JP2009208724A - Engine start switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an engine start switch capable of arranging a portable machine at a place accessible to the optimum position corresponding to the design of various kinds of model or diversified instrument panels. <P>SOLUTION: The engine start switch comprises an engine start switch body 100, and a fitting mechanism 200 for fitting the engine start switch body 100 at the predetermined position of an instrument panel 3. The fitting mechanism 200 comprises a sleeve 210 to be fitted to and inserted in an outer circumferential part of the engine start switch body 100, and a movable snap 220 which slides with respect to the sleeve 210 and is fixed to the predetermined position. The engine start switch body 100 can be fitted to the position at which the transponder communication is consistently performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an engine start switch for a vehicle, and more particularly to an engine start switch provided with an attachment mechanism that can adjust an attachment position to the vehicle.

  In some automobiles, when starting a vehicle engine, the engine is started by pressing the engine start switch by communicating between the portable device and the vehicle without using a mechanical key (for example, patents). Reference 1).

  The engine start switch disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a push start switch used to start an engine when a portable device and a vehicle authenticate by communication and authentication is established, and allows a movable part to enter a predetermined position. The contact part of the movable part and the IGN power supply are conducted, and when the movable part is further advanced, the IGN power supply and the starter are conducted through the contact part, and the movable part is set in a free state with the IGN power supply and the starter conducted. Then, it is in a locked state where the movable part is connected to the IGN power supply and is held at a position where it is not connected to the starter, and when the movable part is re-entered from the locked state, the contact part is released so as not to connect to both the IGN power supply and the starter A mechanism is provided.

According to this engine start switch, communication is performed wirelessly between the portable device and the vehicle, and after communication with a regular portable device is established, the engine start switch is pressed and the engine is started by this push operation. be able to.
JP 2004-285934 A

  However, the engine start switch described in Patent Document 1 is a keyless system using a portable device, and does not have an immobilizer function having a high security function. Here, a key having an immobilizer function has a built-in IC chip called a transponder in the key or portable device. When the key or portable device is brought close to the engine start switch, an ID code is transmitted from the transponder, and the vehicle side ID code Is a system that allows the engine to start when it matches, and then starts the engine by pressing the push button of the engine start switch.

  The portable device having the immobilizer function described above needs to be close to several centimeters to the antenna coil for transponder communication (immobilizer communication) provided in the engine start switch. The engine start switch is attached to a part of the instrument panel on the vehicle side. Due to the diversity of the instrument panel design, the engine start switch should be placed in a place where the portable device can be approached to the optimum position. May not be possible. In such a case, it is necessary to prepare a dedicated mounting member that can set the mounting position relationship between the instrument panel and the engine start switch to the optimum position, and when dealing with many vehicle types, the cost increases. In addition, there are problems such as an increase in design man-hours.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an engine start switch that can be disposed at a location where a portable device can be approached to an optimum position, corresponding to many vehicle types or various instrument panel designs.

  [1] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention communicates wirelessly with a portable device having a transponder and having an immobilizer function, and based on the ID verification result of the transponder, There is provided an engine start switch comprising an engine start switch body that performs a switch operation, and an attachment mechanism that is attached to the engine start switch body and is capable of adjusting an attachment position with respect to the vehicle.

  [2] The engine start switch according to [1], wherein the attachment mechanism is movable in a longitudinal direction of the engine start switch body as an attachment position with respect to the vehicle.

  [3] Further, the mounting mechanism adjusts the mounting position of the engine start switch body in advance in consideration of the distance between the portable device having the immobilizer function and the antenna coil for the transponder communication on the vehicle side. The engine start switch according to the above [1] or [2] may be mounted.

  According to the engine start switch of the present invention, it is possible to provide an engine start switch that can be arranged in a place where the portable device can be approached to an optimum position corresponding to many vehicle types or various instrument panel designs. it can.

[Embodiment]
(Engine start switch configuration)
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the interior of a vehicle equipped with an engine start switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body 2 on which an engine (not shown) and an engine ECU (Electronic Control Unit) as a control unit are mounted, and an instrument panel 3 to which various in-vehicle devices and switches are attached. An engine start switch 10 for starting the engine is attached to the instrument panel 3 at a predetermined position. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the engine start switch 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The engine start switch 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an engine start switch body 100 and an attachment mechanism 200 for attaching the engine start switch body 100 to a predetermined position of the instrument panel 3.

  The engine start switch main body 100 has a cylindrical shape, and is disposed inside the case 11, a knob assembly 13 that can be pressed when the engine is started, a connector 16 provided at the rear end of the case 11, and the case 11. The ignition switch 50 is configured in combination with the printed circuit board 17, the antenna coil 21 disposed on the inner side of the tip of the case 11, the movable contact 22 that is moved by the pressing operation of the knob assembly 13, and the movable contact 22. The fixed contact 28 is provided.

  The knob assembly 13 includes a ring-shaped main body 13a and a light guide 13b that is engraved in the main body 13a with, for example, “ENGINE START STOP” stamped on the surface. Since the light guide 13b is made of a light-transmitting material, it is illuminated from behind by an LED lamp 23, which will be described later, and the position of the knob assembly 13 can be seen even at night, and the surface markings are decorated by illumination. it can.

  The printed circuit board 17 connects a microcomputer, a receiving circuit that receives information from the portable device 4, a power amplifier that outputs a signal to be sent to the portable device 4 to the antenna coil 21, and an output of the ignition switch 50 to the microcomputer. A switch interface, a serial interface for communicating with the engine ECU 5, a memory for storing an ID code connected to the microcomputer, and an LED lamp 23 for irradiating light to the light guide 13b.

  The engine start switch main body 100 presses the knob assembly 13 to move the movable contact 22 on the printed circuit board 17 to contact the fixed contact 28, thereby turning on the ignition switch 50. FIG. An engine start signal is output to the engine ECU 5 shown.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the attachment mechanism 200 (the sleeve 210 and the movable snap 220) in an exploded manner. An attachment mechanism 200 to the instrument panel 3 is attached to the outer periphery of the engine start switch body 100. The attachment mechanism 200 includes a sleeve 210 that is fitted and inserted into the outer periphery of the engine start switch body 100, and a movable snap 220 that slides in the A direction with respect to the sleeve 210 and is fixed at a predetermined position. Yes. The sleeve 210 may be fixed to the outer periphery of the engine start switch main body 100 by press-fitting, screwing, bonding, or the like, or may be integrally formed as a part of the case 11.

  A ratchet portion 210 b is formed on the outer peripheral surface 210 a of the sleeve 210. The ratchet portion 210b is formed in a waveform, a tooth shape, a saw shape, etc. in the direction A shown in the figure, and the ratchet pitch P is within a range where the approach distance between the portable device 4 and the antenna coil 55 of the engine start switch body 100 is appropriate (for example , About 2 to 3 cm). For example, if the pitch P of the ratchet is set to 5 mm, the engine start switch body 100 can be easily attached and assembled to the instrument panel 3 with an accuracy of about 5 mm, and the transponder communication can be performed stably.

  A movable snap 220 that is engaged with the ratchet portion 210b and fixed at a predetermined position is attached to the outside of the sleeve 210. A ratchet portion 220 b corresponding to the ratchet portion 210 b of the sleeve 210 is formed on the inner peripheral surface 220 a of the sleeve 210. The ratchet portions 210b and 220b are formed in the same cross-sectional shape, can be slid and moved at a predetermined pitch in the direction A, and can be engaged and fixed at a predetermined position. The sleeve 210 and the movable snap 220 can be firmly fixed by fixing means such as a screw or an adhesive after adjusting the positions.

  A snap fit portion 220 d is formed on the outer peripheral surface 220 c of the movable snap 220. For example, the snap fit portion 220d is provided at four locations, each of which is provided with a lock claw 220e at each tip portion, and a stopper rib for being fixed to the lock portion 3a provided at the mounting portion of the instrument panel 3 without a gap. 220f is provided.

  The sleeve 210 and the movable snap 220 need to be able to move over the meshed portion by the ratchet portions 210b and 220b, and the movable snap 220 is attached to the instrument panel 3 by the snap fit portion 220d being bent. Since it is preferably snap-fitted to the portion, it is preferably formed of a material such as an elastic resin. For example, general-purpose plastics such as polyacetal, polyamide, polyester-based engineering plastic, styrene-based resin (ABS resin, etc.), olefin-based resin (polyethylene resin, etc.) can be used.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the circuit configuration of the portable device and the engine start switch 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The portable device 4 includes an antenna coil 41, a storage circuit 42 that rectifies an electromotive force induced in the antenna coil 41 to obtain a DC voltage, an electrolytic capacitor 43 that stores an output of the storage circuit 42, and stores in the electrolytic capacitor 43. And a transponder 44 that operates using the generated power as a power source.

  The transponder 44 stores the ID code of the portable device 4 in advance, and when the electric storage circuit 42 stores more than a predetermined amount of electric power in the electrolytic capacitor 43, the transponder 44 uses the electric power as a power source to transmit the ID code. It is configured.

  The engine start switch main body 100 includes an antenna coil 55, a CPU 56, an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) 57 in which an ID code on the vehicle side is stored, an ignition switch 50 connected to the CPU 56, and an antenna coil 55. Are provided with an amplifier 58 that amplifies the signal (ID code) received at 1 and a magnetic flux generation circuit 59 that outputs a power signal to the antenna coil 55. The CPU 56 is connected to an engine ECU 5 that controls driving of the engine 40.

(Mounting the engine start switch 10 to the instrument panel 3)
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the engine start switch 10 is attached to the instrument panel 3. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that the engine start switch 10 is attached to a flat portion of the instrument panel 3. A movable snap 220 is moved and fixed in the vicinity of the center with respect to the engine start switch body 100 and the sleeve 210. In this state, when the movable snap 220 of the engine start switch 10 is pushed toward the lock portion 3a of the instrument panel 3, the lock claw 220e of the movable snap 220 is locked to the lock portion 3a and the stopper rib 220f is locked. Since the lock portion 3a is sandwiched between the claws 220e, the engine start switch 10 is fixed to the instrument panel 3 without rattling. The engine start switch 10 thus fixed can appropriately maintain the approach distance from the portable device 4.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the engine start switch 10 is attached to the instrument panel 3. In FIG. 6, it is assumed that the engine start switch 10 is attached to a recess (a recess as viewed from the driver's seat side) of the instrument panel 3. A movable snap 220 is moved and fixed in the vicinity of the rear side with respect to the engine start switch body 100 and the sleeve 210. In this state, when the movable snap 220 of the engine start switch 10 is pushed toward the lock portion 3a of the instrument panel 3, the lock claw 220e of the movable snap 220 is locked to the lock portion 3a and the stopper rib 220f is locked. Since the lock portion 3a is sandwiched between the claws 220e, the engine start switch 10 is fixed to the instrument panel 3 without rattling. Since the engine start switch 10 fixed in this manner protrudes slightly from the instrument panel 3, the approach distance from the portable device 4 can be appropriately maintained.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the engine start switch 10 is attached to the instrument panel 3. In FIG. 7, it is assumed that the engine start switch 10 is attached to the convex portion (the convex portion when viewed from the driver's seat side) of the instrument panel 3. A movable snap 220 is moved and fixed in the vicinity of the front side with respect to the engine start switch body 100 and the sleeve 210. In this state, when the movable snap 220 of the engine start switch 10 is pushed toward the lock portion 3a of the instrument panel 3, the lock claw 220e of the movable snap 220 is locked to the lock portion 3a and the stopper rib 220f is locked. Since the lock portion 3a is sandwiched between the claws 220e, the engine start switch 10 is fixed to the instrument panel 3 without rattling. Since the engine start switch 10 thus fixed is slightly recessed from the instrument panel 3, the approach distance from the portable device 4 can be appropriately maintained.

(Operation of engine start switch 10 by portable device)
As described above, transponder communication with the portable device 4 is stably performed with the engine start switch 10 disposed at an appropriate position. That is, when the portable device 4 approaches the engine start switch 10 to a substantially predetermined distance, the power signal and the request signal reach the portable device 4 from the antenna coil 55 of the engine start switch 10. In the portable device 4, the power signal received by the antenna coil 41 is rectified by the power storage circuit 42 into a DC voltage, and this is stored in the electrolytic capacitor 43 to be used as a power source so that the transponder 44 operates and is superimposed on the power signal. The detected request signal is detected.

  When the request signal from the antenna coil 41 corresponds to the portable device 4, the transponder 44 converts the ID code read from the EEPROM in the portable device 4 into a radio wave of a predetermined frequency and transmits it from the antenna coil 41.

  The ID code from the portable device 4 is received via the antenna coil 55 of the engine start switch 10. The CPU 56 demodulates the received signal to generate an ID code, and compares the demodulated ID code with the ID code registered in the EEPROM 57.

  When the transponder communication is established by the coincidence of the ID code, the knob assembly 13 is pressed and the ignition switch 50 is turned on, a signal for starting the engine is output from the CPU 56 to the ECU 5, and a starter and a fuel injection device (not shown) are driven, The engine starts. Note that the engine ECU 5 may determine the ID code comparison result signal and the ignition switch 50 ON signal to control engine start.

(Effect of embodiment)
According to the embodiment of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The engine start switch 10 can be easily mounted at a position where transponder communication is possible. In particular, even when the surface of the instrument panel 3 is not flat and has a concave or convex shape, it can be dealt with by adjusting the positional relationship between the sleeve 210 and the movable snap 220 in advance. Therefore, it has an effect that the portable device can be mounted at an optimum position corresponding to many vehicle types or various instrument panel designs.
(2) Since the mounting mechanism 200 comprising the sleeve 210 and the movable snap 220 can be used in correspondence with many vehicle types or various instrument panel designs, it is possible to share and standardize parts, which is effective for cost reduction. Have.
(3) Since the approach distance between the engine start switch 10 and the portable device 4 can be optimally adjusted, the accuracy of transponder communication is improved. If the approach distance is too small, the received electric field strength exceeds the maximum rated value and the receiving circuit is saturated and communication becomes impossible, and if the approach distance is too large, the received electric field strength is at a predetermined level. This problem can be solved although communication cannot be achieved due to failure.

[Other embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from or changing the technical idea of the present invention. In the above-described embodiment, the sleeve 210 and the movable snap 220 that can be moved and adjusted with respect to each other are used as the attachment mechanism 200. For example, the attachment position of the engine start switch body 100 and the instrument panel 3 is variable. A link mechanism or an attaching mechanism that can be deformed and fixed may be used.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the interior of a vehicle equipped with an engine start switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the engine start switch 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the attachment mechanism 200 (the sleeve 210 and the movable snap 220) in an exploded manner. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the circuit configuration of the portable device and the engine start switch 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the engine start switch 10 is attached to the instrument panel 3. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the engine start switch 10 is attached to the instrument panel 3. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the engine start switch 10 is attached to the instrument panel 3.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Vehicle main body 3 Instrument panel 4 Portable machine 5 Engine ECU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Engine start switch 11 Case 13 Knob assembly 16 Connector 17 Printed circuit board 21 Antenna coil 22 Movable contact 23 LED lamp 28 Fixed contact 41 Antenna coil 42 Electric storage circuit 43 Electrolytic capacitor 44 Transponder 50 Ignition switch 55 Antenna coil 56 CPU
57 EEPROM
58 amplifier 59 magnetic flux generation circuit 100 engine start switch body 200 mounting mechanism 210 sleeve 210a outer peripheral surface 210b ratchet portion 220 movable snap 220a inner peripheral surface 220b ratchet portion 220c outer peripheral surface 220d snap fit portion 220e lock claw 220f stopper rib

Claims (3)

An engine start switch main body that performs wireless communication with a portable device having a transponder and having an immobilizer function, and performs a switch operation of an engine start of the vehicle based on the ID collation result of the transponder;
An attachment mechanism that is mounted on the engine start switch body and that can adjust an attachment position with respect to the vehicle;
An engine start switch characterized by comprising:   The engine start switch according to claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism is movable in a longitudinal direction of the engine start switch body as an attachment position with respect to the vehicle.   In consideration of the distance between the portable device having the immobilizer function and the antenna coil for the transponder communication on the vehicle side, the mounting mechanism is mounted on the engine start switch body by adjusting the mounting position in advance. The engine start switch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

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