Vehicular anti-theft system

Claim 2

A vehicular anti-theft system, comprising a key device having a shank and a casing, said casing connected to a base end of the shank and adapted to be held between fingers of a user, the casing of the key device being provided with a light emitting element which emits a code light signal; a key hole provided on a vehicle to receive the shank of the key device therein from an open end of the key hole; a light receiving element provided adjacent to the open end of the key hole to receive the code light signal from the light emitting element when the shank of the key device is fitted into the key hole; and control means connected to the light receiving element for receiving a code signal from the light emitting element; the control means being provided with light code matching means which enables a device mounted on the vehicle when the code signal from the light receiving element matches with an internal code; wherein only one light emitting element is provided on the housing of the key device and only one light receiving element is provided adjacent to the open end of the key hole, a light conducting ring being provided around the open end of the key hole to conduct the code light signal from the light emitting element to the light receiving element irrespective of the orientation of the shank of the key device relative to the key hole.

Claim 3

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 1, wherein the casing is provided with a manual switch which causes emission of the code light signal from the light emitting element.

Claim 4

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 1, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting the shank of the key device being fitted therein and the light code matching means is activated when the detecting means has detected the shank of the key device in the key hole.

Claim 5

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 1, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting rotation of the shank of the key device therein and the code matching means is activated when the detecting means has detected the rotation of the shank of the key device in the key hole.

Claim 6

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 1, wherein the shank of the key device and the key hole are provided with electric contacts, respectively, which (make electrical contact with one another) for supplying electric power from a power source of the vehicle to the light emitting element of the key device when the shank is fitted into the key hole.

Claim 7

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 5, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting the shank of the key device being fitted therein and the electric power from the power source of the vehicle is supplied to the light emitting element when the said means has detected the key shank of the key device in the key hole.

Claim 8

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 5, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting rotation of the shank of the key device therein and the electric power from the power source of the vehicle is supplied to the light emitting element when the said means has detected the rotation of the shank of the key device in the key hole.

Claim 9

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 5, wherein the electric power is conducted from the vehicle power source to the light emitting element by way of a rechargeable battery incorporated in the casing of the key device.

Claim 10

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 5, wherein the shank of the key device consists of a generally planar member having a pair of narrow side faces and a pair of broad side faces, at least a pair of the electric contacts being arranged on these side faces, the electric contacts of the key device being connected to the light emitting element by way of a polarity rectifying means; and the key hole is so shaped as to be generally complementary to the shank and is provided with two sets of the electric contacts at positions around the open end of the key hole which oppose one another by a 180 degree angle in such a manner that the shank of the key device may be fitted into the key hole at two different orientations.

Claim 11

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 9, wherein a pair of light emitting elements are provided in the housing of the key device adjacent to the base end of the shank and angularly displaced by 180 degrees about a longitudinal axial line of the shank of the key device.

Claim 12

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 9, wherein a pair of light receiving elements are provided adjacent to the open end of the key hole at positions which are angularly displaced by 180 degrees about a longitudinal axial line of the key hole.

Claim 13

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 1, wherein the shank of the key device and the key hole are provided with mechanical code matching means which match with one another and the device mounted on the vehicle is enabled when code matching of both the light code matching means and the mechanical code matching means is detected.

Claim 14

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 12, wherein the device to be enabled comprises an engine ignition system and a vehicle door lock device, and code matching of both the mechanical code matching means and the light code matching means is required to enable the engine ignition system but code matching of either the mechanical code matching means or the light code matching means is required to enable the door lock device, the light emitting element being provided with manual switch means for activating the same at least for enabling the door lock device.

Claim 15

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 1, wherein the device to be enabled comprises an engine ignition system and a vehicle door lock device.

Claim 16

A vehicular anti-theft system, comprising: a key device having a shank and a casing, said casing connected to a base end of the shank and adapted to be held between fingers of a user, the casing of the key device being provided with a light emitting element which emits a code light signal and a manual switch for causing the emission of the code light signal from the light emitting element; a key hole provided on a vehicle to receive the shank of the key device therein from an open end of the key hole; a light receiving element provided adjacent to the open end of the key hole to receive the code light signal from the light emitting element; and control means connected to the light receiving element for receiving a code signal from the light emitting element; the control means being provided with light code matching means which enables a device mounted on the vehicle when the code signal from the light receiving element matches with an internal code; wherein only one light emitting element is provided on the housing of the key device and only one light receiving element is provided adjacent to the open end of the key hole, a light conducting ring being provided around the open end of the key hole to conduct the code light signal from the light emitting element irrespective of the orientation of the shank of the key device relative to the key hole.

Claim 17

A vehicular anti-theft system, comprising: a key device having a shank and a casing, said casing connected to a base end of the shank and adapted to be held between fingers of a user, the casing of the key device being provided with a light emitting element which emits a code light signal and a manual switch for causing the emission of the code light signal from the light emitting element; a key hole provided on a vehicle to receive the shank of the key device therein from an open end of the key hole; a light receiving element provided adjacent to the open end of the key hole to receive the code light signal from the light emitting element; and control means connected to the light receiving element for receiving a code signal from the light emitting element; the control means being provided with light code matching means which enables a device mounted on the vehicle when the code signal from the light receiving element matches with an internal code; wherein only one light emitting element is provided on the housing of the key device and only one light receiving element is provided adjacent to the open end of the key hole, a light conducting ring being provided around the open end of the key hole to conduct the code light signal from the light emitting element irrespective of the orientation of the shank of the key device relative to the key hole.

Claim 18

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 15, wherein the shank of the key device and the key hole are provided with electric contacts, respectively, which make electrical contact with one another for supplying electric power from a power source of the vehicle to the light emitting element of the key device when the shank is fitted into the key hole.

Claim 19

A vehicular anti-theft system, comprising: a key device having a shank and a casing, said casing connected to a base end of said shank and adapted to be held between the fingers of a user, the casing of the key device being provided with a light emitting element which emits a code light signal for activating an on-board device, and a rechargeable battery for supplying electric power to said light emitting element; a key hole provided on a vehicle to receive the shank of said key device therein from an open end of said key hole; electric contact means provided in the shank of said key device and said key hole for mutual contact when said key shank is fitted into said key hole; and the electric contact means of said key hole being connected to a power source of the vehicle while the electric contact means of said key shank is connected to said rechargeable battery.

Claim 20

A vehicular anti-theft system, comprising: a key device having a shank and a casing, said casing connected to a base end of said shank and adapted to be held between the fingers of a user, the casing of the key device being provided with a light emitting element which emits a code light signal for activating an on-board device, and a rechargeable battery for supplying electric power to said light emitting element; a key hole provided on a vehicle to receive the shank of said key device therein from an open end of said key hole; electric contact means provided in the shank of said key device and said key hole for mutual contact when said key shank is fitted into said key hole; and the electric contact means of said key hole being connected to a power source of the vehicle while the electric contact means of said key shank is connected to said rechargeable battery.

Claim 21

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 17, wherein said on-board device is a door lock device.

Claim 22

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 17, wherein the casing is provided with a manual switch which causes emission of the code light signal from the light emitting element.

Claim 23

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 17, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting the shank of the key device being fitted therein and the code matching means is activated when the detecting means has detected the shank of the key device in the key hole.

Claim 24

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 17, wherein the key hold is provided with means for detecting rotation of the shank of the key device therein and the code matching means is activated when the detecting means has detected a rotation of the shank of the key device in the key hole.

Claim 25

A vehicular anti-theft system, comprising: a key device having a shank and a casing which is connected to a base end of the shank and is adapted to be held between the fingers of a user, the casing of the key device being provided with a light emitting element which is adapted to emit a code light signal; a key hole provided on a vehicle adapted to receive the shank of the key device therein from an open end of the key hole; a light receiving element provided adjacent to the open end of the key hole so as to receive the code light signal from the light-emitting element when the shank of the key device is fitted into the key hole; and control means connected to the light receiving element for receiving a code signal from the light emitting element, the control means being provided with light code matching means which enables a device mounted on the vehicle when the code signal from the light receiving element matches with an internal code; wherein the shank of the key device and the key hole are provided with mechanical code matching means which match with one another and the device mounted on the vehicle is enabled when code matching of both the light code matching means and the mechanical code matching means is detected; and wherein the device to be enabled comprises a piece of equipment of the vehicle and a vehicle door lock device, and code matching of both the mechanical code matching means and the light code matching means is required to enable the piece of equipment of the vehicle but code matching of either the mechanical code matching means or the light code matching means is required to enable the door lock device, the light emitting element being provided with manual switch means for activating the same at least for enabling the door lock device.

Claim 26

A vehicular anti-theft system, comprising: a key device having a shank and a casing which is connected to a base end of the shank and is adapted to be held between the fingers of a user, the casing of the key device being provided with a light emitting element which is adapted to emit a code light signal; a key hole provided on a vehicle adapted to receive the shank of the key device therein from an open end of the key hole; a light receiving element provided adjacent to the open end of the key hole so as to receive the code light signal from the light-emitting element when the shank of the key device is fitted into the key hole; and control means connected to the light receiving element for receiving a code signal from the light emitting element, the control means being provided with light code matching means which enables a device mounted on the vehicle when the code signal from the light receiving element matches with an internal code; wherein the shank of the key device and the key hole are provided with mechanical code matching means which match with one another and the device mounted on the vehicle is enabled when code matching of both the light code matching means and the mechanical code matching means is detected; and wherein the device to be enabled comprises a piece of equipment of the vehicle and a vehicle door lock device, and code matching of both the mechanical code matching means and the light code matching means is required to enable the piece of equipment of the vehicle but code matching of either the mechanical code matching means or the light code matching means is required to enable the door lock device, the light emitting element being provided with manual switch means for activating the same at least for enabling the door lock device.

Claim 27

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 22, wherein the casing is provided with a manual switch which causes emission of the code light signal from the light emitting element.

Claim 28

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 22, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting the shank of the key device being fitted therein and the code matching means is activated when the detecting means has detected the shank of the key device in the key hole.

Claim 29

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 22, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting rotation of the shank of the key device therein and the code matching means is activated when the detecting means has detected the rotation of the shank of the key device in the key hole.

Claim 30

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 22, wherein the shank of the key device and the key hole are provided with electric contacts, respectively, which cooperate one another for supplying electric power from a power source of the vehicle to the light emitting element of the key device when the shank is fitted into the key hole.

Claim 31

The vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 26, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting the shank of the key device being fitted therein and the electric power from the power source of the vehicle is supplied to the light emitting element when said means has detected the key shank of the key device in the key hole.

Claim 32

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 26, wherein the key hole is provided with means for detecting rotation of the shank of the key device therein and the electric power from the power source of the vehicle is supplied to the light emitting element when said means has detected the rotation of the shank of the key device in the key hole.

Claim 33

A vehicular anti-theft system as defined in claim 26, wherein the electric power is conducted from the vehicle power source to the light emitting element by way of a rechargeable battery incorporated in the casing of the key device.