GB2536422A

GB2536422A - Locking mechanism for key fob

Info

Publication number: GB2536422A
Application number: GB1504200.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Troy Coles Callum; Edward Creese Roberts Samuel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-03-12
Filing date: 2015-03-12
Publication date: 2016-09-21
Also published as: GB201504200D0

Abstract

A key fob 201, 401comprises a key and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a breath alcohol content sensing unit configured to generate a key usable signal to enable operation of the key in response to detecting a breath alcohol content level that is less than a predetermined alcohol threshold such as a legal drink drive limit. The key may be a wireless transmission unit and the key usable signal may operate to enable the transmission of signal from the wireless transmission unit, e.g. vehicle ignition. The key may be an insertion key 202 that is movable, e.g. pivotal, between a storage position and a use extended position and the key usable signal may operate to release the insertion key 202 from the storage position. Preferably the key has a mouthpiece 205 and removable cap 206 for the breathalyser. The alcohol threshold level may be adjustable and there may be a delay, e.g. fixed, adjustable, or proportional to the alcohol reading of the user, between failed retests. It may include various LEDs, green, amber, red may give visual indication of result.

Description

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR KEY FOB

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for a key fob, in particular to a locking mechanism for a key fob comprising a vehicle ignition key and to a key fob comprising a key and a locking mechanism.

Background of the Invention

A known type of key fob comprises an ignition key for a vehicle that is movable by a flipping motion between a storage position and a use position. In the storage position of the key, other user-operable functions of the key fob, for example to lock or unlock doors or the vehicle, may be used.

Another type of key fob comprises a key in the form of a wireless transmission unit that transmits signals to activate an ignition system of the vehicle. This type of key fob is sometimes referred to as providing 'wireless entry' or 'key-less entry'.

Drink driving is a problem within society, causing accidents and fatalities. It is therefore desirable to inhibit driving by persons under the influence of alcohol to both reduce incidents on the road and to encourage safer driving. Various different approaches to address the issue drink driving include advertising campaigns, increased penalties and mandatory educational courses for persons caught driving over a legal drink driving limit by law enforcement Another proposal has been to incorporate breath alcohol content sensors into the ignition system of a vehicle that operate to prevent the vehicle engine from starting in the event that a person fails a breath alcohol content test; however, this system is expensive to install and maintain.

It is therefore desirable to provide a drink driving prevention system that is convenient and cost-effect to provide, use and maintain.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect there is provided a key fob comprising a key and a locking mechanism as claimed in claim I. The present invention also provides a key fob comprising a key and a locking mechanism according to any claim dependent upon claim I. Further, the present invention provides a locking mechanism for a key fob.

Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be more particularly described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I shows a prior art car key fob that comprises a vehicle ignition key in the form an insertion key that can flipped between a storage position within a housing of the car key fob and a use position extending from the housing of the car key fob; Figure 2 illustrates features of a key fob comprising a key and a locking mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows an illustrative circuit diagram for the locking mechanism; Figure 4 illustrates features of a key fob comprising a key and a locking mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Description

Example embodiments are described below in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

A prior art car key fob 101 is shown in Figure I. The car key fob 101 comprises a vehicle ignition key 102 in the form of an insertion key that is physically insertable into a vehicle ignition lock. The vehicle ignition key 102 is flippable between a storage position and a use position. The car key fob 101 is shown at A, with the vehicle ignition key 102 in the storage position in which it is located within a housing 103 of the car key fob 101 and with the overall size of the car key fob 101 being the size of the housing 103. The car key fob 101 is shown at B with the vehicle ignition key 102 in the use position, in which the vehicle ignition key 102 extends from the housing 103.

Also illustrated at B is the direction 104 of opening the vehicle ignition key 102 from the storage position into the use position and the reverse direction 105 of closing the vehicle ignition key 102 from the use position into the storage position. The key fob comprises a user-operable key release button 106, and the vehicle ignition key 102 is automatically flipped open from the storage position in response to a user pressing the key release button 106. The vehicle ignition key 102 is manually movable from the use position back into the storage position. The key fob 101 further comprises other user-operable buttons, such as buttons 107 and 108, which in this example for remotely locking and unlocking the doors of the vehicle with which the key fob 101 is associated.

The present invention provides a locking mechanism for a key fob, the locking mechanism comprising a breath alcohol content sensing unit configured to generate a key usable signal to enable operation of the key in response to detecting a breath alcohol content level that is less than a predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level. The present invention also provides a key fob comprising a key and a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism comprising a breath alcohol content sensing unit configured to generate a key usable signal to enable operation of the key in response to detecting a breath alcohol content level that is less than a predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level. The key may be an insertion key for insertion into a lock or may be a wireless transmission unit for transmitting signals to a receiving unit. In an application, the key is for a vehicle ignition system.

Figure 2 shows a key fob 201 comprising a key and a locking mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The key fob 201 comprises a key 202 in the form of an insertion key for insertion into a lock. In this embodiment, the key 202 is a vehicle ignition key. The key fob 201 comprises a housing 203 and the key 202 is movable between a storage position in which the key 202 is located within the housing 203 and a use position in which the key 202 extends from the housing 203. The key fob comprises a key release button 204 and the key 202 flips from the storage position into the use position upon operation of the key release button and the key 202 is subsequently movable back form the use position into the storage mechanism.

In accordance with the present invention, the locking mechanism of the key fob 201 comprises a breath alcohol content sensing unit configured to generate a key usable signal to enable operation of said key in response to detecting a breath alcohol content level that is less than a predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level.

In an embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises a reprogrammable microprocessor and breath alcohol content sensor. In an embodiment, the microprocessor can be reprogrammed using a pogo pin programming device.

In the present embodiment, the key usable signal is used to allow the key 202 to be released from the storage position into the use position. Thus, the key usable signal generated in response to the locking mechanism detecting a breath alcohol content level that is less than a predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level allows a user to insert the key 202 into the ignition lock of the associated vehicle.

The locking mechanism comprises a mouthpiece 205 for a user to blow into and for receiving breath from a user for delivery to the breath alcohol content sensing unit The mouthpiece 205 facilitates collection of the breath for testing, and also provides a clear indication to the user where to blow into for the test to be performed.

Preferably, and in this embodiment, the mouthpiece is provided with a removable cap 206. The removable cap 206 serves to prevent undesired ingress of fluids or solids into the mouthpiece 205 and serves to protect the integrity of the mouthpiece 205 and the underlying sensor and any other componentry, and can also be used to provide or maintain a desired aesthetic appearance of the key fob 201. In this illustrated example, the mouthpiece 205 extends from the rear of the housing 203 of the key fob 201.

According to the present embodiment, when the user presses the key release button 204, an illumination means 207 indicates to the user when the breath alcohol content sensing unit is ready to take a reading. In an embodiment, the illumination means comprises an LED that lights up when the key release button 204 to indicated that the breath alcohol content sensing unit is getting ready to take a reading and that turns off to indicate to the user that the breath alcohol content sensing unit is ready to take a reading and that the user should now blow into the mouthpiece to provide breath for that reading. In an example, a red light is emitted during the period that a sensor catalyst is warmed up in preparation for the breath alcohol content sensor taking a reading.

The breath alcohol content sensing unit is configured to generate a key usable signal to enable operation of said key in response to detecting a breath alcohol content level that is less than a predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level.

In an embodiment, the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level is determined with reference to a legal drink driving limit.

According to the present embodiment, the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level of the locking mechanism, below which the key fob 201 will allow the key 202 to be released into the use position is less than the legal alcohol limit for drivers in the UK.

In an embodiment, the key fob comprises illumination means to indicate the status of a reading by the breath alcohol content sensing unit with reference to the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level.

In the present embodiment, when the key fob 201 has indicated to the user that a reading is ready to be taken, the user must blow into the mouthpiece 205 until the key fob 201 indicates a result In an embodiment, and in this embodiment, the key fob 201 comprises illumination means configured to present an illuminated red light in the event that the reading indicates a breath alcohol content level that is at or greater than the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level.

In an embodiment, and in this embodiment, the key fob 201 comprises illumination means configured to present an illuminated green light in the event that the reading indicates a breath alcohol content level that is less than the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level.

In an embodiment, and in this embodiment, the key fob 201 comprises illumination means configured to present an illuminated amber light in the event that the reading indicates a breath alcohol content level that is less than the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level but within a predetermined percentage of the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level. If the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level represents a 100% maximum limit at which a key operable signal will not be generated, an amber light may be illuminated if the reading is between 75% and 99% of that 100% maximum limit It is hoped that the amber light will act as a deterrent to driving, even though the key fob will allow the user to activate the vehicle ignition. It is to be appreciated the reading by the breath alcohol content sensing unit represents an instantaneous level that may rise further to take the driver over the legal drink driving limit Further, the legal drink driving limit does not represent a safe level of alcohol for the driver to have in their system and drive, as different people drinking the same number of units of alcohol are affected differently, due to such factors as: weight, age, sex, metabolism, the type of alcohol and the intake of alcohol over a given period, when the person last ate and the amount eaten, whether the person is in good health, tired, stressed or emotional, whether the person is taking medication. Thus, a person may think twice about driving if the amber light has been shown and may then make an informed decision as to whether they are fit to drive other whether they wish to avoid the risk of driving dangerously by choosing not to drive.

It is to be appreciated that different colours may be used, and that only a pass or a fail of the breath alcohol content test may be indicated as opposed to a pass, a fail or a nearing to fail of the test. In addition, an illumination means may comprise an illumination source per different indication or may comprise an illumination source for multiple indications. In an example, an illumination means comprises one or more LEDs capable of lighting different colours. A particular status of a breath alcohol content reading may be indicated by one or more of: light colour, light position, light size, whether the light is on continuously or intermittently. In an embodiment, the colour management settings are adjustable.

In an embodiment, the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level is adjustable by an authorised professional. Thus, a user may take the car to a garage or dealership that is equipped to reprogram the locking mechanism to adjust the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level at which the key operable signal is generated. For example, for drivers with an amount of prior driving experience the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level may be set at or near to a legal drink driving limit, but for newly qualified with a significantly lower amount of prior driving experience the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level may be set at or near to a 'zero tolerance' alcohol limit or possibly in the region of 50% of a legal drink driving limit Other threshold levels as described herein may be likewise adjusted.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, a user blows into the mouthpiece 205 of the key fob 201 and the breath alcohol content sensing unit of the locking mechanism compares the reading of the level of alcohol content in the received breath with the stored predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level and, if the reading is below the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level, a green light is illuminated and the key 202 flips open so that the user can use it to start the associated vehicle, or, if the reading is at or above the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level, a red light is illuminated and the key 202 is not released to rotate into the use position but is retained in the storage position so that the user cannot use it to start the associated vehicle. Although the key 202 is not released if the user fails the breathalyser that is integrated in the key fob 201, any other user-operable functions of the key fob 201 are not disabled. Thus, the user may for example, still be able to use one or more buttons, such as button 208, of the key fob 201 for remote opening and/or closing of doors or windows of the associated vehicle.

In an embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises a solenoid for use in retaining the key in, or releasing the key from, the storage position. The solenoid may be used to operate a pin that is movable between an engaging position in which it is engaged with the key to prevent the key from being moved from the storage position and a releasing position in which it does not prevent the key from being moved from the storage position.

In an embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises a timer operable to impose a period of time that must elapse between a reading by the breath alcohol content sensing unit that is at or greater than the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level before a reading by the breath alcohol content sensing unit that is less than the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level will result in generation of the key usable signal. Thus, if a user fails the breathalyser of the key fob 201, the user must wait some time before performing another test In an embodiment, the imposed period of time is a fixed predetermined duration. This may for example be a number of seconds or minutes from determination of a failed test. In an embodiment, the imposed period of time is a duration the length of which is proportional to the degree that the reading by the breath alcohol content sensing unit exceeds the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level. Thus, in an example, the higher the failed reading, the longer a user must have to wait before retrying the breathalyser test.

In an embodiment, the imposed period of time is adjustable. In an embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises a clock or timer and the imposed period of time or a factor of a calculated imposed period of time is related to the time of day.

The locking mechanism is powered by a battery, which is preferably replaceable and which may be rechargeable.

It is to be appreciated that the function of imposing an interval between breath alcohol content tests serves to preserve the battery life of the power source for the locking mechanism, which would be drained by repeated tests being carried out in quick succession. During the interval, user operation of the key release button 206 will be disabled.

The locking mechanism of the key fob thus prevents a user from accessing the key thereof until the alcohol content level of breath provided by the user has been determined to below a predetermined threshold level.

A circuit diagram 301, illustrating one way of providing the functionality of the locking mechanism described herein with reference to the key fob 201 of Figure 2, is shown in Figure 3.

A key fob 401 comprising a key and a locking mechanism according to a second, different embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 4.

The key fob 401 differs from the key fob 201 described with reference to Figure 2 in that the key fob 401 comprises a key in the form of a wireless transmission unit, presents a dedicated user-operable button 402 for initiating the breath alcohol content level test and a generated key operable signal enables the transmission of signals of a predetermined type from the wireless transmission unit to the vehicle ignition system; the signals of a predetermined type being ignition signals.

This is different from the arrangement of the key fob 201, which comprises an insertion key and in which the breathalyser test is initiated upon a key release button being pressed, and in which a generated key operable signal enables operation of the key by allowing the key to be moved from a storage position into a use position.

A user can use the key fob 401 in a similar manner to that described for key fob 201. Thus, a user blows into the mouthpiece 205 of the key fob 401 and the breath alcohol content sensing unit of the locking mechanism compares the reading of the level of alcohol content in the received breath with the stored predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level. If the reading is below the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level, a key operable signal is generated to enable transmission of signals from the wireless transmission unit to the vehicle ignition system. Alternatively, if the reading is above the predetermined breath alcohol content threshold level, the transmission of signals from the wireless transmission unit to the vehicle ignition system remains disabled; however, signal of another type that can operate windows and/or doors of the vehicle are still workable.

Both key fob 401 and key fob 201 provide a physical obstruction to a user starting the vehicle engine in the event that the locking mechanism detects an excessive breath alcohol content level of the potential driver.

The locking mechanism of the key fob may be checked by an authorised professional, possibly as part of a legal roadworthiness check of the vehicle. A key fob with key and locking mechanism as described herein may be provided by a car manufacturer as an option but would preferably be provided as standard equipment for the benefit of road users and pedestrians and general driving safety. It is hoped the insurance industry will reward drivers by lowering premiums for those using a key fob with a key and breathalyser operated key locking and releasing mechanism according to the present invention. Another use to encourage responsible driving is to make it a compulsory requirement for drivers with drink driving convictions to use a key fob with a key and breathalyser operated key locking and releasing mechanism according to the present invention when they are allowed back on the road and driving again.

It is to be appreciated that a key fob according to the present invention may comprise a key for use in any of a variety of different applications, and may be a machine or vehicle ignition key or may be a cabinet key. A vehicle ignition key may be for a vehicle licensed for private and/or public use, a car, a van, a minibus, a bus, a coach, a lorry, a forklift truck.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.