Keyless entry device

• US 6,075,454 A
• Filed: 06/15/1998
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamasaki, Shigenori
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Howard L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEANGLAUDE, JEAN BRUNER
• Application Number:
  US09/097,351
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.54, 307/10.1, 307/10.3, 307/10.5, 307/10.7, 342/22, 342/44, 342/51
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00388 code verification carried out according to the challenge/response method
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A keyless entry device including a portable remote control for transmitting an operation signal in response to the reception of an interrogating signal and an onboard control module that is mounted on a vehicle. The onboard control module includes an anti-theft unit in which an operational state is selectively set, a transceiver for transmitting the interrogating signal and receiving the operation signal, a signal verifier for generating a reception acknowledge signal when the signal verifier determines that the received signal is legal, a proximity detector for generating a proximity signal when the portable remote control approaches the vehicle, a sensor unit for generating an actuation signal when the sensor unit senses a physical change in the vehicle, a door lock detector for generating a door-locked signal when the door is locked, a door controller for locking and unlocking the door of the vehicle, and a controller for releasing the anti-theft unit when the door-locked signal, the proximity signal and the reception acknowledge signal are concurrently issued with the anti-theft unit in the set state, and for unlocking the door of the vehicle when the reception acknowledge signal and the sensor actuation signal are concurrently issued with the anti-theft unit in the release state.

Claims

1. A keyless entry device comprising a portable remote control carried by an owner of a vehicle and an onboard control module mounted on the vehicle, wherein the portable remote control transmits an operation signal when the portable remote control receives an interrogating signal from the onboard control module, and wherein the onboard control module comprises an anti-theft unit that is selectively put into a set state and a release state, a transceiver for transmitting the interrogating signal and receiving the operation signal, a signal verifier for determining whether the received operation signal is legal and for generating a reception acknowledge signal when the signal verifier determines that the received signal is legal, a proximity detector for generating a proximity signal when the portable remote control enters a predetermined range of the vehicle, a sensor unit for generating an actuation signal when the sensor unit senses a physical change in the vehicle, a door lock detector for generating a door-locked signal when the door lock detector detects a door of the vehicle locked, a door controller for locking and unlocking the door of the vehicle, and a controller for outputting a release signal to the anti-theft unit to release the anti-theft unit from the set state when the door-locked signal, the proximity signal and the reception acknowledge signal are concurrently issued with the anti-theft unit in the set state, and for outputting an unlock signal to the door controller to put the door of the vehicle into an unlocked state when the reception acknowledge signal and the sensor actuation signal are concurrently issued with the anti-theft unit in the release state.

2. A keyless entry device according to claim 1, wherein the door of the vehicle automatically reverts back to a locked state from the unlocked state after a predetermined time elapses from the moment the signal verifier issues the reception acknowledge signal, thereby putting the anti-theft unit into the set state.

3. A keyless entry device comprising a portable remote control carried by an owner of a vehicle and an onboard door control module mounted on the vehicle, wherein the portable remote control transmits an operation signal when the portable remote control receives an interrogating signal from the door control module, and wherein the door control module comprises a transceiver for transmitting the interrogating signal and receiving the operation signal, a signal verifier for determining whether the received operation signal is legal and for generating a reception acknowledge signal when the signal verifier determines that the received signal is legal, a proximity detector for generating a proximity signal when the portable remote control enters a predetermined range of the vehicle, a sensor unit for generating an actuation signal when the sensor unit senses a physical change in the vehicle, a door lock detector for generating a door-locked signal when the door lock detector detects a door of the vehicle locked, a door controller for locking and unlocking the door of the vehicle, and a controller for outputting an unlocking signal to the door controller to put the door of the vehicle into an unlocked state when the door-locked signal, the proximity signal, the reception acknowledge signal and the sensor actuation signal.

4. A keyless entry device according to claim 3, wherein the door of the vehicle automatically reverts back to a locked state from the unlocked state after a predetermined time elapses from the moment the signal verifier issues the reception acknowledge signal.