’s a fairly simple idea, but one that could prove to be even more convenient than existing types of systems, if it does wind up becoming a reality one day.

“Submitting patent applications is a normal part of any strong business as the process protects new ideas and helps us build a robust portfolio of intellectual property,” Ford said in a statement. “The ideas described within a patent application should not be viewed as an indication of our business or product plans. No matter what the patent application outlines, we will always put the customer first in the decision-making behind the development and marketing of new products and services.”

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.

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