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

• US 6,621,178 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2000
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Morillon, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): DeBeradinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US09/731,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20010003405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.6, 307/10.5, 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 346/825.31
• US Class Current: 307/10.5
• 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 2009/0038 whereby the wake-up circuit is situated in the keyless data carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00523 opening of different locks separately
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3283 side-mounted antennas, e.g. bumper-mounted, door-mounted mounted on windscreens H01Q1/1271
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching

Abstract

In this vehicle, equipped with a recognition device (1) capable of remotely exchanging data with an identification member (11) worn or carried by a user to allow access to the vehicle when the identification member has been authenticated by the recognition device, the latter being connected to a pair of lateral antennas (2, 3) each having, when powered at nominal power, a zone of coverage encompassing the interior of the vehicle and extending laterally on both sides thereof to allow a dialog between the recognition device and the identification member when the latter is located in the zone of coverage of at least one of the antennas, the recognition device (1) is capable, in response to action by the user on an external member placed on one side of the vehicle, of causing the antenna located on the same side as the external member to be powered at nominal power and of causing the antenna located on the opposite side of the vehicle to be powered at a reduced power so that the latter antenna has a reduced zone of coverage (Z′1).

Claims

1. A motor vehicle equipped with a recognition device (1) for operating means for locking the opening leaves (6-9) of the motor vehicle (V), said recognition device being capable of remotely exchanging data with an identification member (11) worn or carried by a user, to allow access to the vehicle when the identification member has been authenticated by the recognition device, the latter being connected to a pair of antennas (2, 3) placed one along each side of the vehicle and each having, when powered at nominal power, a zone of coverage (Z1, Z2) which covers the interior of the cabin of the vehicle and extends laterally to the outside at least on the side on which the antenna is located, so as to allow a dialog between the recognition device and the identification member when the latter is located in the zone of coverage of at least one of said antennas, the dialog being triggered in response to action by the user on an external member placed on one side of the vehicle, wherein the recognition device (1) is capable, in response to the action of the user on said external member, of causing the antenna located on the same side as said external member to be powered at said nominal power and the antenna located on the opposite side of the vehicle to be powered at a reduced power so that the latter antenna has a reduced zone of coverage (Z′

1) extending toward the outside of the vehicle only on said side opposite the one on which this antenna is located, so that the recognition device (1) is capable of determining on which side of the vehicle the identification member (11) has been seen by one or other of the two antennas (2, 3), so as to carry out at least one function dependent on the side of the vehicle on which the identification member has been seen.

2. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the powering of one of the two antennas (2, 3) at nominal power and the powering of the other antenna at reduced power are offset in time.

3. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair of antennas (2, 3) is placed approximately in the middle of the sides of the vehicle (V).

4. The vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pair of antennas (2, 3) is installed in the door handles or in the B-pillars (4, 5) of the vehicle bodywork.

5. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said external member is an external door handle or pushbutton.