Access and start/drive authorization system

• US 6,686,670 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schroff, Clemens, Diebold, Bernd, Weiss, Karl-Ernst, Hugel, Robert, Weigl, Andreas, Szablewski, Piotr, Weyerstall, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/807,637
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/10.5, 340/5.2, 340/5.21, 340/5.22, 340/5.23, 340/5.26, 340/5.27, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/5.63, 340/5.64, 455/418, 455/419
• US Class Current: 307/10.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00365 in combination with a wake-up circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00388 code verification carried out according to the challenge/response method
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

An access- and starting/driving-authorization system for a motor vehicle, having a portable transponder and a control unit accomodated in the motor vehicle, in order to control the smart master-key system and the engine control unit. In inquiry/response dialogs, the transponder and the control unit enabling or blocking access to the motor vehicle, and the starting and driving of the motor vehicle, using sets of code information that are matched to each other. Starting and driving the motor vehicle after forcibly entering the motor vehicle and replacing the engine control unit, including a vehicle immobilizer and a transponder of the control units relevant for starting and driving, is prevented in that the enabling of the motor-vehicle to be started and driven, after a successful starting/driving-authorization inquiry/response dialog, is rendered dependent on a preceding, successful access-authorization inquiry/response dialog.

Claims

1. An access and starting/driving-authorization system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an engine control unit;

a smart master-key system;

a portable transponder; and

a control unit included in the motor vehicle, and associated with the smart master-key system and the engine control unit, the control unit communicating with the transponder using sets of code information matched to each other in inquiry/response dialogs, the control unit enabling or blocking access to, starting, and driving of the motor vehicle in conjunction with the transponder;

wherein whether the motor vehicle is enabled to be started and driven after a successful starting/driving-authorization inquiry/response dialog, using the transponder, depends upon a preceding, successful access-authorization inquiry/response dialog using the transponder.

2. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 1, wherein initiation of the access-authorization inquiry/response dialog at the control unit is dependent upon an initialization signal, the initialization signal being triggered by at least one of a manual switching measure at the motor vehicle, and a switching measure at the transponder.

3. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 1, wherein initiation of the access-authorization inquiry/response dialog is dependent on the presence of the transponder in a motor-vehicle field monitored by a proximity switch in the motor vehicle.

4. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 1, wherein the control unit initiates unlocking of the smart master-key system after a successful access-authorization inquiry/response dialog, the control unit holds a set of additional information in readiness for a subsequent starting/driving-authorization inquiry/response dialog, and the control unit is enabled to transmit the set of additional information to other control units, using a control command.

5. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 1, wherein initiation of the starting/driving-authorization inquiry/response dialog requires one of

a) the transponder to be placed in a storage box in the motor vehicle; and

b) a further initialization signal, the further intialization signal being triggered in the motor vehicle for the control unit.

6. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 1, wherein, in response to a successful starting/driving-authorization inquiry/response dialog, the engine control unit is triggered to enable starting and driving if a set of additional information about the preceding access-authorization inquiry/response dialog is present.

7. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle is enabled to be started and driven depending upon the switching state of the smart master-key system.

8. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of predefined states and operational sequences of additional vehicle components are included for enabling the motor vehicle to be started and driven.

9. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 1, wherein, in addition to the engine control unit, further components necessary for starting and driving the motor vehicle are also put into a functionable operating state by a trigger issued from the control unit after a successfully executed access-authorization inquiry/response dialog.

10. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 1, wherein the engine control unit and further components of the motor vehicle are put into a non-functioning state by a corresponding set of information of the control unit after doors of the motor vehicle are locked, and are rendered operational after reception of a control command transmitted by the control unit only after a successfully executed access-authorization inquiry/response dialog.

11. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 1, wherein the engine control unit and further components of the motor vehicle are put into a non-functioning state after an operating voltage is disconnected, and can only be put back into operation after reception of a control command transmitted by the control unit after a successfully executed access-authorization inquiry/response dialog.

12. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 1, wherein a triggering pulse emitted by the control unit after a sucessfully executed access-authorization inquiry/response dialog is transmitted in encoded form.

13. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transponder, the control unit, and the engine control unit are coated together with respect to each other, during manufacture, in such a manner, that the absence or exchange of one of these components without subsequent recoding of all system components renders starting and driving impossible, coding taking place using special security measures.

14. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 13, wherein the use of special security measures include special authorization verifiers.

15. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 1, wherein the control unit indicates an emergency situation in response to one or more inner door handles being operated in a particular manner, the control unit reacting to the emergency situation by emitting a special control signal, the special control signal inducing the engine control unit to:

a) allow the motor-vehicle to be started and driven for a short duration;

b) subsequently shut down the motor vehicle down completely; and

c) render it impossible for the vehicle to be used further.

16. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 15, wherein the starting/driving-authorization inquiry/response dialog is initiated after the special control signal is received, and all transponders recognized are blocked from future use with the motor vehicle.

17. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 16, wherein blocking operation of all components is canceled only after a successful access inquiry/response dialog, using a transponder different from the blocked transponder.

18. The access- and starting/driving-authorization system as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

at least one additional operationally relevant component.