Method for passive keyless entry of a motor vehicle especially of an industrial vehicle

• US 8,179,230 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Renault Trucks (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Lacour, Nicolas, Vincent, Loïc
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY III, EDWIN C
• Application Number:
  US12/159,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20100007461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,329 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61, 340/5.62, 340/5.72, 340/5.31, 340/426.11, 340/426.12, 340/426.13, 340/426.16, 340/426.17, 340/426.36, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 307/10.5, 307/10.7
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A vehicle unlocking sequence includes passively authenticating a vehicle user, granting the authenticated vehicle user access to the vehicle and setting the vehicle main switch into an on-state. A vehicle locking sequence includes passively authenticating the vehicle user, configuring the vehicle, upon a first action from the authenticated vehicle user, into a first locking mode whereby access to the vehicle is denied to a non authenticated user, or configuring the vehicle, upon a second action from the authenticated vehicle user, into a second locking mode whereby access to the vehicle is denied to a non authenticated user and the vehicle main switch is set into an off-state.

Claims

1. A keyless entry and exit method for a vehicle which includes vehicle main switch, wherein the method comprises

(i) performing a vehicle unlocking sequence which comprises the steps of passively authenticating a vehicle user, granting the authenticated vehicle user access to the vehicle and setting the vehicle main switch into an on-state,

(ii) performing a vehicle locking sequence which comprises the steps of passively authenticating the vehicle user, and configuring the vehicle by the user choosing between a first action and a second action wherein, upon choosing the first action by the authenticated vehicle user, the vehicle is configured into a first locking mode whereby access to the vehicle is denied to a non authenticated user, or, upon choosing the second action by the authenticated vehicle user, the vehicle is configured into a second locking mode whereby access to the vehicle is denied to a non authenticated user and the vehicle main switch is set into an off-state.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein user authentication is based on bidirectional communication between a portable identification unit and an onboard control unit which is connected to vehicle locking means and to the vehicle main switch.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein configuring the vehicle into the first locking mode comprises the step of locking each of the vehicle opening devices.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein configuring the vehicle into the second locking mode comprises the steps of locking each of the vehicle opening device and turning the vehicle main switch into an off state.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first locking action comprises pressing once onto a push button located on the external side of the vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second locking action comprises pressing twice onto the push button.

7. A keyless entry and exit method for a vehicle which includes a vehicle main switch, wherein the method comprises:

configuring the vehicle into a first and a second locking mode of the vehicle,

wherein the first locking mode corresponds to a configuration of the vehicle where the access to the vehicle is denied to a non authenticated user, and

wherein the second locking mode corresponds to a configuration of the vehicle where the access to the vehicle is denied to a non authenticated user and the vehicle main switch is set into an off-state,

performing a vehicle unlocking sequence and a vehicle locking sequence,

wherein the vehicle unlocking sequence comprises the steps of passively authenticating a vehicle user, granting the authenticated vehicle user access to the vehicle and setting the vehicle main switch into an on-state,

wherein the vehicle locking sequence comprises the steps of passively authenticating the vehicle user, configuring the vehicle, upon a first action from the authenticated vehicle user, into the first locking mode, or configuring the vehicle, upon a second action from the authenticated vehicle user, into the second locking mode.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein user authentication is based on bidirectional communication between a portable identification unit and an onboard control unit which is connected to vehicle locking means and to the vehicle main switch.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein configuring the vehicle into the first locking mode comprises the step of locking each of the vehicle opening devices.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein configuring the vehicle into the second locking mode comprises the steps of locking each of the vehicle opening device and turning the vehicle main switch into an off state.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first locking action comprises pressing once onto a push button located on the external side of the vehicle.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the second locking action comprises pressing twice onto the push button.