JP2003172054A - Key structure for motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the assembly of an immobilizer easier by improving the handleability of a coil. <P>SOLUTION: A key cylinder 2 permitting turning operations by inserting an adequate key for a key hole 2A is provided, a circular ring-shaped substrate 7 having a circular ring-shaped substrate 7 equal to the same center of shaft X of the same shaft center of the key cylinder 2 is arranged at the portion near the key cylinder 2, a coil 4 with the circular ring-shaped of the same center of shaft is provided for the substrate 7, conductors 4A and 4A of the coil 4 are fixed to a printed circuit board of the substrate 7 with solder, and also a soft ferrite material 5 having the same center of shaft as the center of shaft X is supported by the substrate surface at the opposite side of the coil 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle key structure including a key cylinder that allows a rotary operation by inserting a key, and an immobilizer coil that receives a signal from a transponder included in the key.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a vehicle key structure constructed as described above, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-93649 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-1
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 89234. In the former of these conventional examples, the rotor case is arranged on the inlet side of the key insertion hole, the rotor coil is arranged inside the rotor case, and when the key is inserted into the key insertion hole,
The key coil provided in the grip portion of the key and the rotor coil are magnetically coupled to each other, and the rotor coil receives the signal induced in the key coil in response to the information detection signal sent from the rotor coil. It is configured for comparison with. The latter of the conventional examples is equipped with an antenna in the vicinity of the key hole where the key is inserted, and when the key is inserted into the key hole and operated to the ignition on position, the code is detected from the immobilizer unit. Is output to the antenna, and a current is sent to the coil by a signal sent from the transponder of the key by electromagnetic induction corresponding to this output, and the ID code of the key is detected from this current.

[0003]

Now, considering the coil provided on the key cylinder side, when this coil is built in the rotor case as in the former case of the conventional example, the conductor wire forming this coil is connected to an amplifier or the like. Need to pull in. However, the conductor wire that constitutes the coil has a low strength such that an insulating film is applied to a conductor wire having a small diameter,
At the time of assembly, not only was the conductor wire pulled out from the coil difficult to handle, but there was room for improvement due to the need for careful handling in order to avoid cutting the conductor wire.

To be more specific, this type of coil is supplied as a part in which a conductor wire is wound around an annular bobbin, or the conductor wire wound in an annular shape is retained by a resin. When installing in the part of the key cylinder, after setting the coil at a predetermined position such as the outer peripheral part of the key cylinder, the end of the conducting wire on the winding start side of the coil and the end of the conducting wire on the winding end side of the coil. The part is pulled up to a predetermined board etc., work such as soldering is performed so that it is in a conductive state, and a cover material is arranged at a position covering this conductor wire, so that the coil is not damaged At present, the work depends on human labor. Especially in the case of pulling out the conducting wire from the coil like this,
There is a possibility that the conductor drawn from the coil cannot be properly processed due to the influence of external noise, and improvement is desired.

An object of the present invention is to reasonably obtain a key structure for a vehicle that improves the handleability of the coil and facilitates the assembly of the immobilizer.

[0006]

The features, functions, and effects of the vehicle key structure according to claim 1 of the present invention are as follows. [Characteristics] A key structure for a vehicle, comprising a key cylinder that allows a rotation operation by inserting a key and a coil for an immobilizer that receives a signal from a transponder provided in the key, and is coaxial with the axis of the key cylinder. A conductor wire that includes an annular substrate that serves as a core, supports the annular coil that is coaxial with the axis of the key cylinder with respect to the substrate, and forms a coil with respect to the conductive portion of the substrate. The point is that the ends of are connected and fixed.

[Operation / Effect] According to the above characteristics, the coil is supported on the substrate, and the end portions of the lead wires constituting the coil are connected and fixed to the conductive portion of the substrate. Therefore, at the time of assembling the immobilizer. In, the conductor drawn from the coil can be protected by the board, and at the same time, there is no need to handle the lead drawn from the coil, and the coil can be set to the required position simply by incorporating this board in the predetermined position. become. Specifically, a cord that has a flexible resin sheath, etc., is provided on the base supporting the coil to enable power supply and signal access, and the board is placed in a predetermined position when the immobilizer is assembled. After that, the operation of connecting the cord to a predetermined circuit is sufficient. As a result, a key structure for a vehicle, which has a relatively simple structure and improves the handleability of the coil and facilitates the assembly of the immobilizer, was reasonably obtained.

The features, functions, and effects of the vehicle key structure according to claim 2 of the present invention are as follows. [Characteristics] In the vehicle key structure according to claim 1, the coil is supported on the substrate surface on the side facing the upper hand side in the moving direction of the key when the key is inserted into the key cylinder. An annular soft ferrite material that is coaxial with the axis of the key cylinder is arranged on the opposite substrate surface, and this soft ferrite material is supported by the substrate.

[Operation / Effect] According to the above characteristics, the characteristics of the soft ferrite material are high magnetic permeability, high magnetic flux density,
Due to the low loss, the magnetic flux from the coil toward the soft ferrite side is guided to the ferrite material and converges.On the contrary, the magnetic flux from the coil toward the opposite side of the soft ferrite material, that is, The one that goes toward the upper side of the moving direction of the key becomes a large overhang, and not only the transmission distance and signal strength of the signal sent from the coil by increasing the magnetic flux density on this overhang side, but also the strength of the signal received by the coil It is also possible to increase.
As a result, it is possible to exchange signals with high sensitivity between the coil and the transponder.

The features, functions, and effects of the vehicle key structure according to claim 3 of the present invention are as follows. [Features] In the vehicle key structure according to claim 1 or 2, the coil winds a conducting wire around a bobbin that is a circular ring that is coaxial with the axis of the key cylinder, or the key cylinder. It is a point that a conductor wire wound into a circular ring shape that is coaxial with the shaft core of is shaped by a resin is used.

[Operation / Effect] According to the above characteristics, since the coil formed in an annular shape is used, as compared with, for example, a coil wound around a bobbin fixed to a substrate,
Since the coil in the molded state is supported by the substrate, the work of providing the coil on the substrate can be easily performed. As a result, the assembly work does not take time and the working time can be shortened.

The features, functions, and effects of the vehicle key structure according to claim 4 of the present invention are as follows. [Features] In the vehicle key structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, at least one of a drive circuit that sends a detection signal to the coil and a processing circuit that processes a signal received by the coil. Is provided on the substrate.

[Operation / Effect] According to the above characteristics, it is possible to electrically connect the coil to the drive circuit and the processing circuit on the board through the printed wiring, and not only the necessary processing can be performed on the board. It is possible to reduce the noise received by the conducting wire from the coil. As a result, the performance of signal transmission / reception is improved, and at the same time, the assembling work is further facilitated.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a suitable key 1 is inserted into the key hole 2A, and a key cylinder 2 that allows a rotation operation around the axis X and an electrically conductive state based on the rotation operation are provided. A key switch unit SW integrally formed with a switch part 3 to be created is provided, and a substrate 7 provided with a coil 4, a soft ferrite material 5 and a chip 6 for signal processing is arranged on the front side of the key switch unit SW, An immobilizer system is configured by providing a resin cover 8 at a position that covers these.

This immobilizer system is used for automobiles, etc.
It is provided in a vehicle in which the engine (not shown) of the vehicle can be started by operating the key 1, and the engine can be started only when the proper key 1 is used. It effectively prevents the vehicle from being stolen by preventing the engine from starting.

As shown in FIG. 6, this immobilizer system comprises an immobilizer unit. The immobilizer unit A outputs a electromagnetic signal to the coil 4 functioning as an antenna, a driving circuit, etc. And a receiving section 11 having a receiving circuit for receiving a signal from the coil 4, and an EEPROM for judging the signal received by the receiving section 11.
And a determination unit 12 having logic and software for performing identification processing. Further, the immobilizer unit A forms a signal system for outputting a control signal to the engine control module ECM when the proper key 1 is used, and the engine control module ECM starts the engine with a starter motor 13
And function to output a control signal to the ignition device 14.

The key 1 is provided with a transponder T that outputs a specific identification signal based on an electromagnetic signal sent from the coil 4, and the key switch unit SW is shown with the key 1 inserted in the key hole 2A. As shown in 1, L
A position (lock position), an Acc position (accessory position), an ON position (on position), and an ST position (start position) are rotatably operable, and the cover 8 has characters indicating the respective operation positions. It is printed.

The transponder T is disclosed in JP-A-63-93.
One having a resonance circuit in which a coil and a capacitor are coupled, such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 649,
EEPRO, such as that shown in
It may have any configuration for transmitting the ID information stored in M, and functions to send out a signal including information set in advance corresponding to the signal transmitted from the coil 4.

The substrate 7 is made of an insulative material such as glass epoxy, the outer peripheral portion of which has a larger diameter than the outer periphery of the coil 4, and the central hole portion of which has a smaller diameter than the central hole portion of the coil 4. Is formed into an annular shape and the necessary wiring is formed by the technique of printed wiring. On this board 7, the upper side in the direction of inserting the key 1 into the key cylinder 2 (the right side in FIG. 2). The coil 4 is arranged on the surface of the substrate, and the soft ferrite material 5 is arranged on the opposite surface of the substrate.

The coil 4 is a polyester wire (PEW) formed by coating a conductor wire (copper wire) with a polyester resin,
A polyurethane wire (UEW) obtained by coating a conductive wire (copper wire) with a polyurethane resin is wound around an air-core annular shape and is held by the resin, and is supported on the substrate 7 using an adhesive. Or, as shown in phantom in FIG. 4, the adhesive tape 1
5 is used to support the substrate 7, and the end 4 on the winding start side of the conductor wire
A and the end portion 4A on the winding end side are fixed by soldering to the printed wiring portion of the substrate 7 located on the outer peripheral side of the coil 4. In order to configure the coil 4, it is possible to use a coil bobbin 16 made of an annular resin and a conductive wire wound around the coil 4 as shown in FIG. Is a fixed piece 16 formed integrally with the bobbin 16.
Although it is effective to support the bobbin 16 with respect to the substrate 7 with the rivet or the screw via the A, it is also possible to adopt the supporting form by the adhesive material or the supporting form by the adhesive tape 15 as described above.

The soft ferrite material 5 is a ferrite magnetic material which exhibits soft magnetism (soft magnetism) and is represented by NiZn or MnZn. Since this soft ferrite material is a soft magnetic material, it has a small hysteresis loss, and since it is an oxide, it has a high resistivity, and since it does not easily generate an eddy current, it also has a small eddy current loss and is a very low loss magnetic material. Can say Also, this soft ferrite material 5
Is arranged at a position overlapping the coil when viewed along the axis and is supported on the substrate 7 by using an adhesive, or
It is supported by the substrate 7 using the adhesive tape 15 as shown by the phantom line.

By arranging the soft ferrite material 5 on the back surface side of the coil 4 in this manner, the magnetic flux extends from the coil 4 to the side of the anti-soft ferrite material, and information is exchanged with the transponder T. Can be performed with high sensitivity.

The chip 6 has a coil 4 on a substrate 7.
The chip 6 is provided on the outer peripheral side or the inner peripheral side of the substrate surface which is not provided with, and the chip 6 is provided in each of the transmitter circuit and the drive circuit that configure the transmitter 10, the receiver circuit that configures the receiver 11, and the determination unit 12. It constitutes at least one. The substrate 7 has a flexible sheath for allowing power supply to the chip 6 and access to control signals, and is provided with a cord 17 having a strength higher than that of a conductor drawn from the coil 4. The chip 6 and the end 4A of the lead wire drawn from the coil 4 are electrically connected by the printed wiring formed on the substrate 7. A recess 3A into which the cord 17 can be inserted on the side surface of the switch section 3
Is formed, and a supporting piece 18 for supporting the substrate 7 is formed on the front surface of the switch portion 3 by fitting into a cutout portion 7A formed on the outer periphery of the substrate 7. By supporting the substrate 7 in a state where the cutout portion 7A is engaged with the support piece 18, the soft ferrite material 5 is positioned at a position slightly separated from the front surface of the switch portion 3. The substrate 7 is non-rotatably supported.

With this structure, when assembling the immobilizer system, the coil 4, the soft ferrite material 5 and the necessary chips 6 are attached to the substrate 7, and the substrate 7 is attached to the key cylinder 2. In a state of being fitted into a part and supported by the support piece 18, it is flexibly bent and is easy to handle, and a cord 17 which is stronger than the lead wire drawn from the coil 4 is drawn along a cutout portion 3A to a predetermined circuit for connection. After that, the cover 8 may be fitted and fixed. In particular, since the chip 6 that enables signal processing to the empty space of the substrate 7 is provided, the space of the substrate 7 is effectively used, and the overall size can be reduced.

When the engine is started by this system, by inserting the suitable key 1 into the key hole 2A of the key cylinder 2 and operating it to the Acc position, electric power is supplied to the immobilizer system A. When an electromagnetic signal is output from the transmission unit 10 by power supply and a signal is output from the transponder T in response to this signal, this signal is received by the reception unit 11 and included in the signal by the determination unit 12. If it is determined that this information is appropriate, a signal indicating that it is appropriate is output to the engine control module ECM, and a signal indicating that it is appropriate is output. The engine is started when the key cylinder 2 is operated from the ON position to the ST position in the state of being present.

[Other Embodiments] The present invention can be configured as shown in, for example, FIG. 8 or FIG. 9 in addition to the above-described embodiment (in this other embodiment, the above-mentioned embodiment is used). Those having the same functions as those are given the same numbers and symbols as those in the embodiment).

As shown in FIG. 8, a conductor 4 is wound in a state of being fitted in a groove-shaped portion formed in an annular ferrite core 20 made of a hard ferrite material to form an annular coil 4, and this coil 4 Together with the ferrite core 20, the ferrite core 20 is supported by the substrate 7 in a state where the ferrite core 20 is in close contact with the substrate surface located on the upper side in the key insertion direction. By thus integrally forming the coil 4 with the ferrite core 20, it becomes possible to improve the transmission / reception performance of the coil 4 as compared with the air-core coil. In particular, it is possible to use the above-mentioned soft ferrite material 5 instead of the ferrite core 20 made of this hard ferrite material, and it is possible to improve the transmission / reception performance even when the soft ferrite material is used in this way. .

As shown in FIG. 9, an annular ferrite core 20 made of hard ferrite material with flat end surfaces is formed on the board surface located on the upper side in the key insertion direction of the board 7. The coil 4 is arranged at a position where the ferrite core 20 and the coil 20 overlap each other.
And are supported in close contact with the substrate 7. With this configuration, it is possible to use a ferrite core 20 having a simple shape, which not only enables cost reduction, but also improves the transmission / reception performance of the coil 4 as compared with the air-core coil. Becomes In particular, it is possible to use the above-mentioned soft ferrite material 5 instead of the ferrite core 20 made of this hard ferrite material, and it is possible to improve the transmission / reception performance even when the soft ferrite material is used in this way. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a key structure for a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a key structure for a vehicle.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a key structure for a vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a substrate surface on a side provided with a coil.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a substrate surface on a side provided with a soft ferrite material.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an immobilizer system.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the coil.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the coil.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the coil.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 key 2 key cylinder 4 coils 4A lead wire 5 Soft ferrite material 7 substrate 16 bobbins T transponder X axis core

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A key structure for a vehicle, comprising: a key cylinder that allows a rotation operation by inserting a key; and an immobilizer coil that receives a signal from a transponder included in the key. An annular substrate that is coaxial with the shaft core is provided, the annular coil that is coaxial with the shaft center of the key cylinder is supported on the substrate, and a coil is provided with respect to the conductive portion of the substrate. A key structure for a vehicle in which the ends of the conductor wires that make up the are connected and fixed. 2. The coil is supported on the substrate surface on the side facing the upper side in the moving direction of the key when inserting the key into the key cylinder, and the coil is supported with respect to the substrate surface opposite to the substrate surface. 2. The vehicle key structure according to claim 1, wherein an annular soft ferrite material that is coaxial with the axis of the key cylinder is arranged, and the soft ferrite material is supported by the substrate. 3. The coil has a wire wound around a circular ring-shaped bobbin that is coaxial with the axis of the key cylinder, or a circular ring that is coaxial with the axis of the key cylinder. The key structure for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a conductor wire wound so as to have a shape retained by a resin is used. 4. The substrate is provided with at least one of a drive circuit that sends a detection signal to the coil and a processing circuit that processes a signal received by the coil.
The key structure for a vehicle according to any one of 1.