JP2005120662A - Electronic key device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inform a vehicle position by a proper method corresponding to positional relation of an occupant carrying an electronic key and a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: A transmission scope of radio wave of a transmission means is limited to a predetermined scope around the vehicle. When receiving an ID signal from the portable electronic key by a receiving means, a position confirmation demand signal is transmitted by the transmission means to wait reception of a response signal from the portable electronic key by the receiving means. When receiving the response signal from the portable electronic key by the receiving means, at least one informing means is operated to inform a vehicle position. When the response signal from the portable electronic key is not received by the receiving means, more informing means are operated than a case where the response signal is received to inform the vehicle position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic key device for a vehicle that locks and unlocks a door without a key operation.

  2. Description of the Related Art A self-vehicle notification device is known in which an electronic buzzer and a light emitter are activated when a remote controller is operated from the outside of a vehicle so that the self-vehicle can be easily found in a large parking lot (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior art documents related to the invention of this application include the following.
JP 2000-052859 A

  However, in the above-described conventional vehicle notification device, the user is in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle and can confirm the vehicle sufficiently even with only the operation of the light emitter, but the problem is that it is troublesome because the electronic buzzer and the light emitter are operated. There is.

When the radio wave propagation range of the transmission means is limited to a predetermined range around the vehicle, and the ID signal is received from the portable electronic key by the reception means, the position confirmation request signal is transmitted by the transmission means, and from the portable electronic key by the reception means When the response signal from the portable electronic key is received by the receiving means, at least one notification means is activated to notify the vehicle position, and the portable electronic key is received by the receiving means. When the response signal from the vehicle cannot be received, more notification means are operated than when the response signal can be received to notify the vehicle position.
Further, the radio wave propagation range of the transmission means is limited to a predetermined range around the vehicle. When the reception means receives the ID signal from the portable electronic key, the transmission means transmits a position confirmation request signal, and the reception means transmits the portable electronic signal. When receiving the response signal from the key and receiving the response signal from the portable electronic key by the receiving means, the notifying means by light is activated to notify the vehicle position, and the receiving means When the response signal from the key cannot be received, the light notification means and the sound notification means are operated to notify the vehicle position.
Further, when the electric field intensity of the transmission radio wave from the portable electronic key is detected and the electric field intensity detection value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, at least one notifying unit is operated to notify the vehicle position, and the electric field intensity detection value Is less than the predetermined value, more notification means are operated to notify the vehicle position than when the electric field strength detection value is greater than or equal to the predetermined value.
Furthermore, when the electric field intensity of the transmission radio wave from the portable electronic key is detected and the electric field intensity detection value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the light notification means is activated to notify the vehicle position, and the electric field intensity detection value Is less than the predetermined value, the light notification means and the sound notification means are operated to notify the vehicle position.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the position of a vehicle can be alert | reported by the appropriate method according to the positional relationship of the passenger | crew who carried the portable electronic key, and a vehicle.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an in-vehicle device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a portable electronic key. An electronic key device for a vehicle according to an embodiment includes an in-vehicle device 1 (see FIG. 1) installed in, for example, an instrument panel of a vehicle, and an electronic key 20 (portable device, see FIG. 2) that can be carried by an occupant. It consists of.

  First, the electronic key 20 will be described with reference to FIG. The electronic key 20 includes an antenna 21, an electronic key controller 22, a battery 23, a door lock switch 24, a door unlock switch 25, a trunk opener switch, and the like. The electronic key controller 22 includes peripheral components such as a CPU 22 a and a nonvolatile memory 22 b, and performs wireless communication with the in-vehicle device 1 via the antenna 21.

  The memory 22b stores an ID number for identifying a person who is permitted to operate the vehicle. The battery 23 is a replaceable battery that supplies power to the electronic key controller 22. The door lock switch 24 is a switch for locking the vehicle door, and the door unlock switch 25 is a switch for unlocking the vehicle door. The trunk opener switch 26 is a switch for unlocking the trunk lid.

  In this embodiment, only one electronic key 20 is shown, but a plurality of electronic keys 20 are prepared so that a plurality of persons who are permitted to operate the vehicle can carry each vehicle. Is done. The plurality of electronic keys 20 prepared for one vehicle, that is, one in-vehicle device 1, all have the same specifications, configurations and functions other than the ID number stored in the memory 22b.

  The CPU 22a of the electronic key 20 transmits an RF band “command / ID signal for locking / unlocking” and “electronic key response signal” and an “electronic key response signal” to the vehicle-mounted device 1 to be described later via the antenna 21. “Electronic key position confirmation request signal” is received. Details of these signals will be described later.

  Next, the in-vehicle device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The in-vehicle device 1 includes a receiver 2 that receives a signal radio wave from an electronic key 20 and an antenna 2a, a driver door transmitter 3 and an antenna 3a, a passenger door transmitter 4 and an antenna 4a, a trunk lid transmitter 5 and an antenna 5a. It has.

  The receiver 2 and the antenna 2a are installed, for example, in the rear par shell of the vehicle, and receive an RF band “command / ID signal such as lock / unlock” and “electronic key response signal” from the electronic key 20 carried by the occupant to receive the on-board controller. Send to 11. In this embodiment, an example in which the ID number transmitted from the electronic key 20 is received by one receiver 2, 2a is shown, but a plurality of receivers may be installed outside the vehicle interior.

  The driver door transmitter 3 and the antenna 3a are connected to the electronic key 20 carried by the driver near the driver seat door 40 outside the vehicle as shown in FIGS. A transmitter for transmitting a request signal, for example, installed around the door outside handle 41 of the driver's seat door 40, and adjusting the output and directivity of the antenna 3a, That is, the range that can be received by the electronic key 20 is limited to a predetermined area 44 around the driver's seat door 40 outside the vehicle.

  The passenger door transmitter 4 and the antenna 4a transmit for transmitting an ID request signal to the electronic key 20 carried by the passenger near the passenger seat door 43 outside the vehicle as shown in FIGS. For example, it is installed around the door outside handle 42 of the passenger seat door 43 and adjusts the output and directivity of the antenna 4a, so that the LF band radio wave propagation range, that is, the range that can be received by the electronic key 20 Is limited to a predetermined area 45 around the passenger seat door 43.

  The trunk lid transmitter 5 and the antenna 5a are transmitters for transmitting an ID request signal to an electronic key 20 carried by a passenger near the trunk lid outside the vehicle as shown in FIG. The LF band radio wave propagation range, that is, the range that can be received by the electronic key 20 is limited to a predetermined area 46 around the rear end of the trunk lid by adjusting the output and directivity of the antenna 5a. To do.

  The switches 6 to 8 are provided in an ignition key cylinder (not shown) operated by the electronic key 20 and detect the operation and set position of the electronic key 20. When the electronic key 20 is inserted into the ignition key cylinder, the key switch 6 is turned on. When the electronic key 20 is turned to the ignition on position (ON) for operating the engine, the ignition on switch 7 is turned on. Further, when the electronic key 20 is turned to the engine start position (START) where the engine is started by the starter, the engine start switch 8 is turned on.

  The in-vehicle controller 11 includes a CPU 11a, a memory 11b, etc., and performs wireless communication with the electronic key 20 by the receiver 2 and the transmitters 3 to 5, and controls the locking / unlocking controller 13, the engine controller 15, the light controller 16, the horn controller 18, and the like. To do. The memory 11b is a non-volatile memory and stores ID numbers of all the electronic keys 20 prepared for one vehicle on which the in-vehicle device 1 is mounted.

  The locking / unlocking controller 13 controls the door lock actuator 14 to lock and unlock the driver's seat door 40, the passenger seat door 43, the rear seat door, and the trunk lid. The engine controller 15 drives and controls a throttle valve control device (not shown), a fuel injection device (not shown), and an ignition device (not shown), and adjusts the rotational speed and output torque of the engine. The light controller 16 turns on and off the vehicle lamps such as the turn signal lamp 17, and the horn controller 18 sounds the horn 19.

  5A is a flowchart showing processing on the electronic key side executed by the CPU 22a of the electronic key 20, and FIG. 5B is a flowchart showing processing on the in-vehicle device side executed by the CPU 11a of the in-vehicle device 1. is there. The operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to these flowcharts.

  When any one of the door lock switch 24, the door unlock switch 25, and the trunk opener switch 26 is operated in Step 1, the electronic key 20 proceeds to Step 2, reads the ID from the memory 22b, and corresponds to the operated switch. The command and ID are transmitted from the antenna 21 by radio waves in the RF band.

  The in-vehicle device 1 proceeds to step 12 when receiving the command and ID from the electronic key 20 by the receivers 2 and 2a in step 11, and collates the registered ID stored in the memory 11b with the received ID. If the received ID and the registered ID match in step 13, the process proceeds to step 14 where the driver's door transmitters 3, 3a, the passenger door transmitters 4, 4a and the trunk lid transmitters 5, 5a receive an “electronic key position confirmation request signal. "Is transmitted by LF band radio waves. Note that if the ID mismatch result is obtained in step 13, the process is terminated.

  The electronic key 20 confirms whether or not the “electronic key position confirmation request signal” has been received from the in-vehicle device 1 by the antenna 21 in step 3, and proceeds to step 4 if received, or processed if not received. Exit.

  When the “electronic key position confirmation request signal” can be received from the in-vehicle device 1, the occupant carrying the electronic key 20 is within the predetermined range 44 around the driver's seat door 40 or within the predetermined range 45 around the passenger seat door 43, Or it is a case where it exists in the predetermined range 46 around a trunk lid rear-end part. When the occupant carrying the electronic key 20 is in the vicinity of the vehicle as described above, an “electronic key response signal” is transmitted from the antenna 21 by radio waves in the RF band in step 4.

  On the other hand, when the “electronic key position confirmation request signal” cannot be received from the in-vehicle device 1, the occupant carrying the electronic key 20 is within the predetermined range 44 around the driver's seat door 40 or the predetermined area around the passenger seat door 43. This is a case where it is not within the range 45 or the predetermined range 46 around the rear end of the trunk lid. If the occupant carrying the electronic key 20 is not in the vicinity of the vehicle, the process ends without transmitting the “electronic key response signal”.

  The in-vehicle device 1 confirms whether or not the “electronic key response signal” is received from the electronic key 20 by the receivers 2 and 2 a in step 15, proceeds to step 16 if received, and proceeds to step 17 if not received. move on.

  When the “electronic key response signal” is received from the electronic key 20, the passenger carrying the electronic key 20 is in the vicinity of the vehicle as described above. In this case, it is not necessary to blow the horn 19. It is sufficient to turn on the turn signal lamp 17. Therefore, the turn signal lamp 17 is turned on by the light controller 16 in step 16. In the following step 19, command processing is executed. That is, processing corresponding to the operated switch among the door lock switch 24, the door unlock switch 25 and the trunk opener switch 26 of the electronic key 20 is executed.

  On the other hand, if an “electronic key response signal” has not been received from the electronic key 20, it is checked in step 17 whether t seconds, for example, 2 to 3 seconds have elapsed, and if t seconds have elapsed, the process proceeds to step 18. If not, the process returns to step 15 to continue receiving the “electronic key response signal”.

  When the “electronic key response signal” cannot be received from the electronic key 20 even after waiting for t seconds, as described above, the occupant carrying the electronic key 20 is not in the vicinity of the vehicle. There is a possibility that the vehicle cannot be found only by lighting the lamp 17. Therefore, in step 18, the turn signal lamp 17 is turned on by the light controller 16 and the horn 19 is blown by the horn controller 18. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 19 to execute the command processing described above.

  Thus, according to one embodiment, the propagation range of the radio waves of the vehicle-side transmitters 3 to 5 and 3a to 5a is limited to the predetermined range 44 to 45 around the vehicle, and the portable electronic device is received by the receivers 2 and 2a. When receiving the ID signal from the key 20, the vehicle side transmitters 3 to 5 and 3a to 5a transmit the position confirmation request signal, and the receivers 2 and 2a wait for the response signal from the portable electronic key 20 to be received. When the response signal from the portable electronic key 20 can be received by the devices 2 and 2a, the turn signal lamp 17 is turned on to notify the vehicle position, and the portable electronic key 20 from the portable electronic key 20 is received by the receivers 2 and 2a. When the response signal cannot be received, the turn signal lamp 17 is turned on to notify the vehicle position and the horn 19 is blown, so that the position of the passenger carrying the portable electronic key 20 and the vehicle Can inform the location of the vehicle in an appropriate manner in accordance with the engagement, I do not feel inconvenience to passengers.

  The correspondence between the constituent elements of the claims and the constituent elements of the embodiment is as follows. That is, the driver's seat door transmitters 3 and 3a, the passenger seat door transmitters 4 and 4a and the trunk lid transmitters 5 and 5a are transmitting means, the receivers 2 and 2a are receiving means, the vehicle controller 11 is a controlling means, The turn signal lamp 17 and the horn 19 constitute notification means. In addition, unless the characteristic function of this invention is impaired, each component is not limited to the said structure.

In the embodiment described above, the turn signal lamp 17 is turned on when the occupant carrying the portable electronic key 20 is in the vicinity of the vehicle, and the turn signal lamp 17 when the occupant is far away from the vehicle. Although the example which lights the horn 19 while lighting is shown, the content and quantity of the alerting | reporting means which alert | reports a vehicle position are not limited to one Embodiment mentioned above.
Further, in the embodiment, the turn signal lamp 17 is taken as an example of the light notification means and the horn 19 is taken as an example of the sound notification means. However, the light notification means and the sound notification means are described above. It is not limited to one embodiment. For example, a room lamp may be used instead of or in addition to the turn signal lamp 17, or the vehicle-mounted audio device may be reproduced instead of or in addition to the horn 19.

  When the electric field intensity of the transmission radio wave from the portable electronic key 20 is detected and the electric field intensity detection value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, at least one notification means is activated to notify the vehicle position, and the electric field intensity detection value is When the value is less than the predetermined value, more notification means may be operated to notify the vehicle position than when the electric field strength detection value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value.

  In addition, when the electric field intensity of the transmission radio wave from the portable electronic key 20 is detected and the electric field intensity detection value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the light notification means is activated to notify the vehicle position, and the electric field intensity detection value When the value is less than a predetermined value, the light notification means and the sound notification means may be operated to notify the vehicle position.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the vehicle-mounted apparatus of one embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the electronic key of one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the driver's seat door (a) and passenger seat door (b) of a vehicle. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning and communicable range of the transmitter / receiver and antenna of a vehicle. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of one Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 In-vehicle apparatus 2 Receiver 2a Antenna 3 Driver door transmitter 3a Antenna 4 Passenger door transmitter 4a Antenna 5 Trunk lid transmitter 5a Antenna 6 Key switch 7 Ignition on switch 8 Start switch 11 In-vehicle controller 11a CPU
11b Memory 13 Locking / unlocking controller 14 Door lock actuator 15 Engine controller 16 Light controller 17 Turn signal lamp 18 Horn controller 19 Horn 20 Electronic key 21 Antenna 22 Electronic key controller 22a CPU
22b Memory 23 Battery 24 Door lock switch 25 Door unlock switch 26 Trunk opener switches 44, 45, 46 Predetermined range (communication possible range)

Claims (6)

A transmission means in which a radio wave propagation range is limited to a predetermined range around the vehicle;
Receiving means for receiving signal radio waves from a portable electronic key,
An electronic key device for a vehicle that performs wireless communication with the portable electronic key,
When the receiving means receives an ID signal from the portable electronic key, the transmitting means sends a position confirmation request signal, and the receiving means waits for a response signal from the portable electronic key, and the receiving means When the response signal from the portable electronic key is received, at least one notification means is activated to notify the vehicle position, and the reception means cannot receive the response signal from the portable electronic key. In this case, the vehicle electronic key device is provided with a control unit that operates more notification units than when a response signal can be received to notify the vehicle position. The electronic key device for a vehicle according to claim 1,
The control means turns on a turn signal lamp when the receiving means can receive a response signal from the portable electronic key, and the receiving means cannot receive a response signal from the portable electronic key. In the case, the electronic key device for a vehicle is characterized in that the turn signal lamp is turned on and the horn is blown. A transmission means in which a radio wave propagation range is limited to a predetermined range around the vehicle;
Receiving means for receiving signal radio waves from a portable electronic key,
An electronic key device for a vehicle that performs wireless communication with the portable electronic key,
When the receiving means receives an ID signal from the portable electronic key, the transmitting means sends a position confirmation request signal, and the receiving means waits for a response signal from the portable electronic key, and the receiving means When the response signal from the portable electronic key could be received, the light notification means was activated to notify the vehicle position, and the reception means could not receive the response signal from the portable electronic key. In such a case, the vehicle electronic key device includes a control unit that activates a light notification unit and a sound notification unit to notify the vehicle position. The vehicle electronic key device according to claim 3,
The vehicle electronic key device, wherein the light notification means is a turn signal lamp and the sound notification means is a horn. An electronic key device for a vehicle comprising a transmitting means and a receiving means for performing wireless communication with a portable electronic key,
Electric field strength detecting means for detecting the electric field strength of the transmission radio wave from the portable electronic key;
When the detection value by the electric field strength detection means is a predetermined value or more, at least one notification means is operated to notify the vehicle position, and when the detection value by the electric field strength detection means is less than the predetermined value, An electronic key device for a vehicle, comprising: control means for operating more informing means than in the case where the electric field intensity detection value is not less than a predetermined value in order to notify the vehicle position. An electronic key device for a vehicle comprising a transmitting means and a receiving means for performing wireless communication with a portable electronic key,
Electric field strength detecting means for detecting the electric field strength of the transmission radio wave from the portable electronic key;
When the detection value by the electric field strength detection means is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the light notification means is activated to notify the vehicle position, and when the detection value by the electric field strength detection means is less than the predetermined value, the vehicle An electronic key device for a vehicle, comprising control means for operating a light notification means and a sound notification means to notify the position.

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