Remote control apparatus

• US 6,281,599 B1
• Filed: 07/01/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.), Jidosha Kabushki Kaisha
• Inventors: Aoki, Koji, Murakami, Yuichi, Okada, Hiroki, Hatano, Rikuo
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US09/345,838
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.5, 180/287, 340/420, 340/539, 340/541, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/825.31
• US Class Current: 307/10.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00333 and the lock having more than one limited data transmission ranges
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/65 using means for sensing the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A remote control apparatus comprises a vehicle-mounted unit including a transmitter (26, 28, 23) for transmitting an ID request, a receiver (32, 33) for receiving a reply ID transmitted in response to the ID request, controller (31) for controlling the operation state of equipment (40, 60) depending on whether the receiver (32, 33) receives the ID, as well as a portable unit (10) for transmitting a reply ID in response to the ID request. When a hand sensor (1) provided in a door handle of a vehicle senses no hand and the receiver (32, 33) receives an ID, the controller (31) decreases the transmission power of the ID request. The hand sensor (1) comprises a slot antenna having an outside door handle, the surface of which is formed of a conductive material, a slit formed in the conductive material, and feeding points. The antenna is used for transmission of the ID request.

Claims

1. A remote control apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a transmission request signal;

a receiver for receiving a reply signal transmitted in response to the transmission request signal;

operation control means for controlling an operation state of an equipment depending on whether said receiver receives the reply signal;

a portable unit for receiving the transmission request signal and for transmitting the reply signal to the receiver in response to receiving the transmission request signal from the transmitter;

an object sensor for sensing an approach of an object;

transmission power control means connected to said transmitter, said object sensor and said receiver for reducing the transmission power of the transmission request signal from said transmitter when said object sensor senses no object and said receiver receives the reply signal from said portable unit.

2. A remote control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmission power control means causes said transmitter to transmit a transmission request signal at predetermined interval t1 when said receiver receives no reply signal and suppresses transmission of the transmission request signal when said receiver receives a reply signal.

3. A remote control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said suppression of transmission of the transmission request signal is stoppage of said transmission of the transmission request signal.

4. A remote control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said transmission power control means, after said stoppage of said transmission of the transmission request signal, subsequently waits up to a predetermined period t2 until said object sensor detects an object, and causes a second time said transmitter to transmit the transmission request signal when said predetermined period t2 has elapsed during which said object sensor senses no object.

5. A remote control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein power of said transmission of the transmission request signal of said second time is less than that of said transmission of the transmission request signal of said predetermined interval t1.

6. A remote control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said equipment includes a door lock/unlock mechanism, and said operation control means drives said door lock/unlock mechanism for unlocking operation, when a reply signal received by said receiver represents a predetermined identification code and said object sensor detects an object.

7. A remote control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said remote control apparatus further comprises an open/close sensor for generating a signal indicating an open/close state of the door;

said equipment includes a door window drive mechanism; and

said operation control means causes said door window drive mechanism to open a door window when, after said door lock/unlock mechanism is driven for unlock operation, said object sensor continuously detects an object and said open/close sensor continuously outputs a door close signal for a predetermined period t6.

8. A remote control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said operation control means drives said door lock/unlock mechanism for lock operation when, after said door lock/unlock mechanism is driven for unlocking operation, said object sensor does not detect an object and said open/close sensor continuously outputs a door close signal for a predetermined period t5.

9. A remote control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said object sensor comprises a slot antenna having an outside door handle, at least the surface of which is formed of a conductive material, a slit formed in said conductive material, and feeding points provided on said conductive material;

and said transmitter supplies said feeding points with a radio wave transmission voltage.

10. A remote control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter comprises changeover means for changing the transmission output between a high-power output and a low-power output.