Door unlocking system and door unlocking method

• US 10,147,250 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2016
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Kimura, Ikuhei, Yasutake, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adnan, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US15/260,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20160379427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 Password, biometric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities

Abstract

An electronic key executes keyless entry communication or RFID communication. A wireless controller mounted on a vehicle executes keyless entry communication within a range of a radius of several meters to several tens of meters. An RFID reader is assigned to each door and executes RFID communication within a range of a radius of approximately 1 meter. In regards to unlocking the door, the wireless controller issues a password by the keyless entry communication, and a wireless circuit temporarily stores the issued password. The RFID readers search for the password stored in the electronic key by the RFID communication, and the wireless controller unlocks a door corresponding to the RFID reader for which the password was detected.

Claims

1. A door unlocking system comprising:

a portable device carried by a user and performing a wireless communication following a first short-range wireless communication mode and a wireless communication following a second short-range wireless communication mode;

a first in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle including a plurality of doors, the first in-vehicle device performing the wireless communication following the first short-range wireless communication mode in a first range; and

a plurality of second in-vehicle devices mounted on the vehicle respectively correspondingly to the plurality of doors and each performing the wireless communication following the second short-range wireless communication mode in a second range smaller than the first range, the second range of each of the plurality of second in-vehicle devices corresponding to a respective door;

wherein

the first in-vehicle device includes a password generator issuing a password to the portable device in the first short-range wireless communication mode;

the portable device includes a storage temporarily storing the password issued by the password generator;

the plurality of second in-vehicle devices each includes a password detector searching for the password stored in the storage in the second short-range wireless communication mode; and

the first in-vehicle device further includes an unlocking actuator unlocking a door corresponding to the second in-vehicle device including the password detector detecting the password stored in the storage.

2. The door unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein the password issued by the password generator has contents updated each time that a number of times of password issuance reaches a reference value.

3. The door unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein

the portable device further includes an indicator notifying the first in-vehicle device of an unlocking operation by the user;

and

the password generator issues the password in response to a notification from the indicator.

4. The door unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein the portable device includes a passive wireless communication tag operative in accordance with the second short-range wireless communication mode.

5. The door unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of second in-vehicle devices covers respective ranges independent of each other as the second range.

6. The door unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein the portable device is an electronic key.

7. The door unlocking system according to claim 6, wherein the electronic key includes an unlock button, a wireless circuit that performs wireless communication, and an RFID tag.

8. The door unlocking system according to claim 7, wherein the wireless circuit includes a control circuit and an antenna.

9. The door unlocking system according to claim 7, wherein the RFID tag includes an RFID-IC and an antenna.

10. The door unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an automobile.

11. The door unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein the first in-vehicle device is a wireless controller.

12. The door unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein the second in-vehicle devices are RFID readers.

13. The door unlocking system according to claim 12, wherein each of the RFID readers includes an RFID-IC and an antenna.

14. The door unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein a range of the first short-range wireless communication mode is several meters to several dozen meters.

15. The door unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein a range of the second short-range wireless communication mode is approximately 1 meter.

16. A door unlocking method performed by a door unlocking system including a portable device carried by a user and performing a wireless communication following a first short-range wireless communication mode and a wireless communication following a second short-range wireless communication mode, a first in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle including a plurality of doors, the first in-vehicle device performing the wireless communication following the first short-range wireless communication mode in a first range, and a plurality of second in-vehicle devices mounted on the vehicle respectively correspondingly to the plurality of doors and each performing the wireless communication following the second short-range wireless communication mode in a second range smaller than the first range, the second range of each of the plurality of second in-vehicle devices corresponding to a respective door, the method comprising:

an issuing step in which the first in-vehicle device issues a password to the portable device in the first short-range wireless communication mode;

a storing step in which the portable device temporarily stores the password issued in the issuing step;

a searching step in which each of the plurality of second in-vehicle devices searches for the password stored in the storing step in the second short-range wireless communication mode; and

an unlocking step in which the first in-vehicle device unlocks a door corresponding to the second in-vehicle device detecting the password stored in the storing step.

17. The door unlocking method according to claim 16, further comprising updating contents of the password issued in the issuing step each time that a number of times of password issuance reaches a reference value.

18. The door unlocking method according to claim 16, further comprising:

notifying the first in-vehicle device of an unlocking operation by the user; and

issuing the password in response to a notification from the indicator.

19. The door unlocking method according to claim 16, wherein the portable device includes a passive wireless communication tag operative in accordance with the second short-range wireless communication mode.

20. The door unlocking method according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of second in-vehicle devices covers respective ranges independent of each other as the second range.