Unlocking system, unlocking device, and key cylinder device

Abstract

To improve convenience of a locking / unlocking system for locking / unlocking an opening / closing body using proximity wireless communication.SOLUTION: A key cylinder device 122 includes an antenna coil 122d disposed so as to form a loop around a rotor on which rotary operation by a mechanical key is possible. A controller 11 permits a locking / unlocking device 12 to lock / unlock an opening / closing body, on the basis of proximity wireless communication performed between the antenna coil 122d and an antenna 51 mounted on a mobile device 50 capable of being carried by a user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking and unlocking system for locking and unlocking an opening / closing body using proximity wireless communication, and a locking and unlocking device. The present invention also relates to a key cylinder device used in the locking and unlocking system and the locking and unlocking device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a locking and unlocking system for locking and unlocking a door of a vehicle, which is an example of an opening / closing body, using proximity wireless communication. The locking and unlocking system includes a seat antenna and a control device. The seat antenna is disposed on the outer surface of the door. The control device permits locking and unlocking of the door based on proximity wireless communication performed between an antenna mounted on a medium that can be carried by a user and the seat antenna.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to enhance the convenience of a locking and unlocking system for locking and unlocking an opening / closing body using proximity wireless communication.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] One aspect for achieving the above object is a locking and unlocking system for locking and unlocking an opening / closing body, comprising: a key cylinder device including a rotor that can be rotationally operated by a mechanical key; an antenna coil disposed so as to form a loop around the rotor; A control device that permits locking and unlocking of the opening / closing body based on proximity wireless communication performed between an antenna mounted on a mobile device that can be carried by a user and the antenna coil. is provided.

[0006] One aspect for achieving the above object is a locking / unlocking device for locking and unlocking an opening / closing body, an operated part that receives an operation of a user for opening and closing the opening / closing body, a key cylinder device that switches between a locked state and an unlocked state of the opening / closing body, and is provided with The key cylinder device has a rotor that can be rotationally operated by a mechanical key, and an antenna coil arranged so as to form a loop around the rotor. and is provided with

[0007] One aspect for achieving the above object is a key cylinder device, has a rotor that can be rotationally operated by a mechanical key, and an antenna coil arranged so as to form a loop around the rotor. and is provided with

[0008] According to the configuration according to each of the above aspects, by the user bringing an appropriate mobile device close to the key cylinder device, it is possible to lock and unlock the opening / closing body without using a mechanical key. On the other hand, since the antenna mounted on the mobile device and the antenna coil for performing proximity wireless communication are arranged in the key cylinder device, the mobile device is brought close to the key cylinder device in an operation similar to the case of inserting a mechanical key into the keyhole, and the opening / closing body can be locked and unlocked without a sense of discomfort. In other words, it becomes easy to make the user intuit the position to bring the mobile device close to without taking measures that affect the appearance design such as explicitly showing the position of the antenna coil outside the opening / closing body. Therefore, the convenience of a locking / unlocking system that locks and unlocks an opening / closing body using proximity wireless communication can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] With reference to the accompanying drawings, examples of embodiments will be described in detail below. In each figure, the scale is appropriately changed in order to make each exemplified element recognizable in size.

[0011] FIG. 1 exemplifies the configuration of a locking and unlocking system 10 according to one embodiment. The locking and unlocking system 10 includes a control device 11 and a locking and unlocking device 12. The control device 11 and the locking and unlocking device 12 are mounted on a vehicle 20. The locking and unlocking device 12 is a device for unlocking a door 21 that opens and closes the passenger compartment of the vehicle 20. The control device 11 is configured to control the operation of the locking and unlocking device 12. The vehicle 20 is an example of a moving body. The door 21 is an example of an opening and closing body.

[0012] FIG. 2 exemplifies the appearance of the locking and unlocking device 12. The locking and unlocking device 12 is attached to the door 21. The locking and unlocking device 12 includes a knob 121 and a key cylinder device 122. The knob 121 is configured to receive an operation by a user who opens and closes the door 21. The knob 121 is an example of an operated part. The locking and unlocking device 12, the key cylinder device 122 is configured to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state of the door 21.

[0013] Figure 3 illustrates the configuration of the key cylinder device 122. The key cylinder device 122 includes a rotor 122a and a rotor case 122b. The rotor case 122b supports the rotor 122a rotatably about the rotation axis A. A keyhole 122c is formed in the rotor 122a. A mechanical key (not shown) can be inserted into the keyhole 122c. When a compatible mechanical key is inserted into the keyhole 122c, the rotor 122a can be rotated about the rotation axis A. That is, the rotor 122a can be rotationally operated by the mechanical key.

[0014] The key cylinder device 122 includes an antenna coil 122d. The antenna coil 122d is arranged to form a loop around the rotor 122a with a conductive wire. In other words, the antenna coil 122d is arranged so as to extend within the loop formed by the rotation axis A of the rotor 122a.

[0015] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the locking / unlocking system 10 is configured such that the door 21 can be locked and unlocked by wireless communication using the mobile device 50 that can be carried by the user 40. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the mobile device 50 includes an antenna 51. The antenna 51 is configured to be able to perform near-field wireless communication with the antenna coil 122d of the key cylinder device 122. The mobile device 50 may be provided as a portable medium such as a card without a power supply, or may be provided as a general-purpose portable information terminal such as a smartphone.

[0016] As used in this specification, "proximity wireless communication" means non-contact communication that transmits information from a mobile device to a reading device through coupling by electromagnetic induction. Examples of technologies capable of performing proximity wireless communication include NFC (Near Field Communication), RF-ID, and the like. "Proximity wireless communication" in this specification is distinguished from "short-range wireless communication," which is non-contact communication performed using radio waves while conforming to the standard specifications IEEE802.15 or IEEE802.11. Examples of technologies capable of performing short-range wireless communication include Bluetooth (registered trademark), Bluetooth Low Energy (registered trademark), Ultra Wide Band (UWB), ZigBee (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and the like.

[0017] The control device 11 is configured to allow the door 21 to be locked and unlocked by the locking and unlocking device 12 based on proximity wireless communication performed between the antenna 51 mounted on the mobile device 50 and the antenna coil 122d of the key cylinder device 122.

[0018] Specifically, an electromagnetic wave is generated from the antenna coil 122d based on electric power supplied from a power source (not shown). When the user 40 brings the antenna 51 of the mobile device 50 close to the antenna coil 122d, an induced electromotive force is generated in the antenna 51. The mobile device 50 includes a processing unit 52. The processing unit 52 is configured to read authentication information AU from a storage unit (not shown) using the generated electromotive force and transmit it from the antenna 51. The authentication information AU is information for authenticating at least one of the user 40 and the mobile device 50.

[0019] The processing unit 52 having such a function can be realized by a dedicated integrated circuit when the mobile device 50 is provided as a portable medium such as a card. A computer program for executing the processing related to the function is pre-installed in a storage element included in the integrated circuit. The authentication information AU may be stored in the storage element.

[0020] When the mobile device 50 is provided as a general-purpose mobile information terminal, the processing unit 52 can be realized by a general-purpose microprocessor that operates in cooperation with a general-purpose memory. Examples of the general-purpose microprocessor include a CPU, an MPU, and a GPU. Examples of the general-purpose memory include a ROM and a RAM. In this case, a computer program for executing the processing related to the above functions can be stored in the ROM. The authentication information AU may be stored in the general-purpose memory. The general-purpose microprocessor designates at least a part of the computer program stored on the ROM and expands it on the RAM, and executes the above-described processing in cooperation with the RAM.

[0021] The processing unit 52 may be realized by an application-specific integrated circuit capable of executing the above computer program. Examples of the application-specific integrated circuit include a microcontroller, an ACIC, and an FPGA. In this case, the above computer program is pre-installed in a storage element included in the application-specific integrated circuit. The authentication information AU may be stored in the storage element. The processing unit 52 can also be realized by a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and an application-specific integrated circuit.

[0022] The control device 11 includes a reception unit 111. The reception unit 111 is configured as an interface capable of receiving the authentication information AU received by the antenna coil 122d.

[0023] The control device 11 includes a processing unit 112. The processing unit 112 is configured to collate the authentication information AU received by the reception unit 111 with the authentication information stored in a storage unit (not shown).

[0024] The control device 11 includes an output unit 113. The output unit 113 is configured as an interface that outputs a control signal CT for causing the locking / unlocking device 12 to lock / unlock the door 21.

[0025] When the processing unit 112 can confirm a match between the authentication information AU received by the reception unit 111 and the authentication information stored in a storage unit (not shown), it is configured to output a control signal CT from the output unit 113.

[0026] The processing unit 112 having the above functions can be realized by a general-purpose microprocessor that operates in cooperation with a general-purpose memory. Examples of the general-purpose microprocessor can include a CPU, an MPU, and a GPU. Examples of the general-purpose memory can include a ROM and a RAM. In this case, a computer program for executing the processing related to the above functions can be stored in the ROM. The authentication information to be subjected to collation may be stored in the general-purpose memory. The general-purpose microprocessor designates at least a part of the computer program stored on the ROM and expands it on the RAM, and executes the above-described processing in cooperation with the RAM.

[0027] The processing unit 112 may also be realized by an application-specific integrated circuit capable of executing the above computer program. Examples of the application-specific integrated circuit can include a microcontroller, an ACIC, and an FPGA. In this case, the above computer program is pre-installed in a storage element included in the application-specific integrated circuit. The authentication information to be subjected to collation may be stored in the storage element. The processing unit 112 can also be realized by a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and an application-specific integrated circuit.

[0028] Therefore, according to the above configuration, when the user 40 brings the appropriate mobile device 50 close to the key cylinder device 122, the door 21 can be locked and unlocked without using a mechanical key. On the other hand, since the antenna coil 122d for performing near-field wireless communication with the antenna 51 mounted on the mobile device 50 is arranged in the key cylinder device 122, the mobile device 50 can be brought close to the key cylinder device 122 in an operation similar to the case of inserting a mechanical key into the keyhole 122c, and the door 21 can be locked and unlocked without a sense of discomfort. In other words, without taking measures that affect the appearance design such as clearly indicating the position of the antenna coil 122d outside the door 21, it becomes easy to make the user 40 intuitively understand the position to bring the mobile device 50 close. Therefore, the convenience of the locking and unlocking system 10 for locking and unlocking the door 21 using near-field wireless communication can be improved.

[0029] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the antenna coil 122d is formed by winding a conductive wire around the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 122a. However, the antenna coil 122d may be arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor case 122b.

[0030] In any case, compared with the case where an antenna coil is arranged inside the knob 121, it is easy to secure a larger cross-sectional area of the coil, so the amount of magnetic flux reaching the antenna 51 mounted on the mobile device 50 can be increased. Therefore, the stability of near-field wireless communication is improved.

[0031] In any case, the antenna coil 122d is preferably arranged at a position closer to the entrance of the keyhole 122c in the key cylinder device 122. Thereby, a decrease in the intensity of the magnetic field reaching the antenna 51 mounted on the mobile device 50 can be suppressed. Therefore, the stability of near-field wireless communication is improved.

[0032] In the key cylinder device 122, at least the rotor 122a is preferably formed of a material having magnetic permeability. Examples of such materials include iron and nickel.

[0033] According to such a configuration, since the antenna coil 122d can function as a choke coil, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the intensity of the magnetic field reaching the antenna 51 mounted on the mobile device 50. Therefore, the stability of the proximity wireless communication is improved.

[0034] When the antenna 51 is a loop antenna, the higher the degree of coincidence between the loop shape of the antenna coil 122d and the loop shape of the antenna 51, the higher the efficiency of the coupling by electromagnetic induction between the antenna coil 122d and the antenna 51. Note that the term "degree of coincidence of loop shapes" used here means the degree of coincidence including not only the geometric shape of the loop but also the size of the loop.

[0035] When the antenna coil 122d is arranged around the rotor 122a of the key cylinder device 122 as in the present embodiment, it is relatively easy to make the loop shape of the antenna coil 122d correspond to the shape of the antenna 51, so the stability of the proximity wireless communication is improved.

[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the knob 121 of the locking and unlocking device 12 includes a movable part 121a and a non-movable part 121b. The movable part 121a is a part that can be displaced in association with the opening and closing of the door 21. Specifically, the movable part 121a is configured such that the user 40 can hold it by hand and pull it forward. By this operation, the engagement between the door 21 and the vehicle body is released, and the opening and closing of the door 21 becomes possible. The non-movable part 121b is a part whose relative position with respect to the door 21 does not change. The key cylinder device 122 is arranged on the non-movable part 121b.

[0037] According to such a configuration, the stress applied to the movable part 121a when the door 21 is opened and closed can be made less likely to reach the antenna coil 122d. Therefore, the stability of the magnetic field generated from the antenna coil 122d, and thus the stability of the proximity wireless communication, is improved.

[0038] The above-described embodiments are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the present invention. The configurations according to the above-described embodiments can be appropriately changed and improved without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0039] The key cylinder device 122 does not necessarily have to be installed on the non-movable part 121b of the knob 121. For example, the key cylinder device 122 may be installed on the movable part 121a of the knob 121 or on the door 21.

[0040] The moving body on which the control device 11 and the locking / unlocking device 12 are mounted is not limited to the vehicle 20. Examples of other moving bodies include railways, aircraft, ships, etc. The moving body may not require a driver.

[0041] Also, the opening / closing body unlocked / locked by the locking / unlocking device 12 is not limited to the door 21 of the vehicle 20. Doors and windows in a house or a facility can also be an example of the opening / closing body.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0042] 10: Locking / Unlocking System, 11: Control Device, 12: Locking / Unlocking Device, 121: Knob, 121a: Movable Part, 121b: Non-Movable Part, 122: Key Cylinder Device, 122a: Rotor, 122c: Keyhole, 122d: Antenna Coil, 20: Vehicle, 21: Door, 40: User, 50: Mobile Device, 51: Antenna

Claims

Claim 1 A locking and unlocking system for locking and unlocking an opening / closing body, comprising: A key cylinder device having a rotor that can be rotated by a mechanical key; An antenna coil arranged to form a loop around the rotor; A control device that permits locking and unlocking of the opening / closing body based on proximity wireless communication performed between an antenna mounted on a mobile device that can be carried by a user and the antenna coil; And comprising: The antenna coil is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor. A locking and unlocking system. Claim 2 The antenna coil is arranged at a position closer to the entrance of the keyhole into which the mechanical key is inserted. The locking and unlocking system according to Claim 1. Claim 3 The rotor is formed of a material having magnetic permeability. The locking and unlocking system according to Claim 1 or 2. Claim 4 The shape of the loop corresponds to the shape of the antenna. The locking and unlocking system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3. Claim 5 The opening / closing body is mounted on a moving body. The locking and unlocking system according to any one of Claims 1 to 4.

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