KEY SLOT DEVICE FOR IN-VEHICLE AUXILIARY KEY

• US 20100071427A1
• Filed: 09/22/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Tsuruta, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,648,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/237
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/243 with more than one way to gain access
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/248 Electronic key extraction prevention
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5889 For automotive vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7441 Key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7446 Multiple keys

Abstract

A key slot capable of accommodating an auxiliary key, which is a vehicle key other than a master key. A key lock mechanism locks or unlocks movement of the auxiliary key in the key slot, thereby allowing the auxiliary key to be taken out of the key slot in accordance with a lending condition of the auxiliary key. An invalid key return prevention unit permits the auxiliary key to be returned to the key slot in accordance with a return condition of the auxiliary key. If the return condition is met, the invalid key return prevention unit causes the key lock mechanism to lock the auxiliary key in the key slot. If the return condition is not met, the invalid key return prevention unit does not allow the auxiliary key to be returned to the key slot.

Claims

1. A key slot device for an in-vehicle auxiliary key, the key slot device comprising:

a key slot being capable of accommodating the auxiliary key, which is a vehicle key other than a master key;

a key lock mechanism that locks or unlocks movement of the auxiliary key in the key slot, thereby allowing the auxiliary key to be removed from the key slot in accordance with a lending condition of the auxiliary key; and

an invalid key return prevention unit permitting the auxiliary key to be returned to the key slot in accordance with a return condition of the auxiliary key,

wherein, if the return condition is met, the invalid key return prevention unit causes the key lock mechanism to lock the auxiliary key in the key slot, and if the return condition is not met, the invalid key return prevention unit does not allow the auxiliary key to be returned to the key slot.

2. The key slot device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a master key verification unit performing verification of the master key,

the return condition of the auxiliary key including establishment of the master key verification performed by the master key verification unit.

3. The key slot device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an auxiliary key verification unit performing verification of the auxiliary key,

the return condition of the auxiliary key including establishment of the auxiliary key verification performed by the auxiliary key verification unit.

4. The key slot device according to claim 1, wherein

the key slot includes an auxiliary key detection unit that detects the auxiliary key inserted into the key slot and generates a detection signal, and

the auxiliary key verification unit determines whether or not the auxiliary key is inserted in the key slot normally based on the detection signal of the auxiliary key detection unit, the return condition of the auxiliary key including that the auxiliary key is inserted in the key slot normally.

5. The key slot device according to claim 4, wherein

the auxiliary key detection unit includes:

an inlet key detection unit that detects the auxiliary key in the vicinity of an inlet of a key insertion hole of the key slot; and

an inward key detection unit that detects the auxiliary key at an inward position of the key insertion hole,

wherein, if the auxiliary key cannot be detected by the inward key detection unit despite the fact that the auxiliary key is detected by the inlet key detection unit, the invalid key return prevention unit determines that the auxiliary key is inserted halfway in the key slot, and the return condition of the auxiliary key includes determination that the auxiliary key is not inserted halfway in the key slot.

6. The key slot device according to claim 4, wherein

the auxiliary key detection unit includes:

an inlet key detection unit that detects the auxiliary key in the vicinity of an inlet of a key insertion hole of the key slot; and

an inward key detection unit that detects the auxiliary key at an inward position of the key insertion hole,

wherein, if the auxiliary key is detected by the inward key detection unit despite the fact that the auxiliary key is not detected by the inlet key detection unit, the invalid key return prevention unit determines that a key equivalent different from the auxiliary key is inserted in the key slot, and the return condition of the auxiliary key includes determination that the key equivalent is not inserted in the key slot.

7. The key slot device according to claim 1, wherein

the auxiliary key is a key that permits the user of the vehicle under restriction.

8. The key slot device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a restriction setting unit restricting vehicle functions that can be used with the auxiliary key, in accordance with a person to whom the auxiliary key is lent.

9. The key slot device according to claim 8, wherein

the auxiliary key is an electronic key capable of transmitting a wireless signal including a unique key code, wherein, when the key code of the auxiliary key matches a key code that has been registered in the vehicle in advance, the use of the vehicle with the auxiliary key is permitted,

the restriction setting unit registers the key code of the auxiliary key both in the vehicle and in the auxiliary key, thereby setting a restricted state of the vehicle functions, the restriction setting unit changing the key code in accordance with a person to whom the auxiliary key is lent, thereby changing the restricted state of the vehicle functions, wherein, each time registering the key code, the restriction setting unit changes the key code.

10. The key slot device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a master key verification unit that performs verification of the master key,

an auxiliary key lending permitting unit that permits the auxiliary key to be lent when verification of the master key by the master key verification unit is established.

11. The key slot device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a period of validity setting unit that sets a period of validity for the use of the vehicle with the auxiliary key.

12. The key slot device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a notifying unit that provides notification that the auxiliary key cannot be returned to the key slot when the return condition of the auxiliary key is not met.