VEHICLE ELECTRONIC KEY SYSTEM

• US 20100090817A1
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: YAMAGUCHI, JUN, Katagiri, Toshiharu, Tamezane, Takumi, Seki, Yoshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,330,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

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.

Claims

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.

2. The vehicle electronic portable key system according to claim 1, wherein when determining that the sub-key is not in the lent state, the control unit prohibits all of the operations of the vehicle 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.

3. The vehicle electronic portable key system according to claim 1, wherein when determining that the sub-key is not in the lent state, the control unit activates a warning device arranged in the vehicle to issue a warning 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.

4. The vehicle electronic portable key system according to claim 1, wherein:

the retainer includes a sub-key locking mechanism, which locks the sub-key in a state retained in the retainer, and a sub-key removal switch, which when pressed by a vehicle occupant unlocks the sub-key from the sub-key unlocking mechanism; and

the sub-key locking mechanism automatically locks the sub-key when the sub-key is retained in the retainer and unlocks the sub-key when the sub-key removal switch is pressed in a state in which the master key is located in the vehicle.

5. The vehicle electronic portable key system according to claim 4, wherein when presence of the master key in the vehicle is undetected at a time in which the sub-key is retained in the retainer, the control unit issues a notification that the sub-key will become irremovable from the retainer and unlocks the sub-key.

6. The vehicle electronic portable key system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit prohibits selected ones of the operations of the vehicle 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.

7. The vehicle electronic portable key system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit prohibits unlocking of a trunk lid of the vehicle, permits starting of the engine of the vehicle, and restricts the speed at which the vehicle is driven 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.