Automotive detecting system and a method thereof

• US 7,304,564 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ching-Lun Yang, Shang-Ming Chi
• Original Assignee: Ching-Lun Yang, Shang-Ming Chi
• Inventors: Chi, Shang-Ming, Yang, Ching-Lun
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US11/113,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20060238315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.13, 340/426.15, 340/426.16, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/5.72, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.5
• US Class Current: 340/426.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• 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

Abstract

An automotive detecting system includes an automotive detecting host to detect when a car owner is near their car using a wireless technology. The automotive detecting host automatically controls a door locking mechanism, an alarm, and/or the car'"'"'s ignition. The automotive detecting host includes an identity identification unit, a CODEC control unit, and a micro-control unit, and automatically controls the door locking mechanism, the alarm and/or the ignition as a user or a car owner approaches their car.

Claims

1. An automotive detecting system, comprising an identity device and an automotive detecting host;

said automotive detecting host communicating wirelessly with said identity device for detecting said identity device and controlling at least one alarm or at least one door locking mechanism of a car; and

said identity device carried by a user or a car owner for receiving a detecting signal from said automotive detecting host or transmitting an identity signal within a predetermined distance between said automotive detecting host and said identity device;

wherein said automotive detecting host comprises;

an identity identification unit transmitting said detecting signal to detect said identity device and receiving said identity signal transmitted from said identity device within said predetermined distance;

a CODEC control unit electrically connected to said identity identification unit for performing signal protection, signal coding/decoding, or signal control for signals output from said identity device, and at least outputting a control signal to control said at least one alarm or said at least one door locking mechanism; and

a micro-control unit electrically connected to said CODEC control unit for performing control and executing instruction sets for said automotive detecting host responsive to said control signal output from said CODEC control unit;

whereby said automotive detecting host detects proximity of said identity device to control said alarm or said door locking mechanism of said car.

2. The automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said identity device is a radio frequency identification (RF ID) type.

3. The automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said identity device is a Blue-tooth identification type.

4. The automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said identity device is an infrared ray identification (IR ID) type.

5. The automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an in-car sensing device electrically connected to said automotive detecting host for detecting if any people are inside the car.

6. The automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said in-car sensing device is an optical sensor.

7. The automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a key-detecting device electrically connected to said automotive detecting host for detecting the location of a car key.

8. The automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said identity identification unit is a radio frequency module.

9. The automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said identity identification unit is a Blue-tooth module.

10. The automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said identity identification unit is an infrared ray module.

11. The automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a connector device electrically connected to said automotive detecting host for outputting said control signal to said alarm or said door locking mechanism.

12. The automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a download board electrically connected to said automotive detecting host for updating programs of said automotive detecting host or downloading additional programs to said automotive detecting host.

13. The automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said automotive detecting host further comprises at least one input/output interface unit.

14. The automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said automotive detecting host further comprises at least one light emitter displayer.

15. An automotive detecting host, comprising:

an identity identification unit, transmitting a detecting signal to detect an identity device and receiving an identity signal transmitted from said identity device within a predetermined distance between said automotive detecting host and said identity device;

a CODEC control unit, electrically connected to said identity identification unit, for performing signal protection, signal coding/decoding, or signal control for signals output from said identity device, and at least outputting a control signal to control at least one alarm or at least one door locking mechanism; and

a micro-control unit, electrically connected to said CODEC control unit, for performing control and executing instruction sets for said automotive detecting host responsive to said control signal output from said CODEC control unit;

whereby, said automotive detecting host detects proximity of said identity device and controls said alarm or said door locking mechanism of a car.

16. The automotive detecting host as claimed in claim 15, wherein said identity identification unit is a radio frequency module.

17. The automotive detecting host as claimed in claim 15, wherein said identity identification unit is a Blue-tooth module.

18. The automotive detecting host as claimed in claim 15, wherein said identity identification unit is an infrared ray module.

19. The automotive detecting host as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a connector device electrically connected to said CODEC control unit for outputting said control signal to said alarm or said door locking mechanism.

20. The automotive detecting host as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a download board electrically connected to said CODEC control unit for updating programs of said automotive detecting host or downloading additional programs to said automotive detecting host.

21. The automotive detecting host as claimed in claim 15, further comprising at least one input/output interface unit.

22. The automotive detecting host as claimed in claim 15, further comprising at least one light emitter displayer.

23. A detecting method for an automotive detecting system for a car having an identity device carried by a user and an automotive detecting host, said detecting method comprising the steps of:

(a) placing said automotive detecting host in a standby mode;

(b) said automotive detecting host detecting if said identity device is within a predetermined distance of said automotive detecting host subsequent to step (a);

(c) said automotive detecting host opening at least one door locking mechanism responsive to said identity device being detected as being within said predetermined distance;

(d) said automotive detecting host judging whether a car door has been opened subsequent to said opening at least one door locking mechanism; and

(e) said automotive detecting host starting the ignition responsive to judging that the user opened a car door.

24. The detecting method of the automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 23, wherein in the step of detecting if said identity device is within a predetermined distance of said automotive detecting host, if the outcome is “

no”

then said automotive detecting host goes into said standby mode.

25. The detecting method for the automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the step of opening at least one door locking mechanism includes the step of deactivating an external burglar alarm.

26. The detecting method for the automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 23, wherein in the step of said automotive detecting host judging whether a car door has been opened if the outcome is “

no”

, the automotive detecting system detects if said identity device is within said predetermined distance of said automotive detecting host.

27. The detecting method for the automotive detecting system as claimed in claim 23, wherein if said car door is not opened after the step of opening at least one door locking mechanism then a further step of sounding an external burglar alarm is performed.

28. A method for detecting exit of a user from a car in an automotive detecting system having an identity device carried by a user, an in-car sensing device, an automotive detecting host and a key-detecting device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) placing said automotive detecting host in a standby mode;

(b) detecting if anyone has stayed in the car subsequent to step (a);

(c) detecting if a car key is in the ignition switch if no one is detected as staying in the car in step (b);

(d) detecting if said identity device is within a predetermined distance of said automotive detecting host if no car key is detected in step (c); and

(e) locking a door locking mechanism when said identity device is not detected in step (d).

29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein in the step of detecting if a car key is in the ignition switch, if the outcome is “

yes”

sounding an alarm and not locking the door locking mechanism.

30. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein in the step of detecting if said identity device is within a predetermined distance of said automotive detecting host, if the outcome is “

yes”

sounding an alarm and not locking the door locking mechanism.