Motor vehicle unlocking method and system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9972148-B2
Application number	US-201414513285-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2014
Priority date	Oct 16, 2013
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A key-less entry system for motor vehicle uses actuations of one or more pre-existing vehicle components accessible from outside the vehicle, such as door handles, to generate an unlock an unlock code that is stored in a control unit. The code represents a sequence of actuations of component(s). Upon leaving the vehicle, the user locks the vehicle and sets the code by actuating the components in the desired sequence. To later unlock the vehicle, the user repeats the sequence of actuations, and the control unit sends an unlock signal to one or more door latches.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control method for a vehicle, comprising:
by a control unit having a user-defined Morse-type unlock code and a visitor code for access but not operation of the vehicle, each of the codes representing a sequence of actuations of an exterior handle,
unlocking door locks responsive to signals that match the unlock code generated via sequential actuation of the exterior handle without use of a keypad in an absence of an authorized fob in a vicinity of the vehicle, and
activating an alarm responsive to the signals not matching the unlock code.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes a vehicle instrument cluster.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unlocking is further responsive to receiving a signal from a camera or a vibration sensor of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unlocking is further responsive to receiving a code entered by a user having access to an interior of the vehicle.

5. A system for a vehicle comprising:
a control unit
storing a user-defined Morse-type unlock code representing a sequence of pulls of an exterior handle and a visitor code for access but not operation of the vehicle,
sending an unlock signal to a door latch upon receiving signals generated without use of a keypad and indicating pulls of the handle that match the unlock code in an absence of an authorized fob in a vicinity of the vehicle, and
sending an activation signal to an alarm upon receiving signals that do not match the unlock code.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the control unit comprises a vehicle instrument cluster.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein a user is able to select one of codes that will enable the sending of the unlock signal.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the sending of the unlock code further requires receipt of a signal from at least one of a camera and a vibration sensor of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein the sending of the unlock code further requires receipt of a second code entered by a user having access to an interior of the vehicle.

10. A motor vehicle system comprising:
a control unit
storing a user-defined Morse-type unlock code and a visitor code for access but not operation of the vehicle, each of the codes representing a sequence of actuations of first and second exterior handles,
sending an unlock signal to a door latch upon receiving signals indicating that the first and second exterior handles have been actuated without use of a keypad and in a manner matching the unlock code in an absence of an authorized fob in a vicinity of the vehicle, and
sending an activation signal to an alarm upon receiving signals that do not match the unlock code.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control unit comprises a vehicle instrument cluster.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein a user is able to select one of the codes that will enable sending of the unlock signal.

13. The system of claim 10 , further comprising at least one of a camera and a vibration sensor, and wherein the sending of the unlock code further requires receipt of a signal from the at least one camera and vibration sensor.

14. The system of claim 10 , further comprising an instrument cluster in an interior of the vehicle, and wherein the sending of the unlock code further requires receipt by the control unit of a second code entered using the instrument cluster.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Huennekens Johannes
• Foletta Gregory
• Ellis Samuel

Classifications

• G07C9/0069

  actuated in a predetermined sequence · CPC title

• G07C2209/04

  Access control involving a hierarchy in access rights · CPC title

• B60R25/24

  using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user · CPC title

• G07C9/28 Primary

  the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence · CPC title

• G07C9/00174 Primary

  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