Electronic key system

• US 7,042,332 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2003
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Inagaki, Osamu, Shibagaki, Yuuji, Takamura, Kimitake
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam
• Application Number:
  US10/357,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20030146820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.7, 340/5.71, 340/5.72, 340/5.73, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/5.42, 340/5.2, 340/5.21, 340/5.22, 705/56, 705/410
• US Class Current: 340/5.24
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00865 remotely by wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

An electronic key system has a portable apparatus, an operation control device and an update control device. The portable apparatus selectively transmits a first signal and a second signal. The operation control device authorizes an operation of a key based on reception of the first signal. The update control device transmits an update signal in a private region of the owner of the portable apparatus. The portable apparatus has a counter and a portable apparatus controller. When receiving the update signal, the portable apparatus controller resets the counter. When the counting value of the counter is equal to or less than a predetermined limit value, the controller selects the first signal as a signal to be transmitted. When the counting value is in excess of the limit value, the controller selects the second signal as a signal to be transmitted.

Claims

1. An electronic key system comprising:

a portable apparatus that is carried by an owner, the portable apparatus selectively wirelessly transmitting a first signal and a second signal;

an operation control device authorizing an operation of a predetermined operation object based on reception of the first signal transmitted by the portable apparatus;

security means, wherein the security means operates based on reception of the second signal transmitted by the portable apparatus;

an update control device located within a structure under the control of the owner, wirelessly transmitting an update signal limited to a private region inside said structure, said update signal receivable by said portable apparatus;

wherein the portable apparatus has a counter and a portable apparatus controller, wherein the counter counts time or a value that represents the number of times that the portable apparatus is used for controlling the operation control device, wherein, when receiving the update signal, the portable apparatus controller resets the counter, wherein when the counting value of the counter is equal to or less than a predetermined limit value, the portable apparatus controller selects the first signal as a signal to be transmitted, and wherein, when the counting value of the counter is in excess of the limit value, the portable apparatus controller selects the second signal as a signal to be transmitted.

2. The electronic key system according to claim 1, wherein the security means inhibits the operation of the operation object based on reception of the second signal.

3. The electronic key system according to claim 1, wherein the security means includes an alarm emitting alarm sound based on reception of the second signal.

4. The electronic key system according to claim 1, wherein the operation object is a key or a starting device for an engine of a vehicle.

5. The electronic key system according to claim 1, wherein the update signal includes the limit value, wherein the update control device further includes setting means for variably setting the limit value, wherein the portable apparatus has a rewriteable memory, and wherein the memory records the limit value included in a received update signal.

6. The electronic key system according to claim 5, wherein, when the limit value included in the received update signal is different from the limit value that is memorized in the memory, the memory rewrites the memorized limit value to the limit value included in the received update signal.

7. The electronic key system according to claim 1, wherein the portable apparatus transmits a completion signal to the update control device when the counter is reset based on reception of the update signal, and wherein the update control device includes reporting means that operates when having received the completion signal.

8. The electronic key system according to claim 1, wherein the portable apparatus has reporting means that reports whether the count value is not more than the limit value.

9. An electronic key system comprising:

a portable apparatus that is carried by an owner, the portable apparatus wirelessly transmitting an information signal including a portable apparatus information;

an operation control device controlling an operation of a predetermined operation object, wherein the operation control device receives the information signal transmitted from the portable apparatus;

security means;

an update control device located within a structure under the control of the owner, wirelessly transmitting a request signal limited to a private region inside said structure, said request signal receivable by said portable apparatus, wherein the portable apparatus wirelessly transmits a response signal based on reception of request signal, wherein the update control device receives the response signal and the portable apparatus information that is included in the information signal from the operation control device;

wherein the update control device has a counter counting time or a value that represents the number of times that the portable apparatus is used for controlling the operation control device, wherein, when receiving the response signal, the update control device resets the counter, wherein, when receiving the portable apparatus information, the update control device commands the operation control device to authorize the operation of the operation object if the counting value of the counter is equal to or less than a predetermined limit value, and wherein the update control device causes the security means to perform security if the counting value of the counter is in excess of the limit value.

10. The electronic key system according to claim 9, wherein the security means inhibits operation of the operating object based on a command of the update control device.

11. The electronic key system according to claim 9, wherein the security means includes an alarm for emitting alarm sound based on a command of the update control device.

12. The electronic key system according to claim 9, wherein the operation object is a key or a starting device for an engine of a vehicle.

13. The electronic key system according to claim 9, wherein the update control device includes setting means for variably setting the limit value, and wherein the portable apparatus has a rewriteable memory for recording the set limit value.

14. An electronic key system comprising:

a portable apparatus that is carried by an owner, the portable apparatus selectively wirelessly transmitting a first signal and a second signal;

an operation control device for authorizing an operation of a predetermined operation object based on reception of the first signal transmitted by the portable apparatus;

security means, wherein the security means operates based on reception of the second signal transmitted by the portable apparatus;

an update control device wirelessly transmitting an update signal in a private area for which authorized access is available only to an owner of the portable apparatus, said update signal receivable by said portable apparatus;

wherein the portable apparatus has a counter and a portable apparatus controller, wherein the counter counts time or a value that represents the number of times that the portable apparatus is used for controlling the operation control device, wherein, when receiving the update signal, the portable apparatus controller resets the counter, wherein when the counting value of the counter is equal to or less than a predetermined limit value, the portable apparatus controller selects the first signal as a signal to be transmitted, and wherein, when the counting value of the counter is in excess of the limit value, the portable apparatus controller selects the second signal as a signal to be transmitted;

wherein the portable apparatus transmits a completion signal to the update control device when the counter is reset based on reception of the update signal, and wherein the update control device includes reporting means that operates when having received the completion signal.