United States Patent (19)
`Mochida et al.
`
`11
`45
`
`Patent Number:
`Date of Patent:
`
`4,638,292
`Jan. 20, 1987
`
`73) Assignees:
`
`54 THEFT PREVENTION SYSTEM IN AN
`AUTOMOTIVE KEYLESSENTRY SYSTEM
`WITH AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKING
`75) Inventors:
`Haruo Mochida; Hirotoshi Namazue,
`both of Yokohama, Japan
`Nissan Motor Company, Limited;
`Kokusan Kinzoku Kogyo, both of
`Japan
`21) Appl. No.: 411,096
`22 Filed:
`Aug. 24, 1982
`30
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Aug. 26, 1981 JP
`Japan ................................ 56-32.565
`51
`Int. Cl."......................... B60R 25/00; G06F 7/04
`52 U.S. C. ................................. 340/63; 340/825.32;
`307/10 AT
`58 Field of Search ................ 340/63, 64, 65, 825.56,
`340/825.31, 825.32, 543; 307/10 AT; 70/278;
`361/172
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,587,051 6/1971 Hovey .
`3,593,816 7/1971 Kazaoka .
`3,633,167 1/1972 Hedin.
`3,691,396 9/1972 Hinrichs .
`3,710,316 1/1973 Kromer.
`3,751,718 8/1973 Hanchett, Jr. .
`3,754,213 8/1973 Morroni et al. .
`3,764,859 10/1973 Wood et al. .
`3,781,854 12/1973 Kaufman et al. .
`3,812,403
`5A1974 Gartner .
`3,829,834
`8/1974 Frankland et al. .
`3,831,065
`8/1974 Martin et al. .
`3,871,474
`3/1975
`Tomlinson et al. .
`Wagner .
`3,878,511
`4/1975
`Angello .
`3,893,073
`7/1975
`
`9/1978 Hile.
`4,114,147
`2/1980 Lemelson .
`4,189,712
`4/1980 Sale .
`4,197,524
`4,205,300
`5/1980 Ho et al. ........................... 340/64 X
`5/1980 Haygood et al. .
`4,205,325
`6/1980 Ligman .
`4,206,491
`4,222,088 9/1980 Burton.
`4,249,245 2/1981 Nakanashi .
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2948 7/1979 European Pat. Off. .
`291.3955 10/1980 Fed. Rep. of Germany .
`Primary Examiner-John W. Caldwell, Sr.
`Assistant Examiner-Tyrone Queen
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lowe, Price, LeBlanc,
`Becker & Shur
`ABSTRACT
`57
`A theft preventive system, in an automotive keyless
`entry system with automatic door locking, is adapted to
`produce an alarm signal in response to door opening
`when the theft preventive system is in a door-locked
`position, and which is cooperative with a door-lock
`system but independently operable in order to switch its
`operating mode from a door-locked mode to a door
`unlocked mode. The theft preventive system in an auto
`motive keyless entry system, according to the present
`invention, includes a push-button-type function key for
`operating a door-lock mechanism to lock a vehicle
`door. A memory circuit is responsive to a door-lock
`signal fed from the door-lock function key to indicate
`the door-locked condition. The content of the memory
`cannot be cleared unless a plurality of door-unlock
`function keys are properly operated. An alarm circuit is
`responsive to a door-open signal from a door switch in
`the presence of a memory output indicative of the door
`locked condition to produce an alarm signal.
`9 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure
`
`
`
`
`
`ADDRESS
`COUNER
`
`
`
`s-Hill
`
`R
`
`Do
`AO
`Fo
`41
`i...(42-. A3 ...
`sit DO
`
`MER
`
`R
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`
`
`54.
`-4
`
`ONE-SHOT
`MONOSABLE
`MUWBRAOR
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`IPR2022-00602
`Apple EX1040 Page 1
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`

`

`- U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 20, 1987
`
`4,638,292
`
`—
`
`
`
`
`
`No.
`
`OW&W WOO
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`- - - - - - - - - -–
`
`__ SS380ICIV!
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`IPR2022-00602
`Apple EX1040 Page 2
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`

`

`1.
`
`THEFT PREVENTION SYSTEM IN AN
`AUTOMOTIVE KEYLESSENTRY SYSTEM WITH
`AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKING
`
`10
`
`15
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates generally to a theft
`prevention system in an automotive keyless entry sys
`tem for locking and unlocking a vehicle door with an
`input code inputted from externally mounted push but
`tons. More particularly, the invention relates to a theft
`prevention system adapted to produce an alarm signal
`when the vehicle door is opened while the keyless entry
`system is maintained in a door-lock mode.
`Conventionally, there are various theft preventive
`alarm systems for a door lock. Such theft preventive
`alarms associate or cooperate with a cam mechanism in
`a cylinder lock used for locking and unlocking the vehi
`cle door. An alarm switch in such a system is provided
`20
`adjacent to the can mechanism so that the alarm switch
`is closed while the door is locked. If the vehicle door is
`opened without resetting the alarm switch, an alarm
`signal is produced to prevent the vehicle from being
`stolen. However, since the alarm switch is cooperable
`with the can mechanism, if the cam mechanism in the
`door lock system can be placed in the unlocked position
`by a thief, the alarm switch can be turned off. This way,
`the conventional theft preventive alarm system cannot
`prevent door opening by way of operating the cam
`30
`mechanism.
`
`4,638,292
`2
`rated in an automotive keyless entry system according
`to the present invention.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated the pre
`ferred embodiment of the theft preventive system ac
`cording to the present invention, which is incorporated
`in an automotive keyless entry system with an auto
`matic door-lock system. In order to operate a door-lock
`mechanism 50, a door-locking actuator 52 and a door
`unlocking actuator 54 are provided in the door-lock
`mechanism. The door-locking and door-unlocking actu
`ators 52 and 54 are respectively activated by input sig
`nals inputted from a keyboard 10 with a plurality of
`push buttons 10a to 10f. In the shown embodiment, the
`push button 10facts as a door-lock function key. The
`push button 10f is connected to the door-locking actua
`tor 52 via an inverter 82. The push button 10f is also
`connected to a memory circuit 30 including RAM32 in
`order to feed thereto an input signal indicative of door
`locking state.
`To the memory circuit 30, other push buttons 10a to
`10e are connected via an address signal generator 20.
`The address signal generator 20 comprises an OR gate
`22 and an address counter 24. The address counter 24 is
`adapted to tally the number of gate signals from the OR
`gate 22 and produce an address signal having a value
`representative of the counter value therein. The address
`signal from the address counter is fed to the RAM32 in
`the memory circuit 30 in order to access the corre
`sponding memory address of the RAM.
`In each memory address of the RAM 32 is stored a
`preset value which constitutes a preset code number for
`door unlocking in combination with the preset values in
`the remaining memory addresses. The RAM 32 is re
`sponsive to the address signal to access the correspond
`ing address to produce a preset code signal to be fed to
`a comparator 41. Therefore, every time one of the push
`buttons 10a to 10e is depressed, the preset value in the
`corresponding memory address in the RAM32 is read
`out and fed to the comparator 41. At the same time, an
`input signal from the depressed push button 10a to 10e,
`which has a value representing a code assigned to each
`of the push buttons, is fed to the comparator 41.
`The preset code consists of several encoded digits,
`each of which has the preset value stored in the corre
`sponding memory address of the RAM32. The compar
`ator compares the preset code from the RAM with the
`input code from the push button everytime one of the
`pushbuttons 10a to 10e is depressed. The comparator 41
`produces a comparator signal when the signal values
`fed from the RAM and from the pushbuttons 10a to 10e
`match; in other words, the input code is the preset code
`as stored in RAM 32. The comparator signal is fed to a
`counter 42. The counter 42 is adapted to produce a
`counter signal when the counter value reaches a given
`value. Assuming the preset code consists of five en
`coded digits, the counted value in the counter 42 neces
`sary to produce the counter signal is five. The counter
`signal is fed to the set input terminal of a flip-flop 43 to
`set the latter. The flip-flop 43 produces a flip-flop signal
`while it is set to activate a timer 44 for a given period of
`time. The timer 44 produces a HIGH level timer signal
`while it is activated and otherwise produces a LOW
`level timer signal. The HIGH level timer signal is in
`verted by an inverter 45 and applied to the door unlock
`ing actuator 54 as a LOW level signal. The door unlock
`
`35
`
`25
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
`provide a theft preventive system in an automotive
`keyless entry system with automatic door locking,
`which is adapted to produce an alarm signal in response
`to door opening when the theft preventive system is in
`the door-lock position, and which is cooperative with a
`40
`door-lock system but independently operable in order
`to switch its operating mode from door-lock mode to
`door-unlock mode.
`In order to accomplish the above-mentioned and
`other objects, there is provided a theft preventive sys
`45
`ten in an automotive keyless entry system, according to
`the present invention, including a push-button-type
`function key for operating a door-lock mechanism for
`locking a vehicle door. A memory circuit is responsive
`to a door-lock signal fed from the door-lock function
`50
`key to set the door-lock condition. The content of the
`. memory cannot be cleared unless a door-unlock func
`tion key is operated. An alarm circuit is responsive to a
`door-open signal fed from a door switch in the presence
`of a memory output indicative of the door-locking con
`55
`dition to produce an alarm signal.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The invention will be more fully understood from the
`detailed description given herebelow and from the ac
`60
`companying drawing of the preferred embodiment of
`the invention, which, however, should not be taken as
`limitative to the invention but for elucidation and expla
`nation only.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ORAWINGS
`The drawing shows a circuit diagram of the preferred
`embodiment of the theft preventive system as incorpo
`
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`door-locked, position and to a second, door
`ing actuator 54 is responsive to this LOW level signal to
`unlocked, position;
`operate the door lock mechanism to move the latter to
`an input unit including a plurality of push buttons
`the unlocked position.
`respectively representing preset values;
`After the given period expires, the time signal level
`first means, comprising a preselected door locking
`turns from HIGH to LOW. A one-shot monostable
`push button in said input unit, for operating said
`multivibrator 46 connected to the timer 44 is responsive
`to the change of the timer signal from HIGH level to
`actuator to operate said door lock-mechanism to
`LOW level to produce a trigger pulse. The trigger pulse
`said first position when said door locking push
`of the one-shot monostable multivibrator 46 is fed to a
`button is depressed;
`reset input terminal of the flip-flop 43 to reset the latter.
`second means for operating said actuator to operate
`At the same time, the trigger pulse is fed to a reset input
`said door-lock mechanism to said second position;
`terminal of the counter 42 to clear the counter value.
`third means, associated with said first and second
`On the other hand, the RAM 32 is connected to the
`means, for continuously producing a first signal
`push button 10f and is adapted to produce a door-lock
`when said actuator is operated to maintain said
`signal when push button 10f is depressed. The RAM32
`15
`door-lock mechanism at said first position in re
`is also connected to the output terminal Q of the flip
`sponse to depression of said door locking push
`flop 43 in order to receive the flip-flop signal. The flip
`button, said third means being responsive to opera
`flop signal serves as a reset signal to cause the RAM32
`tion of said first means to produce said first signal
`to cease outputting the door-lock signal when the
`and being responsive to operation of said second
`proper input code is used to unlock the door. The door
`20
`means to stop producing said first signal;
`lock signal is fed to an AND gate 72 in a theft preven
`fourth means for producing a second signal in re
`tive alarm circuit 70. The other input terminal of the
`sponse to opening of the vehicle door; and
`AND gate 72 is connected to a door switch 62 in a
`fifth means for producing a theft preventive alarm
`door-open detector 60 via an inverter 64. The door
`upon simultaneous occurrence of both of said first
`switch 62 is adapted to produce a LOW level door-open
`25
`and second signals.
`signal in response to door opening. The LOW level
`2. A theft prevention system in an automotive keyless
`door-open signal is inverted by the inverter 64 and
`entry system comprising:
`inputted to the AND gate 72 as a HIGH level signal. In
`a vehicle door-lock mechanism;
`the presence of the door-lock signal from the RAM32,
`an actuator associated with said door lock mechanism
`the AND gate 72 is responsive to the HIGH level signal
`30
`to operate the door-lock mechanism to a first,
`from the door switch 62 through the inverter 64 to
`door-locked, position and to a second, door
`produce a HIGH level gate signal. The gate signal is
`unlocked, position;
`inverted by an inverter 74 and then applied to an alarm
`an input unit including a plurality of push buttons
`device 84 as a LOW level signal. The alarm device 84 is
`respectively representing preset values;
`responsive to the LOW level signal to produce an alarm
`first means, comprising a preselected door locking
`to prevent theft of the vehicle.
`push button in said input unit, for producing a
`As will be appreciated hereabove, in the shown em
`door-lock signal to cause said actuator to operate
`bodiment, the door unlocking can be done by inputting
`the preset code. At this case, the RAM32 stops sending
`said lock-mechanism to said first position when
`said door locking push button is depressed;
`the door-lock signal to the AND gate 72 of the alarm
`40
`second means, comprising a plurality of said push
`circuit. Thus, even when the door is opened, the alarm
`is not produced. Alternatively when the pushbutton 10f
`buttons in said input unit for entry of an input code
`and a comparator comparing said input code with
`is depressed and thus the door-lock mechanism is placed
`in the door-locked position, the RAM produces the
`a preset code, for producing a door-unlock signal
`door-lock signal to be fed to the AND gate 72. At this
`to cause said actuator to operate said door-lock
`condition, if the door is opened, AND condition of the
`mechanism to said second position;
`AND gate 72 is established and thus the alarm is pro
`third means, associated with said first and second
`means, for continuously producing a first signal in
`duced.
`Therefore, even if the door-lock mechanism is dam
`response to said door-lock signal, said third means
`aged or manipulated into the door-unlocked position by
`50
`being responsive to said door-unlock signal to stop
`a thief, since the RAM 32 continues to output the door
`producing said first signal when said input code
`lock signal unless it is turned off by the preset input
`matches said preset code;
`code, the theft preventive alarm will be produced in
`fourth means for producing a second signal in re
`order to reliably prevent unauthorized entry of the
`sponse to opening of the vehicle door; and
`vehicle.
`fifth means for producing a theft preventive alarm
`While the present invention has been described in
`upon simultaneous occurrence of both of said first
`detail in terms of the preferred embodiment, the inven
`and second signals.
`tion can be modified or embodied otherwise in any way
`3. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
`without departing from the principle of the invention.
`second means comprises an input unit for inputting a
`Therefore, it should be appreciated that the present
`60
`code and a comparator for comparing said input code
`invention includes all of possible modifications and
`with a preset code to cause said actuator to operate said
`embodiments pertaining to the gist of the invention.
`door-lock mechanism to said second position.
`What is claimed is:
`4. The system as set forth in claim 2 or 3, wherein said
`1. A theft prevention system in an automotive keyless
`third means comprises a memory which is adapted to
`entry system comprising:
`produce said first signal while said actuator is operated
`a vehicle door-lock mechanism:
`to maintain said door-lock mechanism at said first posi
`an actuator associated with said door-lock mecha
`nism to operate the door-lock mechanism to a first,
`tion.
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`6
`5. The system as set forth in claims 1 or 3, wherein
`a vehicle door with a door-lock mechanism;
`an electromagnetically operative actuator associated
`said input code and said preset code both consist of
`several encoded digits.
`with said door-lock mechanism, said actuator being
`6. A theft prevention system in an automotive keyless
`operable to first and second positions, at said first
`entry system comprising:
`position said actuator operating said door-lock
`mechanism to a first, door-locking state, and at said
`a vehicle door-lock mechanism;
`second position said actuator operating said door
`actuator means associated with said door-lock mech
`lock mechanism to a second, door-unlocking state;
`anism and operative between first and second posi
`tions to actuate said door-lock mechanism to door
`controller means associated with said actuator for
`locking and door-unlocking states, respectively;
`controlling the position of the actuator, said con
`troller including a memory storing a preset code, a
`controller means including a memory storing a preset
`plurality of push buttons representing preset val
`code for comparison with an input code provided
`by a plurality of push buttons representing preset
`ues, said push buttons forming an input means for
`values, said push buttons forming an input unit for
`allowing manual input of an input code, and a com
`entry of the input code, a comparator means for
`parator means responsive to the input code match
`comparing the imput code and the preset code to
`ing said preset code for feeding a control signal to
`operate said actuator means to said second, door
`said actuator to operate the actuator to said second
`unlocking, position only when the input code and
`position, said controller means including means
`responsive to a specific input provided through
`the preset code match each other, said controller
`means including a door lock signal generator
`said input means to operate said actuator to said
`20
`means responsive to a specific input from a prese
`first position and to produce continuously a locking
`lected door locking push button of said input unit
`state indicative signal;
`for operating said actuator means to said first posi
`a door switch adapted to be turned on when the door
`is open; and
`tion for actuating said doorlock mechanism to said
`door-locking state,
`alarm generator means associated with said controller
`said controller means operable in response to said
`means and said door switch to produce an alarm in
`specific input for continuously outputting a first
`response to simultaneous turning on of said door
`signal and for terminating said first signal only
`switch and existence of said locking state indicative
`signal.
`when said input code and said preset code match
`9. A theft prevention system for an automotive vehi
`each other,
`30
`cle comprising:
`a door open detector means associated with a vehicle
`door and responsive to detection of an open posi
`a vehicle door with a door-lock mechanism;
`tion of the door for producing a second signal in
`an actuator associated with said door-lock mecha
`response to opening of the vehicle door; and
`nism and operative between a first position in
`alarm means for producing a theft preventive alarm
`which the actuator operates said door-lock mecha
`nism to a first door-locking state and a second
`in response to simultaneous occurrence of said
`second signal together with said first signal.
`position in which the actuator operates said door
`7. A theft prevention system in an automotive keyless
`lock mechanism to a second, door-unlocking state;
`entry system comprising:
`controller means associated with said actuator for
`feeding a control signal thereto to operate said
`a vehicle door-lock mechanism;
`actuator to one of said first and second positions,
`actuator means associated with said door-lock mech
`said controller means including a memory storing a
`anism and operable between first and second posi
`preset code, a plurality of push buttons represent
`tions to operate the door-lock mechanism to a first
`door-locking state and a second door-unlocking
`ing preset values, said push buttons forming an
`input means receiving manual input of an input
`State;
`controller means associated with said actuator means
`code, a control signal generator means responsive
`to a given specific input from a door-locking push
`for operating the actuator means to said first and
`button through said input means to place said actu
`second positions, said controller means including a
`memory storing a preset code, a plurality of push
`ator at said first position and to hold the actuator at
`said first position, and responsive to said input code
`buttons representing preset values, said push but
`tons forming a manually operable input unit for
`matching said preset code to operate said actuator
`50
`entry of input code, and a comparator means for
`to said second position, said controller means out
`comparing said preset code and said input code to
`putting a door-locking state indicative signal when
`operate said actuator means to said second position
`ever said actuator is held at said first position;
`whenever said input code matches said preset code,
`a door open detector associated with said vehicle
`said controller means being responsive to a specific 55
`door and adapted to produce a door open state
`code provided by a door locking push button to
`indicative signal as long as the door is held at an
`continuously operate said actuator means to said
`open state;
`first position and for producing a first signal while
`an alarm means associated with said controller and
`said detector for producing a theft preventive
`said actuator means is maintained at said first posi
`alarm when an AND condition of the door-locking
`tion;
`60
`state indicative signal and the door-open state in
`detector means for detecting an open condition of the
`door for producing a second signal in response to
`dicative signal is established; and
`opening of the vehicle door; and
`AND gate means for providing to said alarm means a
`alarm means for producing a theft preventive alarm
`signal indicative of existence of said AND condi
`tion of said door-locking state indicative signal and
`in response to simultaneous occurrence of said
`65
`second signal together with said first signal.
`the door-open state indicative signal, thereby en
`abling production of said theft preventive alarm.
`8. A theft prevention system for an automotive vehi
`cle, comprising;
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