Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-11
2001-07-31
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
C701S032000, C701S029000, C340S870030, C340S005230, C340S005220, C235S375000, C235S380000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269292
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data carrier system in which operational information of a vehicle is provided from a vehicle-side control device to an external control device.
BACKGROUND ART
Prior Art
FIG. 22
shows a conventional structure of the above-described data carrier system. A vehicle
1
is equipped with a vehicle-side control device
2
. When an IC card
3
is inserted in a holder (not shown) of the vehicle
1
, operational information (the date and time of start-up of an engine, and the like) is transmitted from the vehicle-side control device
2
to the IC card
3
and is also recorded in a memory of the IC card
3
.
A personal computer
4
and a reading device
5
are installed in an office or the like. When a driver operates the personal computer
4
after having carried the IC card
3
and inserted it in the reading device
5
, a command to “read data” is transmitted from the personal computer
4
to the reading device
5
. Then, a command to “transmit data” is transmitted from the reading device
5
to the IC card
3
and the operational information is thereby transferred from the IC card
3
to the personal computer
4
via the reading device
5
.
However, in the above-described conventional structure, it is inconvenient for the driver to carry both a key and the IC card
3
, and accordingly, there is room for improvement with respect to convenient usage. Particularly, in a case of a special vehicle such as a construction vehicle, it is extremely inconvenient to carry both the key and the IC card
3
in a work site, and accordingly, improvement in convenient usage has been urgently demanded.
The present invention has been devised in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a data carrier system which allows communication of operational information without carrying of an IC card.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
A data carrier system described in claim
1
is characterized by comprising: a vehicle-side control device mounted at a vehicle, which transmits operational information of the vehicle; a data carrier device which is provided in a vehicle key and which records the operational information transmitted from the vehicle-side control device; and a reading device which reads out the operational information from the data carrier device, accompanying supplying thereto of a command signal from an external control device.
According to the above-described means, communication of the operational information is effected with the vehicle key serving as a medium. For this reason, it becomes unnecessary to carry an IC card, thereby resulting in improved convenience for use.
A data carrier system described in claim
2
is characterized in that the vehicle-side control device permits starting of the vehicle when it is determined that a key is that registered based on key information transmitted from the data carrier device.
According to the above-described means, an existing key having security functions (an immobilizer function, a door security function) can be utilized to allow communication of the operational data.
A data carrier system described in claim
3
is characterized in that the reading device has a read/write function in which user information is supplied to and recorded in the data carrier device and the user information is read from the data carrier device.
According to the above-described means, it is possible to record the user information (maintenance data, optional carrying data, and the like) supplied from the reading device to the data carrier device, or to read and communicate the user information recorded in the data carrier device. For this reason, it becomes unnecessary to carry an IC card or a notebook having the user information recorded therein. Accordingly, convenience for use is further improved.
A data carrier system described in claim
4
is characterized in that the vehicle-side control device, the data carrier device, and the reading device each have an antenna coil; communication between the vehicle-side control device and the data carrier device and communication between the data carrier device and the reading device are each effected via the antenna coil in a non-contacting state; when communication is effected between the vehicle-side control device and the data carrier device, operating power is supplied in a non-contacting state from the antenna coil of the vehicle-side control device to the data carrier device via the antenna coil of the data carrier device; and when communication is effected between the data carrier device and the reading device, operating power is supplied in a non-contacting state from the antenna coil of the reading device to the data carrier device via the antenna coil of the data carrier device.
According to the above-described means, when the communication between the vehicle-side control device and the data carrier device is carried out, operating power is supplied in a non-contacting state from the vehicle-side control device to the data carrier device and the operational information is recorded in the data carrier device. Further, when the communication between the data carrier device and the reading device is carried out, operating power is supplied in a non-contacting state from the reading device to the data carrier device and the operational information is transmitted by the data carrier device. For this reason, it becomes unnecessary to build a power source such as a battery into the key. Accordingly, the key is prevented from being made larger and complicatedness of battery replacement is eliminated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4886616 (1989-09-01), Takeuchi et al.
patent: 5635900 (1997-06-01), Hasegawa et al.
patent: 5739674 (1998-04-01), Kawahara et al.
patent: 5774043 (1998-06-01), Mizuno et al.
patent: 5801614 (1998-09-01), Kokubu
patent: 5861816 (1999-01-01), Funakoshi et al.
patent: 5912512 (1999-06-01), Hayashi et al.
patent: 91 03 374 (1991-03-01), None
patent: 195 27 488 A1 (1996-02-01), None
patent: 60-51988 (1985-03-01), None
patent: 60-148653 (1985-05-01), None
patent: 63-199369 (1988-12-01), None
patent: 6-44425 (1992-07-01), None
patent: 7-85329 (1999-06-01), None
Aoki Hisashi
Koga Shinichi
Kokubu Sadao
Mizuno Takashi
Beaulieu Yonel
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Deveau Todd
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki -Seisakusho
Troutman Sanders LLP
LandOfFree
Data carrier system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Data carrier system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Data carrier system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2562112