Motor vehicles – With means for promoting safety of vehicle – its occupant or... – By preventing unauthorized or unintended access or use
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-28
2001-07-17
English, Peter C. (Department: 3619)
Motor vehicles
With means for promoting safety of vehicle, its occupant or...
By preventing unauthorized or unintended access or use
C307S010500, C070S252000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260651
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to vehicle starting devices having IC cards.
2. Background Art
In recent years, there has been a demand for improved vehicle security. In particular, various types of security systems for preventing wrongful operation of ignition switches have been proposed.
A typical system has, for example, an integrated circuit (IC) card storing an identification (ID) code. The ID code is read by an IC card reader provided in a vehicle. If the ID code matches a code registered in the reader, operation of the ignition switch is validated to permit engine starting.
A prior art ignition switch has a key rotor rotated by a key. When the key rotor is rotated by the key to a “LOCK” position, which prohibits the vehicle from being driven, the steering shaft is mechanically locked, thus preventing the shaft from rotating. When the key rotor is rotated to a position that allows the vehicle to be driven (“ACC” position or “ON” position), the steering shaft is unlocked and allowed to rotate. Since the ID card system is configured simply to permit the engine to start if the ID code stored by the IC card matches the registered code, the security system cannot replace the ignition switch, which also functions as a steering shaft locking means.
Furthermore, the IC card system requires both the IC card and the ignition key, which is burdensome.
Accordingly, the present inventors considered an operating means, in lieu of the key, operable between a driving prohibition position and a driving permitting position, which includes the engine starting position. When the operating means is located at the driving prohibiting position, a steering shaft locking means locks the steering shaft in a rotation prohibition state. The operating means and the steering shaft locking means define a main mechanism, which is located at an instrument panel of the vehicle. Furthermore, the inventors considered a card receiving portion arranged in the instrument panel to receive the IC card. For example, as shown in
FIG. 33
, a main mechanism
92
having an operating member
91
is located on an instrument panel
93
beside a steering wheel
94
, and a card receiving portion
95
is located on top of the instrument panel
93
.
However, since the main mechanism
92
is separate from the card receiving portion
95
, the main mechanism
92
and the card receiving portion
95
are not easy to handle and difficult to assemble. Further, it is difficult to design their arrangements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a vehicle starting device having improved vehicle security, requiring no keys, capable of permitting and prohibiting rotation of the steering shaft, simplifying assembly, and facilitating arrangement design of the starting device.
The invention of the first embodiment is a vehicle starting device for determining whether an ID code stored in an IC card matches a code registered in a vehicle, wherein the determination result is used as one of the conditions for permitting starting of the engine, the device comprising:
a card receiving portion for receiving the IC card; and
a main mechanism having an operating means operable between a driving prohibiting position and a driving permitting position, which includes an engine starting position, and a steering shaft locking means for locking a steering shaft in a rotation prohibition state when the operating means is located at the driving prohibiting position, the device being characterized in that:
the card receiving portion and the main mechanism are connected with each other integrally;
a movable member that moves in accordance with the insertion of the IC card is arranged in the card receiving portion; and
a cooperative unlocking mechanism cooperating with the movable member for cancelling the locking of the steering shaft locking means is located between the card receiving portion and the main mechanism.
In the above structure, it is determined whether the ID code stored in the IC card matches the code registered in the vehicle, and the determination result is used as one of the conditions for permitting starting of the engine. Thus, vehicle security is improved. Furthermore, a main mechanism has an operating means operable between a driving prohibiting position and a driving permitting position, which includes an engine starting position. Thus, the conventional key is not required. The main mechanism also has a steering shaft locking means for locking a steering shaft in a rotation prohibition state when the operating means is located at the driving prohibiting position. This prohibits and permits rotation of the steering shaft. Further, the card receiving portion and the main mechanism are connected with each other integrally. Thus, assembly is easy and arrangement design is simple.
Furthermore, since the card receiving portion and the main mechanism are formed integrally, various types of mechanical control mechanisms may be provided between the card receiving portion and the main mechanism. In particular, a movable member that moves in accordance with the insertion of the IC card is arranged in the card receiving portion, and a cooperative unlocking mechanism cooperating with the movable member for cancelling the locking of the steering shaft locking means is located between the card receiving portion and the main mechanism. Thus, the steering shaft is unlocked mechanically when the IC card is inserted.
The invention of the second embodiment is a vehicle starting device for determining whether an ID code stored in an IC card matches a code registered in a vehicle, wherein the determination result is used as one of the conditions for permitting starting of the engine, the device comprising:
a card receiving portion for receiving the IC card; and
a main mechanism having an operating means operable between a driving prohibiting position and a driving permitting position, which includes an engine starting position, and a steering shaft locking means for locking a steering shaft in a rotation prohibition state when the operating means is located at the driving prohibiting position, the device being characterized in that:
the card receiving portion and the main mechanism are integrally connected with each other;
an inner case is arranged in the card receiving portion to receive the inserted IC card, the inner case being movable relative to a card slot of the card receiving portion;
a movable member that moves in accordance with the insertion of the IC card is provided in the card receiving portion; and
a cooperative unlocking mechanism, which is located between the card receiving portion and the main mechanism, cooperates with the movable member for moving the inner case relative to the card slot.
In the above structure, it is determined whether the ID code stored in the IC card matches the code registered in the vehicle, and the determination result is used as one of the conditions for permitting starting of the engine. Thus, vehicle security is improved. Furthermore, a main mechanism has an operating means operable between a driving prohibiting position and a driving permitting position, which includes an engine starting position. Thus, a conventional key is not required. The main mechanism also has a steering shaft locking means for locking a steering shaft in a rotation prohibition state when the operating means is located at the driving prohibiting position. This prohibits and permits rotation of the steering shaft. Further, the card receiving portion and the main mechanism are integrally connected with each other. Thus, assembly is easy and the arrangement is simple.
Furthermore, since the card receiving portion and the main mechanism are integral, various types of mechanical control mechanisms may be provided between the card receiving portion and the main mechanism. An inner case is arranged in the card receiving portion to receive the inserted IC card. The inner case is movable relative to a card slot of the card receiving portion. This
Kokubu Sadao
Mizuno Takashi
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P.
English Peter C.
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
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