Method for locking and unlocking door of motor vehicle and associated locking and unlocking device

Abstract

The invention proposes a method for locking or unlocking a door (P) of a vehicle (V) using a locking / unlocking device (D) on-board the vehicle comprising at least two high-frequency communication transceivers (Tx1, Tx2) capable of communicating with a portable user equipment (SD), a first of the high-frequency communication transceivers (Tx1) being located in the door and a second of the high-frequency communication transceivers (Tx2) being located in the door. The first transceiver (Tx1) is located inside the vehicle, and the second transceiver (Tx2) is located inside the vehicle, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: a) detecting the presence of the portable user equipment in a predetermined area (Z1) around the vehicle, b) if a portable equipment is detected, transmitting a wave between the two transceivers, c) measuring the time of flight (TOF1, TOF2) of said wave, d) comparing said measured time of flight with a predetermined time of flight (TOF), e) unlocking or locking the door as a function of the result of the comparison.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for locking and unlocking the doors of a motor vehicle. The invention is more particularly applicable to "hands-free" access to a vehicle. [Background Technology]

[0002] Today, vehicle door handles are equipped with a "hands-free" locking / unlocking device for the doors. The detection of the approach of a user's hand towards the handle, combined with the recognition of the "hands-free" electronic smart key carried by the user for remote controlled access, allows the remote locking and unlocking of the vehicle's opening elements. Therefore, when a user carrying the corresponding electronic smart key recognized by the vehicle wishes to unlock the vehicle, the user touches the vehicle's door handle, and the vehicle's opening elements are then automatically unlocked. By approaching or pressing a precise position on the vehicle's door handle (called the "unlocking zone"), the door (or alternatively all opening elements) is unlocked without any other action by the user. Conversely, when a user who still carries the necessary smart key recognized by the vehicle wishes to lock their vehicle, they close the door of their vehicle and briefly press another precise position of the handle (called the "locking zone"). This gesture automatically locks the vehicle's opening elements.

[0003] These locking / unlocking devices usually include two capacitive sensors in the form of two electrodes which are electrically connected to a printed circuit and which are respectively integrated in a precise locking or unlocking area of ​​the door handle. Usually, one electrode is dedicated to each area, that is to say one electrode is dedicated to detecting the approach and / or contact of a user's hand in the locking area and one electrode is dedicated to detecting the approach and / or contact of a user's hand in the unlocking area.

[0004] The unlocking / locking device further comprises a radio frequency antenna, for example using ultra-wideband (UWB), Or any other type of radio frequency communication, including high frequency and ultra-high frequency communication. The detection device is connected to the vehicle's electronic computer ("ECU": abbreviation of "electronic control unit") and sends a presence detection signal to the electronic computer. The vehicle's electronic computer has previously recognized that the user is authorized to enter the vehicle, or alternatively, the electronic computer performs the recognition after receiving the presence detection signal. To this end, the electronic computer uses a radio frequency antenna to send an identification request to the smart key (or remote control) carried by the user. In response, the smart key uses radio frequency waves to send its identification code to the vehicle's electronic computer. If the electronic computer recognizes that the identification code is an identification code that authorizes entry to the vehicle, it triggers the locking / unlocking of the doors (or all opening elements). However, if the electronic computer does not receive the identification code, or if the received identification code is incorrect, no locking or unlocking will be performed.

[0005] Such vehicles are therefore equipped with door handles which comprise such a detection device which itself comprises a radiofrequency antenna and two electrodes connected to a microcontroller integrated in a printed circuit and supplied with voltage.

[0006] However, such unlocking / locking devices of the prior art exhibit significant drawbacks.

[0007] In this case, the detection of user proximity by the capacitive sensor is not robust and may result in false detections.

[0008] In particular, under some environmental conditions, when raindrops or snowflakes come into contact with the door handle, these can increase the capacitance value measured by the capacitive sensor, thereby triggering a false detection.

[0009] In addition, the cost of the equipment cannot be ignored.

[0010] The present invention provides a locking / unlocking method and device that overcomes the defects of the prior art. [Summary of the invention]

[0011] The present invention proposes a method for locking or unlocking a door of a vehicle using a locking / unlocking device on the vehicle, the locking / unlocking device comprising at least two high frequency communication transceivers capable of communicating with a portable user equipment, a first of the high frequency communication transceivers being located in the door and a second transceiver being located inside the vehicle, the method being characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:

[0012] a. detecting the presence of a portable user equipment in a predetermined area around the vehicle,

[0013] b. If a portable device is detected, a wave is transmitted between the two transceivers,

[0014] c. measuring the time of flight of said wave,

[0015] d. comparing the measured flight time with the predetermined flight time,

[0016] e. Unlock or lock the door based on the comparison result.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the door is previously provided with two surfaces identifiable by the user, namely an unlocking surface and a locking surface, and:

[0018] a. When the user approaches the unlocking surface, the flight time is greater than the first threshold, and

[0019] b. When the user approaches the locking surface, the flight time is greater than the second threshold.

[0020] Advantageously, unlocking is activated if the flight time is greater than a first threshold, and locking is activated if the flight time is greater than a second threshold.

[0021] Conveniently, the predetermined flight time has been measured beforehand in the absence of the portable equipment in the predetermined area around the vehicle.

[0022] The invention also applies to a device for unlocking or locking a door of a motor vehicle, the device being intended to be on board said vehicle, the device comprising at least two high-frequency communication transceivers capable of communicating with a portable user equipment, a first of these high-frequency communication transceivers being located in the door and a second transceiver being located inside the vehicle, the device being characterized in that the device is further capable of:

[0023] a. detecting the presence of a portable user equipment in a predetermined area around the vehicle,

[0024] b. Controlling the wave transmission between two transceivers based on the detection,

[0025] c. measuring the time of flight of said wave,

[0026] d. comparing the measured flight time with the predetermined flight time,

[0027] e. Unlock or lock the door based on the comparison result.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises two surfaces on the door identifiable by a user, namely an unlocking surface and a locking surface.

[0029] The device further comprises:

[0030] a. means for comparing the flight time with a first threshold, and

[0031] b. means for comparing the flight time with a second threshold value,

[0032] And the device is capable of unlocking the door based on the comparison result with the first threshold value, and is capable of locking the door based on the comparison result with the second threshold value.

[0033] The invention relates to any computer program product comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of the method according to any of the above listed features, when said program is executed on a computer.

[0034] Finally, the invention is applicable to any motor vehicle comprising a locking or unlocking device according to any one of the features listed above. [Drawings]

[0035] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by reading the following description. This description is purely illustrative and should be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0036] [ Figure 1 ]: Figure 1 A motor vehicle equipped with a locking / unlocking device according to the invention is schematically shown,

[0037] [ Figure 2 ]: Figure 2 A vehicle door handle according to the present invention is schematically shown, the vehicle door handle comprising an unlocking surface and a locking surface that can be recognized by a user,

[0038] [ Figure 3 ]: Figure 3 Schematic showing the proximity of a user's hand to the unlocking and locking surfaces and its effect on the flight time between the two transmitters compared to the absence of the hand,

[0039] [ Figure 4 ]: Figure 4 is a flow chart showing a locking / unlocking method according to the present invention,

[0040] [ Figure 5 ]: Figure 5 is a graph showing the response of the time of flight between two transceivers over time t when the user's hand approaches towards the unlocking surface in a first case and when the user's hand approaches towards the locking surface in a second case. [Specific implementation method]

[0041] Figure 1 A motor vehicle V equipped with a locking / unlocking device D according to the invention is shown.

[0042] Device D is equipped with at least two transceivers Tx1, Tx2, a first transceiver Tx1 of the at least two transceivers being located in the driver's door (e.g., the left front door 100 of the motor vehicle), and a second transceiver Tx2 of the at least two transceivers being located inside the vehicle V (e.g., in the passenger compartment).

[0043] The embodiment of the invention requires that each of the two transceivers is not close to an opening element of the vehicle V.

[0044] The transceivers Tx1, Tx2 are capable of radio frequency communication, such as high frequency or ultra-high frequency communication such as ultra-wideband (UWB), WiFi or Bluetooth, with a portable user equipment SD, such as a portable smartphone SD. Thanks to this two-way communication between the transceivers Tx1, Tx2 and the portable access equipment SD, the device D is able to know the position of said equipment SD relative to the vehicle V and is also able to check its identifier in order to ensure that it indeed corresponds to the identifier previously paired with the vehicle V. If the portable equipment SD is in a predetermined zone Z1 around the vehicle V and its identifier has been authenticated, the opening elements of the vehicle V can be locked or unlocked according to a "hands-free" access procedure known to those skilled in the art.

[0045] Ultra-wideband communication will be used to describe the present invention. Ultra-wideband communication is a radio modulation technique based on the transmission of pulses of very short duration (usually less than one nanosecond) over a wide frequency spectrum. The bandwidth can therefore reach very large values. It is generally believed that UWB needs to have a bandwidth-to-center frequency ratio of at least 20%, or a bandwidth of 250 MHz or more.

[0046] Thus, the device D can detect the presence of a portable equipment SD in a predetermined zone Z1 around the vehicle, allowing a “hands-free” locking / unlocking of the vehicle V.

[0047] According to the invention, if a portable equipment SD has been detected in a predetermined zone Z1, the device D is also able to:

[0048] a. Control the high frequency wave transmission between the two transceivers Tx1 and Tx2,

[0049] b. measuring the flight time TOF1, TOF2 of the wave between the two transceivers Tx1, Tx2,

[0050] c. comparing the measured flight time TOF1, TOF2 with the predetermined flight time TOF,

[0051] d. Unlock or lock the door based on the comparison result.

[0052] For this reason, Figure 4 As shown, the device D includes:

[0053] a. means M0 for detecting the presence of a portable device SD in a predetermined area Z1,

[0054] b. A device M1 for controlling the high frequency wave transmission between two transceivers Tx1 and Tx2,

[0055] c. a device M2 for measuring the time of flight TOF1, TOF2 between two transceivers Tx1, Tx2,

[0056] d. means M3 for comparing the time of flight thus measured with a predetermined time of flight TOF,

[0057] e. Means M4 for unlocking or locking the door 100 according to the result of the comparison.

[0058] The device D also includes a processor 200 and a memory 201 (see Figure 4 ), the memory stores instructions that allow the processor to be configured to perform certain specific processing operations, in particular, to implement the steps of the locking or unlocking method according to the embodiments described later.

[0059] The means listed above (i.e., detection means M0, means M1 for controlling the emission of high frequency waves, means M2 for measuring the flight time, comparison means M3, unlocking / locking means M4), processor 200 and memory 201 are in the form of software and are for example (but not in any way limiting in themselves) included in the central control unit 10 (see Figure 4 ) in which the central control unit is electronically connected to two transceivers Tx1, Tx2 and an electric unlocking or locking device of the door 100.

[0060] In a refinement of the present invention, the device D further comprises:

[0061] a. means M5 for comparing the flight time with a first threshold Δ1, the device D being able to control unlocking based on the result of said comparison, and

[0062] b. Means M6 for comparing the flight time with a second threshold value Δ2, the device D being able to control locking on the basis of the result of said comparison.

[0063] To this end, the handle P of the door 100 includes two surfaces that are easily recognized by the user U, such as an unlocking surface S1 oriented toward the outside of the vehicle V and an unlocking surface S2 different from the unlocking surface S1 (see FIG. Figure 2 ).

[0064] The hand M of the user U approaches the first surface S1 or the second surface S2, which increases the difference between the flight time TOF1, TOF2 measured between the two transmitters Tx1, Tx2 and the predetermined flight time TOF (see Figure 3 ), and the difference is then greater than the first threshold Δ1 and the second threshold Δ2, respectively.

[0065] The predetermined time of flight TOF between the two transceivers Tx1 , Tx2 has been previously measured without any hand M being close to the handle P (either the first surface S1 or the second surface S2 ).

[0066] Therefore, the approach of the hand M towards the unlocking surface S1 or the locking surface S2 changes the flight time between the two transceivers Tx1, Tx2 and can therefore be used to trigger the unlocking or unlocking (see Figure 3 ).

[0067] Of course, there can be only one surface for activating unlocking or locking. The user's hand M approaching this single surface increases the flight time TOF1, TOF2 between the two transceivers Tx1, Tx2 and controls:

[0068] a. Either lock, provided the vehicle is unlocked beforehand,

[0069] b. Either unlock, provided the vehicle is locked beforehand,

[0070] As described later.

[0071] We will now describe Figure 5 The locking or unlocking method according to the present invention is shown in FIG.

[0072] In a preliminary step E0 it is detected whether the portable user equipment SD is in a predetermined zone Z1 around the vehicle which allows “hands-free” access to the vehicle V. This detection step is known from the prior art and will not be described in greater detail here.

[0073] In a first step E1, upon detecting the presence of a portable device SD in a predetermined zone Z1, the device D controls the transmission of high frequency waves, for example by ultra-wideband, between the two transceivers Tx1, Tx2. In this case, the first transceiver Tx1 transmits waves to the second transceiver Tx2 and vice versa.

[0074] Once the wave is received by the second transceiver Tx2 or the first Tx1 , the time of flight TOF1 , TOF2 of the wave between the two transceivers Tx1 , Tx2 is determined (step E2 ).

[0075] The time of flight TOF1 , TOF2 thus determined is then compared with a predetermined time of flight TOF during a subsequent step E3a , step E3b .

[0076] Said predetermined time of flight TOF between the two transceivers Tx1 , Tx2 has been previously measured in the absence of any hand M in the predetermined zone Z1 .

[0077] If the comparison result between the measured flight time TOF1 and the predetermined flight time TOF is greater than the first threshold Δ1 (step E3a ), this means that the user's hand is approaching the unlocking surface S1 , and the unlocking DV of the door 100 is triggered (step E4a ).

[0078] If the comparison result between the measured flight time TOF2 and the predetermined flight time TOF is greater than the second threshold Δ2 (step E3b), this means that the user's hand M is approaching the locking surface and the locking V of the door 100 is triggered (step E4b).

[0079] Of course, there may be only one surface S, thereby allowing the door 100 to be both locked and unlocked. Figure 5 In this case, the measured time of flight TOF1 is compared with a predetermined time of flight TOF and if the comparison result is above a first threshold Δ1 (which may have a different value from the first threshold used for the unlocking surface) (step E3a), either unlocking or locking is activated.

[0080] If it is detected that the vehicle V was previously locked (step E3c), unlocking is activated (step E4c), and conversely, if it is detected that the vehicle was previously unlocked (step E3c), locking is activated (step E4d).

[0081] The Applicant has noticed that the proximity of a hand M to the first transceiver Tx1 located in the door significantly and measurably changes the propagation of high-frequency UWB waves between the first transceiver Tx1 and the second transceiver Tx2. In this case, the wave propagation index of the human body is different from that of air and absorbs and diffracts the waves, thus extending the flight time of the waves.

[0082] This is Figure 3 and 6 Shown in. Figure 3 The time of flight TOF between the two transceivers Tx1 , Tx2 is shown in the case where no hand M is close to the handle P nor in the predetermined zone Z1 .

[0083] Figure 3 Also shown are the flight times TOF1, TOF2 between the two transceivers Tx1, Tx2 in the presence or proximity of the unlocking surface S1 and the locking surface S2, respectively, of the hand M of the user U. It is clear that some UWB waves are absorbed or diffracted as they pass through and over the human body. This phenomenon affects the flight time of the waves between the two transceivers Tx1, Tx2, significantly extending it.

[0084] Figure 6 The time of flight TOF between the two transceivers Tx1 and Tx2 is shown as a function of time t. Until time t0, the time of flight TOF is equal to the predetermined time of flight TOF, so no hand M is close to the door 100.

[0085] At time t1 , the time of flight TOF increases significantly to a value greater than the first threshold Δ1 to reach a value TOF1 , which means that the user's hand M is approaching the unlocking surface S1 , and therefore the user U wishes to unlock his vehicle V.

[0086] Figure 6 Also shown is a situation where the hand M of the user U approaches the locking surface S2 at time t0. In this case, the time of flight TOF increases significantly to a value greater than the second threshold Δ2 to reach a value TOF2, which means that the user's hand M is approaching the locking surface S2 and the user therefore wants to lock his vehicle V.

[0087] The present invention is therefore convenient because it allows the use of high frequency transceivers on the vehicle that are designed to identify and locate portable access equipment around the vehicle to detect the presence of a hand near the door handle and thereby unlock or lock the vehicle V.

[0088] The present invention is particularly ingenious because it gets rid of capacitive sensors, and therefore their cost and technical drawbacks, and uses components already on the vehicle to make them perform functions different from those intended.

[0089] Therefore, compared with the prior art, there is a synergy of devices in order to obtain the second technical effect.

Claims

1. A method for locking or unlocking a door (P) of a vehicle (V) using a locking / unlocking device (D) on the vehicle, the locking / unlocking device comprising at least two high-frequency communication transceivers (Tx1, Tx2) capable of communicating with a portable user equipment (SD), a first transceiver (Tx1) of the high-frequency communication transceivers being located in the door (P) and a second transceiver (Tx2) being located inside the vehicle (V), the method being characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: a) detecting the presence of the portable user equipment (SD) in a predetermined zone (Z1) around the vehicle (V), b) if a portable device (SD) is detected, a wave is transmitted between the two transceivers (Tx1, Tx2), c) measuring the time of flight of said waves (TOF1, TOF2), d) comparing the measured time of flight (TOF1, TOF2) with a predetermined time of flight (TOF) previously measured without any hand (M) approaching the handle (P), e) If the result of the comparison is greater than the first threshold (Δ1), the door is unlocked or locked, the proximity of the user's hand (M) changes the propagation of the wave between the first receiver (Tx1) and the second receiver (Tx2) and increases the flight time (TOF1, TOF2).

2. The unlocking or locking method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The door (P) is previously equipped with two surfaces recognizable by the user, namely, an unlocking surface (S1) and a locking surface (S2), and is characterized in that: a) when the user (U) approaches the unlocking surface (S1), the flight time (TOF1) is greater than the flight time previously measured without the hand (M), and the unlocking is activated, b) When the user (U) approaches the locking surface (S2), the time of flight (TOF2) is greater than the time of flight previously measured without the hand (M), and locking is activated.

3. The unlocking or locking method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that If the time of flight (TOF1) is greater than the first threshold (Δ1), unlocking is activated, and if the time of flight (TOF2) is greater than a second threshold (Δ2), locking is activated.

4. The unlocking or locking method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: The predetermined time of flight (TOF) has previously been measured in the absence of the portable device (SD) in a predetermined zone (Z1) around the vehicle (V).

5. A device (D) for unlocking or locking a door (P) of a motor vehicle (V), the device being intended to be on board said vehicle, the device comprising at least two high-frequency communication transceivers (Tx1, Tx2) capable of communicating with a portable user equipment (SD), a first of these high-frequency communication transceivers (Tx1) being located in the door (P) and a second transceiver (Tx2) being located inside the vehicle (V), the device being characterized in that the device is further capable of: a) detecting the presence of the portable user equipment (SD) in a predetermined zone (Z1) around the vehicle, b) controlling the wave transmission between the two transceivers (Tx1, Tx2) based on the detection, c) measuring the time of flight of said waves (TOF1, TOF2), d) comparing the measured time of flight (TOF1, TOF2) with a predetermined time of flight (TOF), e) Unlocking or locking the door (P) depending on the result of the comparison.

6. The locking or unlocking device (D) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The device also includes two surfaces on the door (P) that are identifiable by the user, namely, an unlocking surface (S1) and a locking surface (S2).

7. The locking or unlocking device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The device includes: a) means for comparing the time of flight (TOF1) with a first threshold value (Δ1), and b) means for comparing the time of flight (TOF2) with a second threshold value (Δ2), and characterised in that the means are capable of unlocking the door based on the comparison result with the first threshold value (Δ1) and are capable of locking the door based on the comparison result with the second threshold value (Δ2).

8. A computer program product comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 when said program is executed on a computer.

9. A motor vehicle (V), characterized in that The motor vehicle comprises a locking or unlocking device (D) as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7.

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