Keyless entry system

• US 5,204,672 A
• Filed: 01/14/1991
• Issued: 04/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quic-Key Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Quic-Key Incorporated
• Inventors: Brooks, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Magistre, Dervis
• Application Number:
  US07/641,162
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/424, 340/430, 340/541, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/825.33, 340/825.34, 340/825.71, 361/179, 361/182
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2027 with data signals passing through the human body
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/406 Power supply in the remote key
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00761 with data transmission performed by connected means, e.g. mechanical contacts, plugs, connectors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/65 using means for sensing the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A keyless entry system is provided for locked or disabled items. A transmitter carried by a person generates a signal with a predetermined frequency characteristic such that the generated signal is transmitted through the carrier'"'"'s body. There is a receiver apparatus including a detector for detecting a signal with the predetermined frequency characteristic and a mechanism that is engageable by the carrier'"'"'s body for providing signals transmitted through the body to the detector. When such signals are detected, a circuit is activated to unlock or enable the item. An alarm system may be provided which sounds under certain predetermined conditions and a latching mechanism may be utilized to disarm the alarm under certain conditions.

Claims

1. A keyless entry system for locked doors comprising:

signal generating means carried by a person and being completely separated by an electrically insulating medium from said person'"'"'s skin for generating an output signal with a predetermined frequency characteristic and sufficient signal strength such that said generated signal is transmitted across said medium and through the person'"'"'s body to a remote portion of the body spaced apart from said signal generating means;

receiver means including detector means having sufficient gain for detecting a signal with said predetermined frequency characteristic, and engagement means that are directly engageable by said remote portion of the person'"'"'s body for providing signals transmitted through the body to said detector means; and

means, responsive to said detector means, for unlocking said door when a signal having said predetermined frequency characteristic is detected.

2. The system of claim 1 in which said engagement means include primary contact means that are selectively engageable by the carrier for receiving transmitted signals therefrom, primary switch means which are operated by engagement of said primary contact means, and means, responsive to operation of said primary switch means, for electrically interconnecting said primary contact means and said detector means.

3. The system of claim 2 further including primary timing means, means, responsive to operation of said primary switch means for initiating said primary timing means, and means, responsive to timing out of said primary timing means for relocking said door.

4. The system of claim 2 in which said means for unlocking include a pulse generator, means responsive to operation of said switch means for driving said pulse generator to generate an electric pulse, and a solenoid, responsive to the generation of an electric pulse from said pulse generator, for unlocking said door.

5. The system of claim 1 in which said signal generating means include oscillator means, said output signal includes a signal with a predetermined frequency range and said means for detecting include complementary filter means for passing a generated signal within said predetermined frequency range.

6. The system of claim 1 in which said means for generating includes means for providing the signal with a predetermined modulation and said means for detecting include means for sensing received signals having said predetermined modulation.

7. The system of claim 5 in which said means for generating include means for establishing a predetermined frequency within said modulated signal and said means for detecting include means for extracting said predetermined frequency from said modulated signal.

8. The system of claim 1 in which said system includes alarm means and alarm control means for activating said alarm means in response to at least one predetermined alarm condition.

9. The system of claim 8 in which said alarm control means include means for latching said alarm means in a deactivated state for at least a predetermined time after said detector means sense a signal having said predetermined frequency characteristic.

10. The system of claim 9 further including alarm delay timing means interconnected between said detector means and said means for latching and being initiated when said detector means sense a signal having said predetermined frequency characteristic, said means for latching including latching relay means that are activated by operation of said alarm delay timing means to hold said alarm means in a deactivated state during timing out of said alarm delay timing means.

11. The system of claim 10 in which said alarm control means further include energizing means for providing a signal representative of a said predetermined alarm condition, and in which said latching relay means include latching switch means that are closed by activation of said latching relay means to connect said energizing means with said latching relay means such that a signal representative of a predetermined alarm condition produced during the timing out period maintains said latching relay means in an activate state, said latching switch means being open when said latching relay means are deactivated to connect said energizing means with said alarm means such that said alarm means are activated in response to a signal representative of a predetermined alarm condition.

12. The system of claim 11 in which said energizing means include primary timing means responsive to said engagement means for providing after a timed period said representative signal to one of said latching relay means and said alarm means.

13. The system of claim 1 in which said means for detecting include means for alternately enabling said detector means to detected said signal during a predetermined interval and disabling said detector means for a second predetermined interval if said signal is not detected during first said interval.

14. The system of claim 1 in which said detector means includes first and second filters for passing a generated signal with said predetermined frequency characteristic and amplifier means separate and distinct from said first and second filters and interconnected between said first and second filters for amplifying said signal that is passed by said first and second filters.

15. A keyless entry system for locked doors comprising:

signal generating means carried by a person and being separated from said person'"'"'s skin by an electrically insulating medium for generating an output signal with a predetermined frequency characteristic and sufficient strength such that said generated signal is transmitted across said medium and through the person'"'"'s body to a remote portion of the body spaced apart from said signal generating means, said signal generating means including a support, an oscillator mounted on said support, piezoelectric generator means connected to said oscillator means, and means, responsive to movement of said support, for deflecting said piezoelectric generator means to produce a voltage, which voltage drives said oscillator to generate said output signal;

receiver means including detector means for detecting a signal with said predetermined frequency characteristic, and engagement means that are directly engageable by said remote portion of the person'"'"'s body for providing signals transmitted through the body to said detector means; and

means, responsive to said detector means, for unlocking said door when a signal having said predetermined frequency characteristic is detected.

16. The system of claim 15 in which said means for deflecting includes a cantilever element that is resiliently mounted at a first end within said housing and has a mass attached proximate an opposite second end such that said cantilever element oscillates about said first end alternately, torward and away from said piezoelectric generator means in response to movement of said housing, and further includes an actuator disposed between said cantilever element and said piezoelectric generator means for deflecting said generator means when said cantilever element moves toward generator means.

17. A keyless entry system for locked doors comprising:

signal generating means carried by a person and being separated from said person'"'"'s skin by an electrically insulating medium for generating an output signal with a predetermined frequency characteristic and sufficient strength such that said generated signal is transmitted across said medium and through the person'"'"'s body to a remote portion of the body spaced apart from said signal generating means, said signal generating means including a support, an oscillator mounted on said support, piezoelectric generator means connected to said oscillator means, and means, responsive to movement of said support, for deflecting said piezoelectric generator means to produce a voltage, which voltage drives said oscillator to generate said output signal;

receiver means including detector means for detecting a signal with said predetermined frequency characteristic, and engagement means that are directly engageable by said remote porton of the person'"'"'s body for providing signals transmitted through the body to said detector means, said detector means including first and second filters for passing a generated signal with said predetermined frequency characteristic and amplifier means interconnected between said first and second filters for amplifying said signal that is passed by said first and second filters; and

means, responsive to said detector means, for unlocking said door when a signal having said predetermined frequency characteristic is detected.