Method for operating an access arrangement

• US 8,427,287 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Heininger, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US12/306,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20110316680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,126 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.2, 340/10.1, 340/505, 340/506, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.32, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2009 Antitheft state indicator
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

In a method for operating an access arrangement (ZA) for a vehicle (FZ), access to the vehicle can be obtained by a mobile identification transmitter (IDG). With this method, first an ambient brightness around the vehicle is determined. Furthermore, the presence of an authorized mobile identification transmitter in an approach region (ANB, ANB2) around the vehicle is examined. Finally, an activation signal (LSS) for an illumination source (BL) of the vehicle is issued when the ambient brightness drops below a predetermined brightness value and the presence of an authorized mobile identification transmitter is detected in the approach zone. In this way, efficient activation of the illumination source can be achieved.

Claims

1. A method for operating an access arrangement for a vehicle, wherein access to the vehicle can be obtained by means of a mobile identification transmitter, comprising the following steps:

determining an ambient brightness around the vehicle;

checking for the presence of an authorized mobile identification transmitter in a proximity area around the vehicle;

outputting an activation signal for a lighting source of the vehicle if the ambient brightness is below a predetermined brightness value and the presence of an authorized mobile identification transmitter is detected in the proximity area,

wherein the ambient brightness is first determined and the presence of the identification transmitter is only checked for if an ambient brightness below the predetermined brightness value is present.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a control device is switched from a first state with low power consumption to a second state with medium power consumption at defined instants in order to initiate measurement of the ambient brightness, the control device being returned to the first state ZS1 with low power consumption if an ambient brightness above the predetermined brightness value is measured.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein if an ambient brightness below the predetermined brightness value is detected, the control device is switched to a third state with high power consumption in order to check for the presence of an authorized identification transmitter.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein after successful verification of the presence of the authorized mobile identification transmitter, authentication is carried out on the part of the vehicle with the identification transmitter in order to enable at least one door of the vehicle to be unlocked.

4. A method for operating an access arrangement for a vehicle, wherein access to the vehicle can be obtained by means of a mobile identification transmitter, comprising the following steps:

determining an ambient brightness around the vehicle;

checking for the presence of an authorized mobile identification transmitter in a proximity area around the vehicle;

outputting an activation signal for a lighting source of the vehicle if the ambient brightness is below a predetermined brightness value and the presence of an authorized mobile identification transmitter is detected in the proximity area, wherein the presence of an authorized identification transmitter is first checked for, and, in the event of a positive result, forwarding of the ambient brightness around the vehicle is performed,

wherein at defined instants a control device is switched from a first state with low power consumption to a third state with high power consumption in order to check for the presence of the authorized identification transmitter, the control device reverting to the first state with low power consumption in the event of a negative result.

16. The method according to claim 4, wherein after successful verification of the presence of the authorized mobile identification transmitter, authentication is carried out on the part of the vehicle with the identification transmitter in order to enable at least one door of the vehicle to be unlocked.

5. A method for operating an access arrangement for a vehicle, wherein access to the vehicle can be obtained by means of a mobile identification transmitter, comprising the following steps:

determining an ambient brightness around the vehicle;

checking for the presence of an authorized mobile identification transmitter in a proximity area around the vehicle;

outputting an activation signal for a lighting source of the vehicle if the ambient brightness is below a predetermined brightness value and the presence of an authorized mobile identification transmitter is detected in the proximity area, wherein to determine the ambient brightness at least two ambient brightness values are measured, and

wherein if one ambient brightness value measured is greater than the predetermined brightness value and a second ambient brightness value measured is less than the predetermined brightness value at least one other ambient brightness value is measured to determine the ambient brightness.

17. The method according to claim 5, wherein after successful verification of the presence of the authorized mobile identification transmitter, authentication is carried out on the part of the vehicle with the identification transmitter in order to enable at least one door of the vehicle to be unlocked.

7. An access arrangement for a vehicle, wherein access to the vehicle can be obtained by means of a mobile identification transmitter, comprising the following features:

a brightness sensor for measuring the ambient brightness around the vehicle;

a transceiver for checking for the presence of an authorized identification transmitter in a proximity area around the vehicle;

a control device for outputting an activation signal for a lighting source if the ambient brightness is less than a predetermined brightness value and the presence of an authorized mobile identification transmitter is detected in the proximity area,

wherein the control device is assigned a timer which switches the control device from a first state with low power consumption to a second state with medium power consumption in which the control device triggers the brightness sensor to measure the ambient brightness.

8. The access arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the control device reverts to the first state with low power consumption if the ambient brightness measured by the brightness sensor is above the predetermined brightness value.

9. The access arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the control device assumes a third state with high power consumption if the ambient brightness value measured by the brightness sensor is below the predetermined brightness value, in order to trigger the transceiver SE to check for the presence of an authorized identification transmitter.

10. The access arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the control device is assigned a timer which switches the control device from a first state with low power consumption to a third state with high power consumption in which the control device triggers the transceiver to check for the presence of the mobile identification transmitter.

11. The access arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the control device reverts to the first state if no mobile identification transmitter has been detected in the proximity area.

12. The access arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the control device, after successfully checking for the presence of the mobile identification transmitter, additionally triggers the brightness sensor to measure the ambient brightness.

13. The access arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the brightness sensor has a photodiode, in particular with built-in color correction filter for the visible wavelength region.

14. A motor vehicle with an access arrangement, wherein access to the vehicle can be obtained by means of a mobile identification transmitter, comprising the following features:

a brightness sensor for measuring the ambient brightness around the vehicle;

a transceiver for checking for the presence of an authorized identification transmitter in a proximity area around the vehicle;

a control device for outputting an activation signal for a lighting source if the ambient brightness is less than a predetermined brightness value and the presence of an authorized mobile identification transmitter is detected in the proximity area,

wherein the control device is assigned a timer which switches the control device from a first state with low power consumption to a second state with medium power consumption in which the control device triggers the brightness sensor to measure the ambient brightness.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the control device reverts to the first state with low power consumption if the ambient brightness measured by the brightness sensor is above the predetermined brightness value.