Electronic Key

Details Electronic Key Electronic Key

1997-08-12

2001-04-17

Gall, Lloyd A. (Department: 3627)

Locks

Special application

For automotive vehicles

C070S257000, C070S278200, C070S408000, C070S413000, C070S45600R, C070S459000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06216501

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an electronic key for the actuation of a lock, having a housing on which a key bit for a mechanical lock is arranged and a receptacle for the key bit.
In automobiles particularly, the doors are often equipped with central locking, the locks of the doors being capable of being operated remotely by infrared or high-frequency radiation by means of an electronic key for the sake of increased convenience. An automobile door is usually provided with an additional mechanical lock for opening the door, the lock being actuable by means of an additional mechanical key. This ensures that at least one lock for opening a door can be actuated even if the electronic key fails, for example if the energy accumulator is empty.
In the case of electronic keys of this type, then, it is known to fasten the additional key bit;, serving as an emergency key for the mechanical lock, to the housing of the key. So that the additional key bit does not interfere with general operation, it is arranged pivotably on the housing, so that it can be folded into the housing.
Now these known electronic keys may also be provided with extended functions, in that they are used additionally for actuating the ignition lock in the automobile. While the automobile is in operation, the key is secured in the ignition lock against inadvertent removal which would unintentionally cause the automobile to be rendered inoperative. Now it has become clear that there are emergencies in which the known keys fail. If, for example, the voltage supply at the ignition lock breaks down while the automobile is in operation, the electronic key can no longer be removed from the ignition lock. It is consequently also no longer possible to lock the doors of the automobile at the mechanical lock by means of the emergency key.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object on which the prior patent application P44 44 913.5 is based is to develop a key further in such a way that the operating reliability of the emergency key is improved.
This object is achieved there in that the emergency key is designed as a separate key, and in that the housing contains a receptacle for the emergency key, into which the latter can be inserted.
The object on which the invention is based is to provide an electronic key which likewise additionally has a mechanical key bit and in which the key housing is designed so as to be easy to operate and visually attractive.
This object is achieved by an electronic key having a housing which contains the parts of the electronic key that effectively actuate a lock where the housing has the shape of a thin wedge with a narrow end designed to fit into the lock and the parts that effectively actuate the lock are contained in the narrow end of the housing.
In the key according to the invention, the position of the active part of the electronic key can be identified immediately by touch when it is picked up. The key is visually highly attractive. It may be designed with a small thickness, particularly if the mechanical key is fitted edgewise in the housing. The key according to the invention has laterally large uninterrupted faces and therefore possesses only a few or no sharp edges, so that it does not constitute a risk of damage to coat pockets, etc. Operating elements of different size and their handling symbols can be presented clearly on these surfaces. To make it easier to locate the individual operating elements in darkness, markings, for example webs, grooves or the like, may be provided on the housing surface between the operating elements. Also, indicator elements and setting elements for storing reference data can be accommodated on the side faces. Further refinements and advantages emerge from the description of exemplary embodiments and the subclaims.


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