Apparatus and method for disabling a remote control unit of an automobile

• US 20030014164A1
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Optima Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Optima Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Shin, Sung Woo
• Application Number:
  US10/189,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20030014164A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for disabling a remote control unit of an automobile. The present invention provides an apparatus to disable a remote control unit of an automobile, comprising an inner antenna for detecting the presence of the remote control unit, which is mistakenly left in the automobile, and an antenna controller for activating said inner antenna. In addition, the present invention provides a method to disable a remote control unit of an automobile, comprising steps of detecting the presence of the remote control unit mistakenly left in the automobile, inputting the identification code of the remote control unit left in the automobile when the detected signal is inputted to the CPU, and temporarily suspending processing of control signals generated by the remote control unit left in the automobile.

Claims

1. A system for disabling a remote control unit of an automobile, said system comprising:

at least two remote control units for transmitting/receiving a different radio signal unique to each vehicle; and

an ECU for determining the authentication of the remote control units through a bi-directional communication with said remote control units, wherein said ECU includes a CPU controlling locking and unlocking of the vehicle in response to communication with said remote control units, an inner antenna for detecting the presence of the remote control unit left inside a vehicle, and an inner antenna controller for activating said inner antenna and simultaneously inputting a radio signal of the remote control unit detected by said inner antenna to the CPU when a locking signal generated by one of the remote control units is inputted to the CPU.

2. A method for disabling a remote control unit of an automobile comprising:

inputting a locking signal generated from one of a plurality of remote control units carried by a driver into a CPU of a vehicle security system;

detecting the presence of a remote control unit that is accidentally left inside a vehicle;

inputting a radio signal of the remote control unit left inside the vehicle into the CPU;

recognizing, by the CPU, the remote control unit left inside the vehicle through the inputted radio signal; and

temporarily suspending CPU processing of control signals generated by the remote control unit left inside the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising releasing the suspended state of processing the control signal generated by the remote control unit left inside the vehicle when an unlocking signal from another remote control unit carried by a driver is input to the CPU.

4. A vehicle security system, comprising at least two remote control units and a vehicle mounted electronic control unit capable of bi-directional communication with said remote control units, said electronic control unit comprising

a CPU;

a first antenna controller communicating with the CPU;

a first antenna controlled by said first controller for remote bi-directional communication with said remote control units;

a second antenna controller communicating with the CPU; and

a second antenna controlled by the second controller for detecting and receiving signals from a remote control unit located within the vehicle;

wherein said CPU is programmed to disable processing of signals received from a remote control unit that is detected to be within the vehicle by the second antenna.

5. The vehicle security system according to claim 4, wherein said CPU programmed to initiate detection of a remote control unit within the vehicle via the second antenna upon receiving a locking signal via the first antenna and to re-enable processing of signals received from the remote control unit within the vehicle upon receipt of an unlocking signal from another remote control unit via the first antenna.