Control apparatus and control method

• US 20010028297A1
• Filed: 02/21/2001
• Published: 10/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Yamashita, Shuji, Hara, Kentaro
• Application Number:
  US09/788,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20010028297A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.62
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/246 characterised by the challenge triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/406 Power supply in the remote key
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00396 starting with prompting the keyless data carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00603 by power transmission from lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/61 Signal comprising different frequencies, e.g. frequency hopping
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

After execution of power transmission as a start signal, a main unit machine 20, which determines that a portable machine 10 is started, transmits a request signal containing an authentication code at a frequency different from the power transmission. The portable machine 10 returns an answer signal containing an authentication code as a response to the request signal. Upon reception of the answer signal, the main unit machine 20 checks the authentication code for validity before executing some control.

Claims

1. A control apparatus comprising:

a portable machine; and

a main unit machine, which is disposed on an object containing a controlled object, radio-communicating with said portable machine and then checking a validity that said portable machine is a predetermined portable machine before executing control processing for accomplishing a predetermined operation of the controlled object,

said main unit machine including;

a power sending section for sending a predetermined electric power at a first frequency by a power transmission in a non-contact manner using an electromagnetic wave,

a first communication section for radio-communicating signals at a second frequency different from the first frequency of the power transmission; and

a first storage section for storing a first authentication code,

said portable machine including;

a power receiving section for receiving the predetermined electric power by the power transmission,

a second communication section for radio-communicating the signals at the second frequency; and

a second storage section for storing a second authentication code,

wherein said portable machine is started from a sleep mode on the basis of a reception of the predetermined electric power by the power receiving section, said main unit machine transmits a request signal at the second frequency by the first communication section after sending the predetermined electric power, said portable machine receives the request signal transmitted from said main unit machine and transmits an answer signal, which contains the second authentication code previously stored in the second storage section, at the second frequency by the second communication section during the starting, and said main unit machine receives the answer signal in accordance with the transmitted request signal by the first communication section, wherein said main unit machine determines whether or not the second authentication code contained in the answer signal corresponds to the first authentication code previously stored in the first storage section and determines the validity of said portable machine if the determination result is affirmative.

2. The control apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the request signal is transmitted on the basis of a determination by said main unit machine that said portable machine is started after the power sending section sends the predetermined electric power.

3. The control apparatus as claimed in

claim 2

, wherein said portable machine transmits a start notification signal for notifying that said portable machine is started by the second communication section after said portable machine is started, and said main unit machine determines that said portable machine is started on the basis of a reception of the start notification signal by the first communication section.

4. The control apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

, further comprising:

a detection section for detecting one of a relative movement of said portable machine or a user of said portable machine to said main unit machine or the object and an action of a user of said portable machine or the object in relation to a predetermined operation of the controlled object,

wherein said main unit machine sends the predetermined electric power based on a detection result of the detection section.

5. The control apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the object is a vehicle, the controlled object is a lock device for locking or unlocking a door of the vehicle, and the control processing is a control signal output for accomplishing the locking or unlocking operation of the lock device.

6. The control apparatus as claimed in

claim 4

, wherein the object is a vehicle, the controlled object is a lock device for locking or unlocking a door of the vehicle, and the detection section contains a door knob sensor for detecting a body of the user being in contact with a door knob of the vehicle or the body of the user approaching the door knob of the vehicle to handle the door knob.

7. The control apparatus as claimed in

claim 6

, wherein in a lock state of the door, said main unit machine sends the predetermined electric power if the door knob sensor outputs the detection signal, and said main unit machine executes a control signal output for accomplishing the unlocking operation of the lock device if the validity of said portable machine is determined.

8. The control apparatus as claimed in

claim 6

, wherein the detection section contains a door open/close sensor for detecting an open or close state of the door of the vehicle.

9. The control apparatus as claimed in

claim 8

, wherein in an unlock state of the door, said main unit machine sends the predetermined electric power if the door open/close sensor detects that the door is closed and change is made from a state that the detection signal is output from the door knob sensor to a state that the detection signal stops, and said main unit machine executes a control signal output for accomplishing the locking operation of the lock device if the validity of said portable machine is determined.

10. The control apparatus as claimed in

claim 8

, wherein in an unlock state of the door, said main unit machine sends the predetermined electric power if the door open/close sensor detects that the door is handled from the open state to the close state while the detection signal is output from the door knob sensor, and said main unit machine executes a control signal output for accomplishing the locking operation of the lock device if the validity of said portable machine is determined.

11. The control apparatus as claimed in

claim 8

, wherein the door knob sensor includes a door knob actuation sensor for detecting actuation of the door knob of the vehicle.

12. The control apparatus as claimed in

claim 8

, further comprising:

exit detection section for detecting said portable machine or a passenger exiting from the vehicle,

whereim said main unit machine executes the control signal output for accomplishing the locking operation of the lock device only if the exit detection means detects that said portable machine or the passenger exits from the vehicle.

13. The control apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the object is a vehicle, the controlled object is an object installed in the vehicle, and the control processing is one of signal output or data setting operation for enabling the operation of the vehicle-installed object and signal output for giving an instruction to operate the vehicle-installed object.

14. The control apparatus as claimed in

claim 4

, wherein the object is a vehicle, and the controlled object is an object installed in the vehicle, wherein said main unit machine sends the predetermined electric power if the detection section outputs the detection signal, and said main unit machine executes one of signal output or data setting operation for enabling the operation of the vehicle-installed object and signal output for giving an instruction to operate the vehicle-installed object if the validity of said portable machine is determined.

15. The control apparatus as claimed in

claim 14

, wherein the detection section contains a drive operation sensor for detecting a body of the user being in contact with a drive operation section of the vehicle or the body of the user approaching the drive operation section of the vehicle to drive the vehicle.

16. The control apparatus as claimed in

claim 14

, wherein the detection section contains an operation sensor for detecting a body of the user being in contact with an operation section of vehicle-installed object or the body of the user approaching the operation section of the vehicle-installed object to operate the vehicle-installed object.

17. A control method of a control apparatus having a portable machine and a main unit machine disposed on an object containing a controlled object, said method comprising:

transmitting a predetermined electric power by a power transmission at a first frequency from the main unit machine to the portable machine to start the portable machine from a sleep mode;

transmitting a request signal from the main unit machine to the portable machine in accordance with the starting of the portable machine by a radio-communication at a second frequency different form the first frequency of the power transmission;

transmitting an answer signal including an authentication code from the portable machine to the main unit machine by the radio-communication at the second frequency on the basis of a reception of the request signal;

checking a validity that said portable machine is a predetermined portable machine on the basis of the authentication code included in the answer signal in the main unit machine;

executing control processing for accomplishing a predetermined operation of the controlled object in main unit machine if the validity of the portable machine is determined.