Smart key system for automobile

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12221064-B2
Application number	US-202218050218-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2022
Priority date	Dec 3, 2021
Publication date	Feb 11, 2025
Grant date	Feb 11, 2025

Abstract

A key system for an automobile according to the present disclosure includes an on-vehicle device configured to transmit and receive a radio signal to and from an electronic key, and a resin panel through which the on-vehicle device is fixed to and held by a body of the automobile. The on-vehicle device includes a transmitter configured to transmit a search signal to the electronic key, a receiver configured to receive a response signal transmitted from the electronic key in response to the search signal, a control unit configured to control the transmission of the search signal, and a resin case. The smart key system for the automobile according to the present disclosure removes electrostatic charging generated by the search signal transmitted from the transmitter in either or both of the resin case and the resin panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A smart key system for an automobile, comprising:
an on-vehicle device configured to transmit and receive a radio signal to and from an electronic key; and
a resin panel through which the on-vehicle device is fixed to and held by a body of the automobile,
wherein the on-vehicle device comprises:
a transmitter configured to transmit a search signal to the electronic key;
a receiver configured to receive a response signal transmitted from the electronic key in response to the search signal;
a control unit configured to control at least the transmission of the search signal;
a resin case configured to house therein the transmitter, the receiver, and the control unit;
an input unit on an end of the resin case that receives an input from a user and communicates with the control unit that the input was performed; and
a surfactant that covers the input unit to remove an electrostatic charge generated by the search signal transmitted from the transmitter from either or both of the resin case and the resin panel.

2. The smart key system for the automobile according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit increases a strength of the search signal when a strength of the response signal received by the receiver is equal to or smaller than a predetermined strength, when a strength of a noise signal contained in the response signal is equal to or larger than the predetermined strength, or when the strength of the response signal is equal to or smaller than a predetermined strength and the strength of the noise signal is equal to larger than the predetermined strength.

3. The smart key system for the automobile according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the resin case and the resin panel, and the body of the automobile electrically connected to a negative electrode of an auxiliary battery are connected to a ground to further remove the electrostatic charge.

4. The smart key system for the automobile according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the resin case and the resin panel, and the body of the automobile including an electrostatic-charging removing device are connected to a ground to further remove the electrostatic charge.

5. The smart key system for an automobile according to claim 1 , wherein the surfactant includes a surfactant layer for the removal of the electrostatic charge on an exterior surface thereof.

6. The smart key system for the automobile according to claim 1 , wherein the surfactant includes an elastic film over the input unit for the removal of the electrostatic charge on an exterior surface thereof.

7. The smart key system for the automobile according to claim 1 , wherein the surfactant includes an elastic mesh sheet over the input unit for the removal of the electrostatic charge on an exterior surface thereof.

8. The smart key system for the automobile according to claim 1 , wherein the input unit is an engine start button.

9. The smart key system for the automobile according to claim 1 , wherein the input unit is an door unlock button.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yamada Koushi
• Sudo Junichi
• Sakurai Kenichiro
• Tanahashi Toshio

Classifications

• B60R25/2072

  with means for preventing jamming or interference of a remote switch control signal · CPC title

• G07C9/00309

  operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks · CPC title

• G07C2209/63

  Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle · CPC title

• G07C2009/00769

  with data transmission performed by wireless means · CPC title

• B60R16/02

  electric {constitutive elements} · CPC title