Ten Things You Learned At Preschool That'll Help You Understand Smart Car Key
Smart Keys For Cars
Smart keys are wireless remotes which allow you to open doors and pop the trunk without the necessity of a traditional mechanical blade. It also lets you start the vehicle without having to turn the key.
Most smart keys come with indicators for batteries which alert you to the low battery well in advance. It's easy to replace the battery without any special tools.
Convenience
Smart keys are designed to unlock doors and trunks as well as turn on the vehicle's engine, and then turn off the ignition without needing to use a traditional metal key. They also come with features that help deter vehicle burglaries and thefts, such as the panic key that makes noises to scare off potential thieves in remote areas such as garages that are underground.
Key fobs accomplish all these things by sending radio signals between the car and the key fob via low-power wireless technology. This is a fantastic convenience, especially for those who are always on the go and don't have a lot of time to spare.
Smart keys generally look more like plastic cards than actual keys. They are used to unlock the trunk or doors when a button is pressed on the fob. Some smart keys have touchscreens that allow motorists to control their vehicle's settings, like the climate and audio.
The RFID signal sent between a key fob and car is unique, encoded and connected to the vehicle's onboard computer. This makes it nearly impossible for hackers with the right skills to connect a stolen car equipped with the key fob. The fobs can also be programmed to transmit an updated frequency signal each time they're used. This means that the onboard computer won't recognize an old one as the "true" signal.
Security
A lot of people are hesitant to use digital keys for their car due to the fact that they are worried about security. While having a traditional key fob on hand may feel safer, digital keys are actually more secure than most people believe. Digital keys are encrypted and the signal they transmit to a car can be verified by an onboard computer. The car won't start if the smart fob is stolen.
In contrast to traditional key fobs smart keys make use of built-in antennas inside your car and a radio pulse generator in the key fob that allows it to communicate with your vehicle and perform standard functions like unlocking and starting it. This feature lets you access your vehicle without needing to insert a physical key into the lock or ignition, which is often a hassle.
If you have lost your smart key or if the battery fails there is an alternative method to open and start your car. For example emergency starting could be accomplished by placing the key in a slot or putting it close to a certain area in the cockpit, which is where an inductive coil which can transfer energy is hidden.
Additionally, most smart keys come with a low-battery indicator that warns you well before it completely dies. If you need to, you can easily replace the batteries on your own.
Auto-adjusting settings
Instead of physical keys, the smart key uses radio waves to unlock and lock the vehicle. They can also remotely start your engine and keep track of the location of the vehicle should you're not sure where it's parked.
Certain smart keys have settings that automatically adjust the vehicle's interior and exterior depending on which key is detected. The car can automatically adjust the seat position or mirror settings as well as the temperature control based on which key is being used. This is helpful if you have multiple drivers or wish to limit certain features when you loan your car to a novice driver.
Another benefit of smart keys is they employ encryption to protect against theft, which isn't feasible with traditional keys. This makes it very difficult for tech-savvy thieves to take over a vehicle through replicating an acceptable frequency signal according to How Stuff Works Electronics. Smart keys send a unique encrypted signal each time the vehicle is locked or remotely opened.
Just like any battery-operated device, a smart key's battery will eventually deplete its juice. The majority of systems have backup systems to unlock the car and begin it if the battery fails. The emergency procedure can differ, but it usually involves holding the key in proximity to the lock sensor on the car or pressing a button which activates the emergency starter.
Battery backup
Modern smart keys are also identified by the terms keyless entry systems as well as passive entry. They make use of a transmitter to unlock your vehicle. The transmitter is located in the key fob you carry around, and the receivers can be found in and around your vehicle. As you approach your vehicle the radio frequency signal from your smart key is interpreted by the receivers and triggers the doors and ignition.
Although this system has many advantages, including the ability to not have to search for keys, it could be vulnerable to certain kinds of attacks. How Stuff Works Electronics reports that if your key's battery dies or is lost, someone could pick up its low-frequency transmission signal and gain access to your vehicle. smart car key coding of smart keys have encrypted signals, which makes hacking more difficult.
However, these systems may also be impacted by electromagnetic fields generated by cell phones, computers and other devices. So if you find that your smart key fob isn't functioning properly, it could be caused by an interference issue. In this instance you should not place your key near a device until the battery on the key has been replaced. Most smart keys will inform you when their batteries are not fully charged and the replacement procedure is relatively easy.