MOTOR VEHICLE UNLOCKING METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20150102898A1
• Filed: 10/14/2014
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: HUENNEKENS, Johannes, FOLETTA, Gregory, ELLIS, Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 9,972,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/04 Access control involving a hierarchy in access rights
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A key-less entry system for motor vehicle uses actuations of one or more pre-existing vehicle components accessible from outside the vehicle, such as door handles, to generate an unlock an unlock code that is stored in a control unit. The code represents a sequence of actuations of component(s). Upon leaving the vehicle, the user locks the vehicle and sets the code by actuating the components in the desired sequence. To later unlock the vehicle, the user repeats the sequence of actuations, and the control unit sends an unlock signal to one or more door latches.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to a vehicle, comprising:

storing in a control unit on-board the vehicle an unlock code representing a sequence of actuations of at least one pre-existing vehicle component accessible from outside the vehicle; and

sending an unlock signal from the control unit to a vehicle lock in response to the control unit receiving signals from the at least one vehicle component matching the unlock code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a vehicle instrument cluster.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the unlock code stored in the control unit is generated by actuation by a user of the at least one pre-existing vehicle component.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one pre-existing vehicle component comprises a door handle and/or a trunk latch of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of unlock codes are stored in the control unit, and a user is able to select one of the plurality of codes that will enable sending of the unlock signal when matched by actuation of the at least one vehicle component.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending of the unlock code further requires receipt of a signal from at least one of a camera and a vibration sensor of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending of the unlock code further requires receipt by the control unit of a second code entered by a user having access to an interior of the vehicle.

8. An access control system for a vehicle comprising:

a control unit having an unlock code stored therein, the code representing a sequence of actuations of at least one pre-existing vehicle component accessible from outside the vehicle, and the control unit operative to send an unlock signal to a door latch upon the control unit receiving signals indicating actuations of the at least one component to match the unlock code.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control unit comprises a vehicle instrument cluster.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the unlock code stored in the control unit is generated by actuation by a user of the at least one pre-existing vehicle component.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one pre-existing vehicle component comprises a door handle and/or a trunk latch of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein a plurality of unlock codes are stored in the control unit, and a user is able to select one of the plurality of codes that will enable sending of the unlock signal when matched by actuation of the at least one vehicle component.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the sending of the unlock code further requires receipt of a signal from at least one of a camera and a vibration sensor of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the sending of the unlock code further requires receipt by the control unit of a second code entered by a user having access to an interior of the vehicle.

15. A motor vehicle comprising:

an exterior door handle;

a switch monitoring actuation of the exterior door handle;

a door latch; and

a control unit having an unlock code stored therein, the code representing a sequence of actuations of the exterior door handle, and the control unit operative to send an unlock signal to the door latch upon the control unit receiving signals from the switch indicating the exterior door handle has been actuated in a manner matching the unlock code.

16. The motor vehicle of claim 15, wherein the control unit comprises a vehicle instrument cluster.

17. The motor vehicle of claim 15, wherein the unlock code stored in the control unit is generated by actuation by a user of the door handle.

18. The motor vehicle of claim 15, wherein a plurality of unlock codes are stored in the control unit, and a user is able to select one of the plurality of codes that will enable sending of the unlock signal when matched by actuation of the at least one vehicle component.

19. The motor vehicle of claim 15, further comprising at least one of a camera and a vibration sensor, and wherein the sending of the unlock code further requires receipt of a signal from the at least one camera and vibration sensor.

20. The motor vehicle of claim 15, further comprising an instrument cluster in an interior of the vehicle, and wherein the sending of the unlock code further requires receipt by the control unit of a second code entered using the instrument cluster.