Antitheft system for vehicle

• US 8,299,891 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Arai, Hideaki, Yamamoto, Naoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burgdorf, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US12/449,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20100052845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 702/56, 235/487, 235/494, 307 101- 105, 340 52- 526, 340 56- 564, 3404255-4261, 340/426.11, 34042613-42617
• US Class Current: 340/5.26
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00492 whereby the code is a rolling code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5973 Remote control

Abstract

In a keyless entry system, a CPU in an ECU and a CPU in a remote control key each have an associated memory for storing respective function formulas, which are specified by primary function formula data. With this structure, function formulas used in the remote control key and the ECU can be changed to respective new function formulas. This technique makes it difficult to predict the function formulas used in the remote control key and the ECU, thereby further reducing any regularity of rolling codes generated by the function formulas.

Claims

1. A vehicle theft prevention system comprising:

a portable device for sending an authentication code renewed by a first function formula including at least any one arithmetic expression of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, the portable device having a first storage unit for storing the authentication code and first function formula data defining the first function formula for renewing the authentication code;

a vehicle-mounted authenticating device for receiving the authentication code, checking the authentication code against a reference code, and controlling operation of vehicle-mounted equipment depending on a result of the check;

wherein the vehicle-mounted authenticating device has a second storage unit for storing the reference code and second function formula data defining a second function formula for renewing the reference code, the second function formula being identical to the first function formula and including at least any one arithmetic expression of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, and checks the received authentication code against the reference code renewed by the second function formula;

a function formula changing unit for changing the first function formula defined by the first function formula data stored in the first storage unit to a new first function formula and changing the second function formula defined by the second function formula data stored in the second storage unit to a new second function formula, wherein the first storage unit stores a plurality of first function formula data defining a plurality of first function formulas which are different from each other;

the second storage unit stores a plurality of second function formula data defining a plurality of second function formulas which are identical to the plurality of first function formulas defined by the plurality of first function formula data;

the vehicle-mounted authenticating device sends an identifier indicative of which one of the plurality of first function formula data is to be selected to the portable unit;

the portable unit selects the first function formula data based on the identifier;

the changed new first function formula and second function formula are selected based on an output from one of a battery voltmeter, a gasoline level meter, an odometer, and a seat position sensor on the vehicle.

2. A vehicle theft prevention system according to claim 1, further comprising an ignition switch having at least a start position for starting a vehicle engine and a lock position for disabling engine operation,

wherein the vehicle-mounted authenticating device sends the identifier to the portable unit at the time the ignition switch is operated.

3. A vehicle theft prevention system comprising:

a portable device for sending an authentication code renewed by a first function formula including at least any one arithmetic expression of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, the portable device having a first storage unit for storing the authentication code and first function formula data defining the first function formula for renewing the authentication code;

a vehicle-mounted authenticating device for receiving the authentication code, checking the authentication code against a reference code, and controlling operation of vehicle-mounted equipment depending on a result of the check;

wherein the vehicle-mounted authenticating device has a second storage unit for storing the reference code and second function formula data defining a second function formula for renewing the reference code, the second function formula being identical to the first function formula and including at least any one arithmetic expression of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, and checks the received authentication code against the reference code renewed by the second function formula;

a function formula changing unit for changing the first function formula defined by the first function formula data stored in the first storage unit to a new first function formula and changing the second function formula defined by the second function formula data stored in the second storage unit to a new second function formula,

the first storage unit stores only one of the first function formula data defining the first function formula;

the second storage unit stores a plurality of second function formula data defining a plurality of second function formulas which are different from each other;

the vehicle-mounted authenticating device reads second function formula data defining a new second function formula which is different from the first function formula defined by the first function formula data stored in the first storage unit, from the second storage unit, and sends the second function formula data to the portable device;

the portable device stores the received second function formula data as new first function formula data, and uses a new first function formula defined by the new first function formula data for a next renewal of the authentication code; and

the changed new first function formula and second function formula are selected based on an output from one of a battery voltmeter, a gasoline level meter, an odometer, and a seat position sensor on the vehicle.

4. A vehicle theft prevention system according to claim 3, further comprising a new second function formula data supply unit, disposed outside of the vehicle, for supplying new second function formula data defining a new second function formula to the second storage unit of the vehicle-mounted authenticating device by way of wireless communications.

5. A vehicle theft prevention system according to claim 3, further comprising an ignition switch having at least a start position for starting a vehicle engine and a lock position for disabling engine operation,

wherein the vehicle-mounted authenticating device sends the second function formula data defining the new second function formula to the portable unit at the time the ignition switch is operated.