User password apparatus and method using car-call

• US 20050179588A1
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Youngshin Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Youngshin Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Nam-Woo
• Application Number:
  US11/070,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20050179588A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.750
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

The present invention relates to a user password apparatus and method using car-call. An apparatus for setting and releasing a user password to control the automotive component comprises a signal detector for detecting a physical signal that is applied to a car and converting the physical signal into an electrical signal, a controller for storing the entered password if the electrical signal is a password setup/change signal, controlling an operation of the corresponding automotive component if the electrical signal is a password release signal and the entered password coincides with the stored password, and generating an user call signal if it is needed to call the user according to the analysis, a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the user call signal to a remote controller, and a wireless receiver for wirelessly receiving a vehicle control signal from the remote controller.

Claims

1. An apparatus for setting and releasing a user password to control automotive components in a car-call system, the apparatus comprising:

a signal detector configured to detect a physical signal that is applied to a car and convert the physical signal into an electrical signal;

a controller configured to analyze the electrical signal, store an entered password if the electrical signal is a password setup/change signal according to the analysis, control an operation of a corresponding automotive component if the electrical signal is a password release signal and an input password coincides with the stored password according to the analysis, and generate a user call signal if it is needed to call the user according to the analysis;

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the user call signal to a remote controller; and

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive a vehicle control signal from the remote controller,

wherein said controller controls the operation of the corresponding automotive component based on the vehicle control signal.

2. The apparatus as stated in claim 1, wherein said signal detector comprises:

a piezoelectric element configured to convert a pressure, generated by a knock, into the electrical signal; and

an amplifier configured to amplify the electrical signal.

3. The apparatus as stated in claim 2, wherein said piezoelectric element is one of the following:

a Piezzo buzzer, an impact sensor and a condenser microphone.

4. The apparatus as stated in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control operations of one of a door unlock and an engine start.

5. The apparatus as stated in claim 1, wherein the physical signal is an impact signal.

6. A method of setting a user password to control automotive components in a car-call system, said method comprising:

detecting a password setup signal that is applied to a car in the form of a physical signal having a predetermined format in a ready state so as to set a password;

generating a confirmed signal indicative of a normal password setup state, if the applied password setup signal corresponds to a stored password setup signal;

detecting a password that is applied to the car in the form of a physical signal having a predetermined format in the password setup state; and

storing the password after generating a confirmed signal indicative of the end of password input if the password is correctly entered.

7. The method as stated in claim 6, wherein said physical signal is detected by either a piezoelectric element or an optical sensor.

8. The method as stated in claim 6, wherein said password setup signal is a physical signal applied to the car with a predetermined interval and a predetermined number of times.

9. The method as stated in claim 6, wherein said detecting the password comprises:

(i) counting the number of physical signals that are applied to the car;

(ii) determining the number of physical signals as a number in each digit after detecting a predetermined pause; and

(iii) repeating (i) and (ii) until the number of digits of the determined number corresponds to a predetermined number of digits.

10. The method as stated in claim 7, wherein either the piezoelectric element or the optical sensor is located near the front window inside the car, and the physical signal is applied to a portion of the front window which is outside the car and near the piezoelectric element or the optical sensor.

11. The method as stated in claim 6, further comprising changing the set password.

12. A method of releasing a user password to control automotive components in a car-call system, said method comprising:

detecting a password release signal that is applied to a car in the form of a physical signal having a predetermined format;

generating a confirmed signal indicative of a normal password input state if the applied password release signal corresponds to a stored password release signal;

detecting a password that is applied to the car in the form of a physical signal having a predetermined format in the password input state; and

generating a confirmed signal indicative of a valid password and controlling a corresponding automotive component if the applied password corresponds to the stored password.

13. The method as stated in claim 12, wherein said physical signal is detected by either a piezoelectric element or optical sensor.

14. The method as stated in claim 12, wherein said password release signal is applied to the car at a predetermined interval and in a predetermined number of times.

15. The method as stated in claim 12, wherein said detecting the password comprises:

(i) counting the number of physical signals that are applied to the car;

(ii) determining the number of physical signals as a number in each digit after detecting a predetermined pause;

(iii) repeating said (i) and (ii) until the number of digits of the determined numbers corresponds to a predetermined number of digits.

16. A method of controlling operations of automotive components based on a user password, the method comprising:

detecting an impact applied to a vehicle, wherein the impact is associated with a user password;

converting the detected impact into an electrical signal;

decoding the electrical signal into a user password;

comparing the user password with a previously stored user password; and

controlling the automotive components based on the comparison.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the impact includes the combination of a plurality of knockings applied on an external portion of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the detecting is made with the use of one of the following:

a Piezzo buzzer, an impact sensor and a condenser microphone.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the controlling comprises performing the operations of one of a door unlock and an engine start.

20. An apparatus for controlling operations of automotive components based on a user password, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting an impact applied to a vehicle, wherein the impact is associated with a user password;

means for converting the detected impact into an electrical signal;

means for decoding the electrical signal into a user password;

means for comparing the user password with a previously stored user password; and

means for controlling the automotive components based on the comparison.