Communication system for vehicle

• US 8,120,474 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2011
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Fujioka, Eiji, Kato, Manabu
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US13/214,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20110298600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 183 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.36
• US Class Current: 340/426.36
• 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: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role

Abstract

A communication system for a vehicle includes a portable identification device including a portion for receiving an interrogation signal and a portion for transmitting an indication indicative signal responsive to the interrogation signal, multiple tire sensor devices each of which includes a portion for receiving an initiation signal and a portion for transmitting a condition indicative signal responsive to the initiation signal, multiple transmitting devices each of which emits the interrogation signal and the initiation signal for different conditions within a communication area, a receiving device for receiving the indication indicative signal and the condition indicative signal, and a central controller for unlocking a door lock device when the portable identification device is determined to be in an overlapped area based on a condition of the portable identification device, the overlapped area being defined between two adjacent communication areas and in which the door lock device is involved.

Claims

1. A communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

a portable identification device allowing keyless entry into the vehicle, including means for receiving an interrogation signal and means for transmitting an indication indicative signal responsive to the interrogation signal;

a plurality of tire sensor devices, each of the tire sensor devices serving for providing information regarding a condition at a tire of the vehicle, each of the tire sensor devices including means for receiving an initiation signal and means for transmitting a condition indicative signal responsive to the initiation signal;

a plurality of transmitting devices provided adjacent to the respective tire sensor devices, each of the transmitting devices emitting the interrogation signal and the initiation signal for different conditions within a communication area;

a receiving device for receiving the indication indicative signal from the portable identification device and the condition indicative signal from each of the tire sensor devices; and

a central controller for unlocking a door lock device only when the portable identification device is determined to be in an overlapped area between two adjacent communication areas based on a condition of the portable identification device.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the condition of the portable identification device is that the portable identification device transmits the indication indicative signal within predetermined time duration.

3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the adjacent communication areas are reduced to delete the overlapped area therebetween when the portable identification device transmits the indication indicative signal.

4. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein each of the reduced communication areas is defined to include only the corresponding tire sensor device.

5. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising another door lock device located at a rear portion of the vehicle, wherein the another door lock device falls in the overlapped area when the two adjacent communication areas are in a width direction of the vehicle.

6. A communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

a portable identification device allowing keyless entry into the vehicle, including means for receiving an interrogation signal and means for transmitting an indication indicative signal responsive to the interrogation signal;

a plurality of tire sensor devices, each of the tire sensor devices serving for providing information regarding a condition at a tire of the vehicle, each of the tire sensor devices including means for receiving an initiation signal and means for transmitting a condition indicative signal responsive to the initiation signal;

a plurality of transmitting devices provided adjacent to the respective tire sensor devices, each of the transmitting devices emitting the interrogation signal and the initiation signal for different conditions within a communication area;

a receiving device for receiving the indication indicative signal from the portable identification device and the condition indicative signal from each of the tire sensor devices; and

a central controller for unlocking a door lock device, the central controller determining whether or not the portable identification device is inside an overlapped area between two adjacent communication areas,

wherein, if the central controller determines that the portable identification device is inside the overlapped area, the central controller unlocks the door lock device, and

wherein, if the central controller determines that the portable identification device is outside the overlapped area, the central controller maintains the door lock device locked.

7. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein the condition of the portable identification device is that the portable identification device transmits the indication indicative signal within a predetermined time duration.

8. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein the adjacent communication areas are reduced to delete the overlapped area therebetween when the portable identification device transmits the indication indicative signal.

9. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein each of the reduced communication areas is defined to include only the corresponding tire sensor device.

10. The communication system according to claim 6, further comprising another door lock device located at a rear portion of the vehicle, wherein the another door lock device falls in the overlapped area when the two adjacent communication areas are in a width direction of the vehicle.

11. A communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

a first transmitting device emitting a first interrogation signal within a first transmission area;

a second transmitting device emitting a second interrogation signal within a second transmission allowable area which partially overlaps with the first transmission area to form an overlap area;

a portable device receiving each of the first and second interrogation signals from each of the first and second transmitting devices and transmitting a return signal in response to each of the first and second interrogation signals;

a receiving device receiving the return signal from the portable device; and

a controller receiving the return signal from the receiving device and controlling a door lock device in response to the return signal;

wherein the controller determines whether or not the portable device is positioned within the overlap area between the first and second transmission allowable areas, if it is determined that the portable device is positioned within the overlap area, the controller unlocks the door lock device, and if it is determined that the portable device is positioned outside the overlap area, the controller maintains the door lock device locked.

12. The communication system according to claim 11, wherein the condition of the portable device is that the portable device transmits the return signal within a predetermined time duration.

13. The communication system according to claim 11, wherein the first and second transmission allowable areas are reduced to delete the overlap area therebetween when the portable device transmits the return signal.

14. The communication system according to claim 11, further comprising another door lock device located at a rear portion of the vehicle, wherein the another door lock device falls in the overlap area when the first and second transmission allowable areas are in a width direction of the vehicle.