Keyless entry device having tire pressure monitoring function

• US 7,026,953 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2002
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fujii, Shohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jenkins, Kimberly
• Application Number:
  US10/241,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20030046993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 340444-447, 340/870.16, 34042613-42616, 340 561- 564, 731/462, 731/463, 731/464, 731/465
• US Class Current: 340/870.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0444 Antenna structures, control or arrangements thereof, e.g. for directional antennas, diversity antenna, antenna multiplexing or antennas integrated in fenders

Abstract

A keyless entry device includes a plurality of antennas which receive high frequency signals, a high frequency receiver which reproduces data from the high frequency signals received by the plurality of antennas, an intermittent controller which changes over an operation of the high frequency receiver between a continuous operation and an intermittent operation in an interlocking manner with turning on or off of an ignition key of an automobile, and a data processor which outputs data as control signals, wherein when the ignition key is turned on, the keyless entry device is operated as the tire pressure monitoring device and when the ignition key is turned off, the keyless entry device is operated as the keyless entry device.

Claims

1. A keyless entry device having a tire pressure monitoring function comprising a portable unit, tire pressure transmitters which are respectively mounted on a plurality of tires and a mainunit, wherein

the mainunit includes a plurality of antennas which receive high frequency signals from the portable unit and the tire pressure transmitters, a high frequency receiver which reproduces data from the high frequency signals received by the plurality of antennas, an intermittent controller which changes over operation of the high frequency receiver between continuous operation and intermittent operation in an interlocking manner with turning on or off of an ignition key of an automobile, and a data processor which outputs the data as control signals,

wherein when the ignition key is turned on, the intermittent controller changes over operation of the high frequency receiver to continuous operation and the data processor outputs control signals in response to data from the tire pressure transmitters and does not output control signals in response to data from the portable unit,

wherein when the ignition key is turned off, the intermittent controller changes over operation of the high frequency receiver to intermittent operation and the data processor outputs control signals in response to data from the portable unit,

wherein the mainunit further includes an antenna changeover part,

wherein when the intermittent controller changes over operation of the high frequency receiver to continuous operation, the antenna changeover part changes over a plurality of respective antennas from an OFF state to an ON state in sequence, and

wherein when the intermittent controller changes over the high frequency receiver to intermittent operation, the antenna changeover part intermittently and simultaneously turns the plurality of antennas to the ON state in synchronism with the intermittent operation of the high frequency receiver.