Unlock operation system of a vehicle door

• US 6,812,823 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Murakami, Yuichi, Ieda, Kiyokazu, Mushiake, Eiji, Inaba, Hisashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US09/924,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20020041225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/5-4-, 340/5--, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/10.1, 340/10.33, 340/426, 340/428
• US Class Current: 340/5.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00373 whereby the wake-up circuit is situated in the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A vehicle door lock system has a lock mechanism for locking or unlocking the vehicle door. A control mechanism for controlling an operation of the lock mechanism includes first and second resonators. The first resonator resonates at a predetermined first value Q for transmitting a first signal to the outside of the vehicle. The second resonator is connected in series with the first resonator and resonates at a second value Q which is greater than the first value Q, and changing a resonant condition in accordance with a change of a capacitance. A single actuator is provided for actuating the first and second resonators. A switching mechanism is provided which utilizes the actuator for alternatively switching actuation between the first and the second resonators. The control mechanism controls the switching operation of the switching mechanism and the operation of the door lock mechanism in accordance with the resonant condition of the second resonator.

Claims

1. An unlock control system for a vehicle door lock mechanism comprising:

first resonant means resonating at a first value Q for transmitting a first signal to the outside of the vehicle;

second resonant means for resonating at a second value Q which is greater than the first value Q, the second resonant means connected in series with the first resonant means and having a capacitance, wherein a resonant condition being changed in accordance with a change of the capacitance;

sole actuating means for actuating the first and second resonant means; and

control means for activating the first and second resonant means alternatively and for unlocking the door lock mechanism in accordance with a change of the resonant condition of the second resonant means.

2. The unlock control system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a receiving means for receiving a second signal in reply to the first signal, from outside of the vehicle;

wherein the control means activates the second resonant means instead of the first resonant means when the receiving means receives the second signal.

3. The unlock control system according to claim 1, wherein the second Q value is at least ten times greater than the first Q value.

4. An unlock control system for a vehicle door lock mechanism comprising:

first resonant means for transmitting a signal to the outside of the vehicle;

second resonant means connected in series with the first resonant means and having a capacitance, wherein a resonant condition of the second resonant means being changed in accordance with a change of the capacitance; and

control means for activating the first resonant means firstly and the second resonant means alternatively when the control means receives a reply to the signal, and for unlocking the door lock mechanism in accordance with a change of the resonant condition of the second resonant means.

5. The unlock control system according to claim 4, wherein the first resonant means resonates at a first value Q and the second resonant means resonates at a second value Q which is greater than the first value Q.