Smart key entry system

• US 20060066439A1
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: McBride, Justin, Wiegand, Michael, Aoyama, Keiichi, Nakano, Akio, Keeling, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US10/949,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20060066439A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.610
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/246 characterised by the challenge triggering
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• 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 2209/65 using means for sensing the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A smart key entry system for unlocking a plurality of doors in a platform includes a controller within the platform. The controller is operable to lock and unlock each of the plurality of doors. A sensor is located on each of the plurality of doors. Each sensor is operable to communicate to the controller when a user has activated the sensor. A mobile device external to the platform is operable to wirelessly communicate with the controller when within a detection area surrounding the platform. If the mobile device is within the detection area, the controller unlocks a door when the sensor located on the door communicates to the controller that a user has activated the sensor.

Claims

1. A method for unlocking doors to an interior compartment of a mobile platform, comprising:

receiving an entrant verification message;

receiving a first signal from a sensor accessible outside of the interior compartment of the mobile platform, wherein the first signal indicates an entrants proximity to the interior compartment;

receiving a second signal subsequent to receipt of the first signal; and

unlocking at least two doors to the interior compartment in response to the first and second signals.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the first signal further comprises disposing the sensor proximate to a given door to the interior compartment such that the first signal indicates the entrant'"'"'s desire to unlock the given door.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first signal indicates the entrant is touching a handle for the given door.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second signal is transmitted from the sensor.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the second signal indicates the entrant is touching the handle for the given door a second time.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the second signal indicates the entrant is continuously touching the given door for a period of time.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the second signal indicates a second entrant is touching a handle for a door other than the given door.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving an entrant verification message from the second entrant.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the second signal is transmitted from a different sensor accessible outside of the interior compartment of the mobile platform.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the entrant verification message includes an identification number to the mobile platform unique to the mobile platform.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the entrant verification message is transmitted via a wireless communication link.

12. An entry system for unlocking doors to an interior compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a controller operable to unlock the doors; and

a first sensor coupled to the motor vehicle and accessible outside of the interior compartment of the motor vehicle, the sensor operable to transmit a first signal to the controller indicating an entrants proximity to the interior compartment and operable to transmit a second signal to the controller indicating an entrant'"'"'s desire to unlock a given door;

wherein the controller unlocks at least the given door in response to receipt of the first and second signals.

13. The entry system of claim 12, further comprising a remote device operable to transmit a third signal to the controller, wherein the controller unlocks at least the given door in response to receipt of the first, second, and third signals.

14. The entry system of claim 12, wherein the controller unlocks all the doors to the interior compartment of the motor vehicle in response to receipt of the first and second signals.

15. The entry system of claim 12, wherein the sensor is a touch sensor operable to sense the touch of an entrant.

16. The entry system of claim 15, wherein the sensor is located in a handle of the given door.

17. The entry system of claim 16, further comprising a second sensor located in a handle of a door other than the given door and operable to transmit the second signal to the controller, and wherein the controller unlocks at least one door.

18. A method for unlocking a door to an interior compartment of a motor vehicle other than the driver'"'"'s door, comprising:

receiving a first signal from a touch sensor located on a door to the interior compartment, wherein the first signal indicates an entrant'"'"'s touching of the touch sensor;

receiving a second signal subsequent to receipt of the first signal from a touch sensor located on a different door to the interior compartment, wherein the second signal indicates an entrant'"'"'s desire to unlock the door; and

unlocking the door to the interior compartment in response to the first and second signals.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second signal is transmitted from the sensor and the door and the different door are the same door.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving a third signal from a remote device indicating an entrants proximity to the motor vehicle, and unlocking the different door to the interior compartment in response to the first, second, and third signals.

21. A method for unlocking a door to an interior compartment of a motor vehicle other than the driver'"'"'s door, comprising:

receiving an entrant verification message;

receiving a first signal from a remote device indicating an entrant'"'"'s proximity to the motor vehicle;

receiving a second signal from a sensor located on a given door to the interior compartment other than the driver'"'"'s door, wherein the second signal indicates an entrant'"'"'s proximity to the given door; and

unlocking at least the given door to the interior compartment in response to the first and second signals.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprises unlocking all of the doors to the motor vehicle in response to the first and second signals.