Anti-theft system for a vehicle, and method for the operation of an anti-theft system

The present invention relates specifically to anti-theft systems in the form of vehicle access systems and / or start systems and how to operate such prevention systems. The purpose of the anti-theft system is to prevent the theft of the vehicle or the theft of objects inside the vehicle, as well as the objects associated with the vehicle in specific areas inside and / or outside the vehicle. To discover.

Today's access systems or devices in vehicles use electronic security systems to prevent unauthorized entry into the vehicle, in which the user's primary communication device is used to authenticate the user. Data communication takes place between (a portable user identification device such as a key or key holder or an ID transmitter) and a second communication device in the vehicle. Once authenticated, the vehicle locking system directs the unlocking of certain vehicle doors or all vehicle doors.

In the active access system described above, the user presses a specific button provided for unlocking the vehicle on the ID transmitter, which in turn sends an unlock signal to the vehicle in a remote control function. Authentication is performed by doing. In passive access systems or methods, the authorization code is generated, for example, by contacting a proximity sensor or locking sensor built into the vehicle doorknob. At this time, the vehicle transmits a code request signal to the ID transmitter in response to the contact, and finally, after receiving the request signal, the ID transmitter sends a response signal having an corresponding authentication code back to the vehicle. Subsequently, the code received in the vehicle is inspected, and if the inspection result is affirmative or the inspection is successful, the vehicle or the vehicle door is unlocked as described above. For example, an ID generator in the form of an electronic key may be designed for both active and passive access methods.

As in the case of a passive access system, in a vehicle start system, code information can be transmitted from the identification device to the vehicle by a dialog consisting of a request signal on the vehicle side and a corresponding response signal on the identification device side. For example, it is possible to stop the anti-theft system or start the drive motor of the vehicle.

In addition to the original "short reach" use of achieving access to vehicles in the immediate vicinity or starting the drive motor of the vehicle, longer reach use (so-called "long range" use) is planned. In such applications, a user identification device such as a vehicle key can communicate with the vehicle over a longer distance. In addition, today's access or start systems typically have multiple user identification devices or keys that provide access to the vehicle or start of the vehicle drive motor. For example, it is possible that there are two people in a moving vehicle and both of these people have the key associated with the vehicle access system. If the vehicle is stopped, both of them leave the vehicle, and one person loses the key in or near the vehicle outside the vehicle, the lost key becomes a security hazard. This is because the key can be used by an unauthorized person to gain authority to access the vehicle or start the drive motor. In particular, you will notice that you have lost your user identification device if you get your key in a hard-to-see pocket, such as in your vehicle's side door pocket, or if you lose it by hiding under a pile of debris or leaves outside your vehicle. It will be very difficult to discover later. In this case, the key is often considered lost.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a means for minimizing the loss of an object associated with a vehicle.

This problem is solved by the configuration described in the independent claims. The dependent claim describes a favorable configuration.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating an anti-theft system, particularly in the form of an access system and / or a start system for vehicles. In the remote control function of a portable ID generator associated with a vehicle or anti-theft system, an object associated with the vehicle is present in a specific area inside and / or outside the vehicle. It is configured to send a request signal with an instruction to confirm that. In addition, the vehicle-side portion of the anti-theft system is configured to perform the following steps: This vehicle-side portion receives a request signal and in response to this request signal inspects the presence of an object inside and / or outside the vehicle. Finally, the vehicle-side portion of the anti-theft system is whether, after inspection, an object associated with the vehicle (or only associated with the anti-theft system) was found during the inspection for its existence. The result signal having the information of is transmitted. By using the request signal, the vehicle side part of the anti-theft system can be instructed to search for the object associated with the vehicle, and the search result can be notified, so that the lost object can be found again near or in the vehicle. An easy and comfortable means of implementation is provided. Therefore, the risk of completely losing this object is minimized. In particular, the methods described above provide additional areas of use for anti-theft systems, especially access systems with longer reach. This is because the request signal can be transmitted to search for an object associated with the vehicle, even from a position away from the vehicle (eg, a position where the vehicle is no longer visible). Therefore, for example, the user no longer needs to go to the immediate vicinity of the vehicle to search for the object associated with the vehicle, and the search can be performed, for example, by transmitting a request signal from home.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the inspection of the presence of an object associated with a vehicle is such that an inquiry signal is transmitted from the vehicle side portion of the anti-theft system to the space inside and / or outside the vehicle. Is done by. Subsequently, the vehicle-side portion of the anti-theft system inspects whether the response signal of the object has been received. Advantageously, the query signal is a radio signal in the low frequency region to the LF (Low Frequency) region, for example, a radio signal having a frequency of 125 kHz. On the other hand, the response signal is a radio signal in a high frequency region or an RF (Radio Frequency) region, for example, a radio signal having a frequency of 433 kHz. Therefore, in order to discover the object, a method similar to the method for conventional passive access systems using the corresponding inquiry / response dialog can be used. By using the same or similar algorithms as authentication in the access system, no additional method or device technical effort is required to search for the object. An identifier representing information about what kind of object the object that is the source of the response signal is can be included in the response signal of the object.

According to another embodiment, the request signal is transmitted from a portable ID generator associated with the vehicle or anti-theft system or an ID generator carried by the user. The ID generator is configured in the form of an electronic key. The ID generator (also referred to as the user identification device) is basically intended to communicate with this vehicle-side portion of the anti-theft system in order to be authenticated. If the authentication is successful, the vehicle or vehicle door is finally unlocked or locked within the frame of the access system, while the drive motor of the vehicle is started if the authentication is successful within the frame of the start system. The portable ID generator has a long-distance radio function, so the user belonging to it belongs to the vehicle at a relatively long distance, for example, by transmitting a request signal from a distance of 1 to 2 km. It is also possible to instruct the search for the object of. Correspondingly, the ID generator can receive the result signal and output to the user the contained information about the discovered object. This allows the ID generator to output optical, acoustic and / or mechanical signals (eg vibrations) to the user. It is also possible that the ID generator sends an identifier or authentication code along with a request signal to allow the vehicle to identify if an authorized ID generator is about to initiate a search for the object.

The vehicle-side portion of the anti-theft system can search near the vehicle (inside or outside the vehicle), and the object associated with the vehicle is another ID generator associated with the vehicle. Or something else that is connected to the communication device. This type of communication device can include a transmitter / receiver such as an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) transponder. The vehicle-side portion of the anti-theft system is used as a type of reader for RFID transponders on objects.

According to an advantageous embodiment, one or more locations where an object associated with the vehicle can be found are identified. To this end, the vehicle-side portion of the anti-theft system has multiple antennas that can be attached to different parts of the vehicle, thus covering different specific areas inside and / or outside the vehicle. It can be covered wirelessly. One or more query signals having a predetermined electric field strength can be transmitted from each antenna each time, and then an object existing in the reception area of each antenna responds to the query signal. For example, since each antenna can transmit query signals at staggered times, the vehicle-side portion of the anti-theft system can identify which query signal the response signal arrived within a particular time period. Therefore, it is possible to infer the location and position of the antenna that transmitted the query signal and finally the object that responded (the receiving area of the antenna). Furthermore, it is conceivable that one or more antennas transmit a plurality of query signals having various electric field strengths. If the electric field strength of the first query signal is relatively weak and none of the objects responds to this query signal, this means that there is no object in the vicinity of the antenna. However, when the electric field strength of the second query signal is strengthened and the object responds, the approximate distance from the antenna that transmitted this second query signal to the object to be found is estimated based on the reception area of the antenna. be able to.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an anti-theft system, especially in the form of an access system and / or a start system for vehicles. The anti-theft system provides a vehicle-side receiver for receiving a request signal with instructions to confirm that the object associated with the vehicle is within one or more specific areas of the vehicle. It has a part on the vehicle side including. Furthermore, the vehicle side part inspects whether an object exists in one or more specific areas of the vehicle, and outputs information on whether or not an object associated with the vehicle is found. It has a vehicle-side control evaluation device for this purpose. Finally, the vehicle-side portion has a vehicle-side transmitter for transmitting a result signal having information about the discovery of the object. Therefore, the anti-theft system realizes another function, that is, a function of finding a specific object in the vicinity of the vehicle, in addition to the original function of preventing the theft of the vehicle. In particular, a request signal that can be transmitted from a device outside the vehicle at a certain distance to the vehicle triggers the search for an object, which simplifies the search process without the user having to go directly to or near the vehicle. You can start with. Therefore, the loss or complete loss of a particular object lost near the vehicle is minimized.

According to the embodiment, in order to inspect the presence of an object associated with the vehicle, the vehicle-side control evaluation device sends at least one or more query signals to the vehicle-side transmitter to the vehicle. Instructs to send to a specific area. The control evaluation device on the vehicle side relies on the reception of the response signal of the object each time via the receiving device, and confirms the existence of the object that has transmitted this response signal. In particular, the presence test is performed wirelessly, for example the query signal can be transmitted in the low frequency domain (eg 125kHz) and the corresponding response signal can be transmitted in the high frequency domain (eg 433kHz). .. This type of wireless system is similar to the wireless system of the anti-theft system within the framework of the access system, where the authentication of the ID generator associated with the user is performed by a similar inquiry / response dialog.

In addition to the vehicle-side portion, the anti-theft system for a vehicle also includes one or more portable ID generators, usually associated with or carried by one or more users. Can have. A portable ID generator communicates with the vehicle-side part of the anti-theft system, to be precise, by authentication in the vehicle-side part, and upon successful authentication does not unlock the vehicle or its doors within the framework of the access system. It can be locked, while the drive motor of the vehicle can be started within the framework of the start system upon successful authentication of the ID generator. According to embodiments of the present invention, for example, a portable ID generator in the form of an electronic key has the above-mentioned function of unlocking / locking a vehicle or initiating a drive motor, as well as ( A request signal (in the form of a radio signal, for example) is transmitted to the vehicle-side portion of the anti-theft system, which searches for objects near the vehicle (inside and outside the vehicle) with respect to the vehicle-side portion. It can be configured to be instructed to do so. Further, correspondingly, a formable ID generator can be configured to receive the result signal transmitted from the vehicle side portion and output the content or information on the discovery of the object to the user. To this end, the ID generator can have one or more output devices for outputting optical, acoustic and / or mechanical signals. For example, the output device can have a display device, which, when one or more objects are found, for example, a specific symbol or a corresponding text notification "object" on the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display. "Discovery" is output. In addition, the display device is one or more LEDs (light-emitting diodes; It can have a light emitting diode) and the (specific) LED will illuminate if one or more objects are found near the vehicle. The output device can also have a speaker, which outputs a specific melody when an object is found. Finally, the output device can have a vibrating device, which outputs a specific vibration pattern when one or more objects are found near the vehicle.

According to another embodiment, identification of the location where a specific object exists in the vicinity of the vehicle is achieved. One possibility is that the vehicle-side transmitter has multiple antennas that can be mounted at various locations in the vehicle. The vehicle-side transmitter can transmit one or more query signals (with specific electric field strengths), each through multiple antennas, and ultimately an object that resides within the receiving area of each antenna. The response signal from the object can be received by the receiving device on the vehicle side. In particular, since the transmitting device on the vehicle side can control each antenna by shifting the time, if a response is made within a specific period after the transmission of a specific inquiry signal, the responding object exists. The receiving area of the antenna can be inferred, thus locating.

The vehicle-side transmitter has one (or multiple) antennas and sends out multiple query signals with different electric field strengths. Therefore, by sending out multiple query signals with different electric field strengths, the reception area for the object around the antenna can be changed, and therefore the response signal is received for a particular query signal with a particular electric field strength. However, if the response signal is received by a vehicle-side receiver, for example in another query signal with a stronger electric field strength, the approximate position of the object around the antenna is located.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<figref num="1">A schematic diagram of a vehicle with an anti-theft system is shown, in which an ID transmitter to be discovered by the vehicle-side portion of the anti-theft system is present in the vicinity.</figref>

Figure 1 shows the schematic structure of a vehicle FZ with an anti-theft system. The vehicle-side portion of the anti-theft system has a vehicle-side control evaluation device STAE as a central unit. This control evaluation device STAE is connected to two communication devices K1 and K2 to realize a wireless-based access system, and these communication devices K1 and K2 are transmitters S1 to S2 and receivers E1 to E2, respectively. Have. In order to achieve good radiotechnical reach, however, and also to locate objects communicating with communication devices K1 and K2, communication device K1 is an external antenna provided in an external area in front of the vehicle. It has an A1A and an internal antenna A1I provided in the front internal area. Correspondingly, the second communication device K2 has an external antenna A2A provided in the external region behind the vehicle and an internal antenna A2I provided in the internal region behind the vehicle. Here, the receiving area of each antenna, that is, the receiving area SBA1 of the external antenna A1A, the receiving area SBI1 of the internal antenna A1I, the receiving area SBA2 of the external antenna A2A, and finally the receiving area SBI2 of the internal antenna A2I are simply schematic. It is shown. Objects existing in each receiving area can finally communicate with each antenna. Here, communication is performed with an object existing in the vehicle cabin or the vehicle cabin FGZ via the internal antenna A1I, and on the other hand, communication is performed with an object existing in the trunk room KOR of the vehicle FZ via the internal antenna A2I. Only mention what is done.

Within the functionality of a traditional passive access system or passive access device, a specific event (pulling a doorknob or an ID generator or human approaching the vehicle) causes the transmitter S1 to pass through the external antenna A1A. Therefore, for example, the inquiry signal Q1 is transmitted to the ID generator IDG1 associated with the user, and the response signal R1 including the user's identifier or authentication code responds to the inquiry signal Q1. The receiving device E1 receives the response signal R1 via the external antenna A1A and transfers the content to the control evaluation device STAE on the vehicle side. This control evaluation device STAE inspects the validity of the ID generator identifier or authentication code, and instructs the door lock device TS to unlock the vehicle door FZT to which it belongs. Further, within the framework of the start system or the start process, an inquiry / response dialog corresponding to the ID generator IDG existing in the vehicle cabin can be performed via, for example, the internal antenna A1I. For example, when a user carrying the ID generator IDG2 presses the start / stop button to start the drive motor, an inquiry / response dialog is displayed from the control evaluation device STAE on the vehicle side via the first communication device K1. (Inquiry signal Q2, response signal R2) is executed, and finally the ID generator IDG2 controls its own identifier or its own authentication code via the first communication device K1 on the vehicle side by this inquiry / response dialog. Transmit to the evaluation device STAE. The control evaluation device inspects the authentication code or identifier for its validity, and if affirmative, the motor starter MSE is activated, and this motor starter MSE starts the drive motor (internal combustion engine or electric motor).

In addition to the original functions of these anti-theft systems, i.e. the functions used as the access system or start system described above, the anti-theft system shown in FIG. 1 is further associated with a particular object, such as a vehicle. ID generators (eg, ID generators IDG1 and IDG2) can be searched for in a specific area inside or outside the vehicle.

Here, it is assumed that a person riding in the vehicle FZ loses his / her own ID generator IDG2 in the vehicle. If the passenger notices the loss but is already out of sight of the vehicle FZ, the driver of the vehicle associated with the ID generator IDG3 will have the passenger place the ID generator IDG2 near the vehicle (inside the vehicle or in the vehicle). Attempts to confirm from a distance whether or not it has been lost (near the vehicle outside). For such searches, the driver uses its own ID generator, IDG3. This ID generator IDG3 is configured as follows.

The ID generator IDG3 has three buttons TA1, TA2 and TA3, which can be used by the user to trigger a specific control instruction. For example, the button TA2 can be associated with the unlocking function of the vehicle, while the key TA3 can be associated with the locking function of the vehicle (of the conventional electronic key for remotely controlling the central lock portion of the vehicle). Corresponds to the function). In the example of FIG. 1, the button TA1 is assigned the function of finding an object in a specific area inside or outside the vehicle FZ associated with the ID generator IDG3. When one of the three buttons is pressed by the user, information about it is sent to the controller ST on the ID generator side. This control device ST is connected to the display device DSP (LCD display unit) on the ID generator side and the transmitter / receiver SE on the ID generator side. The transmitter / receiver SE also has an ID generator-side antenna AN for transmitting and receiving signals or radio signals. It should be noted that the other ID generators IDG1 and IDG2 shown in the drawings have the same structure as the ID generator IDG3. Therefore, it will not be described separately.

If the driver of the vehicle intends to start the search for an object near the vehicle FZ, especially the lost ID generator IDG2, from a distance as described above, the driver will take the button TA1 of his ID generator IDG3 in the first step. Press. The controller ST identifies that the button TA1 has been pressed and has an instruction to cause the vehicle FZ to search for an object associated with this vehicle FZ in one or more areas inside or outside the vehicle FZ. Instructs the transmitter / receiver SE to transmit the signal AFS to the vehicle FZ via the antenna AN. To be precise, an object in or outside the vehicle should be searched for in the vicinity of the vehicle.

In the second step, the second communication device K2 or its receiver E2 receives the request signal AFS via the external antenna A2A, and in the third step, this request signal AFS is sent to the vehicle-side control evaluation device STAE. Forward. By triggering this request signal by the third step, the vehicle-side control evaluation device STAE receives an object such as the ID generator IDG2 to the two communication devices K1 and K2 or their transmitters S1 to S2. Region or search Regions SBA1, SBA2 and SBI1, SBI2 output a command to transmit an inquiry signal having a predetermined electric field strength via the external antennas A1A, A2A and the internal antennas A1I, A2I.

In this case, it is assumed that the ID generator IDG2 to be searched is located inside the vehicle, that is, in the vehicle cabin FGZ, as shown in FIG. Therefore, in the fourth step, the ID generator IDG2 receives the inquiry signal Q2 transmitted via the internal antenna A1I via its antenna AN. When this inquiry signal Q is received via the transmitter / receiver SE and transferred to the controller ST of the ID generator IDG2, the controller ST responds to the transmitter / receiver SE via the antenna AN in the fifth step. Outputs an instruction to return R2. In the sixth step, the first communication device K1 or its receiving device E1 receives the response signal R2 via the internal antenna A1I, and transfers this response signal R2 to the control evaluation device STAE on the vehicle side. It should be mentioned here that the ID generator IDG2 is the only object that exists near the vehicle (ie, near the vehicle inside or outside the vehicle).

In the seventh step, the vehicle-side control evaluation device STAE summarizes the search results and forms information. In the simplest case, this information indicates whether the object was found near the vehicle. According to an advantageous embodiment, the result information can further include information about the number of objects found and / or information about the search area where one or more objects were found. Can be done. According to another advantageous embodiment, the discovered object can transmit the identifier of the object with its own response signal (in the above example, the ID generator IDG2 with the response signal R2). The identifier of the discovered object can be inserted into the result information in addition to or as an alternative to the data of. Regarding the following explanation, whether or not the object was found, how many objects were found, in which search area the object was found, and in some cases, what kind of identifier was found for the found object. It is assumed that the result information includes the information on whether or not it is possessed.

After creating the result information, in the eighth step, the vehicle-side control evaluation device STAE transfers this result information to the second communication device K2 (however, in some cases, it is also transferred to the first communication device K1). Along with this, the result signal EGS having the result information is transmitted via the corresponding transmitter S2 (or also via S1), or is transmitted to the ID generator IDG3 that has made the inquiry.

In the tenth step, the result signal EGS received via the antenna AN and the transmitter / receiver SE is transferred to the controller ST in the ID generator IDG3. In the eleventh step, the controller ST processes the result signal EGS and transfers it to the display device DSP for display to the user associated with the ID generator IDG3. The display device DSP can display the result text "object: ID generator IDG2 discovery, search area: in the vehicle cabin" in response to the above-mentioned search, for example. In this way, the passenger knows that his ID generator IDG2 has been lost in the vehicle or somewhere in the vehicle cabin and can intensively search this area, or the ID generator IDG2 around the vehicle. No need to search for.

A corresponding transmission / reception device can be provided for other objects belonging to the vehicle. For example, a stop indicator or a first aid kit can be provided with a corresponding transmitter / receiver so that the driver of the vehicle can know at any time that there is something in the vehicle that is necessary to drive the vehicle.

Here, the case where the ID generator IDG2 is misplaced in the vehicle or lost in the vehicle and is found by the vehicle side part of the anti-theft system of the vehicle FZ has been described, but outside the vehicle, especially in the vicinity of the vehicle, For example, it is conceivable that the vehicle FZ searches or finds an ID generator or other object having a corresponding transmitter / receiver in the search areas SBA1 and SBA2. In this regard, FIG. 1 further shows, for example, the ID generator IDG1 lost outside the vehicle by another person in the vehicle FZ. In response to the above search process for the ID generator IDG2, the ID generator IDG1 can also be used to trigger the search process using the ID generator IDG3. In this case, the reception of the request signal AFS by the control evaluation device STAE on the vehicle side is a trigger, and the inquiry signal is transmitted again to the various antennas of the communication devices K1 and K2. In this example, the ID generator IDG1 receives the inquiry signal Q1 and returns the corresponding response signal R1, so that the control evaluation device STAE on the vehicle side is the object, that is, the ID generator IDG1 is located on the left front outside the vehicle. A result signal with information indicating that it was found in the search area can be returned to the ID generator IDG3. This type of result information can then also be displayed to the user on the display device DSP of the ID generator IDG3, which allows the user to know the approximate location of the ID generator IDG1.

Finally, the search process for an object (eg, from the ID generator IDG3) in or outside the vehicle near the vehicle, even though the object associated with the vehicle does not exist in the search area. Consider the case where it is started by AFS trigger.

According to the third step described above, the vehicle-side control evaluation device STAE activates the time measuring device for measuring the time after sending the instruction that the query signal should be sent to the search area via the respective antennas. Let me. After a predetermined period of time TM in which none of the antennas received the response signal, the control evaluation device STAE assumed that there was no object in the search area, and no object was found in step 7 above. Summarize that as a result. Notification of this result is also performed in the same manner as described above.

For a portable ID generator as part of an anti-theft system, one of the buttons to unlock or lock the vehicle is pressed, as described for the buttons TA2 or TA3 belonging to the ID generator IDG3. Therefore, it is advantageous to authenticate the signal when the signal or wireless signal is transmitted, but the authentication of the signal AFS to start the search also for the search for the object by pressing the button TA1 as described above. It is also possible to do. For this purpose, for example, the identification code can be transmitted together with the signal AFS. This identification code is then inspected for authority or validity by the vehicle-side control evaluation device STAE. The search for the object is performed only if the identification code is valid. Therefore, in a simple embodiment, the ID generator can be configured as a remote control unit for searching for an object near the vehicle, but in an extended embodiment, the ID generator can be unlocked or unlocked in the vehicle. It can also be configured as a remote investigation unit for locking.