Security system and method

• US 6,603,388 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burri, Michel, Perraud, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US09/489,257
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61, 340/2.7, 340/2.8, 340/5.6, 340/825.73, 340/5.64, 340/5.63, 340/5.62, 340/825.72, 370/335, 370/342, 370/441, 375/130, 375/140, 375/145
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00341 keyless data carrier having more than one limited data transmission ranges
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00373 whereby the wake-up circuit is situated in the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0042 the transmitted data signal containing a code which is changed
• 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

Abstract

A security system for actuating a security mechanism of a vehicle includes a transceiver coupled to the security mechanism and having one transmission channel for transmitting a first signal and a number of reception channels. A remote radio-frequency transponder key has a number of transmission channels and one reception channel matched to the respective reception and transmission channels of the transceiver. The transponder key is arranged to transmit an unlock signal to the transceiver upon reception of the first signal. The unlock signal is verified by the transceiver as valid before actuating the security mechanism. The transceiver is further arranged to select a channel for reception of the unlock signal and to embed the identity of the selected channel in the first signal, such that the transponder key transmits the unlock signal using the selected channel.

Claims

1. A security system for a vehicle having a security mechanism, the system comprising:

a transceiver coupled to the security mechanism, the transceiver having one transmission channel for transmitting a command signal in a first frequency band and a plurality of reception channels for receiving unlock signals in a second frequency band, said second frequency band being substantially higher in frequency than said first frequency; and

,

a remote radio-frequency transponder key having a plurality of transmission channels in said second frequency band and a reception channel in said first frequency band matched to the respective reception and transmission channels of the transceiver, the transponder key being arranged to transmit an unlock signal to the transceiver in response to valid reception of the command signal, the unlock signal being verified by the transceiver as valid before actuating the security mechanism,

wherein the transceiver is arranged to select a channel within said second frequency band for reception of the unlock signal and to embed the identity of the selected channel in the command-signal, such that the transponder key transmits the unlock signal using the selected channel.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the transceiver is arranged to select the channel for transmission of the unlock signal by the transponder key in response to levels of interference or noise present in said plurality of channels immediately prior to transmission of the command signal.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the transceiver is arranged to change the selected channel in favor of a channel which has a lower level of interference or noise.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the reception selected channel is a CDMA sub-channel not having an autocorrelation peak after a mathematical correlation.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission of the command signal is triggered by actuation of a sensor coupled to the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the sensor is arranged to detect when a door opening mechanism of the vehicle is activated by the user.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a second transponder key having the same transmission and reception channels as the transponder key, the transponder key and the second transponder key being arranged to transmit their respective unlock signals sequentially such that interference therebetween is avoided.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the sequential arrangement is provided by defining time-division multiplex channels within each of the plurality of reception channels.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein the transceiver is arranged to select a frequency sub-channel dependence upon the levels of spectra interference in a plurality of said frequency sub-channels.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said first frequency band is in the Low Frequency radio frequency range and said second frequency band is in the Ultra High Frequency radio frequency range.