System and method for automatic vehicle unlock initiated via beam interruption

• US 6,577,226 B1
• Filed: 04/27/1999
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Steiner, Wesley Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/300,415
• Time in Patent Office: 1,505 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/426, 340/10.34, 340/10.1, 340/10.5, 340/5.61, 340/5.62, 340/5.63, 340/555, 340/556, 340/557, 340/545.7, 340/545.3, 307/10.5, 307/117, 180/287, 250/221, 327/47
• US Class Current: 340/5.62
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00373 whereby the wake-up circuit is situated in the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/65 using means for sensing the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

An entry system (10) and an associated method are provided for a vehicle (12) that has at least one securable entrance. A lockable entrance cover (18, e.g., a door) closes the entrance to the vehicle (12). An interrogation communication arrangement has components (26 and 36) at the vehicle (12) and at an authorized person (14). The interrogation communication arrangement is operable for communicating and causing automatic lock release of said entrance cover (18). A beam interrupt sensor assembly (40) provides a beam (48) of energy and causes operation of the communication arrangement when the beam is interrupted.

Claims

1. An entry system for a vehicle that has at least one securable entrance, said system comprising:

a lockable entrance cover for closing the entrance to the vehicle;

interrogation communication means, having components at the vehicle and at an authorized person, operable for communicating and causing automatic lock release of said entrance cover in response to detection of associated components at said authorized person; and

beam means for providing a continuous beam of energy transmitted from a first location and received at a second location and for causing operation of said communication means when the beam is interrupted,

said beam means includes means for intermittently providing the continuous beam,

said entrance cover is a first entrance cover, said beam means is a first beam means, and the continuous beam is a first continuous beam, said system including a second entrance cover for closing a second entrance to the vehicle, and a second beam means for providing a second continuous beam of energy and causing operation of said communication means when the second continuous beam is interrupted, said second beam means includes means for intermittently providing the second continuous beam at a rate that is different than a rate of intermittent provision of the first continuous beam.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first entrance cover includes a handle, said first beam means includes means for providing the first continuous beam at a location adjacent to said handle.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first beam means includes means for providing the first continuous beam at a location such that the continuous beam is interrupted by a hand of the authorized person as the authorized person reaches for the handle.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first beam means includes means for providing the first continuous beam transmitted from the first location and received at the second location as an infrared beam.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second beam means includes means for providing the second continuous beam of energy transmitted from a third location and received at a fourth location and causing operation of said communication means when the second continuous beam is interrupted.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said communication means includes a first transceiver associated with the first beam means and a second transceiver associated with the second beam means.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first entrance cover is an entrance door for the person to enter the vehicle.

8. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second entrance cover is a trunk lid.

9. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication means includes a plurality of transceivers that communicate via radio frequency signal.

10. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said interrogation communication means includes a plurality of transceivers, said transceivers communicate via exchange of electromagnetic energy, at least one of the transceivers transfers power to at least another of the transceivers via the electromagnetic energy exchange.

11. A system as set forth in claim 1, including means for intermittently powering said first beam means to provide a duty cycle.

12. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first beam means includes a beam emitter for emitting an infrared beam and a beam receiver for detecting impingement of the infrared beam.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12, including means for fixing said beam emitter and said beam receiver to the vehicle such that the infrared beam is located to be interrupted when a hand of the person reaches to operate a handle.

14. A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for fixing include means for positioning said beam emitter and said beam receiver to the vehicle such that the beam is located behind said handle relative to the person.