Controller for coded surface acoustical wave (SAW) security system

• US 4,931,664 A
• Filed: 08/02/1988
• Issued: 06/05/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GTE Products Corporation (Ams-Osram AG)
• Original Assignee: GTE Products Corporation (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Knoll, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US07/227,283
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 361/171, 361/172, 310/313 R, 310/316, 310/314, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.5, 340/426, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 180/287, 342/51
• US Class Current: 307/103
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor

Abstract

A controller for a motor vehicle security system. The controller has a SAW device adapted to receive a signal and to generate a reply signal. A decoder is connected to the SAW device for decoding the reply signal. A comparator compares the reply signal to a previously stored value and an enabling device enables operation of the motor vehicle when the predetermined value and the decoded reply signal are successfully compared.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle access system comprising:

(a) signal generating means for generating an uncoded signal;

(b) coupling means operatively connected to said signal generating means for converting said uncoded signal to an uncoded electromagnetic signal;

(c) a surface acoustical wave (SAW) device operatively connected to said coupling means for receiving said uncoded electromagnetic signal therefrom, converting said uncoded electromagnetic signal to a coded surface acoustic wave and transferring said coded surface acoustic wave to said coupling means for generating a coded electromagnetic reply signal;

(d) amplifying means operatively connected to said coupling means for amplifying said coded electromagnetic reply signal;

(e) comparing means operatively connected to said amplifying means for comparing said coded reply signal to a previously stored code; and

(f) enabling means operatively connected to said comparing means for enabling operation of a motor vehicle when said code and said coded reply signal are successfully compared.

2. The motor vehicle access system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said uncoded signal generated by said signal generating means has substantially greater voltage than said coded reply signal.

3. The motor vehicle access system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said amplifying means comprises isolating means for screening said uncoded signal generated by said signal generating means so that said coded reply can be suitably amplified.

4. The motor vehicle access system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said signal generating means generates a single cycle pulse.

5. The motor vehicle access system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coded reply signal comprises a binary code.

6. The motor vehicle access system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said binary code is a 6-bit code.

7. The motor vehicle access system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said enabling means generates a VEHICLE START ENABLE signal.

8. The motor vehicle access system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said comparing means comprises means to decode said coded reply signal a predetermined number of times.

9. The motor vehicle access system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said decoding means comprises an oscillator.

10. A circuit for coded access to a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) signal generating means for generating an uncoded signal;

(b) a pair of coupling coils for transferring uncoded and coded signal, respectively, to and from a SAW device;

(c) a surface acoustical wave (SAW) device operatively connected to said signal generating means via said coupling coils for receiving an uncoded signal therefrom, converting said uncoded signal to a coded surface acoustical wave and reconverting said coded surface acoustical wave to a reply signal;

(d) decoding means operatively connected to said SAW device for decoding said reply signal to provide an access code;

(e) comparing means operatively connected to said decoding means for comparing said access code to a prior code; and

(f) enabling means operatively connected to said comparing means for enabling operation of a motor vehicle when said access code and said prior code are successfully compared.

11. The circuit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said signal generated by said signal generating means has substantially greater voltage than said reply signal.

12. The circuit in accordance with claim 11 wherein said signal generating means generates a single cycle pulse.

13. The circuit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said reply signal comprises a binary code.

14. The circuit in accordance with claim 13 wherein said binary code is a 6-bit code.

15. The circuit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said enabling means generates a VEHICLE START ENABLE signal.

16. The circuit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said decoding means comprises means to decode said reply signal a predetermined number of times.

17. The circuit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said decoding means comprises an oscillator.

18. A circuit for identifying an operator of a motor vehicle to provide authorized operation thereof, comprising:

(a) an uncoded signal generating means connected to a first coil for transferring said uncoded signal;

(b) a second coil connected to a surface acoustical wave (SAW) device for receiving said uncoded signal when said first and second coils are brought into proximity with each other, said second coil actuating said SAW device to provide a coded surface acoustic signal which is reconverted to a coded reply signal that is transferred back to said first coil;

(c) amplifying means operatively connected to said first coil for amplifying said coded reply signal;

(d) decoding means operatively connected to said amplifying means for decoding said reply signal to provide an access code; and

(e) enabling means operatively connected to said decoding means for enabling operation of a motor vehicle when said access code matches a stored code.

19. The circuit in accordance with claim 18 wherein said signal generated by said signal generating means has substantially greater voltage than said reply signal.

20. The circuit in accordance with claim 19 wherein said amplifying means comprises isolating means for screening said signal generated by said signal generating means so that said reply signal can be suitably amplified.

21. The circuit in accordance with claim 19 wherein said signal generating means generates a single cycle pulse.

22. The circuit in accordance with claim 18 wherein said reply signal comprises a binary code.

23. The circuit in accordance with claim 22 wherein said binary code is a 6-bit code.

24. The circuit in accordance with claim 18 wherein said enabling means generates a VEHICLE START ENABLE signal.

25. The circuit in accordance with claim 18 wherein said decoding means comprises means to decode said reply signal a predetermined number of times.

26. The circuit in accordance with claim 18 wherein said decoding means comprises an oscillator.

27. A circuit for accessing a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a first coil and a second coil proximately disposed thereto, said first coil supplying said second coil with an electromagnetic signal when said second coil is moved relative thereto, said second coil being connected to a surface acoustical wave (SAW) device for receiving said electromagnetic signal from said first coil propagating a surface acoustic wave in said SAW device for generating a coded reply signal that is transferred back to said second coil via said first coil;

(b) amplifying means operatively connected to said first coil for amplifying said coded reply signal;

(c) decoding means operatively connected to said amplifying means for decoding said coded reply signal to provide an access code;

(d) comparing means operatively connected to said decoding means for comparing said access code to a stored code; and

(e) enabling means operatively connected to said comparing means for enabling operation of a motor vehicle when said access code and said stored code are successfully compared.

28. The circuit in accordance with claim 27 wherein said signal received by said SAW has substantially greater voltage than said reply signal.

29. The circuit in accordance with claim 28 wherein said amplifying means comprises isolating means for screening said signal received by said SAW device so that said reply signal can be suitably amplified.

30. The circuit in accordance with claim 27 wherein said reply signal comprises a binary code.

31. The circuit in accordance with claim 30 wherein said binary code is a 6-bit code.

32. The circuit in accordance with claim 27 wherein said enabling means generates a VEHICLE START ENABLE signal.

33. The circuit in accordance with claim 27 wherein said decoding means comprises means to decode said reply signal a predetermined number of times.

34. The circuit in accordance with claim 27 wherein said decoding means comprises an oscillator.

35. A coded access ignition system for an automobile, comprising:

(a) a receptacle for receiving in proximity thereto a surface acoustical wave device;

(b) a self-propagating surface acoustical wave (SAW) device for generating an access code for said automobile, said access code being generated and self-propagated by relative movement of said SAW device with respect to said receptacle; and

(c) validation means operatively connected to said receptacle for determining said SAW device access code and generating a signal indicative of a validation of said access code in comparison with a stored code of matching value.