US 12,145,531 B2
Electronic key
Michele Donadini, Vittorio Veneto (IT); Maurizio Ugel, Vittorio Veneto (IT); Nicola Tona, Vittorio Veneto (IT); Marco De Gregorio, Vittorio Veneto (IT); and Paolo Cavarzere, Vittorio Veneto (IT)
Assigned to SILCA S.P.A., Vittorio Veneto (IT)
Appl. No. 17/794,927
Filed by SILCA S.P.A., Vittorio Veneto (IT)
PCT Filed Jan. 27, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/050615
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 22, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/152469, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 5, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 102020000001585 (IT), filed on Jan. 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0137301 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. B60R 25/24 (2013.01); B60R 25/04 (2013.01); G07C 9/00 (2020.01)
CPC B60R 25/241 (2013.01) [B60R 25/04 (2013.01); G07C 9/00309 (2013.01); B60R 2325/10 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Electronic key (3) for use with a motor vehicle (2), the electronic key (3) comprising a containment casing (4), the containment casing (4) comprising, housed therein:
at least one of a processing unit or control unit (10),
at least one memory unit (11, 11′, 11″) in which at least one recognition data (12, 12′, 12″) is stored to control at least one function and/or system of the motor vehicle (2),
at least one transmitter and/or transceiver unit (13) to communicate with at least one control unit (6) which is mounted in or on said motor vehicle (2) and which is configured to command, following the receipt of said at least one recognition data (12, 12′, 12″), at least one functionality and/or system of the vehicle,
at least one receiver or transceiver (14) which is connected to at least one of the processing unit or control unit (10) and is configured to receive at least one command signal (15) directly from outside the vehicle,
wherein at least one of said at least one processing unit or control unit (10) is configured so that, upon receipt, via said at least one receiver or transceiver (14), of said at least one command signal (15) directly from outside the vehicle, intervenes on at least one of said components of the electronic key itself so as to at least one of: make said electronic key switch from:
an enabled state, in which the electronic key communicates, via said at least one transmitting and/or transceiver unit (13), said at least one recognition data (12, 12′, 12″) to said at least one control unit (6) mounted in or on said motor vehicle (2), to successfully control at least one function and/or system of said motor vehicle (2), to
a disabled state, in which the electronic key is unable to at least one of:
communicate with said at least one control unit (6) mounted in or on said vehicle (2) or does not communicate said at least one recognition data (12, 12′, 12″) to said at least one control unit (6), preventing control of at least one of: said at least one functionality or system of the motor vehicle (2),
or for passing said key (3) from said disabled state to said enabled state,
and wherein said at least one processing or control unit (10) is configured to, following receipt by at least one receiver or transceiver (14) of said command signal (15) from outside the vehicle, pass said key from the enabled state to the disabled state by deleting or modifying, at least in part, one or more instructions of firmware of at least one of: said at least one memory unit (11), said at least one processing unit, said control unit (10), said at least one transmitter unit or transceiver unit (13), said at least one receiver or transceiver (14).