System with optical or radio remote control for closing motor vehicles

• US 6,310,537 B1
• Filed: 12/06/1996
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kern, Maximilian, Bachhuber, Anton, Schneider, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/760,922
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.22, 340/531, 340/426, 340/5.23, 307/10.1, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 340/5.23
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00238 the transmittted data signal containing a code which is changed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

The broadcast code (I) is received by the receiver (E) fitted in the motor vehicle, which receiver (E) controls the relevant lock or the relevant locks—after a comparison of the received code (I) with digits stored in the receiver (E) and correlating with the code (I) or with the series of codes (I). The code (I) is initialized as a permanent code or interchangeable code at least on the occasions when the motor vehicle is first used and, possibly when changes are later made to the code (I), is reinitialized. For (re)initialization, the receiver (E) must first be switched by a signal to its (re)initialization readiness, before the receiver (E) can be (re)initialized. The motor vehicle has a diagnostic interface (D) for the electrical testing of motor vehicle units. The receiver (E) is only switched to its (re)initialization readiness by a signal fed to it (E) via the diagnostic interface (D).

Claims

1. A system with optical or radio remote control for initializing a system for locking and/or unlocking doors of motor vehicles, comprising:

a portable transmitter corresponding to a key for a motor vehicle, said transmitter broadcasting a digital code upon actuation by a user for locking and/or unlocking doors of the motor vehicle;

said broadcast digital code received by a receiver in the motor vehicle, which receiver controls a relevant lock or locks of the doors of the motor vehicle after a comparison and correlation of the received digital code with a predetermined code stored in the receiver;

the digital code being initialized as the predetermined code at least when the motor vehicle is first used and, possibly when changes are later made to the digital code, being reinitialized, that is fixed for following actuations, by storing in the receiver the broadcast digital code as a new predetermined code that replaces a previous predetermined code, the broadcast digital code being also storable in the transmitter;

an external diagnostic device for supplying at least an external signal for (re)initialization, that is for initialization and/or for (re)initialization, the receiver being switched only after reception of the external signal to a (re)initialization readiness status before the receiver is (re)initialized;

the motor vehicle having a diagnostic interface for electrical testing of motor vehicle units in the motor vehicle, said diagnostic interface connected to said receiver; and

the receiver being switchable to the (re)initialization readiness status only after reception of the external signal fed to the receiver via the diagnostic interface from the external diagnostic device;

wherein a new code signal is generated using the transmitter and is transmitted to the receiver, the new code signal then being stored as a new-predetermined code signal in the receiver.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said external signal has a short duration and wherein the receiver remains for a predetermined period of time of longer duration in its (re)initialization readiness status.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said digital code is a single permanent code that is broadcast each time the transmitter is activated.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said digital code is a changeable code that is modified according to a predetermined algorithm after every activation of the transmitter thereby producing a series of digital codes, and wherein the receiver has means for modifying the predetermined code according to the algorithm after every reception of a broadcast digital code.

5. A system with optical or radio remote control for initializing a system for locking and/or unlocking doors of motor vehicles, comprising:

a portable transmitter corresponding to a key for a motor vehicle, said transmitter broadcasting a digital code upon actuation by a user for locking and/or unlocking doors of the motor vehicle;

said broadcast digital code received by a receiver in the motor vehicle, which receiver controls a relevant lock or locks of the doors of the motor vehicle after a comparison and correlation of the received digital code with a predetermined code stored in the receiver;

the digital code being initialized as the predetermined code at least when the motor vehicle is first used and, possibly when changes are later made to the digital code, being reinitialized, that is fixed for following actuations, by storing in the receiver the broadcast digital code as a new predetermined code that replaces a previous predetermined code, the broadcast digital code being also storable in the transmitter;

an external diagnostic device at least an external signal for (re)initialization, that is for initialization and/or for reinitialization, the receiver being switched only after reception of the external signal to a (re)initialization readiness status before the receiver is (re)initialized;

the motor vehicle having a diagnostic interface for electrical testing of motor vehicle units in the motor vehicle, said diagnostic interface connected to said receiver; and

the receiver being switchable to the (re)initialization readiness status only after reception of the external signal fed to the receiver via the diagnostic interface from the external diagnostic device and by a further signal fed to the receiver, the further signal being generated by inserting into an associated lock and turning a mechanical key individually assigned to the motor vehicle;

wherein a new code signal is generated using the transmitter and is transmitted to the receiver, the new code signal then being stored as a new predetermined code signal in the receiver.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the associated lock is an ignition lock of the motor vehicle and the mechanical key is an ignition key and wherein the receiver is switchable to its (re)initialization readiness status by turning the ignition key inserted in the ignition lock of the motor vehicle into a position in which the ignition key engages without a motor of the motor vehicle running.

7. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said mechanical key is at least one of an ignition key of the motor vehicle and a mechanical door key of the motor vehicle.

8. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said external signal has a short duration and wherein the receiver remains for a predetermined period of time of longer duration in its (re)initialization readiness status.

9. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said digital code is a single permanent code that is broadcast each time the transmitter is activated.

10. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said digital code is a changeable code that is modified according to a predetermined algorithm after every activation of the transmitter thereby producing a series of digital codes, and wherein the receiver has means for modifying the predetermined code according to the algorithm after every reception of a broadcast digital code.

11. A system with optical or radio remote control for initializing a system for locking and/or unlocking doors of motor vehicles, comprising:

a transmitter corresponding to a key for a motor vehicle, said transmitter broadcasting a digital code upon actuation by a user for locking and/or unlocking doors of the motor vehicle;

said broadcast digital code received by a receiver in the motor vehicle, which receiver controls a relevant lock or locks of the doors of the motor vehicle after a comparison and correlation of the received digital code with a predetermined code stored in the receiver;

the digital code being initialized as the predetermined code at least when the motor vehicle is first used and, possibly when changes are later made to the digital code, being reinitialized, that is fixed for following actuations, by storing in the receiver the broadcast digital code as a new predetermined code that replaces a previous predetermined code, the broadcast digital code being also storable in the transmitter;

an external diagnostic device for supplying at least an external signal for (re)initialization, that is for initialization and/or for reinitialization, the receiver being switched only after reception of the external signal to a (re)initialization readiness status before the receiver is (re)initialized;

the motor vehicle having a diagnostic interface for electrical testing of motor vehicle units in the motor vehicle, said diagnostic interface connected to said receiver; and

the receiver being switchable to the (re)initialization readiness status only after reception of the external signal fed to the receiver via the diagnostic interface from said external diagnostic device and by a further signal fed to the receiver, the further signal being generated in response to the digital code broadcast by the transmitter;

wherein a new code signal is generated using the transmitter and is transmitted to the receiver, the new code signal then being stored as a new predetermined code signal in the receiver.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the digital code is one of a fixed code broadcast by the transmitter and a changeable code broadcast by the transmitter according to a predetermined algorithm.

13. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said external signal has a short duration and wherein the receiver remains for a predetermined period of time of longer duration in its (re)initialization readiness status.

14. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said digital code is a single permanent code that is broadcast each time the transmitter is activated.

15. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said digital code is a changeable code that is modified according to a predetermined algorithm after every activation of the transmitter thereby producing a series of digital codes, and wherein the receiver has means for modifying the predetermined code according to the algorithm after every reception of a broadcast digital code.

16. A method, using optical or radio remote control for initializing a system for locking and/or unlocking doors of motor vehicles, comprising:

broadcasting, using a portable transmitter corresponding to a key for a motor vehicle, a digital code upon actuation by a user for locking and/or unlocking doors of the motor vehicle;

receiving said broadcast digital code by a receiver in the motor vehicle, which receiver controls a relevant lock or locks of the doors of the motor vehicle after a comparison and correlation of the received digital code with a predetermined code stored in the receiver;

initializing the digital code as the predetermined code at least when the motor vehicle is first used and, possibly when changes are later made to the digital code, reinitializing the digital code, that is fixed for following actuations, by storing in the receiver the broadcast digital code as a new predetermined code that replaces a previous predetermined code, the broadcast digital code being also storable in the transmitter;

supplying, using an external diagnostic device, at least an external signal for (re)initialization, that is for initialization and/or for (re)initialization, the receiver being switched only after reception of the external signal to a (re)initialization readiness status before the receiver is (re)initialized;

providing in the motor vehicle a diagnostic interface for electrical testing of motor vehicle units in the motor vehicle, said diagnostic interface connected to said receiver; and

switching the receiver to the (re)initialization readiness status only after reception of the external signal fed to the receiver via the diagnostic interface from the external diagnostic device;

wherein a new code signal is generated using the transmitter and is transmitted to the receiver, the new code signal then being stored as a new-predetermined code signal in the receiver.