Vehicular electronic key system

• US 20010026214A1
• Filed: 04/02/2001
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nagano, Teppei, Onuma, Yoshiki
• Granted Patent: US 6,798,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A vehicular electronic key system includes an on-vehicle apparatus which is communicable with an electronic key when the electronic key is in a predetermined area outside of a vehicle. The on-vehicle apparatus generates alarm when a door lock operation is executed from the outside of the vehicle and when the on-vehicle apparatus is not capable of communicating with the electronic key. Further, on-vehicle apparatus generates alarm when a key ID does not corresponds with an apparatus ID. Therefore, the electronic key system can firmly prevent the electronic key from being mislaid in the vehicle.

Claims

1. An electronic key system for a vehicle comprising:

a portable apparatus comprising a first wireless communication device and a first memory storing a key ID (Identification Data); and

an on-vehicle apparatus installed in the vehicle, said on-vehicle apparatus comprising,

a second wireless communication device communicable with the first wireless communication device when the first wireless communication device is in a predetermined area outside of the vehicle,

a second memory storing an apparatus ID,

a door condition detector detecting that a locking operation of the vehicle door is executed from the outside of the vehicle,

a control unit permitting locking the vehicle door when the key ID corresponds with the apparatus ID, the control unit outputting alarm when the locking operation of the vehicle door is executed from the outside of the vehicle and when the second wireless communication device is not capable of communicating with the first wireless communicating device.

2. The electronic key system as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the control unit receives the key ID from said portable apparatus when said on-vehicle apparatus is communicable with said portable apparatus through the first and second wireless communication devices, the control unit outputting alarm when the key ID does not correspond with the apparatus ID.

3. The electronic key system as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the door condition detector comprises a door lock switch which is installed at an outside portion of the vehicle door.

4. The electronic key system as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the door condition detector comprises a door open-condition detector for detecting whether the vehicle door is open and a door lock-condition detector for detecting whether the vehicle door is locked, the door condition detector detecting a first condition that the vehicle door is open and locked, the door condition detector detecting a second condition that the vehicle door is closed after the door condition detector detected the first condition, the door condition detector deciding that the locking operation of the vehicle door is executed from the outside of the vehicle when the door condition detector detects the second condition.

5. The electronic key system as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the door condition detector comprises a door open-condition detector for detecting whether the vehicle door is open and a door lock-condition detector for detecting whether the vehicle door is locked, the door condition detector detecting a third-condition that a lock condition of the vehicle door is switched from an unlock state to a lock state when the vehicle door is open, the door condition detector detecting a fourth condition that the vehicle door is closed after the door condition detector detected the third condition, the door condition detector deciding that the locking operation of the vehicle door is executed from the outside of the vehicle when the door condition detector detects the fourth condition.

6. The electronic key system as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the control unit is communicable with said portable apparatus via the first and second wireless communication devices when said portable apparatus is in the predetermined area.

7. The electronic key system as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the control unit receives the key ID stored in the first memory via the first and second wireless communication devices and checks whether the key ID corresponds with the apparatus ID stored in the second memory.

8. The electronic key system as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the control unit comprises an unlock and lock controller for unlocking and locking the vehicle door by controlling a door lock actuator connected to the unlock and lock controller, the control unit locking and unlocking the vehicle door by sending a lock/unlock signal to the unlock and lock controller.

9. The electronic key system as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the control unit executes an unlocking operation of the vehicle door the several times until the door lock-condition detector detects the vehicle door is locked.

10. An electronic key system for a vehicle comprising:

an electronic key; and

an on-vehicle apparatus installed in the vehicle, said on-vehicle apparatus being communicable with said electronic key when an electronic key is in a predetermined area outside of the vehicle, said on-vehicle apparatus detecting whether a locking operation of the vehicle door is executed from the outside of the vehicle, said on-vehicle apparatus outputting alarm when the vehicle door is locked from the outside of the vehicle and when said on-vehicle apparatus is not capable of communicating with said electronic key.

11. A method for warning mislaying an electronic key in a passenger compartment in a vehicle, the method comprising:

communicating an on-vehicle apparatus with an electronic key when the electronic key is in a predetermined area outside of the vehicle;

detecting whether a locking operation of a vehicle door is executed from the outside of the vehicle; and

outputting alarm when the vehicle door is locked from the outside of the vehicle and when said on-vehicle apparatus does not communicates with said electronic key.