Remote control device and remote control method for vehicle

• US 7,778,743 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Asakura, Masahiko, Asakura, Suguru, Arie, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dager; Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US11/701,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20070191998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 341/176, 123/179.1, 123/179.2, 165/202
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/246 characterised by the challenge triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/403 Power supply in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00642 by battery
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5973 Remote control

Abstract

A counter increases a counted value at regular time intervals during a transmission time of a request signal Sr transmitted based on trigger signals input from a door unlocking sensor or the like. On the other hand, the counter decreases the counted value at regular time intervals during a non-transmission time of the request signal Sr. A determination unit either prohibits or permits transmission of the request signal Sr to a portable unit, based on comparison results of the counted value with a prohibition value and a lifting value.

Claims

1. A vehicular remote control device configured for controlling transmission of a request signal when the request signal is transmitted to a portable unit from a transmitting unit of a vehicle-mounted device, based on a trigger signal input from a predetermined switch of a vehicle operated by an operator, comprising:

a counting unit configured for increasing a counted value at predetermined regular time intervals during a transmission time of said request signal in response to inputting of said trigger signal, while decreasing said counted value at said predetermined regular time intervals during a non-transmission time of said request signal; and

a transmission control unit configured for controlling permission and prohibition of transmission of said request signal based on comparison of said counted value with a predetermined threshold value,

wherein said threshold value comprises a first threshold value and a second threshold value that is lower than said first threshold value, and

wherein said control unit is configured to prohibit transmission of said request signal when said counted value exceeds said first threshold value, and permits transmission of said request signal when said counted value falls to the second threshold value or lower.

2. The vehicular remote control device according to claim 1, wherein prohibition of transmission of said request signal is lifted in order to permit transmission of said request signal when said counted value falls to said second threshold value or lower.

3. The vehicular remote control device according to claim 1, wherein transmission of said request signal is prohibited when said control unit judges that said counted value exceeds said first threshold value before a next regular time interval.

4. The vehicular remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said counting unit increases said counted value by adding a first preset value to said counted value at said regular time intervals during the transmission time of said request signal, and decreases said counted value by subtracting a second preset value from said counted value at said regular time intervals during the non-transmission time of said request signal.

5. A method of vehicular remote control for controlling transmission of a request signal when the request signal is transmitted to a portable unit from a transmitting unit of a vehicle-mounted device based on a trigger signal input from a predetermined switch of a vehicle operated by an operator, comprising:

a counting step for increasing a counted value at predetermined regular time intervals during a transmission time of said request signal in response to inputting of said trigger signal, while decreasing said counted value at said predetermined regular time intervals during a non-transmission time of said request signal; and

a transmission controlling step for controlling permission and prohibition of transmission of said request signal based on comparison of said counted value with a predetermined threshold value,

wherein said threshold value comprises a first threshold value and a second threshold value that is lower than said first threshold value, and wherein said controlling step prohibits transmission of said request signal when said counted value exceeds said first threshold value, and permits transmission of said request signal when said counted value falls to said second threshold value or lower.

6. The method of vehicular remote control according to claim 5, wherein said transmission controlling step lifts prohibition of transmission of said request signal in order to permit transmission of said request signal when said counted value falls to said second threshold value or lower.

7. The method of vehicular remote control according to claim 5, wherein said transmission control step prohibits the operation of said vehicle-mounted device when it is judged in said transmission control step that said counted value exceeds said first threshold value before a next regular time interval.

8. The method of vehicular remote control according to claim 5, wherein said counting step increases said counted value by adding a first preset value to said counted value at said regular time intervals during the transmission time of said request signal, and decreases said counted value by subtracting a second preset value from said counted value at said regular time intervals during the non-transmission time of said request signal.