Remote keyless entry system

• US 6,624,758 B1
• Filed: 07/12/1999
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nagashima, Toshio, Omata, Takashi, Horii, Shiro, Sato, Noriharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/351,130
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/426, 340/5.72, 340/5.64, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 180/287, 341/176, 375/225
• US Class Current: 340/426.36
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00206 the keyless data carrier being hand operated
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00357 and the lock having more than one limited data transmission ranges
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code

Abstract

An easy-to-use remote keyless entry system is provided. To execute 2-way long distance communication at a low output and within a short time, transmission is effected while a data rate of a terminal board is changed. To reduce battery consumption in a system capable of setting an automatic output mode, the operation mode is shifted to the automatic output mode when an automatic output mode button is pushed or when a door lock release button of an operation button, etc, is kept pushed for a predetermined time. To execute a reserved operation at a reserved time, a storage circuit for storing reservation is provided to the terminal board.

Claims

1. A remote keyless entry system comprising:

(a) a terminal board including;

an operation button for instructing an operation content to be executed by an operation apparatus; and

a communication circuit capable of transmitting instruction data of said terminal board at a plurality of data rates; and

(b) said operation apparatus including;

a communication circuit for receiving data transmitted from said communication circuit of said terminal board; and

a control circuit for transmitting the instruction content received by said communication circuit of said operation apparatus to a to-be-controlled equipment into which said operation apparatus is assembled,

wherein said communication circuit of said terminal board or of said operation apparatus generates communication data in a high data rate at first and then the data rate is gradually changed to a lower data rate until valid communication is established.

2. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 1, wherein said terminal board executes a 1-way communication operation when 2-way communication is not established even at a low data rate when said 2-way communication is executed when the data rate is gradually changed to a lower data rate.

3. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 2, wherein said terminal board comprises:

a report circuit for reporting to an operator that an operation is made by 1-way communication when said 1-way communication is executed.

4. A terminal board for use in a remote keyless entry system comprising said terminal board and an operation apparatus for executing the content instructed from said terminal board, said terminal board comprising:

an operation means for instructing an operation content to be executed by said operation apparatus; and

a communication circuit capable of transmitting instruction data of said terminal board at a plurality of data rates,

wherein when said communication circuit generates communication data in a high data rate at first and then the data rate is gradually changed to a lower data rate until valid communication is established, and if 2-way communication is not established even at the lower data rate a 1-way communication operation is executed.

5. A terminal board according to claim 4, comprising:

a report circuit for reporting to an operator that an operation mode is 1-way communication when said 1-way communication is executed.

6. A remote keyless entry system comprising:

(a) a terminal board including;

an operation means for instructing an operation content to be executed by an operation apparatus;

a communication circuit capable of transmitting instruction data of said terminal board at a plurality of data rates; and

a control circuit for controlling said communication circuit in such a manner as to execute an automatic output operation for producing either intermittently or continuously an output for a predetermined time after said operation means is activated for a predetermined time; and

(b) said operation apparatus including;

a communication circuit for receiving data transmitted from said communication circuit of said terminal board; and

a control circuit for transferring the instruction content received by said communication circuit of said operation apparatus to a controlled equipment into which said operation apparatus is assembled,

wherein said control circuit of said terminal board stops the automatic output operation in response to an operation end signal from said operation apparatus when a 2-way communication is established.

7. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 6, wherein said terminal board comprises:

a report circuit for reporting a stop of said automatic operation in response to the operation end signal from said operation apparatus when the 2-way communication is established.

8. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 6, wherein said operation means of said terminal board includes a manual operation mode instruction circuit for transmitting data when said operation button is operated, and wherein the output is lowered to a level lower than the output of the manual output mode when the automatic output operation is executed by said automatic output operation mode instruction circuit.

9. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 6, wherein said operation means includes a manual operation mode instruction circuit for executing transmission of data when said operation button is operated, and wherein said operation apparatus lowers a reception sensitivity to a level lower than the reception sensitivity in the manual output mode.

10. A terminal board for use in a remote entry keyless system comprising said terminal board and an operation apparatus for executing a content instructed from said terminal board, said terminal board comprising:

an operation means for instructing an operation content to be executed by said operation apparatus, including an automatic output mode circuit for instructing an automatic output mode during which a communication circuit outputs data either continuously or intermittently;

said communication circuit for transmitting instruction data of said operation means to said operation apparatus; and

a control circuit for controlling said communication circuit in such a manner as to execute the automatic output operation during a predetermined time period after said communication operation means is activated for a predetermined time.

11. A remote keyless entry system comprising:

(a) a terminal board including;

an operation button for instructing an operation content to be executed by an operation apparatus;

a communication circuit for transmitting instruction data of said operation button to said operation apparatus;

a timepiece circuit for measuring the time;

a time setting circuit for setting the time of said timepiece circuit; and

a display for displaying the time; and

(b) an operation apparatus including;

a communication circuit for receiving data transmitted from said communication circuit of said terminal board;

a control circuit for transferring an instruction content received by said communication circuit of said operation apparatus to a to-be-controlled equipment into which said operation apparatus is assembled; and

a reception circuit for receiving time data;

wherein;

said timepiece setting circuit sets the time of said timepiece circuit when said reception circuit transmits the received time data to said terminal board.

12. A remote keyless entry system comprising:

(a) a terminal board including;

an operation button for instructing an operation content to be executed by an operation apparatus;

a timepiece circuit for measuring the time; and

a circuit for storing an operation instruction set in advance by said operation button and an operation time at which said operation instruction is executed; and

(b) said operation apparatus including;

a communication circuit for receiving an operation instruction transmitted from said communication circuit of said terminal board and an operation time; and

a control circuit for controlling to-be-controlled equipment, into which said operation apparatus is assembled, in such a manner as to execute said operation instruction at said operation time in accordance with said operation instruction and said operation time received by said communication circuit of said operation apparatus.

13. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 12, wherein said operation instruction is one of door lock, engine start and start of an air conditioner of said controlled equipment.

14. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 12, wherein said terminal board includes a display for displaying the execution of said operation instruction at said operation time.

15. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 12, wherein:

said operation apparatus includes a door lock detection circuit for detecting the lock of doors of said controlled equipment into which said operation apparatus is mounted, and an engine operation detection circuit for detecting an engine operation;

said communication circuit of said operation apparatus transmits door lock alarm data to said communication circuit of said terminal board when door lock is not effected within a predetermined time after the stop of the engine; and

said terminal board displays the door lock alarm.

16. A terminal board for use in a remote keyless entry system comprising said terminal board and an operation apparatus for executing a content instructed from said terminal board, said terminal board comprising:

an operation button for instructing an operation content to be executed by said operation apparatus;

a timepiece circuit for measuring the time; and

a circuit for storing an operation instruction set in advance by said operation button and an operation time at which said operation instruction is executed.

17. A remote keyless entry system comprising:

(a) a remote unit including;

an operation button for instructing an operation to be executed by an operation apparatus; and

a communication circuit capable of transmitting instruction data of said terminal board at a plurality of data rates; and

(b) said operation apparatus including;

a communication circuit for receiving data transmitted from said communication circuit of said terminal board; and

a control circuit for transmitting the instruction content received by said communication circuit of said operation apparatus to a to-be-controlled equipment into which said operation apparatus is assembled,

wherein said communication circuit of said terminal board or of said operation apparatus transmits communication data initially at a predetermined high data rate to attempt to establish valid communication, and upon failure to establish valid communication, transmits communication data at lower and lower data rates until valid communication is established.

18. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 17, wherein said communication circuit of said terminal board or of said operation apparatus can transmit communication data at at least three differing data rates to attempt to establish valid communication.