Radio-wave transmission system of keyless entry system for automotive vehicle devices

Claim 2

A keyless entry system for an automotive vehicle device for actuating the vehicle device to either of a first active state and a second inactive state, comprising: an electrical actuator (202) connected to said vehicle device and responsive to a control signal to reverse the position of said vehicle device between said first and second states; a manual switch (210); a transmitter (100) responsive to operation of said manual switch (210) to output a radio signal indicative of a unique code which identifies to the transmitter (100); a first antenna (104) associated with said transmitter for transmitting said radio signal therethrough; a controller (200) for receiving said radio signal from said transmitter (100), comparing the unique code indicated by said radio signal with a preset code, and producing said control signal when said unique code matches said preset code; and second and third antennas (214, 215) connected to said controller (200) for receiving said radio signal therethrough, said second and third antennas (214, 215) being oriented perpendicular to each other.

Claim 3

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second and third antennas (214, 215) are connected to the controller (200) through a switching circuit (231) which selectively connects one of said second and third antennas to said controller.

Claim 4

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said switching circuit (231) changes switch position between a first position in which said second antenna (e.g. 215) is connected to said controller (200) and a second position in which said third antenna (e.g. 214) is connected to said controller (200) and switching circuit (231) is responsive to a periodic switching signal from said controller (200) to alternate between its switch positions.

Claim 5

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said controller (200) is associated with said manual switch (210) and responsive to operation of the latter to produce a radio signal which activates said transmitter (100) to output said unique code-indicative radio signal.

Claim 6

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said transmitter (100) is small enough to fit in a clothing pocket.

Claim 7

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said lock device is one of a door lock (220-DR, 220-DL), a trunk lid lock (220-TL), a glove box lid lock (220-GL) and a steering lock device (220-ST).

Claim 8

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vehicle device including a plurality of devices to be operated independently of each other, said actuator (202) comprising a plurality of actuators (202-DR, ..., 202-ST) respectively adapted to operate corresponding one of said devices, and manual switch (210) including a plurality of switch elements (210-DR, ..., 210-ST) respectively adapted to operate corresponding one of said actuator to operate corresponding devices.

Claim 9

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said controller (200) further comprises means (226, ..., 232), associated with said switch elements, for identifying one of the devices corresponding to one of the switch elements operated.

Claim 10

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said second and third antennas (214, 215) are connected to the controller (200) through a switching circuit (231) which selectively connects one of said second and third antennas to said controller.

Claim 11

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said switching circuit (231) changes switch position between a first position in which said second antenna (e.g. 215) is connected to said controller (200) and a second position in which said third antenna (e.g. 214) is connected to said controller (200) and said switching circuit (231) is responsive to a periodic switching signal from said controller (200) to alternate between its switch positions.

Claim 12

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 10, wherein each of manual switch is provided on the vehicle body adjacent the corresponding device to operate.

Claim 13

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said lock device comprises a door lock (220-DR, 220-DL), a trunk lid lock (220-TL), a glove box lid lock (220-GL) and a steering lock device (220-ST), and said manual switch (210) including a plurality of switch elements (210-DR, ..., 210-ST) each of which corresponds to one of said lock devices.

Claim 14

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second and third antennas (214, 215) are connected to said controller (200) through a phase converter (250) which shifts the phase of radio signals received through one of said second and third antennas (214, 215) through approximately 90°, mixes the received and shifted signals, and outputs the mixed radio signal to the controller (200).

Claim 15

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said controller (200) is connected to said manual switch and responsive to operation of the latter to produce a second radio signal which activates said transmitter to output said unique-code-indicative radio signal.

Claim 16

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said'second radio signal is transmitted to said transmitter (100) through said phase converter (250) and said second and third antennas (214, 215), the phase of said second radio signal transmitted through said third antenna being shifted approximately 90° relative to the phase of said second radio signal transmitted through said second antenna.

Claim 17

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said vehicle device including a plurality of devices to be operated independently of each other, said actuator (202) comprising a plurality of actuators (202-DR, ..., 202-ST) respectively adapted to operate corresponding one of said devices, and manual switch (210) including a plurality of switch elements (210-DR, ..., 210-ST) respectively adapted to operate corresponding one of said actuator to operate corresponding devices.

Claim 18

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 16, wherein said controller further comprises means (226,, ..., 232), associated with said switch elements, for identifying one of the devices corresponding to one of the switch elements operated.

Claim 19

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said transmitter is small enough to fit in a clothing pocket.

Claim 20

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 18, wherein said lock device is one of a door lock (220-DR, ..., 220-ST), a trunk lid lock (220-TL), a glove box lid lock (220-GL) and a steering lock device (220-ST).

Claim 21

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 19, wherein said lock device comprises a door lock, a trunk lid lock, a glove box lid lock and a steering lock device, and said manual switch including a plurality of switch elements each of which corresponds to one of said lock devices.

Claim 22

A keyless entry system for an automotive vehicle for operating one of a plurality of vehicle devices including a door lock device which is selective operated to either of a first locked position and a second unlocked position, comprising: a plurality of electrical actuators respectively associated with the corresponding vehicle devices and responsive a control signal to operate said corresponding vehicle device to desired position; a plurality of manual switches, each adapted to be operated for operating one of the corresponding vehicle devices; a transmitter activated by manual operation of one of said manual switches to output a radio signal indicative of a unique code which identifies the transmitter; a first antenna associated with said transmitter for transmitting said radio signal therethrough; a controller for receiving said radio signal from said transmitter, comparing the unique code indicated by said radio signal with a preset code, and producing said control signal when said unique code matches said preset code, said controller including means responsive to manual operation of one of said manual switch for identifying one of said actuators to be operated and operating said identified actuator for operating one of the vehicle devices corresponding to the manual switch operated; and a plurality sets of second and third antennas, each set connected to said controller for receiving said radio signal therethrough and adapted to be active when one of said manual switch corresponding thereto is operated, said each set of second and third antennas being oriented perpendicular to each other.

Claim 23

A keyless entry system for an automotive vehicle for operating one of a plurality of vehicle devices including a door lock device which is selective operated to either of a first locked position and a second unlocked position, comprising: a plurality of electrical actuators respectively associated with the corresponding vehicle devices and responsive a control signal to operate said corresponding vehicle device to desired position; a plurality of manual switches, each adapted to be operated for operating one of the corresponding vehicle devices; a transmitter activated by manual operation of one of said manual switches to output a radio signal indicative of a unique code which identifies the transmitter; a first antenna associated with said transmitter for transmitting said radio signal therethrough; a controller for receiving said radio signal from said transmitter, comparing the unique code indicated by said radio signal with a preset code, and producing said control signal when said unique code matches said preset code, said controller including means responsive to manual operation of one of said manual switch for identifying one of said actuators to be operated and operating said identified actuator for operating one of the vehicle devices corresponding to the manual switch operated; and a plurality sets of second and third antennas, each set connected to said controller for receiving said radio signal therethrough and adapted to be active when one of said manual switch corresponding thereto is operated, said each set of second and third antennas being oriented perpendicular to each other.

Claim 24

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 21, wherein said transmitter is portable and said controller is mounted on a vehicle and associated with said manual switches, and said controller being responsive to operation of one of said manual switches to produce a radio signal which activates said transmitter to output said unique code-indicative radio signal.

Claim 25

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 22, wherein said controller further-comprises means, associated with said switch elements, for identifying one of the devices corresponding to one of the switch elements operated.

Claim 26

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 23, wherein said second and third antennas are connected to the controller through a switching circuit which selectively connects one of said second and third antennas to said controller.

Claim 27

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 24, wherein said switching circuit changes switch position between a first position in which said second antenna is connected to said controller and a second position in which said third antenna is connected to said controller and switching circuit is responsive to a periodic switching signal from said controller to alternate between its switch positions.

Claim 28

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 23, wherein said second and third antennas are connected to said controller through a phase converter which shifts the phase of radio signals received through one of said second and third antennas through approximately 90°, mixes the received and shifted signals, and outputs the mixed radio signal to the controller.

Claim 29

The keyless entry system as set forth in claim 26, wherein said controller is connected to said manual switch and responsive to operation of the latter to produce a second radio signal which activates said transmitter to output said unique-code-indicative radio signal.