Keyless entry apparatus capable of selectively controlling only member to be controlled closest to user

• US 20010028296A1
• Filed: 03/01/2001
• Published: 10/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Masudaya, Hideki
• Granted Patent: US 6,707,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00333 and the lock having more than one limited data transmission ranges
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00373 whereby the wake-up circuit is situated in the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00523 opening of different locks separately
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A keyless entry apparatus includes an on-vehicle transmitting and receiving device mounted on a vehicle, and a portable transmitting and receiving device. The on-vehicle transmitting and receiving device has a plurality of antennas mounted close to members to be controlled of the vehicle, and a plurality of transmitting sections which are connected to the plurality of antennas and which transmit request signals having unique antenna IDs. The plurality of transmitting sections intermittently transmit request signals from the corresponding antennas. When the portable transmitting and receiving device receives any of the transmitted request signals, the portable transmitting and receiving device transmits an answer signal which controls the member to be controlled corresponding to the transmitting section which transmitted the received request signal.

Claims

1. A keyless entry apparatus comprising:

an on-vehicle transmitting and receiving device mounted on a vehicle; and

a portable transmitting and receiving device,

wherein the on-vehicle transmitting and receiving device comprises a plurality of antennas mounted correspondingly to members to be controlled of the vehicle, and a transmitting section which is connected to the plurality of antennas and which transmits a plurality of request signals having unique antenna IDs;

the transmitting section transmits the plurality of request signals through the corresponding antennas; and

when the portable transmitting and receiving device receives any of the transmitted request signals, the portable transmitting and receiving device transmits an answer signal which controls the member to be controlled corresponding to the antenna which transmitted the received request signal.

2. A keyless entry apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the members to be controlled includes a locking section of each door and a locking section of a trunk in the vehicle.

3. A keyless entry apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the plurality of antennas are divided into two groups and the request signals are transmitted at different timing between the groups.

4. A keyless entry apparatus according to

claim 3

wherein the transmitting section includes a plurality of transmitting units, and at least one of the transmitting units is shared by two antennas.

5. An keyless entry apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the request signals are low-frequency signals.

6. A keyless entry apparatus comprising:

an on-vehicle transmitting and receiving device mounted on a vehicle; and

a portable transmitting and receiving device,

wherein the on-vehicle transmitting and receiving device comprises a plurality of antennas mounted correspondingly to members to be controlled of the vehicle, a transmitting section which is connected to the plurality of antennas and which transmits a plurality of request signals having unique antenna IDs, and a door-handle-contact detecting section disposed at each door of the vehicle;

the transmitting section transmits the plurality of request signals through the corresponding antennas;

when the portable transmitting and receiving device receives any of the transmitted request signals, the portable transmitting and receiving device transmits an answer signal which controls the member to be controlled corresponding to the antenna which transmitted the received request signal; and

when the on-vehicle transmitting and receiving device receives the answer signal, only if the member to be controlled specified by the answer signal is a locking section of any door and the door-handle-contact detecting section of a door corresponding to the answer signal outputs a contact detecting signal, the on-vehicle transmitting and receiving device unlocks the door corresponding to the answer signal.

7. A keyless entry apparatus according to

claim 6

, wherein the members to be controlled includes the locking section of each door and a locking section of a trunk in the vehicle.

8. A keyless entry apparatus according to

claim 6

, wherein the plurality of antennas are divided into two groups and the request signals are transmitted at different timing between the groups.

9. A keyless entry apparatus according to

claim 7

, wherein the transmitting section includes a plurality of transmitting units, and at least one of the transmitting units is shared by two antennas.

10. An keyless entry apparatus according to

claim 6

, wherein the request signals are low-frequency signals.