Remote keyless entry system

• US 7,352,274 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2003
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• 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): Sherry; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARRIES, DRU M
• Application Number:
  US10/601,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.2, 340/5.72, 455/63.1
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• 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 for operating an operation apparatus by remote operation of a terminal apparatus, said terminal apparatus comprising:

a 2-way communication unit that carries out 2-way communication at at least one data rate;

a 1-way communication unit that carries out 1-way communication at a certain data rate lower than a lowest data rate in said 2-way communication unit; and

a control unit for controlling said 2-way communication unit and said 1-way communication unit to transmit either one of signals from said 2-communication unit and said 1-communication unit, and said operation apparatus comprising a communication device for receiving the signal transmitted from said terminal apparatus and transmitting a response signal to said terminal apparatus when the received signal is 2-communication signal.

2. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 1, wherein said 2-communication unit is capable of carrying out the 2-way communication at one of a plurality of different data rates, said control unit controls said 2-communication unit to choose one of said plurality of different data rates, and when a valid 2-communication is not established at a lowest data rate in said plurality of different data rates, said 1-way communication unit is controlled to transmit the data from said terminal board by 1-communication at a lower data rate than said lowest data rate in the 2-communication.

3. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit previously chooses either one of the 1-way communication and the 2-communication using a data rate higher than a data rate in said 1-communication.

4. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 1, wherein said terminal apparatus includes a report unit for indicating the 1-way communication operation when the 1-communication is carried out.

5. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 2, wherein said control unit controls said 2-communication unit to gradually change the data rate from the highest data rate to the lowest data rate.

6. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 1, wherein said terminal apparatus includes a report unit for indicating either one of said 1-communication and said 2-communication.

7. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 6, wherein said report unit is a lighting device.

8. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 6, wherein said report unit is a display device.

9. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 8, wherein said display device is an indicator.

10. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 1, wherein said terminal apparatus includes an instruction storage unit for storing operation process of either one of the 1-communication and the 2-way communication.

11. A remote keyless entry system according to claim 10, wherein said terminal apparatus includes an instruction confirmation operation unit for reading out and displaying stored contents of said instruction storage unit.