Electronic key

Abstract

An electronic key includes an electronic key body (101) that executes a function to communicate with and control a controller for an on-board device to drive a device mounted on a vehicle, and a mechanical key (111) that fits a cylinder lock provided on the vehicle. The electronic key body includes an accommodation portion (121) that accommodates the mechanical key through insertion of the mechanical key, and a changeover device (13) that changes over or restricts the function of the electronic key body. The mechanical key may be inserted into the accommodation portion in a first accommodation mode or a second accommodation mode, and the changeover device is operated only when the mechanical key is inserted in the accommodation portion in the second accommodation mode.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to electronic keys, in particular to electronic keys for remotely locking and unlocking doors of vehicles. Background technique [0002] In recent years, passenger cars are often equipped with so-called smart entry key systems, which can lock / unlock the doors without using a mechanical key. The smart entry key system mainly includes a device installed on a vehicle (hereinafter respectively referred to as a "host vehicle" and an "vehicle device") and an electronic key carried by a user (hereinafter referred to as a "smart key"). For example, when a user carrying a smart key approaches the host vehicle, the vehicle-mounted device checks the ID code of the smart key. Then, when the in-vehicle device confirms that the user is an authorized user of the host vehicle, the user can lock / unlock the doors of the host vehicle without using a mechanical key. [0003] It should be noted that the in-vehicle device and the smart key tr...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Also, if the smart key includes a power switch, it is difficult to reduce the size of the smart key

[0009] In addition, the technique described in JP-A-2007-277927 does not turn off the power of the smart key when the smart key is not in use

In other words, only under the condition that a non-authenticated mechanical key is accommodated in the body of the smart key, the function of the smart key can be restricted (the power of the smart key can be turned off)

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