Simultaneous button press secure keypad code entry

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9747740-B2
Application number	US-201514635772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2015
Priority date	Mar 2, 2015
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

A keypad having a plurality of switches identifies a numerical value according to user input to the plurality of switches. The numerical value may be computed as a total count of the plurality of switches that are swiped across in a consistent direction or may be computed as a total count of the plurality of switches that are simultaneously pressed. The keypad may further send the numerical value to a controller configured to facilitate access to vehicle unlock functionality.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a keypad, having a plurality of switches configured to receive user input, configured to
identify a numerical value according to user input to the plurality of switches, the numerical value computed as a total count of a quantity of the plurality of switches that are simultaneously pressed by the user input; and
send the numerical value to a controller configured to facilitate access to vehicle unlock functionality.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising the controller, configured to:
receive an access code from the keypad; and
provide keypad access to the vehicle unlock functionality when the access code matches a code stored to the controller.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the keypad comprises a keypad display, and the keypad is further configured to send the numerical value to the keypad display to be displayed to the user.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the keypad is further configured to at least one of: (i) increase the numerical value responsive to receiving an additional press of one of the plurality of switches without releasing the plurality of switches that are simultaneously pressed by the user; and (ii) decrease the numerical value responsive to receiving a removal of a press of one of the plurality of switches without releasing all of the plurality of switches that are simultaneously pressed by the user.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the keypad comprises a keypad display, and the keypad is further configured to send the numerical value, as incremented or decremented, to the keypad display to update the user.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of switches includes five switches.

7. A vehicle comprising:
a keypad, having a plurality of switches configured to receive user input, configured to
identify a numerical value according to user input to the plurality of switches, the numerical value computed as a total count of a quantity of the plurality of switches that are swiped across in a consistent direction by the user; and
send the numerical value to a controller configured to facilitate access to vehicle unlock functionality.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising the controller, configured to:
receive an access code from the keypad; and
provide keypad access to the vehicle unlock functionality when the access code matches a code stored to the controller.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the keypad comprises a keypad display, and the keypad is further configured to send the numerical value to the keypad display to be displayed to the user.

10. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the keypad is further configured to at least one of: (i) increase the numerical value responsive to receiving an additional swipe press of one of the plurality of switches in the consistent direction; and (ii) decrease the numerical value responsive to receiving an additional swipe press of one of the plurality of switches in a direct opposite to the consistent direction.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the keypad comprises a keypad display, and the keypad is further configured to send the numerical value, as incremented or decremented, to the keypad display to update the user.

12. A method comprising:
identifying, by a keypad having a plurality of switches, a numerical value according to user input to the plurality of switches, the numerical value computed as a total count of one of (i) a quantity of the plurality of switches that are swiped across in a consistent direction or (ii) a quantity of the plurality of switches that are simultaneously pressed; and
sending the numerical value to a controller configured to facilitate access to vehicle unlock functionality.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving, by a vehicle controller, an access code from the keypad; and
providing keypad access to the vehicle unlock functionality when the access code matches a code stored to the controller.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising sending the numerical value to a keypad display to be displayed to the user.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising at least one of: (i) increasing the numerical value responsive to receiving an additional press of one of the plurality of switches without releasing the plurality of switches that are simultaneously pressed by the user; and (ii) decreasing the numerical value responsive to receiving a removal of a press of one of the plurality of switches without releasing all of the plurality of switches that are simultaneously pressed by the user.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising sending the numerical value, as incremented or decremented, to a keypad display to update the user.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising at least one of: (i) increasing the numerical value responsive to receiving an additional swipe press of one of the plurality of switches in the consistent direction; and (ii) decreasing the numerical value responsive to receiving an additional swipe press of one of the plurality of switches in a direct opposite to the consistent direction.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising sending the numerical value, as incremented or decremented, to a keypad display to update the user.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Buttolo Pietro
• Rankin Ii James Stewart
• Ghosh Dipanjan
• Lobo Harry
• Ritter Kassandra
• Smith Jessica
• Salter Stuart C

Classifications

• G07C9/00174

  Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys (mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00) · CPC title

• G07C9/33

  by means of a password · CPC title

• G06F3/02

  Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials · CPC title

• G07C9/0069 Primary

  actuated in a predetermined sequence · CPC title

• G07C9/00182 Primary

  operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks · CPC title