JP2004084249A - Key system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key system which is a combination of a plurality of safety protective means, to thereby achieve an efficient safety protective effect. <P>SOLUTION: The key system consists of a key section 2 and a key cylinder section 3. The key section 2 is formed of a key main body 4, and a handling section 5 in which a transponder 6 capable of transmitting an inherent signal is installed. The key cylinder section 3 is formed of a key hole 8 into which the key main body 4 is inserted, an antenna 9 for transmitting/receiving a signal to/from the transponder 6, an openable shutter 10 capable of inhibiting insertion of the key main body 4 into the key hole 8, and a control means for controlling transmission/reception of the signal exchanged between the antenna 9 and the transponder 6 and opening/closing of the openable shutter 10. When the control means determines that the inherent signal transmitted from the transponder 6 to the antenna 9 is an authentic signal, the openable shutter 10 is opened so that the insertion of the key main body 4 into the key hole 8 is allowed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a key system including a key portion and a key cylinder portion and having a security function against unauthorized unlocking.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a key system called an immobilizer system has been provided to prevent unlocking by an unauthorized key. In a conventional immobilizer system, a magnetic circuit is formed between a coil provided in a key cylinder and a coil provided in a key by inserting a key body into a key hole of a key cylinder. The key cylinder receives a unique signal generated by the key in response to the electromagnetic signal transmitted from the coil of the unit, and permits unlocking only if the unique signal is a legitimate signal. (For example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a relationship between a key portion and a key cylinder portion in a conventional immobilizer system. The key section 20 includes a hand section 21 and a key body 22, and the hand section 21 is provided with a key-side coil (transponder) 23. The key cylinder unit 30 includes a key cylinder side coil (antenna) 32 provided around a key hole 31. Also, although not shown, it controls signal transmission from the key cylinder side coil 32 to the key side coil 23, receives a unique signal returned from the key side coil 23 to the key cylinder side coil 32 in response to the signal, Control means for analyzing is provided in the key cylinder unit 30. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the key portion 20 is inserted into the key hole 31 of the key cylinder portion 30, a magnetic circuit is formed between the key side coil 23 and the key cylinder side coil 32, and as described above. By exchanging signals between the two, unlocking becomes possible.
[0004]
In addition, there is a key system that prevents unlocking by covering a key hole of a key cylinder portion with an openable / closable shutter (for example, see Patent Document 2). In this case, the shutter is opened only when a proper button input is performed by the input means (button key), and the key can be inserted into the key hole.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-15141 (page 2, FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-12118 A (FIGS. 1 and 2)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, various security measures such as an immobilizer system and an open / close shutter have been proposed to prevent the key system from being unlocked by an unauthorized person.However, multiple security measures are combined so that they work together. No key system has been proposed.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a key system capable of implementing an effective security measure by combining a plurality of security measures.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A first characteristic configuration of a key system according to the present invention for solving the above-described problem is a key system including a key portion and a key cylinder portion as described in claim 1 of the claims. The key portion includes a key body and a hand portion provided with a transponder capable of transmitting a unique signal, and the key cylinder portion is provided between a key hole in which the key body is inserted and the transponder. An antenna for transmitting / receiving a signal, an opening / closing shutter capable of blocking insertion of the key body into the key hole, and a control for performing transmission / reception control of a signal performed between the antenna and the transponder and opening / closing control of the opening / closing shutter Means if the control means determines that the unique signal transmitted from the transponder to the antenna is a valid signal, Lies in to open the opening and closing shutter as insertion of the key body for the key hole is possible.
[0010]
A second characteristic configuration of the key system according to the present invention for solving the above-described problem is as described in claim 2 in the claims section, in addition to the first characteristic configuration, The key body is provided so as to surround the transponder with the key body being inserted into the key hole.
[0011]
According to a third feature of the key system according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem, in addition to the first or second feature, as described in claim 3 of the claims section, A lighting device capable of illuminating a keyhole, wherein the control unit turns on the lighting device when the unique signal transmitted from the transponder to the antenna is determined to be a valid signal. is there.
[0012]
The operation and effect will be described below.
According to the first characteristic configuration of the key system according to the present invention, only when the unique signal transmitted from the transponder to the antenna is a legitimate signal, the opening / closing shutter is opened and the key for the key hole is opened. By permitting insertion of the main body, the keyhole can be protected from unauthorized persons.
[0013]
According to the second characteristic configuration of the key system according to the present invention, the antenna is provided so as to surround the periphery of the hand of the key portion in a state where the key body is inserted into the key hole. In other words, since the hand portion where the transponder is provided is provided from the tip of the key body inserted into the key hole, when the key body is brought close to the key hole with the open / close shutter closed. The distance between the transponder and the antenna can be shortened, and as a result, the communication state between the two can be improved.
[0014]
According to a third characteristic configuration of the key system according to the present invention, the key cylinder portion further includes an illuminating device capable of irradiating the key hole, and the control means transmits the key transmitted from the transponder to the antenna. If it is determined that the unique signal is a legitimate signal, by turning on the lighting device, the person who owns the key unit illuminates the key hole when attempting to insert it into the key hole of the key body. The key body can be easily inserted into the key hole.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a key system 1 including a key unit 2 and a key cylinder unit 3. The key unit 2 includes a key body 4 and a hand unit 5 provided with a transponder 6 capable of transmitting a unique signal. The key cylinder unit 3 includes a key hole 8 (key cylinder 7) into which the key body 4 is inserted, an antenna 9 for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the transponder 6, and a key body 4 for the key hole 8 (key cylinder 7). And an opening / closing shutter 10 capable of blocking the insertion of the shutter. Here, the key cylinder 7, the antenna 9, and the opening / closing shutter 10 are mounted on the upper lid 12 and the pedestal 11. Although not shown, the antenna 9 includes a transmission / reception circuit and a coil, and the transponder 6 includes a transmission / reception circuit, a coil, and an IC that stores a unique signal. The key system 1 according to the present invention can be mounted on various facilities, and can be used, for example, as a door lock for a house or an ignition key for a car.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the key system 1 shown in FIG.
First, the control means 13 has a function of transmitting an electromagnetic signal from the antenna 9. When an electromagnetic signal is transmitted from the antenna 9 to the transponder 6 in a state where the coil of the transponder 6 and the coil of the antenna 9 are close to each other and a magnetic circuit is formed, the transponder 6 uses the unique signal stored in the IC. Is transmitted to the antenna 9 side. The unique signal from the transponder 6 received by the antenna 9 is subjected to authentication processing by the control means 13, and when the unique signal is authenticated, the driving means 14 is operated to open the opening / closing shutter 10. As a result, the key body 4 can be inserted into the key hole 8.
[0017]
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the upper lid portion 12 is removed from the key cylinder portion 3 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, when the shutter 10 is pushed toward the key cylinder 8 with a knob, the spring portion 15 is hooked on the hook 10a of the shutter 10 and the shutter 10 is fixed in a closed state. . When the drive unit 14 such as a general-purpose linear DC solenoid is operated by a command from the control unit 13, the state in which the spring unit 15 is hooked on the hook unit 10a is released by moving the spring unit 15 to the drive unit 14 side. At the same time, the spring portion 16 is extended, the opening / closing shutter 10 moves outward, and the opening / closing shutter 10 is opened.
[0018]
FIG. 4A shows a positional relationship between the key portion 2 and the key cylinder portion 3 in a state where the opening / closing shutter 10 is closed, and FIG. 4B shows that the opening / closing shutter 10 is opened. First, the positional relationship between the key portion 2 and the key cylinder portion 3 when the key body 4 is inserted into the key hole 8 is shown. FIG. 4C shows, as a comparative example, the positional relationship between the key unit 20 and the key cylinder unit 3 as illustrated in FIG. 7 when the open / close shutter is provided in the key system of the present invention. FIG.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 4A, when the opening / closing shutter 10 is closed, the key body 4 cannot be inserted into the key hole 8, and the transponder 6 of the key unit 2 and the antenna 9 of the key cylinder unit 3 are not connected. There is an interval between them as indicated by the dashed arrow. As described with reference to FIG. 2, the antenna 9 transmits an electromagnetic signal under a command from the control unit 13, and the closer the transponder 6 and the antenna 9 are, the more the transponder 6 receives the electromagnetic signal. There is an advantage that the strength of the electromagnetic signal from the antenna 9 and the strength of the unique signal from the transponder 6 received by the antenna 9 are increased. Then, when the unique signal received by the antenna 9 is authenticated by the control means 13, the opening / closing shutter 10 is opened as shown in FIG. 4 (b), and the key body 4 can be inserted into the key hole 8. Become.
[0020]
In the comparative example shown in FIG. 4C, the length of the key body 22 needs to be equal to or greater than the sum of the thickness of the upper lid 12 and the thickness of the antenna 9 in addition to the depth of the key hole 8. The key body 22 cannot be inserted into the key hole 8 when the shutter 10 is closed, and a broken line arrow is shown between the transponder 23 of the key unit 20 and the antenna 9 of the key cylinder unit 3. As described above, there is an interval wider than the interval shown in FIG.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 4B, in the key system 1 according to the present invention, the antenna 9 is provided so as to surround the transponder 6 with the key body 4 inserted into the key hole 8 ( That is, the hand portion 5 on which the transponder 6 is provided is provided from the tip of the key body 4), and the length of the key body 4 only needs to be longer than the depth of the key hole 8. The fact that the length of the key body may be short means that the distance between the transponder 6 and the antenna 9 can be made shorter with the opening / closing shutter 10 closed as shown in FIG. This means that the sensitivity of the control means 13 for detecting the unique signal from the transponder 6 is improved. That is, in the key system 1 according to the present invention, the antenna 9 is provided so as to surround the transponder 6 in a state where the key body 4 is inserted into the key hole 8. The effect of improving the detection sensitivity of the unique signal is obtained.
[0022]
<Another embodiment>
<1>
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the key cylinder portion 40, and further includes an illumination device 17 capable of irradiating the key hole 8 in addition to the key cylinder portion 3 described with reference to FIG. Have been. The illumination device 17 is a device controlled by an on / off command from the control unit 13 as shown in FIG. 5B, and for example, an LED (light emitting diode) or the like can be used. The control for turning on the illumination device 17 is similar to the control for opening the opening / closing shutter 10 as described above, and the control unit 13 determines that the unique signal transmitted from the transponder 6 to the antenna 9 is a legitimate signal. Is determined, the lighting device 17 is turned on in accordance with a command from the control means 13. As described above, when the legitimate key portion 2 (transponder 6) approaches the key cylinder portion 40, the opening / closing shutter 10 is opened and the key hole 8 is illuminated by the illumination device 17 so that the key portion 2 can be illuminated. Can be used to assist the unlocking operation of a person trying to unlock the key system.
[0023]
<2>
In the above-described embodiment, the drive unit 14 has been described by taking the solenoid as an example. However, the drive unit 14 may be any other device that can execute the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing shutter 10 in response to a command from the control unit 13. Can be used.
FIG. 6 shows a configuration in which the opening / closing shutter 10 ′ is opened and closed by rotational movement using a driving unit 14 ′ including a motor 18 and a gear 19, so that insertion of the key body into the key hole 8 can be blocked. This is an example of the case. Since the operation command to the driving unit 14 'is transmitted from the control unit 13 to the driving unit 14' when the unique signal from the transponder 6 received by the antenna 9 is valid, similarly to the above-described embodiment. It is not unlocked by a person having an unauthorized key.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a key system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a key system according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the key system according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a key system according to the present invention.
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of another key system according to the present invention, and FIG. 5B is another functional block diagram of the key system according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a driving unit of another key system according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional key system (immobilizer system).
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key system 2 Key part 3 Key cylinder part 4 Key body 5 Hand part 6 Transponder 7 Key cylinder 8 Key hole 9 Antenna 10 Opening / closing shutter 11 Pedestal part 12 Top lid part 13 Control means 14 Drive means 15 Spring part 16 Spring part 17 Lighting device 18 Motor 19 Gear 20 Key part 21 Hand part 22 Key body 23 Key side coil (transponder)
30 key cylinder part 31 key hole 32 key cylinder side coil (antenna)
40 key cylinder

Claims (3)

A key system comprising a key part and a key cylinder part,
The key unit includes a key body, and a hand unit provided with a transponder capable of transmitting a unique signal,
The key cylinder portion has a key hole into which the key body is inserted, an antenna for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the transponder, an opening / closing shutter capable of blocking insertion of the key body into the key hole, and the antenna and the antenna. Control means for performing transmission / reception control of a signal performed between the transponder and open / close control of the open / close shutter,
If the control means determines that the unique signal transmitted from the transponder to the antenna is a legitimate signal, a key for opening the open / close shutter so that the key body can be inserted into the key hole. system. The key system according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is provided so as to surround the transponder with the key body inserted into the key hole. A lighting device capable of irradiating the key hole, wherein the control unit turns on the lighting device when the control unit determines that the unique signal transmitted from the transponder to the antenna is a valid signal. The key system according to claim 1 or 2.

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