Security system for a vehicle and method of operating same

• US 6,617,961 B1
• Filed: 11/15/1999
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Strattec Security Corporation
• Original Assignee: Strattec Security Corporation
• Inventors: Janssen, David C., Wagner, Henry, Buczkiewicz, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIMIZU, MATSUICHIRO
• Application Number:
  US09/440,579
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.8, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.22, 307/10.1, 341/176
• US Class Current: 340/5.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00373 whereby the wake-up circuit is situated in the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00523 opening of different locks separately
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A security system for a vehicle comprising a frame and a combination remote keyless entry and passive security system including at least one antenna mounted on the frame.

Claims

1. A method of allowing entry into a vehicle including a frame and a vehicle entry system, the frame including at least one vehicle door and a respective latch mechanism, both mounted on the frame, the latch mechanism having a latch movable between a secured state preventing opening of the respective door and an unsecured state allowing opening of the respective door, and the vehicle entry system including a vehicle controller, at least one vehicle antenna associated with the vehicle door and a fob having a fob antenna, the method comprising the acts of:

generating a challenge signal including a challenge data packet;

transmitting the challenge signal from the vehicle antenna;

receiving the challenge signal at the fob antenna;

generating a response signal having a response data packet in response to receiving the challenge signal;

transmitting the response signal from the fob antenna;

receiving the response signal at the vehicle antenna;

changing the state of the latch from the secured state to the unsecured state in response to receiving the response signal;

wherein the vehicle controller includes a vehicle identification (VID) number, and

wherein the act of generating a challenge signal includes the acts of;

providing a random number having digits;

providing challenge data having digits, the challenge data including the VID; and

combining the challenge data with the random number to form a challenge data packet.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the act of combining the challenge data with the random number includes the act of interspersing the digits of the challenge data with the digits of the random number.

3. A method of allowing entry into a vehicle including a frame and a vehicle entry system, the frame including at least one vehicle door and a respective latch mechanism, both mounted on the frame, the latch mechanism having a latch movable between a secured state preventing opening of the respective door and an unsecured state allowing opening of the respective door, and the vehicle entry system including a vehicle controller, at least one vehicle antenna associated with the vehicle door and a fob having a fob antenna, the method comprising the acts of:

transmitting a challenge signal including a challenge data packet from the vehicle antenna;

receiving the challenge signal at the fob antenna;

generating a response signal having a response data packet in response to receiving the challenge signal;

transmitting the response signal from the fob antenna;

receiving the response signal at the vehicle antenna;

changing the state of the latch from the secured state to the unsecured state in response to receiving the response signal; and

authenticating the challenge data packet in the fob after receiving the challenge data signal and before generating the response signal.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the vehicle controller and the fob each include a stored vehicle identification (VID) number, a stored fob identification (FID) number, and a vehicle electronic key code, wherein the challenge data packet includes the VID number, and wherein the act of authenticating includes the acts of:

separating the VID number from the challenge data packet; and

determining if the VID number of the challenge data packet is the same as the stored VID number of the fob.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the act of separating further includes the act of extracting the digits of the challenge data packet from the digits of the random number.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the fob includes a fob electronic key code, and wherein the act of extracting the digits is performed using the key code.

7. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the vehicle controller contains a vehicle electronic key code, and wherein the method further comprises:

generating an initiation signal including an initiation data packet having the vehicle electronic key code;

transmitting the initiation signal from the vehicle antenna;

receiving the initiation signal at the fob antenna; and

storing the vehicle electronic key code in the fob in response to receiving the initiation signal.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the vehicle controller further contains a vehicle identification (VID) number and a fob identification (FID) number, and wherein the initiation data packet further includes the VID number and the FID number, and wherein the method includes storing the VID number and the FID number in the fob in response to receiving the initiation signal.

9. The method as set forth in claim 3, further comprising the act of authenticating the response data packet in the vehicle controller after receiving the response signal and before changing the state of the latch.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the response data packet includes a fob identification (FID) number, wherein the vehicle controller includes a stored FID number, and wherein the act of authenticating includes the acts of:

separating the FID number from the response data packet; and

determining if the FID number of the response data packet is the same as the stored FID number in the vehicle controller.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the act of separating includes the act of extracting the digits of the response data packet from the digits of a number calculated based on the random number.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the vehicle controller includes a vehicle electronic key code, and wherein the act of extracting is performed using the vehicle electronic key code.

13. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the vehicle controller and the fob each include a stored vehicle identification (VID) number, a stored fob identification (FID) number, and a vehicle electronic key code, wherein the challenge data packet includes the VID number and a random number, and wherein the act of authenticating includes the acts of:

calculating a calculated number in the fob using the random number;

calculating an expected response in the vehicle controller;

transmitting the calculated number with the response signal; and

comparing the calculated number with the expected response and changing the state of the latch if the calculated number and the expected response are the same.

14. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the vehicle entry system includes at least a second fob having a second fob antenna, the method further comprising the acts of:

receiving the challenge signal at the second fob antenna;

generating a second response signal having a second response data packet in response to receiving the challenge signal;

transmitting the second response signal from the second fob antenna; and

receiving the second response signal at the vehicle antenna.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the act of transmitting the second response signal occurs a predetermined time period after the act of transmitting the first fob response signal.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the act of generating the second response signal occurs a predetermined time period after the act of generating the first response signal.

17. A method of allowing entry into a vehicle including a frame and a vehicle entry system, the frame including at least one vehicle door and a respective latch mechanism, both mounted on the frame, the latch mechanism having a latch movable between a secured state preventing opening of the respective door and an unsecured state allowing opening of the respective door, and the vehicle entry system including a vehicle controller, at least one vehicle antenna associated with the vehicle door and a fob having a fob antenna, the method comprising the acts of:

transmitting a challenge signal including a challenge data packet from the vehicle antenna;

receiving the challenge signal at the fob antenna;

generating a response signal having a response data packet in response to receiving the challenge signal;

transmitting the response signal from the fob antenna;

receiving the response signal at the vehicle antenna; and

changing the state of the latch from the secured state to the unsecured state in response to receiving the response signal; and

wherein the fob controller includes a fob identification (FID) number, and wherein the act of generating a response signal includes the acts of;

providing a random number having digits, the random number being generated from a one of the vehicle controller and the fob;

providing a response data packet having digits, the response data packet including the FID;

generating a calculated number having digits using the random number; and

combining the response data packet with the calculated number.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the act of combining includes the act of interspersing the digits of the response data packet with the digits of the calculated number.

19. A method of allowing entry into a vehicle including a frame and a vehicle entry system, the frame including at least one vehicle door and a respective latch mechanism, both mounted on the frame, the latch mechanism having a latch movable between a secured state preventing opening of the respective door and an unsecured state allowing opening of the respective door, and the vehicle entry system including a vehicle controller having at least one vehicle antenna associated with the vehicle door, a vehicle identification (VID) number, and at least one stored fob identification (FID) number, and a fob having a fob antenna, a FID number, and a stored VID number, the method comprising the acts of:

generating a challenge signal including a challenge data packet having the VID number;

transmitting the challenge signal from the vehicle antenna;

receiving the challenge signal at the fob antenna;

authenticating the challenge data packet in the fob in response to receiving the challenge signal, the act of authenticating includes the act of determining if the VID number of the challenge data packet is the same as the stored VID number of the fob;

generating a response signal including a response data packet having the FID number if the challenge data packet has been authenticated;

transmitting the response signal from the fob antenna;

receiving the response signal at the vehicle antenna;

authenticating the response data packet in the vehicle controller in response to the response signal, the authenticating act including the act of determining if the FID number of the response data packet is the same as the stored FID number of the vehicle controller; and

changing the state of the latch from the secured state to the unsecured state if the act of authenticating the response data packet has been met.

20. A method of allowing entry into a vehicle including a frame and a vehicle entry system, the frame including at least one vehicle door and a respective latch mechanism, both mounted on the frame, the latch mechanism having a latch movable between a secured state preventing opening of the respective door and an unsecured state allowing opening of the respective door, and the vehicle entry system including a vehicle controller, at least one vehicle antenna associated with the vehicle door and a fob having a fob antenna, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a microprocessor in the fob, the microprocessor having a sleep mode wherein power consumption by the microprocessor is low, and an operating mode wherein power consumption by the microprocessor is higher than in the sleep mode;

providing a challenge signal having a challenge data packet to the fob;

authenticating the challenge signal by successively applying a series of criteria to the challenge signal; and

determining whether to bring the microprocessor out of the sleep mode.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the act of successively applying a series of criteria to the challenge signal includes the acts of:

determining if the challenge signal at the fob has a proper signal amplitude;

if the challenge signal has a proper signal amplitude, determining if the challenge signal at the fob has a proper timing; and

if the challenge signal has a proper timing, validating the challenge data packet in the fob in response to the challenge signal.

22. The method as set forth in claim 21, and further comprising the act of bringing the microprocessor out of the sleep into the operating mode after the act of determining that the challenge signal has the proper signal amplitude.

23. The method as set forth in claim 22, and further comprising the act of returning the microprocessor to the sleep mode if the challenge signal does not have the proper timing or if the challenge data packet is not correctly validated during the act of validating the challenge data packet.

24. The method as set forth in claim 20, wherein the act of providing a challenge signal further comprises the acts of:

generating the challenge signal having the challenge data packet;

transmitting the challenge signal from the vehicle antenna; and

receiving the challenge signal at the fob antenna.

25. The method as set forth in claim 24, and further comprising the acts of:

generating a response signal including a response data packet;

transmitting the response signal from the fob antenna;

receiving the response signal at the vehicle antenna;

validating the response data packet in the vehicle controller in response to receiving the response signal; and

changing the state of the latch from the secured state to the unsecured state if the act of authenticating the response data packet has been met.

26. The method as set forth in claim 25, wherein the response data packet includes a fob identification (FID) number, wherein the vehicle controller includes a stored FID number, and wherein the act of validating the response data packet includes the acts of:

extracting the FID number from the response data packet; and

determining if the FID number of the response data packet is the same as the stored FID number.

27. The method as set forth in claim 25, wherein the vehicle controller and the fob each include a stored vehicle identification (VID) number, a stored fob identification (FID) number, and a vehicle electronic key code, wherein the challenge data packet includes the VID number and a random number, and wherein the act of validating includes the acts of:

calculating an answer in the fob using the random number;

calculating an expected response in the vehicle controller;

transmitting the answer with the response signal; and

comparing the answer with the expected response and changing the state of the latch if the answer and the expected response are the same.