Patent ID: 7813773
Filing Date: 2010-10-12
Classification: G07C

Abstract:
1. An electronic key apparatus for vehicle comprising: a vehicle mounted device mounted in a vehicle; and a portable device possessed by a user, wherein when the vehicle mounted device authenticates an ID code of the portable device by conducting communication between the vehicle mounted device and the portable device, the vehicle mounted device operates a controller mounted in the vehicle, the vehicle mounted device includes: a first sending and receiving unit that communicates with the portable device; a first memory that stores a plurality of ID codes in order to perform authentication of a plurality of portable devices; a first CPU that sends a request signal to request an ID code to the portable device through the first sending and receiving unit, that receives an answer signal from the portable device, and that decodes whether or not a content of the answer signal matches the ID code stored in the first memory; and a driving unit that outputs a control signal to the controller when the content matches the ID code stored in the first memory, each of the plurality of portable devices includes: a second sending and receiving unit that communicates with the vehicle mounted device; a second memory that stores an ID code unique to the portable device; and a second CPU that encrypts the ID code of the second memory and sends an answer signal when the request signal from the vehicle mounted device is received through the second sending and receiving unit and a received content is a content sent to the portable device, the vehicle mounted device includes: a disablement unit that temporarily suspends use of at least one ID code of the ID codes stored in the first memory, and the vehicle mounted device does not communicate with the portable device with respect to the ID code whose use is suspended, wherein use of the at least one ID code which has been suspended by the disablement unit is allowed only when the user performs a predetermined operation via an apparatus disposed on the vehicle, wherein at least one switch is disposed in the vehicle, and when the vehicle mounted device detects that the user has performed a first predetermined operation of the switch, the vehicle mounted device conducts a communication with the portable device, evaluates by the communication the ID code whose use is suspended from the ID codes stored in the first memory, and sets the ID code in a disablement state.