Power-saving on-vehicle controller

• US 7,492,250 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Komura, Akinori, Yoshida, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US11/976,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20080061964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.19, 340/539.1, 340/539.3, 340/426.11, 340/426.13, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/541, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.6, 307/10.7, 342/42
• US Class Current: 340/539.19
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1018 Alarm systems characterised by features related to the general power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

An on-vehicle controller performs smart control for transmitting a transmission request signal to a predetermined area and for unlocking a door of a vehicle based on a return signal transmitted by a portable device receiving the transmission request signal, security control for providing a warning if improper conduct to the vehicle is detected, remote keyless entry control for locking or unlocking the door according to a manual operation signal, which is transmitted from the portable device according to button manipulation thereof, and immobilizer control for permitting an engine start if an identification code transmitted from a transponder of the portable device coincides with an identification code stored in the vehicle. If a mode switch is switched to an off position, the controller is switched to a power-saving mode for performing only the immobilizer control.

Claims

1. An on-vehicle controller programmed to perform:

smart control for transmitting a transmission request signal from an on-vehicle transmitter to a predetermined area and for receiving a return signal with an on-vehicle receiver to control an on-vehicle device based on the received return signal;

security control for providing a warning if a security sensor of a vehicle detects improper conduct to the vehicle; and

immobilizer control for reading an identification code for certifying permission for an engine start based on the read identification code to permit the engine start if the read identification code coincides with a stored identification code, wherein

the smart control and the security control may be selectively deactivated so that only the immobilizer control remains activated to preserve vehicle battery power.

2. A method for controlling on-vehicle operations, comprising:

transmitting a request signal to a predetermined area, and receiving a return signal to control an on-vehicle device based on the received return signal;

providing a warning if improper conduct to a vehicle is detected;

reading an identification code for certifying permission for an engine start to permit the engine start if the read identification code coincides with a stored identification code; and

selectively deactivating the transmitting of the request signal, the receiving of the return signal and the providing of the warning so that only the reading of the identification code remains activated to preserve vehicle battery power.