Continental Automotive Gmbh

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Continental Automotive France

Continental Automotive Technologies Gmbh

Ulrich Emmerling

Thomas Reisinger

Axel Müller

Alexander Heinrich

Franz Plattner

Georg Käufl

Annette Hebling

Christine Igl

Stefan Hermann

Wolfgang Piesch

Roland Wagner

Peter Gold

Stefan Hammes

Robert Obermaier

Luc Jansseune

Matthias Huschenbett

Daniel Hostmann

Franz Heininger

Stefan Haller

Bernhard Förstl

Maximilian Treindl

Rupert Schuster

Matthias Reble

Ewald Altmann

Stefan Meckl

Stephanie Briese

Disclosed is a distance measuring system for measuring distance of a first transceiver from second transceivers, comprising the first transceiver having a first time zone, a second transceiver having a second time zone, and a control unit having a control-unit time zone. The second transceiver ascertains a time-zone relationship between the second transceiver and the first transceiver, and transmits the time-zone relationship to the control unit. The control unit receives the time-zone relationship, and ascertains, using the received time-zone relationship, a time-zone relationship between the control-unit time zone and the first transceiver. The first transceiver transmits at a defined instant in time or for a defined time period of the first time zone a distance measurement command to the second transceiver. The first transceiver transmits a measurement signal at a further defined instant in time, and the second transceiver switches from an inactive into an active receiving or measuring state.

Distance measuring system

An access system for an object with a transmission unit arranged in the object and a transponder unit arranged in a portable device. The transmission unit emits request signals at regular intervals. The transponder unit, in response to a triggering event, stores a current position of the object and determines its own position at regular intervals. The transponder unit deactivates the transmission unit when the transponder unit detects, based on the determined position, that the transponder unit has left a first zone, wherein the first zone is arranged around the object, and wherein the transmission unit does not emit any request signals while the transmission unit is deactivated. The transponder unit furthermore activates the transmission unit when the transponder unit detects, based on the determined position, that the transponder unit has entered an adjusted first zone, wherein the adjusted first zone is arranged around the object.

Position-based access verification method

The present disclosure relates to transmitter and/or receiver units (transceivers), such as in particular motor vehicle transceivers. The teachings thereof may be embodied in methods and devices for detecting changes in the positions of transceivers relative to each other. For example, a system may include: a distance determining device to measure a current distance value corresponding to a respective distance of two of the transceivers relative to each other; and a comparator to compare the at least one current distance value and with a stored reference distance value.

Transceiver distance measuring systems

A mobile identification transmitter for an access arrangement of a vehicle, said access arrangement being supplied by a vehicle battery, comprises an identification-transmitter-side receiving device for receiving a vehicle-side request signal. Furthermore, it comprises an identification-transmitter-side transmitting device for emitting a response signal in response to the reception of the vehicle-side request signal. Finally, the mobile identification transmitter has an identification-transmitter-side control device for identifying and/or estimating the state of charge of the vehicle battery, for comparing the identified and/or estimated state of charge with a predetermined threshold value, and for identifying an emergency state of the access arrangement if the identified and/or estimated state of charge falls below the predetermined threshold value. If this is the case, then the identification-transmitter-side transmitting device can emit electromagnetic waves for charging a chargeable energy store for supplying the access arrangement. Simple and convenient emergency operation of the access arrangement is thus possible.

Mobile identification transmitter

A method and apparatus for determining a propagation delay and/or a distance between a plurality of transceivers, in particular between transceivers outside and/or as part of a motor vehicle, wherein the transceivers are each designed: to generate identical codes in a plurality of these transceivers, using a calculation method known to them, from at least one starting value transmitted, in particular, from one of the transceivers to the further transceivers, to transmit one or more messages from at least one of the transceivers to one or more further ones of the transceivers, which messages each contain at least one of the codes, to determine at least one propagation delay and/or at least one distance between at least two of the transceivers, in particular from the propagation delay and/or transmission times of the one or more messages.

Method and apparatus for determining a propagation delay and/or a distance between multiple transceivers, particularly for a vehicle-entry and/or starting system

An access arrangement for a vehicle comprises a vehicle-side unlocking device for unlocking a locking mechanism. Furthermore, it comprises a vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device which is set up to supply the unlocking device with energy independently of the on-board power supply of the vehicle. Moreover, the access arrangement has a vehicle-side energy supply device comprising a first section for receiving wirelessly transmitted energy and for converting the transmitted energy into electrical energy, and a second section for charging the vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device. In particular, the access arrangement also comprises a vehicle-side authentication device for checking access authorization, which is supplied with energy independently of the on-board power supply by means of the vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device. It is therefore no longer necessary to equip a mobile identification transmitter carried by a user with the access arrangement with a mechanical key.

Access arrangement for a vehicle

An entry system includes a transponder unit and a transmission unit which is arranged in an object. The transmission unit is designed to transmit a request to the transponder unit, and the transponder unit includes a motion sensor which is designed to detect a movement of the transponder unit and to generate motion information. The transponder unit is designed to transmit, in a first operating state, to the transmission unit, in response to the request, a reply containing the motion information, wherein the transmission unit is designed to decide on the basis of the motion information whether to activate the object.

Entry and starting system and method for entry and starting verification

An entry and starting system in an object has a control and transmission unit configured to use a radio link to interchange at least one radio signal and an ultrasonic link to interchange at least one ultrasonic signal with a portable electronic device. The control and transmission unit sets up a radio link to the portable electronic device and uses the electronic device via the radio link to stipulate at least one relevant parameter for a subsequent ultrasonic link. The control and transmission unit is additionally configured so as, following the stipulation of the parameters, to set up an ultrasonic link according to the previously determined parameters. The entry and starting system checks an authorization of the portable electronic device, the portable electronic device being detected as authorized if the at least one relevant parameter of a subsequent ultrasonic link is concordant with the at least one stipulated parameter.

An electric circuit for controlling the access and immobilizing a vehicle has a first antenna driver () for driving a first antenna () for emitting a signal () in the event of identification of an ID transmitter () for access control of a vehicle. A second antenna driver () is provided for driving a second antenna () for emitting a signal () in the event of identification of an ID transmitter () for the immobilizer of the vehicle. In addition, the electric circuit has a receiver device () for receiving a signal captured by an antenna () for the identification of an ID transmitter () for the immobilizer. The first antenna driver () and the receiver device () are commonly integrated into a semiconductor chip ().

Electric circuit for an access control and for an immobilizer of a vehicle and method for calibrating an antenna driver

The system has a uniform system architecture that is designed for an access authorization request both with and without the use of a transponder. Should a transponder be used, only a corresponding transponder must be fitted in the key that can interact with an immobilizer coil specially provided for this in a receiving unit of the motor vehicle. In this case, the corresponding system requirements have also already been taken into consideration in the system architecture. As a result, the different system requirements for access and right of use systems to a great extent provide flexibility.

Access authorization and right of use system, of a motor vehicle

In a method for operating an electronic anti-theft system, data communication is effected between the control device and the key further to an access authorization request, whereby the control device unlocks the doors and deactivates an alarm system as a function of the data communication. The data communication for unlocking the doors and the data communication for disarming the alarm system are separate from each other. In this way, the mechanical unlocking of the doors can be initiated immediately after the data communication for unlocking the doors. The corresponding data communication for deactivating the alarm system is effected in parallel with this, whereby extensive cryptological data is exchanged between the control device and the key.

Electronic anti-theft system

In the device a controllable switch is built into the control device which enables the start authorization and by means of which the supply voltage with which this controllable switch is supplied can be switched off. To check a start authorization a diagnosis can be undertaken which is realized with known resistance elements in the voltage supply line between identification device holder and control device. This allows the voltage drops across the elements to be compared with the corresponding required values. Simple short circuiting of the starter or the ignition is thus no longer possible since this would be detected by the control device as a result of the changes in voltage drop. In addition a fault in the supply voltage or the feed lines can be definitively detected.

Device and method for protecting a motor vehicle against theft

A method, and a device for its implementation, for locating a transmitter and receiver device, are provided. At least one first transmitter and receiver device transmits a request with a predetermined transmission power, this request is received by at least one second transmitter and receiver device with a predetermined receiving power and after successful receipt the second transmitter and receiver device, of which there is at least one, transmits a response signal, with the response signal only being transmitted if the field strength of the transmitted signal in the position of the second transmitter and receiver device exceeds a specific threshold value or is within a threshold range and the threshold value or threshold range is predetermined by the first transmitter and receiver device by transmission to the second transmitter and receiver device.

Method for locating a transmitter and receiver device

The transmitting and receiving station generates a interrogation code signal which is identical for all of the transponders. All of the transponders that receive the signal answer simultaneously at the same carrier frequency. In order to avoid signal collisions, the transponders are synchronized before and/or during the transmission of the response signals. As an alternative, each transponder is assigned a dedicated subcarrier frequency in addition to the main carrier frequency, which is the same for all of the transponders.

Functional monitoring system, in particular access control system, and method for functional control

A code signal generator () of a system for protecting against theft remains in the motor vehicle while it is not operating, this code signal generator () is disabled as soon as a door of the motor vehicle is opened and closed again and/or a security device () is locked with another authorized code signal generator (). The disabled code signal generator () is enabled again only if, after the opening of a door or after the unlocking of a locking device (), another code signal generator () in the vicinity outside the vehicle is recognized as authorized and a request signal which is triggered manually by the user for enabling the disabled code signal generator () is received by the control unit ().

Growing community of inventors

Kelheim, Germany

Ulrich Emmerling