JP5027056B2 - Electronic key - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic key for permitting control of an external device provided on an object through wireless communication with the object, and more specifically, a communication circuit unit or a battery that performs wireless communication with the object. The present invention relates to an electronic key having a slide cover that is substantially sealed in the body.

  In recent years, in vehicles (objects) such as automobiles, there has been a strong demand for further improvements in the convenience of users of vehicles as well as further improvements in the security level (safety). For this reason, conventionally, two-way wireless communication has been performed between a portable electronic key (portable device) possessed by the user and a communication control device provided in the vehicle, and ID verification by the wireless communication has been established. As a condition, there has been proposed an electronic key system that permits a door locking / unlocking operation or enables an engine to be started (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  For this reason, the user can automatically control the in-vehicle device (external device) using the communication control device without manual operation using a mechanical key or the like, and the convenience is improved, and electromagnetic ID verification is performed. Since this is a vehicle control start requirement, the security level of the vehicle is increased.

  By using such an electronic key, the user can automatically control the in-vehicle device through the vehicle communication control device in normal times. However, in the event of an emergency when an electronic key normally driven by a battery runs out of battery or a vehicle battery (on-vehicle power supply) rises, electromagnetic ID verification using the electronic key cannot be used. Therefore, in such an emergency, ID verification with the vehicle is mechanically performed by inserting it into a lock device provided on the door of the vehicle, and control of in-vehicle devices such as a door locking / unlocking device provided on the vehicle is performed. It is essential that the electronic key is equipped with a permitted emergency mechanical key.

  An electronic key having such an emergency mechanical key has the following structure (see, for example, Patent Document 2). That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, the electronic key 10 is an emergency mechanical key 100 and a communication that transmits radio waves including an ID code (authentication code) for ID verification to the communication control device. A case body 10a having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that accommodates the circuit portion 16 and the battery (button battery) 11b, and a slide that is slidably supported with respect to the case body 10a and is substantially rectangular in plan view and L-shaped in side view And a cover 10b. The slide cover 10b is slidably supported with respect to the case body 10a via a pair of guide rails 10c and 10c and a pair of guide grooves 10d and 10d for sliding and guiding the guide rails 10c and 10c. When the case body 10a is closed by the slide cover 10b (see FIG. 5B), the slide cover 10b substantially seals the battery 11b in the case body 10a. The communication circuit unit 16 is provided with an antenna (not shown) and a control microcomputer (electronic key side microcomputer).

  In the electronic key 10 shown in FIG. 5A, the long metal portion 100m of the mechanical key 100 is provided in the case main body 10a, and a storage portion 100a that forms a substantially rectangular space (gap). It is comprised so that it may be accommodated in.

  The case main body 10a is provided with a bottomed cylindrical battery accommodating portion 10j, and the battery 11b contacts the electrode 10w provided on the communication circuit portion 16 in the battery accommodating portion 10j. Is housed in. The case body 10a is provided with a battery lid 1g that closes the battery housing portion 10j and seals the battery 11b in the battery housing portion 10j. The battery lid 1g is in contact with a ring-shaped recess 10k provided on the outer peripheral edge of the battery housing portion 10j, with four (a plurality of) screws b,. Removably attached. Further, a seal member (O-ring) 1s is disposed between the case body 10a and the battery lid 1g, and as the screws b,... Are tightened to the nuts n,. The battery lid 1g is compressed and deformed to seal between the case body 10a and the battery lid 1g.

  A through-hole 100h is provided in the resin grip 100n of the mechanical key 100. The mechanical key 100 protrudes from the surface of the slide cover 10b with respect to the through hole 100h of the grip 100n when the metal part 100m is stored (inserted) in the storage 100a of the case body 10a. When the engagement hook 10f provided freely is inserted (engaged), the case main body 10a is prevented from coming off. The engaging hook 10f is provided on the slide cover 10b and is interlocked with an operation lever 10e operated by a user's finger or the like to release the retaining hook 10f. The operation lever 10e is provided on the slide cover 10b and is urged rightward in FIG. 5A via a spring member (elastic member) (not shown). The engagement hook 10f is urged outward from the surface of the case body 10a via the operation lever 10e (rightward in FIG. 5A).

As shown in FIG. 5B, when the case body 10a, the slide cover 10b, and the mechanical key 100 are assembled to each other, the electronic key 10 is in an assembled state. Owned and used. As shown in FIG. 5B, the thickness of the electronic key 10 (the vertical distance in FIG. 5A) is Y [mm].
JP 2007-142886 A JP 2004-258315 A

  However, in such an electronic key, it is necessary to always provide a space occupied by the mechanical key 100 (a storage space for the mechanical key 100), which impedes design freedom of the electronic key 10, and This prevents the electronic key 10 from being reduced in size and thickness.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic key that includes a mechanical key used in an emergency and can be reduced in size and thickness. is there.

  In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 is that the authentication code is authorized by transmitting a radio wave including the authentication code to the communication control device provided in the object. A communication circuit unit that allows control of an external device provided in the object in the case, and a battery that supplies a direct current to the communication circuit unit, and a case that houses the communication circuit unit and the battery A main body and a slide cover that is slidably supported with respect to the case main body and is formed in a substantially flat plate shape, and when the case main body is closed, the battery is substantially sealed in the case main body. In addition, the slide cover has a plurality of bottomed holes recessed in the slide cover, and the slide cover has a mechanical key that uses the bottomed hole arrangement pattern as a verification code. Function as, and the gist.

  According to this configuration, since the slide cover also functions as a mechanical key, the space required to accommodate the mechanical key in the case body is unnecessary, and the design of the electronic key is free. The degree of the electronic key increases and the electronic key can be downsized. In addition, the slide cover as a mechanical key is not a key groove that requires a certain depth, but has a plurality of bottomed holes arranged in the slide cover as a verification code. For this reason, the slide cover can be made thin while sufficiently securing the function as an emergency mechanical key. Such a reduction in the thickness of the slide cover eventually contributes to a reduction in the thickness of the entire electronic key.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic key according to the first aspect, the slide cover substantially seals the battery in the case main body and closes the battery when the case main body is closed by the slide cover. The gist is that the battery can be taken out and replaced when the case body is opened by the cover.

  According to this configuration, the slide cover as the mechanical key can be slid with respect to the case body to open the case body. In addition, the slide cover also has a function of a battery lid that can be removed and replaced by removing the battery from the case body. Thus, the battery can be easily removed and replaced only by sliding the slide cover. As a result, the functions of the electronic key member can be consolidated, and the number of members used can be reduced and the cost can be reduced accordingly.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic key according to the first or second aspect, the plurality of bottomed holes are recessed on a surface side facing the battery in the slide cover. Is the gist.

  According to this configuration, the plurality of bottomed holes are provided on the side of the slide cover that faces the battery, that is, on the inner side of the case body. For this reason, when the case main body is closed by the slide cover, the verification code formed by the arrangement pattern of the plurality of bottomed holes becomes difficult to visually recognize from the outside, and the bottomed holes that are not very attractive are hidden by the slide cover. The This enhances the design of the electronic key and makes it difficult to illegally copy the slide cover, thereby improving the security.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the electronic key according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the slide cover is made of a non-conductive resin material. .

  According to this configuration, since the slide cover as a mechanical key is formed of a non-conductive resin material, for example, it can be easily formed by a resin molding method such as injection molding, and the electronic key can be reduced in weight. become. In addition, there is no possibility that the communication circuit unit housed in the case main body and performing wireless communication with the outside is electromagnetically shielded by the slide cover, and good wireless communication with the outside is ensured.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic key according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the slide cover is engaged with the case main body by a snap-fit mechanism when the case main body is closed. The gist is that they are fixed together.

  According to this configuration, the slide cover as the mechanical key is engaged and fixed to the case body by the snap-fit mechanism when the case body is closed. For this reason, the slide cover can be easily and reliably fixed to the case body and can be easily detached from the case body. In addition, the case body eliminates the need to provide, for example, an engagement mechanism including an engagement hook and an operation lever linked to the case, and a space for the engagement mechanism. And the space saving of the case main body can be achieved. This can contribute to further downsizing and thinning of the electronic key.

  According to the electronic key of the present invention, the mechanical key used in an emergency can be provided, and the size and thickness can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The electronic key 1 of this embodiment is used for the electronic key system 3 shown in FIG. This electronic key system 3 performs bidirectional wireless communication between the electronic key 1 possessed by the user of the vehicle (four-wheeled vehicle) 20 and the communication control device 2 provided in the vehicle 20, and the wireless communication is performed. On the condition that it is established, the door locking / unlocking operation is permitted or the engine can be started. In the present embodiment, the communication control device 2 is driven by being supplied with a direct current from an in-vehicle power supply 21b mounted on the vehicle 20, and the communication circuit unit 16 is driven by being supplied with a direct current from the battery 11b. It is like that.

  The vehicle-side microcomputer 21 provided in the communication control device 2 (the control program stored in the memory 21a) is set in advance via the vehicle-side transmission circuit 23 and the antenna 23a provided in the device 2. A request signal (radio wave) as a transmission request signal is transmitted around the vehicle or in the vehicle interior to form a transmission area for the request signal.

  When the electronic key 1 enters the transmission area, the electronic key side microcomputer 11 (the control program stored in the memory 11a) provided in the electronic key 1 receives the antenna 13a and the electronic key side receiving circuit 13. The request signal is received via. In response to the request signal, the microcomputer 11 controls communication of an ID code signal (radio wave) including an ID code (authentication code) stored in the memory 11a via the electronic key side transmission circuit 12 and the antenna 12a. Transmit to device 2. In the present embodiment, the electronic key side microcomputer 11, the electronic key side transmitting circuit 12, and the electronic key side receiving circuit 13 (including the antenna 12a and the antenna 13a, respectively) constitute a communication circuit unit 16.

  When the communication control device 2 receives the ID code signal via the antenna 22a and the vehicle-side receiving circuit 22 provided in the device 2, the vehicle-side microcomputer 21 stores the ID code stored in the memory 21a. And the ID code included in the ID code signal are collated. Then, the electronic key system 3 wirelessly communicates between the electronic key 1 and the communication control device 2 on condition that the ID codes match each other (the ID code transmitted by the electronic key 1 is valid). Assume that ID verification by communication is established. The electronic key system 3 makes the door lockable / unlockable by the door locking / unlocking device 25 of the vehicle 20 or makes the engine 27 startable via the engine control device 26. That is, in the electronic key system 3, when the ID code transmitted by the electronic key 1 is genuine, the door locking / unlocking device 25 and the engine control device 26 as the in-vehicle devices provided in the vehicle 20 are controlled. Allowed.

  In the electronic key 1 of the present embodiment, the electronic key side microcomputer 11 includes a door locking switch 14 and a door unlocking switch 15 for performing door locking / unlocking control by the door locking / unlocking device 25 of the vehicle 20. Electrically connected. That is, when the ID code transmitted by the electronic key 1 is authentic, if the door locking switch 14 is pressed, the door locking / unlocking device 25 is controlled via the vehicle-side microcomputer 21, and the door of the vehicle 20 is controlled. The lock is locked. In this case, when the door unlocking switch 15 is pressed, the door locking / unlocking device 25 is controlled via the vehicle-side microcomputer 21 and the door lock of the vehicle 20 is unlocked (unlocked).

  The electronic key 1 of this embodiment does not operate normally in the event of an outage of the battery (consumption of the battery 11b) or an in-vehicle power source 21b of the vehicle 20 being raised. Therefore, the electronic key 1 is provided with a slide cover 1b (see FIGS. 2A and 2B) as an emergency mechanical key as described below in preparation for such an emergency. . That is, the electronic key 1 is provided on the door of the vehicle 20 and is inserted into a lock device 24 electrically connected to the vehicle-side microcomputer 21, so that the vehicle-side microcomputer 21 can identify the ID with the vehicle 20. Verification is done mechanically. Thus, the door cover locking / unlocking control by the door locking / unlocking device 25 is permitted, and the slide cover 1b that enables the door locking / unlocking operation of the vehicle 20 is provided.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2A, the electronic key 1 of the present embodiment transmits a radio wave including an ID code (authentication code) for ID verification to the communication control device 2. And a case main body 1a made of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped and resin housing the battery 11b, and the slide cover 1b supported slidably with respect to the case main body 1a. Specifically, the slide cover 1b is made of a resin material as a whole and has a substantially flat plate shape, a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and an L shape in side view. The slide cover 1b is provided on the case body 1a with a pair of guide rails 1c and 1c provided on the slide cover 1b and the case body 1a, and slides and guides the guide rails 1c and 1c. It is slidably supported through a pair of guide grooves 1d and 1d. As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the ends of the pair of guide rails 1c, 1c are bent in a small hook shape so as to face each other. The pair of hook-shaped protrusions 1u, 1u and the pair of hook-shaped recesses 1v, 1v provided in the guide grooves 1d, 1d are slidably fitted to each other, whereby the slide cover 1b is guided to the guide groove 1d. , 1d so as not to fall off the track.

  When the case body 1a is closed by the slide cover 1b (see FIG. 2B), the slide cover 1b is engaged and fixed to the case body 1a by a snap-fit mechanism. That is, a pair of engaging projections 1p and 1p that are respectively provided at both end portions of the hanging portion 1r of the slide cover 1b are provided with a pair of recesses provided at both end portions on the inside of the case body 1a. By being engaged with the engagement recesses 1q, 1q, the case main body 1a is engaged and fixed. At this time, the battery 11b is substantially sealed in the case body 1a by the slide cover 1b. The communication circuit unit 16 is provided with the antennas 12a and 13a and the electronic key side microcomputer 11 shown in FIG. The surface of the slide cover 1b constitutes a design surface. In the slide cover 1b shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), an English letter “ELECTRIC KEY” (meaning “electronic key”) is printed. (Displayed).

  The case body 1a is provided with a bottomed cylindrical battery accommodating portion 1j, and the battery (button battery) 11b is disposed on the communication circuit portion 16 in the battery accommodating portion 1j. Is stored in contact with The electronic key 1 is configured such that the battery 11b can be taken out and replaced by sliding the slide cover 1b and opening the case body 1a. That is, in the present embodiment, the slide cover 1b also has the function of the battery lid 1g (see FIG. 5A) described in the background art. Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, a seal member 1s is disposed between the case main body 1a and the slide cover 1b. The seal member 1s is configured to be compressed and deformed by the slide cover 1b when the case body 1a is closed by the slide cover 1b, and to seal between the case body 1a and the slide cover 1b. In the present embodiment, a rubber O-ring is used for the seal member 1s.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the electronic key 1 of the present embodiment is in a state of completion of assembly when the case body 1a and the slide cover 1b are assembled to each other. Owned and used. As shown in FIG. 2B, the thickness of the electronic key 1 is assumed to be X [mm].

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2C, the door lock / unlock device 25 of the vehicle 20 is controlled to be locked / unlocked on the back surface of the electronic key 10 (the surface opposite to the slide cover 10b). A door locking switch 14 and a door unlocking switch 15 are arranged so that they can be pressed.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a), 3 (a), and 3 (b), the slide cover 1b as an emergency mechanical key has a back surface, that is, a surface facing the battery 11b. On the side, eight (plural) bottomed holes 1h having a substantially circular shape in plan view are provided (formed). The electronic key 1 is a collation in which the ID collation with the vehicle 20 is mechanically executed by inserting the slide cover 1b into a predetermined position of the lock device 24 with the arrangement pattern of the bottomed holes 1h,. The code is for As described above, the slide cover 1b is not a key groove that requires a certain depth, but has an arrangement pattern of a plurality of bottomed holes 1h formed in the slide cover 1b as a verification code. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the thickness while sufficiently securing the function as an emergency mechanical key.

  When the battery runs out of the electronic key 1 or the battery (vehicle power supply 21b) of the vehicle 20 is raised, the tip of the slide cover 1b (including the region where the bottomed holes 1h,... Are formed) is inserted. The ID verification is mechanically executed by inserting the lock device 24 into a predetermined location. In the vehicle 20, the vehicle-side microcomputer 21 determines the identity between the verification code and the verification code set specifically for the vehicle 20. Then, on the condition that both verification codes match, the door locking / unlocking device 25 permits the door locking / unlocking control, and the door locking / unlocking operation and the opening / closing operation of the vehicle 20 can be performed.

  In the present embodiment, the mechanical ID authentication of the slide cover 1b by the lock device 24 is performed by a plurality of movably provided at the predetermined positions of the bottomed holes 1h, ... of the slide cover 1b and the lock device 24. This is realized by cooperation (a mutual locking / non-locking relationship) with a pin tumbler (not shown).

According to the electronic key 1 of the present embodiment, the following actions and effects can be obtained.
(1) Since the slide cover 1b also functions as an emergency mechanical key, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), conventionally, the slide cover 1b is necessary to accommodate the mechanical key 100 in the case body 10a. This eliminates the need for a space, increases the degree of freedom in designing the electronic key 1, and allows the electronic key 1 to be miniaturized. Moreover, the slide cover 1b as a mechanical key is not a key groove that requires a certain depth (groove depth), but has eight bottomed holes 1h that are recessed in the slide cover 1b. The collation code has the arrangement pattern of. For this reason, the slide cover 1b can be thinned while sufficiently securing the function as an emergency mechanical key, whereby the entire electronic key 1 can be thinned. Specifically, the thickness X [mm] of the electronic key 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 2B is different from the thickness Y [mm] of the electronic key 10 of the background art shown in FIG. As the mechanical key 100 is reduced (omitted), the thickness is reduced and the relationship of X [mm] <Y [mm] is obtained.

  (2) The slide cover 1b as an emergency mechanical key can open the case body 1a by sliding movement with respect to the case body 1a. Moreover, the slide cover 1b also has a function of a battery lid 1g (see FIG. 5A) that can be removed and replaced by removing the battery 11b from the case body 1a. Accordingly, the battery 11b can be easily removed and replaced only by sliding the slide cover 1b. As a result, in the member used for the electronic key 1, the functions can be integrated and the number of members used can be reduced and the cost can be reduced accordingly.

  (3) The plurality of bottomed holes are provided on the surface of the slide cover 1b facing the battery 11b, that is, on the inner side of the case body 1a. For this reason, when the case main body 1a is closed by the slide cover 1b, the verification code formed by the arrangement pattern of the eight bottomed holes 1h,... Becomes difficult to visually recognize from the outside, and the bottomed hole 1h which is not very good looking. Are hidden by the slide cover 1b. As a result, the design of the electronic key 1 is enhanced, and unauthorized duplication of the slide cover 1b is difficult, and security is improved.

  (4) Since the slide cover 1b as an emergency mechanical key is formed of a non-conductive resin material, for example, it can be easily formed by a resin molding method such as injection molding, and the weight of the electronic key 1 can be reduced. It will be able to plan. Moreover, there is no possibility that the communication circuit unit 16 housed in the case main body 1a and performing wireless communication with the outside is electromagnetically shielded by the slide cover 1b, and good wireless communication with the outside is ensured.

  (5) The slide cover 1b as an emergency mechanical key has a snap-fit mechanism in which the pair of engaging convex portions 1p, 1p engages with the pair of engaging concave portions 1q, 1q when the case body 1a is closed. Is engaged and fixed to the case main body 1a. For this reason, the slide cover 1b can be easily and reliably fixed to the case main body 1a and can be easily detached from the case main body 1a. Further, in FIG. 5A, the necessity of providing an engagement mechanism including an engagement hook 10f and an operation lever 10e interlocked therewith and a space for the engagement mechanism in the case main body 1a is eliminated. The number of members used can be reduced, the assembly can be facilitated, and the space of the case body 1a can be saved. Thereby, it can contribute to size reduction and thickness reduction of the electronic key 1 further.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows.
In the above-described embodiment, the collating code for the slide cover 1b has the arrangement pattern of a plurality of bottomed holes 1h formed on the slide cover 1b as an emergency mechanical key. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and instead of the bottomed holes 1h,..., A gentle depression formed in the slide cover 1b can be used, and the arrangement pattern of the depression can be used as a verification code for the slide cover 1b.

  In the embodiment described above, the collation code for the slide cover 1b is formed by the arrangement pattern of the eight bottomed holes 1h formed in the slide cover 1b as an emergency mechanical key. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as the ID verification with the vehicle 20 is mechanically performed by being inserted into the lock device 24, in addition to the bottomed holes 1h,. It is also possible.

  In the above embodiment, the object to which the electronic key 1 is applied is a vehicle (four-wheeled vehicle) that is a moving body. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the object to which the electronic key 1 is applied may be a two-wheeled vehicle that is the same moving body or a house that is a real estate.

  In the above embodiment, the slide cover 1b is made of a non-conductive resin material so as not to interfere with wireless communication by the communication circuit unit 16. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the slide cover 1b may be formed of a conductive metal material such as aluminum as long as wireless communication by the communication circuit unit 16 is not disturbed.

  In the above embodiment, in the case main body 1a, the electronic key 1 simply moves the slide cover 1b relative to the case main body 1a and opens the case main body 1a, thereby removing the battery 11b (battery housing portion 1j). It was configured to be exposed to the outside so that the battery 11b could be removed and replaced. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 4, the portion that accommodates the battery 11 b includes the slide cover 10 b so as to further cover the battery 11 b from the outside even when the case body 10 a is opened by the slide cover 1 b. Alternatively, a battery lid 1g can be provided. In the electronic key 1 shown in FIG. 4, the battery lid 1g is provided with four (a plurality of) screws in a state where the battery lid 1g is in contact with a ring-shaped recess 1k provided on the outer peripheral edge of the battery housing portion 1j. It attaches so that attachment or detachment is possible via b. Further, a seal member (O-ring) 1s is disposed between the case main body 10a and the battery lid 1g. As the screws b,... Are tightened to the nuts n,. The battery lid 1g is compressed and deformed to seal between the case body 10a and the battery lid 1g. Even when the battery lid 1g shown in FIG. 4 is used, when the slide cover 10b closes the case main body 10a (see FIG. 2B), the battery 11b is inserted into the case main body 10a by the slide cover 10b. There is no change in being substantially sealed within (ie, more completely sealed).

  In the above embodiment, the case main body 1a and the slide cover 1b of the electronic key 1 are both formed using a non-conductive resin material so as not to interfere with wireless communication by the communication circuit unit 16. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and as long as wireless communication by the communication circuit unit 16 is not disturbed, a part of the case main body 1a and the slide cover 1b are provided with conductivity and have high robustness such as aluminum or chromium alloy. These metal materials can also be used as appropriate. Thereby, the designability and robustness of the electronic key 1 can be further enhanced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the collating code for the slide cover 1b has the arrangement pattern of a plurality of bottomed holes 1h formed on the slide cover 1b as an emergency mechanical key. However, instead of this, as long as the ID verification with the vehicle 20 is mechanically performed by inserting the lock cover device 24 into the lock device 24, the verification code of the slide cover 1b has a plurality of through hole arrangement patterns formed in the slide cover 1b. It is also possible. In this case, for example, a concealing seal for concealing each through hole from the outside is preferably attached to the slide cover 1b so that the through hole cannot be visually recognized from the outside.

  In the above embodiment, the eight bottomed holes 1h,... Are recessed in the slide cover 1b. However, as long as the arrangement pattern of the bottomed holes 1h,. Of course, it may be nine or more.

Further, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above-described embodiments and modifications will be described below.
The electronic key according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a part of the slide cover is formed of a conductive metal material, and the plurality of bottomed holes are the metal material portion. Electronic key that is formed on.

  According to this configuration, since a plurality of bottomed holes are formed in a part of the metal material portion of the slide cover, the plurality of bottomed holes constituting the verification code are highly robust metal materials. Will be formed. Thus, when the slide cover is used as a mechanical key, mechanical ID verification through the verification code can be performed more reliably in the lock device provided on the door of the object.

1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an electronic key system according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) is an exploded perspective view of an electronic key according to an embodiment of the present invention (I to IV are partially enlarged views), (b) is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the electronic key, (c). FIG. 3 is a plan view of the electronic key as viewed from the back. (A) is the top view which looked at the slide cover of the electronic key which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the surface, (b) (i) is the top view which looked at the slide cover from the back surface, (b) (ii) (B) The sectional view on the AA line of (i) (V shows the elements on larger scale of the cross section). The disassembled perspective view of the electronic key system which concerns on the modification of this invention. (A) is a disassembled perspective view of the electronic key of a prior art example, (b) is a perspective view which shows the assembly completion state of the same electronic key.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,10 ... Electronic key, 2 ... Communication control apparatus, 3 ... Electronic key system, 20 ... Vehicle.

Claims (5)

By transmitting a radio wave including an authentication code to a communication control device provided on the object, control of an external device provided on the object is permitted when the authentication code is authorized. A communication circuit unit and a battery to be supplied to the communication circuit unit,
A case main body that accommodates the communication circuit unit and the battery, and is slidably supported with respect to the case main body and formed in a substantially flat plate shape; and when the case main body is closed, the battery is placed in the case main body. And an electronic key further comprising a slide cover adapted to be substantially sealed,
A plurality of bottomed holes are recessed in the slide cover, and the slide cover functions as a mechanical key that uses an arrangement pattern of the bottomed holes as a verification code. The electronic key according to claim 1, wherein
The slide cover substantially seals the battery in the case body when the case body is closed by the slide cover, and allows the battery to be taken out and replaced when the case body is opened by the slide cover. Electronic key. The electronic key according to claim 1 or 2,
The plurality of bottomed holes are electronic keys that are recessed on the surface of the slide cover that faces the battery. In the electronic key according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The slide cover is an electronic key formed of a non-conductive resin material. In the electronic key according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The slide cover is an electronic key that is engaged and fixed to the case body by a snap-fit mechanism when the case body is closed.

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