IP Library Granted Patent US 12,472,902
Granted Patent B2
US 12,472,902 · App. 18/760,412 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Electronic key for vehicle

Inventors: Koutarou Saitou (Tokyo, JP); Hiroshi Nomura (Tokyo, JP); Keita Nakahashi (Tokyo, JP); Norihiro Arai (Tokyo, JP); Junichi Iizuka (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
B60R25/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,472,902
App. No.
18/760,412
Granted
Nov 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic key for a vehicle includes an operation button, an operation signal transmitter, a light emitter, a light receiver, and a processor. The operation button is configured to perform a door locking and a door unlocking of the vehicle. The operation signal transmitter is configured to transmit an operation signal, based on an operation performed on the operation button. The light emitter is configured to output light, in response to the operation of the operation button. The light receiver is configured to receive reflection light of the light outputted from the light emitter. The processor is configured to refrain from causing the operation signal transmitter to transmit the operation signal that is based on the operation of the operation button, when the light receiver receives the reflection light.

Claims (13)

1 . An electronic key for a vehicle, the electronic key comprising:

an operation button configured to perform a door locking and a door unlocking of the vehicle;

an operation signal transmitter configured to transmit an operation signal, based on an operation performed on the operation button;

a light emitter configured to output light, in response to the operation of the operation button;

a light receiver configured to receive reflection light of the light outputted from the light emitter; and

a processor configured to refrain from causing the operation signal transmitter to transmit the operation signal that is based on the operation of the operation button, when the light receiver receives the reflection light.

2 . The electronic key for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the light to be outputted from the light emitter comprises signal data, and

the light receiver is configured to determine that the reflection light of the light outputted from the light emitter is received, when the light receiver receives the light comprising the signal data.

3 . The electronic key for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the light emitter and the light receiver are provided at their respective positions that make it difficult for a hand of a user to block the light to be outputted from the light emitter when the user operates the operation button.

4 . The electronic key for the vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein

the light emitter comprises multiple light emitters, and

the light receiver comprises multiple light receivers.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2024
From: SAITOU, KOUTAROU; NOMURA, HIROSHI; NAKAHASHI, KEITA; ARAI, NORIHIRO; IIZUKA, JUNICHI
To: SUBARU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067884/0674 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-113654 · Jul 11, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250018897A1 · Jan 16, 2025
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