JP2000336986A - Electronic component built-in key and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To suppress the transfer of heat to an electronic component and securely fix the electronic component to the grip when manufacturing a grip of an electronic component built-in key containing an electronic component such as a transponder. To provide a key with a built-in electronic component. A grip part (3) for covering a base (4a) of a key plate (4).
In the electronic component built-in key having a transponder 6 built therein, the grip portion 3 comprises a holder portion 1 having a concave portion 5 for holding the transponder 6 and a lid portion 2 for covering the holder portion 1. The holder 1 and the lid 2 are joined by welding the edges 1b and 2b of the holder 1 or the lid 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key having a built-in electronic component, in which an electronic component such as a transponder is built in a grip portion of the key, and a method of manufacturing the key.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an engine of an automobile is started by rotating a key in a state of being inserted into a key cylinder. In addition to such mechanical key operation, an electric signal is transmitted to the vehicle. There are anti-theft keys with functions. Such a key is provided with a transmitter for transmitting a unique ID code, and the engine is started when the transmitted ID code matches an ID code registered in advance in a vehicle-side antitheft device or the like. Have been.

[0003] Therefore, the engine cannot be started with a key that does not have a transmitter or a key that transmits an ID code different from that registered in the vehicle even if it does.
Car theft can be prevented. Further, conventionally, there has been proposed a transponder built-in key including a transmitter (hereinafter, referred to as a transponder) that does not require a battery. The transponder converts magnetic magnetic energy generated from a magnetic generator mounted on the vehicle side into electric energy, and transmits an ID code radio wave by using the electric energy.

The above-mentioned transponder built-in key is, for example,
It is disclosed in JP-A-7-238722 (hereinafter referred to as Conventional Example 1) and JP-A-8-184227 (hereinafter referred to as Conventional Example 2).

[0005] The key holding portion disclosed in the prior art example 1 inserts the base of the key plate with a hard resin,
An electronic component such as a transponder is accommodated, and a transponder and a hard resin are insert-molded with a soft resin. Further, the grip portion of the key disclosed in the conventional example 2 is such that the electronic component is engaged with the concave portion penetrating the inner hard resin and the outer soft resin with the elastic protrusion and the claw portion, so that the key grip is The plate and the electronic component are securely fixed.

[0006]

However, in the electronic component built-in key disclosed in the prior art example 1, insert molding is performed after the electronic components such as the transponder are accommodated in the holding portion. There is a problem in that it may be transmitted to the component to adversely affect the function of the electronic component.

Further, in the electronic component built-in key disclosed in the prior art example 2, since the elastic projection and the claw portion for engaging the electronic component need to be molded, the shape becomes complicated, and the resin molding is performed. There is a possibility that the manufacturing cost such as the mold cost may be deteriorated. Further, such engagement has a problem that the fixing force for fixing the electronic component to the grip portion is not sufficient as compared with insert molding.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and suppresses the transmission of heat to an electronic component when manufacturing a grip portion of an electronic component built-in key containing an electronic component such as a transponder. It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic component built-in key capable of securely fixing an electronic component to a grip.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An electronic component built-in key in which an electronic component is embedded in a grip portion that covers a base of a key plate, wherein the grip portion includes a holder portion having a holding portion that holds the electronic component, and a lid portion that covers the holder portion. And the holder and the lid are joined by welding an edge of the holder or the lid.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a projection is provided on an edge of the holder or the lid, and the projection is melted to weld the edge of the holder and the edge of the lid. It is characterized by. The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the welding is ultrasonic welding using ultrasonic waves.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a holder comprising a holder for holding an electronic component, and a cover for covering the holder, and a grip for covering the base of the key plate. A method of manufacturing a key with a built-in electronic component,
A molding step of molding the holder part and the lid part and molding the holding part in the holder part, an electronic component accommodation step of accommodating the electronic component in the holding part, and after the electronic part accommodation step, the holder part and A joining step of matching the edges of the lid and welding the edges.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the forming step, a projection is formed on an edge of the holder or the lid, and the projection is welded by melting the projection in the joining step. Features. The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the welding is ultrasonic welding by ultrasonic waves.

According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a key having a grip portion whose edge is welded. According to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, the holder and the lid are welded by melting the projection with heat. The protrusion is formed on at least one of the holder and the lid, and may be formed on both sides. According to the third and sixth aspects of the present invention, an ultrasonic wave is applied to the edge by an ultrasonic transmitter, and the edge is heated and melted. When the protrusion is formed on the edge, the energy due to the vibration is concentrated on the protrusion.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. The electronic component built-in key in the present embodiment has a transponder in a grip portion and transmits an ID code to the vehicle side in response to magnetism emitted from the vehicle side, as shown in FIGS. , A grip portion 3 including a holder portion 1 and a lid portion 2, a key plate 4, a concave portion 5 as a holding portion, and a transponder 6 as an electronic component.

The key plate 4 is formed, for example, by pressing a metal plate and subjecting a tip thereof to a cutting process to form a key ridge. A wide base portion 4a and a tip portion 4b having a key ridge are formed (see FIG. 3). Then, the tip portion 4b is inserted into a key cylinder of the automobile, and the key ridge and the tumbler in the key cylinder coincide with each other and are rotated to start the engine. A fixing hole 4c for fixing to the grip portion 3 is formed in the base portion 4a, and a fixing pin 13 described later is inserted therethrough to fix the key plate 4 to the holder portion 1.

The holder portion 1 is formed by resin molding, and FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), the base portion 4a of the key plate 4 is held by the insert portion 7 and has a concave portion 5 substantially matching the outer surface shape of the transponder 6. Both the insert part 7 and the concave part 5 are integrally formed when the holder part 1 is formed. Here, insert molding refers to placing and molding components of the same quality or metal in a mold.

The holder 1 has a projection 8, an engagement hole 9, an engagement hole 10, and an insertion hole 11 formed at the time of molding, and the projection 8 and the engagement hole 9 are provided. Is the lid 2
It functions as an engaging means when engaging with the holder portion 1. The engaging hole 10 is provided in the fixing hole 4 of the key plate 4.
The fixing pin 13 can be inserted in communication with the connector c, and the insertion hole 11 can insert a key ring or the like (not shown). Also, the fixing hole 4c of the key plate 4
A fixing hole 12 having a diameter substantially the same as that of the fixing hole 12 is formed at a position corresponding to the engaging hole 10 in the holder portion 1 so that the fixing pin 13 can pass through the fixing hole 4c.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, an edge 1b extending over the entire circumference of the holder 1 has a projection 1 which is upwardly convex in FIG.
a is formed, and is melted when heat is applied by ultrasonic waves, and can be welded to the lid 2. The cross-sectional shape of the protruding portion 1a is substantially triangular with an acute angle at the top as shown in the figure.
Other shapes may be used. In this case, it is preferable that the tip has an acute angle in order to efficiently convert the energy due to the vibration of the ultrasonic waves into heat energy. The protrusion 1a is
It is integrally formed when the holder 1 is formed.

The transponder 6 is fitted in the recess 5 and held by the holder 1, and is formed by sealing an antenna coil, a capacitor, an IC and the like into a predetermined shape with a thermosetting resin. When receiving the magnetism from a magnetic generator built in the ignition switch side of the vehicle, the current generated in the antenna coil is stored in the capacitor via the transformer, and when the voltage reaches a predetermined value,
It is configured to transmit a specific ID code set in advance to the IC.

The lid 2 closes the opening (front side in the figure) of the holder 1 to form a grip for the electronic component built-in key, and is formed by resin molding similarly to the holder 1. 2A and 2B, a convex portion 15 and a cylindrical engaging portion 14 are formed on the back surface of the lid portion 2 (the inner side surface when the holder portion 1 is covered). It is configured to engage with the above-mentioned protrusion 8 or engagement hole 9 on the holder 1 side, respectively.

Further, a notch 2a is formed in the edge 2b of the lid 2 at a position corresponding to the projection 1a on the holder 1 side, and the edge 1b of the holder 1 is formed at the edge 1b of the lid 2. Part 2
When b is matched, the projection 1a is configured to enter the notch 2a. Reference numeral 2c denotes an opening that opens downward in FIG. 2A, through which the key plate 4 is inserted when the key plate 4 is joined to the holder 1.

Next, a method of manufacturing the electronic component built-in key having the above configuration will be described. First, for example, a synthetic resin such as a polyacetal resin is injection-molded to form the holder 1.
Then, the lid 2 is formed. At this time, in the holder 1, the concave portion 5, the convex portion 8, and the like are integrally formed, and the insert portion 7 insert-molds the base 4 a of the key plate 4.

At the same time, the projection 1a on the edge 1b
Is integrally formed with the holder 1. Then, the fixing holes 4c, 1
2. Insert the fixing pin 13 into the engagement hole 10 and
And the key plate 4 are further firmly fixed.

On the other hand, in the lid portion 2, the cylindrical engagement portion 14
The notch 2a, the opening 2c, and the insertion hole 11 in the edge portion 2b are formed while the convex portion 15 is integrally formed.

After the transponder 6 is fixed to the holder 1 by fitting the transponder 6 into the recess 5, the edges 1 b and 2 b of the holder 1 and the lid 2 are matched, so that the holder 1 Cover. At this time,
The top of the projection 1a is in contact with the bottom of the notch 2a.

Next, ultrasonic welding is performed by applying ultrasonic waves to the grip portion 3 by an ultrasonic machine (not shown). Ultrasonic welding is a method in which heat is generated in a resin by applying vibration energy of about 16 to 20 kHz to a viscoelastic body such as a resin, and the viscoelastic body is joined at a molten portion. The welding of the projections 1a is performed by fixing the grip 3 on the jig, then bringing the horn of the ultrasonic working machine into contact with the outer surface of the holder 1, and vibrating the horn. That is, when the vibration of the horn is transmitted through the inside of the holder 1 and reaches the protrusion 1a, the protrusion 1
a is heated and melted at the line contact portion formed by the top.

This utilizes the property that the point contact portion or the line contact portion is more easily melted than the surface contact portion in ultrasonic welding. In the present embodiment, since the so-called transmission welding is employed, it is not necessary to press the horn against the outer surface of the holder portion 1, but a relatively weak force (the outer surface of the holder portion 1 does not undergo plastic deformation). Pressure).

Through the above steps, the electronic component built-in key shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. As described above, since the holder 1 and the lid 2 are joined by ultrasonic welding, the heat-generating portion is limited to the edges 1b and 2b of the holder 1 and the lid 2 and the vicinity thereof.
It is possible to suppress the transmission of heat to the transponder 6 disposed inside the holder 1. Further, since the resin is welded to each other, the holder portion 1 and the lid portion 2 are firmly joined to each other as compared with joining by screws or fitting.
Can be securely and firmly held.

Although the embodiment according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, other heat sources can be supplied only to the edge between the holder and the lid or the vicinity thereof. The welding may be performed by a means (laser, electron gun, or the like having an extremely narrow irradiation range of a heat source). Although the protrusion cannot be melted from the outside of the grip portion 3 by melting with a laser or the like, the joint between the holder portion 1 and the lid portion 2 can be melted and welded from the outside.

Further, what is accommodated in the concave portion 5 is not limited to the transponder 6, but can be various electronic components that can be held in the holder 1. Note that the projection 1a does not need to be formed on the entire periphery of the holder 1, and the holder 1
It may be formed only on a part of the edge portion within a range that does not hinder the joining between the cover and the lid portion 2.

[0031]

According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention,
When manufacturing the grip of the electronic component built-in key containing the electronic component such as the transponder, only the edge is heated, so that heat can be prevented from being transmitted to the electronic component, and the electronic component is placed on the grip. It can be fixed securely. Thereby, the yield of the electronic component built-in key can be improved. According to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, since the protrusion formed on the edge of the holder or the lid is melted and the holder and the lid are welded, for example, heating by ultrasonic welding or the like is performed. In this case, heat can be generated only at the edge exactly.

According to the third and sixth aspects of the present invention, welding can be performed by a generally used ultrasonic processing machine, and only the edges can be efficiently heated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a top view showing a holder of an electronic component built-in key according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

FIG. 2A is a top view showing a cover of the electronic component built-in key according to the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the electronic component built-in key according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of an IV section in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Holder part 1a ... Protrusion part 1b, 2b ... Edge part 2 ... Lid part 2a ... Notch part 2c ... Opening part 3 ... Grip part 4 ... Key plate 4a ... Base part 4b ... Tip part 5 ... Concave part (holding part) 6 ... Transponders (electronic parts) 7 ... Insert parts 8, 15 ... Protrusions 9 ... Engaging holes 10 ... Engaging holes 11 ... Inserting holes 12 ... Fixing holes 13 ... Fixing pins 14 ... Cylindrical engaging parts

Claims (6)

[Claims] An electronic component built-in key in which an electronic component is embedded in a grip portion covering a base portion of a key plate, wherein the grip portion includes a holder portion having a holding portion for holding the electronic component, and a holder portion of the holder portion. An electronic component built-in key, comprising: a lid for covering; and the holder or the lid joined to the holder by welding the edge of the holder or the lid. 2. A projection is provided on an edge of the holder or the lid, and the projection is melted to weld the edge of the holder and the edge of the lid. The electronic component built-in key according to 1. 3. The electronic component built-in key according to claim 1, wherein said welding is performed by ultrasonic welding. 4. Production of a key with a built-in electronic component, comprising: a holder having a holding portion for holding an electronic component; and a lid for covering the holder, and having a grip for covering a base of the key plate. A molding step of molding the holder and the lid, and molding the holder in the holder, an electronic component accommodating step of accommodating an electronic component in the holder, and a method of accommodating the electronic component. And a bonding step of aligning the edges of the holder and the lid and welding the edges. A method of manufacturing a key with a built-in electronic component, comprising: 5. In the molding step, a projection is formed on an edge of the holder or the lid, and the projection is melted and welded in the joining step. A method for manufacturing the electronic component built-in key described in the above. 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the welding is ultrasonic welding using ultrasonic waves.