Automobile operating key and electronic control device dore automibiles

• US 20040083033A1
• Filed: 09/11/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yutaka Yasukura
• Original Assignee: Yutaka Yasukura
• Inventors: Yasukura, Yutaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,038,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

Some of the pieces of divisional electronic information formed by dividing an electronic control program for an automobile are stored in an automobile operating key (20), the rest being stored in a car-mounted storage unit (12), and the pieces of divisional electronic information read in from the operating key (20) and the pieces of divisional electronic information read out of the car-mounted storage unit (12) are united by an electronic information integration restoration device (13) to restore the electronic control program, whereby the automobile is driven. An automobile electronic control device of high safety which prevents the driving of the automobile unless a genuine key is used by utilizing a digital control system according to this method: and a key mechanism using the same.

Claims

1. An electronic control device for an automobile, in which in the automobile to be driven by dividing an electronic control program for the automobile into pieces of divisional electronic information, storing some of the pieces of divisional electronic information in an automobile operating key, storing the rest pieces of divisional electronic information in a car-mounted electronic control unit, and uniting both divisional electronic information;

the electronic control device comprises a reader for reading the divisional electronic information stored in said automobile operating key from said automobile operating key, a car-mounted writable storage unit for recording the divisional electronic information other than that stored in the automobile operating key, and an electronic information integration restoration device for restoring the control program by uniting the divisional electronic information inputted from said automobile operating key by said reader with the divisional electronic information stored in said car-mounted storage unit;

wherein the automobile is driven according to the restored control program.

2. The electronic control device for the automobile claimed as in claim 1 further comprising an electronic tally device for forming more than one of the pieces of divisional electronic information by dividing said electronic control program, and a write device capable of writing the divisional electronic information in said automobile operating key, wherein said electronic control program is divided into pieces of divisional electronic information, making said write device store at least one piece of the divisional electronic information in the key-mounted storage unit provided in the automobile operating key, and making said car-mounted storage unit store therein the rest of the divisional electronic information.

3. The electronic control device for the automobile as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the authenticated driver'"'"'s information is added to the divisional electronic information.

4. An automobile operating key provided with the key-mounted writable storage unit for inputting and storing therein at least one piece of the pieces of divisional electronic information formed by dividing the automobile electronic control program.

5. The automobile operating key claimed as in claim 4, wherein the authenticated information of authorized drivers is added to the divisional electronic information.