AUTOMATIC DETECTION OF VALET MODE FOR SMART ENTRY SYSTEMS

• US 20130033361A1
• Filed: 08/04/2011
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lickfelt, Brian K., Arai, Hideaki, Kracker, Thomas G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,305,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A key fob assembly includes a mechanical key, a key fob, a control in the key fob, Hall effect switches in the key fob, and magnets associated with the mechanical key. The mechanical key is configured to cooperate with a mechanical lock. The key fob is configured to selectively connect with the mechanical key. The control in the key fob is for transmitting wireless signals to a vehicle to actuate components on the vehicle. The Hall effect switches in the key fob are each in electrical communication with the control. At least one of the Hall effect switches changes an operating state based on detecting a positive magnetic field and at least one other Hall effect switch changes an operating state based on detecting a negative magnetic field. Respective poles of the magnets are disposed such that connection of the mechanical key with the key fob in a storage position aligns the poles of the magnets with respective Hall effect switches for changing the operating state of the respective Hall effect switches.

Claims

1. A mechanical key for cooperating with a key fob, the mechanical key comprising:

a head including a key fob facing surface;

a blade connected with the head and extending from the head in a first direction; and

a plurality of magnets in the head, each magnet including a respective key fob facing pole adjacent the key fob facing surface, wherein the magnets plurality of are positioned in or on the head such that at least one of the key fob facing poles is different in polarity than at least one other key fob facing pole.

2. The key of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets are spaced from one another along a second direction, which is generally perpendicular to the first direction.

3. The key of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets comprises a first magnet, a second magnet and a third magnet, wherein the polarity of the key fob facing pole of the second magnet is different than the polarity of the key fob facing pole of the first magnet and the third magnet.

4. The key of claim 3, wherein the second magnet is disposed between the first magnet and the third magnet along a second direction, which is generally perpendicular to the first direction.

5. The key of claim 4, wherein each of the magnets is disposed on a same side of the blade.

6. The key of claim 1, wherein the magnets are each a rare earth magnet having a diameter less than about 1.60 mm.

7. A key fob cooperating with an associated mechanical key, the key fob comprising:

a key fob housing including a slot for receiving the associated mechanical key;

a control in the housing for transmitting wireless signals to a vehicle to actuate components on the vehicle; and

a plurality of Hall effect switches in the housing, each Hall effect switch being in electrical communication with the control, wherein at least one of the Hall effect switches is configured to change a respective operating state based upon detecting a positive magnetic field and at least one other Hall effect switch is configured to change an operating state based upon detecting a negative magnetic field.

8. The key fob of claim 7, wherein the control is configured to transmit a valet mode signal to the vehicle upon detecting a predetermined operating state for each of the Hall effect switches.

9. The key fob of claim 7, wherein the slot is elongated in a first direction and is configured to receive a blade of a mechanical key.

10. The key fob of claim 9, wherein the housing includes an upper surface, a lower surface and a key head facing surface spanning between the upper surface and the lower surface, wherein the slot extends into the housing from the key head facing surface, wherein the plurality of Hall effect switches are disposed adjacent the key head facing surface and the key head facing surface has a smaller surface area as compared to the upper surface and the lower surface.

11. The key fob of claim 7, wherein the plurality of Hall effect switches includes a further Hall effect switch configured to change a respective operating state based upon detecting one of a positive or a negative magnetic field.

12. The key fob of claim 11, wherein each Hall effect switch is disposed adjacent one another and on a same side of the slot.

13. The key fob of claim 12, wherein at least one of the Hall effect switches is configured to change the respective operating state upon detecting a different magnetic field as compared to another Hall effect switch immediately adjacent the at least one Hall effect switch.

14. The key fob of claim 12, wherein each Hall effect switch is associated with an integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to output an output signal to the control and the respective magnetic field that changes the operating state of each Hall effect switch is selectively configurable.

15. The key fob of claim 12, wherein each Hall effect switch is software configurable to selectively configure the respective magnetic field that is detected which results in the change in the respective operating state of the Hall effect switch.

16. A key fob assembly comprising:

a mechanical key configured to cooperate with a mechanical lock;

a key fob configured to selectively connect with the mechanical key;

a control in the key fob for transmitting wireless signals to a vehicle to actuate components on the vehicle;

a plurality of Hall effect switches in the key fob, each Hall effect switch being in electrical communication with the control, at least one of the Hall effect switches changes an operating state based on detecting a positive magnetic field and at least one other Hall effect switch changes an operating state based on detecting a negative magnetic field; and

a plurality of magnets associated with the mechanical key, respective poles of the magnets being disposed such that connection of the mechanical key with the key fob in a storage position aligns the poles of the magnets with respective Hall effect switches for changing the operating state of the respective Hall effect switches.

17. The key fob assembly of claim 16, wherein the plurality of magnets includes at least three magnets each having a respective key fob facing pole that faces the key fob when the mechanical key is connected with the key fob and in the storage position, wherein at least one of the key fob facing poles is different in polarity than at least two other key fob facing poles.

18. A passive entry system comprising:

the key fob assembly of claim 16,

a vehicle;

a receiver on the vehicle for receiving the wireless signals from the key fob assembly;

a transmitter on the vehicle for transmitting vehicle originating wireless signals to the key fob assembly; and

a control unit in communication with the receiver, the transmitter, and security systems on the vehicle, wherein the control unit is configured to lock secured areas on the vehicle via at least one of the security systems in response to receiving a valet mode signal from the key fob assembly indicating that the mechanical key has been disconnected from the key fob.

19. The passive entry system of claim 18, wherein the secured areas include a trunk and a glove box of the vehicle.

20. The passive entry system of claim 18, wherein the control unit limits operation of an engine of the vehicle in response to receiving the valet mode signal.