Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock

Honda Lock Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Kazuhiro Sakata

Masaaki Fukamachi

Akira Tanaka

Nobuyuki Onitsuka

Minoru Kawano

Masaru Yano

Masami Tanaka

A vehicular anti-theft system, comprising: a mechanical key switch which can be turned with a matching mechanical key between a first angular position suitable for receiving the mechanical key therein and corresponding to an inoperative state of the vehicle and a second angular position corresponding to an operative state of the vehicle; electronic code matching circuit for detecting an electronic code signal transmitted from a transmitter incorporated in a part of the mechanical key; a control circuit which enables the vehicle when the mechanical key switch is turned with a matching key to the second angular position and the electronic code matching circuit has detected the matching code signal from the transmitter; a trigger circuit which acts upon the control circuit into detecting the matching code signal transmitted from the transmitter; wherein the trigger circuit is activated when the angular position of the mechanical key switch is set to a certain position preceding the position for starting the vehicle. Thereby, the process of code matching is performed before the ignition key switch is turned to the position for starting the vehicle, and the time required to start the vehicle is not increased by this code matching process.

Anti-theft system for a vehicle

A contact structure of a locking cylinder comprising a pair of contact pieces each extending laterally and pivoted at its one end about a pivot axis parallel to the axial line of the locking cylinder, a pair of springs, each urging the corresponding contact piece inwardly toward the center of the locking cylinder, a pair of stoppers which limit the inward motion of the contact pieces to the positions where they protrude slightly into a bore defined at the entrance to the key hole of the locking cylinder. The radially inner surfaces of the contact pieces of the locking cylinder define contact surface which electrically contact the corresponding contact pieces provided in the side edges of the base end of the shank of the key. This contact structure provides uninterrupted electric conductance between the key and the locking cylinder. To facilitate the insertion of the key into the key hole of the locking cylinder, a guide member may be fitted into the cavity defined between the contact pieces in front of the key hole so as not to interfere with the motion of the contact pieces.

Electric contact structure for a locking cylinder

When a key is inserted into a key hole of a lock, magnetism creating means creates a magnetic flux corresponding to a predetermined magnetic code set in the key. Magnetism detecting means detects the magnetic flux and outputs a signal representing the detected magnetic flux. Decision means compares the signal value with a predetermined value, and outputs an agreement signal when the two values are the same. Driving means enables at least unlocking by key operation in response to the agreement signal. The magnetism detecting means outputs, as the above signal, a voltage corresponding to the magnitude of the detected magnetic flux or pulses having a frequency corresponding to same. At least one of material, dimensions, and thickness of the magnetic element determines the predetermined magnetic code. Further, an unlocking mechanism has a magnetic actuator which unlocks the lock by coupling the lock with unlocking means via a cam in response to the agreement signal.

Electronic lock and key switch having key identifying function

Growing community of inventors

Miyazaki, Japan

Kazuhiro Sakata