Patent ID: 8525641

Claim:
A vehicular electronic key system comprising: a vehicle having a key cylinder; and a portable device comprising: a key body that is communicatable with the vehicle; a mechanical key that is attachable to and detachable from the key body and that mechanically rotates the key cylinder whereby the communication between the vehicle and the Portable device allows the vehicle to execute predetermined functions; and the key body including a key detector configured to detect an attachment state and a detachment state of the mechanical key to and from the key body so that the key body transitions to a valet mode to limit some of the predetermined functions executable by the vehicle in accordance with the communication between the vehicle and the portable device while the key detector detects the detachment state of the mechanical key from the key body, wherein the portable device includes an operation member which is operated to transmit a command signal instructing execution of one of the predetermined functions to the vehicle, whereby when the operation member is operated in a predetermined operation pattern different from the operation to transmit the command signal to the vehicle while the attachment state of the mechanical key to the key body is detected by the key detector, the portable device inhibits transition to the valet mode thereafter.