Passive actuation of home security system

• US 6,448,894 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Desai, Tejas
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/660,716
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 340/933, 340/502, 340/505, 340/539, 340/825.3, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/5.61, 340/5.62
• US Class Current: 340/505
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/664 by radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00365 in combination with a wake-up circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00388 code verification carried out according to the challenge/response method
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00396 starting with prompting the keyless data carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A passive actuation of a home security system incorporates a sensor for sensing movement of a vehicle approaching the home security system. When such movement is detected, a signal is sent to a control for the home security system. The home security system generates a challenge response which is received by a transmitter/receiver associated with the vehicle. The vehicle transmitter/receiver receives the challenge response and sends its response to the challenging control. The vehicle response is received by the control for the home security system and compared to an expected response. If the two match, then the home security system is actuated. The system may be utilized on garage door openers, fences, home locks, etc.

Claims

1. A method of passively activating a vehicle security system comprising:

1) providing a sensor for sensing a motor vehicle approaching a home security system, and providing a control for a home security system capable of transmitting and receiving signals, said sensor communicating with said home security system control and providing a receiver and transmitter associated with a vehicle;

2) sensing the approach of a motor vehicle with said sensor, and communicating a signal indicative of an approaching motor vehicle to said home security system control;

3) generating a challenge from said home security system control, and said challenge being received at said vehicle receiver;

4) generating a response to said challenge from said vehicle transmitter, said response being received from said home security system control; and

5) comparing said received response to an expected response and actuating said home security system if said received response corresponds to said expected response, said home security system being a garage door opener.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vehicle receiver is incorporated into a key.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor is an infrared sensor sensing the approaching vehicle.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said home security system is a garage door opener.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said challenge and said response are sent on an LF band.

6. A system for passively actuating a home security system comprising:

a home security system being a garage door opener and incorporating a control for transmitting and receiving signals to and from a motor vehicle receiver/transmitter, and for comparing a received response from a motor vehicle to an expected response;

a sensor for sensing an approaching motor vehicle, said sensor sending a signal to said control for said home security system to generate a challenge signal; and

a transmitter/receiver associated with a motor vehicle, said transmitter/receiver associated with said motor vehicle receiving said challenge from said home security system control, and generating and transmitting a response.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said vehicle transmitter/receiver is incorporated into a key.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said vehicle transmitter/receiver is incorporated into an LF transmitter/receiver in said key.

9. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said home security system is a garage door opener.

10. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said sensor is an infrared sensor or sensing approaching movement.