US 7,071,819 B2 · Remote control lock operation system for vehicles

Abstract

A remote control lock operation system for a vehicle capable of unlocking a mechanical locking mechanism for mechanically disabling traveling of the vehicle by a infrared signal, without using the key. Components of the system include a handheld remote control transmitter, a receiver, a mechanical locking mechanism, a lock actuator and control unit, and wiring sections for connecting the lock actuator and the receiver to the control unit mounted in a common module housing contained on the vehicle body. The main components of the system, including the wiring section leading to the lock actuator, are unitized and integrate into the common module housing in order to prevent unauthorized unlocking of the lock. Also provided is a mobile communication terminal having an infrared transmitting port, and a method for using of the terminal. The mobile communication terminal for operating the remote control lock operation device, even when the remote control transmitter is lost, or for some other reason is not available.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A remote control lock operation system for vehicles, comprising:

a hand-held transmitter;
a receiver capable of receiving the signal transmitted by the transmitter;
a mechanical locking mechanism for mechanically disabling travel of the vehicle;
a lock actuator capable of at least unlocking the mechanical locking mechanism;
a control unit for determining whether or not the signal received by the receiver is acceptable, and operating and controlling the lock actuator based on the received signal when the signal is acceptable;
and
a common module housing mounted below a handlebar on a body of the vehicle, the housing enclosing the receiver, the mechanical locking mechanism, the lock actuator, the control unit, and wiring sections connecting the lock actuator and the receiver to the control unit,
the common module housing being disposed in a space between a front body cover and an inner cover of the vehicle,
wherein a signal receiving portion of the receiver is directed rearwardly from a central portion of the inner cover, the inner cover extending upwardly and rearwardly over the common module housing so that the signal receiving portion of the receiver is not exposed from above.

6 more elements

An emergency operating system for operating and controlling a lock actuator of an infrared remote control lock operation device, comprising:

a remote control transmitter capable of transmitting an infrared signal corresponding to prescribed identification data;
a remote control receiver capable of receiving the infrared signal transmitted from the remote control transmitter;
a lock actuator coupled to the locking mechanism;
a control unit for controlling the operation of the lock actuator according to the received signal when the signal received by the remote control receiver corresponds to the prescribed identification data without using the remote control transmitter;
a service center capable of transmitting a command signal as needed to the mobile communication terminal;
a mobile communication terminal having an infrared transmitting port that is capable of transmitting an infrared signal, the mobile communication terminal including receiving means capable of receiving a command signal transmitted from the service center, and transmission control means for allowing an infrared signal corresponding to the prescribed identification data to be transmitted from the infrared transmitting port upon receipt of the command signal,
wherein the service center includes communication means for receiving notification from the user, and information storage means in which information for identifying a user upon receipt of notification is stored in advance.

4 more elements

A method of emergency operation for operating and controlling a lock actuator of an infrared remote control lock operation device including a remote control transmitter capable of transmitting an infrared signal corresponding to prescribed identification data, a remote control receiver capable of receiving the infrared signal transmitted from the remote control transmitter, a lock actuator coupled to the locking mechanism, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the lock actuator according to the received signal when the signal received by the remote control receiver corresponds to the prescribed identification data without using the remote control transmitter, the method comprising the steps of:

entering a transmission program in advance into the mobile communication terminal having an infrared transmitting port capable of transmitting an infrared signal and a capability of receiving a command signal transmitted from a service center so that the terminal transmits an infrared signal corresponding to prescribed identification data from the infrared transmitting port according to the command signal transmitted from the service center;
identifying a user when the service center has received notification from the user;
facing the infrared transmitting port on the mobile communication terminal toward an infrared receiving portion on the remote control receiver;
and
transmitting the infrared signal corresponding to the prescribed identification data from the infrared transmitting port of the terminal toward the infrared receiving portion on the remote control receiver by transmitting the command signal from the service center to the mobile communication terminal based on the identification to operate and control the lock actuator.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Remote control lock operation system for vehicles

Life of this patent

Remote control lock operation system for vehicles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17