Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Vehicle mounted systems – Automobile
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-25
2004-05-11
Toatley, Jr., Gregory J. (Department: 2836)
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Vehicle mounted systems
Automobile
C340S005200, C070S237000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06734578
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application Nos. 2001-160048 and 2001-171244 filed in Japan on May 29, 2001 and Jun. 6, 2001, respectively, the entirety of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicular remote control lock apparatus that has a lock control means for controlling an actuator for actuating and de-actuating a steering lock device of a vehicle by means of a remote control transmitter. The vehicular remote control lock apparatus saves power by intermittently supplying standby current to the lock control means while the steering lock device is actuated. In the present invention, the remote control transmitter may be capable of transmitting a starting code and an ID code by operation of a control button thereof.
2. Description of Background Art
A remote control lock apparatus for actuating and de-actuating a door lock device by operating a remote control transmitter external to a vehicle is well known in a four-wheel vehicle. In such a remote control lock apparatus, a lock control means receives an ID code transmitted from the remote control transmitter, and then compares the ID code with an ID code prestored therein. When the ID codes coincide with each other, the door lock device is de-actuated, thus preventing theft or unpermitted use of the vehicle. For this purpose, it is necessary to supply a standby current to the lock control means at all times while the occupants of the vehicle are away from the vehicle. Since supplying the standby current to the lock control means for a long time period increases a load on the battery; however, power is saved by intermittently supplying the standby current to the lock control means. For example, by intermittently driving an ID code obtaining means of the lock control means, it is possible to reduce the standby current to about 1.5 mA. By intermittently driving both the ID code obtaining means and an ID code verifying means of the lock control means, it is possible to reduce the standby current to about 1.0 mA.
In addition, a remote control lock apparatus for actuating and de-actuating a steering lock device by operating a remote control transmitter external to a vehicle is known in a motorcycle. In such a remote control lock apparatus, a lock control means receives an ID code transmitted from the remote control transmitter, and then compares the ID code with an ID code prestored therein. When the ID codes coincide with each other, the steering lock device is de-actuated, thus preventing theft or unpermitted use of the vehicle. For this purpose, it is necessary to supply a standby current to the lock control means at all times while the occupant of the vehicle is away from the vehicle. Since supplying the standby current to the lock control means for a long time period increases a load on the battery; however, power is saved by intermittently supplying the standby current to the lock control means.
In a first conventional example shown in
FIG. 8
, a lock control means of a remote control lock apparatus includes an ID code obtaining means and an ID code verifying means. In order to save power, the ID code obtaining means is supplied with an intermittent standby current. A starting code signal is transmitted after a control button of a remote control transmitter is pressed and then released. An output time A of the starting code signal coincides with a cycle A in which the intermittent current is supplied to the ID code obtaining means. Therefore, a state in which the ID code obtaining means is supplied with current always occurs during the period when the starting code signal is transmitted. Accordingly, the starting code signal is received reliably during the period. When the starting code signal is thus received, the ID code obtaining means, which has been supplied with the intermittent current, is then supplied with a continuous current. Therefore, an ID code signal transmitted by the remote control transmitter following the starting code signal is received reliably by the ID code obtaining means. The ID code verifying means compares the ID code obtained by the ID code obtaining means with a prestored ID code. When the ID codes coincide with each other, an actuator is activated to de-actuate a steering lock device.
The first conventional example shown in
FIG. 8
transmits the starting code signal and the ID code signal when the control button of the remote control transmitter is pressed and released in a mere instant. In a second conventional example shown in
FIG. 9
the starting code signal and the ID code signal are transmitted after the control button of the remote control transmitter continues being pressed for a certain time (for example 0.5 sec to 1.0 sec) and then released. Otherwise, the second conventional example functions in the same manner as the first conventional example.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
When the remote control lock apparatus of the four-wheel vehicle is applied to a steering lock device of a small vehicle such as a motorcycle or a motor tricycle, problems arise since the battery of the small vehicle has a small capacity. Accordingly, the battery can be exhausted even if power is saved by the method of intermittently supplying standby current. In order to prevent this, decreasing an intermittent supply ratio (ratio of a time for which the standby current is supplied to a total time) of the standby current is conceivable. However, this lengthens the time intervals at which the standby current is supplied, thus resulting in a longer response time between the operation of the remote control transmitter and the actuation of the steering lock device. As another method, it is conceivable that the supply of the standby current to the lock control means is interrupted when the vehicle is left unused for a certain time. However, this naturally makes it impossible to actuate the steering lock device by means of the remote control transmitter when the vehicle is used the next time, and also requires an operation for restarting the lock control means by using a starting switch or the like.
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is accordingly an object of the present invention to prevent exhaustion of the battery by minimizing the standby current while maintaining maximum response of the remote control lock apparatus.
The first conventional example transmits the starting code signal and the ID code signal when the control button of the remote control transmitter is pressed and released in a mere instant. Accordingly, if the remote control transmitter is carried in a pocket or a handbag, the steering lock device may be de-actuated unintentionally if the control button is pressed by mistake. In the second conventional example the remote control transmitter does not transmit the starting code signal and the ID code signal unless the control button of the remote control transmitter is pressed continuously for a certain time. Accordingly, although there is no fear of the unintentional de-actuation mentioned above, a response time b between the pressing of the control button and the de-actuation of the steering lock device is longer than a response time a of the first conventional example, thus resulting in degradation in response.
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is accordingly an object of the present invention to ensure maximum response in de-actuating the steering lock device while preventing erroneous activation.
In order to achieve the above objects, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a vehicular remote control lock apparatus includes a lock control means for controlling an actuator for actuating and de-actuating a steering lock device of a vehicle by means of a remote control transmitter. Power is saved by intermittently supplying a standby current to the lock control means while the steering lock device is actuated. A plurality of modes having diff
Konno Takeshi
Ota Atsuo
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Toatley , Jr. Gregory J.
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