JPH11210293A - Key device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve usability by enhancing flexibility of locking and unlocking operation. SOLUTION: This key device for a vehicle comprises a housing 2 to contain a transmitter 1 to effect remote control of locking and unlocking of a vehicle door, and a key 3 to be moved between two positions of one being a position to contain the key in the housing 2 and a position to protrude it from the housing 2 and mechanically lock and unlock a lock device, arranged in a vehicle, in a protruding position. The housing 2 is provided with a key operation button 4 to move the key 3 to the protrusion position and transmit an unlocking signal from a transmitter through operation of an unlocking signal generating part 10 in the housing 2. and a signal transmitting button 5 to operate a locking and unlocking signal generating part 11 in the housing 2 and transmit a locking/ unlocking signal from the transmitter 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle key device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,571 discloses a vehicle key device having a key for mechanically operating a vehicle locking system and a vehicle ignition locking system, and a transmitter for remotely controlling the vehicle locking system. Are known. In this conventional example, as shown in FIG. 8, a key 3 is stored in a housing 2 in which a transmitter 1 is stored so as to be able to protrude.
When the sensor 90 detects that the key 3 has jumped out, the transmitter 1 transmits an unlocking signal of the vehicle locking system, and when the storage of the key 3 is detected, the transmitter 1 transmits a locking signal of the vehicle locking system. .

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following disadvantages. That is, since all the transmission signals from the transmitter 1 are determined by the attitude of the key 3,
For example, when a key storage operation is performed in a vehicle, the door lock is also locked, and when the vehicle goes out of the vehicle, the key 3 needs to be brought out of the vehicle again, and after going out of the vehicle, it is necessary to shift to the storage position. Is bad.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and has as its object to provide an easy-to-use vehicle key device.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a housing 2 in which a transmitter 1 capable of remotely controlling the locking and unlocking of a door of a vehicle, a storage position in the housing 2, and a housing 2 are provided. A key 3 that moves between two positions where the key 3 is protruded from the vehicle and mechanically locks and unlocks a lock device in the vehicle at the position where the key 3 is protruded. The key operation button 4 for operating the unlock signal generator 10 in the transmitter 2 to transmit an unlock signal from the transmitter 1 and the unlock signal generator 11 in the housing 2 for operating the unlock signal from the transmitter 1. This is achieved by providing a key device for a vehicle in which a signal transmission button 5 for transmitting is transmitted.

The transmitter 1 transmits a locking signal or an unlocking signal to remotely control at least the locking and unlocking of the door lock and, if desired, to the electronic control system of the vehicle including the electronic circuit around the engine ignition device. An access permission signal can also be used. The transmitter 1 includes an unlocking signal generator 10 and an unlocking signal generator 11, and outputs an unlocking signal by the operation of the unlocking signal generator 10 and an unlocking signal or a locking signal by the operation of the unlocking signal generator 11. Send either one of

A key 3 connected to a housing 2 containing a transmitter 1 mechanically locks and unlocks a lock device disposed in the vehicle. The operation target of the key 3 can include a glove box lock and the like in addition to a lock device for starting the vehicle such as a steering lock. The key 3 can be moved between a position where the key 3 is stored in the housing 2 and a position where the key 3 protrudes from the housing 2. The key 3 is moved from the storage position to the protruding position by operating a key operation button 4 disposed on the housing 2. I do. The movement of the key 3 may be a parallel movement or a rotational movement about a connection point with the housing 2 as a center of rotation.

The operation of the key operation button 4 and the start of the operation of the unlock signal generator 10 are synchronized. When the key operation button 4 is operated outside the vehicle, the transmitter 1 transmits an unlock signal to lock the door. To unlock. Thereafter, the user can get into the vehicle and start the vehicle by using the key 3 which is in a protruding state. When the key operation button 4 is operated when the key 3 is in the protruding state, an access to the unlock signal generation unit 10 is generated and an unlock signal is transmitted, but the access to the unlock signal generation unit 10 is canceled. It can also be configured to do so.

The signal transmission button 5 arranged on the housing 2 in addition to the key operation button 4 is used to eliminate the inconvenience that the locking and unlocking operation is uniquely determined only by the operation of moving the key 3. Usability is improved, for example, it is possible to get into the vehicle with the に at the storage position. Further, when the key 3 at the protruding position is shifted to the stored state, the locking signal is transmitted. For example, the key storage detecting means and the locking signal generation which operates in response to the detection signal from the key storage detecting means. It is possible by adding a part, and in such a configuration, even when the key 3 is moved to the storage position in the vehicle, the door lock can be locked and unlocked without operating the key 3.

The signal transmission button 5 can be configured to always operate the locking / unlocking signal generation section 11 irrespective of the position of the key 3, but as in the invention according to claim 2, the key 3 is in the storage position. It is also possible to configure such that access to the locking / unlocking signal generation unit 11 is permitted only in certain cases. In such a configuration, unexpected locking and unlocking of the door lock can be prevented when the signal transmission button 5 is accidentally operated at the time of an ignition operation using the key 3 or the like. In addition, when the unlock signal also serves as an access permission signal to the electronic control system of the vehicle, inadvertent access to the electronic control system when the key 3 is in use is prevented.

As described above, it is sufficient to transmit either the unlock signal or the lock signal to the unlock signal generated by the unlock signal generating unit 11. A signal for reversing the locked / unlocked state of the door lock may be generated and transmitted. In addition, the receiving side can determine the locked / unlocked state of the door lock based on a signal transmitted when the signal transmission button 5 is operated, and reverse the state. That is, the present invention moves between a housing 2 in which a transmitter 1 capable of remotely controlling the locking and unlocking of a door of a vehicle is housed, and a storage position in the housing 2 and a protruding position from the housing 2, It has a key 3 for mechanically locking and unlocking the lock device in the vehicle at the protruding position. The housing 2 moves the key 3 to the protruding position and operates the unlock signal generation unit 10 in the housing 2. A key operation button 4 for transmitting an unlocking signal from the transmitter 1 and an inversion signal generator 11 'in the housing 2 are operated only when the key 3 is in the stowed position to change the locked / unlocked state of the door from the transmitter 1. A vehicle key device in which a signal transmission button 5 for transmitting an inversion signal to be inverted is arranged.

In this case, when the key 3 is in the storage position, the door lock is repeatedly unlocked and locked each time the signal transmission button 5 is operated, so that the usability is further improved.

The signal transmission button 5 for operating the locking / unlocking signal generator 11 only when the key 3 is in the storage position is
For example, the locking / unlocking signal generation unit 11 is electrically operated or inactive by a detection signal from the key detection means 7 for detecting the position of the key 3, or a signal transmission button is provided when the key 3 is at the pop-out position. 5 can be achieved by disabling the operation. The invention according to claim 3 shows an example of the former, and the invention according to claim 4 shows an example of the latter.

[0014]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicular key device has a housing 2 formed by joining upper and lower covers 20 and 21. A key fitting shaft 22 is disposed in the housing 2, and a circular hole 31 of a head 30 is fitted to the key fitting shaft 22 to hold the key 3. In FIG. 2B, reference numeral 32 denotes a screw for preventing the opening between the upper and lower covers 20 and 21, and reference numeral 33 denotes a cap for hiding the head of the screw 32. The key 3 can at least lock and unlock the steering lock, and also functions as an ignition switch operating body. In order to store the key 3, a key storage space 34 is formed in the housing 2, and the key 3 is stored in a storage position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 1) stored in the key storage space 34, and one key from the storage position.
The housing 2 is rotatable about a key fitting shaft 22 between a position where the key fitting shaft 22 is rotated by 80 ° and a leading end of the housing 2 (shown by a chain line in FIG. 1). An opening 35 is provided to allow access to the inside. The key 3 is urged toward the pop-out position by a torsion spring 36, and the housing 2 has a positioning portion 37 for regulating the pop-out position.
Is formed. A mounting board 13 on which the transmitter 1 is configured is accommodated in the housing 2, and a button switch 14 for detecting key operation and a button switch 12 for detecting signal operation as an operation start switch are mounted on the mounting board 13. Is done. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 15 denotes a battery.

A key operation button 4 and a signal transmission button 5 are disposed on the surface of the housing 2, and a lever 60 is disposed immediately below the key operation button 4. The lever 60 is swingable around a swing shaft 61, and the stopper 6 is formed at one end. When the stopper 6 is fitted into a fitting hole 38 formed in the head 30 of the key 3, the torsion spring 36
The key 3 is held in the storage position against the urging force of. Two fitting holes 38 are provided at diagonal positions, and each fits with the stopper 6 at the key storage position and the protruding position described above. When the fitting hole 38 is located on the movement path of the stopper 6, the lever 60 is urged in the fitting direction by the compression spring 62 to fit the stopper 6 into the fitting hole 38. The other end of the lever 60 extends to above the key operation detection button switch 14 on the mounting board, and the signal transmission button 5 is disposed immediately above the signal operation detection button switch 12. In order to move the stopper 6 in the release direction when the key operation button 4 is pressed, and to move the corresponding part to the key operation detection button switch 14 in the direction in which the key operation detection button switch 14 is pressed, the key operation button 4 And the corresponding part to the key operation detection button switch 14 are arranged on the opposite side of the stopper 6 with respect to the swing center.

The transmitter 1 has a signal generating means 16 and a transmitting means 17 as shown in FIG. Signal generating means 16
Has an inversion signal generation unit 11 'for inverting the locked / unlocked state of the door lock, a code storage unit 18 for storing an unlock code and an inversion operation code, and an unlock signal generation unit 10.
When the signal transmission button 5 is pressed, the inversion signal generation section 11 'accesses the code storage section 18 to generate an inversion signal composed of an inversion operation code bit string, and radiates it as a radio wave from the transmission section 17 at the subsequent stage. When the receiver disposed in the vehicle receives the inverted signal, it determines the locked / unlocked state, and shifts to the unlocked state in the locked state and shifts to the locked state in the unlocked state. On the other hand, the unlock signal generation unit 10 operates when the key operation detection button switch 14 is pressed, and the code storage unit 1
8 to generate an unlock signal consisting of an unlock code bit string, and radiate it as radio waves from the transmission means 17 at the subsequent stage.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the key operation button 4 is depressed while the key 3 is in the storage position, the lever 60 swings around the swing shaft 61 as shown by a chain line in FIG. Release the stopper 6 and press the key 3
Is shifted to the protruding position by the restoring force of the torsion spring. The key operation detection button switch 14 is pressed by the swing of the lever 60, and the unlock signal generation unit 10 operates to transmit the unlock signal. The receiving device in the vehicle that has received the unlock signal unlocks the door lock. When the above operation is performed outside the vehicle, the user can get into the vehicle, and can start the vehicle using the key 3 at the pop-out position. After stopping the operation, the key operation button 4 is pressed once to release the engagement between the stopper 6 and the fitting hole 38 in order to put the key 3 in the housing 2. When the key operation button 4 for releasing the engagement is pressed, the unlock signal generation unit 10 operates to transmit the unlock signal. When the key storage operation is performed in the vehicle, the door lock is unlocked even when the vehicle is driven in a locked state, and the vehicle can go out of the vehicle as it is. Also, if the key storage operation is performed outside the vehicle,
Thereafter, when the signal transmission button 5 is pressed, the door lock alternately repeats the locking / unlocking operation every time the button is pressed, so that the door lock can be easily locked.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
In the following description, components that are essentially the same as those in the above-described embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, a micro switch 7 as key detection means is added in the housing 2. The micro switch 7 is disposed at a position where the switch lever 70 is pressed down when the key 3 is at the storage position. Further, a determination unit 19 is added to the transmitter 1. The determining means 19 is a key detecting signal SK from the microswitch 7 (in this embodiment, the determining means 1 based on ON / OFF).
9), the microswitch 7 detects the key 3, and the signal operation detection button switch 12
The transmission request signal SR is transmitted to the signal generation means 16 at the subsequent stage only when is turned ON. Upon receiving the transmission request signal SR from the judging means 19, the inversion signal generation unit 11 'accesses the code storage unit 18 to generate an inversion signal composed of an inversion operation code bit string, and radiates it as radio waves from the transmission means 17 at the subsequent stage.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the key 3 is at the protruding position, the judging means 19 does not receive the key detection signal SK from the microswitch 7, so that
Even if the signal transmission button 5 is pressed while the key 3 is being used, the inversion signal generation unit 11 'does not operate, and does not affect the unlocking / unlocking of the door lock.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the transmitter 1 uses the second
(See FIG. 4), and a key detection slider 8 is arranged on the sliding path of the signal transmission button 5. The key detection slider 8 is slidable in a plane perpendicular to the sliding direction of the signal transmission button 5, that is, in a plane parallel to the rotation plane of the key 3. Protrude into. Key detection slider 8
The key detection slider 8 is urged in a protruding direction by a compression spring 80 so as to prevent the key detection slider 8 from dropping off the housing 2. Part 80
Is provided (see FIG. 7). The key detection slider 8 has an insertion opening 81 through which the signal transmission button 5 is inserted. The insertion opening 81 has a wide portion 81a and a narrow portion 81b, and when the stopper portion 80 is in contact with the stopper wall 23 and protrudes into the key storage space 34, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7D, the narrow portion 81 prohibits the pressing operation of the signal transmission button 5 corresponding to the bottom surface of the signal transmission button 5, and as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the key storage space. 34
In the state where the signal transmission button 5 has been released, the wide portion 81a allows the signal transmission button 5 to be pressed.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the key 3 is in the protruding position, the key detection slider 8 protrudes into the key storage space 34, the pressing operation of the signal transmission button 5 is prohibited, and the key detection slider 8 is in the storage position. Since the pressing operation can be performed only in a certain case, the same operation as in the above-described second embodiment can be performed.

[0022]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the usability of the vehicle key device can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a plan view and (b) is a side view.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a main part of FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view showing an arrangement of a lever, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line 2B-2B of FIG.

3A is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, where FIG.
3A is a sectional view taken along line 3B, FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line 3B-3B in FIG. 2A, and FIG. 3C is a sectional view taken along line 3C-3C in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a transmitter.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the transmitter with an upper cover removed, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a transmitter.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention, in which (a)
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an upper cover removed, and FIG. 6B is a sectional view taken along line 6B-6B of FIG.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing the operation of the key detection slider, and FIG. 7A is a partially enlarged plan view showing a case where the key is at a storage position;
(B) is a sectional view taken along the line 7B-7B of (a), (c) is a partially enlarged plan view showing a case where the key is at a protruding position, and (d).
FIG. 7C is a sectional view taken along line 7D-7D of FIG.

8A and 8B are diagrams showing a conventional example, in which FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a protruding state of a key, and FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transmitter 10 Unlock signal generation part 11 Locking / unlock signal generation part 12 Operation start switch 2 Housing 3 Key 4 Key operation button 5 Signal transmission button 6 Stopper 7 Key detection means 8 Key detection slider SK Key detection signal

Claims (4)

[Claims] A housing for housing a transmitter capable of remotely controlling locking and unlocking of a door of a vehicle is moved between two positions: a housing position in the housing and a projecting position from the housing. Has a key for mechanically locking and unlocking the lock device in the housing, and in the housing, the key is moved to the pop-out position, and the unlock signal generator in the housing is operated to transmit the unlock signal from the transmitter. A key device for a vehicle in which a key operation button and a signal transmission button for transmitting a locking / unlocking signal from a transmitter by operating a locking / unlocking signal generation unit in a housing are arranged. 2. The key device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the locking / unlocking signal generation unit operates the locking / unlocking signal generation unit only when the key is at the storage position. 3. A housing for accommodating a transmitter capable of remotely controlling the locking and unlocking of a door of a vehicle, and a housing for being urged in a protruding direction and housed in the housing. Key to release the key that locks and unlocks the key, releases the stopper that holds the key in the stowed state, and activates the unlock signal generator in the housing to transmit the unlock signal from the transmitter. A key detection means for outputting a key detection signal when the key detection signal is provided, and a signal transmission button for pressing an operation start switch of the locking / unlocking signal generation unit. The locking / unlocking signal generation unit receives the key detection signal, and A vehicle key device that transmits an unlocking signal from a transmitter when an operation start switch is pressed. 4. A housing for accommodating a transmitter capable of remotely controlling locking and unlocking of a door of a vehicle, and a housing urged in a protruding direction and housed in the housing. Key operation button to release the stopper that holds the key in the stowed state and to operate the unlock signal generator in the housing to transmit the unlock signal from the transmitter; and to generate the unlock signal. A signal transmission button for transmitting a remote control signal from the transmitter by pressing an operation start switch of the unit, and a key that can be moved and protruded between a protruding position to the storage area and a retracted position from the storage area. A key detection slider biased to the position side, wherein the key detection slider interferes with the pressing path of the signal transmission button at the protruding position and prohibits the pressing of the signal transmission button. Location.