JP5275751B2 - Card type electronic key - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a card-type electronic key that transmits an identification code (ID code) through wireless communication, and more particularly to a card-type electronic key that is useful in a wireless communication system used in, for example, a vehicle or a house.

  As one of such wireless communication systems, a so-called electronic key system for a vehicle in which a vehicle door is automatically locked and unlocked when a user approaches the vehicle door while holding a portable device (electronic key). Is well known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this electronic key system, when an electronic key enters an area set around a vehicle door, various signals are exchanged through wireless communication between the vehicle and the electronic key, and the vehicle is exchanged through such various signals. Is compared with the identification code (ID code) stored in the electronic key and the identification code stored in the electronic key. That is, in this electronic key system, electronic authentication of the electronic key is performed through verification of such an identification code. When it is determined through the authentication that the electronic key is valid, various control of the vehicle such as unlocking the vehicle door is executed. According to such an electronic key system, various operations of the vehicle are automatically performed without direct manual operation by the user, so that the convenience of operation of the vehicle is greatly improved.

By the way, in such an electronic key system, wireless communication can be performed between the vehicle and the electronic key, for example, when the battery voltage of the vehicle decreases or when an abnormality such as a battery exhaustion occurs in the electronic key. There is a risk of disappearing. That is, in this case, even if the user enters the area set around the vehicle, the vehicle door is not unlocked, and there is a possibility that inconveniences such as being unable to get on the vehicle may occur. Therefore, such an electronic key is usually a mechanical key that is mechanically authenticated through the key cylinder by being inserted into a key cylinder provided in a vehicle door, such as the electronic key described in Patent Document 2, for example. Is housed. When the mechanical key inserted into the key cylinder is a regular mechanical key, the user can mechanically lock / unlock the vehicle door on the vehicle side. By storing the mechanical key in the electronic key in this way, the user should use the mechanical key even if an abnormality such as a decrease in the battery voltage of the vehicle or a battery out of the electronic key occurs. Thus, the vehicle door can be unlocked, so that the inconvenience described above can be solved.
JP 2001-31333 A JP 2006-249875 A

  By the way, since such an electronic key is carried by the user, it is desired to have excellent portability that can be accommodated in a wallet or a card case, for example, like a credit card or a driver's license. It is rare. Here, various methods are conceivable as methods for improving the portability of the electronic key. For example, there is a method in which the entire electronic key is formed into a card shape by utilizing the technology of a non-contact type IC card. is there. FIGS. 9A and 9B respectively show a perspective structure and a partially broken sectional structure of an electronic key formed in a card shape.

  As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the electronic key is made of a non-conductive synthetic resin material such as polypropylene resin, and has a rectangular shape as a whole and a planar shape. It is formed in a card shape having a certain degree of flexibility. In addition, this electronic key is a part that receives a wireless signal transmitted from the vehicle and wirelessly transmits an identification code used for electronic authentication, with the central portion in the long side direction a as a boundary. It is divided into a functioning communication circuit section 10 and a mechanical key section 11 in which an identification code used for mechanical authentication is formed by a plurality of through holes 12.

  Here, a loop antenna 13 for receiving a radio wave transmitted from the vehicle along the outer periphery of the communication circuit unit 10 is incorporated and connected to the loop antenna 13. An IC chip 14 in which various electronic components such as an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) and a memory are integrated is also incorporated. Incidentally, the IC chip 14 is normally in a state where power is not supplied, that is, an inactive state, and a current induced in the loop antenna 13 is supplied when a radio wave transmitted from the vehicle is received. It becomes an activated state. Further, when the IC chip 14 is activated as described above, the radio wave including information such as an identification code stored in the memory of the IC chip 14 is transmitted to the vehicle side via the loop antenna 13. Send. That is, according to the electronic key having such a structure, the battery mounted on the above-described electronic key is not necessary, and thus the inconvenience that the vehicle door cannot be unlocked due to the battery running out is eliminated. Will be able to.

  On the other hand, as described above, the mechanical key portion 11 has a plurality of through holes 12 penetrating in the thickness direction, and the mechanical key portion 11 has a combination of the position, shape, number, and the like of the plurality of through holes 12. An identification code used for general authentication is configured.

  When the identification code used for mechanical authentication is configured by the position, shape, number, etc. of the through holes 12 in this way, the position, shape, number, etc. of the through holes 12 are indicated on the vehicle side. A lock device for performing mechanical authentication by reading and locking / unlocking the vehicle door based on the result of the authentication is required. FIG. 10 shows an example of such a lock device. As shown in FIG. 10, the lock device 20 has a housing 22 embedded in the vehicle door so that a part of the outer peripheral surface is exposed on the outer panel side of the vehicle door, and the outer periphery is covered by the housing 22. In addition, a key cylinder 21 operable in a direction indicated by an arrow v in the figure is provided. Here, the key cylinder 21 is formed with a slot 21a having an opening on the outer panel side of the vehicle door, and the length in the width direction of the slot 21a is the length in the short side direction of the card-type electronic key. The length is set to be equal to Ls. Then, when the mechanical key portion 11 is inserted into the slot 21a, the position, shape, number, etc. of the through holes 12 formed in the mechanical key portion 11 are mechanically read through the key cylinder 21, and the position or It authenticates whether the shape, number, etc. are regular. Here, when the position, shape, number, etc. of the through holes 12 formed in the mechanical key portion 11 are not regular, the key cylinder 21 is restricted from being displaced in the direction indicated by the arrow v in the figure. At this time, the vehicle door is held in a locked state. On the other hand, when the position, shape, number, etc. of the through holes 12 formed in the mechanical key portion 11 are regular, the key cylinder 21 can be operated in the direction indicated by the arrow v in the figure. When the key cylinder 21 is operated in the direction indicated by the arrow v in the figure, the vehicle door is unlocked. According to such a lock device, as shown in FIG. 11 (a), the user inserts the mechanical key portion 11 into the slot 21a in a state where the user holds the portion of the communication circuit portion 10 of the electronic key. As shown in FIG. 11B, the vehicle door can be unlocked by operating the electronic key in the direction indicated by the arrow v.

  According to an electronic key system that employs such a card-type electronic key, the portability as an electronic key can be improved, and when an abnormality such as a decrease in vehicle battery voltage occurs. Inconveniences such as the vehicle door being unable to be unlocked can be eliminated.

  However, in the card type electronic key in which the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11 are integrated as described above, for example, when the user inserts the electronic key into the slot 21a, the tip of the electronic key is the vehicle. If there is an accidental contact with the outer panel of the door, the entire electronic key may be bent and deformed, and the loop antenna 13 and the IC chip 14 of the communication circuit unit 10 may be damaged. Further, when the user operates the electronic key in the direction indicated by the arrow v after inserting the mechanical key portion 11 of the electronic key into the slot 21a, a shearing force in the direction indicated by the arrow v is applied to the electronic key. Therefore, the loop antenna 13 and the IC chip 14 of the communication circuit unit 10 may be damaged due to such shearing force.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the object thereof is to provide a communication circuit section when using the mechanical key section while taking a structure in which the two sections of the communication circuit section and the mechanical key section are integrated. An object of the present invention is to provide a card-type electronic key that can suppress damage to the card.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention described in claim 1 includes a communication circuit unit functioning as a part for wirelessly transmitting an identification code used for electronic authentication, and a plurality of holes formed therein. A card-type electronic key having a mechanical key part on which an identification code used for mechanical authentication is formed, and wherein the communication circuit part and the mechanical key part are arranged in separate areas The communication circuit unit and the mechanical key unit are formed to be separable , and the mechanical key unit is in a usable state by being separated from the communication circuit unit, and the communication The gist is that when separated from the circuit unit, it cannot be reassembled into the communication circuit unit .

  According to this configuration, the user who possesses the card-type electronic key can separate the communication circuit unit and the mechanical key unit, and therefore can perform mechanical authentication using only the mechanical key unit. It becomes like this. Therefore, for example, it is possible to avoid bending deformation in the communication circuit part when inserting the mechanical key part into the key cylinder, or shearing force acting on the communication circuit part when operating the key cylinder. The breakage of the circuit portion can be suppressed.

Also , the person who intends to use the mechanical key part must separate the mechanical key part from the communication circuit part, and after separating the mechanical key part from the communication circuit part in this way, It becomes impossible to reassemble the mechanical key part in the circuit part. As a result, even if an abnormal situation occurs in which the third party illegally uses the mechanical key part where the user is not involved, the authorized user of the electronic key is in a state where the communication circuit part and the mechanical key part are separated. Therefore, it becomes possible to know the abnormal situation through this, so that the security as an electronic key can be improved.

In this case, according to the invention described in claim 2 , the planar shape of the card-type electronic key is formed in a rectangular shape, and the area where the communication circuit part is arranged and the area where the mechanical key part is arranged Are arranged in the long side direction of the card-type electronic key, and the communication circuit unit is in a usable state when the mechanical key unit is separated from the communication circuit unit. A configuration may be adopted in which the card-type electronic key is used in a direction along the short side direction in a state separated from the card-type electronic key. Thereby, the mechanical key part can be used only in a state separated from the communication circuit part.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the card type electronic key according to claim 1, the card type electronic key, its planar shape be those which form a rectangular shape, it is arranged in the communication circuit unit The area has a square shape, and the area in which the mechanical key portion is disposed has a short side portion along the long side direction of the card-type electronic key, and the card-type electronic key has a short side. The gist is that each is divided into rectangular shapes having a long side portion along the side direction.

  In the case of a card-type electronic key in which the communication circuit unit and the mechanical key unit are integrated and the planar shape is rectangular, the direction of use when the electronic key is used as a mechanical key is the length of the electronic key. When the direction along the side direction is set, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the length in the width direction of the slot formed in the key cylinder is equal to the length in the short side direction of the electronic key. Must be set to length. On the other hand, as in the above configuration, the area where the mechanical key portion is arranged has a short side portion along the long side direction of the card-type electronic key, and along the short side direction of the electronic key. If the rectangular shape having the long side portion is partitioned, the length in the width direction of the slot can be made shorter than the length of the width in the short side direction of the electronic key. Miniaturization can be achieved.

Invention of Claim 4 has the isolation | separation structure which can isolate | separate the said communication circuit part and the said mechanical key part in the card | curd type electronic key as described in any one of Claims 1-3 , and this isolation | separation The structure is a structure in which a cut is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the card-type electronic key corresponding to a boundary portion between the area where the communication circuit part is arranged and the area where the mechanical key part is arranged. This is the gist.

  According to this configuration, when the communication circuit unit and the mechanical key unit are separated from each other, they are physically separated from each other. Therefore, a separation structure in which the above-described mechanical key unit cannot be reassembled to the communication circuit unit is provided. The key can be easily formed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the card-type electronic key according to the fourth aspect, for protection, the outer peripheral surface of the card-type electronic key is covered so as to correspond to the portion where the separation structure is formed. The gist is that the seal is detachably attached.

  Forming a separation structure capable of separating the communication circuit unit and the mechanical key unit at the boundary between the region where the communication circuit unit is disposed and the region where the mechanical key unit is disposed Thus, it is possible to suppress the breakage of the communication circuit unit. However, when such a separation structure is formed on the card-type electronic key, for example, when the user applies a force to the electronic key in order to accommodate the electronic key in a wallet or a card case, the force is reduced. If concentrated on the separation structure, the communication circuit unit and the mechanical key unit may be separated. That is, there is a concern that the communication circuit unit and the mechanical key unit are separated in a situation where the user does not intend to use the mechanical key unit. In this regard, as in the above configuration, if the protective seal is detachably attached to the part where the separation structure is formed so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the card-type electronic key, the force is applied to the electronic key. Is added to the entire area where the protective seal is applied. Therefore, it is possible to avoid concentration of force on the separation structure. For example, when the card-type electronic key is stored in a wallet or a card case, there is a concern that the communication circuit unit and the mechanical key unit may be separated. Will be able to wipe out.

  According to the card type electronic key according to the present invention, the communication circuit unit and the mechanical key unit are integrated in two parts, and the communication circuit unit is prevented from being damaged when the mechanical key unit is used. Will be able to.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a card-type electronic key according to the present invention is applied to an electronic key used in the above-described vehicle electronic key system will be described with reference to FIGS.
1A and 1B show a perspective structure and a broken sectional structure of the card-type electronic key according to the present embodiment. FIGS. 1C and 1D show A- The cross-sectional structures along line A and line BB are respectively shown. First, the structure of the card-type electronic key will be described with reference to FIGS. The basic structure of the card-type electronic key shown in FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (d) is the same as that of the card-type electronic key shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b). That is, the card-type electronic key shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D is also formed into a rectangular planar shape, and the following (a1), The two parts (a2) are arranged and integrated in the form of being arranged in the long side direction a of the electronic key.

  (A1) A communication circuit unit 10 that includes a loop antenna 13 and an IC chip 14 and functions as a part that receives a radio signal transmitted from a vehicle and wirelessly transmits an identification code used for electronic authentication.

(A2) The mechanical key part 11 in which an identification code used for mechanical authentication is formed by the plurality of through holes 12.
Incidentally, in FIGS. 1A to 1D, elements having the same functions as those shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B are denoted by the same reference numerals. I will not repeat the explanation of these elements.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), in this card type electronic key, the area where the communication circuit unit 10 is arranged is square and the mechanical key unit is arranged. The regions are partitioned into rectangular shapes having a short side portion 11a along the long side direction a of the electronic key and a long side portion 11b along the short side direction b of the electronic key. As shown in FIG. 1C, the front and back surfaces of the card-type electronic key correspond to the boundary portion S between the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11, and A cut 15a having a triangular cross section extending in the short side direction b is formed. That is, in this card type electronic key, when the required external force acts on the boundary portion S, the electronic key is bent along the cut 15a, so that the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11 are physically separated. It is possible. Further, as shown in FIG. 1 (d), in this card type electronic key, two through holes 15b having a rectangular cross section are formed so as to overlap the portion where the notches 15a are formed. Notches 15c are formed corresponding to both ends in the extending direction, and when an external force acts on the boundary portion S, this is easy to concentrate on the notches 15a. That is, the card-type electronic key has a structure that easily bends along the notch 15a when an external force is applied to the boundary portion S, so that the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11 are easily separated. . By the way, in this card type electronic key, a separation structure capable of physically separating the communication circuit portion 10 and the mechanical key portion 11 is constituted by the notches 15a, the through holes 15b, and the notches 15c. . In this card-type electronic key, the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11 are maintained in a state of being separated from each other once separated due to such a separation structure, and cannot be assembled again.

  On the other hand, the mechanical key portion 11 includes a portion in which a plurality of through-holes 12 penetrating in the thickness direction are formed around the central portion in the short side direction b of the card-type electronic key. 12 is divided into portions where no part is formed. The mechanical key portion 11 is used in a direction along the short side direction b of the electronic key in a state separated from the communication circuit portion 10, and the through hole 12 has the short side portion 11 a as a tip portion. The part formed with is inserted into a key cylinder provided in the vehicle and used. Incidentally, the part in which the through-hole 12 is not formed is a part to be gripped by the user.

Next, with reference to FIG.2 and FIG.3, the usage method of the mechanical key part 11 of the card-type electronic key which has such a structure is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 2A, when using the mechanical key unit 11, the user first holds the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11 of the card-type electronic key with both hands. A force is applied to the boundary portion S of the electronic key so that the mechanical key portion 11 is bent to the front side or the back side of the electronic key. Here, as shown in FIG. 2B, for example, if the user bends the mechanical key portion 11 to the back side of the electronic key, the electronic key is divided along the notch 15a, and FIG. ), The communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11 are separated from each other.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle performs mechanical authentication by reading the position, shape, number, and the like of the through holes 12 formed in the mechanical key portion 11, and based on the result of the authentication. A lock device 20 for locking / unlocking the vehicle door is provided. Incidentally, the basic structure of the lock apparatus 20 is the same as that of the lock apparatus 20 illustrated in FIG. That is, the lock device 20 shown in FIG. 3 also includes a housing 22 and a key cylinder 21 in which a slot 21a is formed. Through the key cylinder 21, the position, shape, number, and the like of the through hole 12 of the mechanical key portion 11 are determined. In addition to reading, authentication is performed to determine whether the position, shape, number, and the like are correct. However, as described above, since the mechanical key portion 11 is used by being inserted into the slot 21a of the key cylinder 21 from the short side portion 11a side, the length in the width direction of the slot 21a is the above-described mechanical length. The key portion 11 is set to a length equivalent to the length LMs in the short side direction. Therefore, compared with the key cylinder 21 illustrated in FIG. 10, the length in the width direction of the slot 21a can be reduced, so that the key cylinder 21 itself can be downsized.

  And in this lock device 20, when the part in which the through-hole 12 of the mechanical key part 11 is formed is inserted in the slot 21a, the position, shape, number, etc. of the through-holes 12 formed in the mechanical key part 11 Is not a regular one, the key cylinder 21 is restricted from being displaced in the direction indicated by the arrow v in the figure and is held at the position shown in the figure. At this time, the vehicle door is maintained in the locked state. Is done. On the other hand, when the position, shape, number, etc. of the through holes 12 formed in the mechanical key portion 11 are regular, the key cylinder 21 can be operated in the direction indicated by the arrow v in the figure. When the key cylinder 21 is operated in the direction indicated by the arrow v in the figure, the vehicle door is unlocked.

  Therefore, the user inserts the portion where the through-hole 12 of the mechanical key portion 11 is formed into the slot 21 a while holding the portion where the through-hole 12 of the mechanical key portion 11 is not formed. By operating the key part 11 in the direction indicated by the arrow v, the vehicle door can be unlocked.

  By adopting such a structure as a card-type electronic key, the user can perform mechanical authentication using only the mechanical key unit 11 after separating the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11. . For this reason, for example, when the mechanical key unit 11 is inserted into the key cylinder 21, bending deformation occurs in the communication circuit unit 10, or when the key cylinder 21 is operated in the direction indicated by the arrow v, the communication circuit unit 10 is sheared. Since it is possible to avoid the action of force, the communication circuit unit 10 can be prevented from being damaged.

  Further, a person who intends to use the mechanical key unit 11 must separate the mechanical key unit 11 from the communication circuit unit 10, and after once separating the mechanical key unit 11 from the communication circuit unit 10 in this way. In this case, the mechanical key unit 11 cannot be assembled again to the communication circuit unit 10. As a result, even if an abnormal situation occurs in which the third party who has stolen the card-type electronic key illegally uses the mechanical key unit 11, a legitimate user of the electronic key can use the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit. Since the abnormal state can be known through being separated from the unit 11, the security as an electronic key can be improved.

As described above, according to the card-type electronic key according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) A separation structure including a notch 15a, a through hole 15b, and a notch 15c is formed at a boundary portion S between an area where the communication circuit unit 10 is arranged and an area where the mechanical key unit 11 is arranged. The communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11 can be separated by the separation structure. As a result, bending deformation occurs in the communication circuit unit 10 when the mechanical key unit 11 is inserted into the key cylinder 21, or shear force is applied to the communication circuit unit 10 when the key cylinder 21 is operated in the direction indicated by the arrow v. Can be avoided, so that the communication circuit unit 10 can be prevented from being damaged. Further, by adopting a structure including the through hole 15b and the notch 15c in addition to the notch 15a as the separation structure, when a required external force acts on the boundary portion S, this is formed as the notch 15a. Therefore, the user can more easily separate the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11 from each other.

  (2) The area in which the communication circuit unit 10 is arranged and the area in which the mechanical key unit 11 is arranged are arranged in the long side direction a of the card-type electronic key, and the mechanical key unit 11 is The electronic key is configured to be used in the direction along the short side direction b of the electronic key in a state separated from the communication circuit unit 10. That is, the mechanical key unit 11 is configured to be usable when separated from the communication circuit unit 10. Further, by adopting a structure including the notch 15a, the through hole 15b, and the notch 15c as the separation structure, after the mechanical key portion 11 is once separated from the communication circuit portion 10, the communication circuit portion 10 is The mechanical key unit 11 cannot be assembled again. Accordingly, the user can know the unauthorized use of the mechanical key unit 11 through the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11 being separated, thereby improving the security as an electronic key. Will be able to.

  (3) The area in which the communication circuit unit 10 is arranged has a square shape, and the area in which the mechanical key unit 11 is arranged has a short side portion 11a along the long side direction a of the electronic key. In addition, each of the electronic keys is partitioned into rectangular shapes having a long side portion 11b along the short side direction b. Thereby, since the length of the slot 21a of the key cylinder 21 in the width direction can be shortened, the key cylinder 21 itself can be downsized.

In addition, the said embodiment can also be implemented with the following forms which changed this suitably.
By forming the separation structure as described above in the boundary portion S of the card type electronic key, it is possible to surely prevent the communication circuit unit 10 from being damaged. However, when such a separation structure is formed on the card-type electronic key, for example, when the user applies a force to the electronic key in order to accommodate the electronic key in a wallet or a card case, the force is reduced. If concentrated on the separation structure, the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11 may be separated. That is, there is a concern that the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11 are separated in a situation where the user does not intend to use the mechanical key unit 11. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 showing the perspective structure of the card-type electronic key as a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1A, the protective seal 16 can be peeled off by covering the front and back surfaces of the card-type electronic key, for example. You may make it stick to. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, corresponding to only the portion where the separation structure is formed, the protective seal 16 is detachably pasted so as to cover the front and back surfaces of the card-type electronic key. Also good. As a result, when a force is applied to the electronic key, the force is distributed over the entire portion where the protective seal 16 is affixed, so that the force can be avoided from concentrating on the separation structure. . Therefore, the concern that the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11 are separated when the card-type electronic key is accommodated in the wallet or the card case can be eliminated. In the card-type electronic key having the structure shown in FIG. 4, if the seal 16 is formed by an opaque seal member made of, for example, a polyester resin film, the identification code formed of the through hole 12 is made by the seal 16. Since it can be concealed, reading of the identification code by a third party can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to improve the security as a card-type electronic key.

  In the above embodiment, the area where the communication circuit unit 10 of the card-type electronic key is arranged is divided into a square shape, and the area where the mechanical key unit 11 is arranged is divided into a rectangular shape. Instead of this, for example, both the area where the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11 are arranged may be partitioned into a rectangular shape or a square shape.

  In the above embodiment, the card-type electronic key has a shape in which the planar shape is a rectangular shape. Alternatively, for example, the card shape electronic key may have a shape in which the planar shape is a square shape. .

  In the above embodiment, the area in which the communication circuit unit 10 of the card-type electronic key is arranged and the area in which the mechanical key unit 11 is arranged are arranged in the long side direction a of the electronic key. I made it. Instead, as shown in FIG. 6, the perspective structure of the card type electronic key as a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1A, the area where the communication circuit unit 10 is arranged and the arrangement of the mechanical key unit 11 are arranged. For example, the regions may be arranged in the short side direction b of the electronic key. When the respective areas are arranged in the short side direction b of the same electronic key as described above, the arrangement and shape of the loop antenna 13 and the IC chip 14 are changed, or The arrangement and shape of each element may be changed as appropriate, such as providing a separation structure by forming the notch 15a, the through hole 15b, and the notch 15c in the long side direction a of the electronic key. Further, when the structure shown in FIG. 6 is adopted as the card-type electronic key, the direction along the long side direction a of the electronic key in a state where the mechanical key part 11 is separated from the communication circuit unit 10. It is good also as what is used for.

  In the above embodiment, the area in which the communication circuit unit 10 of the card-type electronic key is arranged and the area in which the mechanical key unit 11 is arranged are arranged in the long side direction a of the electronic key. Then, the mechanical key unit 11 is used in a direction along the short side direction b of the electronic key in a state separated from the communication circuit unit 10. Instead, for example, the area where the communication circuit unit 10 of the card-type electronic key is arranged and the area where the mechanical key unit 11 is arranged are arranged in the long side direction a of the electronic key. The mechanical key unit 11 may be used in a direction along the long side direction a of the electronic key in a state separated from the communication circuit unit 10.

  In the above embodiment, the notch extended in the short side direction b of the electronic key corresponding to the boundary portion S between the region where the communication circuit unit 10 is arranged and the region where the mechanical key unit 11 is arranged However, instead of this, for example, as in the modification illustrated in FIG. 6 above, and as described above, the notch 15a is formed in the long side direction a of the electronic key. May be. In short, it is only necessary that a separation structure capable of separating the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11 is provided.

  In the above embodiment, as the separation structure, a structure including the notch 15a, the through hole 15b, and the notch 15c is adopted, but instead of this, for example, the through hole 15b and the notch 15c are omitted, You may make it employ | adopt the structure which consists only of the cut 15a. In place of the triangular cut section 15a, a rectangular cut section or a concave groove or slit may be formed. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 7 showing a cross-sectional structure of a card type electronic key as a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1C, the communication circuit portion 10 and the mechanical key portion 11 correspond to the boundary portion S. Step portions 10a and 11c are formed, respectively. And the uneven | corrugated fitting structure which consists of the convex part 10b and the recessed part 11d of T-shaped cross section is formed in the surface which contact | abuts these level | step-difference parts 10a and 11c mutually at an up-down direction, The mechanical key unit 11 may be integrated and a structure in which the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11 are separated by releasing these fittings may be employed. Incidentally, in the separation structure composed of the notches 15a and the like, the mechanical key portion 11 cannot be reassembled in the communication circuit portion 10 after the mechanical key portion 11 is once separated from the communication circuit portion 10, By adopting the structure shown in FIG. 7 as the structure, it is possible to assemble these again after separating the mechanical key part 11 from the communication circuit part 10. In short, the separation structure may be a structure that can separate the communication circuit unit 10 and the mechanical key unit 11.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the key cylinder 21 of the lock device 20 can be operated in the direction indicated by the arrow va in the drawing, that is, in the same direction as the insertion direction of the mechanical key portion 11. Good.

In the above embodiment, the case where the card type electronic key according to the present invention is applied to an electronic key used in an electronic key system of a vehicle is exemplified. You may do it.
(Appendix)
Next, a technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment and its modifications will be additionally described.

(B) the previous SL communication circuit unit having the mechanical key part and a separable separation structure, the separation structure is a region disposed in that region of the communication circuit unit and the are arranged in the mechanical key part Is formed by combining a cut formed in the outer peripheral surface of the card-type electronic key corresponding to the boundary portion with a through-hole penetrating in the thickness direction of the card-type electronic key. Card type electronic key. According to this configuration, when a required external force acts on the boundary portion, it is easy to concentrate on the portion where the notch is formed, so that the communication circuit portion and the mechanical key portion can be more easily separated.

(B) those wherein the card type electronic key through wireless communication between the communication device provided in the vehicle or the vehicle electronic key system for performing a locking / unlocking of the vehicle door through lock device provided on the vehicle door, Card-type electronic key characterized by being used for Specifically, as in the same configuration, the card-type electronic key according to claims 1 to 6 and appendix a is provided through wireless communication with a communication device provided in a vehicle or on a vehicle door. Further, it is possible to adopt a configuration that is used in an electronic key system of a vehicle that locks / unlocks a vehicle door through a lock device.

(A)-(d) is the perspective view, top view, and sectional drawing which show the perspective structure, fracture | rupture sectional structure, and sectional structure, respectively, about one Embodiment of the card-type electronic key concerning this invention. (A)-(c) is the top view and front view which respectively show a part of the usage method about the mechanical key part of the card type electronic key of the embodiment. The perspective view which shows a part of usage method about the mechanical key part of the card-type electronic key of the embodiment. The perspective view which shows the perspective structure about the modification of the card-type electronic key concerning this invention. The perspective view which shows the perspective structure about the other modification of the card-type electronic key concerning this invention. The perspective view which shows the perspective structure about the other modification of the card-type electronic key concerning this invention. The perspective view which shows the perspective structure about the other modification of the card-type electronic key concerning this invention. The perspective view which shows the perspective structure about the other modification of the card-type electronic key concerning this invention. (A), (b) is the perspective view and top view which respectively show the perspective structure and fracture | rupture sectional structure about the conventional card type electronic key. The perspective view which shows the usage method about the conventional card-type electronic key. (A), (b) is a perspective view which similarly shows the usage method about the conventional card-type electronic key.

Explanation of symbols

  S: Boundary part, 10: Communication circuit part, 10a ... Step part, 10b ... Projection part, 11 ... Mechanical key part, 11a ... Short side part, 11b ... Long side part, 11c ... Step part, 11d ... Concave part, 12 ... Through hole, 13 ... loop antenna, 14 ... IC chip, 15a ... notch, 15b ... through hole, 15c ... notch, 16 ... protective seal, 20 ... lock device, 21 ... key cylinder, 21a ... slot, 22 ... housing .

Claims (5)

A communication circuit part that functions as a part that wirelessly transmits an identification code used for electronic authentication, and a mechanical key part in which a plurality of holes are formed and an identification code used for mechanical authentication is formed by the plurality of holes A card-type electronic key in which the communication circuit portion and the mechanical key portion are arranged and integrated in different areas,
The communication circuit part and the mechanical key part are formed to be separable ,
The mechanical key unit is in a usable state by being separated from the communication circuit unit, and is in a state in which it cannot be re-attached to the communication circuit unit when separated from the communication circuit unit. A card-type electronic key. The card-type electronic key has a rectangular shape in plan view, and the area where the communication circuit part is arranged and the area where the mechanical key part is arranged are In a state where the mechanical key unit is separated from the communication circuit unit so that the mechanical key unit can be used by being separated from the communication circuit unit. The card type electronic key according to claim 1 , wherein the card type electronic key is formed to be used in a direction along a short side direction of the card type electronic key. The card-type electronic key has a rectangular shape in plan view, the area where the communication circuit unit is arranged is a square shape, and the area where the mechanical key unit is arranged is It has a short side portion along the longitudinal direction of the card type electronic key, and, according to claim 1, formed by compartments respectively a rectangular shape having a long side portion along the short side of the card-type electronic key Card-type electronic key as described in The communication circuit unit and the mechanical key unit have a separation structure that can be separated, and the separation structure is a boundary between the region where the communication circuit unit is disposed and the region where the mechanical key unit is disposed. The card-type electronic key according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the card-type electronic key has a structure in which a cut is formed in an outer peripheral surface of the card-type electronic key corresponding to the portion. 5. The card-type electronic key according to claim 4 , wherein a protective seal is detachably attached so as to cover an outer peripheral surface of the card-type electronic key corresponding to a portion where the separation structure is formed.

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