METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE EXTERNAL ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY OF UNLOCKING-RELATED DEVICES OF A VEHICLE

Abstract

Keyless authentication of an authorized user of a vehicle in the event of an error function of an internal electrical power supply of unlocking-related devices of the vehicle is provided so that only one portion of the control units of the vehicle, in particular only unlocking-related devices of the vehicle, are supplied with electrical power via an external electrical power source, in order to carry out keyless authentication of the authorized user.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A method for externally suppling electrical power to unlocking-related devices of a vehicle in the event of an error function of an internal electrical power supply by an internal electrical power source arranged in the vehicle for the unlocking-related devices to provide keyless authentication of an authorized user of the vehicle, the method comprising: supplying electrical power to a protective device via an external electrical power source; and transforming, by the protective circuit device, the electrical power supplied from the external electrical power source so that unlocking-related devices of the vehicle can be operated non-destructively, wherein the protective circuit device supplies the electrical power exclusively to unlocking-related devices of the vehicle involved in the keyless authentication of the authorized user of the vehicle to reduce the amount of external electrical power required, wherein, after the unlocking-related devices of the vehicle involved in the keyless authentication have been supplied with the electrical power, the keyless authentication of the authorized user of the vehicle is provided by the unlocking-related devices of the vehicle, wherein the keyless authentication of the authorized user of the vehicle is performed using a mobile identification provider in an external power supply of the unlocking-related devices through the external electrical power source in a same way as keyless authentication of the authorized user of the vehicle in an internal power supply of the unlocking-related devices using an internal electrical power source arranged in the vehicle, wherein the external electrical power source is provided by the mobile identification provider for the keyless authentication of the authorized user of the vehicle or the external electrical power source is provided by a USB power bank, and wherein the external electrical power source is electrically connected to the protective circuit device via at least one USB connection or via at least one terminal connection.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the protective circuit device provides high voltage protection, provides overvoltage protection, provides residual voltage peak protection, provides reverse polarity protection, or transforms the electrical power supplied from the external electrical power source so that unlocking-related devices of the vehicle are provided with an operating current of 5 A or an operating voltage of 15 V.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein if an activation of a door by the authorized user of the vehicle is detected by a door handle device of a door of the vehicle or if the external electrical power source is formed as a USB power bank and provides a sufficient amount of electrical power to carry out a mechanical unlocking of the vehicle, the method further comprises: mechanically unlocking the door of the vehicle after a successful keyless authentication of the authorized user of the vehicle.

12. A device that supplies external electrical power supply to unlocking-related devices of a vehicle in the event of an error function of an internal electrical power supply of the unlocking-related devices using an internal electrical power source arranged in the vehicle to provide keyless authentication of an authorized user of the vehicle, the device comprising: a protective circuit device configured to be supplied with electrical power via an external electrical power source, wherein the protective circuit device is configured to transform the electrical power supplied from the external electrical power source so that unlocking-related devices of the vehicle can be operated non-destructively, wherein the protective circuit device is electrically conductively connected to unlocking-related devices of the vehicle and is arranged to exclusively supply the unlocking-related devices of the vehicle with electrical power to reduce the amount of external electrical power required, wherein the unlocking-related devices of the vehicle are configured for the keyless authentication of an authorized user of the vehicle, wherein the external electrical power source is a mobile identification provider for the keyless authentication of the authorized user of the vehicle or the external electrical power source is formed by a USB power bank, and wherein the external electrical power source is electrically connectable to the protective circuit device via at least one USB connection or via at least one terminal connection.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the protective device is configured as a high voltage protection arrangement for high voltage protection, as an overvoltage protection arrangement for overvoltage protection, as a residual voltage peak protection arrangement for residual voltage peak protection, as a reverse polarity protection arrangement for reverse polarity protection, or to transform the electrical power supplied from the external electrical power source so that unlocking-related devices of the vehicle are supplied with an operating current of 5 A or an operating voltage of 15 V.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein a door handle device for the mechanical unlocking of a door of the vehicle, or for detecting an activation of a door by the authorized user of the vehicle is supplied with electrical power using the protective circuit device in order, after a successful keyless authentication of the authorized user of the vehicle, to carry out a mechanical unlocking of the door of the vehicle.

15. A rail-free road vehicle, comprising: a vehicle door; unlocking-related devices configured to unlock the vehicle door responsive to keyless authentication of an authorized user of the vehicle; and a protective circuit device configured to be supplied with electrical power via an external electrical power source, wherein the protective circuit device is configured to transform the electrical power supplied from the external electrical power source so that unlocking-related devices of the vehicle can be operated non-destructively, wherein the protective circuit device is electrically conductively connected to unlocking-related devices of the vehicle and is arranged to exclusively supply the unlocking-related devices of the vehicle with electrical power to reduce the amount of external electrical power required, wherein the unlocking-related devices of the vehicle are configured for the keyless authentication of the authorized user of the vehicle, wherein the external electrical power source is a mobile identification provider for the keyless authentication of the authorized user of the vehicle or the external electrical power source is formed by a USB power bank, and wherein the external electrical power source is electrically connectable to the protective circuit device via at least one USB connection or via at least one terminal connection.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the vehicle forms an externally accessible power supply point via which the external electrical power source is electrically connectable to the protective circuit device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0085] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, identical reference numerals relating to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

[0086] The following is shown in each case schematically:

[0087] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a vehicle according to the invention,

[0088] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a power supply point,

[0089] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a power supply point with a connected electrical external power source,

[0090] FIG. 4 shows a circuit diagram comprising a device according to the invention,

[0091] FIG. 5 shows a circuit diagram of a protective circuit device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0092] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a vehicle 1 according to the invention, having a power supply point 3 formed in a front spoiler 2 of the vehicle 1, via which a protective circuit device 4 can be supplied with electrical power (not shown). The protective circuit device 4 transforms the electrical power supplied from the external electrical power source so that unlocking-related devices 5 of the vehicle 1 can be operated non-destructively. The unlocking-related devices 5 of the vehicle 1 may, for example, drive a door handle device 6 to unlock a locking system of the vehicle 1 if keyless authentication of an authorized user of the vehicle 1 has been successfully carried out. The protective circuit device 4 is arranged inside the vehicle 1 so that no malicious damage can take place.

[0093] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a power supply point 3, wherein the power supply point 3 is formed in the installation space of a recess 9 of a towing eye of the vehicle 1, wherein the installation space is accessible via a movable cover 17 of the front spoiler 2 which is indicated in FIG. 4. A USB connection 18 with a communication line 7 and a bipolar terminal connection 19 with two current supply lines 8 are provided as power supply connections 16 of the power supply point 3.

[0094] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a power supply point 3, wherein, for example, the bipolar terminal connection 19 is electrically conductively connected to external terminals in order to provide an external electrical power supply to the protective circuit device 4.

[0095] FIG. 4 shows a circuit diagram comprising a device according to the invention for the external electrical power supply of unlocking-related devices 5 of a vehicle 1 in the event of an error function of an internal electrical power supply of these devices 5 using an internal electrical power source 11 arranged in the vehicle 1. Diodes and fuses are not provided with individual reference numerals and are immediately recognizable to the person skilled in the art.

[0096] The unlocking-related devices 5 include, for example, an electrical ignition lock unit 22 for keyless authentication or validation of digital keys, a radio receiver unit 22 for receiving radio signals and/or digital keys, a door control device unit 23 unit for driving an electrical door actuator unit 26 for unlocking a door lock, an electrical door actuator unit 26 that can release a safety catch of the door lock via an electric motor, a signal detection device 24 can be formed for detecting door activation gestures. These units can be connected to one another via an indicated bus system 28 so as to be able to communicate.

[0097] The door actuator unit 26, the door control device unit 23, and the signal detection device 24 can be formed through the door handle device 6 in a vehicle door.

[0098] It can clearly be seen in FIG. 4 that the unlocking-related devices 5 are not supplied with electrical power if the internal electrical power source 11 of the vehicle 1 has an error function or if the supply of electrical power is interrupted for other reasons.

[0099] In such a case, the protective circuit device 4 can be supplied with external electrical power via the power supply connections 16 via an external electrical power source (not shown), in particular via a USB power bank and/or a smartphone and/or a transponder key.

[0100] The electrical ignition lock unit 22 can comprise a control device 25, in particular a microcontroller. The electrical ignition lock unit 22 can also drive a battery disconnection switch 14, which is arranged in a fuse box 12 of the internal electrical power source 11. The fuse box 12 also comprises a battery fuse 13. A door control device unit 23 can comprise a control device 25a, in particular a microcontroller. The door control device unit 23 can also comprise a power electronics module 29, in particular an H-bridge circuit. The circuit in FIG. 4 also comprises a connection 15 to a flexible service system.

[0101] The protective circuit device 4 can be arranged in a distributor circuit arrangement 20, wherein the distributor circuit arrangement 20 forms an electrical supply between the protective circuit device 4 and the unlocking-related devices 5. A fuse can be provided between each unlocking-related device 5 and the protective circuit device 4. It is also possible, for example, for further consumers 30 and/or a Bluetooth® module 27 to be electrically connected to the distributor circuit arrangement 20.

[0102] The device according to the invention and/or the vehicle 1 according to the invention can comprise all of the components shown in FIG. 4.

[0103] FIG. 5 shows a circuit diagram of a protective circuit device 4.

[0104] A high voltage protection arrangement 31 is electrically connected to an external electrical power source (not shown) on the input side and to the overvoltage protection arrangement 32 on the output side. The overvoltage protection arrangement 32 is electrically connected to the high voltage protection arrangement 31 on the input side and to the residual voltage peak protection arrangement 33 on the output side. The residual voltage peak protection arrangement 33 is electrically connected to the overvoltage protection arrangement 32 on the input side and to the reverse polarity protection arrangement 34 on the output side. The reverse polarity protection arrangement 34 is electrically connected to the residual voltage peak protection arrangement 33 on the input side and to the unlocking-related devices 5 of the vehicle 1 on the output side.

[0105] The high voltage protection arrangement 31 comprises a fuse 35 and a varistor 36. The fuse 35 can be formed as an “Si, 5 A flink” with high DC breaking capacity. The varistor 36 may, for example, be a B72220X2271K501 varistor.

[0106] The overvoltage protection arrangement 32 comprises two power FETs 37 and 37a which can be formed as IPB60R099CPA FETs. The overvoltage protection arrangement 32 comprises an FET 38, which can be formed as a BS170 FET or BSS316N FET. The overvoltage protection arrangement 32 comprises two 12V Zener diodes 39 and 39a that can have a breakdown voltage of 12 V. The overvoltage protection arrangement 32 comprises a 20V Zener diode 40, which can have a breakdown voltage of 20 V. The overvoltage protection arrangement 32 comprises two 1M resistors 41 and 41a, each of which have an electrical resistance of 1 MΩ. The overvoltage protection arrangement 32 comprises two 390k resistors 42 and 42a, each of which have an electrical resistance of 390 kΩ. The overvoltage protection arrangement 32 comprises two 1 k resistors 43 and 43a, each of which have an electrical resistance of 1 kΩ. The overvoltage protection arrangement 32 comprises a plurality of diodes 46, which can be formed as 1N4007 diodes. The overvoltage protection arrangement 32 comprises a 1 nF/400V capacitor 47 with 1 nF and a 10 nF/400V capacitor 48 with 10 nF.

[0107] The residual voltage peak protection arrangement 33 comprises a suppressor diode 49, which can be formed as a SM8 A27 suppressor diode.

[0108] The reverse polarity protection arrangement 34 comprises four FET bridges 44, 44a, 44b and 44c (for example IPB80N06S2-07) and a bridge control device 45 (for example LT4320).

[0109] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived from these by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that there is a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments stated by way of example are only really examples that are not to be seen as limiting the scope, application possibilities or configuration of the invention in any way. In fact, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete manner, wherein, with the knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, the person skilled in the art is able to undertake various changes, for example, with regard to the functioning or arrangement of individual elements stated in an exemplary embodiment without leaving the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.