LOCKING SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking system (3), in particular for providing authorization to access and/or drive of a motor vehicle (1) in the manner of a keyless entry/go functionality. The locking system (3) comprises a first device (4), having at least two states and being configured as a control system, such as a control system for releasing and/or locking the car doors (6), the ignition lock, the steering wheel lock, for releasing and/or blocking the immobilizer, the motor control device or the like, and an associated second device (5) in the form of an electronic key, an ID transmitter, a chip card or the like. Both devices (4, 5) comprise for the operation thereof transmission and/or receiving units for the transmission of in particular electromagnetic signals (7), wherein the transmission and/or receiving unit has an antenna for transmitting the signals (7). At least one of the signals (7) transmitted between the second device (5) and the first device (4) is a coded operating signal for authenticating said second device (5) in such a way that once the transmitted operating signal has been positively identified for the authorized second device (5), the state of the first device (4) can be modified. The transmission and/or receiving unit (10) for the first device (4) comprises two antennae (11, 12). Furthermore, a signal distributor (13) in the form of a power splitter is provided for both antennae (11, 12). The transmission and/or receiving unit (10) is in communication with both antennae (11, 12) via the signal distributor (13).

Claims

1. A locking system, in particular for providing authorization to access and/or drive a motor vehicle (1) in the manner of a keyless entry/go functionality, comprising a first device (4) which has at least two states and is designed as a control system, such as a control system for unlocking and/or locking the car doors (6), the ignition lock, the steering wheel lock, for releasing and/or blocking the immobilizer, the engine control device or the like, and an associated second device (5) designed in the manner of an electronic key, an ID transmitter, a chip card or the like, wherein the two devices (4, 5), for their intended operation, comprise transmission and/or receiving units for the transmission of, in particular, electromagnetic signals (7), wherein in particular at least one of the signals (7) transmitted between the second device (5) and the first device (4) is a coded operating signal for authentication of the second device (5), so that after positive evaluation of the transmitted operating signal, a change in the state of the first device (4) can be effected in the case of an authorized second device (5), and wherein the transmission and/or receiving unit has an antenna for transmitting the signals (7), characterized in that the transmission and/or receiving unit (10) for the first device (4) comprises two antennas (11, 12), that a signal distributor (13) in the form of a power splitter is provided for the two antennas (11, 12), and that the transmission and/or receiving unit (10) is in communication with the two antennas (11, 12) by means of the signal distributor (13). cm 2. The locking system according to claim 1, characterized in that the two antennas (11, 12) are arranged spatially separated, and that preferably the one antenna (11) is associated with the interior area (9) as an indoor antenna and the other antenna (12) is associated with the exterior area (8) as an outdoor antenna.

3. The locking system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the signal distributor (13) operates the two antennas (11, 12) with different power in the manner of an asymmetrical signal distributor, in particular that the signal distributor (13) operates the indoor antenna (11) with about 10% and the outdoor antenna (12) with about 90% of the total power.

4. The locking system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the signal distributor (13) has an input (17) for the signal transmission (14) between the transmission and/or receiving unit (10) and the signal distributor (13) and in each case one output (18, 19) between the signal distributor (13) and the respective antenna (12, 11), and that preferably the signal strength for the output (18) to the outdoor antenna (12) is almost lossless, in particular that the decoupling at the output (18) to the outdoor antenna (12) is set with a loss of about 0.5 dB, and that further preferably the signal strength for the output (19) to the indoor antenna (11) is set to be lossy, in particular that the decoupling at the output (19) to the indoor antenna (11) is set with a loss of about 10 dB.

5. The locking system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the signal strength for the outdoor antenna (12) is set by means of a loose coupling between the input (17) of the asymmetrical signal distributor (13) and the output (19) of the asymmetrical signal distributor (13) to the indoor antenna (11).

6. The locking system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the transmission of the signals (7) takes place by means of a carrier in the RF (radio frequency) range, and that the RF range is preferably Bluetooth, in particular Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) with a frequency of about 2.45 GHz.

7. The locking system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second device is a smartphone (5′), in particular with a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) interface.

Description

[0018] Exemplary embodiments of the invention with various refinements and configurations are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below. In the figures:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle equipped with a locking system,

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a locking system according to a further embodiment in schematic form, comprising a smartphone, wherein the smartphone is located in the exterior area of the motor vehicle, and

[0021] FIG. 3 shows the locking system of FIG. 2, wherein the smartphone is located in the interior area of the motor vehicle.

[0022] In FIG. 1, a motor vehicle 1 with the authorized user 2 is shown. For access authorization, the motor vehicle 1 is provided with a locking system 3 as a door locking system, which comprises a first device 4 designed as a control system and an associated second device 5. The second device 5 is designed in the form of an electronic key, an identification (ID) transmitter, a chip card, a smart card or the like. The second device 5 is in the possession of the authorized user 2, whereby the latter has access to the molar vehicle 1 in the exterior area 8, and more precisely within an operating area 8, of the motor vehicle 1.

[0023] The first device 4 has at least two slates, wherein in the first stale, a locking is implemented and in the second state, an unlocking of the car doors 6 is implemented. For their intended operation, the two devices 4, 5 comprise transmission and/or receiving units with an antenna for the transmission of electromagnetic signals 7 by means of an electromagnetic carrier wave. At least one of these signals 7 transmitted between the second device 5 and the first device 4 is a coded, electromagnetic operating signal. The coded operating signal is used to authenticate the second device 5, so that after positive evaluation of the transmitted operating signal, a change in the state of the first device 4 can be effected in the case of an authorized second device 5. The transmission of coded operating signal takes place when the authorized user 2 operates the door handle 21 on the car door 6 or approaches the door handle 21. As a result, the unlocking of the car doors 6 is triggered in accordance with the keyless entry functionality. Just as well, the transmission of the coded operating signal can also take place automatically without the involvement of the user 2 as soon as the user enters the operating area 8, but this will not be discussed in more detail below. If the user closes the car doors 6 from the outside, automatic locking of the car doors 6 takes place. Just as well, automatic locking of the car doors 6 can take place after the user has left the operating area 8.

[0024] Furthermore, the locking system 3 determines the driving authorization for the motor vehicle 1. For this purpose, the first device 4 designed as a control system also causes the ignition lock (electronic ignition lock EZS) and/or the steering wheel lock (electric steering wheel lock ELV) to be unlocked and/or locked in accordance with the two states. Just as well, another functionally relevant component of the motor vehicle 1 can be controlled accordingly by the first device 4. For example, this can enable and/or disable an immobilizer, the engine control unit, or the like. The transmission of the coded operating signal for authentication of the second device 5 takes place when the authorized user 2 is situated in the motor vehicle 1, thus in the interior area 9 thereof, and actuates a start/stop button. This triggers the starting process or the like of the motor vehicle 1 in accordance with the KeylessGo functionality. Advantageously, the start/stop switch is arranged on the gear selector lever, on the ignition lock, in the dashboard, in the center console or the like in the motor vehicle 1.

[0025] Only a single transmission and/or receiving unit 10 is provided for the first device 4 wherein, however, the transmission and/or receiving unit 10 comprises two antennas 11, 12. The two antennas 11, 12 are arranged spatially separated, and one antenna 11 is associated with the interior area 9 as an indoor antenna and the other antenna 12 is associated with the exterior area 8 as an outdoor antenna. The two antennas 11, 12 thus serve to provide signal coverage for the respective area 8, 9 of the vehicle 1. A signal distributor 13 in the form of a power splitter is provided for the two antennas 11, 12. The transmission and/or receiving unit 10 in turn is connected to the two antennas 11, 12 by means of the signal distributor 13.

[0026] Preferably, the signal distributor 13 operates the two antennas 11, 12 with different power in the manner of an asymmetrical signal distributor. The power distribution is selected in such a manner that the respective associated area 8, 9 is covered, In order to achieve the coverage, it has proven to be useful that the signal distributor 13 operates the indoor antenna 11 with about 10% and the outdoor antenna 12 with about 90% of the total power or transmission power of the transmission and/or receiving unit 10. This distribution of the power is based on the gained knowledge that due to the substantially smaller area 9 to be covered, the indoor antenna 11 requires less power than the outdoor antenna 12 for the large area 8 to be covered.

[0027] Instead of an electronic key or the like as the second device 5, a smartphone 5′ can also be used as the second device, as shown in more detail in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. As already mentioned, the transmission of the signals 7 takes place by means of an electromagnetic carrier, and preferably in the RE (radio frequency) range. Furthermore, the RF range may be a standardized Bluetooth connection, in particular Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) with a carrier frequency of approximately 2.45 GHz. Usually, a smartphone 5′ has a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) interface so that it makes sense to use it for the transmission of the signals 7.

[0028] In FIG. 2, the smartphone 5° located in the exterior area 8 can be seen in more detail. A Bluetooth Low Energy connection between the smartphone 5′ and the outdoor antenna 12, which is designed as a BLE antenna and is located on the vehicle body 20 of the motor vehicle 1, is used for transmitting the signals 7. The BLE transmission and/or receiving unit 10 of the first device 4 communicates with the signal distributor 13 via a BLE signal connection 14. For this purpose, the signal distributor 13 has an input 17 for signal transmission via the BLE signal connection 14. Furthermore, the signal distributor 13 has an output 18 so that a BLE signal connection 15 to the outdoor antenna 12 is established.

[0029] Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows the smartphone 5′ located in the interior area 9 in greater detail. The Bluetooth Low Energy connection between the smartphone 5′ and the indoor antenna 11, which is designed as a BLE antenna and is located inside the vehicle body 20 of the motor vehicle 1, is again used for transmitting the signals 7. Furthermore, the signal distributor 13 has an output 19 so that a BLE signal connection 16 to the indoor antenna 11 is established.

[0030] As can be seen with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the signal distributor 13 has an input 17 for signal transmission 14 between the transmission and/or receiving unit 10 and the signal distributor 13 and in each case one output 18, 19 between the signal distributor 13 and the respective antenna 12, 11. The signal strength for the output 18 to the external antenna 12 is almost lossless at the signal distributor 13; in particular, the decoupling at the output 18 to the external antenna 12 is set with only a loss of about 0.5 dB. The signal strength for the output 19 to the indoor antenna 11 is lossy; in particular, the decoupling at the output 19 to the indoor antenna 11 is set with a loss of about 10 dB. Furthermore, the signal strength for the external antenna 12 can be adjusted by means of a loose coupling between the input 17 of the asymmetrical signal distributor 13 and the output 19 of the asymmetrical signal distributor 13 to the internal antenna 11.

[0031] The invention is not limited to the described and illustrated exemplary embodiments. Rather, it also comprises all professional further developments within the scope of the patent claims. Thus, such a locking system 3 can be used not only in a motor vehicle 1, but applications in which signal coverage is required inside a room as well as in the exterior area of the room are also possible. In particular, a use for a door lock located, for example, on a building or the like, or for other control devices is also possible.

REFERENCE LIST

[0032] 1: motor vehicle/vehicle [0033] 2: (authorized) user [0034] 3: locking system [0035] 4: first device [0036] 5: second device [0037] 5′: smartphone [0038] 6: car door [0039] 7: signal [0040] 8: operating area/(exterior) area [0041] 9: (interior) area [0042] 10: (BLE) transmission and/or receiving unit (for first device) [0043] 11: (indoor) antenna (for interior area) [0044] 12: (exterior) antenna (for exterior area) [0045] 13: (asymmetrical) signal distributor [0046] 14: BLE signal distribution/signal transmission (between transmission and/or receiving unit and signal distributor) [0047] 15: BLE signal distribution (between signal distributor and outdoor antenna) [0048] 16: BLE signal distribution (between signal distributor and indoor antenna) [0049] 17: input (at the signal distributor) [0050] 18: output (at the signal distributor to the outdoor antenna) [0051] 19: output (at the signal distributor to the indoor antenna) [0052] 20: vehicle body [0053] 21: door handle