VEHICLE ELECTRONIC KEY SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A vehicle electronic portable key system comprising:
- an electronic portable key capable of performing wireless communication and including a master key and a sub-key;
a retainer arranged in a vehicle to retain the sub-key in the vehicle; and
a control unit which monitors wireless communication performed between the electronic portable key and the vehicle to determine whether the electronic portable key is located in an interior wireless communicatable area formed inside the vehicle or an exterior wireless communicatable area formed outside the vehicle;
wherein in a state in which the electronic portable key is detected as being located in either one of the wireless communicatable areas, the control unit is programmed to permit various operations of the vehicle to be performed in accordance with the communicable area in which the electronic portable key is located;
wherein the control unit is programmed to determine that the sub-key is in a lent state when removal of the sub-key from the retainer is detected in a state in which the master key is located in the interior wireless communicatable area; and
wherein in a state in which the sub-key is detected as being located in the interior wireless communicatable area or the exterior wireless communicatable area after removal from the retainer, the control unit is programmed to limit the operations of the vehicle that can be performed in accordance with the communicable area in which the sub-key is located unless the sub-key is determined as being in the lent state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle electronic portable key system including a master key and sub-key. A retainer is arranged in the vehicle to retain the sub-key. A control unit determines whether the master key or sub-key is located in a vehicle interior or exterior wireless communicatable area. When the key is located in one of the wireless communicatable areas, the control unit permits various operations of the vehicle in accordance with the communicable area in which the key is located. The control unit determines that the sub-key is in a lent state if the sub-key is removed from the retainer when the master key is located in the interior wireless communicatable area. In a state in which the sub-key is located in one of the wireless communicatable areas after removal from the retainer, the control unit limits the operations of the vehicle unless the sub-key is determined as being in the lent state.
84 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A vehicle electronic portable key system comprising:
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an electronic portable key capable of performing wireless communication and including a master key and a sub-key; a retainer arranged in a vehicle to retain the sub-key in the vehicle; and a control unit which monitors wireless communication performed between the electronic portable key and the vehicle to determine whether the electronic portable key is located in an interior wireless communicatable area formed inside the vehicle or an exterior wireless communicatable area formed outside the vehicle; wherein in a state in which the electronic portable key is detected as being located in either one of the wireless communicatable areas, the control unit is programmed to permit various operations of the vehicle to be performed in accordance with the communicable area in which the electronic portable key is located; wherein the control unit is programmed to determine that the sub-key is in a lent state when removal of the sub-key from the retainer is detected in a state in which the master key is located in the interior wireless communicatable area; and wherein in a state in which the sub-key is detected as being located in the interior wireless communicatable area or the exterior wireless communicatable area after removal from the retainer, the control unit is programmed to limit the operations of the vehicle that can be performed in accordance with the communicable area in which the sub-key is located unless the sub-key is determined as being in the lent state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification