Device for operating a motor vehicle without a key

• US 20040046639A1
• Filed: 10/21/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kaiser, Karl-Heinz, Giehler, Elmar, Wach, Achim
• Application Number:
  US10/432,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046639A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.63
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

A device according to the present invention is proposed for the keyless operation of a motor vehicle (8), having a transponder (14) that sends a code to at least one transceiver (12). A control unit (10) compares the code to an expected code, and upon agreement, enables at least one component (16, 18) necessary for the operation of the motor vehicle (8), and deactivates it in the shutdown state of the motor vehicle (8). A timer (T2, T3) is provided, whose output value is compared to a specifiable time duration (t2, t3), the at least one component (16, 18) necessary for the operation of the motor vehicle (8) being deactivated when the output value of the timer (T2, T3) exceeds the specifiable time duration (t2, t3).

Claims

1. A device for the keyless operation of a motor vehicle (8), having a transponder (14) which transmits a code to at least one transceiver (12), and having a control unit (10) which compares the code to an expected code, and upon agreement, enables at least one component (16, 18), and in the shutdown state of the motor vehicle (8), deactivates at least one component (16, 18) necessary for the operation of the motor vehicle (8), wherein at least one timer (T2, T3) is provided, whose output value is compared to a specifiable time duration (t2, t3), the at least one component (16, 18) necessary for the operation of the motor vehicle (8) being deactivated when the output value of the timer (T2, T3) exceeds the specifiable time duration (t2, t3).

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the timer (T2, T3) is started as a function of a sensor signal from a sensor (26) detecting the state of the driving engine of the motor vehicle (8).

3. The device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the timer (T2, T3) is started when the driving engine of the motor vehicle (8) is stopped.

4. The device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the timer (T2, T3) is started as a function of the state of an operating control element (22, 24).

5. The device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating control element (22, 24) is a starter switch and/or ignition switch of the motor vehicle (8).

6. The device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein for deactivating the component (16, 18) necessary for the operation of the motor vehicle (8), the control unit (10) sends a corresponding command to it.

7. The device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the component (16, 18) necessary for the operation of the motor vehicle (8) is a function control unit (18) such as an engine control unit.

8. The device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the component (16, 18) necessary for the operation of the motor vehicle (8) is a steering wheel lock (16) which locks the steering wheel in response to a deactivation.

9. The device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein a deactivation of the component (16, 18) necessary for the operation of the motor vehicle (8) is forestalled when an operating control element (22, 24) is actuated, and the output value of the timer (T2, T3) has not yet exceeded the specifiable time duration (t2, t3).