Electronic key system and motorcycle using the same

• US 20090108990A1
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Company Limited (Akebono Brake Corporation), System Solutions Co., Ltd. (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Company Limited (Akebono Brake Corporation), Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukuda, Yoshiyuki, Suzuki, Hirohisa, Kunimi, Takashi
• Application Number:
  US11/921,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20090108990A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.730
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/306 Motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2063 Ignition switch geometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/248 Electronic key extraction prevention
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/20 indicating unauthorised use, e.g. acting on signalling devices alarm locks in general E05B45/00, e.g. alarm cable or chain lock E05B45/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2202/00 Motorised scooters
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 11/00 Devices preventing keys from being removed from the lock ; Devices preventing falling or pushing out of keys preventing turning of the key E05B13/00; keyhole guards E05B17/14; E05B35/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/00 Other power-operated starting apparatus; Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart from groups F02N5/00 - F02N13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00603 by power transmission from lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00777 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

The present invention provides a battery-free electronic key used in motorcycles and improves security.

A communication circuit (44) is actuated when an electronic key is inserted into a keyhole. An electromotive force generated in a coil L2 is rectified by a power circuit (74) and supplied to the components of an electronic key-side circuit (40) as a source of power, in accordance with the variations of an electromagnetic field having a frequency of f0 generated by the communication circuit (44). The electronic key-side circuit (40) reads identification information from a storage unit (72), and the information is converted to ternary value data in a binary value/ternary value conversion circuit (70). Transistors Tr1 and Tr2 are switched on and off in accordance with the bit values of 2-bit data that expresses ternary value data, which generates three-stage variations in the electromagnetic field between coils L1 and L2. The communication circuit (44) detects this fluctuation, and the ternary value/binary value conversion circuit (54) converts the data from a ternary value to binary value data to acquire the original identification information. An ECU (56) verifies the identification information and starts the engine (62) when verification has been established.

Claims

1. An electronic key system that includes an electronic key for holding identification information and a verification unit for wirelessly connecting to the mounted electronic key and verifying the electronic key, the electronic key system wherein the verification unit has:

a mounting unit that allows the electronic key to be mounted and dismounted,

a communication circuit that is disposed adjacent to the mounting unit, generates a temporally varying transmission electromagnetic field, and detects electromagnetic field variations originating in the electronic key, and

a controller for acquiring the identification information on the basis of the detected electromagnetic field variations, performing verification on the basis of the identification information, and controlling prescribed operation control in accordance with a result of the verification; and

the electronic key has;

an antenna for converting variations in the transmission electromagnetic field to drive power of the electronic key and generating the electromagnetic field variations,

a storage unit for holding the identification information, and

a response circuit for varying in a plurality of stages electric current that flows to the antenna in accordance with data that expresses the identification information, and generating the electromagnetic field variations.

2. The electronic key system of claim 1, the electronic key system wherein the response circuit varies the electric current that flows to the antenna in accordance with n-value data (wherein n is an integer of 3 or higher) that expresses the identification information.

3. The electronic key system of claim 2, the electronic key system wherein the response circuit switches impedance of the antenna in n stages.

4. The electronic key system of claim 3, the electronic key system wherein:

the n-value data is expressed in m bits (wherein m is a natural number that meets the expression 2<sup>m−

1</sup><

n≦

2^m) of binary data;

the response circuit has a selection circuit for outputting in parallel m number of selection signals corresponding to bit values of the n-value data, and m number of resistor circuits provided in accordance with the selection signals and mutually connected in parallel to the antenna; and

the resistor circuits have mutually differing resistance values, and also have switch elements for interrupting the resistor circuits in accordance with the corresponding selection signal.

5. The electronic key system of claim 2, the electronic key system characterized in having a data conversion circuit for converting the identification information stored in the storage unit into the n-value data.

6. The electronic key system of claim 2, the electronic key system wherein the storage unit holds the identification information expressed as the n-value data.

7. The electronic key system of claim 1, the electronic key system wherein:

the electronic key has a stick-shaped insertion portion that houses the antenna;

the mounting portion forms a keyhole slot in which the insertion portion can be inserted; and

the communication circuit has a communication circuit-side antenna that is disposed along a side surface of the keyhole slot, and which electromagnetically couples with the antenna of the electronic key.

8. The electronic key system of claim 7, the electronic key system wherein:

the insertion portion has a recess formed in the surface facing the side surface of the keyhole slot; and

the mounting portion has a latch that receives an urging force, retractably protrudes from the side surface of the keyhole slot, engages the recess of the inserted insertion portion, and interlocks with the electronic key.

9. The electronic key system of claim 8, the electronic key system wherein:

the keyhole slot is configured to be capable of rotating about the insertion direction of the insertion portion; and

the latch releases the interlocking of the electronic key in accordance with rotation of the keyhole slot.

10. The electronic key system of claim 1, comprising a main switch of a motorcycle, the electronic key system wherein:

the verification unit has a verification operation switch that operates in coordination with an engine start switch and sets the communication circuit and the controller in an “

on”

state; and

the controller determines whether to allow an engine to start as the operation control.

11. The electronic key system of claim 8, comprising a main switch of a motorcycle, the electronic key system wherein:

the mounting portion has a verification operation switch that sets the communication circuit and the controller in an “

on”

state in accordance with displacement of the latch in a state in which the insertion portion is inserted into the keyhole slot; and

the controller determines whether to allow an engine to start when an engine start switch is operated as the operation control.

12. A motorcycle comprising a main switch constituted using the electronic key system of claim 1, the motorcycle wherein:

a meter unit is provided that is constituted using a display apparatus and that displays a meter in any of a plurality of display formats provided in advance;

the electronic key has a selection button;

the storage unit stores in advance a plurality of specified information that specifies the display format;

the response unit generates the electromagnetic field variations in accordance with the specified information selected when an user operates the selection button; and

the controller acquires the specified information on the basis of the electromagnetic field variations detected by the communication circuit, and sets the display format of the meter unit on the basis of the specified information as the operation control.

13. A motorcycle comprising a main switch constituted using the electronic key system of claim 1, the motorcycle wherein:

a meter unit is provided that is constituted using a display apparatus and that displays a meter in any of a plurality of display formats provided in advance;

the electronic key has an input key;

the storage unit holds specified information that an user inputs by operating the input key;

the response unit generates the electromagnetic field variations in accordance with the specified information; and

the controller acquires the specified information on the basis of the electromagnetic field variations detected by the communication circuit, and sets the display format of the meter unit on the basis of the specified information as the operation control.

14. A motorcycle comprising a main switch constituted using the electronic key system of claim 1, the motorcycle wherein:

a meter unit is provided that is constituted using a display apparatus and that displays a meter in any of a plurality of display formats provided in advance;

the electronic key has a receiver that detects input data from a transmission electromagnetic field from an external apparatus;

the storage unit holds specified information provided as the input data;

the response unit generates the electromagnetic field variations in accordance with the specified information; and

the controller acquires the specified information on the basis of the electromagnetic field variations detected by the communication circuit, and sets the display format of the meter unit on the basis of the specified information as the operation control.

15. A motorcycle comprising a main switch constituted using the electronic key system of claim 1, the motorcycle wherein:

a display unit is provided;

the electronic key has a selection button;

the storage unit stores in advance a plurality of display data of the display unit;

the response unit generates the electromagnetic field variations in accordance with the display data selected when an user operates the selection button; and

the controller acquires the display data on the basis of the electromagnetic field variations detected by the communication circuit, and sets a display content of the display unit to correspond to the display data as the operation control.

16. A motorcycle comprising a main switch constituted using the electronic key system of claim 1, the motorcycle wherein:

a display unit is provided;

the electronic key has a receiver that detects input data from a transmission electromagnetic field from an external apparatus;

the storage unit holds display data of the display unit provided as the input data;

the response unit generates the electromagnetic field variations in accordance with the display data; and

the controller acquires the display data on the basis of the electromagnetic field variations detected by the communication circuit, and sets a display content of the display unit to correspond to the display data as the operation control.