Abstract: An electronic key system has a portable electronic key and a transmitter provided in a vehicle. The key and the transmitter have respective LC resonance circuits including antenna coils that can be electromagnetically coupled. The portable device has a charge capacitor and a diode. The capacitor is charged with a voltage induced by the coil when the LC resonance circuit resonates. The electronic key is enabled to communicate with the transmitter with the charged voltage of the charge capacitor when a built-in battery runs down.

Abstract: In a door control system, in polling collation processing, a start request signal is intermittently transmitted from a vehicle. When a human around the vehicle is detected, a start request signal is transmitted from the vehicle with high output power. A portable device returns a response signal to the vehicle. Furthermore, when the start request signal is transmitted at the high output power, the reception sensitivity is set to be lower than the normal sensitivity. When receiving the response signal from the portable device, the vehicle transmits an ID request signal, and acquires an ID code from the portable device. The ID code thus acquired is collated with each ID code registered in the vehicle. When both ID codes agree, the vehicle doors are unlocked.

Abstract: Each of ECUs constituting a system of a vehicle is registered with authentication IDs of other ECUs. The each of ECUs determines whether the other ECUs are regular by comparing the registered IDs with authentication IDs newly obtained from the other ECUs when the system is started. When a certain ECU within the other ECUs is determined to be not regular, the certain ECU is prohibited from being used in this system. Further, when a new ECU is substituted or added, a terminal confirms whether the new ECU is unused in another vehicle and is thereby enabled to be usable by transmitting an authentication ID of the new ECU to a management center. When the new ECU is confirmed to be enabled to be usable, authentication IDs registered in the respective ECUs are updated.

Abstract: An automotive burglar alarm unit has an intrusion or equivalent security sensor. The burglar alarm unit can operate in an alarm set state for generating alarm, with a security sensor OFF mode for invalidating a signal of the security sensor. A user can use a portable phone to transmit a sensor ON signal via an information center. When the burglar alarm unit receives the sensor ON signal, the burglar alarm unit shifts into an alarm set state of security sensor ON mode so that the burglar alarm unit can generate alarm in response to a signal of the security sensor. Furthermore, the user can transmit a sensor OFF signal. In response to the sensor OFF signal, the burglar alarm unit shifts into an alarm set state of security sensor OFF mode so that no alarm is generated based on the signal of the security sensor.

Abstract: When transmitting an instruction for activating an immobilizer function to a subject vehicle, a base station also transmits a given ID code for releasing the immobilizer function. An immobilizer ECU that receives the instruction and the given ID code, prohibits an engine from being started by other than a key having the given ID code. Therefore, a regular user alone, who owns a key having the given ID code, can start the engine.

Abstract: A vehicle intrusion monitoring system that eliminates unnecessary image capture and transmission by controlling the timing of image capture by a camera installed inside a vehicle. A control ECU in the vehicle intrusion monitoring system issues a first image capture command to a camera triggered by an abnormality detected by a sensor while the system is in watch state. Then, the control ECU issues a second and further image capture commands only when an intrusion detector picks up an intruder inside the vehicle to eliminate unnecessary image capture and transmission.

Abstract: An anti-theft device monitors an object or person approaching a vehicle from the surrounding area of the vehicle by using a surrounding area sensing sensor when an authorized vehicle user moves away from the vehicle which causes the anti-theft device to be activated. If the anti-theft device detects the object or person, the anti-theft device activates an alarm. The anti-theft device transmits images and surrounding area details of the vehicle to the information center. If the vehicle is illegally accessed, the occurrence of any illegal activity is detected by a break-in sensor that issues a break-in alarm, simultaneously with the transmission of vehicle information to the information center, indicating the current disposition of the vehicle. Then, the information center determines that the vehicle is being illegally operated and transmits the vehicle information accumulated at that moment to a manager terminal.

Abstract: An electronic key system for an entry object such as a vehicle is comprised of a portable device and an in-object device. The portable device has a device body and an emergency key detachably accommodated in the device body. The emergency key has a transponder, which is separate from a transponder provided in the device body. The transponder is for verifying the authority of registration of an additional portable device, while the transponder is for verifying the authority of vehicle control. The device body is also capable of detachably accommodating an emergency key which has no transponder.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle engine involves determining a predetermined start operation, which is usually performed by a driver when the driver starts a parked vehicle, and that is not exclusively performed for starting the vehicle engine, verifying a code with a portable device after determining the predetermined start operation, and starting an engine automatically after successfully verifying the code. An engine control device has a start determining mechanism for determining a predetermined start operation, which is usually performed by a driver when the driver starts a parked vehicle, and that is not exclusively performed for starting a vehicle engine, a verifying mechanism for verifying a code with a portable device after determining the predetermined start operation, and a starting mechanism for controlling an automatic engine start after successfully verifying the code.

Abstract: An electronic key system has a portable electronic key and a transmitter provided in a vehicle. The key and the transmitter have respective LC resonance circuits including antenna coils that can be electromagnetically coupled. The portable device has a charge capacitor and a diode. The capacitor is charged with a voltage induced by the coil when the LC resonance circuit resonates. The electronic key is enabled to communicate with the transmitter with the charged voltage of the charge capacitor when a built-in battery runs down.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle engine involves determining a predetermined start operation, which is usually performed by a driver when the driver starts a parked vehicle, and that is not exclusively performed for starting the vehicle engine, verifying a code with a portable device after determining the predetermined start operation, and starting an engine automatically after successfully verifying the code. An engine control device has a start determining means for determining a predetermined start operation, which is usually performed by a driver when the driver starts a parked vehicle, and that is not exclusively performed for starting a vehicle engine, a verifying means for verifying a code with a portable device after determining the predetermined start operation, and a starting means for controlling an automatic engine start after successfully verifying the code.

Abstract: An anti-theft device monitors an object or person approaching a vehicle from the surrounding area of the vehicle by using a surrounding area sensing sensor when an authorized vehicle user moves away from the vehicle which causes the anti-theft device to be activated. If the anti-theft device detects the object or person, the anti-theft device activates an alarm. The anti-theft device transmits images and surrounding area details of the vehicle to the information center. If the vehicle is illegally accessed, the occurrence of any illegal activity is detected by a break-in sensor that issues a break-in alarm, simultaneously with the transmission of vehicle information to the information center, indicating the current disposition of the vehicle. Then, the information center determines that the vehicle is being illegally operated and transmits the vehicle information accumulated at that moment to a manager terminal.