Vehicular anti-theft system

• US 4,868,409 A
• Filed: 11/28/1988
• Issued: 09/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Akira, Kurihara, Norimitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ip, Paul
• Application Number:
  US07/277,400
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10 R, 307/10 AT, 361/168.1, 361/169.1, 361/170, 361/171, 361/172, 361/173, 361/174, 361/175, 361/176, 361/177, 340/52 R, 340/63, 340/64, 340/825.31, 70/271, 70/277, 70/278, 70/284, 70/264, 70/237, 70/256, 70/257, 70/239, 250/227, 250/555, 250/225, 250/560, 250/578, 180/281, 180/287, 235/462, 235/382
• US Class Current: 307/10.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/225 key in lock presence switch
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00603 by power transmission from lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00785 by light
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7028 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7079 Key rotated [e.g., Eurocylinder]

Abstract

A vehicular anti-theft system which combines a mechanical key and an electronic key involving a code light signal. A light emitting element is provided in a casing attached to a base end of the shank of the mechanical key while a light receiving element is provided adjacent to an open end of the key hole so that the conventional action of fitting the key shank into the key hole causes the transmission of a code light signal between these elements. Advantageously, the light emitting element can be additionally equipped with the function of locking and unlocking a vehicle door so that the user can obtain the benefits of both a remote control entry system and a highly effective anti-theft engine start system.

Claims

1. A vehicular anti-theft system, comprising

a key device having a shank and a casing, said casing connected to a base end of the shank and adapted to be held between fingers of a user, the casing of the key device being provided with a light emitting element which emits a code light signal;

a key hole provided on a vehicle to receive the shank of the key device therein from an open end of the key hole;

a light receiving element provided adjacent to the open end of the key hole to receive the code light signal from the light emitting element when the shank of the key device is fitted into the key hole; and

control means connected to the light receiving element for receiving a code signal from the light emitting element;

the control means being provided with light code matching means which enables a device mounted on the vehicle when the code signal from the light receiving element matches with an internal code;

wherein only one light emitting element is provided on the housing of the key device and only one light receiving element is provided adjacent to the open end of the key hole, a light conducting ring being provided around the open end of the key hole to conduct the code light signal from the light emitting element to the light receiving element irrespective of the orientation of the shank of the key device relative to the key hole.

2. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 1, wherein the casing is provided with a manual switch which causes emission of the code light signal from the light emitting element.

3. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 1, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting the shank of the key device being fitted therein and the light code matching means is activated when the detecting means has detected the shank of the key device in the key hole.

4. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 1, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting rotation of the shank of the key device therein and the code matching means is activated when the detecting means has detected the rotation of the shank of the key device in the key hole.

5. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 1, wherein the shank of the key device and the key hole are provided with electric contacts, respectively, which (make electrical contact with one another) for supplying electric power from a power source of the vehicle to the light emitting element of the key device when the shank is fitted into the key hole.

6. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 5, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting the shank of the key device being fitted therein and the electric power from the power source of the vehicle is supplied to the light emitting element when the said means has detected the key shank of the key device in the key hole.

7. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 5, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting rotation of the shank of the key device therein and the electric power from the power source of the vehicle is supplied to the light emitting element when the said means has detected the rotation of the shank of the key device in the key hole.

8. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 5, wherein the electric power is conducted from the vehicle power source to the light emitting element by way of a rechargeable battery incorporated in the casing of the key device.

9. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 5, wherein the shank of the key device consists of a generally planar member having a pair of narrow side faces and a pair of broad side faces, at least a pair of the electric contacts being arranged on these side faces, the electric contacts of the key device being connected to the light emitting element by way of a polarity rectifying means;

and the key hole is so shaped as to be generally complementary to the shank and is provided with two sets of the electric contacts at positions around the open end of the key hole which oppose one another by a 180 degree angle in such a manner that the shank of the key device may be fitted into the key hole at two different orientations.

10. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 9, wherein a pair of light emitting elements are provided in the housing of the key device adjacent to the base end of the shank and angularly displaced by 180 degrees about a longitudinal axial line of the shank of the key device.

11. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 9, wherein a pair of light receiving elements are provided adjacent to the open end of the key hole at positions which are angularly displaced by 180 degrees about a longitudinal axial line of the key hole.

12. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 1, wherein the shank of the key device and the key hole are provided with mechanical code matching means which match with one another and the device mounted on the vehicle is enabled when code matching of both the light code matching means and the mechanical code matching means is detected.

13. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 12, wherein the device to be enabled comprises an engine ignition system and a vehicle door lock device, and code matching of both the mechanical code matching means and the light code matching means is required to enable the engine ignition system but code matching of either the mechanical code matching means or the light code matching means is required to enable the door lock device, the light emitting element being provided with manual switch means for activating the same at least for enabling the door lock device.

14. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 1, wherein the device to be enabled comprises an engine ignition system and a vehicle door lock device.

15. A vehicular anti-theft system, comprising:

a key device having a shank and a casing, said casing connected to a base end of the shank and adapted to be held between fingers of a user, the casing of the key device being provided with a light emitting element which emits a code light signal and a manual switch for causing the emission of the code light signal from the light emitting element;

a key hole provided on a vehicle to receive the shank of the key device therein from an open end of the key hole;

a light receiving element provided adjacent to the open end of the key hole to receive the code light signal from the light emitting element; and

control means connected to the light receiving element for receiving a code signal from the light emitting element;

the control means being provided with light code matching means which enables a device mounted on the vehicle when the code signal from the light receiving element matches with an internal code;

wherein only one light emitting element is provided on the housing of the key device and only one light receiving element is provided adjacent to the open end of the key hole, a light conducting ring being provided around the open end of the key hole to conduct the code light signal from the light emitting element irrespective of the orientation of the shank of the key device relative to the key hole.

16. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 15, wherein the shank of the key device and the key hole are provided with electric contacts, respectively, which make electrical contact with one another for supplying electric power from a power source of the vehicle to the light emitting element of the key device when the shank is fitted into the key hole.

17. A vehicular anti-theft system, comprising:

a key device having a shank and a casing, said casing connected to a base end of said shank and adapted to be held between the fingers of a user, the casing of the key device being provided with a light emitting element which emits a code light signal for activating an on-board device, and a rechargeable battery for supplying electric power to said light emitting element;

a key hole provided on a vehicle to receive the shank of said key device therein from an open end of said key hole;

electric contact means provided in the shank of said key device and said key hole for mutual contact when said key shank is fitted into said key hole; and

the electric contact means of said key hole being connected to a power source of the vehicle while the electric contact means of said key shank is connected to said rechargeable battery.

18. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 17, wherein said on-board device is a door lock device.

19. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 17, wherein the casing is provided with a manual switch which causes emission of the code light signal from the light emitting element.

20. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 17, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting the shank of the key device being fitted therein and the code matching means is activated when the detecting means has detected the shank of the key device in the key hole.

21. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 17, wherein the key hold is provided with means for detecting rotation of the shank of the key device therein and the code matching means is activated when the detecting means has detected a rotation of the shank of the key device in the key hole.

22. A vehicular anti-theft system, comprising:

a key device having a shank and a casing which is connected to a base end of the shank and is adapted to be held between the fingers of a user, the casing of the key device being provided with a light emitting element which is adapted to emit a code light signal;

a key hole provided on a vehicle adapted to receive the shank of the key device therein from an open end of the key hole;

a light receiving element provided adjacent to the open end of the key hole so as to receive the code light signal from the light-emitting element when the shank of the key device is fitted into the key hole; and

control means connected to the light receiving element for receiving a code signal from the light emitting element, the control means being provided with light code matching means which enables a device mounted on the vehicle when the code signal from the light receiving element matches with an internal code;

wherein the shank of the key device and the key hole are provided with mechanical code matching means which match with one another and the device mounted on the vehicle is enabled when code matching of both the light code matching means and the mechanical code matching means is detected; and

wherein the device to be enabled comprises a piece of equipment of the vehicle and a vehicle door lock device, and code matching of both the mechanical code matching means and the light code matching means is required to enable the piece of equipment of the vehicle but code matching of either the mechanical code matching means or the light code matching means is required to enable the door lock device, the light emitting element being provided with manual switch means for activating the same at least for enabling the door lock device.

23. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 22, wherein the casing is provided with a manual switch which causes emission of the code light signal from the light emitting element.

24. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 22, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting the shank of the key device being fitted therein and the code matching means is activated when the detecting means has detected the shank of the key device in the key hole.

25. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 22, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting rotation of the shank of the key device therein and the code matching means is activated when the detecting means has detected the rotation of the shank of the key device in the key hole.

26. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 22, wherein the shank of the key device and the key hole are provided with electric contacts, respectively, which cooperate one another for supplying electric power from a power source of the vehicle to the light emitting element of the key device when the shank is fitted into the key hole.

27. The vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 26, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting the shank of the key device being fitted therein and the electric power from the power source of the vehicle is supplied to the light emitting element when said means has detected the key shank of the key device in the key hole.

28. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 26, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting rotation of the shank of the key device therein and the electric power from the power source of the vehicle is supplied to the light emitting element when said means has detected the rotation of the shank of the key device in the key hole.

29. A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 26, wherein the electric power is conducted from the vehicle power source to the light emitting element by way of a rechargeable battery incorporated in the casing of the key device.