Remote control system for a vehicle

• US 6,998,958 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company), Honda Lock Manufacturing Company Limited (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Yoshimura, Kentaro, Asakura, Suguru, Watarai, Sadanori, Nagai, Akira, Nozawa, Munehisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US10/875,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20040227656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/5.72, 340/5.62, 340/2.1, 340/2.2, 340/2.7, 340/5.8, 307/10.1, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A remote control system for precisely identifying a distance from the vehicle to an entry key and favorably controlling a vehicle-mounted device such as a door corresponding to the distance. The system comprises a transmitter transmitting different types of response demand signals within a predetermined communication area outside the vehicle, a vehicle mounted receiver for receiving a response signal released from a portable transmitter/receiver in response to the reception of the response demand signal, a controller controlling the vehicle mounted device corresponding to the reception of the response signal by the vehicle mounted receiver. Locking and/or unlocking door(s) of the vehicle are controlled on the basis of whether or not the receiver receives the response signal to a response demand signal other than one having the largest communication area.

Claims

1. A remote control system for a vehicle comprising:

a transmitter mounted on the vehicle for transmitting a response demand signal receivable within a predetermined range outside the vehicle;

a portable transmitter/receiver for sending back a response signal in response to reception of the response demand signal;

a receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving the response signal sent back from the portable transmitter/receiver; and

a controlling means for controlling vehicle-mounted components responding whether the receiver receives the response signal or not,

said transmitter arranged to transmit a plurality of response demand signals receivable within different corresponding predetermined ranges,

said controlling means arranged to identify that the portable transmitter/receiver exists within the largest predetermined receivable range and to make the transmitter transmit another response demand signal receivable within a predetermined range which is smaller than the largest size of the predetermined range in addition to the response demand signal receivable in the largest size of the predetermined range when a response signal is received by the receiver, which response signal corresponds to reception of particular response demand signal being receivable within the largest predetermined receivable range and, to control at least either unlocking or locking of a door(s) of the vehicle depending on whether a response signal is received or not by the receiver, which response signal corresponds to reception of the other response demand signal than a particular one being receivable within the largest predetermined receivable range.

2. A remote control system for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a disembarkation detecting means for detecting the disembarkation of a user, wherein

when the disembarkation of the user is detected, a response demand signal receivable within the smallest size of the predetermined range is transmitted from the transmitter, and

when the response signal showing reception of the response demand signal receivable in the smallest size of the predetermined range is no more received by the receiver mounted on the vehicle, a second response demand signal receivable within the second smallest size of the predetermined range is begun to be transmitted from the transmitter in addition to the response demand signal receivable in the smallest size of the predetermined range and, in a similar manner, a response demand signal receivable within a relatively larger size of the predetermined range is transmitted in sequence from the transmitter.

3. A remote control system for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein when the response signal to the response demand signal receivable within the largest size of the predetermined range is received after it is not received by the receiver mounted on the vehicle, the response demand signal receivable within second largest size of the predetermined range is transmitted from the transmitter in addition to the response demand signal receivable within the largest predetermined range and then a response demand signal receivable within a relatively smaller size of the predetermined range is transmitted in sequence from the transmitter.

4. A remote control system for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein further comprising an embarkation detecting means for detecting the embarkation of a user, wherein

when the embarkation of the user is detected by the embarkation detecting means, a response demand signal receivable within the vehicle is transmitted from the transmitter, and when the response signal to the response demand signal receivable inside the vehicle is received by the receiver, action of an engine is enabled.