Method for the remote control of doors and/or lids for vehicles and associated remote control system

• US 20050168322A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Scholz, Rainer, Appenrodt, Nils, Wohlgemuth, Heiko, Lorenz, Carsten
• Application Number:
  US11/016,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20050168322A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.720
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/246 characterised by the challenge triggering
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 49/00 Electric permutation locks; Circuits therefor ; Mechanical aspects of electronic locks; Mechanical keys therefor arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; mechanisms including electronic locks actuated by nonmechanical keys such as passive and active electrical keys and other data carriers G07C9/00, G07F7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/48 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• 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

In a method for the remote control of doors and/or lids of vehicles, the act of approaching the vehicle and/or the position of an authentication element is detected. The authentication element communicates with a vehicle-sided transmitter and/or receiver for opening at least one door and/or lid. The communication for opening at least one door and/or lid is enabled by a predetermined manual control action before approaching the vehicle and/or by a predetermined sequence of movements of the authentication element after it reaches the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for the remote control of vehicle closures members, in which at least one of i) an authentication element approaching the vehicle, and ii) position of a respective authentication element is detected, the authentication element communicating with a vehicle-sided transmitter and/or receiver for opening at least one closure member, wherein:

communication for opening the at least one closure member is enabled by at least one of a predetermined manual control action of the authentication element before approaching the vehicle and a predetermined sequence of movements of the authentication element after reaching the vehicle.

2. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control action triggers in the authentication element a first authentication signal, with a first range, which is sent cyclically by the authentication element, whereby the first authentication signal comprises an opening command for the at least one closure member.

3. The method, as claimed in claim 2, wherein when the authentication element reaches a predetermined first area corresponding to the first range, the first authentication signal activates at least one proximity sensor which is located in the vehicle and which detects continued approach of the authentication element and triggers opening of the at least one closure member when the authentication element reaches a predetermined second area.

4. The method, as claimed in claim 2, wherein when the authentication element reaches a predetermined first area corresponding to the first range, the first authentication signal activates a transmitting and/or receiving unit, which is located in the vehicle and which sends cyclically a vehicle-related second authentication signal with a second range, shorter than the first range, which is answered by a response signal when the authentication element approaches close enough so as to reach the second area, thus triggering opening of the at least one closure member.

5. The method, as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the following is true:

transmission of the first authentication signal is triggered after expiration of a predetermined first period of time following execution of the manual control action; and

the first authentication signal is sent out cyclically within a predetermined second period of time.

6. The method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transmission of the first authentication signal occurs with reduced transmission power.

7. The method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the predetermined manual control action comprises a repeated actuation of an actuating element of the authentication element.

8. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a proximity sensor detects an approach of one of the authentication element, a person and an object, where:

at least one proximity sensor activates a transmitter and/or receiver in the vehicle when one of the authentication element, the person and the object reaches a predetermined second area; and

the predetermined sequence of movements is recognized, that the transmitting and/or receiving unit sends an authentication signal, which is answered by the authentication element for opening at least one closure member.

9. The method, as claimed in claim 8, wherein for the authentication within the second area, a keyless go system is used as the authentication element.

10. The method, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the predetermined sequence of movements is recognized by a proximity sensor when one of the authentication element, a person and an object approaches to a first distance from the vehicle within the second area, and then retreats again up to a second distance from the vehicle.

11. The method, as claimed in claim 10, wherein a dwell period of the authentication element, person or object in the first distance corresponds at least to a predetermined and defined duration of time.

12. The method, as claimed in claim 11, wherein distance to the authentication element, person or object is measured by the proximity sensor.

13. The method, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the approach of the authentication element, person or object is measured by the proximity sensor.

14. The method, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the predetermined sequence of movements is recognized by at least one proximity sensor, when the authentication element, a person or object approaches the vehicle to a first distance within the second area, and retreats again up to a second distance from the vehicle, within a predetermined and defined duration of time.

15. The method, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the predetermined duration of time is defined by a minimum and maximum duration.

16. The method, as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one proximity sensor is activated cyclically.

17. A remote control system for closure members of vehicles, comprising:

a mobile authentication element; and

a vehicle-side transmitting and/or receiving unit, which drives an actuating mechanism of at least one closure member in response to receipt of an opening command from the authentication element;

wherein;

the authentication element comprises at least one actuating element that can be manipulated to perform a predetermined actuating operation;

the predetermined actuating operation activates a transmitter and/or receiver in the authentication element for sending out the opening command;

at least one of i) the act of an authentication element approaching the vehicle and ii) position of a respective authentication element is detected;

the authentication element communicates with a vehicle-sided transmitted and/or receiver for opening at least one closure member; and

communication for opening the at least one closure member is enabled by at least one of a predetermined manual control action of the authentication element before approaching the vehicle and a predetermined sequence of movements of the authentication element after reaching the vehicle.

18. The remote control system, as claimed in claim 17, wherein the opening command for the at least one closure member is a high frequency signal with a first range.

19. The remote control system, as claimed in claim 18, having at least one proximity sensor, which can be activated by the opening command, when the authentication element reaches a predetermined first area around the vehicle equivalent to a range of the opening command, so that at least one proximity sensor detects the continued approach of the authentication element and triggers the opening of at least one closure member when the authentication element reaches a predetermined second area.

20. The remote control system, as claimed in claim 19, having a transmitting and receiving unit, which is located in the vehicle and which can be activated by the opening command;

wherein;

the transmitting and receiving unit sends cyclically an authentication signal with a shorter range than the opening signal; and

the authentication signal is answered by a response signal from the authentication element when the authentication element approaches the vehicle to within a second area, thus triggering the opening of at least one closure member.

21. The remote control system for closure members of vehicles for, comprising:

a mobile authentication element;

a vehicle-sided transmitting and/or receiving unit, which drives an actuating mechanism of at least one closure member in response to receipt of an opening command from the authentication element; and

at least one proximity sensor;

the proximity sensor detects approach of the authentication element and activates the transmitter and/or receiver in the vehicle when the authentication element reaches a predetermined area; and

the predetermined sequence of movements is recognized, whereby the transmitting and/or receiving sends an authentication signal, which is answered by the authentication element with the opening command for opening at least one door and/or lid.

22. The remote control system, as claimed in claim 21, wherein the predetermined sequence of movements is recognized by at least one proximity sensor, when the authentication element approaches a first distance from the vehicle which defines the area and then retreats up to a second distance from the vehicle.

23. The remote control system, as claimed in claim 22, wherein:

a dwell period during which the authentication element is in the first distance is compared with a predetermined duration of time; and

the authentication signal is sent, only when the defined duration of time is not exceeded.

24. The remote control system, as claimed in claim 22, wherein the predetermined sequence of movements is recognized by at least one proximity sensor, when the authentication element approaches the vehicle to a first distance within the predetermined area and retreats up to a second distance from the vehicle, within a predetermined duration of time.