JP2002201838A - Vehicle electronic key device and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle electronic key device capable of detecting where a portable electronic key is present in a cabin, and a storage medium. SOLUTION: It is judged whether a key position confirmation request is present or not in step 200. Output processing to first to sixth generators 7 is performed in step 210. The processing of receiving the response from the electronic key 3 and confirming the transmitting region of which generator 7 the electronic key is present (or the processing of specifying the position of the electronic key 3) is performed in step 220. To display (and/or report by voice) that the position of the electronic key can be specified, the key information is transmitted to a meter ECU 13 and a navigation ECU 15 in step 230. Accordingly, the position of the electronic key 3 can be displayed on, for example, a navigation display.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicular electronic key device and a recording medium for transmitting a request signal, for example, to the interior of a vehicle and controlling a vehicle-mounted device in response to a reply from the electronic key.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a keyless entry system using a portable electronic key has been known. In this system, wireless communication is performed between the electronic key and a vehicle to control door unlocking and the like. It is carried out.

[0003] As another technique, radio waves are continuously transmitted from the electronic key side to the vehicle side during parking without particularly operating the electronic key.
In some cases, it is determined that the driver has got off the vehicle and door lock control is performed. Thereby, it is possible to avoid a door lock when the electronic key is left behind in the vehicle interior.

Further, in recent years, in order to prevent the door from being erroneously locked (due to the obstruction of radio wave communication) when the electronic key is misplaced in the passenger compartment, a request signal is transmitted from the electronic key to the door. When there is no reply response, a technique for increasing the strength of a request signal to be transmitted has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-110333).

[0005]

However, as described above, in the case of a system that does not require the operation of an electronic key,
Although there is an advantage that the labor at the time of getting on and off the user is reduced, there are the following problems, and further improvement has been demanded.

Specifically, since the user does not need to directly operate the electronic key, the user tends to be unaware of the existence of the electronic key. For this reason, the user sometimes forgets where the electronic key is. In the case of a system that simply requests a reply from an electronic key in response to a request signal, it is known that the electronic key is in the vehicle compartment, but there is a problem that it is difficult to know where in the vehicle compartment.

That is, in the case of the above-mentioned system, the electronic key is often used in a state where the electronic key is put in the pocket or back of the user's clothes. I didn't immediately know where the key was. Therefore, for example, I thought that the electronic key was in the pocket of the clothes and got off as it was, but when the electronic key is actually in the bag placed in the cabin, the door is not automatically locked, so It was necessary to get into the vehicle again and find out where the electronic key was in the cabin, which was very difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and provides a vehicular electronic key device and a recording medium capable of detecting where a portable electronic key is located in a vehicle cabin. With the goal.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention (1) According to the first aspect of the present invention, various types of in-vehicle devices such as a door lock and unlocking are performed by communicating with a portable electronic key. The present invention relates to a vehicle electronic key device that performs control.

In the present invention, a plurality of transmitters (for example, a transmitter having an antenna) are arranged in a vehicle, and the transmission area (verification area) of this transmitter is such that the vehicle compartment is divided into a plurality of areas. It is set narrow. Therefore, when a request signal is transmitted from a certain transmission unit and a reply is received from the electronic key, it is understood that the electronic key is in the transmission area of the transmission unit that transmitted the request signal. Therefore, by sequentially transmitting a request signal (for example, according to a predetermined order) from each transmission unit and receiving a reply, it is possible to detect the position in the vehicle compartment where the electronic key is.

A receiver (for example, a wireless receiver) for receiving a reply from the electronic key is provided in a vehicle (particularly in a vehicle compartment).
, It is necessary to arrange at least one place, but a plurality may be arranged. (2) The invention of claim 2 relates to a vehicular electronic key device that communicates with a portable electronic key to control various on-vehicle devices such as a door lock and unlocking.

In the present invention, a plurality of transmitters (for example, a transmitter having an antenna) are arranged in a vehicle, and the transmission area (verification area) of the transmitter is such that the interior of the vehicle compartment is divided into a plurality of areas. It is set narrow. Therefore, when a request signal is transmitted from a certain transmission unit (including information for identifying the transmission unit) and a reply is received from the electronic key (including information for identifying the transmission unit), the transmission of the request signal is transmitted. It can be seen that there is an electronic key in the transmission area of the section. Therefore, for example, a request signal is transmitted from a plurality of transmission units at once, a response is received, and the transmission unit that transmitted the request signal is specified, thereby detecting where the electronic key is in the vehicle compartment. be able to.

According to the present invention, the transmitting section that has transmitted the request signal can be specified based on the reply from the electronic key, so that there is no particular restriction on the order in which the request signals are transmitted.
For example, the transmission may be performed from all the transmission units at once, the transmission may be performed one by one according to a predetermined order, or the transmission units may be collectively transmitted one after another in a predetermined order.

[0014] A receiver (for example, a wireless receiver) for receiving a reply is provided in a vehicle (particularly, a vehicle interior) at least.
Although it is necessary to arrange them at locations, a plurality of them may be arranged. (3) The invention of claim 3 exemplifies means for detecting the position of the electronic key.

According to the present invention, when a reply from the electronic key is received, it is determined that the electronic key is present in the transmission area of the transmission unit that transmitted the request signal. Therefore, when the transmitting unit that transmitted the request signal is known, for example, when transmitting the request signal from the transmitting unit in a predetermined order, or when transmitting information indicating the distinction of the transmitting unit in the request signal and the like, The position of the electronic key can be detected based on the reply from the electronic key.

(4) The invention of claim 4 exemplifies means for detecting the position of the electronic key. In the present invention, when a reply from an electronic key is received in response to a request signal from a plurality of transmitting units, an electronic key is placed in an area where transmission areas of the transmitting units corresponding to each reply of the electronic key overlap. Judge that there is.

That is, when the transmission areas are set to overlap, and the electronic key is in the overlapping transmission area, the electronic key is, of course, transmitted to the request signal of the transmission unit corresponding to each transmission area. Will reply. Therefore, in such a case, the electronic key is determined to be at the position where the transmission areas overlap.

(5) In the invention of claim 5, when the position of the electronic key is specified, for example, the display of the navigation device or the display of the combination meter is used to display the position of the electronic key (for example, the area corresponding to the transmission area in the vehicle interior). The position of the electronic key can be indicated by an image (divided into).

Alternatively, the position of the electronic key can be indicated by characters using, for example, a display of a navigation device or a display of a combination meter. (6) According to the invention of claim 6, when the position of the electronic key is specified, the position of the electronic key can be notified by voice from a speaker using, for example, a voice guidance function of the navigation device.

(7) In the invention of claim 7, the electronic key itself is provided with a notification device such as an LED or a buzzer. Therefore, when performing the process of specifying the position of the electronic key as described above, when the electronic key receives the request signal, by driving the notification device to emit a sound or emit light, The position of the electronic key itself can be notified to the surroundings.

(8) A recording medium according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is a recording medium storing means for executing the processing by the above-described electronic key device for a vehicle. In other words, there is no particular limitation as long as it stores means such as a program that can execute the processing of the above-described electronic key device for a vehicle.

Examples of the recording medium include various recording media such as an electronic control unit configured as a microcomputer, a microchip, a floppy disk, a hard disk, and an optical disk.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a vehicular electronic key device and a recording medium according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings using examples. (Embodiment 1) This embodiment is for a vehicle that transmits request signals from transmitters (transmitters) provided at a plurality of positions of a vehicle and receives a reply from an electronic key by one tuner (receiver). It is an electronic key device.

A) First, the configuration of a vehicle-mounted system equipped with the electronic key device for a vehicle according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, communication is performed between a device (vehicle electronic key device) 1 on the automobile (vehicle) side and an electronic key 3 carried by a user, and a door lock and a door unlock are performed. In addition to controls such as lock, steering lock release, engine start,
As will be described in detail later, processing for detecting the position of the electronic key 3 in the vehicle compartment (key position detection processing) is performed.

The vehicular electronic key device 1 is a well-known CP.
An electronic control unit (i.e., an electronic key control ECU 5) mainly including a microcomputer having a U, a ROM, an EEPROM, a RAM, and the like.
A plurality of ID codes are stored in 5a in order to check whether the electronic key 3 is appropriate.

The electronic key control ECU 5 includes first to sixth transmitters 7a to 7f (collectively 7) for transmitting a request signal to the electronic key 3, and an ID from the electronic key 3.
A receiver 9 for receiving a reply including a code is connected. The first to sixth transmitters 7 include an antenna and a transmission circuit, and the receiver 9 is a wireless receiver (tuner).
It is.

In particular, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the first to sixth transmitters 7 increase the space in and around the vehicle interior into six transmission areas (collation areas indicated by circles in FIG. 2). 8a
８8f (collectively referred to as 〜8f) are arranged at six places of the vehicle. Specifically, the first transmitter 7a is disposed at the left front door, the second transmitter 7b is disposed at the center of the front left and right seats, the third transmitter 7c is disposed at the right front door, and the fourth transmitter 7d is disposed at the left rear door, the fifth transmitter 7e is disposed at the center of the rear seat, and the sixth transmitter 7f is disposed at the right rear door. The transmission area of each transmitter 7 is
The transmission area is set so as to partially overlap with the adjacent transmission area.
On the other hand, one receiver 9 is provided on a rear-view mirror mounted in front of the indoor ceiling.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, request signals from the first to sixth transmitters 7 arranged at six locations of the vehicle are transmitted, and a reply from the electronic key 3 receiving the request signals is transmitted by one key. This is a configuration in which the signal is received by the receiver 9. Returning to FIG. 1, the electronic key control ECU 5 is connected to the meter ECU 13 and the navigation ECU 15 via the multiplex communication line 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the meter ECU 13 displays a combination meter 17 provided on a dashboard in front of the driver and a meter display 1 provided on a part of the combination meter 17.
9 and the like, and controls the display area 19 thereof.
At a, the position of the electronic key 3 can be indicated by characters.

The navigation ECU 15 is a device for controlling a known navigation device. As shown in FIG. 4, a navigation display 21 connected to the navigation ECU 15 displays the position of the electronic key 3 in an image. Can be.
In FIG. 4, a display area 22 for displaying the position of the electronic key 3 is divided into fifteen first to first areas corresponding to the collation area 8 in FIG.
It is divided into fifteenth display areas 22a to 22o.

That is, FIG. 4 shows the first display area 22a and the first collation area 8a corresponding to only the first collation area 8a.
a, the second display area 22b corresponding to the portion where the second matching area 8b overlaps, the third display area 22c corresponding to only the second matching area 8b, and the portion corresponding to the portion where the second matching area 8b and the third matching area 8c overlap. Fourth display area 22
d, a fifth display area 22e corresponding to only the third matching area 8c, a sixth display area 22f corresponding to a portion where the first matching area 8a and the fourth matching area 8d overlap, and a first matching area 8a and a second matching area. 7b, a second display area 8b, and a fifth check area 8e corresponding to a portion where the display area 8b, the fourth check area 8d, and the fifth check area 8e overlap.
Display area 22h, second collation area 8b, third collation area 8c, and fifth collation area 8 corresponding to portions where
e, a ninth display area 22i corresponding to a portion where the sixth matching area 8f overlaps, a tenth display area 22j corresponding to a portion where the third matching area 8c and the sixth matching area 8f overlap,
Eleventh display area 2 corresponding only to fourth collation area 8d
2k, a twelfth display area 221 corresponding to the portion where the fourth collation area 8d and the fifth collation area 8e overlap, a thirteenth display area 22m corresponding only to the fifth collation area 8e, and a fifth
A fourteenth display area 22n corresponding to a portion where the collation area 8e and the sixth collation area 8f overlap, and a fifteenth display area 22o corresponding only to the sixth collation area 8f are shown.

In FIG. 4, a display area 22 corresponding to a portion where a plurality of collation areas 8 overlap is indicated by oblique lines. Further, the remote controller 21 a
(See FIG. 1) Alternatively, a signal instructing the key position detection processing can be input by a panel switch or the like, and the key position detection processing in the electronic key control ECU 5 is started by this input.

B) Next, the configuration of the electronic key 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, an electronic key 3 operated by a battery has an antenna 31 for transmitting and receiving radio waves to and from the outside.
Are connected to an electronic key ECU 35 via a transmission / reception circuit 33. An ID code for distinguishing the individual electronic keys 3 is stored in a memory 37 such as an EEPROM.

The electronic key ECU 35 reads an ID code from the memory 37 in response to a signal (request signal) received by the antenna 31 and outputs the ID code from the antenna 31. c) Next, various processes performed by the above-described vehicle electronic key device 1 will be described.

First, an example of a basic operation that does not require the user to operate the electronic key 3 will be described. Here, an example of unlocking the door lock when the vehicle is parked with all the doors locked is considered.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, in step 100, the electronic key control ECU 5 periodically (for example, every 200 msec) sets a constant frequency (for example, 300 MHz).
Radio waves (request signals) in the z-band) are transmitted from the first to sixth transmitters 7. In the following step 110, the electronic key 3
It is determined whether or not the reply from is received by the receiver 9 on the vehicle side. Here, if a positive determination is made, the process proceeds to step 120, while if a negative determination is made, the present process is temporarily terminated.

For example, when a user carries the electronic key 3 (for example, in a pocket) and approaches the vehicle, the antenna 31 of the electronic key 3 is switched to a request from one of the first to sixth transmitters 7. Since the signal is received and the corresponding ID code is read out from the memory 37 and transmitted, the electronic key control ECU 5 determines the reception according to the transmitted signal (reply).

In step 120, since the reply from the electronic key 3 is received, it is determined whether or not the ID code included in the reply matches the ID code stored in the memory 5a. Here, if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 130, while if the determination is negative, the process ends once.

In step 130, it is considered that the correct electronic key 3 has approached the vehicle, the door lock is released, and the process is temporarily terminated. Therefore, as shown in the above process,
Even if the user does not operate the electronic key 3, it is possible to control the vehicle-mounted device such as releasing the door lock.

Next, a key position detecting process which is a main part of the present embodiment will be described. This key position detection process is a process for detecting the position of the electronic key 3 in the vehicle interior. As shown in the flowchart of FIG.
At 00, it is determined whether or not the start of the key position detection process has been instructed by the remote controller 21a or the like of the navigation device, that is, whether or not there is a key position confirmation request. Here, if a positive determination is made, the process proceeds to step 210, while if a negative determination is made, the present process is temporarily terminated.

In step 210, the first to sixth transmitters 7
Then, processing for sequentially transmitting a request signal to the electronic key 3 (output processing to the first to sixth transmitters 7) is performed. In this case, the frequency of the request signal is, for example, a band of 2.45 GHz, and the first transmitter 7a, the second transmitter 7b, the third transmitter 7c, the fourth transmitter 7d, and the fifth transmitter are provided at a time interval of, for example, 100 ms. Transmitter 7e, sixth transmitter 7
Request signals are sequentially transmitted in the order of f. The request signals from the first to sixth transmitters 7 can be received in the first to sixth collation areas 8a to 8f, respectively, as shown in FIG.

In the following step 220, a response from the electronic key 3 is received, and processing for specifying the position of the electronic key 3 is performed. Specifically, the request signals from the first to sixth transmitters 7 can be received in the first to sixth collation areas 8, respectively. When there is a reply from 3, it is understood that the electronic key 3 exists in the matching area 8 corresponding to the transmitter 7.

For example, when a request signal is transmitted from the first transmitter 7a and a reply is received from the electronic key 3, it is understood that the electronic key 3 exists in the first collation area 8a. When there is a reply from the electronic key 3 in response to a request signal from a plurality of transmitters 7, an area where a plurality of matching areas 8 corresponding to the respective transmitters 7 overlap (shown by hatching in FIG. 2). It can be seen that the electronic key 3 exists in (area).

In the following step 230, since the position of the electronic key 3 has been specified, the key position information is displayed (and / or notified by voice) in order to indicate the position of the electronic key 3.
The information is transmitted to U13 and the navigation ECU 15, and the process ends once. Therefore, for example, when the electronic key 3 is located at the center of the rear seat, the meter ECU 13 displays the display area 19a of the meter display 19 as shown in FIG.
For example, "Kiha, Kobuzasekinochuouudesu"
Is displayed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the navigation ECU 15 controls the navigation display 2 corresponding to the center of the rear seat.
The first thirteenth display area 22m blinks (or changes color). At the same time, using the voice guidance function of the navigation device, the speaker pronounces "the key is in the center of the rear seat" by voice.

D) In this embodiment, a plurality of transmitters 7 of the vehicle are arranged, and the transmission area of each transmitter 7 is set so as to divide the interior of the vehicle into a plurality of areas. 7
, The request signals are sequentially transmitted. Therefore, by receiving a reply from the electronic key 3 that has received the request signal, it is possible to know from which transmitter 7 the request signal was transmitted. Therefore, it is possible to detect at which position in the vehicle compartment the electronic key 3 is located. Can be.

Therefore, even if the user is not particularly conscious of the presence of the electronic key 3, when the user loses the electronic key 3 in the vehicle compartment, the user can easily find the electronic key 3, which is extremely convenient. Since it is only necessary to know which transmitter 7 sends the request signal from the electronic key 3, the order in which the request signals are transmitted may be set as appropriate as long as it can be distinguished. (Embodiment 2) Next, Embodiment 2 will be described, but description of the same parts as in Embodiment 1 will be omitted.

The electronic key device 1 for a vehicle according to the present embodiment has the same basic hardware configuration as that of the first embodiment, but differs in a method for detecting the electronic key 3. Hereinafter, description will be made in order. In the present embodiment, when transmitting a request signal from the first to sixth transmitters 7,
Information indicating the distinction between the first to sixth transmitters 7 is included.

Then, request signals are transmitted from the first to sixth transmitters 7 at substantially the same timing, for example. Next, when the electronic key 3 that has received the request signal returns a reply, the reply signal includes information indicating from which transmitter 7 the request signal has been received.

Next, when the reply from the electronic key 3 is received by the receiver 9, the electronic key control ECU 5 recognizes the transmitter 7 which transmitted the request signal from the signal included in the received reply. Then, since the position of the electronic key 3 is known from the recognized transmission area of the transmitter 7, the position of the electronic key 3 is displayed on, for example, the navigation display 21.

In this embodiment, no matter what timing the request signal is transmitted, it is based on the reply from the electronic key 3 that has received the request signal, that is, on the basis of the information for distinguishing the transmitter 7 that is replying. Thus, the position of the electronic key 3 can be easily detected.

It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the technical scope of the present invention. (1) For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the electronic key device for a vehicle has been described. However, a recording medium storing means for executing processing by the electronic key device for a vehicle is also within the scope of the present invention.

Examples of the recording medium include various recording media such as an electronic control unit configured as a microcomputer, a microchip, a floppy disk, a hard disk, and an optical disk. In other words, there is no particular limitation as long as it stores means such as a program that can execute the processing of the above-described electronic key device for a vehicle.

(2) In addition, the electronic key itself, for example, LE
A notifying device such as D or a buzzer is provided, and when performing the above-described key position detection process, when the electronic key receives a request signal, the notifying device is driven to emit a sound or emit light. Thereby, the position of the electronic key itself may be notified to the surroundings. This makes it easier to find the electronic key.

Further, a speaker may be provided on the electronic key to notify the user of his / her own position by voice.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a vehicle-mounted system configuration of a vehicle electronic key device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing positions of a transmitter and a transmission area.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a combination meter.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen of a navigation display for displaying the position of an electronic key.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the electronic key.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing basic door lock release processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a key position detection process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. Electronic key device for vehicle 3. Electronic key 5. Electronic key control ECU 7a First transmitter 7b Second transmitter 7c Third transmitter 7d Fourth transmitter 7e · Fifth transmitter 7f · · · Sixth transmitter 9 · · · Receiver 13 · · · Meter ECU 15 · · · Navigation ECU 19 · · Display for meter 21 · · · Display for navigation

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2E250 AA21 BB08 BB12 CC20 CC26 DD06 EE02 FF27 FF36 HH01 JJ02 KK03 LL01 SS12 UU01 VV03

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A vehicular electronic key device that transmits a request signal at least toward a vehicle interior, receives a reply from the portable electronic key to the request signal, and controls the on-vehicle device in response to the reply. A plurality of transmission units for transmitting the request signal are arranged in the vehicle such that the transmission area divides the vehicle compartment into a plurality of regions, and the request signals are sequentially transmitted from the plurality of transmission units. A position of the electronic key in the vehicle compartment based on a reply from the electronic key to the electronic key device. 2. A vehicular electronic key device that transmits a request signal at least toward a vehicle interior, receives a reply from the portable electronic key to the request signal, and controls the vehicle-mounted device in response to the reply. A plurality of transmission units for transmitting the request signal are arranged in the vehicle so that the transmission area divides the vehicle compartment into a plurality of regions, and the request signal including information for distinguishing the transmission unit from the transmission unit is provided. An electronic key device for a vehicle, wherein the position of the electronic key in the vehicle compartment is specified based on a response to the request signal, the response including the information for identifying the transmission unit from the electronic key in response to the request signal. 3. When the request signal is transmitted from a predetermined transmitting unit and a reply from the electronic key is received, it is determined that the electronic key is within a transmission area of the transmitting unit that has transmitted the request. The vehicular electronic key device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. In a case where a reply from the electronic key is received in response to a request signal from the plurality of transmission units, a transmission area of each transmission unit corresponding to each reply of the electronic key overlaps. The vehicular electronic key device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein it is determined that the electronic key is present. 5. When the position of the electronic key is specified, the position of the electronic key is displayed in characters and / or an image on a display device provided in the vehicle. The vehicle according to claim 1. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the position of the electronic key is specified, the position of the electronic key is notified by voice using a voice device provided in the vehicle. 6. The electronic key device for a vehicle according to any one of the above items 5. 7. The electronic key notification device according to claim 1, wherein when the electronic key receives the request signal, the electronic key notification device notifies the surroundings of the position of the electronic key itself. The vehicle electronic key device according to any one of the above. 8. A recording medium storing means for executing processing by the electronic key device for a vehicle according to claim 1. Description: