Method of locating an enabling component containing a transponder, and a motor vehicle with a corresponding locator

• US 6,087,987 A
• Filed: 09/02/1998
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Rohrl, Thomas, Bachhuber, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US09/145,479
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 342/457, 342/463, 307/10.1-10.6, 340/825.72, 340/825.65
• US Class Current: 342/457
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00396 starting with prompting the keyless data carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00611 by using inductive transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00976 card
• 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 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

The system allows locating an enabling component of a motor vehicle. The enabling component, provided with a chip, is for example a smart card or an electronic key. The enabling component is addressed with a search signal from a transmitter fixed to the vehicle. The enabling component responds with an indicating signal. The indicating signal may be an audible signal emitted by the enabling component itself and/or the location information can be indicated by an indicator device fixed to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of locating an enabling component of a motor vehicle, which comprises:

providing at least two mutually spaced-apart transmitter/receivers fixed to a motor vehicle;

providing a transponder disposed on an enabling component of a motor vehicle;

exchanging information between the transponder and each of the two mutually spaced apart transmitter/receivers;

obtaining location information about a location of the enabling component from a difference between received intensities of signals transmitted to the enabling component by the two mutually spaced-apart transmitter/receivers; and

indicating the location of the enabling component.

2. A method of locating an enabling component of a motor vehicle, which comprises:

providing at least two mutually spaced-apart transmitter/receivers fixed to a motor vehicle;

providing a transponder disposed on an enabling component of a motor vehicle;

exchanging information between the transponder and each of the two mutually spaced apart transmitter/receivers;

obtaining location information about a location of the enabling component from a difference between received intensities of a signal transmitted from the enabling component to the two mutually spaced-apart transmitter/receivers; and

indicating the location of the enabling component.