JP2009280969A - Operation knob of engine starting system, and engine starting system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation knob of an engine starting system, which can be applied to a conventional cylinder lock so as to constitute a smart ignition device; and to provide the engine starting system using the operation knob. <P>SOLUTION: The operation knob 8 of the engine staring system is provided with a key plate 80 which is equipped with a key mountain portion for being inserted into a key cylinder lock 3, and a knob portion 81 which is gripped when the key plate 80 is inserted into an insertion hole and turned. The cylinder lock 3 includes: a rotor 30 which is rotatably arranged inside a body portion 20, and in which the insertion hole is formed in such a shape as to be elongated in an axial direction; and a plurality of tumblers 31 which are provided movably in the axial direction of the rotor 30, which are urged to a radial outside so as to be engaged with a tumbler engaging portion 24, and which are disengaged from the body portion 20 by being disengaged from the engaging portion when a normal key is inserted into the insertion hole. The key mounting portion, which is formed on the key plate 80 is formed in such a prescribed shape as to mesh with the tumbler 31 when the key is inserted into the insertion hole. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation knob of an engine starter and an engine starter using the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art As a cylinder lock used for an engine starter of an automobile vehicle or the like, a cylinder lock having a rotor that is rotatably arranged inside a cylindrical rotor case and that has a key insertion hole extending in the axial direction is known. (Patent Document 1). In the cylinder lock, a plurality of tumblers are provided on the rotor so as to be movable in the radial direction. When the key is inserted into the key insertion hole, each tumbler is moved by the key mountain portion. When the regular key is inserted, the cylinder lock is unlocked and the rotor can be rotated, and the ignition switch can be rotated and the engine can be started.

On the other hand, an engine starter provided with an operation restriction mechanism that collates the ID code on the portable device side with the ID code on the vehicle side and validates the operation on the ignition switch and permits the engine to start when the IDs match ( Smart ignition device) (Patent Document 2). In this smart ignition device, since the ID code is collated, the operation of the ignition switch is performed by rotating the knob without using a mechanical key.
JP-A-8-4378 JP 2002-295089 A

  However, in the smart ignition device described in Patent Document 2, since the operation to the ignition switch is performed by rotating the knob, it is impossible to constitute an engine starter using a conventional cylinder lock using a mechanical key. There was a problem. For this reason, the smart ignition device needs to be designed differently from the conventional one, and there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce costs.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an operation knob of an engine starter that can be applied to a conventional cylinder lock to constitute a smart ignition device, and to provide an engine starter using the operation knob.

  [1] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is formed such that a cylindrical rotor case having an engagement portion on the inner side, and an insertion hole extending rotatably in the inner side of the rotor case. And a rotor that is movable in the radial direction of the rotor, is urged radially outward to engage with the engagement portion of the rotor case, and a regular key is inserted into the insertion hole. And a plurality of tumblers that are disengaged from the rotor case when the engagement with the engagement portion is released, and a key plate including a key peak portion that is inserted into a cylinder lock, A knob portion for gripping when the key plate is inserted into the insertion hole and rotated, and the shape of the key crest formed on the key plate is the tumbler when inserted into the insertion hole. Formed in a predetermined shape to mesh To provide a control knob of the engine start device according to claim is.

  [2] The operation knob of the engine starter according to [1], wherein the predetermined shape is a sawtooth shape.

  [3] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the operation knob according to the above [1] or [2], and the key plate of the operation knob is located at a key peak portion of a regular key of the cylinder lock. There is provided an engine starting device having a shape of a corresponding key crest portion, wherein the key plate is inserted into the insertion hole.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the operation knob of the engine starting apparatus which can be applied to the conventional cylinder lock and can comprise a smart ignition apparatus can be provided, and the engine starting apparatus using this operating knob can be provided. .

(Embodiment of the present invention)
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an engine starting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an operation knob of the engine starting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an external view of the engine starter according to the embodiment of the present invention mounted on an instrument panel of a vehicle. FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram for ID authentication of the engine starting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Overall configuration of engine starter]
In FIG. 1, an engine starting device 1 includes a lock body 2 that forms a housing, a cylinder lock 3 housed in the lock body 2, and a lock member 4 that moves forward and backward by the rotation of a rotor 30 in the cylinder lock 3. , A locking lever 6 that can lock the lock member 4, an ignition switch 7 that performs a switching operation by rotating the rotor 30 on the side opposite to the key insertion side of the locking lever 6, and rotation inserted into the cylinder lock 3. By doing so, the operation knob 8 that operates the ignition switch 7 is generally constituted. The engine starter 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a function of starting the engine by the ignition switch 7 and locking the rotation of a steering shaft (not shown) by the advance / retreat control of the lock member 4. A configuration that exhibits the above will be described.

(Configuration of cylinder lock 3)
As shown in FIG. 1, the cylinder lock 3 is engaged with a rotor 30 that is rotated by an insertion rotation operation of a mechanical key and a lock body 2 (tumbler engagement portion 24) that moves forward and backward in the radial direction of the rotor 30. , And a plurality of tumblers 31, 31,... To be detached, and springs 32, 32,. It is accommodated in the accommodating space 23 of the body 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the rotor 30 includes a body portion 301 corresponding to the small diameter portion 231 of the accommodation space 23 and a flange portion 302 corresponding to the large diameter portion 230 of the accommodation space 23, and serves as a cylindrical rotor case. It is accommodated in the accommodating space 23 of the functioning main body 20 so as to be rotatable about the axis line across the large diameter portion 230 and the small diameter portion 231. Then, it is configured to rotate by an insertion rotation operation of the mechanical key, and to move the lock member 4 forward and backward to bring the steering shaft 9 (not shown) into a locked / unlocked state. The rotor 30 is provided with an insertion hole 303 that opens along the axis line on the end surface on the key insertion side and into which a key plate 80 described later can be inserted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the body portion 301 is provided with a through-hole 304 that is located in the vicinity of the flange portion 302 and opens in the radial direction. Further, the body portion 301 is provided with a plurality of tumbler holding holes 305, 305,... Parallel to the axial direction and opened in the radial direction. Two tumbler holding holes 305, 305 adjacent to each other among the plurality of tumbler holding holes 305, 305,... Are displaced from each other in the axial direction of the rotor 30 and arranged at equal intervals (180 °) in the circumferential direction. .

  The operation knob 8 includes a key plate 80 and a knob portion 81. The key plate 80 is formed of a metal such as white and white in a predetermined shape, and the knob portion 8 has a shape that can be easily grasped with a fingertip or the like during operation. It is formed by resin molding.

  The key crest portion 801 of the key plate 80 is formed in a shape that meshes with the tumblers 31, 31,. The shape of the key crest 801 is not the key crest shape of the regular key, but is formed in a key crest shape corresponding to the key crest of the regular key. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the shape of the key crest 801 is formed in a sawtooth shape, and when the key plate 80 is inserted into the rotor 30, it is easily engaged with the tumblers 31, 31,. The key plate 80 cannot be removed from the tumblers 31, 31,..., And the tumblers 31, 31,. The shape of the key crest is such that the connection is released. The meshing relationship between the key plate 80 and each of the tumblers 31, 31,... Shown in FIG. The key crest portion 801 of the key plate 80 is not limited to the sawtooth shape shown above, and may be any shape that does not allow the key plate 80 to be easily removed from the rotor 30. An uneven key crest composed of

  As shown in FIG. 3, the key plate 80 of the operation knob 8 is inserted into the rotor 30, and the cylinder lock 3 is configured to be able to rotate by gripping the knob portion 81, and is mounted on the instrument panel 9 of the vehicle. Is done.

(Configuration of ignition switch 7)
As shown in FIG. 1, the ignition switch 7 is composed of an ignition switch unit, is disposed at the end of the lock body 2 opposite to the key insertion side end of the main body 20, and is connected to the unit of the main body 20. The stoppers 26 and 26 (locking holes 260 and 260) are locked. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the rotor 30 is rotated by rotating the knob portion 81 to be in the “LOCK”, “ACC”, “ON”, or “START” state. . On both sides of the ignition switch 7, elastic pieces 70 and 70 are provided which can be engaged with the locking holes 260 and 260 (inner surfaces) of the unit locking portions 26 and 26, respectively.

  FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram for ID authentication of the engine starting device and the portable device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The communication unit 201 of the portable device 200 includes a transmission circuit 201A that transmits an ID code signal to the vehicle control unit 400 on the vehicle side and a reception circuit 201B that receives a request signal from the vehicle control unit 400, and is connected to the control unit 202. ing.

  The control unit 202 includes a microcomputer having a memory 202A in which a preset ID code is stored. When a request signal is input from the reception circuit 201B, the control unit 202 transmits an ID code signal including a predetermined ID code as a response signal. The signal is output to the circuit 201 </ b> A and transmitted to the vehicle control unit 400 via the transmission antenna 203.

  The transmission antenna 203 is a UHF (Ultra High Frequency) antenna that transmits an ID code signal (radio wave) having a predetermined frequency (about 300 MHz in the present embodiment) to the vehicle control unit 400, and is connected to the transmission circuit 201A. .

  The reception antenna 204 is an LF (Low Frequency) antenna that receives a request signal having a predetermined frequency (about 130 kHz in the present embodiment) from the vehicle control unit 400, and is connected to the reception circuit 201B. As the receiving antenna 204, a coil antenna in which a coil is wound around a magnetic core made of ferrite is used.

  The battery 205 is made of, for example, a lithium battery, and is configured to supply power to the communication unit 201, the control unit 202, and the like.

  In FIG. 4, a vehicle control unit 400 includes a communication unit 401, a control unit 402, a transmission antenna 403, and a reception antenna 404, and is mounted in the vehicle.

  The communication unit 401 includes a transmission circuit 401A that transmits a request signal and a reception circuit 401B that receives an ID code signal from the portable device 200, and is connected to the control unit 402.

  The control unit 402 includes a microcomputer having a memory 402A in which a preset ID code is stored, and is configured to intermittently output request signals. When the ID code signal is input from the receiving circuit 401B, the ID code included in the ID code signal is compared with the ID code stored in the memory 402A (ID code verification), and this ID code verification is performed. Based on the result, the drive control of the electromagnetic solenoid 100 for preventing or allowing the rotation operation of the operation knob 8 is performed.

  The transmission antenna 403 is connected to the transmission circuit 401A and is configured to transmit a request signal having a predetermined frequency (about 130 kHz in the present embodiment) to the portable device 200.

  The receiving antenna 404 is connected to the receiving circuit 401B, and is configured to receive an ID code signal (radio wave) of a predetermined frequency (about 300 MHz in the present embodiment) from the portable device 200.

(Assembly of the operation knob 8 to the cylinder lock 3)
A cylinder lock 3 is prepared. This cylinder lock 3 is the same as that using a mechanical key. When the regular mechanical key corresponding to this cylinder lock 3 is inserted into the insertion hole 303, the tumblers 31, 31,... Move forward and backward in the tumbler holding holes 305, 305,. , And the tumbler engaging portion 24 are disengaged. In the mass production process, a plurality of cylinder locks 3 having the same key crest portion of the corresponding mechanical key, that is, the same tumbler arrangement, are prepared.

(Preparation of operation knob 8)
An operation knob 8 having a key crest shape corresponding to a key crest portion of a regular mechanical key corresponding to the cylinder lock 3 is prepared. That is, the key crest 801 of the key plate 80 of the operation knob 8 has a key crest formed in a sawtooth shape corresponding to the key crest of the regular key. In the mass production process, a plurality of operation knobs 8 having key ridges formed in the same sawtooth shape are prepared.

  The operation knob 8 is assembled to the cylinder lock 3 prepared as described above. The key plate 80 of the operation knob 8 is inserted into the insertion hole 303 of the rotor 30. Since the key crest portion of the key plate 80 is formed in a sawtooth shape, the key plate 80 cannot move in the direction of removal. Therefore, when the operation knob 8 is inserted into the cylinder lock 3, the tumblers 31, 31,... Move forward and backward in the tumbler holding holes 305, 305,. ... and the tumbler engaging portion 24 are disengaged, and the inserted key plate 80 cannot be easily removed.

  The engine starting device 1 having the assembled cylinder lock 3 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on an instrument panel 9 of a vehicle as shown in FIG. By rotating the knob portion 81, the rotor 30 can be rotated to be in the “LOCK”, “ACC”, “ON”, or “START” state. Further, the knob portion 81 cannot be easily removed even if the operator pulls it toward the front side.

  As will be described later, when the engine starter 1 is mounted on a vehicle, the knob 81 is moved from the “LOCK” position to “ACC”, “ON” or It is blocked by an electromagnetic solenoid or the like shown in FIG. 4 so as not to be rotated to the “START” position.

(Engine starting operation)
When the portable device 200 receives a request signal from the vehicle control unit 400 with the operation knob 8 being in the LOCK position, the ID code stored in the memory 202A is output to the transmission circuit 201A as a response signal in response to the received request signal. Then, the data is transmitted to the vehicle control unit 400 via the transmission antenna 203. Control unit 402 compares the ID code included in the ID code signal from the response signal received by receiving antenna 404 with the ID code stored in memory 402A (ID code verification).

  When the coincidence of the ID codes is confirmed, the electromagnetic solenoid 100 shown in FIG. 4 is energized from the control unit 402, the no block is released, and the knob unit 81 can be rotated. In this state, by rotating the knob portion 81 to the “ACC”, “ON” or “START” position, the ignition switch 7 can be rotated via the rotor 30 and the engine can be started.

  On the other hand, when the ID code matches are not confirmed, for example, when the vehicle is boarded without the portable device 200, the electromagnetic solenoid 100 is not energized from the control unit 402, and the no block is not released. In this state, the knob portion 81 remains blocked, and the knob portion 81 cannot be rotated and the engine cannot be started.

(Effect of the embodiment of the present invention)
The operation knob 8 and the engine starter 1 using the operation knob 8 according to the embodiment of the present invention have the following effects.
(1) By inserting the operation knob 8 into the cylinder lock 3, a smart ignition device can be constructed using a conventional cylinder lock. Parts used in conventional mechanical keys can be used, leading to common parts and cost reduction.

(2) The tumbler arrangement of the cylinder lock 3 may be one kind, and the parts can be easily managed by sharing the parts, so that the workability can be improved and the cost can be reduced.
(3) By unifying the tumbler arrangement of the cylinder lock 3 into one type, the corresponding operation knob 8 can also be made into one type, and by using common parts, parts management is easy and workability is improved. This makes it possible to reduce costs.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an engine starting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an operation knob of the engine starting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an external view of the engine starter according to the embodiment of the present invention mounted on an instrument panel of a vehicle. FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram for ID authentication of the engine starting device and the portable device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Engine starter 2 ... Lock body 3 ... Cylinder lock 4 ... Lock member 6 ... Locking lever 7 ... Ignition switch 8 ... Operation knob 80 ... Key plate, 81 ... Knob part, 801 ... Key peak part 9 ... Instrument panel DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Rotor 31 ... Tumbler, 303 ... Insertion hole, 305 ... Tumbler holding hole 100 ... Electromagnetic solenoid 200 ... Portable machine 201 ... Communication part, 202 ... Control part, 201A ... Transmission circuit, 201B ... Reception circuit, 203 ... Transmission antenna, 204 ... receiving antenna, 205 ... battery 400 ... vehicle control unit 401 ... communication unit, 401A ... transmission circuit, 401B ... receiving circuit, 402 ... control unit, 402A ... memory, 403 ... transmission antenna, 404 ... receiving antenna

Claims (3)

A cylindrical rotor case having an engaging portion on the inner side, a rotor that is rotatably arranged on the inner side of the rotor case and has an insertion hole extending in the axial direction, and is movable in the radial direction of the rotor And is urged radially outward to engage with the engaging portion of the rotor case, and when the proper key is inserted into the insertion hole, the engagement with the engaging portion is released. A plurality of tumblers that are disengaged from the rotor case, and a key plate having a key pile portion that is inserted into a cylinder lock,
A knob portion for gripping when the key plate is inserted into the insertion hole and rotated,
The operation knob of the engine starting device according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the key crest formed on the key plate is formed in a predetermined shape that meshes with the tumbler when inserted into the insertion hole.   The operation knob of the engine starting device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined shape is a sawtooth shape. It has an operation knob according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The engine start is characterized in that the key plate of the operation knob has a key crest portion corresponding to a key crest portion of a regular key of the cylinder lock, and the key plate is inserted into the insertion hole. apparatus.

Images