Motor vehicle equipped with a so-called “hands-free” access system

• US 6,522,241 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2000
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Baudard, Xavier
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/544,140
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61, 340/5.72, 340/426, 340/539, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 307/10.1, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00531 immobilizer
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

An identification device for controlling locking of the opening leaves of the vehicle. The identification device is capable of remotely exchanging data with an identifier carried by a user, so as to allow access to the vehicle. The identification device is connected to a number of external antennas so as to allow dialog between identification device and the identifier. At least one pair of the external antennas have a common area of overlap, so that the identification device is able to detect the presence of an identifier in the common area of overlap when the pair of antennas receives a signal from the same identifier. Each antennas of the pair also has its own area of coverage without any mutual overlap, so that the identification device is capable of detecting the presence of an identifier in one of the two aforementioned areas of coverage.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle (V) equipped with an identification device for controlling means comprising means for locking the opening leaves (3-5) and/or means for preventing the starting of the vehicle, said identification device remotely exchanging data with an identifier worn or carried by a user, so as to allow access to the vehicle when the identifier has been authenticated by the identification device, the identification device being connected to a number of external antennas (1, 2;

11, 12) on the vehicle so as to allow dialog between the identification device and the identifier, when the identifier is positioned in the area of coverage of said antennas, wherein at least one pair (1, 2;

11, 12) of said external antennas comprises a common area of overlap (III, XIII), so that the identification device is able to detect the presence of an identifier in said common area of overlap with a view to said device controlling a given means when said pair of antennas receives a signal from the same identifier, each antenna of said pair of antennas also comprising its own area of coverage (I, II;

XI, XII) without any mutual overlap, so that the identification device is capable of detecting the presence of an identifier in one of the two aforementioned areas of coverage with a view to said device controlling a means other than the aforementioned given means when the associated antenna receives only a signal from the identifier.

2. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two antennas (1, 2;

11, 12) of each pair are arranged one on each opposite side of the vehicle, so that each antenna has its own area of coverage extending over one of the two sides of the vehicle so that the identification device is able to detect the presence of the identifier in proximity to a door (4, 5) located on one of the two sides of the vehicle, so as to control means for locking the doors.

3. The vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the antennas of said pair are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of antennas (1, 2) is arranged at the rear of the vehicle, so that the common area of overlap (III) extends toward the rear of the trunk lid (3), detection of an identifier in said common area of overlap, by the two antennas, being intended to control means for locking/unlocking the trunk lid only.

5. The vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pair of antennas (1, 2) is installed in the rear bumper (3a), the rear lights, or the rear side moldings of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein one pair of antennas (11, 12) is arranged practically in the middle of the sides of the vehicle, so that the common area of overlap (XIII) extends inside the cabin (H) of the vehicle, so as to allow the identification device to detect the presence of an identifier in the cabin so as to control the inhibiting of a means for preventing the vehicle from being started.

7. The vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein said pair of antennas (11, 12) is installed in the handles of doors (4, 5) or in the door surround pillars.

8. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external antennas (1, 2;

11, 12) are intended to emit at low frequency, whereas the identifiers are capable of responding by emitting in radio frequency.

9. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said low frequency is about 125 kHz and said radio frequency is about 434 MHz.