Motor vehicle locking device with an electronic coded lock and coding device for the key

The invention is directed, on the one hand, to a locking device of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1 and, on the other hand, to a device for coding an electronic key of the locking device in accordance with the preamble of claim 6.

In the known locking device, a random fixed code is programmed into the electronic key. Additional interface components are required for this. In addition to these additional interfaces, components for signal processing and electronic protective measures in the electronic key are also required. The relevant components for the code determination, e.g. B. a random number generator are integrated in the interior of the key, which requires special assembly measures, a corresponding space for their arrangement and cumbersome logistics. The coding program is entered via a separate input port. For this one uses z. B. on the circuit board provided programming contacts, so-called pads, which are contacted by means of needles. For this purpose, the circuit board in the housing of the key must be accessible, which is why the coding must be carried out on a key that is not yet fully assembled in the housing. This known key can only be completed after it has been encoded.

Locking devices are also known where the coding of the key is carried out contactlessly inductively, by infrared light or by radio. Although this can be done with a fully assembled key, it also requires additional interface components, components for signal processing and associated protective circuits for the key. In the known locking devices there is a short coding, which allows relatively few different coding for the keys. In practice it can easily happen that the same keys are available, which leads to problems.

The invention is based on the object the task of developing an inexpensive locking device of the type mentioned, which allows a space-saving structure of the key and allows easy and quick coding of the fully assembled key with a large variety of coding; On the other hand, the invention is based on the object of disclosing a device for coding the electronic key of the locking device, which enables tamper-proof coding. This is achieved according to the invention by the measures listed in the characterizing part of claims 1 and 6. The essence of the invention according to claim 1 is that the coding of the fully assembled key takes place by means of a purely mechanical "morse-like" pressure actuation of an already existing (function) key of the key. The coded key is then used to code the associated electronic lock in a known manner, which is done wirelessly, preferably by electromagnetic means.

In the invention, the components necessary for the transmission operation are also used for coding the key. For this purpose, the electronic key comprises at least one function key, which in the invention is also used as an input port for initiating the coding program. If the key should have several keys for the transmission mode, several keys can also be used as an input port for the coding. The coding is therefore carried out by a defined actuation of the key or keys. Only one coding program with an activation mode is required in the key, while the code determination is external and is entered by pressing the appropriate key. The keyed-in code data only need to be stored in the key-side data acquisition mode which is then activated. The special feature of the invention is thus "one-touch programming of the code using the given function keys of the electronic key". The keying program can be of any length and therefore allows an unlimited variety of codings. All keys can therefore have a different code from one another.

In the invention according to claim 6, mechanical actuation of the key or keys is possible, which is not only easier, but above all more precise and quicker to carry out. It is a computer-controlled device with a working element which, in a movement sequence which can be selected but is defined, both activates the activation mode in the key and also keys in the code. This device can easily surpass the movements that can be carried out by a human hand with regard to the speed of the key actuation and its chronological sequence. This not only speeds up the coding process, but also prevents unwanted manipulation through manual key presses. This can be prevented with appropriate timing and, if necessary, special coding.

These demanding movements can be easily coped with by the device for coding the electronic key.

Further refinements and details of the invention emerge from the subclaims, the following description and the drawing. In the drawing, the invention is shown in one embodiment. Show it:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>schematically the wireless interaction between an electronic key operated by the vehicle user and an electronic lock integrated in the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle components being schematically illustrated,</dd><dt>Fig. 2</dt><dd>the schematic circuit diagram of the electronic key in the form of a flat plate-shaped body, the outline of which is illustrated by dash-dotted lines,</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>in a schematic view a device for coding the key, and</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>a timing diagram of a binary data stream that can be used for coding the key.</dd></dl>

The locking device according to the invention is used in a vehicle 10, but could also be implemented in other objects. The locking device comprises two interacting device parts, namely an electronic lock 11 in the vehicle 10 comprising several components on the one hand and an electronic key 21 on the other hand, which can be operated by a vehicle user 20. The key 21 interacts wirelessly with the lock 11, which is realized in the present case by an electromagnetic transmission 30 of the data. For this purpose, the key 21 has a transmitter 22 and the lock 11 has a receiver 12.

The electronic key 21 has a housing 27, indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 2, in the form of a flat plate which is reminiscent of a "check card". The key 21 is assembled according to the invention with all of its components in the housing 27, the most important components being indicated schematically in FIG. 2. This initially includes an energy store 28 in the form of one or more electric batteries or a rechargeable battery. This supplies a microprocessor 23 with electrical voltage and is connected to a button 26 which has a stroke-actuatable button 25 which can be actuated by manual pressure and which can be reset to its starting position by a return spring or the like. The microprocessor 23 comprises a data memory 24 with a program and with memory locations for a freely selectable coding.

The program for encoding the key contained in the data memory 24 is to be referred to below for short as the "encoding program". The coding program initially includes a so-called "activation mode", by entering which the key is ready for encoding. With this key, this activation mode is entered via the button 26. To do this, the button 25 must be pressed in accordance with the stored activation mode. Fig. 4th uses a time diagram in section 34 to illustrate a suitable sequence of operations.

4, the individual periods of the actuation phases of the key 25 are illustrated by the raised areas 31 of the binary curve 36, while the duration of the intermediate resting phases of the button 26, where the key 25 is not actuated, are characterized by the lowered areas 32 . Both curve areas 31, 32 are separated from one another by sharply time-limited transitions 33. The duration of the pressure operations is in Fig. 4 with<img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t1, <img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t2 etc., while the duration of the rest periods 32 accordingly <img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t1 ', <img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t2 'etc. is marked. To sensitize the activation mode of the coding program, all components of the aforementioned binary curve 36 can be used, both summatively and alternatively. First, there is z. B. the actuation frequency, that is, the time sequence of successive pressure operations 31 of the key 25. As a further recognition criterion, the time period<img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t of the individual pressure actuations 31 serve as well as the rest periods in between <img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t 'can be used for this. Then, as a further coding measure, the sequence of the time periods measured in a defined manner with respect to one another occurs<img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t1, <img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t2 etc. and / or the rest periods in between <img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t1 ', <img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t2 'etc. in question. Finally, the exact temporal position of the transitions 33 between the pressure actuations 31 and the rest times 32 can also be used as a criterion for the activation. This means that there are a large number of variables that lead to a correspondingly large variety of coding.

In Fig. 4 it is assumed that the activation mode has been carried out in the time period indicated by 34. This is followed by a so-called "data recording mode", which is illustrated in FIG. 4 with the section which then follows and is identified by 35. The individual code of the key is entered here and its code storage in the data memory 24 is initiated. This data recording mode 35 also runs via a further actuation of the key 25 which is normal in its function. Again, in an analogous manner, the actuation and / or the rest phases 32 and / or the time limits of the transitions 33 are decisive for the code determination. This means that the code can be freely selected. The actual code determination takes place exclusively outside of the key and is only transferred to the key 21 by a purely mechanical, "Morse-like" pressure actuation of the key 25.

As already mentioned, this key 25 also serves for the later normal transmission operation 30 between the key 21 and the lock 11. For this purpose, the electronic lock 11 has the following components, indicated in FIG. 1. This includes the aforementioned receiver 12, which outputs the signals 30 coming from the key 21 to a microprocessor 13 in the vehicle 10 and a data memory 14 integrated there. This evaluates the received signal 30. Prior to this, the coding characterizing the associated key 21 has of course been transferred from the key 21 to the lock 11 in the data memory 14 there, in a manner known per se. The battery 18 there is expediently used as the energy store in the vehicle 10.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, the vehicle 10 has a door 17 which can be held in its closed position by a lock mechanism 16. Such a locking mechanism 16 can, for. B. consist of a trap that cooperates with a locking block on a pillar of the vehicle body. The electric lock 11 also includes a locking device, which is not illustrated in more detail, and which act on the lock mechanism 16 and lock or unlock it. A door handle 15 interacts with the lock mechanism 16 and is usually used manually by the vehicle user 20 to open the door 17. Opening the door 17 via the door handle 15 is only possible when the lock mechanism 16 is in its unlocked position. However, if the locking position is present, the door 17 can no longer be opened via the door handle 15.

The reversal of the links of the lock mechanism 16 between the locking and unlocking position can be done in an electrical, mechanical or pneumatic manner. The locking mechanism 16 can be locked and unlocked from the inside of the vehicle, but this can be done from the outside using the electric key 21. An additional mechanical key can be integrated in the electronic key 21 for emergencies. With this mechanical key, a lock cylinder (not shown in more detail) on a door of vehicle 10 can mechanically transfer the locking mechanism 16 into the unlocked position or into the locked position.

To unlock and lock the electric lock 11, the button 25 of the electronic key 21 is pressed. The signal 30 then emitted comprises a data stream which corresponds to the specific coding of this key 21. This transmission telegram is received by the vehicle-side receiver 12 and evaluated in the microprocessor 13 using the coding stored there in the data memory 14. If a correspondence between the received code and the stored code is found during this evaluation, the door-side lock mechanism 16 is reversed according to the command via a line 19. The closed door 17 can be secured in its closed position or unlocked for the purpose of actuating its door handle 15.

The above-mentioned variables explained with reference to FIG. 4 for determining the coding and for initiating the coding program are expediently dimensioned so precisely that they cannot be carried out manually due to the physiological human sensitivities. For this it is sufficient, for. B. to set the above-described actuation frequency of the key 25 significantly higher and the durations<img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t for pressing the key or the rest periods in between <img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t 'to choose so short that they cannot be traced manually. Likewise, the time limits 33 can be chosen so sharply that they cannot be reproduced manually. All of this can, however, be easily achieved in a very reliable and rapid manner by a device 40, which is shown schematically in FIG. 3.

The device 40 comprises a working member 41, which can be moved by a drive 43 in the sense of the double arrow 42. The device 40 comprises a control program 44, shown as a block, which precisely determines a sequence of movements of the working member 41.

In the invention, the key 21 is completely prefabricated, the key-specific coding not yet being entered in the data memory 24. After assembly, the finished key can be tested for its trouble-free functional reliability. Then the key comes to the coding device 40, which only enters a freely selectable coding by mechanical actuation of the key 25, which is also decisive for the later function.

For this purpose, the electronic key 21 is placed with its housing 27 on a support 45 of the device 40 and brought into alignment with the working member 41 with its key 25. Then the control program 44 is started. A stroke movement 42 of the working member 41 now begins, which corresponds exactly to the curve profile of the time diagram 36 shown in FIG. 4. The working member 41 presses, in the manner of a plunger, on the button 25, which in the sense of FIG. 3rd indicated actuation arrow 29 is pressed. As a result, both the activation mode 34 and the data acquisition mode 35 determining the code are mechanically entered into the key 21. The course of the curve in the data acquisition mode 35 is of course individually matched to the respective key 21. The mechanical control program 44 of the device 40 is varied accordingly.

Reference symbol list:

10 vehicle 11 electronic lock 12 recipients of 11 13 microprocessor of 11 14 data stores from 11 15 door handle 16 lock mechanism to 11 17 door of 10 18 energy storage from 11, accumulator 19 Line between 16 and 13 20 vehicle users 21 electronic keys 22 channels out of 21 23 microprocessor of 21 24 data stores from 21 25 actuatable button of 26 26 buttons in 21 27 housing of 21 28 energy storage in 21, battery 29 arrow of the pressure actuation of 25 30 electromagnetic wave, signal between 21, 11 31 actuation phase from 25 to 36 32 rest phase of 25 at 36 33 time limit between 31, 32 34 activation mode of 36 35 data recording mode of 36 36 Time diagram curve, coding program 40 device for coding 21 41 working member of 40 42 Arrow of the stroke actuation of 41 43 drive from 41 44 control program for 41 45 support table for 21<img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t1 to <img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t6 period of pressure actuation from 25 to 36<img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t1 'to <img file="EP0803623A1_D0001.tif" />t5 'Period of rest from 25 to 36