Vehicle access control and start system

• US 20030222758A1
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ArvinMeritor Light Vehicle Systems (UK) Ltd. (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: ArvinMeritor Light Vehicle Systems (UK) Ltd. (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Willats, Robin, Drysdale, Stephen, Didier, Jean, Spurr, Nigel, Kalsi, Gurbinder, Dixon, Alan, Fisher, Sidney, Emson, John
• Application Number:
  US10/348,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20030222758A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/54 Automatic securing or unlocking of bolts triggered by certain vehicle parameters, e.g. exceeding a speed threshold triggered by vehicle collision E05B77/12
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00507 keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• 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 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A vehicle security sub-system comprising person sensing means arranged to determine whether a person is located in the vehicle, first authorisation device detection means arranged to detect the presence of a cooperating authorisation device having a first level of authorisation in the vehicle, a second authorisation device detection means arranged to detect the presence of a cooperating authorisation device in an area around the driver'"'"'s seat and a controller, wherein, the controller is arranged to determine the locked state of at least one vehicle closure and the state of a start system of an associated vehicle in response to inputs from the detection means.

Claims

1. A vehicle security sub-system comprising person sensing means arranged to determine whether a person is located in the vehicle, first authorisation device detection means arranged to detect the presence of a cooperating authorisation device having a first level of authorisation in the vehicle, a second authorisation device detection means arranged to detect the presence of a cooperating authorisation device in an area around the driver'"'"'s seat and a controller, wherein, the controller is arranged to determine the locked state of at least one vehicle closure and the state of a start system of an associated vehicle in response to inputs from the detection means.

2. A vehicle sub-system according to claim 1 wherein the sensing or detection commences on a predetermined signal.

3. A vehicle sub-system according to claim 2 wherein the predetermined signal is the unlocking of at least one closure lock of the vehicle

4. A vehicle sub-system according to claim 3 wherein the unlocking is carried out by a passive unlocking system.

5. A vehicle sub-system according to claim 4 wherein a device carried to passively unlock the vehicle closure(s) is the authorisation device.

6. A vehicle sub-system according to claim 5 wherein the system comprises third detection means to scan an area around the vehicle for the existence of one or more authorisation devices having the first level of authorisation so as to enable entry to the vehicle.

7. A vehicle sub-system according to claim 1 wherein the first and/or third detection means obtain an identity code from the authorisation device and compare the code with identity codes stored in a corresponding first and second memory to determine whether the authorisation device has either the first or second level or authorisation.

8. A vehicle sub-system according to claim 6 wherein the first and/or third detection means obtain an identity code from the authorisation device and compare the code with identity codes stored in a corresponding first and second memory to determine whether the authorisation device has either the first or second level or authorisation.

9. A vehicle sub-system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the person sensing means ceases to scan for people, and the first and second authorisation detection means cease to scan for authorisation devices when no authorisation devices or people have been detected in a predetermined vicinity of the vehicle for a predetermined amount of time.

10. A vehicle sub-system according to claim 1 further having means arranged to stop the vehicle and/or selectively lock the vehicle.

11. A vehicle sub-system according to claim 10 wherein the locking means locks the vehicle once the authorisation device moves out of range of the third detection means.

12. A vehicle sub-system according to claim 10 wherein the stop means stops the vehicle once the authorisation device moves out of range of the second detection means.

13. A vehicle latch sub-system comprising a lockable latch mechanism having a rheological fluid acting in a first state to unlock the latch and in a second state to lock the latch, the sub-system further comprising touch sensitive unlocking means arranged such that when touched the unlocking means signals the change of state of the fluid to effect locking or unlocking according to predetermined criteria.

14. A vehicle sub-system according to claim 13 wherein the sub-system further comprises a vehicle closure and the touch sensitive unlocking means is mounted on an inside face of the closure.

15. A vehicle sub-system according to claim 14 wherein the touch sensitive means may also signal the unlatching of the latch according to predetermined criteria.

16. A vehicle sub-system according to claim 13 wherein the first state the fluid has a relatively low viscosity and in the second state the fluid has a relatively high viscosity.

17. A vehicle sub-system according to claim 16 wherein the fluid is a magneto-rheological fluid.

18. A vehicle sub-system according to claims 17 wherein a magnetic field is applied across the fluid in its second state and substantially no magnetic field is applied across the fluid in its first state.

19. A vehicle access control and start system comprising at least two of the following sub-systems:

a) an access control system for a vehicle having at least two closures, the system comprising a receiving means, the receiving means being so constructed and arranged as to determine the angular position of an associated authorisation device relative to the receiving means thereby enabling the system to determine the appropriate vehicle closure(s) to unlock and/or unlatch;

b) an access control system for a vehicle having two or more closures, the system, in use, determining the appropriate closures to unlock and/or unlatch in response to the period of time for which an input signal is received by the access control system from an authorisation device;

c) a transceiver for use in periodically scanning for the existence of at least one corresponding remote authorisation device wherein, in use, the rate at which the transceiver scans for the authorisation device decreases as the time since the detection of a previous authorisation device increases, such that the rate of a power consumption of the transceiver reduces during periods of non-use;

d) a touch sensitive access means fitted to a vehicle and arranged in use, when touched, to unlatch a door of a said vehicle and/or facilitate the deployment of an engagement means to be engaged by a vehicle user to assist in the opening or closing of the vehicle door;

e) a foot operated access means fitted to a vehicle arranged in use, when actuated, to unlatch a vehicle door and/or facilitate the deployment of an engagement means to be engaged by a vehicle user to assist in opening or closing the vehicle door;

f) an exterior mirror access means for a vehicle, the mirror being arranged, in use, such that engagement thereof by a vehicle user unlatches a vehicle door and/or facilitates deployment of an engagement means to be engaged by a vehicle user to assist in opening or closing the door;

g) engagement means for engagement by a vehicle user to assist in the opening or closing of a vehicle door, the engagement means being a handle, the handle being deployed from a retracted position, in use, in response to a signal from vehicle entry or exit means;

h) engagement means for engagement by a vehicle user to assist in the opening or closing of a vehicle door, the means being the waist line portion of a vehicle door, a window pane portion of the vehicle door being retracted in use, in response to a signal from a vehicle entry means so as to permit said engagement;

i) a mechanism, comprising a rheological fluid in operable connection with an output and an input, the fluid acting so as to in a first state prevent actuation of the output upon actuation of the input and in a second state permit such actuation;

j) a vehicle locking system comprising person sensing means, authorisation device detection means and a controller, the sensing means being arranged so as to determine whether a person is located in the vehicle and the authorisation device detection means is arranged to detect the presence of a co-operating authorisation device within the vehicle, wherein, in use, the locked state of the vehicle is controlled by the controller in response to a signal supplied by the sensing means and a signal supplied by the authorisation device detection means;

k) a start system for a vehicle, the system comprising scanning means arranged so as to scan an area around a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle to detect an authorisation device having a particular level of authorisation so as to ensure that only a person carrying an authorisation device having this level of authorisation and positioned in the area around the driver'"'"'s seat may start the vehicle;

l) a start system for a vehicle comprising first and second switches, wherein both switches must be actuated in any order to enable the vehicle to start and wherein the switches are sufficiently mutually spaced to prevent actuation thereof by a single hand of a vehicle user;

m) an inside door release mechanism for a vehicle comprising first and second input means arranged in a mutually spaced relationship on a door inner face and a latch wherein the mechanism is so constructed and arranged to be capable of causing the latch to be unlatched when both input means are actuated simultaneously; and

/or

n) a door release and engagement mechanism for a vehicle comprising a combined inside release and door pull handle and a latch operably connected thereto, wherein, in use, the operable connection is disabled when the door is ajar and/or unlatched so as to prevent the latch from being mis-set prior to subsequent re-closure of the door.

20. A vehicle incorporating a vehicle security sub-system according to claim 19.