Start system for a car, car having a start system, and method for operating a start system for a car

• US 9,196,102 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Warschat, Ulf, Ott, Tobias, Sassmannshausen, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US14/365,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20150002265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/426.13, 340/5.7, 340/539.13, 180/287
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/243 with more than one way to gain access
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder

Abstract

A method for operating a starting system for a car includes detecting locking of the car, checking whether a portable code transmitter of the starting system is inside a monitoring region, deactivating a starting device of the starting system if the portable code transmitter is not inside the monitoring region, receiving an unlocking signal and identity signal from the portable code transmitter by the starting system on the car, checking whether identity data received with the identity signal matches identity data stored in the starting system, and activating the starting device if the identity data matches the identity data stored in the starting system.

Claims

1. A method for operating a starting system for a car, the method comprising:

detecting, by the starting system, locking of a door of the car;

when the locking of the door of the car is detected, checking, using a monitoring device in the starting system, whether a portable code transmitter for the starting system is inside a monitoring region of the monitoring device;

deactivating a starting device of the starting system using a control device of the starting system if the portable code transmitter is not inside the monitoring region;

operating an operator control element of the portable code transmitter and wirelessly transmitting, by the portable code transmitter, an unlocking signal that initiates an unlocking of the door of the car and an identity signal that comprises identity data;

receiving, by the starting system, the unlocking signal and the identity signal;

checking, using the control device, whether the received identity data matches identity data stored in the starting system; and

activating the starting device using the control device if the received identity data matches the stored identity data.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if the door is locked, the starting device is deactivated only if the portable code transmitter is not inside the monitoring region.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the starting device is a keyless starting device for allowing an engine to be started, without a key being inserted into an ignition lock, and

when the starting device is activated, a starting procedure for the engine is initiated using a start/stop button.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the operator control element of the portable code transmitter is a manually operated unlock device on the portable code transmitter, and

after the starting device has been deactivated, the starting device is reactivated only if the operator control element of the portable code transmitter has been manually operated or if the portable code transmitter is placed in close proximity to an ignition switch.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

checking, using the monitoring device, whether the portable code transmitter is inside the monitoring region, which comprises a passenger compartment of the car, by transmitting a request signal; and

if the portable code transmitter is inside the monitoring region;

receiving, by the portable code transmitter, the request signal;

transmitting, using the portable code transmitter, a response signal; and

receiving, by the monitoring device the response signal.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monitoring device checks whether the portable code transmitter of the starting system is inside the monitoring region exclusively when the starting device is activated.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the unlocking signal is transmitted with a first identity signal,

if the identity data of the first identity signal matches the stored identity data, the starting device is activated, and

after the starting device is activated, the monitoring devices uses a second identity signal to check whether the portable code transmitter of the starting system is inside the monitoring region.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if the received identity data does not match the stored identity data:

checking for authorization to activate the starting device when the portable code transmitter is positioned inside a prescribed effective region of an authentication device of the starting system; and

if the authorization is available, activating, using the control device, the starting device.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the prescribed effective region is a region proximate to a transponder coil which checks for authorization of the portable code transmitter without requiring the portable code transmitter to have a battery charge.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if the door of the car is unlocked using the portable code transmitter without operation of the operator control element of the portable code transmitter:

checking for authorization to activate the starting device when the portable code transmitter is positioned inside a prescribed effective region of an authentication device of the starting system; and

if the authorization is available, activating, using the control device, the starting device.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if the door of the car is unlocked without the portable code transmitter and the portable code transmitter is not inside the monitoring region, the starting device is not activated.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein after the starting device is activated and a start/stop button has been operated, determining whether the portable code transmitter is inside the monitoring region, and if the portable code transmitter is determined to be inside the monitoring region, initiating a starting procedure for an engine of the car using the starting device.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the unlocking signal is transmitted with a first identity signal,

if the identity data of the first identity signal matches the stored identity data, the starting device is activated, and

a second identity signal is used to determine whether the portable code transmitter is inside the monitoring region, the second identity signal being different from the first identity signal.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein after the starting device has been activated and after the start/stop button has been operated, a different identity signal is used to determine whether the portable code transmitter is inside the monitoring region.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising determining, using the monitoring device, whether the portable code transmitter is inside the monitoring region when an engine of the car is running and the door, a sliding roof apparatus, and/or a window that closes the passenger compartment is open, and outputting a warning signal if the portable code transmitter is determined not to be inside the monitoring region.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising unlocking the door of the car based on the identity signal and the unlocking signal.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein

the unlocking signal is transmitted together with the identity signal and a door lock identification,

the identity signal is used to activate the starting device, and

the door lock identification signal is used to check whether unlocking of the door is authorized.

18. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

changing the identity data stored in the starting system to new identity data;

storing the new identity data on a user-defined basis, in the starting system; and

storing the new identity data in the portable code transmitter and/or an additional portable code transmitter.

19. A starting system for a car, the starting system comprising:

a starting device;

a portable code transmitter comprising an operator control element to initiate wireless transmission of an unlocking signal to unlock a door of the car and an identity signal comprising identity data;

a monitoring device to determine whether the portable code transmitter is inside a monitoring region;

and

a control device to detect locking and the unlocking of the door of the car, wherein

if the door is detected to be locked and the portable code transmitter is determined not to be inside the monitoring region, the control device deactivates the starting device, and

if the unlocking signal and the identity signal are received by the starting system, the control device;

checks whether the identity data received with the identity signal match identity data stored in the starting system; and

activates the starting device if the identity data received with the identity signal match the identity data stored in the starting system.

20. A car comprising a starting system, the starting system comprising:

a starting device;

a portable code transmitter comprising an operator control element to initiate wireless transmission of an unlocking signal to unlock a door of the car and an identity signal comprising identity data;

a monitoring device to determine whether the portable code transmitter is inside a monitoring region;

and

a control device to detect locking and the unlocking of the door of the car, wherein

if the door is detected to be locked and the portable code transmitter is determined not to be inside the monitoring region, the control device deactivates the starting device, and

if the unlocking signal and the identity signal are received by the starting system, the control device;

checks whether the identity data received with the identity signal match identity data stored in the starting system; and

activates the starting device if the identity data received with the identity signal match the identity data stored in the starting system.