Anti-theft system for a motor vehicle

• US 5,905,444 A
• Filed: 11/12/1996
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Zimmer, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/745,499
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.54, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 235/380, 342/44, 70/277, 70/278, 375/334
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/406 Power supply in the remote key
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00611 by using inductive transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00777 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00714 with passive electrical components, e.g. resistor, capacitor, inductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

A transceiver with an antenna oscillating circuit generates a magnetic field which inductively charges a charge capacitor of a transponder through a transponder oscillating circuit. A frequency-modulated oscillation is thereupon generated in the transponder and that oscillation is transmitted back to the transceiver. In order to ensure that the transceiver will receive the highest possible amplitudes of the frequency-modulated oscillation, the resonant frequency of the antenna oscillating circuit is adapted to the oscillation frequencies of the transponder oscillating circuit. To that end, an impedance is connected, automatically weighted, to the antenna oscillating circuit.

Claims

1. An anti-theft system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a transceiver to be disposed in a motor vehicle, said transceiver having an antenna oscillating circuit with components including an antenna, said antenna oscillating circuit having a variable transceiver resonant frequency determined by said components for selection to a first resonant frequency and a second resonant frequency;

an oscillator imposing an oscillation on said antenna oscillating circuit for transmitting energy signals;

a portable transponder for transmitting code information to said transceiver, said portable transponder including a transponder oscillating circuit having a variable transponder resonant frequency for selection to a high resonant frequency and a low resonant frequency as a function of the code information, said portable transponder including an energy reservoir for activating said transponder oscillating circuit, said energy reservoir charged by the energy signals;

an evaluation unit receiving the oscillation generated by said transponder and received by said transceiver, said evaluation unit detecting the received oscillation and outputting the code information;

a comparator demodulating and comparing the code information from said evaluation unit with desired code information and issuing a release signal for a security unit if the code information and the desired code information correspond; and

the transceiver resonant frequency of said antenna oscillating circuit selected to the first resonant frequency for transmitting the energy signals and to the second resonant frequency for receiving the code information from said transponder, the second resonant frequency having a value between the high and low resonant frequencies of said transponder oscillating circuit.

2. The anti-theft system according to claim 1, wherein said antenna of said antenna oscillating circuit is a transmitter coil, said antenna oscillating circuit has capacitor connected parallel to said transmitter coil, and including a circuit configuration, and an impedance connected in weighted fashion through said circuit configuration to said antenna oscillating circuit.

3. The anti-theft system according to claim 2, wherein said impedance has a parallel circuit of at least one of a capacitor, a coil and a resistor.

4. The anti-theft system according to claim 2, wherein said impedance has a series and parallel circuit of at least one of a capacitor, a coil and a resistor.

5. The anti-theft system according to claim 2, wherein said impedance has a series circuit of at least one of a capacitor, a coil and a resistor.

6. An anti-theft system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a transceiver to be disposed in a motor vehicle, said transceiver having an antenna oscillating circuit with components including a transmitter coil, a capacitor connected in parallel to said transmitter coil, an amplifier, and an impedance, said antenna oscillating circuit having a variable transceiver resonant frequency determined by said components for selection to a first resonant frequency and a second resonant frequency, said amplifier having a voltage gain connecting said impedance in a weighted fashion to said antenna oscillating circuit;

an oscillator imposing an oscillation on said antenna oscillating circuit for transmitting energy signals;

a portable transponder for transmitting code information to said transceiver, said portable transponder including a transponder oscillating circuit having a variable transponder resonant frequency for selection to a high resonant frequency and a low resonant frequency as a function of the code information, said portable transponder including an energy reservoir for activating said transponder oscillating circuit, said energy reservoir charged by the energy signals;

an evaluation unit receiving the oscillation generated by said transponder and received by said transceiver, said evaluation unit detecting the received oscillation and outputting the code information;

a comparator demodulating and comparing the code information from said evaluation unit with desired code information and issuing a release signal for a security unit if the code information and the desired code information correspond; and

the transceiver resonant frequency of said antenna oscillating circuit selected to the first resonant frequency for transmitting the energy signals and to the second resonant frequency for receiving the code information from said transponder, the second resonant frequency having a value between the high and low resonant frequencies of said transponder oscillating circuit.

7. The anti-theft system according to claim 6, wherein said amplifier is connected in parallel to said impedance.