JP2000145224A - Keyless entry system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely prevent battery shortage of portable instruments, and suppress electric power consumption of the portable instruments to a minimum by providing with switches that can begin transmission of a wireless signal to a portable instrument and by stopping the transmission of the wireless signal after a predetermined time has passed since a switch is operated. SOLUTION: In CPUs 15 of portable instruments 1, 1A, when a first unlock switch 11 is pressed, a first unlock signal of single shot is transmitted only once by electric field strength of transmission. When a lock switch 12 is pressed, a lock signal of single shot is transmitted only once by the electric field strength of transmission. When a second unlock switch 13 is pressed, a second unlock signal is transmitted so as to intermit only the predetermined number of times by the electric field strength of transmission. Thus, only when three kinds of operating switches are pressed, predetermined wireless signal is transmitted through a transmitter 18. Accordingly, battery shortage of the portable instruments are surely prevented, and electric power consumption of the portable instruments can be suppressed to a minimum.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a keyless entry system for locking and unlocking an automobile or the like without a key.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an automobile, for example, a driver or the like does not lock or unlock a key cylinder with a predetermined key, and operates a predetermined switch on a portable terminal (hereinafter referred to as a portable device). Is performed, a control unit (hereinafter referred to as an in-vehicle device) provided in the vehicle is locked / locked in response to a predetermined radio wave transmitted in response to the operation.
A so-called keyless entry system for unlocking has been widely used.

In recent years, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
No. 8029, in order to improve the convenience of the operator, without providing an operation switch on the portable device, a predetermined wireless signal is constantly transmitted from the portable device, and when the wireless signal is received by the vehicle-mounted device, A keyless entry system has been proposed in which the in-vehicle device performs locking and unlocking according to the magnitude of the received electric field strength of the wireless signal.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the convenience of the operator is improved, for example, when the operator holds heavy luggage in both hands, but the radio signal is always transmitted from the portable device. Power consumption is a problem. In addition, since a user does not always carry a baggage in both hands, a conventional portable device provided with a lock / unlock operation switch is often sufficient.

In order to solve the problem of power consumption, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-25752 discloses a portable device without an operation switch provided with a switch capable of turning on / off transmission of a radio signal. Keyless entry systems have been proposed. However, when the operator forgets to turn off the switch, power consumption is still an issue. Conversely, when the operator forgets to turn on the switch, for example, the operator is heavy on both hands. When you are carrying luggage, you will be troublesome.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a keyless entry system that reliably prevents the battery of a portable device from running out and minimizes the power consumption of the portable device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a keyless entry system according to the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, a keyless entry system in which an in-vehicle device controls a locking / unlocking operation of a door lock mechanism in accordance with a received electric field strength of a radio signal transmitted from the portable device. The transmission of the wireless signal is stopped after a predetermined time elapses after the switch is operated.

[0009] Preferably, the predetermined time is arbitrarily settable.

[0010] For example, the portable device may include a second switch capable of setting the predetermined time, and the predetermined time may be increased each time the second switch is operated.

Further, for example, the portable device includes a receiver for receiving a radio signal transmitted from the on-vehicle device,
The portable device may set the predetermined time based on setting information included in the received wireless signal.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a keyless entry system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as an embodiment applied to an automobile as an example.

[First Embodiment] First, the hardware of the keyless entry system in the present embodiment will be described.

FIGS. 1 to 3 are schematic views showing the external shape of a portable device of a keyless entry system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The portable device 1 of FIG. 1 is integrated with a general engine key. The portable device 1A shown in FIG.
Has a card type form.

Of these portable devices, portable devices 1 and 1A
Has a first unlock switch 11, a lock switch 1
And two operation switches, ie, a second unlock switch 13 and a first operation switch.
An unlock switch 11A and a lock switch 12 are provided.

The details of the function of each operation switch will be described later. However, to briefly explain here, when the first unlock switch 11 is pressed, the vehicle is unlocked and the unlocked state is set. Will be maintained. When the lock switch 12 is pressed, a locking operation is performed on the vehicle side, and the locked state is maintained. The second unlock switch 13 will be described later with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the portable devices 1 and 1
In A, a first unlock switch 11 and a second unlock switch 13 are provided on different surfaces as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in order to prevent an operator from making a mistake. In the portable device 1B, the portable devices 1 and 1A depend on the operation state of the first unlock switch 11A by the operator.
Function as two types of unlock switches, a first unlock switch 11 and a second unlock switch 13.

A switch 14 indicated by a broken line is a setting switch used in a second embodiment described later.
It does not exist in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a basic operation of the vehicle-mounted device when the second unlock signal is transmitted from the portable device in the first embodiment of the present invention, and is indicated by a broken line shown in FIG. The area of the circle schematically shows a region where the in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle can receive the second unlock signal transmitted from the portable device.

When the operator with the portable device sending the second unlock signal enters the circle of the broken line while the vehicle is in the locked state, the vehicle-mounted device that has received the second unlock signal Perform an unlocking operation. On the other hand, in the unlocked state, if the operator carrying the portable device that is sending the second unlock signal goes away from the circle of the broken line, the vehicle-mounted device cannot receive the second unlock signal. Perform lock operation.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the keyless entry system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a portable device 1 (1A) includes a CPU 1 for executing a program for a transmission process for a lock / unlock operation described below, and the above three types of operation switches.
5, a ROM 16 in which the program and the identification number (ID) of the portable device are stored in advance, a RAM 17 for temporarily storing the processing result, and a predetermined transmission of a predetermined lock signal and an unlock signal according to output data of the CPU 15. Transmitter 18 for transmitting electric field strength, CPU for receiving signals from external devices
15 includes a receiver 19 for demodulating the data into identifiable data, and a buzzer 20 for notifying the operator of the operation state of the portable device. The portable device 1 (1A) is driven by a power supply supplied from a built-in battery (not shown).

The configuration of the portable device 1B is the same as that of the portable device 1 (1) except that the second unlock switch is not provided.
This is the same as the configuration of A).

The on-vehicle device 2 converts the received signal from the external device into C
A receiver 29 for demodulating the data into data identifiable by the PU 25, C
A transmitter 28 for transmitting a predetermined signal at a predetermined transmission electric field strength in accordance with output data of the PU 25, a CPU 25 for executing a lock / unlock processing program to be described later by operating the door lock mechanism 3, a program and a pair thereof A ROM 26 in which an identification number (ID) of the portable device to be used is stored in advance, and a RAM 27 for temporarily storing a processing result. The on-vehicle device 2 is driven by a power supply supplied from a battery (not shown) provided in the vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a transmission signal that can be transmitted by the portable device in the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the CPUs 15 of the portable devices 1 and 1A are provided with a first unlock signal when the first unlock switch 11 is pressed, a lock signal when the lock switch 12 is pressed, and When the second unlock switch 13 is pressed, a second unlock signal is transmitted via the transmitter 18.

In the portable device 1B, since the second unlock switch 13 is not provided, the CPU 15 outputs the first unlock signal when the first unlock switch 11A is pressed for less than a predetermined time. A second unlock signal is transmitted via the transmitter 18 when pressed for longer than the predetermined time.

In the following description, it is assumed that the portable devices 1 and 1A (hereinafter, 1A are omitted), and when the second unlock switch 13 is pressed, the first portable device 1B is used. It is assumed that the unlock switch 11A has been pressed for a longer time than the predetermined time, and the individual description of the portable device 1B will be omitted.

Each of the above three types of signals is a predetermined start bit and a portable unit ID representing an individual identification number of the portable unit.
Each field 101 of a bit, an operation instruction bit indicating a lock operation or two types of unlock operations described later, a parity bit by a general method, and a predetermined end bit
To 105.

Next, the operation of the keyless entry system according to the present embodiment will be described by describing software executed on the above-described hardware with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a radio signal transmitted from the portable device in the first embodiment of the present invention. The radio signal transmitted when three types of operation switches are pressed on the portable device 1 is shown. 3 shows a basic pattern of a signal.

As shown in the figure, the portable device 1 according to the present embodiment is designed to minimize power consumption only when three types of operation switches are pressed as described below. The predetermined radio signal described with reference to FIG.

In the case of FIG. 7: When the first unlock switch 11 is pressed, the first unlock signal is transmitted only once at the transmission electric field strength K1. this is,
Considering the situation in which the first unlock switch 11 is depressed when no wireless signal is transmitted, there is a high possibility that the operator is operating the portable device 1 near the car, so this is the case. In such a situation, even if the radio signal whose electric field strength is weaker than K2 is transmitted only once, the on-vehicle device 2 can sufficiently receive the radio signal. Thereby, unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed.

In the case of FIG. 7, when the lock switch 12 is depressed, the lock signal is transmitted once only at the transmission electric field strength K2. This means that, even when the operator is away from the vicinity of the car to some extent, from the viewpoint of crime prevention, a radio signal having a stronger electric field strength than K1 is transmitted,
The in-vehicle device 2 should perform the locking more reliably by the wireless signal. The signal is transmitted only once in order to suppress unnecessary power consumption. However, in order to perform locking more reliably, the signal may be transmitted a plurality of times.

In the case of FIG. 7, when the second unlock switch 13 is depressed, the second unlock signal is transmitted for a predetermined time (in the present embodiment, a predetermined number of times (four times) in the transmission electric field strength K2). ) Is sent intermittently.
Therefore, since the second unlock signal is transmitted intermittently,
Power consumption can be suppressed as compared with continuous transmission.

In this embodiment, a second unlock signal is transmitted as shown in FIG. Therefore, even when the operator is located within the reception range of the second unlock signal of the vehicle-mounted device, the lock operation is automatically performed when the transmission of the signal a predetermined number of times is completed.

Here, the reason why the signal is intermittently transmitted a predetermined number of times is that the operator holds the baggage when the operator approaches the vehicle with both hands from a place some distance from the vicinity of the car. If the switch is pressed before, the unlocking operation is automatically performed by transmitting the signal intermittently a plurality of times, so that the unlocking operation while holding the baggage and the portable device after the unlocking is completed This is because the operator can be released from the operation stop operation and unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed.

The reason why the transmission electric field strength of the second unlock signal is set to K2 which is higher than K1 is that when the second unlock signal is transmitted by the second unlock switch 13, the operator holds the portable device 1 in the pocket. In such a situation, it is expected that the signal transmitted from the portable device 1 will be weakened by clothes or the like, so that the portable device 1 will be operated with the hand held in FIG. Case (electric field strength K
The transmission is performed at the transmission electric field strength K2 in order to realize a transmission range substantially the same as the transmission range described in (1).

In the case of FIG. 7, when the transmission of the second unlock signal is started due to the depression of the second unlock switch 13, the first unlock signal is transmitted before the signal is transmitted a predetermined number of times. When the switch 11 is depressed, the first unlock signal is transmitted once only at the transmission electric field strength K2 or intermittently plural times (two times in the present embodiment). This means that the depression of the first unlock switch 11 while the second unlock signal is being transmitted means that in some circumstances (for example, it is automatically locked when moving away from the car). This is because the operator desires that the unlocked state be maintained, for example, when the user changes his or her opinion that maintaining the unlocked state is more desirable.
Further, the first unlock signal is set to K2 which is stronger than electric field strength K1.
Is sent by the operator in the first situation,
The situation after the transmission of the first unlock switch 11 is different between the locked state and the unlocked state after the transmission is completed, and the conflicting unlock operation is performed more reliably.

In the case of FIG. 7, when the transmission of the second unlock signal is started by pressing the second unlock switch 13, the lock switch 12 is turned off before the signal is transmitted a predetermined number of times. When depressed, the lock signal is transmitted once only at the transmission electric field strength K2, or intermittently plural times (two times in this embodiment). This means that when the lock switch 12 is pressed while the second unlock signal is being transmitted, for example, it was initially hoped that the lock would be automatically locked when moving away from the car, but immediately thereafter. This is because it is expected that the idea that locking should be performed is changed. The reason why the lock signal is intermittently transmitted a plurality of times is to perform the lock operation more reliably. At this time, if priority is given to reducing power consumption, the signal is transmitted once only once, or the second unlock signal is pressed before the lock switch 12 is pressed, and this signal is In either case, after the number of transmissions, or when the operator moves outside the reception range of the signal, the locking operation is performed. Therefore, the transmission of the second unlock signal being transmitted intermittently is stopped. And the lock signal may not be transmitted.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a lock / unlock process performed by the vehicle-mounted device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. For example, power is supplied from a battery of the vehicle to a power supply unit (not shown) of the vehicle-mounted device 2. It is started by doing.

In the figure, step S1: ROM
The ID data of the portable device 1 stored in the
27.

Step S2, Step S3: It is detected whether a radio signal has been received from the outside (Step S2). If detected (YES), the process proceeds to Step S4, and if not detected (NO), the process proceeds to Step S21.

Steps S4 and S5: The data in the field 102 (portable device ID bit) of the received signal is compared with the ID data stored in the RAM 27 in step S1, and both data match (YES).
Sometimes, the process returns to step S6, and if they do not match (NO), the process returns to step S2 because the signal currently being received is not a wireless signal from the portable device 1 to be targeted.

Step S6: Parity is calculated based on the received signal, it is determined whether or not the calculated value matches the data of the field 104 (parity bit) of the signal, and both data match (YES). ), The process returns to step S7, and if they do not match (NO), the process returns to step S2 because the signal currently being received is not a wireless signal from the portable device 1 to be targeted.

Step S7: Based on the data in the field 103 of the received signal, it is determined whether the signal is one of the three types of signals described above. If the signal is a lock signal, the process proceeds to step S9. If the signal is a lock signal, the process proceeds to step S22.

Step S8: Since the unlock operation should be performed immediately when the received signal is the first unlock signal, execution / non-execution of the operation by the second unlock signal described with reference to FIG. 4 is represented. Set the identification flag G to 0
(No execution), and the process proceeds to step S12.

Steps S9 to S11: When the received signal is the second unlock signal, the identification flag G is set to 1
(Execution) (Step S9), the electric field strength of the received wireless signal is calculated by a general method, and it is determined whether the calculated value of the received electric field strength is larger than a predetermined value J (Step S10). If the determination is YES (large), the process proceeds to step S12, and if the determination is NO (small), the process proceeds to step S23.

Step S12: Instruct the door lock mechanism 3 to perform an unlock operation.

Step S13: In order to notify the operator that the unlock operation has been performed, the horn is sounded twice as an example (a hazard lamp or the like may blink), and the process returns to step S2.

Step S21: If the determination in step S3 is NO, it is determined whether or not the identification flag G is 1; if the determination is YES (G = 1), the process proceeds to step S21.
The process proceeds to 22 and returns to step S2 when NO (G = 0).

Step S22: In this step, when the received signal represents the lock signal, or the operation by the second unlock signal described with reference to FIG. 4 is currently being executed, the signal cannot be detected. The identification flag G is reset to 0 because it is any of the cases.

Step S23: Instruct the door lock mechanism 3 to perform a lock operation.

Step S24: In order to notify the operator that the locking operation has been performed, the horn is sounded once as an example (a hazard lamp or the like may blink), and the process returns to step S2.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a transmission process performed by the portable device for the lock / unlock operation in the first embodiment of the present invention. For example, a built-in battery (not shown) is set in the portable device 1. It is started by doing.

In the figure, step S31: It is determined whether or not the second unlock switch 13 has been pressed. If the second unlock switch 13 has been pressed (YES), the process proceeds to step S32, and if not (NO), the process proceeds to step S51.

Step S32: It is determined whether or not the first unlock switch 11 has been pressed, and the switch has been pressed (YES).
Sometimes, in step S33, the button is not pressed (NO
), The process proceeds to step S38.

Here, in the case of the portable device 1B, step S
In the determinations in step S31 and step S32, the time during which the first unlock switch 11A is pressed is detected, and it is determined whether the detected time is longer or shorter than a predetermined time.

Step S33: A buzzer 2 is provided to inform the operator that the first unlock switch 11 has been pressed.
Sounds 0 once.

Step S34: The bit string of the first unlock signal is output from the RAM 17 to the transmitter 18.

Step S35: It is determined whether the internal flag F indicating that any one of the three types of signals is transmitted from the portable device 1 is 1, and if YES (F = 1), the process proceeds to step S36, and if NO, If (F = 0), step S3
Go to 7.

Step S36: The first unlock signal is transmitted once or twice from the transmitter 18 at the transmission electric field strength K2, and the process proceeds to step S42. This step corresponds to the case of FIG.

Step S37: The first unlock signal is transmitted from the transmitter 18 at the electric field strength K1, and the process proceeds to step S42.
Proceed to. This step corresponds to the case of FIG.

Step S38: If no operation of the first and second unlock switches is detected, it is determined whether the lock switch 12 has been pressed, and the lock switch 12 has been pressed (Y
If (ES), the process proceeds to step S39. If not (NO), the process proceeds to step S43.

Step S39: The buzzer 20 sounds once to notify the operator that the lock switch 12 has been pressed.

Step S40: The bit sequence of the lock signal is output from the RAM 17 to the transmitter 18.

Step S41: When the internal flag F = 0 (corresponding to the case of FIG. 7) only once, and
When the internal flag F = 1 (corresponding to the case of FIG. 7)
The lock signal from the transmitter 18 only twice (or 0 or 1 as described above).
Send out at 2.

Step S42: Reset the internal flag F to 0 and return.

Step S43: It is determined whether or not the internal flag F is 1; if YES (F = 1), step S5
If NO (F = 0), the process returns.

Step S51: To notify the operator that the second unlock switch 13 has been pressed, the buzzer 2
Sounds 0 twice.

Steps S52 and S53: The internal flag F is set to 1 (step S52), and the counter C for counting the number of times the second unlock signal is transmitted intermittently for a predetermined number of times is reset to 0.

Step S54: The bit string of the second unlock signal is output from the RAM 17 to the transmitter 18.

Steps S55 and S56: The second unlock signal is transmitted from the transmitter 18 at a transmission electric field strength K2 of 1
It is transmitted only once (step S55), and 1 is added to the count value of the counter C (step S56).

Steps S57 and S58: It is determined whether the current count value of the counter C is smaller than the predetermined value N by, for example, 5 counts (step S57), and if YES (when the count value is equal to (N-5)) ), The intermittent notification of the buzzer 20 is started, and if NO (when the count value is smaller than (N-5)), the process proceeds to step S59.

Here, the start of the intermittent notification of the buzzer 20 when the count value is (N-5) means that the count value will soon reach N and the transmission of the predetermined number of second unlock signals will end. Is notified to the operator in advance.
For this reason, in the case of a portable device that transmits the second unlock signal for a predetermined time, instead of intermittently transmitting the second unlock signal a plurality of times, a time of, for example, about 3 seconds is set before the predetermined time elapses. What is necessary is just to comprise.

Step S59: It is determined whether the count value of the counter C is a predetermined value N (N = 4 in FIG. 7) (step S59), and if YES (count value = predetermined value N), step S60 is performed. When NO (count value <predetermined value N), the process returns to further transmit the second unlock signal. These steps correspond to the case of FIG.

Step S60: The internal flag F is reset to 0.

Step S61: The intermittent notification of the buzzer 20 started when the count value of the counter C is smaller than the predetermined value N by 5 in step S58 is ended, and the predetermined number of second
The buzzer 20 sounds once to notify the operator that the transmission of the unlock signal has been completed.

Step S62: Reset the counter C to 0 and return.

As described above, by operating the portable device 1 and the vehicle-mounted device 2, it is possible to reliably prevent the battery of the portable device from running out and to suppress the power consumption.

<Modification 1 of First Embodiment> Modification 1
Then, in order to improve the security between the portable device 1 and the on-vehicle device 2, the on-vehicle device 2 sends out a challenge signal including a different random number every time the lock / unlock process is executed. Upon receiving the challenge signal, the portable device 1
When performing the above-described transmission processing, a predetermined operation is performed using a random number included in the signal to generate an encryption code, and a response signal including the generated encryption code is transmitted to the on-vehicle device 2.
To send to. Then, the on-vehicle device 2 creates an encryption code by performing a predetermined operation similar to that of the portable device 1 using the random number transmitted as the challenge signal, and compares the created encryption code with the encryption code included in the response signal. Only when the comparison result matches, the wireless signal received this time is determined to be a signal from the legitimate (paired) portable device 1 and lock / unlock operation is performed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a challenge signal and a response signal according to the first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, each of the challenge signal and the response signal includes a predetermined start bit, a portable device ID bit representing an identification number of each portable device, a random number bit or an encryption code bit, and a parity according to a general method. Each of the fields 201 to 205 is a bit and a predetermined end bit.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process for adding an on-vehicle device according to the first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. This process is performed in steps S11 and S11 in FIG.
12 is added.

In the figure, steps S1001 and S1002: A bit string of a challenge signal including a random number bit in the field 203 is transmitted from the RAM 27 to the transmitter 28.
(Step S1001), and the bit string is modulated by the transmitter 28 and transmitted.

Step S1003, Step S100
4: It is determined whether a response signal has been received by the receiver 29 before the designated time has elapsed, and when the response signal has been received (NO in step S1003, Y in step S1004)
If it is ES, the process proceeds to step S1004. When the signal is not received (YES in step S1003)
), The process proceeds to step S23 in FIG.

Step S1005, Step S100
6: An encryption code is calculated according to the random number bit data transmitted as the challenge signal in step S1002 (step S1005), and whether the calculated encryption code matches the encryption code included in the field 203 of the received response signal Is determined (step S100
6) If they match (YES), the process proceeds to step S12 in FIG. 8 to perform the unlocking operation. If they do not match (NO), the process proceeds to step S23 in FIG. 8 to perform the locking operation. Do.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process for adding a portable device according to the first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. This process is added to the portion "P" in FIG.

In the figure, step S2001: It is determined whether or not a challenge signal has been received. If YES (when received), the process proceeds to step S2003, and if NO (when not received), the process returns.

Step S2002: The data of the field 202 (portable device ID bit) of the received signal is compared with its own ID data stored in advance, and when both data match (YES), step S20 is performed.
If it does not match 03 (NO), the process returns because the currently received signal is not a wireless signal from the target vehicle-mounted device 2.

Step S2003: Step S2001
A cryptographic code is calculated in accordance with random number bit data included in the field 203 of the challenge signal received in step (1), and a response signal including the calculated code is output from the RAM 17 to the transmitter 18.

Step S2004: A response signal is transmitted from the transmitter 18 at the transmission electric field strength K2, and the process returns.

<Modification 2 of First Embodiment> Modification 2 of the First Embodiment
Then, in order to improve security between the portable device 1 and the on-vehicle device 2, a rolling bit field having a different bit arrangement is added to each of the first and second unlock signals every time a signal is transmitted.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the structure of the first and second unlock signals B in the second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the first and second unlock signals in FIG. This means that a rolling bit field 106 is added.

The bit arrangement of these rolling bits is
Every time transmission / reception is performed between the portable device 1 and the on-vehicle device 2, the state changes in the same manner. In this modified example, the portable device 1
The in-vehicle device 2 transmits the first or second unlock signal B including the rolling bit calculated by itself in the field 106, and the bit array of the current rolling bit calculated by itself and the rolling bit received from the portable device 1. The wireless signal received this time is determined to be a signal from the legitimate (paired) portable device 1 and the lock / unlock operation is performed only when the comparison result matches.

According to these modifications, the portable device 1 and the on-vehicle device 2 are operated to reliably prevent the battery of the portable device 1 from running out and to suppress the power consumption.
Security between the portable device 1 and the vehicle-mounted device 2 can be improved.

[Second Embodiment] In the present embodiment, the first
The number of times the second unlock signal is intermittently transmitted is configured to be arbitrarily settable by the operator based on the control in the embodiment. In the following description, the description overlapping with the above-described embodiment will be omitted, and the description will focus on the characteristic portions.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a keyless entry system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

This figure differs from FIG. 5 in the first embodiment in that the portable device 1 is provided with a setting switch 14 capable of arbitrarily setting the number of times the second unlock signal is sent out. A portable device 1 is provided with a GPS receiver 5 and a car navigation unit 4 is connected to the on-vehicle device 2 so as to be able to communicate with each other for use in a variation of the second embodiment described later. . Therefore, in the case of another variation, the car navigation unit 4
No need to connect.

In this embodiment, the transmission state of the second unlock signal is set by the setting switch 14 as the number of transmissions. For example, the state of the switch is set, for example, according to the time of continuous depression. The time may be set according to the operation state, and the second unlock signal may be transmitted intermittently for the set time.

Next, a description will be given of a portion of the transmission process of the portable device 1 according to the present embodiment which is different from that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, before detecting the operation of the first and second unlock switches in steps S31 and S32, the predetermined value N determined in step S59,
That is, as the number of times the second unlock signal is transmitted, the number setting by pressing the setting switch 14 is detected.

In step S51, the buzzer 20 sounds the number of times set by the setting switch 14.
Or the number of times the buzzer sounds (for example,
Long or a combination thereof).
At this time, after the number of transmissions is once set by the setting switch 14, if the number of transmissions is further increased by further pressing the switch, the counter C before the number of transmissions is increased.
Buzzer 2 times the number of times the increment is added to the count value of
You just need to sound 0.

The operation of the setting switch 14 includes, for example, increasing the number of times of transmission of the second unlock signal by one each time the switch is pressed once, and setting the number of times by one when the switch is pressed a predetermined number of times or more. (It may be plural times).

Also, instead of determining the number of times the second unlock signal is transmitted according to the number of times the setting switch 14 is pressed, the number of times the second unlock signal is transmitted is determined linearly or non-linearly according to the time during which the switch is pressed. The number of transmissions may be determined.

It is preferable that the portable device 1 is further provided with a small liquid crystal display, and the current setting state is displayed on the liquid crystal display. Thereby, the operator can easily confirm the set number of times.

Instead of setting with the setting switch 14, the number of transmissions is set on a display (not shown) of the car navigation unit 4, the set number is taken into the CPU 25 of the vehicle-mounted device 2, and By transmitting the signal to the receiver 19 of the portable device 1,
You may set to PU15. Thereby, the operator can easily confirm the set number of times.

Further, the number of transmissions set in the portable device 1 is transmitted to the on-vehicle device 2, and the on-vehicle device 2 displays the received number of transmissions on the display (not shown) of the car navigation unit 4, or outputs May be notified.

To explain a specific method, for example, when the portable device 1 has the shape of the ignition key shown in FIG. 1, the operation performed by the operator on the key switch on the vehicle side by the key is performed. The in-vehicle device 2 detects using the output signal of the key switch, and the in-vehicle device 2 detects that the detected operation state is a predetermined operation (for example, insertion of a key into the key switch, ignition off, etc.). Then, the number of times of transmission as a wireless signal from the portable device 1 may be received, and the received information may be displayed or voice-output by the car navigation unit 4. Thereby, the operator can easily confirm the number of transmissions currently set in the portable device 1.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the operator can change the number of times of transmission of the second unlock signal according to the number of times of operation of the second unlock switch. The unlocked state can be maintained only for a certain period.For example, if the setting operation is performed before holding the baggage in both hands, the lock operation will be performed before reaching the door of the car when carrying the baggage from a relatively far distance Can be prevented from being performed. Thereby, the first
In addition to the effects of the embodiment, the convenience can be further improved.

<Modification 1 of Second Embodiment> In each of the above embodiments, when the operator approaches the vicinity of the door of the automobile or puts his hand on the door, the Nth second unlocking is performed. When the transmission of the signal ends, there is a possibility that the locked state is changed from the unlocked state, and in such a case, it is expected that the operator is uncomfortable. Therefore,
In this modification, the processing shown in FIG. 15 is added to the transmission processing in FIG. 9 to reduce and correct the electric field strength K2 of the second unlock signal when transmitting.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a process for adding a portable device according to the first modification of the second embodiment of the present invention. This process is the same as that of step S43 in FIG.
S is added between the branch and step S54 and step S56.

In the figure, steps S71 and S72: A value N1 obtained by calculating the current count value of the counter C from the predetermined value N set by the setting switch 14 is calculated (step S71), and the calculated value N1 is calculated. For example, 4
It is determined whether or not it is smaller (step S72),
If it is (small), the process proceeds to step S55, and YES
If it is (large), the process proceeds to step S73.

Step S74: The designated expression (for example, K2
= K2-L (4-N1), where L is a constant).
The electric field strength K2 at the time of sending the unlock signal is reduced and corrected.

Step S55: The transmitter 18 transmits the second unlock signal only once at the transmission electric field strength K2.

Step S75: The electric field strength K2 is reset to the original predetermined value, and the process proceeds to step S56.

<Modification 2 of Second Embodiment> In this modification, the number of times the second unlock signal is transmitted depends on whether the operator carrying the portable device 1 is approaching the car. The degree of counting up of the counter C for counting is changed to improve convenience.

As a specific method for detecting the movement of the operator, the portable device 1 is further provided with a GPS receiver 5, and the portable device 1 uses the GPS receiver 5 based on position information detected at a predetermined cycle. It may be determined whether or not the portable device 1 (operator) is moving, that is, it is determined that the mobile device 1 is moving when the position information is changing, and it is determined that the mobile device 1 is not moving when the position information is not changing.

As another method for detecting the movement of the operator, instead of providing the portable device 1 with the GPS receiver 5,
As a mechanism for detecting vibration caused by the movement of the operator, a walking detection mechanism similar to a so-called pedometer may be provided, and the movement of the portable device 1 (operator) may be detected by the walking detection mechanism.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a process for adding a portable device according to the second modification of the second embodiment of the present invention. This process is added between steps S55 and S57 in FIG. You.

In the figure, step S81: portable device 1
It detects whether the operator carrying the portable device 1 is moving or not based on the change in the current position included in the signal received from the device.

Step S56: If the determination in step S81 is YES (when the vehicle is moving), the counter C
Is added to and the process proceeds to step S57.

Step S82: When the determination in step S81 is NO (when the vehicle is not moving), the counter C
Is added to 0.5, and the process proceeds to step S57.

According to the second modification, when the operator is not moving, the counter C is compared with when the operator is moving.
, The increase in the count value is reduced by half, so that even if it takes some time for the operator to approach the car for some reason, the possibility that the door lock mechanism 3 is locked can be reduced, and the convenience is improved. Is further improved.

Note that the method of transmitting and receiving the challenge signal and the response signal and the method of adding the rolling bit described in the modification of the first embodiment are applicable to the second embodiment.

[0126]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a keyless entry system that reliably prevents the battery of a portable device from running out and minimizes the power consumption of the portable device.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the transmission of the radio signal is stopped after the elapse of the predetermined time, so that the battery of the portable device is reliably prevented from running out and the power consumption of the portable device is minimized. be able to.

According to the second to sixth aspects of the present invention, the battery of the portable device can be reliably prevented from running out, the power consumption of the portable device can be minimized, and an operator is placed. Can be set arbitrarily according to the situation
The convenience for the operator can be improved.

According to the seventh to fourteenth aspects of the present invention, the convenience for the operator can be further improved.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the door is locked when the operator tries to open the door, and to eliminate the discomfort of the operator.

According to the sixteenth and seventeenth aspects of the present invention, when the operator is moving toward the door,
Even if it is delayed for some reason, the possibility of being locked can be reduced, and the convenience for the operator can be further improved.

According to the eighteenth aspect, the setting state can be easily recognized, and the convenience for the operator can be further improved.

According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, since the radio signal is transmitted intermittently, the power consumption of the portable device can be further reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outer shape of a portable device of a keyless entry system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an external shape of a portable device of the keyless entry system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outer shape of a portable device of the keyless entry system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a basic operation of the vehicle-mounted device when the second unlock signal is transmitted from the portable device in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a keyless entry system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a transmission signal that can be transmitted by the portable device in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a wireless signal transmitted by the portable device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a lock / unlock process performed by the vehicle-mounted device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a transmission process performed by the portable device for a lock / unlock operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a challenge signal and a response signal in a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process of adding an in-vehicle device according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a process of adding a portable device according to Modification Example 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of first and second unlock signals B according to a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a keyless entry system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a process of adding a portable device according to a first modification as the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a process of adding a portable device according to Modification 2 as the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1A, 1B: portable device, 2: on-board device, 3: door lock mechanism, 4: car navigation unit, 5: GPS receiver, 11, 11A: first unlock switch, 12: lock switch, 13: first 2 unlock switch, 14: setting switch, 15, 25: CPU, 16, 26: ROM, 17, 27: RAM, 18, 28: transmitter, 19, 29: receiver, 20: buzzer,

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A keyless entry system in which an in-vehicle device controls a locking / unlocking operation of a door lock mechanism in accordance with a received electric field strength of a wireless signal transmitted from a portable device, A keyless entry system comprising a switch capable of starting transmission of a wireless signal, wherein the transmission of the wireless signal is stopped after a lapse of a predetermined time after the switch is operated. 2. The keyless entry system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time can be set arbitrarily. 3. The portable device according to claim 2, further comprising a second switch capable of setting the predetermined time, wherein the predetermined time is increased each time the second switch is operated. 2. The keyless entry system according to 2. 4. The portable device includes a second switch capable of setting the predetermined time, and increases the predetermined time according to a continuous operation time when the second switch is operated. The keyless entry system according to claim 2, wherein: 5. The portable device includes a receiver that receives a wireless signal transmitted from the on-vehicle device, and the portable device sets the predetermined time based on setting information included in the received wireless signal. The keyless entry system according to claim 2, wherein the keyless entry system is set. 6. The vehicle-mounted device is capable of communicating with a car navigation unit, and the setting information to be transmitted to the portable device is obtained from the car navigation unit.
The described keyless entry system. 7. The portable device further comprises a first notifying unit for notifying that a stop of the transmission of the radio signal is to be notified before the transmission of the radio signal is stopped after the predetermined time has elapsed. The keyless entry system according to claim 1, wherein: 8. The portable device according to claim 1, further comprising a first notifying unit for notifying that the transmission of the wireless signal has been stopped when the transmission of the wireless signal has been stopped after the predetermined time has elapsed. The keyless entry system according to claim 1, wherein 9. The keyless entry system according to claim 7, wherein the first notifying unit notifies by a sound. 10. The keyless entry system according to claim 2, wherein the portable device includes a second notifying unit for notifying the setting state of the predetermined time in a distinguishable manner. 11. The keyless entry system according to claim 10, wherein the portable device can further increase a time to be measured while the predetermined time is being measured. 12. The portable device, when the time to be further measured while the predetermined time is measured is increased, adds the remaining time before the increase and the increased time to the second time. 12. The keyless entry system according to claim 11, wherein the notification is performed by the notification unit. 13. The keyless entry system according to claim 10, wherein said second notifying means notifies by sound. 14. The keyless entry system according to claim 10, wherein said second notifying means notifies said predetermined time by display. 15. The keyless entry system according to claim 1, wherein the portable device, when transmitting the wireless signal, gradually reduces a transmission electric field strength of the wireless signal. 16. The portable device further includes a GPS receiver, and detecting means for detecting whether or not the portable device is moving based on position information detected by the GPS receiver. 2. The keyless entry system according to claim 1, wherein when the movement is detected by the detection means, the transmission time of the wireless signal is extended. 17. The portable device further comprises a detecting unit for detecting whether or not the portable device is moving based on vibration applied to the portable device. 2. The keyless entry system according to claim 1, wherein a transmission time of said wireless signal is extended. 18. The vehicle-mounted device is capable of communicating with a car navigation unit, and the portable device is capable of transmitting the predetermined time currently set by a radio signal to the vehicle-mounted device, The in-vehicle device receives a radio signal including the predetermined time transmitted from the portable device when a predetermined operation is performed on a key switch by an ignition key, and transmits the received predetermined time to the car navigation unit. The keyless entry system according to claim 2, wherein the notification is made. 19. The portable device, wherein when the portable device transmits the wireless signal intermittently for the predetermined time, the predetermined time can be set as the number of times the intermittently transmitted wireless signal is transmitted. Claim 2
The keyless entry system according to any one of claims 17 to 17.