Automatic locking/unlocking device and method using wireless communication

A locking/unlocking controlling method of an automatic locking/unlocking device having a wireless lock device and a wireless key device, said method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting a pilot signal in an idle state of said wireless lock device and waiting for reception of a wireless reception signal, including a lock access code;
• transmitting a stored lock access code when said wireless key device receives said pilot signal;
• comparing said lock access code with a stored lock controlling code of said wireless lock device when said wireless lock device receives said lock access code of said wireless key device after said pilot signal transmitting step, releasing a locked state of said wireless lock device if said lock access code of said wireless key device is identical to said stored lock controlling code, and if not, returning to said step of transmitting said pilot signal;
• maintaining a communication state with the wireless key device when the locking state of said wireless lock device is released, and maintaining the locking released state of said wireless lock device for a predetermined time;
• returning said wireless lock device to a locked state after said predetermined time is elapsed, transmitting a return message to said wireless key device and then returning to said step of transmitting said pilot signal.

An automatic locking/unlocking device comprising:

• a wireless lock device which includes:
• a lock;
• a first communications means for transmitting a wireless transmission signal, including a pilot signal, and for receiving a wireless reception signal;
• and
• a lock control circuit for generating the pilot signal by controlling said first communication means, for comparing a lock access code of the wireless reception signal with a lock controlling code when the wireless reception signal is received through said first communication means, for releasing a locking function of said lock if the lock access code of the wireless reception signal is identical to the lock controlling code, for locking said lock after a predetermined time has elapsed, and for generating a locking return message after the predetermined time has elapsed;
• and
• a wireless key device which includes:
• a second communication means for transmitting the wireless reception signal, including the lock access code, to said first communications means of said wireless lock device, and for receiving the wireless transmission signal and the locking return message from said first communications means of said wireless lock device;
• and
• a key control circuit for generating the wireless reception signal, including the lock access code, when the pilot signal is received from said wireless lock device;
• wherein said wireless lock device substantially continuously outputs the pilot signal in an idle state, the lock access code is automatically transmitted when said wireless key device is positioned to said wireless lock device within a predetermined distance to receive the pilot signal, said wireless key device maintains a communication state with the wireless lock device after transmitting the lock access code, and said wireless key device returns to a second idle state after receiving the locking return message from the wireless lock device.

In a controlling method of a wireless key device for performing a locking/unlocking operation of a wireless lock device automatically by performing wireless communication with said wireless lock device for transmitting a pilot signal in a first idle state and automatically releasing the locked state of a lock when a received lock access code is identical to a stored lock controlling code, an improvement comprising the steps of:

• checking whether said wireless lock device is recognizable to the wireless key device when said pilot signal is received in a second idle state;
• transmitting said lock access code if said wireless lock device is recognizable, and otherwise, returning to said second idle state;
• and
• maintaining a communication state with the wireless lock device after transmitting said stored lock access code, and returning to said second idle state when a locking return message is received from said wireless lock device.