Door unlocking device for vehicle

• US 6,072,403 A
• Filed: 12/05/1997
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Nakano, Yoshio, Mizuno, Hiromitsu, Maeda, Toru, Okada, Hirofumi, Iwasaki, Yukio
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US08/986,189
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.32, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 307/10.2, 307/10.1, 180/287
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/006 Spring-biased ball or roller entering a notch
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00777 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/65 using means for sensing the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A door unlocking device for a vehicle includes transmit/receive device activated to send an operation signal to a portable transceiver and receives an identification code from the transceiver, the transmit/receive device unlocking a door locking mechanism when the identification code matches a preset registration code, a starter switch activating the transmit/receive device when a door knob of an exterior door handle is pressed toward a vehicle body through first door handle actuation, and the door knob actuated to a first operation position and unlock unit unlocking the door locking mechanism when the door knob of the exterior door handle is actuated to a second operation position as a result of second door handle actuation subsequent to the first door handle actuation in the direction opposite to the direction of the first door handle actuation.

Claims

1. A door unlocking device for a vehicle comprising:

transmit/receive unit activated to send an operation signal to a portable transceiver and receiving an identification code from the transceiver;

a starter switch positioned in such a way that an operation section is pressed by a door knob of an exterior door handle when the door knob is not actuated, and activating the transmit/receive device when detecting the initiation of actuation of the door knob by release of the operation section;

release unit releasing a door locking mechanism from a locked state when the identification code matches a preset registration code; and

unlock unit unlocking the door locking mechanism when the door knob of the exterior door handle is actuated to a predetermined position.

2. The door unlocking device as defined in claim 1, wherein the starter switch includes a pressure sensor positioned on a handle bracket of the exterior door handle.

3. The door unlocking device as defined in claim 2, wherein the pressure sensor has the capability of absorbing physical shock arising between the door knob and the handle bracket.

4. A door unlocking device for a vehicle comprising:

transmit/receive device activated to send an operation signal to a portable transceiver and receives an identification code from the transceiver, the transmit/receive device unlocking a door locking mechanism when the identification code matches a preset registration code;

a starter switch activating the transmit/receive device when a door knob of an exterior door handle is pressed toward a vehicle body through first door handle actuation, and the door knob actuated to a first operation position; and

unlock unit unlocking the door locking mechanism when the door knob of the exterior door handle is actuated to a second operation position as a result of second door handle actuation subsequent to the first door handle actuation in the direction opposite to the direction of the first door handle actuation.

5. The door unlocking device as defined in claim 4, further comprising:

tactile feedback unit imparting tactile feedback to the door knob when the door knob is actuated to the first operation position.