EP1046771A1 - Motor vehicle equipped with external operating means - Google Patents

Abstract

In a vehicle (V) the doors (3) may be opened in the absence of the normal identifier by using a handle (4) and push button (5) which are connected at high or low frequency to the on board control unit (1). After an initiating pull on the handle (4), flashes on a diode (2) are counted to the first number in a code and then validated by pressing the push button (5). The process is repeated to enter the full security code and release the vehicle to access.

Description

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle equipped a central control unit for controlling means electric locking / unlocking of the vehicle windows, and at least one external actuating member on the vehicle, for send the central unit a signal in response to each action of the user on said external member.

In a generally known "hands-free" access system, an action on an exterior door handle is capable of triggering a remote interrogation between a means of identification installed on the vehicle and an identifier intended to be worn by the user, in order to authorize access to the vehicle, when the identifier has been authenticated by the means of identification.

However, when the identifier is lost or stolen, or when the identifier is down, for example due to the exhaustion of its battery power supply, it is necessary to provide a means to allow access to the vehicle.

The invention aims to provide a motor vehicle comprising electronic means for accessing the vehicle, regardless of any identifier.

To this end, the invention relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a central control unit to control the means electric locking / unlocking of the vehicle windows, and at least one external actuating member on the vehicle for send the central unit a signal in response to each action of the user on said external member, characterized in that the unit control unit has at least one predetermined sequence in memory actions on said external organ, to trigger the emission by said central unit, a locking control signal or unlocking with the aforementioned electrical means, said sequence action corresponding to a lock or unlock code that the user knows.

In a first embodiment, an external member actuator consists of an exterior door handle suitable to be moved by pushing and / or pulling by the user, to actuate a stop switch connected to the central unit.

In another embodiment, an external member actuator consists of an external button on a door or close to it, suitable for being actuated by pressing the user, to close or open a switch connected to the unit central.

In a first embodiment, the sequence of actions memorized is a combination of long and short actions on at minus an external organ.

According to another variant, for a code with several digits, each digit of the code corresponds to the number of actions to be performed on the external organ, the entry of each digit of the code being separated by a different action on said external organ.

Advantageously, the vehicle is equipped with an element visual signaling device, visible from outside the vehicle, suitable for activation by the central unit to notify the user of each correct action on the external organ and \ or each correct entry of a number from the coded.

According to yet another variant, the vehicle is equipped with a visual signal element, visible from outside the vehicle, so that, for a code with several digits, an action on the external organ triggers by the central unit the periodic flashing of said element visual signaling device, each digit of the code corresponding to the number of flashing of said visual signal element, the entry of each code figure being triggered by an action on the external organ, when the corresponding number of flashes is reached.

Preferably, if a sequence of actions on the external organ does not correspond to the authorized code, the central unit only authorizes a retry only after a predetermined period which increases in depending on the number of failed trials.

According to another characteristic, the vehicle is equipped with a identification means connected to the central unit and able to exchange with distance of the data with an identifier intended to be carried by a user, to authorize access to the vehicle when the identifier has been authenticated by the means of identification, characterized in that it includes electronic emergency means for access to the vehicle, in the event of failure or loss of the authorized identifier, said means of emergency being constituted by the above-mentioned external organ, of which actuation, according to a predetermined sequence, makes it possible to carry out locking / unlocking of the vehicle's windows.

Preferably, the visual signaling element consists of a light-emitting diode disposed at the front of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Thus, an electronic backup means is obtained allowing access the vehicle, using a predetermined code, without providing for additional means, such as a keyboard on the vehicle door.

To better understand the object of the invention, we will describe now, as a purely illustrative example and not limiting, an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing.

In this drawing, the single figure represents schematically and in top view, a motor vehicle according to the invention.

In this figure, the motor vehicle V comprises, within the passenger compartment H a central control unit 1 connected to a diode light-emitting 2, at the front of the passenger compartment. CPU 1 is also connected to electrical means of locking / unlocking (not shown) for doors 3 of the vehicle. The central unit 1 is further connected to a contactor stop disposed at an exterior handle 4 of the front door, as well as a switch connected to an external button 5 arranged at the level of a vertical door frame upright.

Of course, we could replace the light emitting diode 2 above, by another warning means, for example a warning sound, or a frieze zipper able to be moved vertically.

In a first exemplary embodiment, the sequence of unlocking to be carried out on the vehicle consists in doing, on the external handle 4, two short presses, one long pull, then one long pull and a long push. Each action performed on the handle 4 causes the sending to the central unit 1, or to another module dedicated electronics, electrical signal, low frequency or high frequency. Each action correctly performed on the handle 4 can be confirmed by a change of state of diode 2, for example by going from a stable state to a flashing state, or by changing color. The change of state of diode 2 is caused by sending of an electrical command by the central unit 1.

If the overall unlock sequence is correct, each vehicle having its own sequence, the central unit sends a signal unlocking command to the actuators of the door locks doors.

In another exemplary embodiment, a long pull on the external handle 4 initiates the initialization of the unlocking. LED 2 lights up for a long time, then goes out before start blinking periodically, for example a blink per second. The user counts the number of flashes and when this number corresponds to the first digit of the code it must enter for unlocking, press the external button 5, or well it makes a short pull on the handle or pallet 4, to validate the number on the central unit 1. The LED lights up again for a long time, then starts flashing again to confirm the second figure, and so on.

For example, if the code is 4527, the user draws long on the handle 4, which causes the diode 2 to light up. Then it goes out and starts flashing. On the fourth flash, the user presses the outer button 5, which allows the unit central 1, which has a counter, to record the number 4. The LED 2 lights up again for a long time, then goes out and goes back to flash. On the fifth flash, the user presses again on the outer button 5, and so on.

In a third embodiment, a long pull on the external pallet 4 initiates the initialization of the procedure central unit level 1. The latter triggers the ignition of the LED 2 which stays on for a long time then starts flashing. The user makes a number of presses on the external button 5 corresponding to the first digit of the code to be dialed, then validates this number by a short pull on the outer pallet 4. For example, if the code to be dialed is 4858, he presses the button four times outside 5, before confirming by a short pull on the pallet 4. Then, the user starts again for the second digit of the code and and so on. When the last digit of the code is validated, LED 2 stops flashing and lights up for a long time. The code is then validated and the central unit gives the order to unlock.

To prevent a malicious person from trying to find out the code needed to unlock the vehicle, trying various combinations on the door handle, it can be expected that the unlocking procedure is interrupted for a period proportional to the number of failed trials.

Of course, one can also provide a similar procedure to allow the vehicle to be locked, without an identifier. In addition, as such a procedure lets you know that the user has controlled from the outside, the central unit can automatically trigger identification detection possibly forgotten in the passenger compartment, in order to inhibit them vis-à-vis access and startup.

We can also consider using an exterior handle and an exterior button on the rear doors.

Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is not there in no way limited and that it includes all technical equivalents means described as well as their combinations, if these enter in the context of the invention.

Claims (10)

Motor vehicle (V) equipped with a central processing unit control (1) to control the electrical means of locking / unlocking the openings (3) of the vehicle, and at least an external actuator (4, 5) on the vehicle to send to the central unit a signal in response to each user action on said external member and equipped with an identification means connected to the central unit (1) and able to exchange data remotely with a identifier intended to be worn by a user, to authorize access to the vehicle when the identifier has been authenticated by the means identification, characterized in that the central unit (1) comprises in memory at least a predetermined sequence of actions on said external member (4, 5), to trigger the emission by said unit central, locking or unlocking control signal with the aforementioned electrical means, said corresponding action sequence to a locking or unlocking code that the user knows, said external member constituting electronic emergency means for vehicle access, in the event of a breakdown or loss of the identifier authorized. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that a external actuator consists of a handle exterior (4) of door (3) able to be moved by pushing and / or traction of the user, to actuate a stop switch connected to the central unit (1). Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an external actuating member is constituted by a button outside (5) on a door (3) or close to it, suitable for being operated by user support, to close or open a switch connected to the central unit (1). Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that the stored sequence of actions is a combination long and short actions on at least one external organ. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that, for a multi-digit code, each digit of the code corresponds to the number of actions to be performed on the external organ (4, 5), the entry of each digit of the code being separated by an action different on said external member (4, 5). Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that each digit of the code corresponds to the number of actions to be performed on an external button (5), the entry of each digit of the code being validated by pulling on an exterior door handle (4) (3). Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that it is equipped with a visual signaling element (2), visible from the exterior of the vehicle, capable of being activated by the central unit (1) for signal to the user each correct action on the external organ and \ or each correct entry of a digit of the code. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that it is equipped with a visual signaling element (2), visible from the outside of the vehicle, so that for a multi-digit code, an action on the external organ (4, 5) triggers by the central unit (1) the periodic flashing of said visual signaling element, each digit of the code corresponding to the number of flashes of said visual signal element, the entry of each digit of the code being triggered by an action on the external organ, when the number of corresponding blinking is reached. Vehicle according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that that the visual signal element (2) consists of a diode electroluminescent disposed at the front of the passenger compartment (H) of the vehicle. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized by the fact that, if a sequence of actions on the external organ (4, 5) does not does not correspond to the authorized code, the central unit (1) does not authorize a retry only after a predetermined period which increases in depending on the number of failed trials.

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