Random seed entry number to eliminate key sequence capture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9821769-B2
Application number	US-201615005120-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2016
Priority date	Jan 25, 2016
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle entry system includes a lock mechanism, an interface, and a control. The control receives a plurality of code digits by presenting a displayed number on the interface that is initially a random number and at least one of changing or receiving an entry of the displayed number based on a signal from the input. When the plurality of code digits corresponds to a stored entry code, the control causes the lock mechanism to unlock.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle entry system, comprising:
a lock mechanism;
an interface including a display; and
a control:
receiving a plurality of code digits by initially presenting a random number as displayed number on the display and at least one of changing or receiving an entry of the displayed number based on a signal from the interface; and
when the plurality of code digits corresponds to a stored entry code, causing the lock mechanism to unlock.

2. The vehicle entry system of claim 1 , wherein:
the interface includes a confirmation button and a selection button;
the signal received by the controller from the interface corresponds with changing the displayed number when the selection button is depressed; and
the signal received by the controller from the interface corresponds with receiving the entry of the displayed number when the confirmation button is depressed.

3. The vehicle entry system of claim 1 , wherein:
the display is on a portion of a confirmation button; and
the signal received by the controller from the interface corresponds with receiving the entry of the displayed number when the confirmation button is depressed.

4. The vehicle entry system of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller receives a first one of the plurality of code digits including presenting the displayed number in the form of a first displayed number on the interface that is initially the random number in the form of a first random number; and
upon receiving the entry of the displayed number based on the signal from the interface in the form of a first signal, the controller receives a second one of the plurality of code digits including presenting a second displayed number on the interface that is initially a second random number at least one of changing or receiving the entry of the second displayed number based on a second signal from the interface.

5. The vehicle entry system of claim 1 , further including a proximity sensor in communication with the controller, wherein:
the controller presents the displayed number on the interface upon detecting a first object within a first range of the proximity sensor.

6. The vehicle entry system of claim 1 , further including a first vehicle door defining an exterior surface and an interior, wherein;
the interface is mounted on the exterior of the vehicle door; and
the door lock mechanism is mounted within the interior of the vehicle door.

7. The vehicle entry system of claim 6 , wherein:
the exterior surface includes a portion thereof defined on a B-pillar trim piece of the door; and
the interface is mounted on the exterior of the vehicle door on the portion defined on the B-pillar trim piece.

8. A vehicle, comprising:
a door including a lock mechanism;
an interface mounted on the door; and
a control:
receiving a plurality of code digits by initially presenting a random number as a displayed number on the interface and at least one of changing the displayed number to a sequentially-adjacent integer or storing the displayed number based on a signal from the interface; and
when the plurality of code digits corresponds to a stored entry code, causing the lock mechanism to unlock.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein:
the interface includes an increase selection button and a decrease selection button; and
changing the displayed number includes increasing the displayed number to a greater sequentially-adjacent integer upon receiving the signal from the increase selection button or decreasing the displayed number to a lesser sequentially-adjacent integer upon receiving the signal from the decrease selection button.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein:
the interface includes a confirmation button and a selection button;
the signal received by the controller from the interface corresponds with changing the selection of the displayed number when the selection button is depressed; and
the signal received by the controller from the interface corresponds with receiving the entry of the displayed number when the confirmation button is depressed.

11. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein:
the controller receives a first one of the plurality of code digits including presenting the displayed number in the form of a first displayed number on the interface that is initially the random number in the form of a first random number; and
upon receiving the entry of the displayed number as a first entry based on the signal from the interface in the form of a first signal, the controller receives a second one of the plurality of code digits including presenting a second displayed number on the interface that is initially a second random number at least one of changing or receiving a second entry of the second displayed number based on a second signal from the interface.

12. The vehicle of claim 8 , further including a proximity sensor in communication with the controller, wherein:
the controller presents the displayed number on the interface upon detecting a first object within a first range of the proximity sensor.

13. A method for controlling access to a vehicle, comprising:
presenting on an interface a first displayed number that is initially a first random number and at least one of changing or receiving an entry of the first displayed number based on a signal from an interface; and
upon receiving the entry of the first displayed number, presenting a second displayed number on the interface that is initially a second random number.

14. The method of claim 13 , further including:
storing in memory entries of at least the first and second displayed numbers as a plurality of sequential code digits; and
when the plurality of code digits corresponds to a stored entry code, causing a lock mechanism to unlock.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein presenting a second displayed number on the interface that is initially a second random number further includes at least one of changing or receiving an entry of the second displayed number based on a second signal from the interface.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein changing the displayed number includes changing the displayed number to a sequentially-adjacent integer.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
changing the displayed number includes increasing the displayed number to a greater sequentially-adjacent integer upon receiving a signal from an increase selection input or decreasing the displayed number to a lesser sequentially-adjacent integer when the signal corresponds to a decrease selection input.

18. The method of claim 13 , further including initiating a code entry sequence, including presenting on the interface the first displayed number, upon detecting an object within a first range of the interface.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dry Alan George

Classifications

• B60R25/23 Primary

  using manual input of alphanumerical codes · CPC title

• G07C9/00698

  actuated in function of displayed informations · CPC title

• G07C9/00817 Primary

  where the code of the lock can be programmed · CPC title