Patent ID: 6776016
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: B60R,Y10T

Abstract:
A device for starting a motor of a motor vehicle by means of an electronic key (50),comprising a receptacle (11) in the vehicle serving for insertion (59) of the key (50), wherein the key (50) inserted into the receptacle (11) is non-rotatable and longitudinally slidable (51, 52, 53) at least between three axially staggered positions (50.1, 50.2, 50.3), i.e., during the initial insertion (59), first into an initial position (50.1) which secures the key (50) in the forward area of the receptacle (11) only in a non-positive way, subsequently, into a center position (50.2) in the central area of the receptacle (11) upon further insertion (59) by a first travel stroke (52) in which position the key (50) is secured positive-lockingly, which prevents a manual removal (57) of the key (50) from the receptacle (11), but allows a further insertion (59) of the key (50), and, finally, into an end position (50.3) upon further insertion (59) by a second travel stroke (53) positioning the key (50) in the rearward area of the receptacle (11), wherein the key (50) in its end position (50.3) is axially spring-loaded (41) in the direction of its initial position (50.1) by a restoring spring (40), and upon insertion (59) of the key (50) into the initial position (50.1) a snap-in lock (21, 22; 55; 70) and upon insertion (59) into the center position (50.2) a directional lock (24; 30, 31; 80) interacting with the key (50) are automatically activated, and some of the three key stroke positions (50.1, 50.2, 50.3) are monitored by sensors of a control unit and are used for controlling different functions of the motor, wherein the key (50) in its center position (50.2) is also axially spring-loaded (41) in the direction of its initial position (50.1) by a restoring spring (40); and that the control unit responds to a single or multiple pressing actions (59) of the key (50) between the center position (50.2) into the end position (50.3) and that the directional lock (24; 30, 31; 80) is deactivated until the restoring force (41) has returned (57) the key (50) automatically into the initial position (50.1).