JPH063075B2 - Key device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key device in which a key and a key switch, each of which has an electric circuit, can be electrically connected to each other through contact means provided in each of them. .

<Prior Art> In recent years, for example, in order to prevent theft of an automobile, etc., a receiver is provided on the vehicle side and a transmitter is provided in a key for operating an ignition switch etc. Some are designed to enable unlocking and engine starting. This key requires a power supply for the transmitter and generally contains a battery.

However, if the capacity of the battery is increased to guarantee the transmission function for a long time, the entire key becomes large and the convenience of carrying is impaired, and if the size of the entire key is made small, the battery capacity becomes small and the battery capacity is reduced. There is a problem that maintainability becomes complicated.

Therefore, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 62-1659, a rechargeable battery and its charging terminal are provided in a key having a transmission function, and a charging terminal connected to the battery is provided in a key switch on the vehicle side. A device is disclosed which charges a built-in battery of a key through both charging terminals when the key switch is inserted.

In such a key device, the charging terminal on the key side is provided on the end face of the base end portion of the key body, and the outer cylinder of the key switch is rotatably surrounded so as to surround the base end portion of the key body. It is conceivable that the charging terminal on the key switch side is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the outer cylinder that extends to the front surface side and is formed into a cylindrical shape.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in order to inscribe the charging terminal provided at the base end portion of the key body in the outer cylinder, the outer shape of the charging terminal portion on the key side is equal to the rotor diameter. In this case, the base end of the key body is inserted into the front surface of the rotor in the key switch in an exposed state. That is, the key hole for inserting the key body is located at the back of the cap, which causes a problem that it is not easy to confirm the direction of the key hole when inserting the key.

In view of such problems of the conventional art, a main object of the present invention is to provide a key device which has a contact means at a base end portion of a key body and which can facilitate insertion of a key.

<Means for Solving the Problems> According to the present invention, such an object is to provide a first contact means provided at the base end portion of the key body and the key body by inserting the key body into the rotor of the key switch. A second member provided near the opening end of the rotor so as to come into contact with the first contact unit when moving.
A guide hole for guiding the base end portion of the key body and the first contact means of the key inserted in the rotor in a radial direction outward. The present invention is achieved by providing a key device, wherein a collar having an opening for exposing the key switch is attached to the key switch so as to rotate coaxially with the rotor.

<Operation> In this way, the contact means provided at the base end portion of the key body can be electrically connected to the contact means on the key switch side through the opening portion of the collar, and the key can be provided by the guide hole of the collar. The body can be guided toward the key hole of the rotor.

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a part of an engine control circuit in a vehicle such as an automobile to which a key device according to the present invention is applied. The steering column of the vehicle 1 is provided with a cylinder lock type key switch 2 that also serves as a steering lock and an ignition switch. Like the known vehicle key switch, the key 3 is inserted into the key switch 2 and turned "ON". By turning to the position, the engine can be started.

The key 3 is formed with a grip portion 4 integrally molded with a synthetic resin material, and the grip portion 4 is provided with a pair of light emitters 5 formed of, for example, light emitting diodes. It is buried to face,
A control circuit 7 having an emission circuit for the light emitter 5 and a rechargeable battery 8 as a power source are also embedded. Further, a pair of terminals 9 as fixed contact portions are fixedly provided at the base end portion of the key body 6 inserted into the key switch 2, and the measuring terminal 9
And the control circuit 7 are connected in the grip portion 4.

The key switch 2 is provided with a pair of terminals 10 as movable contact portions capable of elastically contacting both terminals 9 of the key 3 in the inserted state, and also allows light from the light emitting body 5 to be emitted. A light receiving body 11 including, for example, a phototransistor for receiving light is provided. The terminals 10 and the light receivers 11 are respectively connected to a control unit 12 provided in the vehicle 1. The control unit 12 includes an on-vehicle battery 13 as a power source, and cut relays 41 and 4 for disconnecting and connecting the engine control circuit 14 and the starter circuit 15 which are closed at the "ON" position and the "ST" position of the key switch 2, respectively.
2 are connected to each other.

2 and 3 show the key 3 inserted in the key switch 2.
The main parts of the key 3 and the key switch 2 in the state of being turned to the "ON" position are shown.

The key switch 2 has the "LOC" shown in FIG. 3 in order to enable the operation of the engine control circuit 14 and the starter circuit 15 and the in-vehicle devices (not shown).
Rotating a rotor switch (not shown) integrally arranged behind the rotor 17 of the key switch 2 together with the rotor 17 to the positions of “K”, “ACC”, “ON”, and “ST”. To close each circuit,
Key 3 inserted at the "LOCK" position shown
Is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow A, and when the "ACC" position is set, for example, the radio of the vehicle 1 is turned on, and when the "ON" position is set next, the engine control circuit 14 is turned on. , The starter circuit 15 when moved to the "ST" position
Is turned on.

As described above, the key switch 2 has a well-known key cylinder structure, and is received in the outer cylinder member 16 having a tubular shape and the outer cylinder member 16 so as to be rotatable within a predetermined angle range. And a rotor 17. The rotor 17 has a key hole 18 corresponding to the key body 6.

A cylindrical inner cap 19, which is formed on the insertion side of the key 3 on the insertion side of the key 3 so as to surround the end and to cover the peripheral edge of the axial end surface, is fitted to the outer cylinder member 16. A similarly formed auxiliary cap 21 is fitted to the inner cap 19. Further, the end faces of the auxiliary cap 21 in the axial direction are covered and both caps 19, 21 are
The cylindrical outer cap 22 that surrounds the
It is fixed by caulking. A hole 23 is coaxially formed in the inner cap 19 and the auxiliary cap 21 on the opening end side of the key hole 18, and the hole 23 has a key introduction hole 24 as a guide hole for the key body 6. A collar 25 is rotatably received.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the collar 25. As well shown in FIG. 4, the collar 25 has a disc-shaped end plate portion 26 at one axial end portion thereof. The above-mentioned key introduction hole 24 is formed in the portion 26. The body portion 27 of the collar 25 having a substantially columnar shape is formed with a slot 28 cut along the axial direction so as to communicate with the key introduction hole 24 and open at a symmetrical position on the outer peripheral surface. On the axial end surface of the body portion 27, the engaging protrusions 3 that engage with the engaging holes 29 cut on both sides of the key hole 18 of the rotor 17.
0 is projected, and the collar 25 is rotatable integrally with the rotor 17. Therefore, when inserting the key 3 into the key switch 2, the key body 6 is inserted into the key introduction hole 2 of the collar 25.
4 into the key hole 18
Is easily guided to the key hole 18
Can be plugged into.

By the way, on both end surfaces of the base end of the key body 6, a terminal holder 3 made of a synthetic resin as an insulating material and formed in a semi-cylindrical shape.
1 are fixed along the longitudinal direction, and a terminal 9 having a semi-arcuate cross section is fixed to the terminal holder 31 so as to cover the upper portion thereof. Therefore, in the inserted key 3, the terminals 9 provided on both end surfaces of the base end of the key body 6 are exposed from the slots 28 of the collar 25 toward the outside in the radial direction.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the auxiliary cap 21 is provided with a recess 32 that is open toward the connection surface side with the inner cap 19 and the inner peripheral surface side of the hole 23. Recess 32
A conductive support plate 33 is received in the inside by fixing a part of it to the auxiliary cap 21 by molding. The above-mentioned terminal 10 is rotatably supported at its base by a pivot shaft 34 provided upright on the support plate 33 and received in the recess 32. It should be noted that the hole 24 is provided between the approximate “ON” position and the “ST” position on the free end side of the terminal 10.
An arc-shaped contact portion 35 is formed along the inner peripheral surface of the.

The terminal 10 is biased by a compression coil spring 36 in a direction in which the contact portion 35 of the terminal 10 is projected toward the center from the inner peripheral surface of the hole 24 located near the opening end of the key hole 18. A stopper portion 37 is formed in the concave portion 32 in order to lock the free end of the spring-biased terminal 10 and regulate the protrusion amount of the contact portion 35. In addition, the support plate 33
The terminal portion 38 electrically connected to the control unit 12 is formed so as to extend in the direction along the compression coil spring 36.
Thus, the base end of the compression coil spring 36 is locked.

In this way, the terminal 10 is electrically connected to the control unit 12 via the coil spring 36 and the support plate 33. In addition, for example, a flexible lead wire may be soldered to the terminal 10 and the support plate 33 to connect them to each other.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the key switch 2 is provided with the above-mentioned light receiving body 11 so as to be exposed to the outside through an opening (not shown) formed in the axial end surface of the outer cap 22. . This light receiver 11 is roughly “ON”.
It is arranged at a position corresponding to the middle part of the section from the position to the "ST" position, and can receive the light from the light emitter 5 when the key 3 is located between them. The key 3 is provided with a pair of light emitters 5 symmetrically with respect to the axis, but this is for reversing the inserting direction of the key 3.

With this key device, press key 3 at the "LOCK" position.
The engine can be started by inserting the key switch 2 into the key switch 2 and rotating the key 3 to the “ST” position. By the way, as described above, in this embodiment, both terminals 9 and 10 come into contact with each other at the “ON” position, and the voltage of the battery 13 is controlled by the control unit 12 on the key 3 side. It is applied to the circuit 7 and the rechargeable battery 8. At this time, a specific code signal is emitted as light from the light emitter 5 by the trigger operation in the control circuit 7, and the light receiver 11 on the key switch 2 side receives the light converted into the code signal.
In the control unit 12, when it is confirmed that this code signal and the code stored in the control unit 12 match, a cut relay for disconnecting / connecting the engine control circuit 14 and the starter circuit 15 from the control unit 12 Four
A signal that closes 1, 42 is output. And key 3
The engine control circuit 14 and the starter circuit 15 are turned on via the switch circuit of the key switch 2 according to the position of 1, and the engine rotates.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, according to the present invention, when the key and the key switch each having an electric circuit are electrically connected to each other, the key switch is provided with a collar that can be rotated integrally with the key hole. By providing an opening outward in the radial direction on the key, the contact means on the key side can be brought into contact with the contact means on the key switch side, and the key body can be guided by the guide hole provided on the collar, so that the key can be easily Can be inserted, the effect is extremely large.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle control circuit to which a key device according to the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an essential part showing a state in which a key in the key device according to the present invention is inserted into a key switch. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a collar according to the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle, 2 ... Key switch 3 ... Key, 4 ... Gripping part 5 ... Light-emitting body, 6 ... Key body 7 ... Control circuit, 8 ... Rechargeable battery 9 ... Terminal, 10 ... Terminal 11 ... Light receiving body, 12 ... Control unit 13 ... Battery, 14 ... Engine control circuit 15 ... Starter circuit, 16 ... Outer cylinder member 17 ... Rotor, 18 ... Key hole 19 ... Inner cap, 21 ... Auxiliary cap 22 ... Outer cap, 23 ... Hole 24 ... Key introduction hole, 25 ... Collar 26 ... End plate part, 27 ... Body part 28 ... Slot, 29 ... Engagement hole 30 ... Engagement convex part, 31 ... Terminal holder 32 ... Recessed part, 33 ... Support plate 34 ... Pivot shaft, 35 ... Contact point Part 36 ... Coil spring, 37 ... Stopper part 38 ... Terminal part, 41, 42 ... Cut relay

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Kazuhiro Sakata, Kazuhiro Sakata, 3700 Wadayama, Shimonaka, Sadohara-cho, Miyazaki-gun, Miyazaki Prefecture Honda Locks Co., Ltd. Character Wadayama 3700 Address Honda Lock Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masami Tanaka Shimoda, Sadowara-cho, Miyazaki-gun, Miyazaki Prefecture Wadayama 3700 Address Honda Lock Co., Ltd. (56) Bibliography 52-22186 JP, U) Actually open 60-188760 (JP, U) Actually open 62-52656 (JP, U) Actually open 61-47363 (JP, U) Japanese Patent Publication 2-20790 (JP, B2)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first contact means provided at a base end portion of a key body and a rotor of the key switch so as to come into contact with the first contact means when the key body is inserted into a rotor of a key switch for rotation. A key device having a second contact means provided in the vicinity of an opening end, the guide device guiding a base end portion of the key body, and the key of the key being inserted into the rotor. A key device having a collar having an opening for exposing the first contact means outward in the radial direction is attached to the key switch so as to rotate coaxially with the rotor.