# US 10,864,890 B2 · Electronic key and method for operating an electronic key

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- Number: US 10,864,890 B2
- Document ID: US10864890B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/549,723
- Filed: 2019-08-23
- Published: 2020-02-27
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2018-08-27
- Assignees: Continental Automotive GmbH
- Applicants: Continental Automotive GmbH
- Inventors: Adrian Viorel Stef; Gerard Andrica
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864890B2

## CPC

- B60R 25/30: Detection related to theft or to other events relevant to anti-theft systems
- G07C 9/00944: {Details of construction or manufacture}
- B60R 25/24: using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
- E05B 19/00: Keys; Accessories therefor ({key modifications or attachments preventing removal from the lock E05B11/005; key rings A44B15/00; key cases A45C11/32; key holders A47G29/10;} making keys, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D53/42; milling grooves in keys B23C3/35)
- E05B 77/44: Burglar prevention, e.g. protecting against opening by unauthorised tools (E05B77/28 takes precedence)
- E05B 81/78: as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
- G01P 13/00: Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement (electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00)
- E05Y 2400/852: Sensors
- E05Y 2900/50: for vehicles
- G07C 9/00309: {operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks}
- G07C 2009/00365: {in combination with a wake-up circuit}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G})
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

Upon a triggering event, an electronic key for a vehicle, comprising a microcontroller and a motion sensor to detect movement of a transponder unit, performs a first measurement resulting in a first measurement value, and compares the first measurement value to a predefined threshold value. Subsequently, the key: performs a plurality of first reference measurements to determine a first average value over the plurality of first reference measurements if the first measurement value is below the predefined threshold value; and performs a plurality of second reference measurements to determines a second average value over the plurality of second reference measurements, and compares the second average value with the first average value if the first measurement value equals or is above the predefined threshold value. The electronic key is considered as moving if a difference between the second average value and the first average value is greater than a third threshold.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic key for a vehicle comprises
a motion sensor configured to detect a movement of a transponder unit; and
a microcontroller; wherein
the electronic key is configured to
upon occurrence of a triggering event, perform a first measurement with the motion sensor resulting in a first measurement value;
compare the first measurement value with a predefined first threshold value;
if the first measurement value is below the predefined first threshold value,
perform a plurality of first reference measurements, resulting in a plurality of first measurement values,
determine a first average value over the plurality of first reference measurements, and
store the first average value in a memory of the microcontroller; and
if the first measurement value equals or is above the predefined first threshold value,
perform a plurality of second reference measurements, resulting in a plurality of second measurement values,
determine a second average value over the plurality of second reference measurements, and
compare the second average value with the first average value, wherein the electronic key is considered as moving if a difference between the second average value and the first average value is greater than a third threshold.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic key of claim 1 further configured to
after determining the first average value, compare the first average value with the second average value only if the second average value has already been stored in the memory of the microcontroller, wherein the electronic key is considered as not moving if a difference between the first average value and the second average value is greater than a second threshold.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electronic key of claim 1 further configured to, after determining the second average value, storing the second average value in the memory of the microcontroller.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electronic key of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises an acceleration sensor or a gyroscopic sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electronic key of claim 1, wherein the triggering event comprises a reception of an inquiry signal from a vehicle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The electronic key of claim 5, wherein the electronic key is further configured to process the inquiry signal and send a response signal to the vehicle if the electronic key is detected to be moving.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electronic key of claim 1, wherein at least one of
performing a plurality of first reference measurements comprises performing at least ten first reference measurements, and
performing a plurality of second reference measurements comprises performing at least ten second reference measurements.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electronic key of claim 1, wherein
each first reference measurement provides three measurement values, one for each of three measurement axes, wherein the electronic key is configured to determine for each axis the first average value over the plurality of first reference measurements; and
each second reference measurement provides three measurement values, one for each of three measurement axes, wherein the electronic key is configured to determine for each axis the second average value over the plurality of second reference measurements.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The electronic key of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller comprises at least three internal registers.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The electronic key of claim 9, wherein the at least three internal registers comprise
a first register for reference data measurement settings, the reference data measurement settings comprising at least a number of reference measurements that are to be performed and bandwidth at which the reference measurements are to be performed;
a second register for motion detection settings; and
a third register for no-motion detection settings.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The electronic key of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to switch into a low power mode if the electronic key has been detected as not moving for a predetermined amount of time, and if no inquiry signals are received from the vehicle.

### Claim 12

A method for operating an electronic key for a vehicle, the electronic key comprising a motion sensor and a microcontroller, comprises
upon occurrence of a triggering event, performing a first measurement with the motion sensor resulting in a first measurement value;
comparing the first measurement value with a predefined first threshold value;
if the first measurement value is below the predefined first threshold value,
perform a plurality of first reference measurements, resulting in a plurality of first measurement values,
determine a first average value over the plurality of first reference measurements, and
store the first average value in an internal or external memory of the microcontroller; and
if the first measurement value equals or is above the predefined first threshold value,
perform a plurality of second reference measurements, resulting in a plurality of second measurement values,
determine a second average value over the plurality of second reference measurements,
compare the second average value with the first average value, wherein the electronic key is considered as moving if a difference between the second average value and the first average value is greater than a third threshold.