JPH0547228Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] <Industrial field of application> This invention relates to a key device that has a printed circuit board, on which an electronic circuit for emitting a specific optical code signal via a light-emitting element is mounted, built into a grip provided at the base of the key for operating a mechanical lock device.

<Prior Art> Various key devices have been proposed in which a lock device is operated using a combination of a mechanical code (outline shape of the key) and an electrical code (digital pulse). According to this, it is made difficult to use or pick a duplicate key (unauthorized unlocking), and theft prevention can be further ensured, and it is also possible to remotely control a locking device such as a door.

It is desirable for such a key device to be able to lock and unlock a mechanical lock device such as a cylinder lock in the same way as a conventional key, and that it does not interfere with carrying. For this purpose, an electronic circuit is built into the key grip (see Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 115466/1983).

On the other hand, as a structure of a case for incorporating such an electronic circuit, a structure is disclosed in Utility Application No. 63-106434 in which the opening of the case body, which has a cylindrical shape with a bottom, is closed with a lid body through which the key yank portion is inserted. The applicant makes a proposal in this document.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> By the way, many highly rigid materials generally have an unfavorable feel, and in order to improve the feel during use, it is preferable to select a material that is somewhat soft. In some cases. However, if the rigidity of the gripping part is insufficient, the gripping part becomes easily deformed during normal use, resulting in a disadvantage that the protective effect of the built-in electronic components is reduced.

The present invention was devised in view of these inconveniences, and its main purpose is to create an improved key that can ensure sufficient rigidity for practical use without relying on the material strength of the case body itself. The goal is to provide equipment.

<Means for Solving the Problems> According to the present invention, such an object is to provide a printed circuit board on which a light emitting element and an electronic circuit for transmitting a specific optical code signal via the light emitting element are mounted. A key device in which a key is built into a grip provided at the base of a key for operating a mechanical locking device, and the grip has a cylindrical shape with a bottom and an axial direction at the opening thereof. It consists of a case body having a protrusion projecting thereon, and a lid body made of a translucent material through which the key is inserted and fitted to the inner periphery of the opening of the case body, and the protrusion is formed on the lid body. This is achieved by providing a key device which is characterized in that it projects into a corresponding recess provided therein.

<Function> In this way, deformation of the case body is prevented by the lid body, which can provide relatively high rigidity, by engaging the protrusion provided on the case body with the recess of the lid body. can be taken as a thing.

<Embodiments> Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 3 show a vehicle key device constructed based on the present invention. This key device 1 includes a key yank 2 formed with a predetermined key thread 2a for locking/unlocking a lock device made of a known cylinder lock, a circuit board 3 provided at the base 2b of the key, It consists of a case body 4 for covering the entire surface of the circuit board 3, and a lid body 6 that closes an opening 5 of the case body 4 and connects the case body 4 and the key shank 2.

The key yank 2 is made of a metal plate, and is basically the same as a conventional mechanical key, but the above-described circuit board 3 is pasted on both sides of the base 2b, which corresponds to the grip of a conventional key. It is worn.
Further, a notch 2c is formed at the axial end of the base 2b on the key yank 2 side, and at the same time, a portion of the printed circuit board 3 corresponding to this notch 2c has a portion overhanging the notch 2c. A tongue-like piece 3a is formed.

The circuit board 3 includes electronic components such as an IC chip 7 in which a code transmission circuit and the like are incorporated, and a push button switch 8.
It is made of a flexible film-like printed circuit board on which is mounted, and is folded so as to cover both sides of the base 2b. A power source section including a chargeable and dischargeable built-in battery 9 is formed on the surface opposite to the surface on which the IC chip 7 and the like are mounted.

The case body 4 has a flat bottomed cylindrical shape and is integrally molded from a synthetic resin material, etc., and has an opening 5 facing the end of the base 2b to which the circuit board 3 is attached. The whole can be housed inside it. Further, a touch portion 1 formed of a highly flexible material such as rubber material is provided at a portion of the peripheral wall of the case body 4 corresponding to the push button switch 8.
0 is provided so that the push button switch 8 can be pressed from the outer surface of the case body 4.

The lid body 6 is made of a translucent resin material,
A flat hole 11 through which the key yank 2 can be inserted is formed in the center thereof, and a seal part 12 which can fit relatively closely into the opening 5 of the case body 4 is formed on one side, and the side of the key yank 2 is formed on the other side. A pair of leg pieces 13 are provided protruding along the edge. An electrode 16 having a partially cylindrical shape is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the leg piece 13. Moreover, on the mutually opposing surfaces of both leg pieces 13,
A groove 17 is formed so as to be able to engage with a protrusion 18 formed on the side edge of the key shank 2 on the base side. The engagement ends A on the free end side of the leg piece 13 between the concave groove 17 and the protrusion 18 are made at an acute angle to each other as shown in FIG.
is prevented from deforming outward.

Both leg pieces 13 on the inside of the seal part 12 of the lid body 6
Recesses 12a are formed on the base side of each of the recesses 12a, and light emitting elements 14 such as LEDs are respectively received in the recesses 12a via holders 15 made of a resin material. This holder 15 has cylindrical protrusions 15b that protrude from both ends in the longitudinal direction of an oval plate part 15a to fit into the recesses 12a inside the lid 6. A holding hole 15c formed in the holding hole 15c holds the light emitting part of the light emitting element 14 at a prescribed angle, and an insertion hole 15d into which the key shank 2 can be inserted is provided in the center thereof.

IC chip 7, push button switch 8 and case body 4
A reinforcing barrier member 19 made of hard resin is interposed between the inner surface and the inner surface. This barrier member 19 is
It has a generally U-shaped cross section, and its upper wall 19a is along the inner surface of the case body 4, and the lower edge of its side wall 19b is in contact with the surface of the printed circuit board 3, which allows the IC chip 7 and the push button switch 8 to It is designed to cover each. A rectangular hole 19c capable of receiving the upper part of the push button switch 8 is formed in a portion of the upper wall 19a of the barrier member 19 corresponding to the push button switch 8, and a rectangular hole 19c is formed in the surface facing the touch portion 10. Disc spring 19 in circular depression 19d
e is retained. In this way, the operating force applied to the touch portion 10 is transmitted to the push button switch 8 via the disc spring 19e.

As shown in FIG. 5, a partition wall 19h separates a receiving portion 19f of the IC chip 7 and a receiving portion 19g of the push button switch 8 on the inner surface of the barrier member 19, and the receiving portion 19g of the push button switch 8 is separated from the receiving portion 19f of the IC chip 7 on the inner surface of the barrier member 19. The part to do is
For example, a sealing material S made of silicone rubber or the like is filled from above in FIG. In addition, the code 19k in FIGS. 1 and 5
is a positioning pin for fixing the barrier member 19 to the key base 2b.

When assembling the key device 1 formed in this way, the O-ring 20 is attached to the diameter-reducing stepped portion 12b formed at the end of the seal case portion 12, and then the holder 14 is assembled with the light emitting element 14 in advance. 15 to cover body 6
It fits into the recess 12a. At this time, the lead terminal 16a of the electrode 16 protruding from the lid 6 is inserted into the insertion hole 15d. Further, the optical axis center L of the light emitting element 14 with respect to the axis of the key yank 2 is
As shown by reference numeral B in the figure, it is arranged at a predetermined angle that points somewhat toward the diffusion direction.

Next, the key yank 2 is inserted into the hole 11 of the lid 6 and the insertion hole 15d of the holder 15, and the protrusion 18 on the side edge of the key yank is engaged with the groove 17 of the leg piece 13. At this time, the side edge of the base 2b is
It comes into contact with both ends of the plate portion 15a at the same time. As a result, the relative positions of the key yank 2, the lid body 6, and the holder 15 are determined, and at the same time, the lead terminals 14a of the light emitting element 14, the lead terminals 16a of the electrodes 16, and the printed pattern 3b on the circuit board 3 are electrically connected to each other. connected. By soldering in this state, each lead terminal 14a, 16a
is fixed on the printed circuit board 3.

A recess 11 a is formed in the opening of the insertion hole 11 in the lid 6 on the case body 4 side so as to form a gap with the general surface of the key yank 2 . At the same time, there is a similar gap in the insertion hole 15d of the holder 15, and the inside of this gap is filled with a sealing material S such as silicone rubber from above in FIG. 3.

Next, after appropriately injecting an adhesive such as epoxy resin into the bottom of the inside of the case body 4,
The opening 5 of the case body 4 is fitted to the outer periphery of the seal part 12 of the lid body 6. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion 4a formed on the opening edge of the case body 4 and the lid body 6
The case body 4 and the lid body 6 are coupled to each other as the corresponding recesses 6a formed in the case body 4 and the lid body 6 are engaged with each other, thereby preventing the case body 4 from deforming outward. Further, between the inward step portion 4b formed on the inner surface of the opening of the case body 4 and the end surface of the seal portion 12 of the lid body 6, the flange-shaped outer peripheral portion of the plate portion 15a of the holder 15 further extends. Fixed firmly.

In this way, the key yank 2 and the case body 4 are
and the holding body 15 are integrally coupled via the lid body 6.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a part of a vehicle engine control circuit using the key device 1 described above.
A steering column 21 of the vehicle is provided with a key switch 22 as an ignition switch that is integrated with a steering lock.

The key switch 22 has a pair of terminals 23 provided so as to be able to elastically contact both electrodes 16 located at the base of the key yank 2 in the inserted state, and a pair of terminals 23 provided to receive light from the light emitting element 14. It has a light receiving element 24 made of, for example, a phototransistor. These terminals 23 and light receiving element 24 are respectively connected to a control unit 25 provided in the vehicle. and control unit 25
includes an on-vehicle battery 26 as a power source, a starter circuit 27 for starting the engine, and an ignition circuit 28 for controlling engine rotation.
are connected to each other.

The key switch 22 has a "LOCK" button, similar to a known type of vehicle key switch, in order to operate the starter circuit 27, ignition circuit 28, and other in-vehicle equipment (not shown).
Each position of "OFF", "ACC", "ON", and "ST" is set, and it has a mechanical contact that closes according to the rotational position of the key device 1. Further, the light receiving element 24 is arranged, for example, at a "LOCK" position.

When operating the key switch 22 configured in this way, the key device 1 is connected to the key switch 22.
When inserted, the electrode 16 provided on the leg piece 13 of the lid 6 and the terminal 23 of the key switch 22 come into contact with each other. Then, a light emission command is issued from the control unit 25 to the code transmitting circuit 7 provided inside the lid 6 via the terminal 23 and the electrode 16. This allows the coded light emission signal to be transmitted to the light emitting element 1.
It will be sent from 4. This code signal is sent to the light receiving element 2.
4 receives the code signal, and the control unit 25 compares this code signal with the code stored in the control unit 25. If it is confirmed that these match, the control unit 25 sends a message to the starter circuit 27 and the ignition circuit 28.
An auxiliary on signal is output. This allows the key switch 22 to correspond to the position of the key yank 2.
Each circuit operates according to the closing of the switch circuit,
The engine starts. At this time, if the code signal of the light emitting element 14 and the code stored in the control unit 25 do not match, the auxiliary ON signal is not output and an alarm is issued. The above-mentioned auxiliary ON signal is maintained until the key device 1 is pulled out from the key switch 22.

Further, when the key switch 22 is in the "ON" position, the voltage of the battery 26 is applied to the built-in battery 9 on the key device 1 side via the control unit 25 due to the contact between the electrode 16 and the terminal 23.
Charging current is supplied to.

For door locks, trunk lids, etc., place a light receiving element near the key hole.
The light emitting element 1 is activated by the signal of the push button switch 8 which is output by pressing the touch part 10 of the case body 4.
A code signal can be transmitted from 4, and the locking device can be locked and unlocked by an actuator not shown separately.

Now, the case body 4 in the key device 1 described above
It must not only maintain the operating force for key operations, but also function as a strength member to protect the built-in electronic components such as the IC chip 7 and the push button switch 8. On the other hand, the feel of the product is also an important factor in selecting materials, and achieving both high rigidity and good feel has become an issue in improving product appeal.

Therefore, in the present invention, as detailed in the above embodiment, a protrusion 4a is provided on the end surface of the opening 5 of the case body 4 to protrude in the axial direction, and a recess 6a that can tightly receive the protrusion 4a is provided. The opening 5 of the case body 4 is prevented from being deformed in the expansion direction by being provided on the pair of lids 6 and engaging with each other. That is, if the lid body 6 is made of a material with high rigidity, the lack of rigidity of the case body 4 can be suitably compensated for.

The pair of light emitting elements 14 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of the key yank 2, but this is to make the insertion direction of the key yank 2 reversible. Further, in the above embodiments, a case with a built-in rechargeable battery has been described, but it goes without saying that this can be similarly applied to a case where the battery is replaceable.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail for operating the ignition switch of a vehicle, the present invention can also be used as a key switch for other control devices, or for houses, storage sheds, etc. It is possible.

[Effects of the invention] As described above, according to the invention, the required rigidity can be obtained regardless of the material of the case body. Therefore, the degree of freedom in selecting the material of the case body is increased, which has a great effect on improving marketability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a key device based on the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial plan view showing the key device with a portion thereof cut away, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the key device. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of application of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the barrier member viewed from the side facing the printed circuit board. 1...Key device, 2...Key shank, 2a...
...key mountain, 2b...base, 2c...notch, 3...
...Circuit board, 3a...Tongue, 3b...Print pattern, 4...Case body, 4a...Protrusion, 4b
...Inward step, 5...Opening, 6...Lid, 6a
...Recessed part, 7...IC chip, 8...Push button switch, 9...Built-in battery, 10...Touch part, 11...
...Insertion hole, 11a...Recessed part, 12...Seal part, 1
2a... recess, 12b... step, 13... leg piece,
14...Light emitting element, 14a...Lead terminal, 15
...Holding body, 15a...Plate portion, 15b...Protrusion,
15c... Holding hole, 15d... Insertion hole, 16...
Electrode, 16a...Lead terminal, 17...Concave groove, 1
8... Projection, 19... Barrier member, 19a... Top wall, 19b... Side wall, 19c... Rectangular hole, 19d
...Recess, 19e...Disc spring, 19f...IC receiving part, 19g...Push button receiving part, 19h...Partition wall,
19k...Positioning pin, 20...O ring, S
... Sealing material, 21 ... Steering column, 2
2... Key switch, 23... Terminal, 24... Light receiving element, 25... Control unit, 26... Battery, 27... Starter circuit, 28... Ignition circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A key for operating a mechanical locking device between a light emitting element and a printed circuit board on which an electronic circuit for transmitting a specific optical code signal via the light emitting element is mounted. A key device built in a grip provided at the base of the key, wherein the grip includes a case body having a cylindrical shape with a bottom and an axial protrusion protruding from an opening thereof; and a lid made of a translucent material, which is inserted through the lid and fitted onto the inner periphery of the opening of the case body, and the protrusion projects into a corresponding recess formed in the lid. key device.