Keyless entry module and method

• US 20060170532A1
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Huntzicker, Fred W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,511,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.540
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00206 the keyless data carrier being hand operated
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for a key-less system for actuating a lock responsive to a valid OPEN signal. A first portion is continuously coupled to a power source and a second portion receives power from the source only when a coupling switch is ON. The first portion comprises a keypad for entry of a lock actuation code, and a detector that senses the first keystroke and turns the switch ON. The second portion includes an RF transmitter and preferably a memory with valid actuation codes stored therein, and a processor coupled to the memory, to the keypad and to the RF transmitter. When the entered and stored keystrokes match, the RF transmitter sends an OPEN signal to the lock. The method comprises detecting the first keystroke, turning on the power switch ON, comparing the entered and stored keystrokes and if matched, transmitting an OPEN command to the lock.

Claims

1. A method for operating a key-less fob comprising, operatively coupled, a keypad, processor, memory and transmitter, for remotely actuating a system responsive to RF signals from the transmitter, the method comprising:

receiving multiple initial keystrokes from the keypad;

comparing the received initial keystrokes to one or more valid codes stored in the memory; and

if there is a match, placing the key-less fob in a further operating mode whereby one or more further keystrokes can cause the transmitter to send to the system a command corresponding to the one or more further keystrokes adapted to remotely actuate at least a portion of the system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more further keystrokes comprise single individual keystrokes.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, data-logging at least the initial and one or more of the further key-strokes to provide a record of such key-strokes.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising after the placing step, transmitting the command corresponding to the one or more further keystrokes.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising, after the transmitting step, determining whether a time-out has occurred and if so, returning the key-less fob to an initial operating mode requiring re-entry of the multiple initial keystrokes before the key-less fob can again enter the further operating mode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the key-less fob further includes a power ON/OFF switch and the method further comprises, before the receiving step, detecting at least a first keystroke, turning the power switch ON in response to detecting the at least first keystroke, thereby powering-up at least the transmitter.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, starting a time delay after receiving the first keystroke and when the timing delay expires, turning the power switch OFF.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of turning the power switch ON, comprises, powering-up the memory and the processor as well as the transmitter.

9. A method for operating a wireless key-fob comprising, operatively coupled, at least an ON/OFF switch, a keypad, a processor, a memory and a transmitter adapted to remotely actuating a vehicle system in an INSECURE and a SECURE mode when ON, the method comprising:

while in the INSECURE MODE, sending initial ENTRY CODE keystrokes from the keypad to the processor;

using the processor to compare the initial ENTRY CODE keystrokes received from the keypad with ENTRY CODE keystrokes stored in the memory to determine whether or not a valid ENTRY CODE has been provided; and

if NO, remaining in the INSECURE MODE and returning to the sending step or turning OFF the ON/OFF switch;

if YES, shifting to the SECURE MODE and transmitting a signal derived from the ENTRY CODE KEYSTROKES to the system indicating that an authorized user is present and now operating in the SECURE MODE.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein shifting to the SECURE MODE further comprises setting a flag in the memory indicating that further commands can be accepted from the user without re-entry of the initial ENTRY CODE keystrokes.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein individual further commands comprise fewer keystrokes than the initial ENTRY CODE keystrokes.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising recording keystrokes entered in the INSECURE mode in memory for later retrieval.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising also recording keystrokes entered in the SECURE mode in memory for later retrieval.

14. A key-less control fob adapted to be toggled between at least two modes of operation for actuating a remote system, comprising:

a user actuated keypad for entering keystroke sequences of variable lengths P and Q;

a processor operatively coupled to the keypad for receiving and analyzing keystroke sequences from the keypad;

a memory operatively coupled to the processor for storing valid keystroke sequences;

a transmitter operatively coupled to the processor for sending out signals containing commands adapted to actuate the remote system;

wherein, in a first mode of operation, a user must first enter a keystroke sequence of length P, which is compared by the processor to the keystroke sequences stored in the memory; and

if there is no match, then the processor maintains the control fob in the first mode of operation wherein the user must first enter the keystroke sequence of length P in order to place the fob in an operating state; and

if there is a match, then the processor switches operation of the fob to a second mode of operation wherein subsequent keystroke sequences of length Q<

P are sufficient to cause the transmitter to send valid commands to the remote system.

15. The key-less control fob of claim 14, wherein Q≦

2.

16. The key-less control fob of claim 15, wherein Q=1.

17. The key-less control fob of claim 14, further comprising a time-delay operatively coupled to the processor and adapted to cause the processor to switch the fob from the second to the first mode of operation after a predetermined length of time without further keystrokes in the second mode.

18. The key-less control fob of claim 14, further comprising a power ON/OFF switch operatively coupled to the processor and at least two timers operatively coupled to or contained within the processor for providing first and second time delays since a last keystroke, wherein the first time delay applies when the key-less control fob is in the first mode of operation and the second time delay applies when the key-less control fob is in the second mode of operation, and upon expiration of either time delay, the power ON/OFF switch places the key-less control fob in a sleep mode.

19. The key-less control fob of claim 14, further comprising a power ON/OFF switch operatively coupled to the processor, wherein when the power ON/OFF switch is to be turned OFF, the processor stores in memory an indicator of the user desired mode of operation of the key-less control fob to be effective when the key-less control fob is reawakened by the power ON/OFF switch being turned ON.

20. The key-less control fob of claim 14, further comprising a power ON/OFF switch operatively coupled to the processor, wherein before the power ON/OFF switch is turned OFF, some or all of the keystrokes executed by the user since the power ON/OFF switch was last turned ON, are stored for later retrieval.