Security arrangement intended for opening and/or closing of doors in particular for an automotive vehicle

• US 5,467,080 A
• Filed: 08/10/1993
• Issued: 11/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SMH Management Services AG (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: SMH Management Services AG (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Clauss, Daniel, Stoll, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowler, Alyssa H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/103,796
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 307/10.2, 307/10.4, 235/382, 235/382.5, 341/22, 341/27, 341/34
• US Class Current: 340/5.54
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00714 with passive electrical components, e.g. resistor, capacitor, inductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/038 Anti-vandalism
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9643 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard

Abstract

The invention concerns a security arrangement intended for the opening and/or closing of at least one door of an automotive vehicle, characterized in that it includes: at least one control keyboard (2) integrated into the coach-work of the vehicle and intended for the introduction of an opening and/or closing code, said keyboard being provided with sensing elements (6) responsive to the touch and furnishing a code corresponding to the actuated keys, a circuit (30, 32, 34, 44) adapted to generate a control signal in response to said code furnished by the control keyboard; and actuating means (36, 38) controlled by said control signal and assuring the latching and/or unlatching of said door.

Claims

1. A security arrangement intended for the opening and/or closing of at least one door of an automotive vehicle, and which includes:

at least one control keyboard integrated into a coachwork body of the vehicle to have sensing elements located under a relatively small portion of a single structural sheet member forming a substantial portion of an outer layer of the coachwork body, said outer layer defining an unbroke exterior surface of said coachwork body, for responding to a touch at said exterior surface of said outer layer adjacent said keyboard for introduction of opening and closing codes, said control keyboard being provided with said sensing elements responsive to the touch at said exterior surface for furnishing codes corresponding to actuated keys,

a circuit coupled to said sensing elements for generating control signals in response to said codes furnished by the control keyboard; and

actuating means controlled by said control signal for assuring the latching and/or unlatching of said door.

2. A security arrangement as set forth in claim 1, in which said sensing elements are piezo-electric elements, said control keyboard being mounted under a part of the vehicle coachwork.

3. A security arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control keyboard is of the capacitive type and is mounted in an external element of the vehicle formed from an insulating material.

4. A security arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein said keyboard is formed in one of the windows of the vehicle.

5. A security arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control keyboard is of the resistive type.

6. A security arrangement as set forth in claim 1, said circuit including a memory in which is stored a reference code, said control signal being furnished only if the code introduced into the keyboard is identical to such reference code.

7. A security arrangement as set forth in claim 1, in which said control signal is additionally employed to close the contact control circuit of the vehicle starter.

8. A security arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein keys of the keyboard are graphically represented on the exterior surface of said outer layer of said coachwork body at said relatively small portion thereof adjacent said sensing elements.

9. A security arrangement as set forth in claim 8, wherein said graphic representations exhibit an outline in relief.