JP2008255651A - Metal decorative electronic key - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a metal decorative electronic key which exerts high-quality design by decorating a key body with metals, and ensures sufficient radio communication performance even after the decoration with the metals. <P>SOLUTION: A portable machine 3 is a vehicle key for use in operating a vehicle via a hands-free system, and therefore it can transmit an ID code inherent in itself by radio. In order to ensure the high-quality design of the portable machine 3, the decorative metals 26, 29 formed of metallic materials such as aluminum, for instance, are applied to both front and rear surfaces of a case 21 of the portable machine 3. The upper-side decorative metal 26 has formed therein a plurality of long and slender slits 30a, 30b for partitioning the metal into a plurality of metal pieces. The upper-side decorative metal 26 is composed of the metal pieces which are not continuous to each other but split from each other by the slits 30a, 30b, and therefore it hardly functions as a radio wave shielding member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is a wireless communication type in which a unique identification code held by itself for key authentication is transmitted to a communication target by wireless communication and the key code is collated, and the key body is decorated with metal to have high designability. The present invention relates to a metal decorated electronic key.

  Conventionally, in many vehicle keys, in order to improve the convenience of key operation, a key-specific ID code is skipped from the key to the vehicle by wireless communication, and ID authentication between the electronic key and the vehicle at this time is established. An electronic key that permits or executes vehicle operations such as door locking and unlocking is employed. This type of electronic key includes a wireless key that transmits a key ID code when a switch (such as a lock switch or an unlock switch) provided on the key body is operated, or communication formed around the vehicle. There is a hands-free key that automatically returns an ID code in response to a key entering the area.

  In addition, in this kind of electronic key, the appearance of the electronic key can be used in order to favor the possession of the electronic key while ensuring the wireless communication performance that allows normal wireless communication with the vehicle. In order to ensure the appearance of the electronic key, it is desired to decorate the key by decorating the surface of the key body so that the electronic key has high design. As an example of decoration, for example, metal decoration is used to give the key a sense of quality by creating a glittering design as seen in precious metal products by decorating the surface of the key body with metal plating or the like. There are many cases.

  However, for example, a metal such as aluminum used for metal decoration has a problem that, as one characteristic, for example, radio waves transmitted and received by wireless communication are shielded to prevent normal wireless communication. This radio wave shielding is mainly due to the fact that eddy currents are generated in the metal by the radio waves at the time when the electronic key transmits and receives radio waves. For this reason, when metal decoration is applied to the electronic key for high design, the electronic key having such a design is exchanged at this time when the electronic key performs wireless communication with the vehicle. There is a possibility that radio waves may be shielded by a decorative metal. For example, if a large amount of metal decoration is used to ensure as high a design as possible, this problem becomes more prominent.

However, one characteristic of this type of metal is that the decorative metal has a closed loop shape along the direction of eddy current generated when receiving radio waves, for example, a ring shape in which the decorative metal forms a ring shape, or a flat plate made of a thin plate. If the shape is not taken, the radio wave shielding caused by the decorative metal tends to be relaxed. Therefore, since a technique that makes use of this characteristic is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1, in this type of electronic key, a slit is formed in a decorative metal provided in the electronic key using the technique of Patent Document 1. By forming the decorative metal into an open loop shape, a countermeasure to ensure the wireless communication performance of the electronic key can be considered.
JP 2002-250783 (paragraph numbers [0053], [0054])

  However, depending on the state of use of the electronic key, a situation in which a metal member separate from the electronic key contacts the decorative metal and the metal member connects the slits can be considered. At this time, the decorative metal, which has been in an open loop state by the slit, becomes a closed loop state by the metal member, and when this state is reached, the decorative metal transmits radio waves as described in the background art. It acts as a radio wave shielding member to block and adversely affects wireless communication. Therefore, when metal decoration is applied to the electronic key, there is a problem in ensuring sufficient wireless communication performance simply by forming a slit in the decorative metal.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a metal-decorated electronic key that can ensure high wireless communication performance even if metal decoration is applied while applying high-quality design by applying metal decoration to the key body. There is to do.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, when a unique identification code of itself is wirelessly transmitted to a communication target, if the verification of the identification code matches with the communication target, the communication target In the metal decoration type electronic key that can permit or execute the operation and that has a metal decoration part formed on the key body to satisfy the design of its own appearance, the metal decoration part is used when transmitting and receiving radio waves. The present invention is summarized in that a plurality of slits capable of dividing the metal decoration portion along the direction of the eddy current that can be generated are formed in the metal decoration portion.

  According to this configuration, as a characteristic of a general metal used for a metal decoration part, when the metal receives a transmission / reception radio wave when the electronic key transmits / receives a radio wave, an eddy current is circularly formed in the plane direction. It has been known that when an eddy current flows through a metal in this way, the metal acts as a radio wave shielding member that blocks radio wave transmission on the spot due to the generation of this current. Therefore, in an electronic key that communicates wirelessly with a communication target, if such a radio wave shielding occurs in the metal decoration portion, normal wireless communication implementation is affected, which is not preferable. In order to solve this problem, a slit is formed at a predetermined position of the metal so that the metal has an open loop shape that is not continuous along the eddy current direction. However, even if a slit is formed in the metal decoration part, for example, if another metal member comes into contact with the slit part and the metal decoration part is metallically connected, the slit does not function, and the metal decoration part Will take a continuous closed loop shape along the eddy current direction, which is meaningless.

  Therefore, in this configuration, since a plurality of slits are formed in the metal decoration portion, even if one of the plurality of slits is connected by another metal member, for example, the metal of this configuration The decorative part has a slit other than this, and maintains an open loop state divided at a predetermined position along the eddy current direction. If the metal decoration part is in an open loop state, for example, even if it receives radio waves, it is difficult for this to function as a radio wave shielding member. Therefore, in this configuration, even if a metal decoration portion is formed on the key body to ensure the design of the electronic key, it is possible to make the electronic key wireless communication performance less likely to be disturbed. Ensuring high performance and ensuring wireless communication performance at a high level.

The gist of the present invention is that the slits are arranged at opposing positions in the planar direction of the metal decoration portion.
According to this configuration, when a plurality of slits are formed in the metal decoration portion, since these are arranged at opposing positions in the plane direction of the metal decoration portion, these slits are positioned as far as possible from each other. It becomes. For this reason, even if, for example, one metal member comes into contact with the metal decoration portion, it is difficult for the metal member to connect the plurality of slits at the same time, which ensures radio wave performance. High effect.

  The gist of the present invention is that the metal decoration portion is formed on both surfaces of the key body which are opposite to each other, and a plurality of the slits are formed in each of the metal decoration portions.

  According to this configuration, in order to further enhance the design of the metal decorative electronic key, when the metal decoration portions are formed on both the front and back surfaces of the key body, a plurality of metal decoration portions on each of the both surfaces are provided. A slit is formed. For this reason, even if a metal decoration part is provided on both the front and back sides of the key body to further enhance the design of the metal decoration type electronic key, it is difficult to cause a situation where the slit is connected by another metal member. It is possible to ensure sufficient communication performance at that time.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, sufficient radio | wireless communication performance can be ensured, even if it gives a metal decoration to a key main body and ensures high designability, and also gives a metal decoration.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a metal decorative electronic key embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 is equipped with a hands-free system 2 that can perform door locking / unlocking and engine starting without actually operating a vehicle key. The hands-free system 2 transmits a request signal Srq from the vehicle 1 and when the portable device 3 receives the request signal Srq, the portable device 3 responds to the ID signal Sid with the ID code on the vehicle 1. In response, when the ID code of the portable device 3 matches the ID code of the vehicle 1, door locking / unlocking and engine starting are permitted or executed. The vehicle 1 corresponds to a communication target, and the portable device 3 corresponds to a metal decoration type electronic key.

  The hands-free system 2 will be described below. The vehicle 1 is provided with a controller 4 that performs overall control of the hands-free system 2. The controller 4 includes an out-of-vehicle LF transmitter 5 that is embedded in a door or the like and can transmit an LF band signal outside the vehicle, and an in-vehicle LF transmitter 6 that is embedded under the floor of the vehicle and that can transmit an LF band signal into the vehicle. And an RF receiver 7 that is embedded in an in-vehicle rearview mirror and can receive an RF band signal. These LF transmitters 5 and 6 can transmit the request signal Srq to the surroundings, and the outside LF transmitter 5 forms an outside communication area of the request signal Srq around the vehicle, and the in-vehicle LF transmitter 6 extends throughout the inside of the vehicle. An in-vehicle communication area for the request signal Srq is formed.

  For example, a touch sensor 8 embedded in a handle knob outside the vehicle is connected to the controller 4. The touch sensor 8 detects an operation of touching the handle knob when the operator releases the locked door lock. For example, a lock button 9 provided on the handle knob is connected to the controller 4. The lock button 9 is pushed when the operator locks the unlocked door lock. The controller 4 is connected to a door lock motor 10 that is a drive source when the door lock is locked and unlocked.

  On the other hand, the portable device 3 includes a wireless communication mechanism 11 that performs wireless communication with the vehicle 1 in accordance with the hands-free system 2. The wireless communication mechanism 11 includes a communication control unit 12 as a control unit of the wireless communication mechanism 11, an LF reception circuit 13 that can receive an LF band signal, and an RF transmission circuit 14 that can transmit an RF band signal. It has been. The LF reception circuit 13 demodulates the received LF band signal and outputs the demodulated signal to the communication control unit 12 as reception data. The RF transmission circuit 14 can transmit an RF band ID signal Sid carrying a unique ID code (identification code) of the portable device 3 in accordance with a command from the communication control unit 12.

  When the vehicle 1 is in a parked state (engine stop and door lock locked state), the controller 4 intermittently transmits a request signal Srq for the LF band from the external LF transmitter 5 to form an external communication area around the vehicle. When the portable device 3 enters the outside communication area and receives the request signal Srq by the LF receiving circuit 13, the portable device 3 responds to the request signal Srq and sends the ID signal Sid carrying its own ID code to the RF transmission circuit. 14 returns with an RF band signal. When the controller 4 receives the ID signal Sid via the RF receiver 7, the controller 4 compares the ID code registered in the controller 4 with the ID code of the portable device 3 and performs ID verification (external vehicle verification). When the vehicle outside verification is established, the controller 4 recognizes the vehicle outside verification establishment by setting a vehicle outside verification establishment flag in an internal memory and activates the standby touch sensor 8. When the touch sensor 8 detects a touch operation on the outside handle knob with the touch sensor 8 under the outside vehicle verification, the controller 4 rotates the door lock motor 10 to one side to release the locked door lock.

  On the other hand, when the vehicle 1 is in a stopped state (engine start and door lock release state), the controller 4 transmits a request signal Srq from the outside LF transmitter 5 when detecting that the lock button 9 is pressed. When the controller 4 receives the request signal Srq and recognizes in the ID signal Sid returned from the portable device 3 that the vehicle exterior verification has been established, the controller 4 rotates the door lock motor 10 to the other side to lock the unlocked door lock. To do.

  Connected to the controller 4 are an engine 15 serving as a driving source for the vehicle 1 and an engine start switch 16 that is operated when the engine 15 (including on-vehicle accessories) is operated. When the controller 4 detects that the door has been opened from, for example, a courtesy switch or the like (not shown) after the vehicle outside verification has been established and the door lock has been released, the controller 4 recognizes that the driver is getting on and recognizes the in-vehicle LF transmitter 6. Transmits a request signal Srq to form an in-vehicle communication area. When the RF signal is received by the RF receiver 7, the controller 4 compares the ID code registered in the mobile device 3 with the ID code of the mobile device 3, and receives the ID signal Sid. Perform verification (in-vehicle verification). When the in-vehicle collation is established, the controller 4 recognizes that the in-vehicle collation is established by setting an in-vehicle collation establishment flag in the internal memory. When the boarding driver depresses the brake pedal and operates the engine start switch 16 to turn on the engine, the controller 4 that detects this operation checks the in-vehicle collation result, and if the in-vehicle collation is established, the ACC relay, IG relay, etc. These relays (not shown) are turned on, and ignition control and fuel injection control are started to start the engine 15.

  Further, the vehicle 1 is provided with an immobilizer system 18 that performs ID verification by wireless communication using a transponder 17 embedded in the portable device 3. The immobilizer system 18 is provided with a transponder key coil 19 that functions as an antenna when performing transponder communication with the portable device 3. The transponder key coil 19 is provided at the insertion port 20 of the portable device 3 located in the vicinity of the steering wheel and is connected to the controller 4. The immobilizer system 18 receives the drive radio wave Sv from the transponder key coil 19 when the portable device 3 is inserted into the insertion slot 20, and the code number in the transponder code signal Str sent back by the transponder 17 driven by this is sent to the vehicle. This is a system that collates IDs on the one side.

  When the controller 4 detects that the driver has turned on the engine start switch 16 while depressing the brake pedal, the controller 4 performs an operation for confirming whether or not the in-vehicle verification is established as an authentication operation before the engine is started. The collation establishment target to be performed is not limited to ID collation according to the hands-free system 2. That is, in order to respond to the battery running out of the portable device 3, the controller 4 at least confirms that ID verification has been established, and at least of two verifications of ID verification according to the hands-free system 2 and ID verification according to the immobilizer system 18. If either of them is established, it is recognized that the in-vehicle verification is established.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the portable device 3 is provided with a resin case 21 that accommodates various portable device components. The case 21 has a thin flat plate shape and a rectangular shape in plan view. The case 21 includes two parts, an upper case 22 and a lower case 23, and the wireless communication mechanism 11 is stored in an internal storage space 21a (see FIG. 3) formed when these are assembled. The case 21 corresponds to the key body.

  When the portable device 3 has a wireless key function, a lock switch that is operated when the door lock of the vehicle 1 is locked by a button operation on the portable device 3 on one surface (the upper surface in FIGS. 2 and 3) of the case 21. 24 and an unlock switch 25 that is operated when the door lock of the vehicle 1 is unlocked by a button operation on the portable device 3. When the communication control unit 12 detects that the lock switch 24 has been pressed, the communication control unit 12 uses a RF request signal Sa (refer to FIG. 1) with its own ID code and a lock request as an RF band signal. The door lock of the vehicle 1 in the unlocked state is set to the locked state. When the communication control unit 12 detects that the unlock switch 25 has been pushed, the communication control unit 12 sends an unlock request signal Sb (see FIG. 1) carrying its own ID code and unlock request to the RF band signal. Is transmitted from the RF transmission circuit 14, and the door lock of the vehicle 1 in the locked state is set to the unlocked state.

  An upper decorative metal 26 made of a metal material such as aluminum or iron is attached to the surface of the upper case 22. The upper decorative metal 26 is a part that works to give the portable device 3 a high-class feeling by giving the surface of the portable device 3 a brilliant design as seen in precious metal products, and the metal surface is plated. ing. The upper side decorative metal 26 is formed such that a thin metal plate has a substantially ring shape along the periphery of the upper case 22. As shown in FIG. 3, a step portion 28 whose height is one step lower than the central portion 27 of the upper case 22 is annularly recessed on the surface of the upper case 22 along the periphery of the case. The upper decorative metal 26 is formed to be flush with the central portion 27 by being attached to the step portion 28 on the surface of the upper case 22. The lock switch 24 and the unlock switch 25 are disposed in the central portion 27 on the surface of the upper case 22.

  Further, a lower decorative metal 29 is formed on the back surface of the lower case 23 as a decorative member similar to the upper decorative metal 26. In addition, since the lower side decoration metal 29 of this example has taken the same structure as the upper side decoration metal 26, it abbreviate | omits for details. However, the lock switch 24 and the unlock switch 25 are provided only on the upper case 22 side of the upper case 22 and the lower case 23 as shown in FIGS. The upper side decorative metal 26, the upper case 22, the lower case 23, and the lower side decorative metal 29 are in an assembled state where they are stacked along the thickness direction of the portable device 3. In addition, the upper side decoration metal 26 and the lower side decoration metal 29 correspond to a metal decoration part.

  The upper decorative metal 26 is formed with a plurality of long and thin slits 30 (two in this example) for dividing the upper decorative metal 26 into a plurality of metal materials. The slit 30 of this example is formed on each of the two short sides 3a and 3b of the four sides of the portable device 3, and in this example, the first short side 3a (the front side in FIGS. 2 and 3). 30a is formed on the second short side 3b (30b on the back side in FIGS. 1 and 2). The slits 30a and 30b in this example are arranged at positions facing each other in the plane direction of the surface of the upper case 22. In addition, the slit 31 (two places of 31a and 31b) similar to the slit 30 of the upper side decoration metal 26 is formed also in the lower side decoration metal 29. FIG.

  By the way, a metal shape such as aluminum used for the decorative metals 26 and 29 is, for example, a member shape that is continuous in a direction of drawing a circle in the plane direction of the metal, that is, a shape in which the decorative metals 26 and 29 form a closed loop. In this case, when the portable device 3 performs hands-free communication or wireless communication with the vehicle 1, considering the situation in which the decorative metals 26 and 29 having a closed loop shape receive transmission / reception radio waves, the decorative metals 26 and 29 at this time are used. In the plane direction, an eddy current (see FIG. 4A) flows in the direction of drawing a circle. When an eddy current flows through the decorative metals 26 and 29, the generation of the eddy current causes the decorative metals 26 and 29 to function as a radio wave shielding member that cuts off the transmission of radio waves. If the decorative metals 26 and 29 block radio waves, even if the wireless communication mechanism 11 mounted on the portable device 3 attempts to perform wireless communication with the vehicle 1, this wireless communication may be adversely affected. This is not preferable from the viewpoint of ensuring wireless communication performance.

  Therefore, the slits 30 and 31 divide the decorative metals 26 and 29 at their positions, so that the decorative metals 26 and 29 are not separated from each other as members, that is, the decorative metals 26 and 29 have an open loop shape. I have a role to take. Therefore, the decorative metals 26 and 29 having such an open loop shape have a characteristic that eddy currents are less likely to be generated in the decorative metals 26 and 29 even when receiving the transmitted / received radio wave. If the slits 30 and 31 are formed, the decorative metals 26 and 29 become difficult to function as a radio wave shielding member. For this reason, if the slits 30 and 31 are formed in the decoration metal 26 and 29 even if it decorates the portable apparatus 3 with the decoration metal 26 and 29 in order to ensure the design property of the portable apparatus 3, it will be decorated. With the suppression of eddy current generation in the metals 26 and 29, sufficient wireless communication performance of the portable device 3 is ensured.

  By the way, depending on the use situation of the portable device 3, another metal member (for example, a metal accessory attached to the portable device 3) separate from the portable device 3 is attached to the decorative metals 26 and 29 at the slits 30 and 31. It may be in a situation where the slits 30 and 31 are metallically connected by contact. At this time, the slits 30 and 31 do not function to divide the decorative metals 26 and 29 into an open loop state, and the decorative metals 26 and 29 function as radio wave shielding members, adversely affecting the wireless communication performance of the portable device 3. Comes out. In particular, since the portable device 3 of this example has a hands-free function that can be used to lock and unlock the door without actually operating the portable device 3, it is frequently used while being put in a pocket of clothes. For example, if a metal member is contained in the pocket, there is a concern that the decorative metal 26, 29 is likely to be connected to the metal by the metal member.

  Therefore, in this example, when the periphery of the portable device 3 is decorated with the decorative metals 26 and 29 from the viewpoint of ensuring the design of the appearance of the portable device 3, each of the decorative metals 26 and 29 is prevented from functioning as a radio wave blocking member. The slits 30 and 31 are formed in the decorative metals 26 and 29. In this example, a plurality of slits 30a and 30b are formed in the upper side decorative metal 26, and the plurality of slits 31a are also formed in the lower side decorative metal 29. , 31b. Therefore, for example, when the upper side decorative metal 26 is viewed, for example, even if one of the two slits 30a and 30b is metallically connected by another metal member, the other opens the decorative metal 26. Since the loop state is maintained, it is possible to make it difficult for the upper decorative metal 26 to function as a radio wave shielding member. The same applies to the lower decorative metal 29. Therefore, even if metal decoration is applied to the portable device 3 to enhance the design, the sufficient wireless communication performance of the portable device 3 can be ensured.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the slits 30 and 31 are formed in the decorative metals 26 and 29 so that the decorative metals 26 and 29 provided for ensuring designability do not function as a radio wave shielding member, in the present example, the slits 30 and 31 31 was formed at a plurality of locations (in this example, 2 locations). For this reason, even if one of the plurality of slits 30a, 30b (31a, 31b) is metallically connected by another metal member, for example, the other is open and the decorative metals 26, 29 are opened. Therefore, it is difficult for the decorative metals 26 and 29 to function as a radio wave shielding member. Therefore, even if metal decoration is applied to the portable device 3 to improve the design, sufficient wireless communication performance of the portable device 3 can be ensured.

  (2) When a plurality of slits 30a and 30b are formed in the upper decorative metal 26, the slits 30a and 30b are arranged at positions facing each other in the plane direction of the surface of the case 21 (upper case 22). Yes. For this reason, since these slits 30a and 30b take the arrangement state located in the place as distant as possible, the situation where both the slits 30a and 30b are simultaneously connected with one same metal member becomes difficult, for example, and a decoration metal The situation where 26 and 29 function as radio wave shielding members can be made more unlikely to occur. The same can be said for the slits 31 a and 31 b of the lower decorative metal 29.

  (3) Since the decoration metals 26 and 29 are provided on both the front and back surfaces of the portable device 3, the portable device 3 is in a state of being decorated on both the front and back surfaces. It can be much higher. Moreover, even if the decorative metals 26 and 29 are provided on both the front and back surfaces of the portable device 3, the decorative metals 26 and 29 are formed with slits 30 and 31 at a plurality of locations. 26 and 29, measures for ensuring wireless communication performance are taken, and sufficient wireless communication performance of the portable device 3 can be ensured without any problem.

  (4) Since the ornamental metal 26, 29 exists on the periphery of the case 21 over the entire region, the decorative metal 26, 29 also functions as a reinforcing part that ensures the strength of the case 21. Thus, the impact durability of the portable device 3 can be ensured.

Note that the embodiment is not limited to the configuration described so far, and may be modified as follows.
The arrangement positions of the slits 30a and 30b (31a and 31b) provided at a plurality of locations are not necessarily limited to the two short sides of the case 21, and as shown in FIG. 5A, the long two sides 3c and 3d of the case 21 May be formed.

  When the slits 30 and 31 are formed at a plurality of places, the total number is not necessarily limited to two places. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the slits 30 and 31 may be provided at four locations by forming them on all four sides of the case 21. The number of slits 30 and 31 is not limited to two or four, and the number is not particularly limited as long as it is plural.

  The decorative metals 26 and 29 are not necessarily formed on both the front and back surfaces of the case 21, and as shown in FIG. 5C, one side of the front and back surfaces of the case 21 (FIG. 5C). May have a structure in which metal decoration is applied only to the upper surface.

  -A metal decoration part is not necessarily limited to the upper and lower two board | plate materials which comprise the cyclic | annular shape along the periphery of case 21. As shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 (d), the metal decoration portion of this example may be an all-around metal 41 that surrounds the periphery of the case 21 from its side surface. In this case, the slit 30 formed in the all-around metal 41 needs to divide the all-around metal 41 along the eddy current direction, and thus takes a shape that penetrates the upper surface and the lower surface of the case 21. In addition, the perimeter metal 41 also comprises a metal decoration part.

-The portable device 3 does not necessarily have both a hands-free function and a remote control function, and may have any one of these two functions.
-A metal decoration part is not necessarily limited to all being metal, For example, the two-layer structure where a base is resin and a metal exists in the surface may be sufficient.

  The hands-free system 2 relates to the door lock locking / unlocking function. When the portable device 3 approaches the door-locked vehicle 1, the door lock is automatically unlocked, and when the portable device 3 leaves the door-locked vehicle 1 A system in which the door lock is automatically locked may be used.

The shape of the slits 30 and 31 is not necessarily limited to a long and narrow shape, and various shapes such as a tapered shape may be employed.
When attaching the decorative metals 26, 29 to both the front and back surfaces of the portable device 3, the formation positions of the plurality of slits 30, 31 ... formed in these decorative metals 26, 29 are not necessarily the same overlapping positions, It can be changed freely.

-The size of the slits 30 and 31 in the width direction is not particularly limited, whether it is narrow or wide.
The portable device 3 may have a structure in which a mechanically operated emergency key is housed in the case 21 as a sub key.

  -The electronic key is not necessarily limited to the portable device 3 used as a vehicle key, and the adoption target is not particularly limited as long as it is a key used when operating an apparatus or device by skipping its own ID code by wireless communication. .

Next, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above-described embodiment and other examples will be described below together with their effects.
(1) In any one of Claims 1-3, the said metal decoration part has comprised the ring shape which the center part opened. According to this configuration, it is possible to achieve both ensuring design and ensuring radio wave performance in a metal decorative electronic key having a metal decorative portion having an annular shape with an open central portion.

  (2) In any one of Claims 1-3, the said metal decoration part is the all-around metal type which covers the front-and-back surface periphery of the said case main body, and the side surface of the said case main body in one belt. According to this configuration, it is possible to widen a portion covered with metal on the peripheral surface of the case body, which is highly effective in improving the impact durability of the electronic key.

The block diagram which shows schematic structure of a hands-free system. The perspective view which shows the external appearance shape of a portable machine. The disassembled perspective view which shows the case structure of a portable machine. (A) is the top view which looked at the portable machine from the surface, (b) is the top view which looked at the portable machine from the back. (A)-(d) is the perspective view which enumerated the portable machine in another example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle as communication object, 3 ... Portable machine as a metal decoration type | mold electronic key, 21 ... Case as a key main body, 26 ... Upper side decoration metal which comprises a metal decoration part, 29 ... Metal decoration part Lower side decorative metal, 30 (30a, 30b) ... slit, 31 (31a, 31b) ... slit, 41 ... all-around metal as a metal decoration part.

Claims (3)

When the identification code unique to itself is transmitted wirelessly to the communication target, if the verification of the identification code matches with the communication target, the operation of the communication target can be permitted or executed, and In the metal decoration type electronic key in which the metal decoration part is formed in the key body to satisfy the design of the appearance,
Metal decoration characterized in that a plurality of slits capable of dividing the metal decoration portion along the direction of eddy current that can be generated in the metal decoration portion when transmitting and receiving radio waves are formed in the metal decoration portion. Type electronic key.   The metal decoration type electronic key according to claim 1, wherein the slit is disposed at an opposing position in a planar direction of the metal decoration portion.   The said metal decoration part is formed in the both surfaces used as the front and back of the said key main body, and the said slit is formed in multiple numbers in each of the said said metal decoration part, The Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Metal decorated electronic key.

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