Vehicle door locking and unlocking system

• US 7,065,439 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2003
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alpha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alpha Corporation
• Inventors: Sakakura, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/662,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20040059483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/49, 307/10.2, 340/426.17, 340/426.13, 340/426.36, 340/5.2, 340/5.61, 340/5.62, 340/5.63
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/10 Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture

Abstract

An indicator (5) is provided, which displays that it is a locking confirmable period, for predetermined time after locking the door, in a vehicle door locking and unlocking system S, which locks or unlocks the vehicle door by performing communication between a controller (6), which controls locking or unlocking of the vehicle door, and a portable machine (7).

Claims

1. A door locking and unlocking system for a vehicle door which is able to open/close by operation of a door handle, the system comprising:

a controller on a vehicle which is configured to transfer a predetermined frequency via an antenna provided in the vehicle to control locking and unlocking of the vehicle;

a portable machine which uses the same frequency as the predetermined frequency to transmit a door locking or unlocking signal to the controller; and

a display controlled by the controller, wherein

the controller, upon detecting a locked state of the vehicle door, activates the display that indicates for a predetermined time that the door handle is in a locking-confirmable mode, and while the display is activated, the controller prevents the door handle from unlocking the door.

2. A door locking and unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein the display is provided in the vehicle, and the display include a LED, the controller controls the LED being turned on during the locking confirmable period.

3. A door locking and unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein the display is provided in the vicinity of the door handle of the vehicle, and formed integrally with a request switch, which transmits a request signal for obtaining an ID of the portable machine to the portable machine.

4. A door locking and unlocking system according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor which detects whether the vehicle door is in the locked state/unlocked state, and transmits information relating to the state of the vehicle door to the controller.