Keyless access system and method for a truck and truck equipped with such a system

• US 8,330,575 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Renault Trucks (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Vincent, Loïc
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Littlejohn, Mancil
• Application Number:
  US12/445,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20100039222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,233 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.2, 340/5.8, 340/5.61, 340/5.72, 340/426.1, 340/539.25, 340/26.17
• 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 2009/00388 code verification carried out according to the challenge/response method
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A keyless access system is provided for a truck including a tractor area and a cargo area provided with at least an access door. This system includes a main control unit located in the tractor area and adapted to interact with a customer identification device to selectively operate a control access arrangement which allows or prevents access to a driver cabin of the truck, a secondary control unit located in or near the cargo area and adapted to interact with the same customer identification device and to selectively operate an actuator which locks or unlocks the access door, and a bidirectional telecommunication arrangement between the main and secondary units.

Claims

1. A keyless access system suitable for use with a truck, the truck including a tractor area and a cargo area, the cargo area being provided with at least an access door, wherein the system comprises:

a main control unit adapted to be located in the tractor area and configured to interact with a customer identification device to selectively operate control access means which allow or prevent access to a driver cabin of the tractor area of the truck,

a secondary control unit adapted to be located in or near the cargo area and configured to interact with the same customer identification device in order to collect data from the customer identification device and to selectively operate an actuator which locks or unlocks the access door, and

bi-directional telecommunication means between the main and secondary control units, wherein the secondary control unit is configured to send to the main control unit some information representative of data collected from the customer identification device and the main control unit is configured to send to the secondary control unit a clearance signal to unlock the access door.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunication means is wireless.

3. System according to claim 1, wherein the secondary control unit is configured to determine, on the basis of the information received from the secondary control unit, if the access door is to be opened for this customer identification device and, if such is the case, to send to the secondary control unit the clearance signal to unlock the access door.

4. System according to claim 1, wherein each main or secondary control unit is connected to:

at least an activation switch,

at least a lock actuator,

at least an antenna adapted to emit an activation signal towards a customer identification device and/or to receive a response signal from the customer identification device .

5. System according to claim 4, wherein each main or secondary control unit is connected to:

at least a low frequency antenna adapted to emit the activation signal towards a customer identification device, and

at least a high frequency antenna adapted to receive a response signal from the customer identification device.

6. System according to claim 1, wherein the secondary control unit comprises:

means to collect data from a customer identification device,

means to send to the main control unit a signal representative of the data collected from the device,

means to receive from the main access control unit a clearance signal, and

means to selectively operate, upon reception by the receiving means of a clearance signal from the main control unit, an actuator which unlocks an access door to a cargo area of the truck.

7. System according to claim 1, wherein independent power supply means is provided in or near the cargo area for the secondary control unit.

9. A truck including a tractor area and a cargo area provided with at least an access door, wherein it is provided with a keyless access system according to claim 1.

10. Truck according to claim 9, wherein it includes a tractor and a separable trailer, the main control unit being mounted on the tractor whereas the secondary control unit is mounted on the trailer.

11. Truck according to claim 9, wherein it comprises a cargo structure fixed on a frame belonging to a tractor, the main control unit being mounted on the tractor whereas the secondary control unit is mounted on the structure.

12. A control unit to be used in a system according to claim 1, wherein it comprises:

means to collect data from a customer identification device,

means to send to a remotely located other access control unit a signal representative of the data collected from the customer identification device,

means to receive from the other access control unit a clearance signal, and

means to selectively operate, upon reception by the receiving means of a clearance signal from the other access control unit, an actuator which unlocks an access door to a cargo area of a truck.

8. System according to claim I, wherein the system is a passive keyless access system.

13. A method for controlling keyless access to a cargo area of a truck through at least an access door for a user having a customer identification device, comprising:

a) detecting an unlock request of the access door,

b) sending, from a first control access unit located in or near the cargo area, a challenge signal towards the customer identification device,

c) receiving a signal corresponding to a response of the customer identification device,

d) verifying, in a main control unit located in a tractor area of the vehicle, if the received signal corresponds to a valid identification code,

e) if the received signal corresponds to a valid identification code, sending from the main control unit to the first control access unit a clearance signal, and

f) when a clearance signal is received in the first control access unit from the main control unit, sending an actuation signal to an actuator which mechanically unlocks the access door.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein before step c), a response signal of the customer identification device is received by the first control access unit and then a signal representative of this response signal is sent by the first unit to the main control unit.

15. Method according to claim 13, wherein during step c), a response signal is received directly by the main control unit.

16. Method according to claim 13, wherein signal transmission between the first control access unit and the main control unit is wireless.

17. Method according to claim 13, wherein the challenge signal is a low frequency signal, whereas the response signal is a high frequency signal and communication between the first control access unit and the main control unit takes place in high frequency mode.

18. Method according to claim 13, wherein the cargo area is separable from the tractor area or built separately from a tractor of the vehicle and attached to a frame of the tractor.