Key-less entry system and the method thereof

[0001] The present invention relates to a key-less entry system and the method thereof without inserting a key into a keyhole.

[0002] There are several types of the key-less entry systems for locking/unlocking vehicle doors without inserting the key into the keyhole.

[0003] One old type of the key-less entry system employs the key equipped with a lock button and an unlock button for locking/unlocking the vehicle doors by pressing the buttons.

[0004] On the other hand, an advanced key-less entry system, such as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-5183, is equipped with a door-lock controller for locking/unlocking the vehicle doors by entering a cipher code.

[0005] In detail, the cipher code is entered by a combination of operations of a door outer handle and buzzer sounds. A door can be unlocked when the entered cipher code matches a prestored cipher code.

[0006] More in details, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the operation of a door outer handle is divided into several sequences by the buzzer sounds. FIG. 1 illustrates entering of a 4-digit cipher code 3431. A buzzer goes off after a door outer handle is operated three times, which completes an entry of the first digit 3 of the 4-digit cipher code 3431. In the same way, the second, the third and the fourth digit 4, 3 and 1 of the 4-digit cipher code are entered. The signs B and BB in FIG. 1 indicate that the buzzer goes off one time and two times, respectively.

[0007] Since each of the four digits can be selected from among 10 digits 0 to 9, there is 10000 (10101010) ways of the cipher code entry, which increases the number of operations of the door outer handle.

[0008] A purpose of the present invention is to provide a vehicle key-less entry system and a method thereof with a variety of cipher codes which can be entered by a small number of times of entry operations with a door handle, that offer advanced antitheft features.

[0009] The present invention provides a vehicle key-less entry system comprising: door-handle operation detecting means for detecting whether or not a vehicle door handle is operated and an operational mode by detecting a speed of the door handle, for entering a cipher code; checking means for checking whether the entered cipher code is equal to a prestored cipher code based on the detected operational mode; and locking controlling means for controlling a locking mechanism to unlock a vehicle door when the entered cipher code is equal to the prestored cipher code.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of unlocking a vehicle door comprising the steps of detecting whether or not the vehicle door handle is operated and an operational speed when the door handle is detected as operated for entering the cipher code; checking whether the entered cipher code is equal to a prestored cipher code based on the detected operational speed; and controlling a locking mechanism to unlock a vehicle door when the entered cipher code is equal to the prestored cipher code.

[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a known technique of entering a cipher code;

[0012] FIG. 2 shows a configuration of an embodiment of a key-less entry system according to the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a door outer handle and its peripherals in the embodiment of the key-less entry system according to the present invention;

[0014] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate detection of the movement and speed of the door outer handle when operated;

[0015] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate operational modes of the door outer handle;

[0016] FIG. 6 shows a flowchart indicating an entry of a cipher code in the embodiment of the key-less entry system according to the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 7 illustrates a cipher-code entry in the embodiment of the key-less entry system according to the present invention; and

[0018] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate operational modes of the door outer handle in a modification to the embodiment of the key-less entry system according to the present invention.

[0019] An embodiment according to the present invention will be disclosed with reference to attached drawings.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a configuration of an embodiment of a key-less entry system according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of a door outer handle 2. The door outer handle 2 shown in FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 3.

[0021] The door outer handle 2 is attached to an escutcheon 6 embedded in a door outer panel 4 of a vehicle door. It is held at a specific position (not shown) with a spring, etc, but rotatable about a rotary axis P at which it is attached to the escutcheon 6. Provided inside the door outer panel 4 is a link arm 8 having a joint 10 connected to a door latch (not shown) against the door outer handle 2, with respect to the rotary axis P. This mechanism allows the joint 10 to shift to actuate the door latch when a driver operates the door outer handle 2. The joint 10 is mechanically connected to the door latch via a rod or a wire for opening or closing the door, without any electrical mechanism.

[0022] Attached at a top end of the link arm 8 is a magnetic unit 12. Provided at a vehicle body side is a magnetic sensor 14 for detecting a magnetism generated by the magnetic unit 12.

[0023] While the magnetic unit 12 is moving in dependency on the operation of the door outer handle 2, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the magnetic sensor 14 generates a current, as shown in FIG. 4B, in accordance with the movement and a speed of the magnetic unit 12.

[0024] The magnetic unit 12 and the magnetic sensor 14 constitute a non-contact switch to function as door-handle operation detecting means.

[0025] The magnetic sensor 14 is connected to a control unit 16 having CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., provided at the vehicle-body side. The control unit 16 prestores a cipher code for unlocking the vehicle door.

[0026] Connected to the control unit 16 is a door-lock actuator 18 for actuating a locking mechanism for door locking/unlocking in response to a signal from the control unit 16.

[0027] Also connected to the control unit 16 is a buzzer 20 that goes off in response to the entry of each digit of the cipher code for unlocking the vehicle door.

[0028] The locking mechanism is not disclosed in details because it is a known vehicle-door locking mechanism. At least one locking mechanism among those for several vehicle doors allows manual operations of the door locking/unlocking by inserting a key into a keyhole 22 (FIG. 3) and turning thereof.

[0029] Illustrated in FIG. 5A is that the door outer handle 2 is under no operation in which the magnetic unit 12 and the magnetic sensor 14 are facing each other. On the other hand, FIG. 5B illustrates that the door outer handle 2 is operated in which the magnetic unit 12 and the magnetic sensor 14 are apart (or separated) from each other.

[0030] In this embodiment, the cipher-code entry is performed by operating the door outer handle 2 slowly or quickly, which is disclosed with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 6.

[0031] Step S10: Enter reference data for the operational speed of the door outer handle 2 in the entry of the cipher code.

[0032] In this embodiment, an operational speed quick is entered as reference data by operating the door outer handle 2. The operational speed quick is opposite to an operational speed slow for entering the first digit of the cipher code.

[0033] While the door outer handle 2 is being operated in the entry of the reference data, a displacement speed of the magnetic unit 12 is detected by the magnetic sensor 14, as illustrated in FIG. 4A. The magnetic sensor 14 then generates a current corresponding to the displacement speed of the magnetic unit 12. The current is sent to the control unit 16 (FIG. 2), thus the operational speed quick being entered and stored as the reference data.

[0034] It is determined that the door outer handle 2 is operated slowly if the operating speed is slower than the stored operational speed quick (reference data). On the other hand, it is determined that the door outer handle 2 is operated quickly if the operational speed is faster than or almost equal to the stored operational speed quick.

[0035] Step S11: Enter the cipher code by operating the door outer handle 2.

[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the cipher code is entered by operating the door outer handle 2 three times, four times, three times, and one time, eleven times in total, after the entry of the reference data (quick).

[0037] In detail, an operator, such as a car owner, operates the door outer handle 2 three times at the operational speeds slow, quick and quick in order, thus the first digit of the cipher code being entered. The buzzer 20 (FIG. 2) goes off one time when a predetermined period of time elapses. The signs B and BB in FIG. 7 indicate that the buzzer 20 goes off one time and two times, respectively.

[0038] The operator then operates the door outer handle 2 four times at the operational speeds quick, quick, quick and quick in order, thus the second digit of the cipher code being entered. The buzzer 20 goes off one time again when the predetermined period of time elapses.

[0039] Next, the operator operates the door outer handle 2 three times at the operational speed slow, quick and quick in order, thus the third digit of the cipher code being entered. The buzzer 20 goes off one time again when the predetermined period of time elapses.

[0040] Still, the operator operates the door outer handle 2 one time at the operational speed slow, thus the fourth digit of the cipher code being entered. The buzzer 20 goes off two times (BB) when the predetermined period of time elapses, thus the cipher-code entry being completed. The entered cipher code is stored in the control unit 16.

[0041] Whether the door outer handle 2 is operated and the operating speed are determined on the basis of the current generated by the magnetic sensor 14.

[0042] The cipher-code entry disclosed above offers two ways of the entry of the data quick or slow. Therefore, the cipher-code entry in this embodiment achieves less number of times of the entry than the known cipher-code entry, although requiring one-time reference-data entry, while increases the number of useable cipher codes.

[0043] The sequence continues as shown in FIG. 6.

[0044] Step S12: Check whether the cipher code entered by operating the door outer handle 2 matches the stored cipher code.

[0045] Step S13: Determine whether the entered cipher code matches or is equal to the stored one. If YES the sequence goes to step S14 whereas if NO, the sequence ends.

[0046] Step S14: The control unit 16 sends a control signal to the door-lock actuator 16 to actuate the door-locking mechanism to unlock a door.

[0047] As disclosed in detail, the keyless entry system in this embodiment decreases the number of times of entry than the known cipher-code entry while increases the number of useable cipher codes, thus enhancing a security against a car robbery, etc.

[0048] Moreover, the keyless entry system in this embodiment employs the operational speed quick or slow, as reference data, thus achieving precise detection of the quick or slow operation of the door outer handle 2 without relation to individual difference in operational speeds.

[0049] The keyless entry system according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed above.

[0050] For example, the door-handle operation detecting means is constituted by the magnetic unit 12 and the magnetic sensor 14 in this embodiment.

[0051] Not only that, the door-handle operation detecting means can be constituted by a contact switch 24, such as, shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

[0052] Illustrated in FIG. 8A is that the door outer handle 2 is under no operation whereas, in FIG. 8B, it is operated.

[0053] In this modification, it is determined that the door outer handle 2 is operated quickly or slowly when an intermission between operations of the handle 2 (between ON and OFF of the contact switch 24) is short or long, respectively, for discrimination between a correct cipher code and wrong or false one when entered.

[0054] Also in this modification, the cipher-code entry is made based on whether the door outer handle 2 is operated and an operational mode such as, its operational speed, thus decrease in the number of times of the entry while increase in the number of useable cipher codes being both achieved to enhance the security against the car robbery, etc.

[0055] The embodiment employs two patterns quick and slow for the operational speed of the door outer handle 2 in the entry of the cipher code. Not only that, three or more patterns such as quick, moderate and slow can be used in the cipher-code entry.

[0056] Moreover, the embodiment sets the operational speed entered first as the reference data. Not only that, an intermediate operational speed between an operational speed that entered first and another operational speed in the entry of the first digit of the cipher code can be set as the reference data.

[0057] As disclosed above in detail, according to the keyless entry system and also the method of unlocking a vehicle door, cipher-code entry is made based on whether the door outer handle is operated and an operational mode, such as, its operational speed, thus decrease in the number of times of entry while increase in the number of useable cipher codes being both achieved to enhance the security against the car robbery, etc.