IP Library Granted Patent US 11,155,240
Granted Patent B2
US 11,155,240 · App. 16/638,075 · Granted Oct 26, 2021

Access arrangement for a vehicle

Inventors: Ulrich Emmerling (Kelheim, DE); Annette Hebling (Geisling, DE); Christine Igl (Regensburg, DE); Georg Käufl (Painten, DE); Stefan Hermann (Neunkirchen am Brand, DE); Alexander Heinrich (Donaustauf, DE)
Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
B60R25/403B60R25/24G07C9/00309B60R2325/103B60R2325/205G07C2009/00642
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,155,240
App. No.
16/638,075
Granted
Oct 26, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An access arrangement for a vehicle comprises a vehicle-side unlocking device for unlocking a locking mechanism. Furthermore, it comprises a vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device which is set up to supply the unlocking device with energy independently of the on-board power supply of the vehicle. Moreover, the access arrangement has a vehicle-side energy supply device comprising a first section for receiving wirelessly transmitted energy and for converting the transmitted energy into electrical energy, and a second section for charging the vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device. In particular, the access arrangement also comprises a vehicle-side authentication device for checking access authorization, which is supplied with energy independently of the on-board power supply by means of the vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device. It is therefore no longer necessary to equip a mobile identification transmitter carried by a user with the access arrangement with a mechanical key.

Claims (21)

1. An access arrangement for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle-side unlocking device configured to actuate a locking mechanism;

a vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device configured to supply the unlocking device with energy;

a vehicle-side energy supply device comprising:

a first section configured to receive wirelessly transmitted energy and to convert the transmitted energy into electrical energy, and

a second section configured to charge the vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device,

a vehicle-side authentication device configured to check and implement access authorization,

wherein the vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device is configured to supply both the authentication device and the unlocking device with energy, and

wherein the vehicle-side energy supply device is configured in such a way that the vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device is initially charged only with an amount of energy that allows the vehicle-side authentication device to check the access authorization, and

only upon the access authorization having been checked as positive, the vehicle-side energy supply device further charges the vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device with an amount of energy that allows the unlocking device to actuate the locking mechanism.

2. The access arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device comprises at least one of a rechargeable battery and a capacitor.

3. The access arrangement as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device comprises a supercapacitor.

4. The access arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle-side energy supply device comprises a radio interface configured to receive energy transmitted wirelessly by radio.

5. The access arrangement as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the radio interface comprises an NFC interface.

6. The access arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle-side energy supply device comprises a light interface configured to receive energy transmitted wirelessly via light.

7. The access arrangement as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the light interface comprises a photocell.

8. The access arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle-side authentication device configured to implement the access authorization outputs an unlock signal to the vehicle-side unlocking device configured to unlock the locking mechanism.

9. The access arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a mobile identification transmitter configured to output the energy to be wirelessly transmitted to the vehicle-side energy supply device.

10. The access arrangement as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the mobile identification transmitter is configured to carry out authentication with the vehicle-side authentication device.

11. The access arrangement as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the mobile identification transmitter is configured as at least one of a key, a key fob, a mobile phone, a smartphone and a fitness tracker.

12. The vehicle with the access arrangement as claimed in claim 1 .

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2025
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 070441/0899 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2020
From: EMMERLING, ULRICH; HEBLING, ANNETTE; IGL, CHRISTINE; KÄUFL, GEORG; HERMANN, STEFAN; HEINRICH, ALEXANDER
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 051801/0706 →