Keyless device for controlling access to automobiles and keyless method for checking access authorization

• US 6,538,560 B1
• Filed: 01/14/2000
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Anatoli Stobbe, Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Stobbe, Anatoli, Pretzlaff, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIMIZU, MATSUICHIRO
• Application Number:
  US09/462,107
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 455/562, 340/5.72
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/56 After-treatment of articles, e.g. for altering the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 7/04 wherein pressing is effected in different directions simultaneously or in turn
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00333 and the lock having more than one limited data transmission ranges
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00396 starting with prompting the keyless data carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00412 the transmitted data signal being encrypted
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00603 by power transmission from lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A keyless vehicle access control system includes a transceiver in a vehicle and a mobile transponder. The transceiver includes transmitters for transmitting respective code signals and a key interrogation signal and is operable for receiving response and crypto-code signals. The transponder is operable for receiving the code and the key interrogation signals and for transmitting response and crypto-code. Upon the transponder receiving a code signal from a respective transmitter the transponder transmits a response signal indicative of the respective transmitter to the transceiver unit. Upon the transponder receiving a interrogation signal from the transceiver unit the transponder transmits a crypto-code signal to the transceiver unit. Upon the transceiver unit receiving a crypto-code signal from the transponder the transceiver checks the crypto-code signal to determine vehicle access authorization of the transponder. The transceiver actuates a vehicle access function associated with the respective transmitter upon determining that the transponder has authorization.

Claims

1. A keyless device for controlling access to a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a transceiver device in a motor vehicle, the transceiver device having a plurality of transmitters for transmitting respective code signals, the transceiver device further having a transceiver unit for transmitting a key interrogation signal and for receiving a response signal and a crypto-code signal; and

a mobile transponder for receiving the code signals and the key interrogation signal and for transmitting a response signal and a crypto-code signal;

wherein upon the transponder receiving a code signal from a respective transmitter of the transceiver device the transponder transmits a response signal indicative of the respective transmitter of the transceiver device to the transceiver unit of the transceiver device, and wherein upon the transponder receiving a key interrogation signal from the transceiver unit of the transceiver device the transponder transmits a crypto-code signal to the transceiver unit of the transceiver device;

wherein upon the transceiver unit of the transceiver device receiving a crypto-code signal from the transponder the transceiver device checks the crypto-code signal to determine motor vehicle access authorization of the transponder;

wherein the transceiver device actuates a motor vehicle access function associated with the respective transmitter of the transceiver device upon determining that the transponder has proper motor vehicle access authorization.

2. A keyless device for controlling access to a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a transceiver device in a motor vehicle, the transceiver device having a plurality of transmitters for transmitting respective code signals, the transceiver device further having a transceiver unit for transmitting a key interrogation signal and for receiving a response signal and a crypto-code signal; and

a mobile transponder having a receiver for receiving the code signals and the key interrogation signal, the transponder further having a transmitter for transmitting a response signal and a crypto-code signal;

wherein upon the receiver of the transponder receiving a code signal from a respective transmitter of the transceiver device the transmitter of the transponder transmits a response signal indicative of the respective transmitter of the transceiver device to the transceiver unit of the transceiver device, and wherein upon the receiver of the transponder receiving a key interrogation signal from the transceiver unit of the transceiver device the transmitter of the transponder transmits a crypto-code signal to the transceiver unit of the transceiver device;

wherein upon the transceiver unit of the transceiver device receiving a crypto-code signal from the transmitter of the transponder the transceiver device checks the crypto-code signal to determine motor vehicle access authorization of the transponder;

wherein the transceiver device actuates a motor vehicle access function associated with the respective transmitter of the transceiver device upon determining that the transponder has proper motor vehicle access authorization.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein:

each transmitter of the transceiver device is positioned at separate locations within the motor vehicle, wherein each transmitter of the transceiver device transmits a respective code signal in a transmission region adjacent to the location of the transmitter in the motor vehicle.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein:

the transmitters of the transceiver device transmit respective code signals using a low frequency carrier signal, the transceiver unit of the transceiver device transmits the key interrogation signal using a high frequency signal, and the transmitter of the transponder transmits the response signal and the crypto-code signal using a high frequency carrier signal.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein:

the low frequency carrier signal falls within a range of 1 KHZ and 135 KHZ.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein:

the high frequency carrier signal falls within a range of 1 MHZ and 10 GHZ.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein:

the code signals transmitted by the respective transmitters of the transceiver device are time slot coded so that the code signals are transmitted periodically in respective time intervals.

8. The device of claim 2 wherein:

the code signals transmitted by the respective transmitters of the transceiver device include different codes.

9. The device of claim 2 wherein:

the code signals, the key interrogation signal, the response signal, and the crypto-code signals are phase locked.

10. The device of claim 2 wherein:

a transceiver device is operable to identify simultaneously a plurality of transponders by using anti-collision protocol.

11. The device of claim 2 wherein:

the transceiver unit of the transceiver device has a plurality of antennas each corresponding to a respective transmitter of the transceiver device for receiving the response signal and the crypto-code signal, wherein each antenna is directed in the direction in which the respective transmitter of the transceiver device transmits.

12. The device of claim 2 wherein:

the transponder includes a reception coil for charging a battery of the transponder.

13. The access control device of claim 2 wherein:

the transponder has a ferrite core antenna.

14. The device of claim 2 wherein:

the transponder has an air coil antenna.

15. The device of claim 2 wherein:

the transponder has a manually operable HF transmission button for transmitting a signal to the transceiver unit of the transceiver device.

16. A keyless method for checking access authorization in motor vehicles, the method comprising:

transmitting respective code signals from a plurality of transmitters of a transceiver device in a motor vehicle;

transmitting a key interrogation signal from a transceiver unit of the transceiver device;

receiving the code signals with a receiver of a mobile transponder;

receiving the key interrogation signal with the receiver of the mobile transponder;

transmitting a response signal from a transmitter of the mobile transponder upon the receiver of the transponder receiving a code signal from a respective transmitter of the transceiver device, the response signal indicative of the respective transmitter of the transceiver device;

transmitting a crypto-code signal from the transmitter of the transponder upon the receiver of the transponder receiving a key interrogation signal from the transceiver unit of the transceiver device;

receiving the response signal and the crypto-code signal with the transceiver unit of the transceiver device;

checking the crypto-code signal to determine motor vehicle access authorization of the transponder with the transceiver device upon the transceiver unit of the transceiver device receiving a crypto-code signal from the transmitter of the transponder; and

actuating a motor vehicle access function associated with the respective transmitter of the transceiver device using the transceiver device upon the transceiver device determining that the transponder has proper motor vehicle access authorization.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

positioning each transmitter of the transceiver device at separate locations within the motor vehicle, wherein transmitting respective code signals from a plurality of transmitters of a transceiver device in a motor vehicle includes transmitting a respective code signal in a transmission region adjacent to the location of the transmitter in the motor vehicle.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein:

transmitting respective code signals includes transmitting respective code signals using a low frequency carrier signal, and transmitting a key interrogation signal, a response signal, and a crypto-code signal includes transmitting a key interrogation signal, a response signal, and a crypto-code signal using a high frequency carrier signal.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein:

the respective codes signals transmitted by the transmitters of the transceiver device are time slot coded so that the code signals are transmitted periodically in respective time intervals.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein:

the respective code signals transmitted by the transmitters of the transceiver device include different codes.