LOCK SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20130293348A1
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marquardt GmbH (J U J Marquardt KG)
• Original Assignee: Marquardt GmbH (J U J Marquardt KG)
• Inventors: OBERGFELL, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,600,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00

Abstract

A lock system including a first device which has at least two states and is embodied as a control device, and an associated second device which is embodied in the manner of an electronic key, an ID signal generator, a chip card or the like. The two devices have transmitters and/or receivers for, in particular, electromagnetic signals. In particular, at least one of the signals transmitted between the second device and the first device is an encoded operating signal for authenticating the second device, with the result that after positive evaluation of the transmitted operating signal in the case of an authorized second device it is possible to bring about a change in the state of the first device.

Claims

1. A lock system, in particular for the access authorization and/or driving authorization in a motor vehicle in the manner of a KeylessEntry/Go functionality, having a first device which has at least two states and is embodied as a control device, such as a control device for unlocking and/or locking the car doors, the ignition lock, the steering wheel lock, for enabling and/or disabling the immobilizer, the engine control unit or the like, and having an associated second device which is embodied in the manner of an electronic key, an ID signal transmitter, a chip card or the like, wherein the two devices have, for the operation thereof in accordance with the regulations, transmitters and/or receivers for, in particular, electromagnetic signals, wherein, in particular, at least one of the signals transmitted between the second device and the first device is an encoded operating signal for authenticating the second device, with the result that after positive evaluation of the transmitted operating signal in the case of an authorized second device it is possible to bring about a change in the state of the first device, and wherein at least one antenna which interacts with an oscillatory circuit and has the purpose of transmitting at least one of the signals is assigned to the first device, wherein the antenna can be switched between transmitting mode for the keyless functionality and receiving and/or transmitting mode for an emergency functionality when the keyless functionality fails, in particular by operating the oscillatory circuit in the transmitting mode as a high-quality series oscillatory circuit and in the receiving mode as a low-quality parallel oscillatory circuit.

2. The lock system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first device transmits a first signal for the associated second device as a wake-up signal, in such a way that the second device is transferred from a state of rest with a reduced energy requirement into an activated state for operation in accordance with the regulations, wherein after transmission of the first signal the first device preferably transmits at least one further, third signal as a range delimiting signal such that the associated second device can determine its location with respect to the first device, in particular on and/or in the motor vehicle, wherein, further preferably, the second device subsequently transmits a further, fourth signal, containing the location, to the first device, wherein, further preferably still, the encoded operating signal is transmitted as a fifth signal between the second device and the first device in order to authenticate the second device, wherein the fifth electromagnetic signal which serves for authentication is preferably transmitted in a bidirectional communication, comprised of a plurality of component signals, between the first and second devices, and wherein, further preferably again, the first device transmits, between the first and the third signals, a second signal to the second device as a selection signal, wherein, in particular, the second signal contains information about the identity of the motor vehicle such that second devices associated with the first device remain in the activated state, and non-associated second devices which are in the activated state are returned to the state of rest.

3. The lock system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier wave for the first signal and/or the third signal has a frequency which is in the inductive, low-frequency range and is, for example, approximately 20, 120, 125 kHz or the like, and wherein the carrier wave for the second signal and/or the fourth signal and/or the fifth signal preferably has a frequency which is in the relatively high-frequency range and is, in particular, approximately 315, 433, 868 MHz or the like.

4. The lock system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a coil as a low-frequency LF antenna, wherein a capacitor can be connected in series and/or in parallel with respect to the coil such that a series and/or parallel oscillatory circuit is formed.

5. The lock system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first device includes a half bridge which interacts with the antenna for generating the carrier frequency for at least one of the signals, and wherein preferably in the first device there is a power semiconductor which interacts with the antenna in order to modulate data for at least one of the signals.

6. The lock system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first device includes a control circuit for the half bridge and/or the power semiconductor, wherein the control circuit preferably operates the half bridge by alternately switching between electrical voltage and ground in order to generate the carrier frequency, and wherein further preferably the control circuit operates the power semiconductor by switching between the high-impedance and conductive state thereof in accordance with the data to be modulated.

7. The lock system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capacitor is located in the first device, wherein the capacitor can preferably be connected to ground in parallel with respect to the coil by switching the half bridge and the power semiconductor, and wherein further preferably the capacitor can be connected in series with respect to the coil by operating the half bridge and the power semiconductor.

8. The lock system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first device includes a switch which can be switched and has the purpose of switching on the receiving mode of the antenna, wherein the quality reduction means for the parallel oscillatory circuit can preferably be activated by means of the switch, and wherein further preferably the switch is actuated by the control circuit in the first device for the purpose of switching.