JPH10250531A - Key device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a key device furnish plural functions, and to realize the simplicity in the constitution. SOLUTION: A key device 20 for vehicle is buried in the grip part of an ignition key, and when the ignition key is inserted to the key cylinder of a vehicle, an AC voltage is applied to an antenna coil 74 provided at the vehicle side, and the electric power is fed to the key device 20 by inducing an AC voltage to an antenna coil 22. The fed power is fed to a transponder 32 for immobility by a power source converting control circuit 26, and a code for immobility is transmitted to the vehicle side through the antenna coils 22 and 74. When the completion of the transmission from the transponder 32 is reported, the power source converting control circuit 26 converts the feeding object of the power to a charging circuit 46, so as to charge a battery 48. When a switch 14 provided at the grip part is turned ON, the power is fed to a transmitter 50 for wireless from the battery 48, and a code for wireless is transmitted through a key plate 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key device for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a key device for a vehicle having a transmitter for transmitting a signal to a vehicle and a battery for supplying power to the transmitter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, unlocking and locking of a lock mechanism for locking a vehicle door, a luggage compartment door and the like in a closed state are performed by a key cylinder provided in the lock mechanism. 2. Description of the Related Art A keyless entry system has been known which can be operated without inserting a key. This keyless entry system is configured to include a transmitter carried by the user,
When a predetermined code signal is transmitted from the transmitter by the user operating a switch or the like of the transmitter, on the vehicle side, the code signal received via the antenna is compared with a previously stored code signal, The lock mechanism is unlocked or locked only when a correct code signal is received.

[0003] The transmitter of the keyless entry system is operated by electric power supplied from a built-in battery. However, when the remaining capacity of the battery is reduced, a code signal cannot be transmitted, and the lock mechanism is unlocked and locked. You cannot do it. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the battery of the transmitter needs to be periodically replaced, which is inconvenient.

For this reason, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 1-128449 discloses that a transmitter and a power receiving coil of a keyless entry system are incorporated in an ignition key of a vehicle, a power transmitting coil is provided in an ignition key cylinder, and the ignition key cylinder is provided in the ignition key cylinder. A technology is disclosed in which when a battery is inserted, power is supplied by magnetic coupling between a power transmission coil and a power reception coil to charge a battery (secondary battery). In the above technique, the battery is charged each time the ignition key is inserted into the ignition key cylinder, so that the battery does not need to be replaced.

However, in recent years, it has been studied to provide an ignition key of a vehicle with various functions other than the keyless entry function. For example, when the ignition key is inserted into the ignition key cylinder, a transmitter (transponder) for transmitting a predetermined code signal to the vehicle side is incorporated in the ignition key. On the vehicle side, a correct code signal is transmitted from the transmitter incorporated in the ignition key. A so-called immobilizer has been proposed, which determines that a proper ignition key has been inserted only when it is received, and permits the engine to start.

This immobilizer is effective in preventing theft of a vehicle, and it has been considered to incorporate a transmitter for the immobilizer into an ignition key of the vehicle. However, a transmitter of a keyless entry system is incorporated into an ignition key. If a transmitter for an immobilizer is also built in, it is necessary to supply power to each transmitter, and it is necessary to provide a plurality of systems of power supply from the vehicle side to the ignition key. There has been a problem that the configuration of the circuit on the vehicle side becomes very complicated, and the number of parts increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts, and has as its object to provide a vehicle key device having a plurality of functions and capable of realizing a simplified configuration.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle key device, comprising: a first transmitter capable of transmitting a first signal to a vehicle; A battery for supplying power to the first transmitter, a single power receiving unit receiving power from a power transmitting unit provided on the vehicle side with the main body set at a predetermined position of the vehicle, A processing unit that performs a predetermined process by being supplied, and in a state where power is supplied to the power receiving unit,
When the predetermined processing is performed by the processing means, the power supplied to the power receiving means is supplied to the processing means. When the predetermined processing is not performed by the processing means, the power supplied to the power receiving means is reduced. Power supply switching means for supplying the battery and charging the battery.

The vehicle key device according to the present invention is provided with a single power receiving means for receiving power from a power transmitting means provided on the vehicle side with the main body set at a predetermined position. A first transmitter capable of transmitting a first signal to a vehicle and processing means for performing a predetermined process when power is supplied are provided, and a plurality of functions, that is, a first signal is transmitted. And a function of performing the predetermined processing.

[0010] In order to operate the first transmitter and the processing means, it is necessary to supply power to the first transmitter and the processing means, respectively. On the other hand, according to the present invention, a battery for supplying power to the first transmitter is provided, and the power supply switching unit is configured to perform a predetermined process by the processing unit while power is supplied to the power receiving unit. When the processing is performed, the power supplied to the power receiving unit is supplied to the processing unit. When the predetermined processing is not performed by the processing unit, the power supplied to the power receiving unit is supplied to the battery to charge the battery. Then, when the first transmitter transmits the first signal, power is supplied from the charged battery.

Therefore, the power supply from the vehicle side to the vehicle key device according to the present invention can be performed by only one system from the power transmitting means to the single power receiving means, so that an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed, and The simplification of the configuration of the vehicle key device according to the present invention can be realized.

As a power receiving means, a power supply terminal for receiving power supply from the outside is provided, and when the power supply terminal comes into contact with a terminal on the vehicle side in a state where the main body is set at a predetermined position of the vehicle, power is supplied. The power receiving means may be configured to receive power supply by magnetic coupling with the power transmitting means in a state where the main body is set at a predetermined position of the vehicle, as described in claim 2. Is preferred. As a result, power is supplied from the vehicle side to the vehicle key device according to the present invention in a non-contact manner, so that dust and the like adhere to the power supply terminal as compared with the case where the power supply terminal is provided as described above. Inconveniences such as poor contact due to noise, malfunction due to noise, and failure due to static electricity can be prevented.

Since the first transmitter is operated by the power supplied from the battery, the battery is charged even when the main body is not set at a predetermined position of the vehicle and power is not supplied to the power receiving means. If so, the first signal can be transmitted to the vehicle. Therefore, the first transmitter:
For example, it is suitable for a transmitter of a keyless entry system in which signal transmission is instructed at a position away from the vehicle.

[0014] Further, as the processing means, for example, the second transmission for transmitting the second signal to the vehicle in a state where power is supplied to the power receiving means as the predetermined processing. Machine can be applied. This second transmitter can be used, for example, as a transmitter for an immobilizer.

The above-mentioned second transmitter transmits the second signal to the vehicle side through the power receiving means and the power transmitting means in a non-contact manner, for example, utilizing a state in which the power receiving means is magnetically coupled to the power transmitting means. The second signal may be transmitted to the vehicle in a non-contact manner using light such as infrared light or radio waves without passing through the power receiving means and the power transmission means. In addition, the second transmitter is provided with a pair of terminals on the vehicle side and the vehicle key device side according to the present invention that come into contact with the main body being set at a predetermined position of the vehicle, and through the pair of terminals. The second signal may be transmitted to the vehicle. However, non-contact may occur due to poor contact due to dust or the like adhering to the terminal, malfunction due to noise, and failure due to static electricity. Is preferably transmitted to the vehicle side.

The processing means may include a display means such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), for example, and may perform a processing of displaying predetermined information on the display means as the predetermined processing. In addition, a plurality of processing units that perform different processes may be provided.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3A shows an ignition key 10 of a vehicle in which the vehicle key device according to the present invention is incorporated.

The ignition key 10 is provided with a flat rectangular grip 12 made of synthetic resin and having rounded corners. A switch 14 for wireless door lock is provided on a side portion of the grip portion 12. FIG.
As shown in (B), an electronic circuit for realizing the function as the vehicle key device according to the present invention is embedded inside the grip portion 12 in a state where the electronic circuit is sealed with the synthetic resin of the grip portion 12. And one end of the key plate 16 is buried. The key plate 16 is formed by engraving a groove 16A that functions as an ignition key on the inner side in the longitudinal direction in a bar-shaped metal material having a flat rectangular cross section.

Next, referring to FIG.
The configuration of an electronic circuit buried in the grip portion 12 (hereinafter, this electronic circuit is collectively referred to as "vehicle key device 20") will be described. Vehicle key device 20
In a state in which the ignition key 10 is inserted into an insertion opening of an ignition key cylinder (described later), the ignition key 10 is magnetically coupled to an antenna coil 74 (see FIG. 4: described later) provided in the ignition key cylinder (see FIG. 4). Less than,
(Hereinafter simply referred to as “magnetic coupling”). The antenna coil 22 is housed in a casing 52 shown in FIG.

Both ends of the antenna coil 22 are connected to a power supply circuit 24.
It is connected to the. When an AC voltage having a predetermined frequency is applied to the antenna coil 74 in a state where the antenna coil 22 is magnetically coupled to the antenna coil 74, electromagnetic induction causes
An AC voltage having a predetermined frequency is induced in the antenna coil 22. Thus, the antenna coil 22 corresponds to the power receiving means of the present invention (more specifically, the power receiving means of claim 2). The AC voltage induced in the antenna coil 22 is input to a power supply circuit 24. The power supply circuit 24 performs rectification, smoothing, and the like on the input AC current to convert it into a substantially constant voltage.

A power supply switching control circuit 26 is connected to a power supply terminal of the power supply circuit 24. The power supply switching control circuit 26 corresponds to the power supply switching means of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the power supply switching control circuit 26 includes a switch 28 and a control circuit 30. The switch 28 is normally in a state where the common terminal 28A and the first terminal 28B are in conduction (the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). When a signal is input from the outside, the signal is input. During this period, the common terminal 28A and the second terminal 28C are switched to a conductive state. As the switch 28, for example, a relay or the like that switches contacts while the excitation coil is excited can be used. The common terminal 28A is connected to the power supply circuit 24.

The control circuit 30 is also connected to the power supply circuit 24, and operates when a voltage is applied (power is supplied) from the power supply circuit 24. When a signal is input from a control circuit 42 of the immobilizer transponder 32, which will be described later, the control circuit 30 switches the switch 28 to a state where the common terminal 28A and the second terminal 28C are conducting, and the state is maintained. The switch 28 outputs a signal to the switch 28 (for example, if the switch 28 is a relay, the excitation coil is energized to continuously excite).

An immobilizer transponder 32 corresponding to the processing means of the present invention (more specifically, the second transmitter according to claim 3) is connected to the first terminal 28B of the switch 28. The transponder 32 for immobilizer is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a capacitor 34, a first load 36 having an impedance Z ₁ , a second load 38 having an impedance Z ₂ , a switch 40, A control circuit 42 and a storage unit 44 are provided.

The capacitor 34 is connected in parallel with the antenna coil 22. First load 36 and second load 3
8 has one end connected to one end of the antenna coil 22, the other end connected to the first terminal 40B or the second terminal 40C of the switch 40, and the common terminal 40A of the switch 40 connected to the other end of the antenna coil 22. ing. Switch 40
Indicates that the common terminal 40A is the first terminal 40B or the second terminal 40B.
The contact is switched so as to conduct with C.

Note that the first load 36 is connected to the antenna coil 22 when the common terminal 40A of the switch 40 is electrically connected to the first terminal 40B and the first load 36 is connected in parallel with the antenna coil 22 and the capacitor 34. The impedance Z _{1 is set} so that the resonance frequency of the circuit on the vehicle key device 20 side including the LC circuit including the capacitor 34 and the capacitor 34 substantially matches the frequency of the AC voltage induced in the antenna coil 22.
Has been adjusted. In the second load 38, the common terminal 40A of the switch 40 is electrically connected to the second terminal 40C, and the second load 38 is connected to the antenna coil 22 and the capacitor 34.
Impedance Z so that the resonance frequency of the circuit on the vehicle key device 20 side including the LC circuit when connected in parallel with the frequency differs from the frequency of the AC voltage induced in the antenna coil 22 by a predetermined value or more. ₂ have been adjusted.

The storage section 44 is composed of a non-volatile memory such as a ROM or an EEPROM.
(Immobilization code) is stored in advance. The storage unit 44 is connected to the control circuit 42. Control circuit 42
Is the first terminal 28 of the switch 28 of the power supply switching control circuit 26
B, and operates when a constant voltage is applied (power is supplied) via the first terminal 28 </ b> B, and the amplitude of the AC voltage induced in the antenna coil 22 is stored in the storage unit 44. By switching the contact point of the switch 40 so as to be modulated in accordance with the use code, the immobilization code is transmitted to the vehicle via the antenna coil 22. The control circuit 42 is a control circuit 3 of the power supply switching control circuit 26.
Connected to 0.

As shown in FIG. 1, a second terminal 28C of the switch 28 of the power supply switching control circuit 26 is connected to a charging circuit 46. The charging circuit 46 has a negative electrode grounded battery (secondary battery). (Battery) 48 is connected to the positive electrode. As the battery 48, a nickel hydrogen battery, a nickel-cadmium battery (Ni-Cd battery), a lithium ion battery, or the like can be used. When a constant voltage is applied (power is supplied) via the second terminal 28C, the charging circuit 46 charges the battery 48 with the supplied power.

The positive electrode of the battery 48 is connected to one end of the switch 14, and the other end of the switch 14 is connected to a wireless transmitter 50 corresponding to the first transmitter of the present invention.
It is connected to the. Wireless transmitter 50
Is a power supply circuit 24, a power supply switching control circuit 26, a charging circuit 4
6 is disposed on the substrate 54 shown in FIG. 3B and is embedded in the grip portion 12, and is electrically connected to a portion of the key plate 16 embedded in the grip portion 12 via the wiring 56. It is connected to the.

The wireless transmitter 50
Is an oscillation circuit that generates a high-frequency signal, ROM or EEPROM
A storage unit (all not shown) configured by a nonvolatile memory such as an OM is provided, and a first code (wireless code) unique to each vehicle is stored in the storage unit in advance. When the switch 14 is turned on by a user's operation, the wireless transmitter 50 is operated by being supplied with power from the battery 48, and operates according to the wireless code stored in the storage unit by transmitting the high-frequency signal generated by the oscillation circuit. And modulates the modulated high-frequency signal to a key plate 16.
To supply.

Next, the configuration of the vehicle lock control device 60 provided on the vehicle side will be described with reference to FIG. The vehicle lock control device 60 includes an ECU (Electronic Control U).
nit) 62. The ECU 62 includes a CPU 62A,
It has a ROM 62B, a RAM 62C, an EEPROM 62D, and an input / output port 62E, which are connected to each other via a bus. In the EEPROM 62D (or the ROM 62B), a wireless code and an immobilizer code unique to each vehicle are stored in advance. ECU6
Reference numeral 2 also has a function as an engine control ECU of the vehicle, and an input / output port 62E is connected to an ignition control device 64 for controlling engine ignition and a fuel injection control device 66 for controlling engine fuel injection. At the same time, a starter motor 70 is connected via a relay 68.

The ignition key cylinder 72 of the vehicle is provided with an insertion slot into which the ignition key 10 is inserted, and an end thereof (the ignition key 10).
Antenna coil 74 is disposed at the end on the side where is inserted. The antenna coil 74 is provided with an immobilizer communication circuit 76 disposed near the ignition key cylinder 72.
The immobilizer communication circuit 76 is connected to the input / output port 62E of the ECU 62.

As is well known, the ignition key cylinder 72 includes an accessory switch for turning on and off the power of accessory devices, an ignition switch for turning on and off the power of a spark plug and the like, and a starter switch for turning on and off the power of a starter motor. And other various switches. When the ignition key 10 is rotated after the ignition key 10 is inserted into the insertion opening of the ignition key cylinder 72, these switches are turned on.
The contact switches according to the 0 position. The various switches described above are connected to input / output ports 62E of the ECU 62 (in FIG. 4, an ignition switch (IGS
W) 78 only).

The ignition key cylinder 72 according to the present embodiment includes an ignition key cylinder 72.
A key switch (KSW) 80 that is turned on when the ignition key 10 is inserted into the insertion opening is also attached.
The key switch 80 is also connected to the input / output port 62 of the ECU 62.
E is connected.

A wireless antenna 84 is connected to the input / output port 62E of the ECU 62 via a wireless communication circuit 82. Note that, for example, a rear window defogger can be used as the wireless antenna 84. A door lock solenoid 88 is connected to an input / output port 62E of the ECU 62 via a relay 86. The door lock solenoid 88 is
Although not shown, the same number as the number of doors of the vehicle is provided, and the plungers of each solenoid 88 are connected to a door lock mechanism of any door of the vehicle via a link (not shown).

Next, as an operation of the present embodiment, first, a keyless entry system realized by the vehicle key device 20 and the vehicle lock control device 60 will be described. When the user wants to remotely control the unlocking or locking of a lock mechanism such as a vehicle door, the user grips the grip portion 12 of the ignition key 10 and turns on the switch 14 with the tip of the key plate 16 facing the vehicle.

When the switch 14 is turned on, power is supplied from the battery 48 to the wireless transmitter 50 in the vehicle key device 20 housed in the grip portion 12, and the wireless transmitter 50 is operated.
The high-frequency signal generated by the oscillation circuit is modulated (for example, frequency-modulated) according to the wireless code stored in the storage unit, and the modulated high-frequency signal is supplied to the key plate 16. Thus, the key plate 16 functions as a transmission antenna, and a weak radio wave (wireless signal) modulated according to the wireless code is transmitted from the key plate 16 to the vehicle.

The weak radio wave transmitted from the key plate 16 is received by the wireless antenna 84 of the vehicle, and is input to the wireless communication circuit 82 as a wireless signal.
In the wireless communication circuit 82, the wireless antenna 8
When a wireless signal is input from the control unit 4, the ECU 62 is notified that the wireless signal has been received. It also amplifies and demodulates (detects) the input wireless signal,
The wireless code included in the wireless signal is extracted.

On the other hand, the ECU 6 of the vehicle lock control device 60
In 2, the door lock control process shown in FIG. 5 is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals. In this door lock control process,
In step 150, it is determined whether a wireless signal has been received. If the determination is negative, the door lock control process is terminated without performing any processing. However, when the wireless communication circuit 82 is notified of the reception of the wireless signal, the determination is affirmative and the process proceeds to step 152.

In step 152, the wireless communication circuit 82 fetches the wireless code extracted from the wireless signal. In the next step 154, the wireless code fetched from the wireless communication circuit 82 is stored in the EEPROM.
It is compared with a wireless code stored in advance in the OM 62D or the ROM 62B. In step 156, it is determined whether or not the codes match. If the determination is negative, it means that a radio wave from a source other than the ignition key 10 of the own vehicle has been received, and the door lock control process ends without performing any process.

If the determination in step 156 is affirmative, it can be determined that a wireless signal from a valid ignition key 10 (the ignition key 10 of the own vehicle) has been received. The lock solenoid 88 is driven to switch to the unlocked state if the lock mechanism of the vehicle door is locked, or to the locked state if the lock mechanism is unlocked, and the door lock control process ends. Therefore, legitimate ignition key 1
Only when the wireless signal is received from 0, the lock mechanism of the vehicle door is unlocked and locked.

Next, an immobilizer realized by the vehicle key device 20 and the vehicle lock control device 60 will be described. In the ECU 62 of the vehicle lock control device 60,
The immobilizer process shown in FIG. 6 is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals.

In this immobilizer process, step 17
If it is 0, it is determined whether or not the key switch 80 is turned on, that is, whether or not the ignition key 10 is inserted into the insertion opening of the ignition key cylinder 72. If the determination is negative, the start of the engine of the vehicle is set to "non-permitted" in step 184, and the immobilizer process is temporarily terminated. When the ignition key 10 is inserted into the insertion opening of the ignition key cylinder 72, the determination in step 170 is affirmed, and the process proceeds to step 172, where the immobilizer communication circuit 76 receives an AC voltage applied to the antenna coil 74. The immobilizer communication circuit 76 instructs the antenna coil 74
Is applied with an AC voltage having a predetermined frequency.

In the next step 174, it is determined whether or not the immobilization code has been determined. In this case, the determination is negative and the process proceeds to step 176, where it is determined whether an immobilization code has been received from the ignition key 10 side (vehicle key device 20 side). If the determination in step 176 is negative, the ignition key inserted into the insertion slot of the ignition key cylinder 72 may not be a valid ignition key. ”, And the immobilizer process is once ended.

By the way, the ignition key cylinder 72
If the ignition key inserted into the insertion slot is a valid ignition key (ignition key 10), the antenna coil 22 on the side of the ignition key 10 is magnetically coupled to the antenna coil 74. When an AC voltage having a predetermined frequency is applied to the antenna coil 74 in step 172, an AC voltage having the predetermined frequency is induced in the antenna coil 22 and power is supplied to the vehicle key device 20 side. As described above, the antenna coil 74 and the immobilizer communication circuit 76 correspond to power transmission means.

The AC voltage induced in the antenna coil 22 is rectified and smoothed by the power supply circuit 24, converted into a constant voltage, and supplied to the power supply switching control circuit 26. Thereby, the control circuit 30 of the power supply switching control circuit 26
Starts operating. At this time, the power supply switching control circuit 2
6 is a common terminal 28A and a first terminal 28B.
Is in a conductive state, the switch 28
, Power is supplied to the immobilizer transponder 32, and the control circuit 42 starts operating.

The control circuit 42 reads the immobilization code stored in the storage unit 44, and adds a predetermined start code indicating the head of the code and an end code indicating the end of the code before and after the read immobilization code. Then, a code string to be transmitted to the vehicle is generated. Then, the value of each bit of the generated code sequence is sequentially referred to from the first bit at a constant period, and the first load 36 is determined according to the value of each bit (0 or 1).
Alternatively, the contact point of the switch 40 is switched so that the second load 38 is connected to the antenna coil 22.

Thus, the vehicle key device 20 including the LC circuit including the antenna coil 22 and the capacitor 34
The resonance frequency of the circuit on the side changes sequentially according to the value of each bit of the code string, and the amplitude of the AC voltage induced in the antenna coil 22 changes according to the value of each bit of the code string (modulation). Is performed), the code string including the immobilization code is transmitted to the vehicle side. The control circuit 42
When the switching of the contacts of the switch 40 based on the value of each bit of the code string is completed, a signal indicating the end of transmission is output to the control circuit 30 of the power supply switching control circuit 26.

When a signal indicating the end of transmission is input from the control circuit 42, the control circuit 30
Switch 28 is switched to a state in which the common terminal 28A and the second terminal 28C are conductive, and that state is continued. Thereby, the power supply destination from the power supply circuit 24 is
Switching from the immobilizer transponder 32 to the charging circuit 46 causes the battery 48 to be charged.

On the other hand, the change in the amplitude of the AC voltage on the antenna coil 22 side is transmitted to the vehicle as a change in the amplitude of the AC voltage on the antenna coil 74 side by electromagnetic induction. The immobilizer communication circuit 76 determines whether or not the amplitude of the AC voltage has changed, and if the amplitude has changed, demodulates (detects) this and extracts only the immobilizer code from the received code sequence. I do.

When the immobilizer code is received from the vehicle key device 20 as described above, the determination in step 176 of the immobilizer process in FIG.
The immobilizer code received at step 8 is fetched from the immobilizer communication circuit 76, and in the next step 180, the immobilizer code fetched from the immobilizer communication circuit 76 is collated with the immobilizer code stored in advance in the EEPROM 62D or the ROM 62B. In step 182, it is determined whether or not the codes match.

If the determination is negative, the ignition key inserted into the ignition key cylinder 72 is not a valid ignition key 10, so that the start of the engine of the vehicle is set to "not permitted" in step 184. If the start of the engine is set to "disallowed", the ignition control device 64 and the fuel injection control device 66 are turned on even if the ignition key is rotated and the ignition switch 78 is turned on.
Is not supplied, and the ignition control device 64 and the fuel injection control device 66 do not operate, so that the ignition plug is not ignited and no fuel is injected from the fuel injection valve.
Further, even if the ignition key is rotated and the starter switch is turned on, the starter motor 70 is not driven.
Therefore, the vehicle engine cannot be started unless the user has the proper ignition key 10, so that the theft of the vehicle can be prevented.

If the determination at step 182 is affirmative, it can be determined that the ignition key inserted into the ignition key cylinder 72 is the proper ignition key 10, so that the engine of the vehicle is started at step 186. Is set to “permitted”, and the immobilizer process is temporarily ended. When the start of the engine is set to "permitted", when the ignition key is rotated and the ignition switch 78 is turned on, electric power is supplied to the ignition control device 64 and the fuel injection control device 66, and the ignition key is further rotated to start the starter switch. When turned on, the relay 68
, The starter motor 70 is driven.

The immobilizer process is repeatedly executed at a predetermined time interval. However, as described above, the determination (collation) of the immobilizer code is completed, and the ignition key inserted into the ignition key cylinder 72 is a valid ignition key 10. After confirming that there is, step 174
Is affirmed and until the ignition key 10 is pulled out from the ignition key cylinder 72, the start of the engine continues to be "permitted" and the application of the AC voltage to the antenna coil 74 in step 172 continues. It is done.

As described above, the immobilizer transponder 3
After the code string is received in step 2, the power supply from the power supply circuit 24 is switched from the immobilizer transponder 32 to the charging circuit 46, and the state is continued, so that the ignition key cylinder 72 switches the ignition key 10 to the ignition key 10. Until the battery 48 is pulled out, the battery 48 is continuously charged.

When the ignition key 10 is pulled out from the ignition key cylinder 72, the supply of power to the vehicle key device 20 is cut off, the charging of the battery 48 is stopped, and the switch of the power supply switching control circuit 26 is switched off. Reference numeral 28 automatically switches to a state where the common terminal 28A and the first terminal 28B are conductive. Therefore, when the ignition key 10 is inserted again into the insertion opening of the ignition key cylinder 72, the battery 48 is charged again after the immobilizer code is transmitted by the immobilizer transponder 32 in the same manner as described above. Will be

As described above, in the present embodiment, the power supply switching control circuit 26 is provided, and when the ignition key 10 is inserted into the insertion slot of the ignition key cylinder 72, the power is supplied from the vehicle via the antenna coil 22. The power is first supplied to the immobilizer transponder 32 to transmit the immobilizer code, and after the transmission of the immobilizer code is completed, the power is supplied to the battery 48 via the charging circuit 46 to charge the battery 48. As a result, the function of transmitting the immobilizer code and the function of charging the battery 48 can be realized with a simple configuration in which one antenna coil 22 and one power supply circuit 24 are provided.

In the above description, the ignition key 10
The battery 48 is charged each time is inserted into the insertion slot of the ignition key cylinder 72.
8, a small and lightweight battery having a small capacity can be used, and the ignition key 10 can be reduced in size and weight. In addition, since the battery 48 does not need to be replaced, the electronic key of the vehicle key device 20 including the battery 48 can be used. The circuit can be embedded inside the grip portion 12 in a sealed state. This allows liquids such as water to enter from outside,
It is possible to prevent a malfunction or a failure due to static electricity or noise from occurring, and to improve the reliability of the vehicle key device 20.

In the above description, the immobilizer transponder 3
2, when the signal indicating the end of the immobilizer code transmission is input, the power supply switching control circuit 26 determines that the processing in the immobilizer transponder 32 has been completed and switches the switch 28. However, when the ignition key 10 is inserted into the insertion slot of the ignition key cylinder 72 and the supply of electric power from the vehicle side is started, the timer is started by the power supply switching control circuit 26 and the immobilizer transponder 32 is turned on. When the time required to transmit the use code has elapsed and the timer times out, it may be determined that the processing in the immobilizer transponder 32 has been completed and the switch 28 may be switched.

Also, the immobilization code transmitted from the vehicle key device 20 side may be affected by, for example, the influence of surrounding magnetism.
In consideration of the possibility that a problem such as a temporary inability to normally receive on the vehicle side may occur, the immobilizer transponder 32 may, for example, fixedly transmit the immobilizer code a plurality of times. For example, when the vehicle (immobilizer communication circuit 76) normally receives the immobilizer code, the vehicle transmits a code indicating the completion of the immobilizer code communication, and the immobilizer transponder 3
In 2, the transmission of the immobilization code may be repeated until a code indicating the completion of the communication is received. Further, when the code indicating the completion of the communication is transmitted from the vehicle side as described above, the power supply switching control circuit 26
When the code indicating the completion of the communication is received from the vehicle, the switch 28 may be switched by judging that the process in the immobilizer transponder 32 has been completed.

As the battery 48, a nickel hydrogen battery, a nickel-cadmium battery (Ni-Cd
A battery may be used in place of a battery, a lithium ion battery, or the like. This eliminates the need to dispose of the battery 48 by a special disposal method in order to prevent contamination by harmful substances such as mercury.

Further, the case where the vehicle key device according to the present invention is incorporated in an ignition key of a vehicle has been described above as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. An arbitrary shape such as a card shape by applying to a card) can be adopted. For example, when the vehicular key device according to the present invention is applied to an IC card, a slot for inserting the IC card is provided in the vehicle interior, and the slot (corresponding to a predetermined position of the present invention) is provided as a vehicular key device. The power supply from the vehicle to the IC card may be performed by inserting the IC card.

In the above description, when the switch 14 is turned on, the wireless transmitter 50 transmits the wireless code. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a weak radio wave constantly transmitted from the vehicle may be used. The wireless code may be automatically transmitted when it is detected that the vehicle has approached the vehicle, for example, when the vehicle is approached.

In the above description, the immobilizer transponder 32 has been described as an example of the processing means of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a display means such as an LCD is provided, and predetermined information (for example, Current time, battery 4
8 may be provided as processing means intermittently at predetermined time intervals or when a user gives an instruction.

Further, in the above description, when the ignition key 10 is inserted into the insertion slot of the ignition key cylinder 72 of the vehicle, the transmission of the immobilization code and the charging of the battery 48 are performed. However, the ignition key 10 is inserted. When the ignition key 10 is inserted into the insertion port of the charger, the battery 48 is inserted into the insertion port of the ignition key cylinder 72 in the same manner as when the battery 48 is inserted. May be charged. As a result, for example, the ignition key 10 is not used for a long time (not inserted into the insertion port of the ignition key cylinder 72 for a long time), and the battery 4 is not used.
Even when the remaining capacity is significantly reduced due to the self-discharge of the battery 8 or the like, the wireless code can be transmitted by charging the battery 48 with the charger.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments include not only the embodiments of the technical matters described in the claims but also the embodiments of the following technical matters. I have.

(1) When the second transmitter ends transmission of the second signal to the vehicle, the second transmitter notifies the power supply switching means of the end of transmission, and the power supply switching means transmits the second signal from the second transmitter. 4. The vehicle key device according to claim 3, wherein when the end of the transmission is notified, the power supplied to the power receiving unit is supplied to the battery. 5.

(2) When a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the power supplied to the power receiving means to the second transmitter has started, the power supply switching means reduces the power supplied to the power receiving means. The key device for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the key device is supplied to a battery.

(3) When the power supply switching means receives a response to the transmission of the second signal from the second transmitter from the vehicle side, the power supply switching means supplies the power supplied to the power receiving means to the battery. 4. The vehicle key device according to 3.

[0069]

As described above, the vehicular key device according to the first aspect of the present invention provides a first transmitter capable of transmitting a first signal to a vehicle, and an electric power supplied to the first transmitter. And a processing unit for performing a predetermined process when power is supplied, and a main body is set at a predetermined position of the vehicle, and power is transmitted from a power transmitting unit provided on the vehicle side to a single power receiving unit. Is supplied, the power supplied to the power receiving means is supplied to the processing means when the predetermined processing is performed by the processing means, and is supplied to the power receiving means when the predetermined processing is not performed by the processing means. Since the battery is charged by supplying the electric power to the battery, there is an excellent effect that a plurality of functions are provided and the configuration can be simplified.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in a state where the main body is set at a predetermined position of the vehicle, the power receiving means is supplied with power by magnetic coupling with the power transmitting means. This has the effect of preventing inconveniences such as failure, malfunction, and failure due to static electricity from occurring.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a vehicle key device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a part of the vehicle key device shown in FIG. 1 in detail.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an ignition key in which a vehicle key device is incorporated, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing a cutaway internal configuration of a grip portion of the ignition key.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle lock control device provided on the vehicle side.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a door lock control process executed by an ECU of the vehicle lock control device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an immobilizer process executed by an ECU of the vehicle lock control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ignition key 20 Key device for vehicles 22 Antenna coil (power receiving means) 26 Power supply switching control circuit (power supply switching means) 32 Transponder for immobilizer (processing means) 48 Battery 50 Transponder for wireless (first transmitter) 60 Vehicle lock control Device 62 ECU 74 Antenna coil 76 Immobili communication circuit 82 Wireless communication circuit 84 Wireless antenna

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first transmitter capable of transmitting a first signal to a vehicle, a battery for supplying power to the first transmitter, and a main body set at a predetermined position of the vehicle. In this state, a single power receiving unit that receives power supply from a power transmitting unit provided on the vehicle side, a processing unit that performs a predetermined process by receiving power, and power is supplied to the power receiving unit. In this state, when a predetermined process is performed by the processing unit, the power supplied to the power receiving unit is supplied to the processing unit. When the predetermined process is not performed by the processing unit, the power is supplied to the power receiving unit. Power supply switching means for supplying the electric power to the battery and charging the battery. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the power receiving unit is configured to receive power supply by magnetic coupling with the power transmitting unit when the main body is set at a predetermined position of the vehicle. Key device. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the processing unit is a second transmitter that transmits a second signal to the vehicle in a state where power is supplied to the power receiving unit, as the predetermined process. The vehicle key device according to claim 1.