JP2012031666A - System for identifying communication object of electronic key, and electronic key - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for identifying a communication object of an electronic key, which enables the one electronic key to be used as a common key for wireless communications among a plurality of communication objects and which enables only one specified vehicle to be operated even when a plurality of vehicles exist around the key, and the electronic key.SOLUTION: A wireless UHF transmitter 16a with antenna directivity and a smart UHF transmitter 16b with no antenna directivity are provided as UHF transmitters 16 for an electronic key 2. When the electronic key 2 wirelessly performs ID verification with a vehicle 1, the wireless UHF transmitter 16a is put into operation in wireless communications, and the smart UHF transmitter 16b is put into operation in smart communications. Thus, the antenna directivity of the electronic key 2 is switched depending on the communications.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic key communication target specifying system and an electronic key that can specify one of them as a communication partner when a plurality of communication targets exist within the communication range of the electronic key.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many vehicles are equipped with an electronic key system that performs ID verification by transmitting an ID code from an electronic key to the vehicle wirelessly. By the way, for example, when a user owns a plurality of vehicles, if the user has an electronic key for each vehicle, the user must use these electronic keys according to the vehicle, which is very inconvenient. Therefore, various techniques (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3) that can operate a plurality of vehicles with one electronic key have been devised.

JP 2009-30312 A JP-A-10-79986 JP 2005-307480 A

  However, the techniques of Patent Documents 1 to 3 are all intended for smart communication. Smart communication is communication that uses a signal from a vehicle as a trigger, and is an authentication in which an electronic key returns an ID code to the vehicle in response to an inquiry from the vehicle and performs ID verification. Therefore, in wireless communication in which an ID code is transmitted to a vehicle by remote operation using an electronic key, there is still a situation where only one vehicle can be operated. Note that wireless communication is communication triggered by a signal from an electronic key.

  An object of the present invention is to use one electronic key as a common key for first communication among a plurality of communication objects, and even if there are a plurality of vehicles around the key, a specific one key is used. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic key communication target specifying system capable of operating only a table and an electronic key.

  In order to solve the above problem, in the present invention, when the communication target receives the ID signal transmitted from the electronic key, the ID verification is executed with the ID signal, and when the ID verification is established, the operation of the communication target is performed. In the communication target specifying system for the electronic key to be executed or permitted, the key ID of the electronic key is registered in each of the plurality of communication objects paired with the electronic key, and the electronic key is triggered by a signal from the electronic key. The gist is that the antenna of the electronic key has directivity when the key performs the first communication with the communication target.

  According to this configuration, since the antenna for the first communication of the electronic key has directivity, a communication area for the first communication of the electronic key is formed in a predetermined direction toward the electronic key. Therefore, even if the key ID of the electronic key is registered in a plurality of communication targets and the electronic key is used as a common key for the plurality of communication targets, if the electronic key is directed to a specific communication target, Radio waves reach only the communication target. For this reason, even if there are a plurality of communication objects in the communication area of the electronic key, only one of them can be operated, and one electronic key can be used for the first communication between the plurality of communication objects. It can be used as a common key without problems.

  In the present invention, there is provided an electronic key communication target specifying system capable of collating an ID of the electronic key by a second communication triggered by a signal from the communication target, wherein the first communication and the second communication are performed. The gist is provided with directivity switching means for switching the directivity of the antenna.

  According to this configuration, since the directivity of the antenna of the electronic key is switched in each of the first communication and the second communication, the directivity of the antenna of the electronic key in each communication is set to a suitable direction corresponding to each communication. It becomes possible to do.

The gist of the present invention is that the directivity switching means does not give the antenna directivity during the second communication, but gives the antenna directivity during the first communication.
According to this configuration, since the antenna of the electronic key is not directional during the second communication, the uniform communication with a substantially constant distance from the electronic key is provided around the electronic key during the second communication. An area can be formed. Therefore, since the radio wave of the electronic key reaches the communication target regardless of the direction of the electronic key, the second communication can be established smoothly.

The gist of the present invention is that the antenna directivity of the first communication is set in a direction indicated by a display unit provided in the electronic key.
According to this configuration, since the direction of the antenna directivity of the electronic key can be seen on the display unit, convenience can be ensured.

The gist of the present invention is that the antenna directivity of the first communication is set in the opposite direction in the writing direction of one character or symbol provided on the electronic key.
According to this configuration, since the antenna directivity of the electronic key can be determined, convenience can be ensured.

The gist of the present invention is that the antenna directivity of the first communication is set in a direction in which a key groove of the mechanical key extends when the electronic key includes a mechanical key.
According to this configuration, the antenna directivity of the electronic key can be directed to the communication target side in a natural manner in which the keyway of the mechanical key is directed to the communication target.

  In the present invention, an electronic signal that transmits an ID signal to a communication target, causes the communication target to execute ID verification using the ID signal, and performs the operation of the communication target when the ID verification is established. The gist is that communication is possible with a plurality of communication objects in which the ID code of the electronic key is registered, and the antenna that performs the first communication with the communication object is given directivity by using a signal transmitted from itself as a trigger. .

  According to the present invention, one electronic key can be used as a common key for first communication among a plurality of communication objects, and even if there are a plurality of vehicles around the key, Only one unit can be operated.

The lineblock diagram of the antenna directivity switching device of a 1st embodiment. The conceptual diagram which shows the communication area of a transmitter outside a vehicle and a transmitter inside a vehicle. The time chart which shows the communication sequence of smart collation. (A) is a conceptual diagram when directivity at the time of wireless communication of an electronic key is turned to the 1st vehicle, (b) is a conceptual diagram when it is turned to the 2nd vehicle. The antenna directivity at the time of smart communication of an electronic key is shown, (a) is a conceptual diagram when communicating with a 1st vehicle, (b) is a conceptual diagram when communicating with a 2nd vehicle. The front view which shows the external appearance of an electronic key. The schematic block diagram of the variable directivity antenna of 2nd Embodiment. (A) is a conceptual diagram when the variable directivity antenna is not provided with antenna directivity, and (b) is a conceptual diagram when the variable directivity antenna is provided with antenna directivity. The characteristic view which shows the directivity and operation | movement image of a variable directivity antenna. The schematic diagram which shows the vehicle carrying the software transmitter of another example. (A), (b) is a conceptual diagram which shows the antenna directivity of the electronic key in another example.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of an electronic key communication target specifying device and an electronic key embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 is equipped with an electronic key system 3 that uses an electronic key 2 that wirelessly transmits a key ID as a vehicle key. The electronic key system 3 includes a key operation free system in which the electronic key 2 responds to a request signal Srq transmitted as an inquiry from the vehicle 1 and returns a key ID signal Sid to the vehicle 1. The electronic key system 3 includes a wireless key system in which the electronic key 2 transmits a wireless signal Swl to the vehicle 1 by remote control of the electronic key 2. Note that the vehicle 1 corresponds to a communication target.

  In this case, the vehicle 1 manages a key verification device 4 that performs wireless ID verification with the electronic key 2, a door lock device 5 that manages door locking / unlocking of the vehicle door, and an engine operation. An engine starter 6 is provided, and these are connected via an in-vehicle bus 7. The key verification device 4 is provided with a verification ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 8 for verifying the key ID of the electronic key 2.

  In the memory 9 of the verification ECU 8, a key ID of the electronic key 2 that forms a pair with the vehicle 1 and a vehicle ID as an individual ID of the host vehicle are registered. For example, when one electronic key 2 corresponds to a plurality of vehicles, the first vehicle ID is registered in the memory 9a of the first vehicle 1a, and the second vehicle ID is stored in the memory 9b of the second vehicle 1b. It is registered.

  The verification ECU 8 receives an outside transmitter 10 that transmits LF (Low Frequency) radio waves outside the vehicle, an in-vehicle transmitter 11 that transmits LF radio waves inside the vehicle, and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) radio waves. The vehicle tuner 12 is connected. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication area Ea of the outside transmitter 10 is formed in a narrow area of about 1 m around the vehicle 1, for example. Further, the communication area Eb of the in-vehicle transmitter 11 is formed in the entire vehicle interior.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic key 2 is provided with a key control unit 13 that performs overall control of the operation of the electronic key 2. In the memory 14 of the key control unit 13, a key ID and a vehicle ID of the vehicle 1 that forms a pair with the electronic key 2 are registered as a unique ID of the key. When the electronic key 2 is compatible with a plurality of vehicles, the first vehicle ID and the second vehicle ID are registered in the memory 14. The vehicle ID may be an ID assigned to each vehicle type or a serial number having a different value for each vehicle 1.

  The key control unit 13 is connected to an LF receiver 15 capable of receiving LF band radio waves and a UHF transmitter 16 capable of transmitting UHF band radio waves. The UHF transmitter 16 includes a transmission circuit 16r that modulates a transmission radio wave and an antenna 16s that transmits the modulated radio wave. The electronic key 2 is provided with a locking button 17 that is operated when the door lock is locked, and an unlocking button 18 that is operated when the door lock is unlocked.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the verification ECU 8 intermittently transmits a wake signal 19 from the outside transmitter 10 when the vehicle is parked. At this time, when the electronic key 2 receives the wake signal 19, smart communication outside the vehicle (external communication) is started. The electronic key 2 is activated by the wake signal 19 and transmits an ACK signal 20 by UHF radio waves. When the verification signal is received by the vehicle tuner 12, the verification ECU 8 transmits a vehicle ID signal 21 by LF radio waves. The vehicle ID signal 21 includes a vehicle ID. When the electronic key 2 receives the vehicle ID signal 21, the electronic key 2 performs vehicle ID verification. If the vehicle ID verification is established, the electronic key 2 transmits an ACK signal 22 using UHF radio waves. Smart communication corresponds to the second communication.

  Subsequently, the verification ECU 8 transmits the challenge 23 by LF radio waves in order to execute challenge response authentication with the electronic key 2. The challenge 23 includes a challenge code whose code is different every time it is transmitted, and a key number that represents the registration key number of the vehicle 1. When the electronic key 2 receives the challenge 23, it first performs key number verification, and if the key number verification is established, it passes the challenge code through its own encryption key and generates a response code. Then, the electronic key 2 transmits a response 24 including this response code and its own key ID by UHF radio waves.

  When the verification ECU 8 transmits the challenge 23 to the electronic key 2, the verification ECU 8 also calculates the response code by passing the challenge code through the encryption key of the verification ECU 8. When the verification ECU 8 receives the response 24 from the electronic key 2, the verification ECU 8 verifies the response code and the key ID in the response 24 together. When the verification ECU 8 confirms that both the response verification and the key ID verification are established, the verification ECU 8 establishes smart verification outside the vehicle (external verification), and permits or executes door lock locking / unlocking by the door lock device 5.

  Further, when the electronic key 2 is located in the vehicle, a wake signal 19 is transmitted from the in-vehicle transmitter 11 instead of the out-of-vehicle transmitter 10, and smart communication (in-vehicle communication) in the vehicle is executed. At this time, the verification ECU 8 executes the smart verification (in-vehicle verification) in the vehicle in the same procedure as the verification outside the vehicle, and confirms that the vehicle ID verification, the response code verification and the key ID verification are satisfied. The power switch operation and the engine start operation by the engine switch 6a are permitted.

  Further, when the lock button 17 or the unlock button 18 is operated with the electronic key 2, the key control unit 13 causes the wireless signal Swl corresponding to the operation button to be transmitted by UHF radio waves. The wireless signal Swl includes a key ID. When the vehicle ECU 12 receives the wireless signal Swl from the electronic key 2, the verification ECU 8 performs ID verification (wireless verification) with the key ID in the wireless signal Swl. The door is locked and unlocked.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic key system 3 is provided with an antenna directivity switching device 25 that switches the directivity of the UHF transmitter 16 (antenna 16s) of the electronic key 2 by smart communication and wireless communication. The antenna directivity switching device 25 of this example assumes that the UHF transmitter 16 has no directivity during smart communication and the UHF transmitter 16 has directivity during wireless communication. This is to change the direction of the electronic key 2 when wireless communication is performed using the electronic key 2 so that only a specific one of the plurality of vehicles 1 can be operated. Wireless communication corresponds to the first communication.

  In this case, the electronic key 2 is provided with a wireless UHF transmitter 16 a and a smart UHF transmitter 16 b as the UHF transmitter 16. The wireless UHF transmitter 16a operates during wireless communication, and the smart UHF transmitter 16b operates during smart communication. Each of these UHF transmitters 16a and 16b is provided with an individual antenna and a transmission circuit, and a transmission area Ek (see FIG. 4) is widely formed as about 10 m.

  These UHF transmitters 16a and 16b are formed to have different directivities, for example, by setting characteristic values such as C component in the transmission circuit to different values. In the case of this example, the wireless UHF transmitter 16a is a transmitter having directivity for the antenna 16s, and the smart UHF transmitter 16b is a transmitter having no directivity for the antenna 16s. The wireless UHF transmitter 16a operates at the time of wireless communication, and forms a transmission area Ek1 having sharp directivity in one direction, as shown in FIGS. The smart UHF transmitter 16b operates during smart communication, and transmits radio waves having no directivity from the antenna 16s. That is, the smart UHF transmitter 16b is not set in directivity, and as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, for example, a substantially circular transmission area Ek2 centered on the electronic key 2 in a plan view. Form.

  The key control unit 13 is provided with a directivity switching unit 26 that switches the antenna directivity of the electronic key 2 in accordance with smart communication and wireless communication. The directivity switching unit 26 confirms, for example, whether the request signal Srq has been received, or whether the lock button 17 (unlock button 18) has been operated. It is determined whether it is. The directivity switching unit 26 validates the antenna directivity of the electronic key 2 by enabling the wireless UHF transmitter 16a during wireless communication and enabling the smart UHF transmitter 16b during smart communication. , Change according to the occasional communication. The directivity switching unit 26 corresponds to directivity switching means.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a display unit 28 is provided on the surface of the case 27 of the electronic key 2 to indicate the directivity direction of the antenna 16s of the electronic key 2 during wireless communication, that is, the radiation direction of the wireless signal Swl. . The display unit 28 is formed at the time of resin molding of the case 27, and is formed by an arrow or the like, for example. Therefore, during wireless communication, if the lock button 17 or the unlock button 18 is pressed while the electronic key 2 is directed in the direction along the display unit 28, the wireless signal Swl is transmitted from the electronic key 2 in that direction.

Next, the operation of the antenna directivity switching device 25 of this example will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the vehicle 1 is operated by wireless communication, the lock button 17 and the unlock button 18 are pressed on the electronic key 2. Upon confirming that the wireless communication button has been operated with the electronic key 2, the directivity switching unit 26 sets the UHF transmitter 16 to be used as the wireless UHF transmitter 16a. For this reason, the UHF transmitter 16 of the electronic key 2 is a transmitter having antenna directivity, that is, a transmitter having sharp directivity in one direction.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the directivity direction of the wireless UHF transmitter 16a of the electronic key 2 is directed to the first vehicle 1a, the transmission area Ek1 of the electronic key 2 covers the first vehicle 1a. Take an area to do. At this time, if the electronic key 2 is wirelessly operated while the electronic key 2 is in this direction, the wireless signal Swl transmitted from the electronic key 2 reaches only the first vehicle 1a, and the first vehicle 1a operates. Therefore, even if both the first vehicle 1a and the second vehicle 1b exist nearby, the door lock locking / unlocking is operated only for the first vehicle 1a.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the directivity direction of the wireless UHF transmitter 16a of the electronic key 2 is directed to the second vehicle 1b, the transmission area Ek1 of the electronic key 2 covers the second vehicle 1b. Take an area to do. At this time, if the electronic key 2 is wirelessly operated while the electronic key 2 is in this direction, the wireless signal Swl transmitted from the electronic key 2 reaches only the second vehicle 1b, and the second vehicle 1b operates. Therefore, even if both the first vehicle 1a and the second vehicle 1b exist nearby, the door lock locking / unlocking is operated only for the second vehicle 1b.

  Subsequently, when operating the first vehicle 1a by smart communication, the user holds the electronic key 2 and simply approaches the vehicle 1a. 5A, when the electronic key 2 simply enters the communication area Ea of the wake signal 19 of the first vehicle 1a, the electronic key 2 is activated by the wake signal 19. At this time, since the directivity switching unit 26 recognizes that the communication is smart communication, the UHF transmitter 16 to be used is set as the smart UHF transmitter 16b. For this reason, the electronic key 2 is formed with a substantially circular transmission area Ek2 having no directivity. Therefore, smart communication is established regardless of the position of the first vehicle 1a at 360 degrees with respect to the electronic key 2.

  And the electronic key 2 performs vehicle ID collation by 1st vehicle ID transmitted from the 1st vehicle 1a. If this vehicle ID verification is established, the first vehicle 1a performs challenge response authentication and key ID verification of the electronic key 2. And if both challenge response authentication and key ID collation are materialized, door lock locking / unlocking of the 1st vehicle 1a will be permitted or performed.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the electronic key 2 enters the communication area Ea of the outside transmitter 10 of the second vehicle 1b, the electronic key 2 is activated by the wake signal 19. At this time, the UHF transmitter 16 of the electronic key 2 is set as the smart UHF transmitter 16b by the directivity switching unit 26, and vehicle ID verification, challenge response authentication, and key ID verification are executed with the second vehicle 1b. Is done. And if all these collation is materialized, door lock locking / unlocking of the 2nd vehicle 1b will be permitted or performed.

  As described above, in this example, it is assumed that the UHF transmitter 16 of the electronic key 2 has no directivity during smart communication and has directivity during wireless communication. Therefore, at the time of wireless communication, if the directivity direction of the UHF transmitter 16 is directed to a specific vehicle 1, the vehicle 1 can be operated by wireless communication. For this reason, one electronic key 2 can be used as a key for wireless communication between a plurality of vehicles 1. Further, if the direction of the electronic key 2 is changed, only one specific unit can be operated. Therefore, even if there are a plurality of vehicles 1 near the electronic key 2, they do not operate simultaneously.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Since the UHF transmitter 16 of the electronic key 2 is a directional transmitter at the time of wireless communication, the radio wave of the electronic key 2 is widely radiated only in one specific direction when performing wireless communication with the electronic key 2. The For this reason, when a key ID is registered in each vehicle 1 in order to use one electronic key 2 as a common key for wireless communication among a plurality of vehicles 1, there are a plurality of vehicles 1 in the transmission area Ek of the electronic key 2. Even so, by directing the electronic key 2 to the used vehicle 1 and performing wireless communication, only the vehicle 1 can be operated. Therefore, one electronic key 2 can be used as a common key for wireless communication among a plurality of vehicles 1 without any problem.

  (2) Since the antenna directivity of the electronic key 2 is switched in each of the smart communication and the wireless communication, the antenna directivity of the electronic key 2 in each communication can be set in a suitable direction corresponding to each communication.

  (3) Since the antenna 16s of the electronic key 2 is a non-directional antenna during smart communication, a uniform transmission area where the distance from the electronic key 2 is almost constant in the entire area around the electronic key 2 during this communication. Ek2 can be formed. Therefore, since the radio wave of the electronic key 2 reaches the vehicle 1 regardless of the direction of the electronic key 2, smart communication can be established smoothly.

  (4) The vehicle IDs of the vehicles 1a and 1b are registered in the electronic key 2, and the vehicle 1a and 1b can be smartly collated with one electronic key 2. Therefore, the electronic key 2 of this example can also be used as a common key for smart communication among a plurality of vehicles 1.

  (5) The electronic key 2 is provided with a smart UHF transmitter 16b having no directivity and a wireless UHF transmitter 16a having directivity, and the directivity of the transmission radio wave of the electronic key 2 can be changed by properly using these. Switch. Therefore, the antenna directivity of the electronic key 2 can be switched by simple control of switching the transmitter to be used.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The second embodiment is a configuration in which the transmission circuit of the electronic key 2 of the first embodiment is only changed, and there is no significant change in other basic configurations. Therefore, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different portions are described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a variable directional antenna 31 is used as the UHF transmitter 16 in the electronic key 2. The variable directivity antenna 31 is provided with a pair of antennas 32 and 32, which are connected to a transmission source 33. The transmission source 33 is a so-called power supply for the antennas 32 and 32. The distance between the pair of antennas 32 and 32 is λ / 2 of the transmission radio wave (λ: one wavelength of the transmission radio wave). The variable directivity antenna 31 can switch the directivity of the transmission radio wave, for example, according to the principle of the beamformer method.

  If the frequency of the radio wave transmitted from the electronic key 2 can be about 2.4 GHz, for example, one wavelength of the 2.4 GHz radio wave is 12.5 cm, so the distance between the pair of antennas 32 and 32 is 6.25 cm (= 12.5cm / 2) is enough. Therefore, the electronic key 2 has a small size of about 6 to 7 cm.

  By the way, as shown to Fig.8 (a), when electric power (alternating current power) is supplied from only the pair of antennas 32 and 32 of this example from the transmission source 33, the variable directional antenna 31 is an antenna with no directivity. It becomes. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8B, when a pair of antennas 32 and 32 are fed together, the variable directional antenna 31 becomes a directional antenna based on the principle of the beamformer method. When both antennas 32 and 32 are fed, the direction of directivity can be switched by controlling the phase of the power supplied to these antennas 32 and 32.

  Therefore, the directivity switching unit 26 of the present example controls the transmission source 33 and the switch 34 provided on one antenna 32 (the right side of the drawing in FIG. 8A), thereby controlling the variable directivity antenna 31. Switch directivity. The directivity switching unit 26 of this example operates only one antenna 32 (the left side in FIG. 8A) during wireless communication, and supplies power to the two antennas 32 and 32 in the same phase during smart communication. .

  Therefore, in the case of wireless communication, power is supplied to the two antennas 32 and 32 in the same phase during wireless communication, so that directivity is generated in the UHF transmitter 16 of the electronic key 2 as shown in FIG. Only one vehicle 1 can be remotely controlled. On the other hand, during smart communication, power is supplied to only one of the two antennas 32 and 32, thereby making the UHF transmitter 16 an antenna having no directivity. Therefore, smart communication is established regardless of the position of the electronic key 2 where the vehicle 1 is 360 degrees.

According to the configuration of this embodiment, in addition to (1) to (5) described in the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(6) The antenna directivity of the UHF transmitter 16 is switched by switching whether to supply power to only one antenna 32 or to supply power to both antennas 32 and 32 in the same phase. To change. Therefore, in the UHF transmitter 16 of this example, it is not necessary to provide a separate transmission circuit according to the presence or absence of directivity, so that the structure of the UHF transmitter 16 can be simplified correspondingly.

Note that the embodiment is not limited to the configuration described so far, and may be modified as follows.
-In 1st and 2nd embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the UHF transmitter 16 is good also as the software transmitter 51 which can change the operation | movement function of an electromagnetic wave with a program. The software transmitter 51 uses a group of components such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Then, during smart communication, a first program that uses the software transmitter 51 as a non-directional antenna is executed, and during wireless communication, a second program that uses the software transmitter 51 as a directional antenna is executed. In this case, it is not necessary to prepare a separate transmission circuit for each communication, which contributes to a reduction in the number of parts and a reduction in key size.

  -In 1st and 2nd embodiment, as shown to Fig.11 (a), the antenna directivity of wireless communication in the opposite direction in the writing direction of the character of the locking button 17 and the unlocking button 18, or one character of a symbol May be provided. In this case, when the user presses the lock button 17 or the unlock button 18, the radio wave can be easily directed to the vehicle 1.

-In 1st and 2nd embodiment, as shown in FIG.11 (b), when the electronic key 2 contains the mechanical key 61, you may give antenna directivity in the direction where the key groove 62 is extended.
In the first and second embodiments, when the antenna 16s of the electronic key 2 has directivity, the setting method is not limited to the presentation examples of the first and second embodiments, and other methods are used. It goes without saying that it is possible.

  -In 1st and 2nd embodiment, the electronic key 2 at the time of smart communication is not necessarily limited to the antenna 16s becoming an antenna with no directivity, For example, it may have a little directivity.

-In 2nd Embodiment, the transmission source 33 may be provided in each of the antennas 32, and these may be controlled separately.
-In 2nd Embodiment, FET etc. may be used for the switch 34, for example.

In the first and second embodiments, the display unit 28 is not limited to the arrow design, and can be changed to other characters, designs, symbols, such as character display, for example.
-In 1st and 2nd embodiment, key ID and vehicle ID are good also as change registration possible not only in a fixed value.

-In 1st and 2nd embodiment, the 2nd communication of ID collation is not limited to the communication according to a key operation free system, For example, you may use immobilizer communication.
-In 1st and 2nd embodiment, the electronic key system 3 is not limited to the frequency of an electromagnetic wave differing in the outward path from the vehicle 1 to the electronic key 2, and the return path from the electronic key 2 to the vehicle 1, It may be the same.

-In 1st and 2nd embodiment, the frequency used with the electronic key system 3 is not limited to LF and UHF, For example, you may use other bands, such as HF.
-In 1st and 2nd embodiment, the electronic key 2 is not limited to the member which made the key shape, Various things, such as a card-shaped thing, are included widely.

In the first and second embodiments, the antenna directivity switching device 25 is not limited to being employed only for key verification outside the vehicle, and may be applied to in-vehicle verification for smart communication, for example.
-In 1st and 2nd embodiment, communication object is not limited to the vehicle 1, It is good also as another apparatus and apparatus.

  In the first and second embodiments, the wireless communication is not limited to simple unidirectional communication that transmits a signal to the vehicle 1 only from the electronic key 2, but includes broadly bidirectional communication that exchanges signals with the vehicle 1.

In the first and second embodiments, the vehicle 1 is not limited to performing both smart communication and wireless communication, and it is sufficient that at least wireless communication can be performed.
Next, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above-described embodiment and other examples will be described below together with their effects.

  (A) In any one of claims 2 to 6, the electronic key is provided with a plurality of communication circuits having different directivities, and the directivity switching means switches the use of the communication circuits to thereby change the directivity of the antenna. Change gender. According to this configuration, the directivity of the antenna of the electronic key can be changed by a simple control of switching the communication circuit to be used.

  (B) In any one of claims 2 to 6, a communication circuit capable of changing directivity by switching circuit characteristics is provided, and the directivity switching means switches the antenna characteristics by switching circuit characteristics of the communication circuit. Change the directivity. According to this configuration, since it is not necessary to prepare a dedicated communication circuit for each directivity, it is possible to reduce the number of mounted communication circuits.

  (C) In any one of claims 2 to 6, a pair of communication target IDs is registered in the electronic key, and in the ID verification, the communication target ID is also verified in the electronic key. According to this configuration, since not only the key ID but also the communication target ID are collated, the security level of ID collation can be improved.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 (1a, 1b) ... Vehicle as communication object, 2 ... Electronic key, 16s ... Antenna, 26 ... Directionality switching part as directivity switching means, 28 ... Display part, 32 ... Antenna, 61 ... Mechanical key, 62 ... key groove, Sid ... key ID signal constituting ID signal, Swl ... wireless signal constituting ID signal.

Claims (7)

When the communication target receives the ID signal transmitted from the electronic key, the ID verification is performed with the ID signal, and when the ID verification is established, the communication target operation is executed or permitted. ,
The key ID of the electronic key is registered in each of the plurality of communication objects that form a pair with the electronic key, and the electronic key is used for the first communication with the communication object by using a signal from the electronic key as a trigger. An electronic key communication target identifying system characterized in that the key antenna has directivity. An electronic key communication target specifying system capable of performing ID verification of the electronic key by a second communication triggered by a signal from the communication target,
The electronic key communication target specifying system according to claim 1, further comprising directivity switching means for switching the directivity of the antenna between the first communication and the second communication. 3. The electronic key communication according to claim 2, wherein the directivity switching unit does not give the antenna directivity during the second communication, but gives the antenna directivity during the first communication. 4. Target specific system. 4. The electronic key according to claim 1, wherein the antenna directivity of the first communication is set in a direction indicated by a display unit provided in the electronic key. Communication target identification system. The antenna directivity of the first communication is set in the opposite direction in the writing direction of one character or symbol provided on the electronic key. The electronic key communication target specifying system according to one item. The antenna directivity of the first communication is set in a direction in which a key groove of the mechanical key extends when the electronic key includes a mechanical key. The communication target identification system of the electronic key described in 1. In an electronic key that transmits an ID signal to a communication target, causes the communication target to execute ID verification using the ID signal, and executes the operation of the communication target or permits when the ID verification is established,
It is possible to communicate with a plurality of communication objects in which an ID code of the electronic key is registered, and the antenna that performs the first communication with the communication object is given directivity by using a signal transmitted from itself as a trigger. To electronic key.

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