Door unlocking system and door unlocking method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9997000-B2
Application number	US-201615260433-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2016
Priority date	Mar 13, 2014
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

An electronic key actively executes wireless communication following a keyless entry communication and passively executes wireless communication following a RFID communication. A vehicle control device is mounted on a vehicle and actively executes wireless communication following each of the keyless entry communication and RFID communication. An ECU/BCM unlocks a door by communicating with the electronic key using the keyless entry communication and issues a password to the electronic key in relation to this action. When a door knob or handle is pulled, an RFID-IC acquires the password issued by the ECU/BCM from the electronic key using the RFID communication and unlocks the door by authenticating the acquired password.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A door unlocking system comprising:
a portable device carried by a user, the portable device actively performing a wireless communication following a first short-range wireless communication mode and passively performing a wireless communication following a second short-range wireless communication mode; and
an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle including a door, the in-vehicle device actively performing a wireless communication following the first short-range wireless communication mode and a wireless communication following the second short-range wireless communication mode; wherein
the in-vehicle device includes a first unlocking actuator communicating in the first short-range wireless communication mode with the portable device to unlock the door and a password generator issuing a password to the portable device in association with a process of the first unlocking actuator;
the portable device includes a storage storing a password issued by the password generator and an indicator notifying the in-vehicle device of an unlocking operation by the user in the first short-range wireless communication mode;
the in-vehicle device further includes a password acquirer acquiring a password stored by the storage in the second short-range wireless communication mode when a predetermined operation to the vehicle is performed, and a second unlocking actuator authenticating the password acquired by the password acquirer to unlock the door; and
the first unlocking actuator unlocks the door in response to a notification from the indicator.

2. The door unlocking system according to claim 1 , wherein
a communication range following the first short-range wireless communication mode is larger than a communication range following the second short-range wireless communication mode; and
the password generator issues the password in the first short-range wireless communication mode.

3. The door unlocking system according to claim 1 , wherein
the password generator updates contents of the password for each issuance; and
the password acquirer acquires a plurality of passwords already issued by the password generator for each authentication.

4. The door unlocking system according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined operation is an operation of pulling a door knob or door handle.

5. The door unlocking system according to claim 1 , wherein the portable device is an electronic key.

6. The door unlocking system according to claim 1 , wherein the in-vehicle device is a vehicle control apparatus mounted on the vehicle.

7. The door unlocking system according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an automobile.

8. The door unlocking system according to claim 5 , wherein the electronic key includes an unlock button, an active wireless circuit and an RFID tag.

9. The door unlocking system according to claim 8 , wherein the active wireless circuit includes a battery, a control circuit and an antenna.

10. The door unlocking system according to claim 9 , wherein the RFID tag is a passive tag including an RFID-IC and an antenna.

11. The door unlocking system according to claim 10 , wherein the control circuit is connected to the RFID-IC through an Inter-Integrated Circuit interface.

12. The door unlocking system according to claim 6 , wherein the vehicle control apparatus includes an active wireless controller, RFID readers, and lock mechanisms.

13. The door unlocking system according to claim 12 , wherein each of the RFID readers includes an RFID-IC and an antenna.

14. The door unlocking system according to claim 12 , wherein the active wireless controller includes an Electronic Control Unit/Body Control Module and an antenna.

15. The door unlocking system according to claim 14 , wherein the Electronic Control Unit/Body Control Module is connected to RFID-ICs of the RFID readers through an Inter-Integrated Circuit interface.

16. The door unlocking system according to claim 1 , wherein a range of the first short-range wireless communication mode is several meters to several dozen meters.

17. The door unlocking system according to claim 1 , wherein a range of the second short-range wireless communication mode is approximately 1 meter.

18. The door unlocking system according to claim 5 , wherein the electronic key includes a primary battery and the vehicle includes a secondary battery larger than the primary battery.

19. A door unlocking method performed by a door unlocking system including a portable device carried by a user, the portable device actively performing a wireless communication following a first short-range wireless communication mode and passively performing a wireless communication following a second short-range wireless communication mode, and an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle including a door, the in-vehicle device actively performing a wireless communication following the first short-range wireless communication mode and a wireless communication following the second short-range wireless communication mode, the portable device including an indicator notifying the in-vehicle device of an unlocking operation by the user in the first short-range wireless communication mode, the method comprising:
a first unlocking step in which the indicator notifies the in-vehicle device of an unlocking operation by the user in the first short-range wireless communication mode, and the in-vehicle device unlocks the door in response to a notification from the indicator;
an issuing step in which the in-vehicle device issues a password to the portable device in association with a process of the first unlocking step;
a storing step in which the portable device stores a password issued in the issuing step;
an acquiring step in which the in-vehicle device acquires a password stored in the storing step in the second short-range wireless communication mode when a predetermined operation to the vehicle is performed; and
a second unlocking step at which the in-vehicle device authenticates the password acquired at the acquiring step to unlock the door.

Assignees

• Murata Manufacturing Co

Inventors

• Kimura Ikuhei
• YASUTAKE Makoto

Classifications

• G08C17/02

  using a radio link · CPC title

• G07C2009/00793

  by Hertzian waves · CPC title

• G07C2209/63

  Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle · CPC title

• G07C2209/62

  Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock · CPC title

• B60R25/245

  where the antenna reception area plays a role · CPC title