Smart Key for Vehicles and Telematics System Using the Same

• US 20100001830A1
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Woo, Jae Hyun
• Granted Patent: US 8,102,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves

Abstract

The present invention provides a smart key for vehicles and a telematics system using the same. The smart key includes a Radio Frequency (RF) Interface (I/F) unit, a smart key unit, a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM), a USIM I/F unit, and a microcontroller.

Claims

1. A smart key for vehicles, comprising:

a Radio Frequency (RF) Interface (I/F) unit for transmitting a radio signal to a smart key Electronic Control Unit (ECU), which is provided in a vehicle;

a smart key unit for transmitting door lock/unlock signals to the RF I/F unit so that the RF I/F unit transmits the door lock/unlock signals to the smart key ECU;

a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) inserted into a USIM interface unit provided in the smart key, configured to be able to be coupled to a mobile communication terminal, and configured to store USIM information therein;

a USIM I/F unit for extracting the USIM information from the USIM; and

a microcontroller for performing control so that the radio signal, which corresponds to the USIM information received from the USIM I/F unit, is transmitted to the smart key ECU via the RF I/F unit.

2. The smart key as set forth in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller comprises a storage unit for storing the USIM information.

3. The smart key as set forth in claim 1, wherein the USIM information comprises both phone-related registration information and payment information.

4. The smart key as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mobile communication terminal, which is coupled with the USIM, is a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) terminal.

13. A motor vehicle comprising the smart key for vehicles of claim 1.

5. A telematics system for vehicles, comprising:

a vehicle smart key for receiving USIM information from a USIM, which is coupled with a mobile communication terminal, and transmitting a radio signal, which corresponds to the USIM information, the USIM being inserted into a USIM interface unit, which is provided in the vehicle smart key;

a smart key ECU provided in a vehicle to receive the USIM information from the vehicle smart key; and

a telematics terminal for performing a telematics function using the USIM information, which is received from the smart key ECU.

6. The telematics system as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) unit for transmitting billing information to a tollgate billing system using the USIM information, which is received from the smart key ECU.

7. The telematics system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the USIM information comprises both phone-related registration information and payment information.

8. A smart key for vehicles, comprising:

a Radio Frequency (RF) Interface (I/F) unit for transmitting a radio signal to a smart key Electronic Control Unit (ECU), which is provided in a vehicle;

a smart key unit;

a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) inserted into a USIM interface unit provided in the smart key; and

a USIM I/F unit for extracting the USIM information from the USIM.

9. The smart key for vehicles of claim 8, wherein the smart key unit is used for transmitting door lock/unlock signals to the RF I/F unit so that the RF I/F unit transmits the door lock/unlock signals to the smart key ECU.

10. The smart key for vehicles of claim 8, wherein the Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) is configured to be able to be coupled to a mobile communication terminal, and configured to store USIM information therein.

11. The smart key for vehicles of claim 8, further comprising a microcontroller for performing control so that the radio signal, which corresponds to the USIM information received from the USIM I/F unit, is transmitted to the smart key ECU via the RF I/F unit.

12. The smart key for vehicles of claim 11, wherein the microcontroller comprises a storage unit for storing the USIM information.

14. A motor vehicle comprising the smart key for vehicles of claim 8.