Description

START KEY FOR VEHICLES

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a start key for vehicles, which can prevent the occurrence of abnormal phenomena, such as a shock or a sudden acceleration, due to static electricity, and more particularly, to a start key for vehicles, in which upper and lower magnets are installed in a key head and a high voltage discharge lamp comprising a light emitting diode is arranged between the upper and lower magnets such that, while the start key is used, static electricity capable of causing an abnormal phenomenon can be quickly discharged through the high voltage discharge lamp so that the misoperation of a vehicle, such as a sudden acceleration, can be prevented. Background Art

[2] As is well known in the art, an automatic transmission vehicle is constructed in a manner such that the driving and the transmission of the vehicle areautomatically controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU). In the automatic transmission vehicle, the possibility of a sudden acceleration to occur exists due to the fact that static electricity generated under various situations collects in the vehicle and momentarily applies a shock to the electronic control unit. If the sudden acceleration occurs, the RPM of wheels instantaneously increases and an uncontrollable state results, by which an accident may be caused.

[3] In a manual transmission vehicle, static electricity can only apply a shock to a driver. However, as the majority of recent vehicles have automatic transmissions and electronic control units, an adverse influence can be exerted to the electronic control units by static electricity. In this regard, in the case of deluxe cars, since an engine room is maintained in a substantially airtight state so as to reduce noise, an increased amount of static electricity may collect therein.

[4] That is to say, as vehicles are automated more and more, the static electricity generated as just described above can apply a strong shock to electronic control units, and an abnormal phenomenon such as the sudden acceleration can be caused. Under these circumstances, the present applicant has devised auxiliary means for preventing static electricity from applying a shock to an electronic control unit and for discharging static electricity as soon as it collects, so as to eliminate the possibility of a sudden acceleration to occur. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[5] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems

occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a start key for vehicles, in which upper and lower magnets are simply installed in a key head and a high voltage discharge lamp comprising a light emitting diode is arranged in a steel casing between the upper and lower magnets such that, while a driver uses the start key, static electricity capable of causing an abnormal phenomenon can be quickly discharged to the light emitting diode so that the misoperation of a vehicle, such as a sudden acceleration, can be prevented.

[6] Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic control unit in which a high voltage discharge lamp comprising a light emitting diode and magnets are integrally installedin the discharging member of the electronic control unit such that static electricity collected in the electronic control unit and capable of causing an abnormal phenomenon can be quickly discharged to the light emitting diode so that the misoperation of a vehicle, such as a sudden acceleration, can be prevented. Technical Solution

[7] In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a start key for vehicles wherein upper and lower magnets (5) are installed in a key head (1) having a key body (2), and a high voltage discharge lamp comprising a light emitting diode (3) is arranged between the upper and lower magnets (5) by connecting a resistor (6) to the lower magnet (5) such that, while the start key is used, static electricity capable of causing an abnormal phenomenon can be quickly discharged to the light emitting diode (3) and discharge of static electricity can be perceived through a sight window (4).

Advantageous Effects

[8] Thanks to the above features of the present invention, it is possible to provide a start key for vehicles, in which upper and lower magnets are simply installed in a key head and a high voltage discharge lamp comprising a light emitting diode is arranged in a steel casing between the upper and lower magnets such that, while a driver uses the start key, static electricity capable of causing an abnormal phenomenon can be quickly discharged to the light emitting diode so that the misoperation of a vehicle, such as a sudden acceleration, can be prevented.

[9]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[10] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a start key for vehicles in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention

[11] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1, illustrating the start key for vehicles in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention

[12] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the state in which static electricity is discharged by

temporarily turning on a high voltage discharge lamp while the start key for vehicles according to the present invention is used and

[13] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state in which a high voltage discharge lamp and magnets are integrally installed in the discharging member of an electronic control unit in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

[14] <Description of Reference Numerals for Main Parts in Drawings>

[15] 1: key head 2: key body

[16] 3: high voltage discharge lamp 4: sight window

[17] 5: magnets 6: resistor

[18] 7: steel casing 10: discharging member

[19] 20: electronic control unit

[20]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[21] In the present invention, upper and lower magnets (5)are installed in a key head (1) having a key body (2), and a high voltage discharge lamp comprising a light emitting diode (3) is arranged between the upper and lower magnets (5) by connecting a resistor (6) to the lower magnet (5) such that, while the start key is used, static electricity capable of causing an abnormal phenomenon can be quickly discharged to the light emitting diode (3) and discharge of static electricity can be perceived through a sight window (4). Mode for the Invention

[22] Reference will now be made in greater detail to preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[23] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a start key for vehicles in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is applied to a start key or an electronic control unit to prevent the occurrence of abnormal phenomena, such as a shock or a sudden acceleration,due to static electricity. For example, in order to discharge static electricity as soon as it is generated, magnets 5 are attached to a key head 1, and a light emitting diode 3 constituting a discharge lamp is installed between the magnets 5, so that the light emitting diode 3 can be turned on and off for the discharge of static electricity to thereby prevent a sudden acceleration from occurring.

[24] In other words, in the start key for vehicles according to the present invention, upper and lower magnets 5 are installed in the key head 1, and thelight emitting diode 3 constituting a high voltage discharge lamp is interposed between the magnets 5. Due to this fact, while the start key is used, static electricity capable of causing an abnormal phenomenon can be quickly discharged to the light emitting diode 3 so that the light emitting diode 3 is turned off when the discharge of static electricity is finished. In this

way, the misoperation of a vehicle, such as a sudden acceleration, can be prevented.

[25] A key body 2, which can have various shapes, is secured to the key head 1, and a sight window 4 is provided to the key head 1 to allow a driver to perceive the turned- on state of the light emitting diode 3 for a while.

[26] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1, illustrating the start key for vehicles in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the state in which static electricity is discharged by temporarily turning on a high voltage discharge lamp comprising the light emitting diode 3 while the start key for vehicles according to the present invention is used.

[27] The upper and lower magnets 5 are simply installed in the key head 1 and the high voltage discharge lamp comprising the light emitting diode 3 is arranged in a steel casing 7 between the upper and lower magnets 5 such that, while a driver uses the start key (see FIG. 3), static electricity capable of causing an abnormal phenomenon can be quickly discharged such that the light emittingdiode 3 is turned on for a while and then turned off.

[28] A resistor 6 is installed in the lower magnet 5 to constitute a circuit for turning on and off the light emitting diode 3. The steel casing 7 is disposed between the upper and lower magnets 5, and the light emitting diode 3 is received in the steel casing 7. Therefore, the static electricity that flows via the key body 2 to the key head 1 and has a high voltage can be discharged to the light emitting diode 3 such that the light emitting diode 3 is turned on for a while and then turned off.

[29] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state in which a high voltage discharge lamp and magnets are integrally installed in the discharging member of an electronic control unit in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

[30] In the present embodiment, a discharging member 10, in which the high voltage discharge lamp, the upper and lower magnets and the resistor provided in the key head are integrated with one another, is installed inside or outside an electronic control unit 20 for vehicles. Due to this fact, the static electricity collected in the electronic control unit 20 and capable of causing an abnormal phenomenon is quickly discharged to the light emitting diode, and the light emitting diode can be turned off after the static electricity is discharged. As a consequence, the misoperation of a vehicle, such as a sudden acceleration, can be prevented.

[31] Therefore, in the present invention, in order to prevent the occurrence of a shock due to static electricity, the discharging member is attached to the electronic control unit 20 so that the leakage of a high voltage into the electronic control unit 20 can be prevented. Hence, the problems caused in the present applicant's prior application due to the fact that a discharging member is distant from an electronic control unit and an engine is likely to stop can be solved. Also, advantages are provided in that a sudden

acceleration can be prevented by attaching the magnets to the start key or the electronic control unit and by installing the discharge lamp for discharging static electricity immediately after static electricity is generated.

[32] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described for a start key for vehicles, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Industrial Applicability

[33] As is apparent from the above description, in the present invention, in order to prevent the occurrence of a shock due to static electricity, a discharging member is attached to an electronic control unit so that the leakage of a high voltage into the electronic control unit can be prevented. Hence, the problems caused in the present applicant's prior application due to the fact that a discharging member is distant from an electronic control unit and an engine is likely to stop can be solved. Also, advantages are provided in that a sudden acceleration can be prevented by attaching magnets to a start key or an electronic control unit and by installing adischarge lamp for discharging static electricity immediately after static electricity is generated.