WO2020221512A1

WO2020221512A1 - Electronic key system for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2020221512A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/057788
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daimi KOPAL; Andreas Neufeld
Original assignee: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
Priority date: 2019-04-29
Filing date: 2020-03-20
Publication date: 2020-11-05
Also published as: DE102019111045A1; CN113728364B; CN113728364A

Abstract

The invention relates to a key system (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (2) which has at least one operating element (6), a printed circuit board (5) which is mounted in the housing (2) and which comprises electric and/or electronic components, comprising transceivers, and a mechanical key (12) which is mounted on the housing (2) in a removable manner and has a first eyelet (16) at a handle end. The key system (1) should be easy to handle and should release an eyelet (16) for securing other keys for example only when required. This is achieved in that a handle (15) of the mechanical key (12) is connected to a key bit (14) in a jointed manner, wherein the rotational axis of the joint is perpendicular to main surfaces of the key bit (14), and a first handle (15) end remote from the joint can be locked in two separate angular positions.

Description

9. Electronic key system for a motor vehicle

description

The invention relates to an electronic key system for a motor vehicle, with a housing that has at least one control element, a printed circuit board mounted in the housing with electrical and / or electronic components comprising transmitting and receiving devices and a mechanical key that is removably stored in the housing is and has a first eyelet at one end of the handle.

Such key systems are known as such and have long been used in many ways for motor vehicles. The key systems are used to allow and / or remote control certain functions of the motor vehicle such as unlocking and / or opening or closing doors and starting a drive motor.

The key system is equipped with electronics that either only react to the actuation of buttons or allow a so-called keyless entry (automatic unlocking when approaching).

Many of the key systems are equipped with an emergency key that allows access to the vehicle in the event of a fault in the electronics - e.g. in the event of failure of a battery in the key or a battery in the motor vehicle - allowed by means of a mechanical lock. The emergency key is integrated on or in a housing of the key.

From DE 10 2008 005 840 A1 an electronic key with a Notschlüs sel is known, which is stored in a housing of the key. A cover of the Ge housing is designed as a handle for a key bit of the emergency key. In the handle part is a receptacle in which a key bit of the emergency key is locked by means of a U-shaped leaf spring. DE 103 31 087 A1 discloses a key system with a housing for a motor vehicle, in which a mechanical key can be inserted into or removed from a compartment formed in the housing. A first end of the mechanical key is attached to a holding body which is articulated to a receiving body designed as an eyelet. This is also intended as a handle part of the mechanical key. The mechanical key can be locked in two axially different positions in order to either sink it completely into the housing or to use the eyelet. The handle part is unwieldy, so that the mechanical key is difficult to handle overall.

It is the object of the invention to provide a key system which is easy to use and only has an eyelet for attaching e.g. releases another key.

The object is achieved by the features of claim 1. A handle of the mechanical key is connected to a key bit by means of a joint, an axis of rotation of the joint being perpendicular to main surfaces of the key bit, and a first end of the handle remote from the joint can be locked in two different angular positions.

In a first of the locked angular positions, the handle is completely sunk into the housin so that the key system is largely smooth on the outside and comfortable to hold.

In a second of the locked angular positions, a first eyelet formed in the handle is available, which enables the key system to be hung up or objects such as e.g. Keys or key fobs allowed.

When the handle is fully unlocked, the mechanical key can be removed from the housing and used.

Overall, the key system has a noble and attractive design without impairing functionality.

The subclaims relate to the advantageous embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, a casing is arranged around the housing. As a result, an external appearance of the key system can be easily produced in different variants (for example for different manufacturers and / or models of motor vehicles).

In a further embodiment, a latching lever is arranged in an articulated manner in the housing for locking and acts on the handle. The locking lever allows a smooth mechanism of locking and unlocking.

When the key is removed, the locking lever preferably protrudes partially from the hous se, an eyelet being formed in the protruding part. This allows the housing with the electronics to be hung up and / or objects to be attached when the emergency key is removed.

In a further embodiment, a friction element is arranged to prevent an unwanted overrun of a second locking position. Here, the Reibele element acts in conjunction with an edge of the first eyelet of the handle.

In a further embodiment, a U-shaped spring has three spring arms. This allows the single leaf spring to act on three different parts. The mechanics can be built light and space-saving overall. In addition, the leaf spring acts on all moving parts of the mechanics, so that a preload acts on them and therefore an unwanted free movement with corresponding noise development is prevented

In a further embodiment, the housing is constructed from an upper part and a lower part. This simplifies the manufacture and assembly of the key system.

In a further embodiment, the key is secured against unintentional slipping out of the housing when the handle is unlocked. This reduces the risk of losing the key. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached schematic drawing. Show:

Figure 1 is a perspective view obliquely from above of a key system,

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the key system,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a locking lever as a detail,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a mechanical key,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section of the key system, looking from below, Figure 6 is a vertical section of the key system,

FIG. 7 shows a plan view of part of an underside of the key system with a first latching position with the cover removed,

8 shows the underside according to FIG. 7 with a second latching position and

FIG. 9 shows the underside of FIG. 7 with the key removed.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 6, a key system 1 for a motor vehicle comprises a housing 2 which is composed of an upper part 3 and a lower part 4. In a cavity formed between the upper part 3 and the lower part 4, a circuit board 5 is attached, on which electrical and / or electronic construction parts such as switches, circuits and transmitting and receiving devices are arranged. In an upper side of the upper part 3 operating elements 6 for the switches are left; these are made of soft elastic material and are tight and firm e.g. connected by two-component injection molding to the upper part 3, which, like the lower part 4, is made of hard plastic such as e.g. Polyamide is made. The upper part 3 and the lower part 4 are tightly welded to one another, so that the housing 2, with the exception of an access opening for a battery compartment, is waterproof and dustproof.

The housing is surrounded by a casing 7 which is formed from two side parts 8, 9, an upper cover 10 and a lower cover 11. The Seitentei le 8, 9 are attached to the housing 2, wherein at least two adjacent ends of the side parts 8, 9 are connected to one another by means of a dowel pin. The side parts 8, 9 are, for example, cast from metal and have polished or coated outer surfaces. The upper cover 10 is slightly curved outwards and has key fields 26 marked with symbols, which correspond to the operating elements 6. date; it is made of elastic plastic such as silicone. The bottom cover

11 is largely flat and has a seal for the battery compartment; it is made of medium-hard plastic such as polyamide. Both covers 10, 11 are attached to the housing 2; the top cover 10 is additionally attached to the side parts 8, 9 in a form-fitting and / or frictional manner.

A mechanical key 12 (see FIG. 4) is mounted inside the casing 7 and is releasably held by a latching mechanism on the one hand and friction means 13 on the other. The friction means 13 are formed on the top cover 10 as a molded nose made of flexible material. The mechanical key 12 is formed from a key bit 14 and a handle 15 which are articulated - indirectly or indirectly - connected to one another. An axis of rotation of the joint is perpendicular to main surfaces of the key bit 14. In the handle 15, a first eyelet 16 is formed in a region spaced from the joint. The handle has a U-shaped cross-section, with legs of the U at the end of the handle 15 which is opposite to the joint, by means of a connecting web 17 are connected. In a first latching position, an associated side of the handle 15 protrudes largely flush into an opening 9 a arranged in a second of the side parts 9. The mechanical key

12 is made of suitable metals.

The handle 15 can be locked in two different angular positions (with respect to the joint). For this purpose, a latching lever 18 is rotatably mounted on the outside of the lower part 4, which is shown as a detail in FIG. The locking lever 18 is constructed in one piece from two legs which enclose an angle of about 75 °. A first of the legs of the locking lever 18 has an approximately triangular outline in which a second eyelet 19 is arranged. At a free end of the first leg of the latching lever 18, a bearing pin for the rotatable mounting is formed perpendicular to the surface of the plan, which is mounted in an associated blind hole of the lower part 4. In an end of the first leg opposite the free end, a groove 20 is embedded which runs parallel to the bearing journal. The groove 20 interacts with the connecting web 17 of the handle 15 in order to lock or release the handle 15. In a second, slightly curved leg of the locking Lever 18, two spaced locking grooves 21 are arranged such that they can interact with a bolt 22 described below.

The bolt 22 is slidably mounted in an opening 8 a of a first of the side parts 8 and on the lower part 4. Here he is biased by means of a spring 23 against the first part 8 Be. A locking lug 24 is arranged on the bolt 22, which engages in one of the locking grooves 21 and can thus lock the handle 15 in two different angular positions relative to the key bit 14 and to the housing 2. An operating surface of the bolt 22 is largely flush with an outer surface of the first side part 8.

The spring 23 is attached to the outside of the lower part 4. It is designed as a leaf spring in the form of a U and has three spring arms 25, one of which is arranged on a first end of the base of the U and two on a second end of this base. The spring arm 25 at the first end of the base is assigned to the bolt 22, the other two spring arms 25 to the locking lever 18 and / or the handle 15. This means that movable parts of the key system 1 are preloaded, which prevents vibrations and corresponding noise.

The key system 1 is operated as follows, see Figures 7 to 9:

Keyless entry and keypads 26 are used or served as is known.

When the handle 15 is in the first latching position (FIG. 7) and thus in a first angular position, it is completely within the envelope 7 and largely flush with it towards the outside. The locking lug 24 engages in a corresponding first of the locking grooves 21 and locks the locking lever 18 and therefore the handle 15 by means of the connecting web 17 and the groove 20.

If a user of the key system 1 wants to use the first eyelet 16, he briefly presses the user interface of the bolt 22. This removes the latch 24 from the first locking groove 21 removed so that the locking lever 18 is unlocked. Because of the Fe derkraft the locking lever 18 and thus also the free end of the handle 15 are pressed for egg NEN predetermined angle out of the envelope 7 until this movement is stopped by the friction means 13. The operator relieves the user interface of the bolt and pulls on the handle 15 until the detent 24 engages in a second detent groove 21 and here the handle is locked in a second detent and thus angular position (Fi gur 8). The first eyelet 16 is now completely released and can be used to hang up the key system 1 or to attach a key ring, for example.

To remove the mechanical key 12 from the envelope 7, the operating surface of the bolt 22 is pressed. The locking lug 24 releases the corresponding locking groove 21.

When the handle 15 is in the second angular position, the free end of the handle 15 moves further out of the envelope 7. The handle 15 can be grasped and the mechanical key 12 removed. Here, a holding force has to be overcome, which is applied to the key bit 14 e.g. acts by means of friction.

When the handle 15 is in the first angular position, the control surface is actuated longer and at the same time the handle 15 is pulled beyond the second angular position. The mechanical key 12 can be removed as described above.

When the mechanical key 12 has been removed (FIG. 9), the locking lever 18 protrudes so far from the envelope 7 due to the spring force that the second eyelet 19 is released and can be used, e.g. for valet parking (the motor vehicle is sent to a service provider handed over for parking). List of reference symbols

1 key system

casing

3 top

Lower part

5 circuit board

Control element

7 serving

8 first side part

8a opening

9 second side part

9a opening

10 top cover

11 lower cover

12 mechanical keys

13 friction means

14 key bit

15 handle

16 first loop

17 connecting bridge

18 locking lever

19 second eyelet

20 groove

21 locking groove

22 bars

23 spring

24 locking lug

25 spring arm 26 Keypad

Claims

Electronic key system for a motor vehicle. Patent claims

1. Key system (1) for a motor vehicle with

a housing (2) which has at least one operating element (6),

a printed circuit board (5) stored in the housing (2) with electrical and / or electronic components comprising transmitting and receiving devices and a mechanical key (12) which is removably mounted on the housing (2) and a first eyelet ( 16),

characterized in that a handle (15) of the mechanical key (12) is articulated to a key bit (14), wherein an axis of rotation of the joint is perpendicular to main surfaces of the key bit (14), and that a first end of the Handle (15) can be locked in two different angle positions.

2. Key system according to claim 1, characterized in that a casing (7) is arranged around the hous se (2)

3. Key system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that for

Locking a latching lever (18) which is articulated on the housing (2) and acts on the handle (15).

4. Key system according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking lever (18) protrudes partially from the housing (2) when the key (12) is removed, a second eyelet (19) being formed in the protruding part.

5. Key system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a friction means (13) is arranged to prevent an unintentional overrun of a second locking position.

6. Key system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a U-shaped spring (23) has three spring arms (25).

7. Key system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the housing (2) is constructed from an upper part (3) and a lower part (4).

8. Key system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the key (12) is secured against unintentional sliding out of the housing (2) when the handle (15) is unlocked.