TRW's Keyless Vehicle System: Car Starts With the Push of a Button
18 October 2000
TRW's Keyless Vehicle System: Car Starts With the Push of a Button
Business Editors & Automotive WritersDETROIT--Oct. 16, 2000--One key to increasing automobile security and convenience is getting rid of keys.
TRW's Keyless Vehicle System does just that by eliminating the need for keys to open doors as well as start the car.
Drivers have been fumbling with and searching for their keys since carmakers began using key systems in the early 1900s. With TRW's Keyless Vehicle technology, the car recognizes a fob that is with the driver and unlocks the doors. Then -- unlike most keyless entry systems -- TRW's system allows the driver to start and drive the car without inserting a key, badge or fob.
"TRW's Keyless Vehicle System frees drivers from mechanically unlocking and starting their vehicles," said Heinz Pfannschmidt, executive vice president and general manager, TRW Automotive Electronics. "This system is another example of how TRW is using innovative technology to improve driver safety, security and convenience."
TRW is demonstrating its Keyless Vehicle System in Booth 901 at the Convergence 2000 International Congress on Transportation Electronics, being held Oct. 16-18 at Cobo Hall in Detroit.
The product has two main components: the small fob, carried by the driver, and a vehicle-based system consisting of sensors, transmitters and a receiver that may be located in a number of options, such as the dashboard, steering column, center console or overhead console. The fob is similar to the remote keyless entry fob used with many cars today and performs the same remote keyless entry functions in addition to its keyless features.
When the driver approaches his or her car and starts reaching for the door handle, the on-board sensors detect the presence of the Keyless Vehicle System fob via low-frequency and radio-frequency signals. The signals are not blocked by clothing or the structure and contents of a purse or briefcase. The fob and the sensors communicate using an encrypted system to verify the fob's identity. Once the fob's code has been identified and verified, the system automatically unlocks the car doors. The whole process takes place in just milliseconds.
A driver with an armload of groceries or holding a briefcase or small child never has to fumble for the key. The car knows the driver is there and unlocks the doors. This means faster entry into the vehicle, a security consideration if the car is parked in a dark lot or other potentially dangerous environments.
TRW's Keyless Vehicle System can distinguish whether the fob is inside or outside of the vehicle. Just having the fob inside the vehicle -- be it in a briefcase, purse or pocket or laying on the passenger seat -- is enough to enable the car to start. The driver depresses the brake pedal and simply presses an ignition button on the dash to start the engine.
TRW's Keyless Vehicle System will be available for model year 2004 production.
More Security
The Keyless Vehicle System provides enhanced security for the driver in a variety of ways. The system will alert the driver if the fob is left inside the vehicle and will not lock the vehicle doors. Once the system detects that the fob has been removed from the car, the vehicle doors will lock automatically. In the event that the vehicle's battery is discharged, the driver still can gain access to the car and trunk using a traditional mechanical key, which slides out from the back of the fob.
The Keyless Vehicle System prevents car thieves from breaking or bypassing the ignition key cylinder. Because it communicates with the engine controller, it replaces the vehicle's immobilizer system. At the same time, existing steering and automatic transmission interlocks are maintained and controlled electronically, additionally protecting against vehicle theft.
The Keyless Vehicle System also can incorporate security functions available in TRW's two-way remote keyless entry technology that allow the vehicle to send information to the driver's fob. The information is communicated either through a warning LED or a small display on the fob. This way, the driver can check to make sure the vehicle is actually locked without being near it, and the vehicle can alert the driver through the fob to unauthorized intrusions. Thus, the driver is warned of the possibility of an unauthorized person in the vehicle before reaching the vehicle.
Like the other TRW remote keyless entry technologies, the Keyless Vehicle System fob features code encryption, so that a different security code is sent each time the fob buttons are pressed, thus thwarting code-grabbing.
For additional reliability, the Keyless Vehicle System is able to switch transmission frequencies to avoid interference from other sources.
More Convenience
TRW's Keyless Vehicle System offers several other conveniences for drivers. Each fob can be authorized to unlock and start more than one keyless-enabled vehicle, so one fob could be used to operate all vehicles in a family. Additionally, the fob of each authorized person can be programmed to automatically activate customized vehicle comfort settings, such as seat and mirror position, preferred radio station and cabin temperature.
The Keyless Vehicle System also can be combined with TRW's Universal Home Access System with two-way communication. Two-way Universal Home Access capabilities permit a driver to use his or her fob to control home lighting, home entry doors and garage doors, and then to check the on/off or open/closed status of each.
TRW Automotive Electronics, a unit of TRW Inc., is a leading producer of safety and security systems, body control systems, chassis and powertrain controls, and engineered fasteners for the global automotive industry.
