EP0629758B1 - Remote control system with several functional ranges selected by means of threshold detection - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a remote control system for actuation of organs in a motor vehicle.

The present invention relates to the field of systems remote control especially for vehicle access control automobile.

Known remote control systems include generally, as shown schematically in Figure 1, a portable transmitter 10 carried by a user and a module receiver 20 on board vehicle 30. The transmitter 10 is designed to generate a coded wave 10a. Coded wave means a carrier wave of control information. This coded wave can be provided by radio transmission, luminous, infrared or ultrasonic in particular.

The receiver module 20 is designed to detect the wave encoded generated by the transmitter and to decode it. When the code generated by the transmitter 10 corresponds to one or more predetermined codes, the receiver controls the locking and unlocking the doors of the motor vehicle 30 or auxiliary components of the vehicle.

Remote control systems from a coded wave to radio transmission in particular are very useful flexible insofar as the user does not need to orient the transmitter towards the vehicle so that the transmission be established and on the other hand where transmission can be established at a distance of several tens of meters from the vehicle.

Such a remote control system is for example known from the document DE-A-42 26 053, in which a command (in particular unlocking / locking the doors) is executed only if the sender is within a predetermined area when the coded message is received.

Generally in high-end systems, the transmitter 10 has several keys to which are associated with special functions such as locking doors, unlocking the doors, switching on the overhead light or vehicle lights, window closing, triggering of an alarm. Each function having its own key, the size of the case is important and ergonomics of use of the case is degraded by the presence of too much large number of keys.

For certain control functions such as unlocking doors and closing windows remotely, large transmission range can be a factor degrading security. Unintentional pressing of the keys the remote control could indeed cause unlocking doors without the knowledge of the remote control user.

For the convenience of using certain functions such as the remote control of the lighting of the overhead light or the lights of the vehicle, on the contrary, it is desirable to have a important transmission range in order to be able to use this function for the purpose of researching his vehicle, in a parking for example. A transmission range of several tens of meters is then desirable.

It therefore appears that with conventional systems known, the compromise between the comfort of using the remote control and security then translates into the choice of a range of transmission from 5 to 10 meters. This transmission range favors security at the expense of user comfort.

The object of the present invention is therefore to perfect these systems by eliminating this compromise and by reducing the number of buttons on the remote control.

This is achieved by creating functional areas around the vehicle.

As shown in Figure 2, each of the functions of the system is assigned an authorized operating area around the vehicle. F1 type functions cannot be ordered only in zone B delimited by the distance from transition D1. Functions of type F2 can be ordered in zone A delimited by the transmission range of the system P and the transition distance D1.

The system which is the subject of the present invention could also include other functional areas delimited by transition distances D2, D3, at which would be associated functions of type F2, F3. For reasons practical, the following description will relate only to a system with two functional areas.

According to another aspect of the invention, the same touch on the remote control allows you to control several functions depending on the distance from the vehicle transmitter. For example, pressing key n ° 1 controls the ignition of the ceiling light when the user is in zone A and controls the unlocking of the doors when the user found in zone B.

Thanks to this system, safety and comfort of use are thus ensured by the same remote control and with little keys.

Indeed, the invention relates to a system of remote control for actuating organs in a vehicle automotive and in particular the locking / unlocking of doors, of the type comprising a portable transmitter capable of generate a coded electromagnetic wave and a receiver module placed in a motor vehicle and designed to receive and decode the coded electromagnetic wave generated by the transmitter portable comprising a processor, a radio transmitter, a set of function keys and a power set by batteries, the receiver module comprising an antenna reception, radio receiver, activation circuit forms demodulated signals, a processor for processing data and a control circuit for electromechanical components of the vehicle. It is characterized in that the processor includes means for controlling the circuit detection threshold the demodulated signals, so as to define several functional areas around the vehicle.

• les figures 1 et 2 décrites plus haut,
• la figure 3, qui représente la courbe d'évolution du niveau HF reçu en fonction de la distance émetteur - véhicule,
• la figure 4, qui représente une vue schématique sous forme de blocs diagrammes fonctionnels du système de télécommande radioélectrique conforme à la présente invention,
• la figure 5, qui représente un exemple de format des données transmises par l'émetteur,
• la figure 6, qui représente une variante de format des données transmises par l'émetteur,
• la figure 7, qui représente le chronogramme de fonctionnement pour la commande du seuil de détection,
• la figure 8, qui représente le chronogramme de fonctionnement du module récepteur dans une application de transmission radioélectrique.

The following description corresponds to a preferred solution in the case of the application of the invention to a radio transmission on a motor vehicle described using:

• Figures 1 and 2 described above,
• FIG. 3, which represents the evolution curve of the HF level received as a function of the transmitter-vehicle distance,
• FIG. 4, which represents a schematic view in the form of functional block diagrams of the radio remote control system according to the present invention,
• FIG. 5, which represents an example of the format of the data transmitted by the transmitter,
• FIG. 6, which represents a variant of the format of the data transmitted by the transmitter,
• FIG. 7, which represents the operating timing diagram for controlling the detection threshold,
• FIG. 8, which represents the operating diagram of the receiver module in a radio transmission application.

Considering that the level of the HF signal received on the receiver antenna is a function of the distance between the transmitter and the receiver and that the variation of this level in distance function follows a decreasing law as indicated in FIG. 3, it is possible, for a transmitter and a given vehicle, to determine approximately at which distance is the vehicle transmitter by detecting the level HF of the received signal.

We thus define on the level of the received wave (HF here) a high detection threshold corresponding to the distance of transition D1 (abscissa in FIG. 3 and corresponding circle, Figure 2) and a low detection threshold corresponding to the limit transmission range P (abscissa in figure 3 and circle Figure 2). It is clear that we can choose several intermediate levels D2, D3, .... between D1 and P which are determined in advance and are represented by values recorded in advance in a memory of the receiver module 30.

As shown in Figure 4, the transmitter has a processor 100, a radio transmitter 101, a set of function keys 102 and a power supply by batteries 103.

The receiver module includes a receiver radio 201 equipped with an HF 200 antenna, a circuit formatting of the demodulated signals 202, a processor data processing 203 and an organ control circuit electromechanical components of the vehicle 204.

The radio receiver 201 is responsible for amplifying and to demodulate the coded radio wave received on the antenna 200. This radio receiver 201 provides the shaping circuit 202 a representative analog signal of the coded message sent by the transmitter 10. The activation circuit form 202 provides processor 203 with one or more signals data logics adapted to the acquisition and decoding of the coded message data implemented in the application. The processor 203 includes a means of switching of a detection threshold of the shaping circuit 202, demodulated signals. By this means, the processor 203 control by a control signal the detection threshold of the shaping circuit 202 so as to detect the HF level of the received signal. This control signal acts as follows:

When the threshold control signal is level logic 0, the detection threshold is adjusted to its low level (see figure 7).

All electromagnetic signals received on the antenna reception 200 which produce, at the output of the HF receiver 201, demodulated signals whose levels are higher than this low detection threshold are shaped by circuit 202 and recorded or used by processor 204. The low level of detection threshold thus determines the transmission range P of the system.

When the control signal is at logic level 1, the detection threshold is adjusted to its high level (see figure 7). All electromagnetic signals received on the antenna reception 200 which produce, at the output of the HF 201 receiver, demodulated signals whose levels are below the threshold of high detection are not shaped by circuit 202 and do not are therefore not recorded or used by the processor 203. The high level of the detection threshold thus determines the distance of system transition D1.

By default, the processor 203 controls the threshold of low level detection in order to receive all coded waves emitted from zones A and B.

Each time you activate a key or key combination 102 of the transmitter, the processor 100 generates a compound coded wave as shown in Figure 5 of a part of coded data A and of a part of data coded B. The coded data part A contains the data of the issuer's identifications and part B contains only elementary data intended to verify that the receiver module is capable of receiving them. In particular, the second part of the message is intended to allow detection the level of the signals received by the receiver module 20.

Let us first consider the case where the transmitter is placed in zone A. When the transmitter transmits a wave coded, the HF 201 receiver provides demodulated signals whose level is above the low detection threshold of the formatting 202 but below the high detection threshold. In the event that more than two functional scope areas are predetermined, the means for switching the detection threshold of the shaping circuit 203 chooses the threshold level of detection corresponding to the functional range area associated with the order received as shown in the first part of the message. Multiple threshold levels can be saved or predetermined otherwise.

On reception of the coded wave, as indicated on the Figure 8, the processor 203 connects the execution of several operations to determine on the one hand the validity of the data coded received and secondly to determine the function to order.

The flowchart in Figure 8 helps to better understand the chronological sequence of operations.

S1 Le processeur 203 du module récepteur 20 acquiert les données de la partie A du message transmis par l'émetteur 10.

S2 Lorsque le processeur 203 a acquit toutes les données, il les décode et vérifie leur validité

S3 Si le processeur 203 considère les données valides, il active le signal de commande du seuil de détection du circuit de mise en forme 202 afin de porter le seuil de détection au niveau haut.

S4 Après le temps nécessaire à la stabilisation des signaux analogiques du circuit de mise en forme, le processeur démarre le processus d'acquisition des données de la partie B du message transmis par l'onde codée.

S5 Puisque les signaux démodulés fournis par le récepteur HF 201 sont inférieurs au seuil de détection haut du circuit de mise forme 202, aucun signal logique de donnée n'est transmis au processeur 203. Le processeur ne peut ainsi acquérir les données de la partie B du message transmis par l'émetteur. Il commande donc la fonction F2.

The operations performed by processor 203 are as follows:

S1 The processor 203 of the receiver module 20 acquires the data of part A of the message transmitted by the transmitter 10.

S2 When the processor 203 has acquired all the data, it decodes them and checks their validity

S3 If the processor 203 considers the data valid, it activates the control signal for the detection threshold of the shaping circuit 202 in order to bring the detection threshold to the high level.

S4 After the time necessary for the analog signals of the shaping circuit to stabilize, the processor starts the process of acquiring the data of part B of the message transmitted by the coded wave.

S5 Since the demodulated signals supplied by the HF receiver 201 are less than the high detection threshold of the shaping circuit 202, no logical data signal is transmitted to the processor 203. The processor cannot thus acquire the data of part B of the message transmitted by the sender. It therefore controls the F2 function.

Now consider the case where the transmitter is placed in zone B. When the transmitter transmits a wave coded, the HF 201 receiver provides demodulated signals whose level is above the upper and lower detection thresholds of the shaping circuit 202.

S5 Puisque les signaux démodulés fournis par le récepteur HF 201 sont supérieurs au seuil de détection haut du circuit de mise forme 202, les signaux logiques de donnée sont transmis au processeur 203. Le processeur peut ainsi acquérir les données de la partie B du message transmis par l'émetteur.

S6 Lorsque le processeur 203 a acquit toutes les données, il les décode et vérifie leur validité

S7 Si le processeur 203 considère les données valides, il commande alors la fonction F1.

The operations take place as in the previous case up to phase 4 and then follow each other as follows:

S5 Since the demodulated signals supplied by the HF receiver 201 are greater than the high detection threshold of the shaping circuit 202, the logical data signals are transmitted to the processor 203. The processor can thus acquire the data of part B of the transmitted message by the transmitter.

S6 When the processor 203 has acquired all the data, it decodes them and checks their validity

S7 If processor 203 considers the data valid, it then commands function F1.

The format of the data message may be different from that shown in Figure 4. The principle claimed in this invention can for example be applied to a message format as shown in Figure 5 for which messages A are repeated one or more times.

Part B of the message can also be reduced to uncoded data.

Claims (6)

1. Remote-control system for actuating electromechanical members in a motor vehicle, comprising:

   a portable sender (10) for sending coded signals, the said sender comprising a set of function keys (102),

   a receiving module (20) placed in the vehicle, comprising a processor (203) for processing the coded signals received, and a circuit for processing electromechanical members of the vehicle (204),

   characterised in that the processor (203) is programmed in such a way that the same key or combination of keys of the portable sender (10) makes it possible to trigger several different functions depending on the area around the vehicle in which the sender is located.
2. Remote-control system according to Claim 1, characterised in that the processor (203) includes a circuit for formatting demodulated signals (202), incorporating a means for control of the threshold for detection of the signals of the said circuit (202), so as to define several functional-range areas around the vehicle.
3. Remote-control system according to Claim 2, characterised in that a key or combination of keys activated in a functional area close to the vehicle makes it possible to control functions of a security nature, such as locking/unlocking, whereas the activation of this same key or combination of keys in a functional area remote from the vehicle makes it possible to control user-friendliness functions.
4. Remote-control system according to Claim [sic] 1 to 3, characterised in that the sender (10) transmits a coded signal formed from at least two parts the first of which is intended to allow identification of the sender (10) and the second of which is intended to allow detection of the level of the signals received by the receiving module (20).
5. Remote-control system according to Claim [sic] 1 to 3, characterised in that the processor (203) includes a means for switching over the detection threshold of the formatting circuit (202), in response to the reception and to the decoding of the first part so as to determine in which area around the vehicle the sender is located.
6. Remote-control system according to Claim 5, characterised in that the processor (203) drives the detection threshold by default to its low level, and in that the detection threshold switches over successively from a low level to the next high level.

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