US 12,447,927 B2
Vehicle key system and access key
Shouta Suzawa, Tokyo (JP); Kazuki Tomimatsu, Tokyo (JP); Masato Sato, Tokyo (JP); and Masahiro Saito, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to SUBARU CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by SUBARU CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Dec. 4, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/527,575.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-201156 (JP), filed on Dec. 16, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0198962 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
Int. Cl. B60R 25/25 (2013.01); B60R 25/04 (2013.01); B60R 25/24 (2013.01)
CPC B60R 25/252 (2013.01) [B60R 25/04 (2013.01); B60R 25/24 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle key system comprising:
an access key comprising a key wireless communicator, the key wireless communicator being configured to communicatively connect to a portable terminal device and a vehicle, wherein
the portable terminal device is configured to be switched between a lock mode and an unlock mode, and
the vehicle is configured to unlock a door of the vehicle or perform a start-up of the vehicle or both when receiving an accessible signal from the key wireless communicator of the access key, wherein
the portable terminal device comprises
an authenticator configured to authenticate a user input and switch the portable terminal device from the lock mode to the unlock mode, and
a terminal wireless communicator configured to send an unlock mode signal indicating the unlock mode of the portable terminal device to the key wireless communicator, wherein
the key wireless communicator is configured to send the accessible signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to unlock the door or perform the start-up of the vehicle or both, in response to receiving the unlock mode signal from the terminal wireless communicator.