Device for locking and unlocking a door of a motor vehicle

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for locking and unlocking a door of a motor vehicle. The device includes a transmitting unit located on the vehicle and at least one transponder with an access authorization code assigned to a user.

[0003] A device for locking and unlocking a door without a key is described in “Keyless Entry System with Radio Card Transponder,” Motoki Hirano et al., IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, Vol. 35, 1988, pages 208 through 216. This conventional device is used to unlock a locked door of a motor vehicle as soon as a user carrying a transponder enters the interrogation field of a transmitting unit located in the door region, triggering interrogation. The door is unlocked when the transmitting unit detects the correct transponder code, using an evaluator.

[0004] Although it is not difficult for the user to lock and unlock the door using such a device, situations can arise in which the mode of operation of this device is disadvantageous, making it less attractive to users. For example, it is possible to start a vehicle if an unauthorized user gains access to the car's interior.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a device which offers greater security against unauthorized use of the vehicle and supports the user in a variety of real situations.

[0006] According to this arrangement, the information exchanged between the transmitting unit and transponder contains not only the access authorization code but also a driving authorization code, and, in addition to the transponder, at least one more storage device is provided in or on the vehicle for storing the driving authorization.

[0007] The access authorization code makes it possible to gain access to the vehicle interior without allowing the vehicle to be driven away. The vehicle can be driven away only if a driving authorization is also detected. Storing the authorization data in the additional storage device makes it possible to continuously check the authorization status and also the presence of the transponder, enabling the system to respond to changes in the situation. The controller can be programmed to detect and take into account many different situations and trigger a suitable response in each one.

[0008] If interrogation of the driving authorization code is not triggered and evaluated by a controller until access authorization is detected based on the access authorization code, and if the driving authorization is stored in the additional storage device when this code is detected through evaluation by an evaluating stage of the controller, driving authorization will not be granted at all unless access authorization is also present.

[0009] According to advantageous refinements, the additional storage device is an emergency card or a storage area and is or can be placed in a roof-mounted module or the controller. The storage device designed as the emergency card can be removed if desired, preventing manipulation of the additional storage device. To simplify the design, the additional storage device can also be provided as a storage area in a roof-mounted module or the controller.

[0010] A time window for checking the driving authorization, thus providing additional security, is obtained by having the controller trigger interrogation of the driving authorization code before or shortly after starting the vehicle.

[0011] To support secure operation and help increase security against unauthorized operation, the driving authorization remains stored in the additional storage device when the transponder moves out of range of a driving authorization code receiving zone while the vehicle is moving, and the driving authorization is removed from the additional storage device when the vehicle and engine are stopped.

[0012] For example, to alert the driver to the fact that the transponder is no longer within the interrogation or receiving zone, an acoustic and/or optical indicator connected to the controller is provided which can be used to indicate when the transponder leaves the receiving zone of the driving authorization code.

[0013] A further important item of information for the user is provided by the ability to indicate when the driver has gotten out of a stationary car and left at least one transponder inside the vehicle, in which case the doors will not lock. This ensures that an authorized user does not leave the transponder behind, making it accessible to an unauthorized person.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the operating concept, an internal card can be disabled automatically if the user always wants the doors to be locked. The doors are locked by a deliberate action (“tapping on the door”).

[0015] Security can be further increased by allowing the door to be locked only when the emergency card is removed from its holder.

[0016] To prevent a transponder from being locked in the car trunk by mistake, the trunk door cannot be locked after it has been unlocked and a transponder left in the trunk. The driver can also be alerted to this by an acoustic/optical device.

[0017] Because interrogation of the driving authorization code cannot be triggered if the vehicle is entered without access authorization, the vehicle cannot be driven away when it is entered by an unauthorized person.

[0018] To enable the vehicle to be driven away from a hazardous zone in dangerous situations, the controller can allow the vehicle to be driven a short distance even without driving authorization, in which case a warning device is activated. To prevent the vehicle from being driven a long distance unauthorized, the distance becomes shorter after the engine is turned off and then started again. Each time the car is restarted, the distance that can be covered is much shorter than the distance covered the last time. Such special situations are indicated externally by an acoustic/optical device.

[0019] To allow simple operation in combination with the transponder, the vehicle can be started and the steering column lock released by pressing the brake pedal while simultaneously pulling a knob on the gear shift level, and the engine can be turned off by pressing a button or turning a rotary switch.

[0020] To ensure smooth vehicle operation, the stored driving authorization is erased when changing drivers and, if the new driver does not have a transponder, the system switches over to interrogation of the passenger transponder.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a device for locking and unlocking a door of a motor vehicle according to the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating a portion of an embodiment of the device for locking and unlocking the door of the motor vehicle according to the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram illustrating a portion of an embodiment of the device for locking and unlocking the door of the motor vehicle according to the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram illustrating a portion of an embodiment of the device for locking and unlocking the door of the motor vehicle according to the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram illustrating a portion of an embodiment of the device for locking and unlocking the door of the motor vehicle according to the present invention.

[0026] As shown in the FIG. 1, a responder T in the form of a transponder assigned to a user carries information that can be interrogated by a transmitting unit located on the motor vehicle as soon as transponder T comes within range of a transmitting unit S located on the motor vehicle. Transmitting unit S is connected to a controller SG, to which is connected another unit SP in the form of a storage device SP in addition to transponder. The storage device SP may be situated in the motor vehicle or on the motor vehicle (FIG. 2). Controller SG has a number of different stages which can be used to evaluate the data supplied by transmitting unit S and storage device SP and trigger suitable responses which, for example, can be assigned to different situations by a programming unit in the controller.

[0027] The additional storage device can be in the form of an emergency card or a storage area and be placed in a roof-mounted module (FIG. 3) or in controller SG (FIG. 4), for example near an instrument assembly or the dashboard. Interrogation of transponder T is advantageously initiated by a trigger unit which is located in the motor vehicle door handle and responds when the door handle is operated.

[0028] In addition to an access authorization code, the information stored in transponder T also contains a driving authorization code, with the system initially checking only the access authorization code when interrogation is triggered and unlocking the door if controller SG detects the access authorization code, depending on the programming of controller SG. The driving authorization code is checked before or shortly after starting the vehicle and stored temporarily in the additional storage device after driving authorization has been detected.

[0029] The driving authorization code remains stored if transponder T leaves the receiving zone for interrogating the driving authorization code during vehicle travel, which is detected by a speed sensor or an engine status detector, for example, if children play with transponder T or the latter falls out of a pocket. The vehicle authorization is canceled when the vehicle stops, i.e. when the engine is turned off, and it is automatically erased from storage device SP if the driver leaves transponder T behind in the vehicle.

[0030] If transponder T leaves the receiving or local zone for interrogating the driving authorization code while the vehicle is moving, this can be indicated, for example, visually or acoustically by an indicator on the roof-mounted module. If the driver leaves the stopped vehicle, a dual-tone warning signal sounds when the vehicle door closes, alerting him to the fact that he has left transponder T behind. The doors do not lock in this case. Controller SG can be programmed so that the doors can be locked only if the driver has removed the emergency card from its holder.

[0031] The presence of at least one transponder T in the vehicle after the driver leaves the vehicle is indicated by an acoustic or optical signal when the door closes. The door does not lock automatically if at least one transponder is located in the vehicle. If, however, no transponder T is in the vehicle, the doors are locked.

[0032] If the trunk is unlocked by bringing transponder T into a local “trunk” zone, and if the user with access authorization opens the trunk and leaves transponder T inside it, the trunk door will not lock when it is closed.

[0033] If an unauthorized person illegally enters the vehicle without access authorization while the doors are locked, checking of the driving authorization code is not enabled. If a card is present, it is disabled.

[0034] To remove a vehicle from a hazardous zone in an emergency situation, the vehicle can be started without driving authorization and driven a short, programmable distance (such as 50 meters). A special situation of this type (such as stopping at a railway crossing or an accident) is indicated to the surroundings by an audible horn signal and/or activation of the hazard warning lights or flashing low-beam lights. If a vehicle stalls in a situation of this type, it can be started again after a programmable period of time, such as 5 seconds. If the engine stalls again, the time period can be extended and/or the distance cut in half.

[0035] In FIG. 5, the vehicle can be started and the steering column lock released by pressing the brake pedal while simultaneously pulling a knob on the gear shift lever or turning a rotary switch. The engine can be turned off by either pressing a button located, for example, on the steering wheel, or turning a rotary switch.

[0036] If the driver changes places with the passenger, turning off the engine while doing so, the driving authorization is canceled. If the passenger does not have a transponder T with a driving authorization code, the system looks for the previous transponder T in the passenger's vicinity after he switches with the driver and grants driving authorization to the new driver if it detects the correct driving authorization code.

[0037] The device embodiment described above can be used to adjust the latter flexibly to real situations.