Method for keyless unlocking of an access door to a closed space

• US 20040178882A1
• Filed: 01/05/2004
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EM Microelectronic - Marin SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: EM Microelectronic - Marin SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Roz, Thierry, Degrauwe, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 6,882,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00333 and the lock having more than one limited data transmission ranges
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00365 in combination with a wake-up circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for keyless unlocking of an access door to a closed space, in particular a motor vehicle, which is carried out by means of an electronic system, comprising a control module for an electronic lock, associated with the said door and a portable transponder for authorised users. The method comprises sending an interrogation signal at low frequency from the control module to the transponders and also the exchange of data at high frequency. The control module has reception means for the above which are at least continuously in a listening mode. Said method is characterised in that the low frequency transmitters are inactive in a preliminary functional mode, the high frequency transmission means in the transponder periodically emits an activation signal for said transmission means in order that the above are only activated during limited periods, which ensures the reception of an interrogation signal for a transponder entering the low frequency communication region.

Claims

1. Method for keyless unlocking an access door to a closed space, in particular a motor vehicle, by means of an electronic system, comprising on the one hand a control device (12) for an electronic lock (14) for said door fitted with a first data management electronic unit (20) associated to first low frequency signal transmission means (24, 25) and to first high frequency signal reception means (22, 23) and on the other hand at least one portable transponder (16) comprising a second data management electronic unit (36) associated to second reception means (38, 39) for said low frequency signals and to second transmission means (40, 41) for said high frequency signals, said method comprising sending an interrogation signal to at least one transponder via said first transmission means and, in response, sending an identification signal via said at least one transponder to control said electronic lock, said first transmission means of said control device being activated by a signal sent by said second transmission means of said at least one transponder, characterized in that, in a preliminary operating mode of said system wherein said first transmission means are inactive, said second transmission means periodically transmits a high frequency signal for activating said first transmission means.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that said activation signal is transmitted with a repetition period greater than 5 seconds.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that said repetition period ranges substantially between 10 seconds and 1 minute.

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said first transmission means are deactivated after a determined activation period if no valid identification signal is received, said preliminary mode being then selected again by said electronic system.

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said transponder stops transmitting said activation signal as long as it receives low frequency signals from control device at least periodically, upon reception of an interrogation signal by said second reception means.

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that upon reception of said activation signal by said first reception means, an acknowledgement signal is transmitted at high frequency with third transmission means (32) of said control device, to indicate to said transponder having provided said activation signal that it was detected, said transponder comprising third reception means (48) for that purpose.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that after reception of an acknowledgment signal, said transponder activates then said second reception means into a listening mode, said second means being deactivated at least most of the time during said preliminary mode of said electronic system.

8. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said second transmission means send control signals whose heading indicates whether it is said identification signal or said activation signal.

9. Method according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said identification signal and said activation signal are respectively sent at first and second high frequencies different from each other, said first reception means having first and second listening channels corresponding respectively to these first and second frequencies.

10. Method according to claims 9, characterised in that only said first channel is selected during the periods when said first transmission means are activated.