Digitally encoded keyless entry keypad switch

• US 6,288,652 B1
• Filed: 01/11/1999
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Aaron, Mark Christian, Jaworski, David Joseph, Bedi, Sukhminder Bobby, Slotkowski, Kenneth George, Buchanan, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US09/227,842
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 341/26, 178/17.C, 340/825.59, 340/825.79, 340/825.94, 400/473
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 11/22 Static coding H03M11/26 takes precedence

Abstract

A five-switch keypad apparatus having four diodes that multiplex the switch contacts onto three sense terminals. The three sense terminals create a binary code that defines eight possible switch states. The eight states are used to indicate each individual switch closure, a lack of a switch closure, and two simultaneous dual switch closures. In an application, a decoder, connected to the three sense terminals, converts the sequence of binary codes into three control signals. The three control signals can control a door lock, a trunk lock and an automatic lock function.

Claims

1. A keypad apparatus comprising:

a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, a fourth switch, and a fifth switch, each switch having a first and a second node, wherein each switch has a pressed position and a released position and the switches are normally in the released position;

a reference terminal; and

three sense terminals defining an output code having eight values, wherein the first node of each switch is connected to the reference terminal and the second node of the each switch is connected to at least one sense terminal, if a second node is connect to more than one sense terminal the connection is through a diode, the second nodes connected such that five output code values are respectively generated in response to pressing each switch individually, a sixth value when all five switches are released, a seventh value when a first predetermined pair of switches are pressed simultaneously, and an eighth value when a second predetermined pair of switches are pressed simultaneously.

2. The keypad apparatus of claim 1 wherein each switch has a legend, and the keypad apparatus further comprises at least one light source emitting a light beam that engages the legends.

3. The keypad apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a decoder electrically connected to the three sense terminals and the reference terminal, the decoder having a door lock output, the door lock output having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the door lock output is set to the unlocked state in response to pressing and releasing the five switches in accordance with a first predetermined sequence, and the door lock output is set to the locked state in response to the seventh value.

4. The keypad apparatus of claim 3 wherein the decoder further has an auto-lock output, the auto-lock output having an enable state and a disable state, wherein the auto-lock output is toggled between the enabled state and the disabled state in response to the first predetermined sequence followed by the eight value.

5. The keypad apparatus of claim 3 wherein the decoder further has a trunk lock output, the trunk lock output having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the trunk lock output is set to the unlocked state in response to pressing and releasing the five switches in accordance with a second predetermined sequence, and the trunk lock output is set to the locked state in response to the seventh value.

6. A keypad apparatus comprising:

a reference terminal;

a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, a fourth switch, and a fifth switch, wherein each switch has a first node, a second node, and a contact, wherein each contact has a normally open position and a closed position, and wherein each first node is electrically connected to the reference terminal;

a first sense terminal electrically connected to the second node of the first switch;

a second sense terminal electrically connected to the second node of the fourth switch;

a third sense terminal electrically connected to the second node of the fifth switch;

a first diode electrically connecting the second node of the second switch to the first sense terminal;

a second diode electrically connecting the second node of the second switch to the third sense terminal;

a third diode electrically connecting the second node of the third switch to the first sense terminal; and

a fourth diode electrically connecting the second node of the third switch to the second sense terminal.

7. The keypad apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of the first diode, the second diode, the third diode and the fourth diode have a cathode, and each cathode is electrically connected to the second node respectively.

8. The keypad apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of the first diode, the second diode, the third diode and the fourth diode have an anode, and each anode is electrically connected to the second node respectively.

9. The keypad apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

five legends, each legend of the five legends being associated with one switch of the five switches respectively;

at least one light source emitting a light beam that engages the five legends, the light source having a first node and a second node, the first node being electrically connected to the reference terminal; and

an illumination terminal electrically connected to the second node of the light source, for powering the at least one light source.