Remote control system for door locks

• US 5,109,221 A
• Filed: 04/12/1989
• Issued: 04/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Hair, Robert A., Pitera, Kenneth R., Lambropoulos, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US07/336,841
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.3, 340/825.31, 340/425.5, 307/10.2, 307/10.5, 361/172, 70/278, 455/343, 455/347, 455/129
• US Class Current: 340/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00222 by more than one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• 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 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed

Abstract

A remote control system which includes (a) a receiver unit adapted to be fixedly mounted on a motor vehicle having at least one door lock with a first locked condition and a second unlocked condition and having means for receiving a coded signal including a code portion of binary bits, memory means for storing a first code of binary bits, means for comparing the code portion of a received coded signal with the first code and means for shifting the controlled device to one of the conditions upon the comparison match between the code portion of a received signal and the stored first code and (b) a transmitting unit for transmitting the stored second code of binary bits when the door lock is to be shifted into one of its conditions. In this system the invention involves the improvement wherein the coding of the second code set into the transmitter is a unique group of binary bits and the receiver unit includes a field programming arrangement for setting the first code of the receiver unit to the unique group of binary bits in the transmiting unit by using the signal from the transmitting unit as received by the receiver unit. In accordance with this improvement, the first code of the receiver unit is set to the second code of the transmitting unit in the field and may be changed from one code to another code upon authorized use of a second transmitting unit having its own unique code.

Claims

1. A remote control system including a transmitter having means for storing and transmitting a two-part signal of binary bits containing a security code unique to a specific transmitter;

a receiver for mounting to a support structure and operation to generate a control signal for effecting performance of a function, wherein the receiver includes a memory including two registers for storing security codes of binary bits, and a comparator for comparing the security code of a received signal with the security code stored in each register to generate said control signal upon detecting a code match with any stored security code;

field programming means on the receiver operable to initiate field programming time periods, and means for replacing the security code stored in each receiver memory register by the security code of a signal received from a first transmitter during a field programming period, and replacing the just-stored code in the second register by the security code portion of a subsequent signal received from a different transmitter only during said field programming period.

2. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the receiver memory includes a plurality of sequential registers, and the field programming means is capable of causing replacement of the security code in the sequentially next and in each sequentially subsequent register with the security code portion of a further subsequent signal received from yet another different transmitter only during said field programming period, so that each of the plurality of registers may contain a different unique security code.

3. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes means for deactivating the power circuit after a predetermined period of time.

4. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes a housing, and an antenna located within the housing.

5. The remote control of claim 4, wherein the receiver includes a printer circuit board and the antenna is printed on the board.

6. In a remote control system including a plurality of transmitters, each having means for storing and transmitting three-part signals of binary bits each comprising a wake-up part, a function part, and a security code part, for use with a plurality of receivers mounted in support structures, said receivers each being operative to generate a control signal for effecting performance of a function, an improved receiver having a power circuit, a memory including a plurality of sequential registers for storing security codes of binary bits, detector means for recognizing the wake-up part of a signal received from a remote transmitter to activate the power circuit, a comparator for thereafter comparing the security code part of a received signal with the security code stored in each register to generate the control signal indicated by the function part of the received signal upon detecting a code match with any stored security code, and field programming means on the receiver operable to initiate field programming periods wherein the security code stored in each receiver memory register is replaced by the security code portion of a signal received from a first transmitter during a field programming period, and the just-stored code in the sequentially next and any subsequent registers is replaced by the security code portion of a subsequent signal received from a different transmitter, such operation being subsequently repeatable by other different transmitters only during said field programming period, so that each of the plurality of registers may contain a different security code.

7. In a remote control system including a plurality of transmitters, each having means for storing and transmitting two-part signals of binary bits each comprising a wake-up part and a randomly-selected security code part unique to a specific transmitter, for use with a plurality of receivers mounted in a plurality of automobiles, said receivers each being operative to generate control signals for effecting performance of functions, an improved receiver having a power circuit, a memory including a plurality of sequential registers for storing security codes of binary bits, detector means for recognizing the wake-up part of a signal received from a remote transmitter to activate the power circuit, and a comparator for thereafter comparing the security code part of a received signal with the security code stored in each register to generate said control signal upon detecting a code match with any stored security code;

and field programming means on the receiver operable to initiate field programming periods during which the security code stored in each receiver memory register is replaced by the security code portion of a signal received from a transmitter during a field programming period, and the just-stored code in the sequentially next and in any sequentially subsequent registers is replaced by the security code portion of a subsequent signal received from a different transmitter, such operation being subsequently repeatable by other different transmitters only during said field programming period, so that each of the plurality of registers may contain a different security code.

8. The remote control of claim 7, wherein the receiver includes means for deactivating the power circuit after a predetermined period of time.

9. In a remote control system including a plurality of transmitters, each having means for storing and transmitting three-part signals of binary bits each comprising a wake-up part, a function part, and a security code part unique to each transmitter, for use with a plurality of receivers mounted in a plurality of automobiles, each receiver being operative to generate control signals for effecting performance of different functions, an improved receiver having a power circuit, a memory including a plurality of sequential registers for storing security codes of binary bits, detector means for recognizing the wake-up part of a signal received from a remote transmitter to activate the power circuit, a comparator for thereafter comparing the security code part of a received signal with the security code stored in each register to generate the control signal indicated by the function part of the received signal upon detecting a code match with any stored security code, means for deactivating the power circuit after a predetermined period of time, and field programming means on the receiver operable to initiate field programming periods of predetermined length during which the security code stored in each receiver memory register is replaced by the security code portion of a signal received from a first transmitter during a field programming period, and the just-stored code in the sequentially next and in any sequentially subsequent registers is replaced by the security code portion of a subsequent signal received from a different transmitter, such operation being subsequently repeatable by other different transmitters only during said field programming period, so that each of the plurality of registers may contain a different security code.

10. In a remote control system including a plurality of transmitters, each having means for storing and transmitting three-part signals of binary bits each comprising a wake-up part, a function part, and a randomly-selected security code part unique to each transmitter, for use with a plurality of receivers mounted in a plurality of automobiles, each receiver being operative to generate control signals for effecting the functions of locking and unlocking the automobile'"'"'s doors and trunk lid, an improved receiver having a power circuit, a memory including a plurality of sequential registers for storing security codes of binary bits, detector means for recognizing the wake-up part of a signal received from a remote transmitter to activate the power circuit, a comparator for thereafter comparing the security code part of a received signal with the security code stored in each register to generate the control signal indicated by the function part of the received signal upon detecting a code match with any stored security code, and field programming means on the receiver operable to initiate field programming periods during which the security code stored in each receiver memory register is replaced by the security code portion of a signal received from a first transmitter during a field programming period, and the just-stored code in the sequentially next and in any sequentially subsequent registers is replaced by the security code portion of a subsequent signal received from a different transmitter, such operation being subsequently repeatable by other different transmitters only during said field programming period, so that each of the plurality of registers may contain a different security code.