JP2006226025A - Portable electronic key - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable electronic key, the position of which is easily confirmed even if it drops under the water or in the snow as well as on the ground. <P>SOLUTION: In this portable electronic key, a sealed chamber 40 is formed by an upper cover 12 and a lower cover 14, electric equipment such as a base board 43, a battery 44 and an antenna 46 are disposed in the chamber, and a buzzer 62 is provided on the lower cover 14 side. When an impact more than prescribed due to a drop of the electronic key 10, the buzzer 62 is sounded. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic key used by a user to perform wireless communication with a control device mounted on a vehicle, collate an ID, and start an engine.

  Wireless communication is performed between the electronic key carried by the user and the control device mounted on the actual vehicle, and the ID is checked to start the engine or the like when the driving request is received from the authorized user. For example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 have been proposed for electronic key systems.

  Patent Document 1 relates to an anti-theft device for a vehicle or the like. In particular, the key and the key cylinder are eliminated, and the operation of the engine is easily permitted or prohibited without using the key without using the key. A possible arrangement is disclosed. Specifically, in the technical idea of Patent Document 1, a portable transmitter (electronic key) is used to simply permit or prohibit operation of the engine. The portable transmitter includes a battery as a power source, an unlock button that is operated by a driver and transmits an ID code to the vehicle side to release a locked state of a vehicle operating device such as a steering wheel, and the like. A lock button for transmitting to the vehicle side an ID code for operating the engine and disabling engine operation, and a signal corresponding to this signal after shaping the waveform of the transmission signal from the unlock button or lock button The remote controller control unit converts the signal to the vehicle, and a transmission circuit that transmits the signal converted by the remote control unit to the vehicle side.

  Patent Document 2 relates to an electronic key system for a vehicle, and can output a warning when a user drops an electronic key while the vehicle is stopped and running, and the user drops the electronic key. The technical idea to minimize the probability of loss due to the accident is disclosed.

  In particular, the portable transmitter / receiver (electronic key) of Patent Document 2 has a card shape and an IC chip incorporated therein. Specifically, as shown in FIG. The battery 1, the power supply circuit 2, the CPU 3, the reception circuit 4 and the transmission circuit 5 are incorporated therein. In this case, the power supply circuit 2 supplies the power from the battery 1 to the reception circuit 4, the transmission circuit 5 and the CPU 3, Signals are transmitted to and received from a control circuit (not shown) to lock and unlock the handle, start and stop the engine, turn on and off the warning light, and the like. The details of the electronic key and the control circuit are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-311980 and its specific configuration and operational effects.

JP 2004-276760 A JP 2004-114860 A

  As described above, it is assumed that the electronic key is carried. In principle, there are no restrictions on the area of use. Therefore, for example, an electronic key may be used on the ground, on the water like a water ski or a pleasure boat, or on the snow like a snowmobile. In such a case, there is a risk that the electronic key may be dropped and lost on the ground, in the water or in snow due to the user's poor handling. In particular, it can be easily imagined that if an electronic key is dropped in water or snow, it will be extremely difficult to find.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems. For example, even if the electronic key falls on the ground, water or snow for some reason, the location can be easily confirmed, An object is to provide a portable electronic key that can avoid the loss.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention comprises a case body and an electrical part including a receiving circuit, a transmission circuit, a switch and the like housed in the case body. Incorporating a device that generates sound and / or warning light.

  As described above, since a device for generating an alarm sound and / or an alarm light is incorporated inside the case body, the portable electronic key can be easily used when it is dropped on land, in water or in snow. The location can be confirmed. Therefore, since the operator or a third party can visually recognize and collect the portable electronic key, it can be avoided from the loss.

  In this case, a buzzer is preferable as a device for generating an alarm sound. This is because it is inexpensive, easy to handle, and durable against impact caused by dropping.

  Furthermore, an LED is suitable for the device that generates the warning light. This is because it consumes less power, can continue to emit warning light for a long time, and is inexpensive.

  According to the present invention, even when the portable electronic key is dropped on the ground, in the water or in the snow, the position can be easily confirmed by the warning light or the warning sound emitted from the portable electronic key. For this reason, it becomes possible to avoid the portable electronic key from being lost.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the portable electronic key according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates an electronic key according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and the electronic key 10 includes an upper cover 12 and a lower cover 14. Preferably, the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14 are formed of a foamable resin. On the upper surface of the upper cover 12, a pressing portion 17 of a switching button 16 for ON / OFF control of the electronic key 10 is provided. On the other hand, seven holes 18 having the same diameter are formed through the lower surface of the lower cover 14, and these holes 18 also function as anti-slip when held by the operator. In addition, if the surface of the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14 made of a foaming resin has a texture pattern, a further anti-slip effect can be obtained. At the boundary portion between the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14, for example, a groove 20 for fitting a peripheral edge portion of a coin is formed. The upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14 are separated from each other by twisting the coin. 1 to 3, reference numeral 22 is a through hole formed by both the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14. For example, a metal or synthetic resin chain or string is provided in the through hole 22. For example, the operator can lower the electronic key 10 around the neck or wrap it around an arm or a leg.

  Next, the inside of the electronic key 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a recess 30 is formed in the lower cover 14 over the entire circumference of the opening, and a claw portion 32 provided around the lower cover 14 is fitted in the recess 30. Thus, the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14 are integrated. It is preferable that the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14 are configured as liquid-tight as possible by a claw portion 32 fitted into the concave portion 30. Thus, the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14 are integrated to form a space, that is, a chamber 40 inside the electronic key 10. A substrate 42 on which a power supply circuit, a reception circuit, a transmission circuit, a CPU and the like are mounted is disposed inside the chamber 40. A battery 44 and an antenna 46 are provided on the substrate 42 so as to be electrically connected. The substrate 42 is covered by a seal member 48 accommodated in the upper cover 12 over substantially the whole. The seal member 48 has a protrusion 49 protruding upward and an annular portion 51 protruding downward on the upper surface thereof. The button 16 attached to the substrate 42 is disposed in the internal space of the annular portion 51, and the protrusion 49 is located above the button 16 and corresponds to the pressing portion 17. Accordingly, when the pressing portion 17 corresponding to the protrusion 49 of the upper cover 12 is pressed, an electric circuit (not shown) formed on the substrate 42 can be controlled ON / OFF by the button 16. Although not shown, the substrate 42 is provided with a sensor for detecting an impact when the electronic key 10 is dropped. The seal member 48 further has an end edge portion 50 that faces the concave portion 30 of the lower cover 14, and the end edge portion 50 is pressed toward the lower cover 14 by a step portion 52 formed on the upper cover 12. The sealing effect is achieved. The sealing member passes through the stepped portion 54, and an upper edge portion thereof abuts against an inner wall portion that defines the chamber 40 of the upper cover 12.

  In this case, in the present embodiment, a battery holder 56 that surrounds and holds the battery 44 is provided below the substrate 42, and an antenna holder 58 that surrounds and holds the antenna 46 is provided. The lower surface of the battery holder 56 and the antenna holder 58 are brought into contact with the wall surface forming the chamber 40 of the lower cover 14, and the battery 44 and the antenna 46, and consequently the substrate 42 are pressed toward the seal member 48, thereby integrally and robustly. Hold on. In the figure, reference numeral 60 denotes an auxiliary sealing member that abuts against the battery holder 56 and the antenna holder 58 to increase the sealing force.

  Here, in the present embodiment, a buzzer 62 is provided inside the chamber 40 corresponding to the hole 18. Therefore, the sound emitted from the buzzer 62 spreads outside the electronic key 10 through the hole 18. For example, when the electronic key 10 is configured to ring the buzzer 62 when the sensor detects that the impact when the electronic key 10 falls on the ground, water, or snow is more than a predetermined value, the operator Alternatively, people in the vicinity of the dropping point can easily confirm the electronic key 10 dropping and pick it up. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the electronic key 10 from being lost.

  In addition, a control device (not shown) having a transmission / reception antenna is mounted on a pleasure boat, a snowmobile or the like in which the electronic key 10 is adopted so that mutual communication is always performed between the control device and the electronic key 10. May be. When the electronic key 10 and the control device are separated from each other by a predetermined distance or more and communication with each other is interrupted, the disconnection state of the mutual communication is output as an output signal from the control device. It is output to a warning light and / or a buzzer provided in a mobile or the like. As a result, when the operator drops the electronic key 10, it is possible to easily confirm the loss of the electronic key 10 by turning on the warning light and / or outputting sound from the buzzer.

  FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the electronic key 10 according to the present invention. The same components as those of the electronic key 10 shown in FIGS. Omitted.

  According to the second embodiment, the lower cover 14 constituting the electronic key 10 is provided with a light-emitting body, for example, the LED 70, and a signal from an electric circuit (not shown) provided on the substrate 42. Is configured to emit light. Therefore, when the electronic key 10 is dropped on the ground, water, or snow with a predetermined impact or more, the LED 70 can emit light under the detection action of the sensor. For this reason, the operator of the electronic key 10 and people in the vicinity thereof can easily recognize the location of the electronic key 10 by the light emitted from the LED 70, and as a result, the electronic key 10 can be avoided from being lost.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic key according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the electronic key shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the electronic key shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the electronic key shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electronic key according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an electronic key according to the prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electronic key 12 ... Upper cover 14 ... Lower cover 16 ... Button 40 ... Chamber 42 ... Board | substrate 44 ... Battery 46 ... Antenna 56 ... Battery holder 58 ... Antenna holder 62 ... Buzzer 70 ... LED

Claims (3)

  A case main body and an electrical component including a receiving circuit, a transmission circuit, a switch, and the like housed in the case main body, and a device that generates an alarm sound and / or warning light is incorporated in the case main body. Portable electronic key characterized by   2. The portable electronic key according to claim 1, wherein the alarm sound generating device is a buzzer. 2. The portable electronic key according to claim 1, wherein the device for generating alarm light is an LED.

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