With products from Huf, you never be faced with closed doors - even in extraordinary situations: Thanks to the Smart Emergency Access made possible by Huf, first responders can quickly and reliably open the door of a crashed car. Another use case: when the car battery is drained, drivers can get into the car and wait inside for support services. The exact position for installing the Smart Emergency Access depends on the car manufacturer and car line.
In an emergency, every second counts. First responders must immediately recognize how to get into the car quickly and reliably. The benefit of Smart Emergency Access made by Huf: Once the main control unit in the car has detected an accident, it sends a signal to the Smart Emergency Access. The system enables access to a pull strap and establishes direct, mechanical connection of the handle to the door lock. Additional authorization by the first responder is not required in this case.
In case of a drained car battery, the user has the option of charging a small battery in the vehicle via NFC (Near Field Communication) to gain access to the car. All you have to do is hold your smartphone in front of an NFC reader integrated in the car. This energy is used to authenticate the digital key on the smartphone and establish a direct connection between a rotating handle and the door lock in the car door. By slightly rotating the handle, which is located behind a flap, the user can unlock the door and open it.
Huf was the first automotive supplier worldwide to introduce NFC technology into a vehicle, making it possible for the first time to open the car with a smartphone. Today, NFC is integrated into numerous products at Huf, including Phone as a Key – the solution for digital key authentication. Thanks to UWB (Ultra Wideband) and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) sensor technologies, passive entry – or rather completely handsfree access – is possible with Phone as a Key. However, NFC is still on board for additional applications, among other things for emergency car access.
When buying a new car, drivers become familiar with the Smart Emergency Access function. Though familiar with the application, in the event of an accident, the emergency access must immediately catch the eye of the user. In everyday situations, such as in the supermarket parking lot or in the driveway in front of your home, protection against theft must be guaranteed. Huf has considered these and other issues when developing Smart Emergency Access and has developed clever solutions, as you will find out when you click on "Show more".
The main control unit in the vehicle detects the accident and sends a command to the control unit of the Smart Emergency Access. Once the Smart Emergency Access receives this command a flap opens automatically, giving access to a pull strap. In addition, a direct connection is established between the pull strap and the door lock. If the first responder now pulls the pull strap, they can open the door. Additional authorization by the first responder is not required in this case.
When the car battery is drained, the user has the option of charging a small battery in the vehicle via NFC. This small energy boost is sufficient for car entry. To do this, the user holds his or her NFC smartphone in front of the NFC reader in the vehicle. With this power the system detects the digital key and ensures a direct connection between door lock and handle. This handle is located behind a flap. With a gentle turn of the handle, the user unlocks the door and can pull it to enter the car.
In case of a drained car battery, the power generated by the NFC charging is used to establish a direct connection between a handle behind a flap and the car door lock. The connection between the handle and the door lock only occurs if the digital key on the smartphone has been authorized. If this is not the case, the handle turns freely without establishing a connection with the door lock. This means that thieves have no chance – even if they manage to open the flap and turn the handle the door remains locked.
In case of an accident, this authorization is not required. Authorization for the connection to the door lock is given by the main control unit that detected the accident.
The Smart Emergency Access does not use any energy in normal conditions. In the case of an accident, the main control unit will wake up the Smart Emergency Access and send the command to activate the system. If the car battery is drained, a battery in the vehicle is charged by holding the NFC smartphone in front of the NFC reader of the vehicle. At the customer's request, the Smart Emergency Access can be equipped with Qi charging and thus provide significantly more energy in a short time.
The exact position of the Smart Emergency Access varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Thanks to its compact design, the Smart Emergency Access can be installed at numerous places. However, one thing must be taken into consideration when positioning the Smart Emergency Access. In case of a drained battery, both the NFC reader in the vehicle exterior and the handle must be easy to reach for the user. And more important, in a dangerous situation, the red pull strap must be immediately recognizable to first responders and provide a reliable gripping point for the high pulling forces that may be required to open the door after an accident.
Smart Emergency Access is part of the vehicle introduction checklist that dealership personnel review with the new owner when delivering the new car. Customers of manufacturers who do not offer this service, as well as buyers of used cars, will find the explanation in the user’s manual.
As a specialist for secure car access and authorization Huf has significantly influenced the development towards the digital key with numerous milestones.
In 1989, Huf became the first automotive supplier worldwide to produce an infrared key. Driver of the new Mercedes SL (R129) were able to open and close the car from a distance at the push of a button.
With door handles from Huf, drivers can enter the vehicle without actively using the key for the first time ever. Car manufacturers have sold this revolutionary technology with illustrious names such as Keyless-Go (Mercedes) or Comfort Access (BMW). Huf was the first automotive supplier to introduce NFC technology into the door handle.
As a specialist for vehicle access and authorization, Huf recognized the trend towards digital keys early on. As early as 2014, Huf founded the subsidiary Huf Secure Mobile and now offers digital key management for car rental companies and car sharing providers.
Huf is a permanent member of the industry-wide working groups FiRa and Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC). Together with representatives of automotive manufacturers and suppliers as well as chip and smartphone manufacturers, Huf is working on worldwide digital key standards.
