Keyless entry system for automatically operating automotive door locking devices without manual operation

• US 4,763,121 A
• Filed: 08/11/1986
• Issued: 08/09/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Mikio, Hirano, Motoki, Tomoda, Takahisa, Nakano, Kinichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US06/895,370
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.54, 340/825.31, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/542, 340/64, 361/172
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00325 and the lock having only one limited data transmission range
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00373 whereby the wake-up circuit is situated in the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A keyless entry system allows fully automatic operation of a door lock device of an automotive vehicle. The system recognizes the presence and absence of an authorized user and automatically locks or unlocks the vehicle door lock device according to the presence or absence of the authorized user. The keyless entry system is provided with a controller mounted on a vehicle and designed to periodically generate a radio demand signal and transmit same at regular intervals. A radio code signal transmitter is normally in a stand-by state in which it is ready to transmit a radio code signal indicative of a preset code in response to the radio demand signal. The radio code signal transmitter is of a pocket-portable size for convenient transport by an authorized user. The radio signal transmission between the controller and the radio code signal transmitter is performed within a predetermined distance range around the vehicle. Therefore, the radio code signal transmitter becomes active when the authorized user carrying the same enters into the predetermined radio signal transmission range to transmit the radio code signal to the controller. The controller receives and compares the preset code with a unique code stored in its memory and operates a door lock device for unlocking when the codes match. On the other hand, while the authorized user is output of the radio signal transmission range, the controller detects absence of the radio code signal to operate the door lock device for locking.

Claims

1. A keyless entry system for an automotive door lock comprising:

a door lock actuator for operating said door lock between a first locking position and a second unlocking position;

a pocket-portable radio code signal transmitter for transmitting a radio code signal containing a unique code which identifies said transmitter, said radio code signal transmitter being responsive to a radio demand signal to be activated to transmit said radio code signal; and

a controller mounted on a vehicle and electrically connected to said door lock actuator for controlling operation of said actuator for operating said door lock between said first locking position and said second unlocking position, said controller cyclically and repeatedly transmitting said radio demand signal at a given timing, receiving said radio code signal transmitted from said radio code signal transmitter, comparing said unique code in the received radio code signal with a preset code for detecting the presence of an authorized transmitter in the vicinity of said controller by detecting whether said unique code matches said preset code at every occurrence of transmission of said radio demand signal, and operating said door lock actuator from said second door unlocking position to said first door locking position in response to an absence of said radio code signal at the occurrence of said radio demand signal.

2. A keyless entry system as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a manually operable switch mounted on the external surface of a vehicle body and associated with said controller, said manually operable switch temporarily triggering said controller to transmit said radio demand signal irrespective of said given timing.

3. A keyless entry system as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a detector for detecting a prdetermined disabling condition and disabling said keyless entry system when said predetermined disabling condition is detected.

4. A keyless entry system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said detector detects when an ignition key is in a key cylinder.

5. A keyless entry system as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a timer for measuring elapsed time, said timer being reset and started periodically at a timing determined relative to transmission of said radio demand signal for measuring a given period of time, and wherein said controller operates said door lock actuator if said radio code signal is absent within said given period of time.

6. A keyless entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller is responsive to said radio code signal for operating said door lock actuator to actuate said door lock to said second unlocking position.

7. A keyless entry system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said controller controls said door lock actuator to hold said door lock in said second unlocking position while said radio code signal is present.

8. A keyless entry system for an automotive door lock comprising:

a door lock actuator for actuating said door lock between a first locking position and a second locking position;

a manually operable switch mounted on the external surface of a vehicle body for manual operation from outside of the vehicle;

a pocket-portable radio code signal transmitter for transmitting a radio code signal containing a a unique code which identifies said transmitter, said radio code signal transmitter being responsive to a radio demand signal to be activated to transmit said radio code signal;

a controller mounted on a vehicle and electrically connected to said door lock actuator for controlling operation of said actuator, said controller also being connected to said manually operable switch to sense manual operation of said manually operable switch, said controller regularly transmitting said radio demand signal at a given timing and being responsive to manual operation of said manually operable switch for temporarily transmitting said radio demand signal irrespective of said given timing, receiving said radio code signal transmitted by said radio code signal transmitter, comparing said unique code in the received radio code signal with a preset code to detect the presence of an authorized transmitter in the vicinity thereof by detecting said radio code signal containing said unique code matching with said preset code at every occurrence of transmission of said radio demand signal, to operate said door lock to said second unlocking position when said unique code and said preset code match, and to detect an absence of said radio code signal at the occurrence of said radio demand signal for detecting that said transmitter is out of a predetermined radio communication range and to operate said door lock actuator to hold said door lock in said first locking position while said radio code signal is absent in said predetermined radio communication range.

9. A keyless entry system as set forth in claim 8, which further comprises a detector for detecing a predetermined disabling condition and disabling said keyless entry system when said predetermined disabling condition is detected.

10. A keyless entry system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said detector detects when an ignition key is in a key cylinder.

11. A keyless entry system as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a time for measuring elapsed time, said timer being reset and started periodically at a timing determined relative to transmission of said radio demand signal for measuring a given period of time, and said controller operates said door lock actuator when said radio code signal is absent for said given period of time.

12. A keyless entry system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said controller is responsive to said radio code signal for operating said door lock actuator to operate said door lock to said second unlocking position.

13. A keyless entry system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said controller controls said door lock actuator to hold said door lock in said second unlocking position while said radio code signal is present.

14. An automatic operation system for a lock mechanism of a closure which operably closes an opening of an enclosed space defined within a vehicle, comprising:

a lock actuator associated with said closure for operating said lock mechanism between a first locking position and a second unlocking position;

a pocket-portable radio code signal transmitter transmitting a radio code signal containing a unique code which identifies said transmitter, said radio code signal transmitter being responsive to a radio demand signal to transmit said radio code signal;

a controller mounted on a vehicle and electrically connected to said lock actuator for operating said lock mechanism between said first locking position and said second unlocking position, said controller cyclically and repeatedly transmitting said radio demand signal at a given timing, receiving said radio code signal from said radio code transmitter, comparing said unique code in the received radio code signal with a preset code for detecting that an authorized transmitter is in the vicinity thereof by detecting said radio code signal containing said unique code matching with said preset code at every occurrence of transmission of said radio demand signal, and operating said lock actuator from said second unlocking position to said first locking position in response to an absence of said radio code signal at the occurrence of said radio demand signal.

15. An automatic operation system for a lock mechanism of a closure which operably closes an opening of an enclosed space defined within a vehicle, comprising:

a lock actuator for operating said door lock between a first locking position and a second unlocking position;

a manually operable switch mounted on the external surface of a vehicle body for manual operation from outside of the vehicle and within a predetermined communication range defined in the vicinity of said closure;

a pocket-portable radio code signal transmitter transmitting a radio code signal containing a unique code which identifies said transmitter, said radio code signal transmitter being responsive to a radio demand signal to be activated to transmit said radio code signal;

a controller mounted on a vehicle and electrically connected to said lock actuator for controlling operation of said actuator for operating said lock mechanism between said first locking position and said second unlocking position, said controller regularly transmitting said radio demand signal at a given timing and being responsive to manual operation of said manually operable switch for temporarily transmitting said radio demand signal irrespective of said given timing, receiving said radio code signal from said radio code transmitter at every occurrence of said radio demand signal, comparing said unique code in the received radio code signal with a preset code for detecting the presence of an authorized transmitter in the vicinity thereof by detecting said radio code signal containing said unique code matching with said preset code at every occurrence of transmission of said radio demand signal, to operate said lock mechanism to said second unlocking position when said unique code and said preset code match, and for detecting an absence of said radio code signal at the occurrence of said radio demand signal for detecting said transmitter being out of said predetermined radio communication range and to operate said lock actuator to hold said door lock at said first locking position while said radio code signal is absent in said predetermined radio communication range.

16. An automatic operation system for a lock mechanism of a closure which operably closes an opening of an enclosed space defined within a vehicle, comprising:

a lock actuator associated with said closure for operating said lock mechanism between a first locking position and a second unlocking position;

a pocket-portable radio code signal transmitter transmitting a radio code signal containing a unique code which identifies an authorized transmitter, said radio code signal transmitter being responsive to a radio demand signal to be activated to transmit said radio code signal;

a controller mounted on a vehicle and electrically connected to said lock actuator for controlling operation of said actuator for operating said lock mechanism between said first locking position and second unlocking position, said controller cyclically and repeatedly transmitting said radio demand signal at a given timing, receiving said radio code signal from said radio code transmitter, detecting said authorized transmitter which transmits said radio code signal matching with said preset code in the vicinity of said closure by detecting said radio code signal containing said unique code matching with said preset code at every occurrence of transmission of said radio demand signal and holding said lock mechanism at said second unlocking position while said authorized transmitter is present in the vicinity of said closure, and detecting said authorized transmitter moving away from said closure for operating said lock actuator from said second unlocking position to said first locking position by detecting an absence of said radio code signal at the occurrence of said radio demand signal for operating said lock mechanism to said first locking position.

17. An automatic operation system for a lock mechanism of a closure which operably closes an opening of an enclosed space defined within a vehicle, comprising:

a lock actuator for operating said door lock between a first locking position and a second unlocking position;

a pocket-portable radio code signal transmitter transmitting a radio code signal containing a unique code which identifies an authorized transmitter, said radio code signal transmitter being responsive to a radio demand signal to be activated to transmit said radio code signal;

a controller mounted on a vehicle and electrically connected to said lock actuator for controlling operation of said actuator for operating said lock mechanism between said first locking position and said second unlocking position, said controller regularly transmitting said radio demand signal at a given timing, receiving said radio code signal from said radio code transmitter at every occurrence of said radio demand signal, comparing said unique code in the received radio code signal with a preset code to detect the presence of an authorized transmitter in the vicinity thereof by detecting said radio code signal containing said unique code matching with said preset code at every occurrence of transmission of said radio demand signal, to operate said lock mechanism to said second unlocking position when said unique code and said preset code match, and for detecting an absence of said radio code signal at the occurrence of said radio demand signal for detecting said transmitter being out of said predetermined radio communication range so as to operate said lock actuator to hold said door lock at said first locking position while said radio code signal is absent in said predetermined radio communication range.

18. An automatic operation system for a vehicular device comprising:

an actuator associated with said vehicular device between a first active position and a second not inactive position;

a pocket-portable radio code signal transmitter transmitting a radio code signal containing a unique code which identifies said transmitter, said radio code signal transmitter being responsive to a radio demand signal to be activated to transmit said radio code signal;

a controller mounted on a vehicle and electrically connected to said actuator for controlling operation of said actuator for operating said vehicular device between said first position and said second position, said controller cyclically and repeatedly transmitting said radio demand signal at a given timing, receiving said radio code signal from said radio code transmitter, comparing said unique code in the received radio code signal with a preset code for detecting the presence of an authorized transmitter in the vicinity thereof by detecting said radio code signal containing said unique code matching with said preset code at every occurrence of transmission of said radio demand signal, and operating said lock actuator from said second position to said first position in response to an absence of said radio code signal at the occurrence of said radio demand signal.

19. An automatic operation system for a vehicular device comprising:

an actuator for operating said vehicular device between a first active position and a second inactive position;

a manually operable switch mounted on the external surface of a vehicle body for manual operation from outside of the vehicle and within a predetermined communication range defined in the vicinity of said closure;

a pocket-portable radio code signal transmitter transmitting a radio code signal containing a unique code which identifies said transmitter, said radio code signal transmitter being responsive to a radio demand signal to be activated to transmit said radio code signal;

a controller mounted on a vehicle and electrically connected to said actuator for controlling operation of said actuator for operating said vehicular device between said first position and said second position, said controller regularly transmitting said radio demand signal at a given timing and being responsive to manual operation of said manually operable switch for temporarily transmitting said radio demand signal irrrespective of said given timing, receiving said radio code signal from said radio code transmitter at every occurrence of said radio demand signal, comparing said unique code in the received radio code signal with a preset code to detect the presence of an authorized transmitter in the vicinity thereof by detecting said radio code signal containing said unique code matching with said preset code at every occurrence of transmission of said radio demand signal, to operate said vehicular device to said second position when said unique code and said preset code match, and for detecting an absence of said radio code signal at the occurrence of said radio demand signal for detecting said transmitter out of said predetermined radio communication range so as to operate said actuator to hold said lock at said first position while said radio code signal is absent in said predetermined radio communication range.

20. An automatic operation system for a vehicular device comprising:

an actuator associated with said vehicular device between a first active position and a second inactive position;

a pocket-portable radio code signal transmitter transmitting a radio code signal containing a unique code which identifies an authorized transmitter, said radio code signal transmitter being responsive to a radio demand signal to be activated to transmit said radio code signal;

a controller mounted on a vehicle and electrically connected to said actuator for controlling operation of said actuator for operating said vehicular device between said first position and said second position, said controller cyclically and repeatedly transmitting said radio demand signal at a given timing, receiving said radio code signal from said radio code transmitter, detecting said authorized transmitter which transmits said radio code signal matching with said preset code in the vicinity of said closure by detecting said radio code signal containing said unique code matching with said preset code at every occurrence of transmission of said radio demand signal and holding said vehicular device at said second position while said authorized transmitter is present in the vicinity of said closure, and detecting said authorized transmitter moving away from said closure for operating said lock actuator from said second position to said first locking position by detecting an absence of said radio code signal at the occurrence of said radio demand signal for operating said vehicular device to said first position.

21. An automatic operation system for a vehicular security device comprising:

a lock actuator for operating said vehicular device between a first security active position and a second security inactive position;

a pocket-portable radio code signal transmitter transmitting a radio code signal containing a unique code which identifies an authorized transmitter, said radio code signal transmitter being responsive to a radio demand signal to be activated to transmit said radio code signal;

a controller mounted on a vehicle and electrically connected to said lock actuator for controlling operation of said actuator for operating said vehicular device between said first position and said second position, said controller regularly transmitting said radio demand signal at a given timing, receiving said radio code signal from said radio code transmitter at every occurrence of said radio demand signal, comparing said unique code in the received radio code signal with a preset code to operate said actuator for detecting said transmitter matching therewith in the vicinity thereof by detecting said radio code signal containing said unique code matching with said preset code at every occurrence of transmission of said radio demand signal, to operate said vehicular device to said second position when said unique code and said preset code match, and for detecting an absence of said radio code signal at the occurrence of said radio demand signal for detecting said transmitter being out of said predetermined radio communication range so as to operate said lock actuator to hold said vehicular device at said first position while said radio code signal is absent in said predetermined radio communication range.