Transmitter direction identifier

• US 5,710,548 A
• Filed: 05/03/1995
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: LeMense, Thomas John
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): MERZ, EDWARD W
• Application Number:
  US08/433,184
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.31, 340/825.49, 343/819, 343/713, 342/457, 342/423, 455/38.2
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/28 using amplitude comparison of signals derived simultaneously from receiving antennas or antenna systems having differently-oriented directivity characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00214 by one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• 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

Abstract

A transmitter direction identifier is disclosed in conjunction with an automotive keyless entry assembly. The transmitter direction identifier includes a transmitter for sending a coded signal; a receiver for receiving the coded signal from the transmitter; a spatial differentiator for identifying the direction of the transmitter relative to a receiver from the coded signal received from the transmitter, the spatial differentiator creating a location signal; and a control unit electrically connected to the spatial differentiator wherein the control unit converts the location signal into command signal for subsequent use.

Claims

1. A transmitter direction identifying assembly comprising:

a transmitter for sending a coded signal;

a receiver for receiving the coded signal from said transmitter;

a spatial differentiator for locating said transmitter relative to said receiver, said spatial differentiator creating a location signal identifying direction of said transmitter relative to said receiver; and

wherein said spatial differentiator includes a high comparator and a low comparator, said high comparator defining a high threshold and said low comparator defining a low threshold.

2. An automotive keyless entry assembly for accessing an occupant compartment of an automotive vehicle by unlocking a locking mechanism associated with one of a plurality of doors, said automotive keyless entry assembly comprising:

a transmitter for sending a coded signal;

a receiver for receiving the coded signal from said transmitter;

a spatial differentiator for locating said transmitter relative to the automotive vehicle from said coded signal received from said receiver, said spatial differentiator creating a location signal;

a control unit electrically connected to said spatial differentiator, said control unit converting said location signal into an unlock signal to unlock the locking mechanism associated with one of the plurality of doors closest to said transmitter; and

wherein said spatial differentiator includes a high comparator and a low comparator, said high comparator defining a high threshold and said low comparator defining a low threshold.

3. An automotive keyless entry assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein first and second antennas are operatively connected to said receiver, each of said first and second antennas receiving said coded signal and for producing first and second antenna signals.

4. An automotive keyless entry assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein an antenna multiplexor is electrically connected between said first and second antennas and said receiver to alternately transmit said first and second antennas signals to said receiver.

5. An automotive keyless entry assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said receiver includes a high comparator creating a high pulse width signal from each of said first and second antenna signals and a low comparator creating a low pulse width signal from each of said first and second antenna signals.

6. An automotive keyless entry assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said control unit includes a correlator for correlating said high pulse width signal with said low pulse width signal associated with each of said first and second antennas.

7. An automotive keyless entry assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said control unit further includes a decoder for decoding said coded signal.

8. An automotive keyless entry assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said receiver is a UHF receiver.

9. A method of unlocking one of a plurality of doors to an occupant compartment of an automotive vehicle using a portable transmitter and a plurality of antennas spaced throughout the automotive vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting from the portable transmitter a coded signal, to the plurality of antennas;

receiving the coded signals from the portable transmitter;

receiving an antenna signal from each of the plurality of antennas representing the coded signal;

measuring each of the antenna signals against a first threshold;

measuring each of the antenna signals against a second threshold;

locating the transmitter based on the antenna signals; and

unlocking one of the plurality of doors closest to the transmitter.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 including the step of decoding the coded signal to identify the transmitter.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 including the step of creating pulse widths signals from the coded signals.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 including the step correlating the pulse width signals.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 including the step of comparing the widths of the pulses in the pulse width signals.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 including the step of sending the coded signal associated with the pulse width signals having the larger pulse widths to be decoded.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14 including the step of alternating the antenna signal received between each of the plurality of antennas.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 including the step of comparing each of the pulse width signals to a first threshold.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 including the step of comparing each of the pulse width signals to a second threshold.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 including the step of amplifying each of the antenna signals.