Method and system for unlocking and/or opening at least one openable member of a motor vehicle

• US 6,583,715 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Hill, John P., Benzie, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/514,728
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.64, 340/5.61, 340/5.62, 340/5.63, 340/5.72, 340/10.1, 340/426, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 341/176, 318/468, 180/287
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/40 for sliding doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/01 Mechanical arrangements specially adapted for hands-free locking or unlocking handles with means for initiation of a hands-free locking or unlocking process E05B81/78
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00214 by one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00984 fob
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A method and a keyless entry system are provided for unlocking and/or opening at least one openable member such as a door of a motor vehicle. A key fob transmitter unit including a single manually operable switch or push-button is capable of transmitting a coded signal to unlock and/or open at least one door of the motor vehicle. A receiver module is responsive to the coded signal for providing a receiver signal in response to the coded signal. A plurality of sensors are positioned at different doors for sensing an approach of one or more users of the vehicle or objects carried by the users in the immediate vicinity of the doors and to provide corresponding proximity signals in response thereto. A controller processes the receiver and proximity signals to obtain control signals to unlock and/or open the doors.

Claims

1. A method for unlocking and/or opening at least one openable member of a motor vehicle, each openable member having a corresponding proximity sensor, the method comprising:

transmitting a coded signal using a single manually operable switch;

receiving the coded signal to unlock and/or open the at least one openable member of the motor vehicle;

sensing an approach of a user of the vehicle or object carried by the user in the immediate vicinity of the at least one openable member to obtain a proximity signal provided by its corresponding to the proximity sensor; and

processing the proximity signal and the received coded signal to obtain a control signal to unlock and/or open each at least one openable member corresponding to the proximity signal, wherein the particular openable member is unlocked and/or opened only when the coded signal is received and the corresponding proximity signal is provided when the user of the vehicle or the object carried by the user is in the immediate vicinity of the at least one openable member.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one openable member is at least one door of the motor vehicle.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the at least one door is an automated sliding door.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the method comprises receiving the coded signal and waiting for sensing the approach of the user.

4. A keyless entry system for unlocking and/or opening at least one openable member of a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a key fob transmitter unit including a single manually operable switch capable of transmitting a coded signal to unlock and/or open at least one openable member of the motor vehicle;

a receiver module responsive to the coded signal for providing a receiver signal in response to the coded signal;

a plurality of sensors, each of the sensors being positioned at a different corresponding openable member of the vehicle for sensing an approach of a user of the vehicle or an object carried by the user in the immediate vicinity of its corresponding openable member and to provide a corresponding proximity signal in response thereto; and

a controller for processing the receiver and proximity signals to obtain a control signal to unlock and/or open each at least one openable member corresponding to the proximity signal, wherein the particular openable member is unlocked and/or opened only when the coded signal is received and the corresponding proximity signal is provided when the user of the vehicle or the object carried by the user is in the immediate vicinity of the at least one openable member.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sensors are Doppler radar sensors for sensing movement of the user adjacent their respective openable members.

6. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of the sensors is an interrogator for interrogating at least one transponder carried by the user located in its immediate vicinity.

7. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sensors are photosensors.

8. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the manually operable switch is a pushbutton switch.

9. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the at least one openable member is at least one door of the motor vehicle.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the at least one door is an automated sliding door.

11. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sensors are passive sensors.

13. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the receiver module is configured to receive the coded signal and wait for the proximity signal.