JP2005207083A - Electronic key device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic key device for a vehicle, which can prevent interference caused by noises of an air conditioner motor, a navigation system, various meters, etc., and does not hinder locking/unlocking of a vehicle door. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic key device 10 for the vehicle is comprised of a portable machine 40 taken along by an occupant and an in-vehicle device 20 mounted in the vehicle, and by carrying out radio communication between the portable machine and the in-vehicle device, ID codes are collated with each other, to thereby carry out locking/unlocking of the door or starting of an engine, based on a result of the collation. According to the operation of the electronic key device, when the engine is started based on the result of the collation, the receiving sensitivity of the portable machine 40 is lowered, and when the engine operation is stopped, the receiving sensitivity of the portable machine 40 is returned to the original level. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular electronic device that locks and unlocks a door and starts an engine by collating each other's ID code by performing wireless communication between an electronic key carried by a passenger and an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle. The key device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vehicle electronic key device that locks and unlocks a door and starts an engine by wireless communication is known (see Patent Document 1).

  Such an electronic key device for a vehicle includes an electronic key carried by an occupant and an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle. When the door outside handle is pulled, the door handle switch is turned on. By this turning on, wireless communication is performed between the in-vehicle device and the electronic key, and the ID code is collated. If it is determined by this verification that the ID codes match, the door is unlocked and the occupant can get on the vehicle.

  When an ignition knob provided in the passenger compartment is pressed, wireless communication is performed between the in-vehicle device and the electronic key, and the ID code is verified. If it is determined that the ID codes match by this collation, the in-vehicle device drives the knob rotation prohibition latch to the unlock side. The engine is started by rotating the ignition knob to the start position.

By the way, in such an electronic key device for a vehicle, noises such as an air conditioner motor, a navigation system, and a meter generated after starting the engine are large, and thus there is a possibility of causing interference in reception of the electronic key. . For this reason, the interference of the electronic key is prevented by reducing the reception sensitivity of the electronic key.
JP 2000-50695 A

  However, if the reception sensitivity of the electronic key is lowered, there is a possibility that the outdoor communication that requires a communication distance, that is, the door may be locked or unlocked.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic key device for a vehicle that can prevent interference caused by noise from an air conditioner motor, a navigation system, a meter, etc., and that does not hinder door locking and unlocking. is there.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the ID code is collated by performing wireless communication between the electronic key carried by the occupant and the in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle, and the door is unlocked and unlocked based on the collation result. Vehicle electronic key device for starting the engine,
The reception sensitivity of the electronic key is reduced when the engine is started based on the collation result, and the reception sensitivity of the electronic key is restored when the engine is stopped.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that when the reception sensitivity of the electronic key is lowered, the transmission output of the in-vehicle device is increased.

  The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that the transmission output of the in-vehicle device is restored when the reception sensitivity of the electronic key is restored.

  According to the present invention, the reception sensitivity of the electronic key is reduced when the engine is started, so that interference due to noise from the air conditioner motor, the navigation system, the meter, etc. can be prevented, and the reception when the engine is stopped is received. By returning the sensitivity to the original level, there is no problem in locking and unlocking the door.

  Embodiments of an electronic key device for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 show a vehicle 1 equipped with a vehicle electronic key device according to the present invention. A driver's seat door 2 of the vehicle 1 includes a driver's seat door antenna 3, a driver's seat door request switch SW1, and the like. Is provided. This driver's seat door request switch SW1 is turned on when the door outside handle of the driver's seat door 2 is pulled. The passenger seat door 4 is provided with a passenger seat door antenna 5 and a passenger seat door request switch SW2. When the door outside handle of the passenger seat door 4 is pulled, the passenger seat door request switch SW2 is turned on. A trunk antenna 6 (see FIG. 5) and a trunk open request switch SW3 (see FIG. 5) are provided at the rear of the vehicle 1, and the trunk open request switch SW3 is turned on when the door outside handle of the trunk is pulled.

  An area where wireless communication between the driver's seat door antenna 3 and a portable device 40 described later is possible is set only in the vicinity of the door 2. Similarly, areas where wireless communication is possible between the passenger seat door antenna 5 and the portable device 40 and between the trunk antenna 6 and the portable device 40 are set only in the vicinity of the door 4 and in the vicinity of the trunk.

  The driver's seat of the vehicle 1 is provided with an ignition knob 7 as shown in FIG. 3, and this ignition knob 7 can be pushed in. When the ignition knob 7 is pushed in, a push switch SW4 (see FIG. 5) is provided. When it is turned on and an ID code described later matches, the ignition knob 7 can be rotated clockwise as shown in FIG. When the ignition knob 7 is rotated clockwise, the key switch SW5, the ACC switch SW6, and the IGN switch SW7 (see FIG. 5) are turned on according to the rotation position. In addition, an indoor antenna 8 is provided in the driver's seat, and an indoor antenna 9 (see FIG. 5) is also provided on the rear seat side.

  An area in which wireless communication between the indoor antenna 8 and the portable device 40 is possible is set only in the passenger compartment near the driver's seat. In addition, an area in which wireless communication between the indoor antenna 9 and the portable device 40 is possible is set only in the passenger compartment near the rear seat.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle electronic key device 10 includes an in-vehicle device 20, a portable device (electronic key) 40, an ignition knob 7 (see FIG. 4), and the like.

  The in-vehicle device 20 includes door antennas 3 and 5, a trunk antenna 6, indoor antennas 8 and 9, switches SW1 to SW7, a smart key control unit 21, and the like.

  The smart key control unit 21 includes a CPU and the like, and has a transmission means (not shown) and a reception means (not shown) for performing bidirectional communication with the portable device 40 and controls the engine controller 32 and the like. It has become.

  Reference numeral 33 denotes a steering lock unit for locking the steering wheel. The steering lock unit 33 has a knob rotation prohibiting latch (not shown) for locking the ignition knob 7 and prohibiting a rotation operation. By driving the rotation prohibition latch to the unlock side, the ignition knob 7 and the steering wheel can be rotated. Reference numeral 34 denotes a body control module. The body control module 34 receives door lock actuators M1, M2, M3, and D2 of the doors 2, 4, D1, D2 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) according to a signal from the smart key control unit 21. M4 and the trunk actuator M5 are controlled.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the portable device 40 includes antennas 41, 42, 43, a demodulation circuit 44, a control circuit 45 including a CPU and the like, a transmission circuit 46, and the like. A transistor TR is connected to the antenna 43 via a resistor R1, and when this transistor TR is turned on, the antenna 43 is grounded via the resistor R1 so that the Q of the resonance circuit of the antenna 43 is lowered. Due to this decrease in Q, the reception sensitivity of the antenna 43 decreases.

The control circuit 45 collates the ID code demodulated by the demodulation circuit 44 with the registered ID code, and if the ID code matches the registered ID code, the control circuit 45 controls the transmission circuit 46 to control the transmission. Send data to the effect. The control circuit 45 turns on the transistor TR based on the signal demodulated by the demodulation circuit 44.
[Operation]
Next, the operation of the vehicle electronic key device configured as described above will be described. It is assumed that the passenger is carrying the portable device 40.

  First, unlocking of the driver's seat door 2 will be described.

  When the occupant pulls the door outside handle of the driver's seat door 2, the driver's seat door request switch SW1 is turned on. When the driver's seat door request switch SW1 is turned on, the smart key control unit 21 of the in-vehicle device 20 operates to transmit a door unlock signal from the driver's seat door antenna 3 to the portable device 40 carried by the passenger.

  When the portable device 40 receives the door unlock signal from the in-vehicle device 20, the portable device 40 transmits a door unlock request signal and an ID code signal to the in-vehicle device 20. Then, when the receiving antenna 21AN of the smart key control unit 21 receives the door unlock request signal and the ID code signal, the smart key control unit 21 compares the transmitted ID code with a pre-registered ID code. If they match, the body control module 34 is controlled to unlock the doors 2 and 4 by the door lock actuators M1 and M2. The passenger can get on by unlocking the driver's seat door 2.

  Next, engine starting will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  Pushing the ignition knob 7 turns on the push switch SW4. When the push switch SW4 is turned on, it is determined as YES in step 1, and the process proceeds to step 2.

  In step 2, the smart key control unit 21 of the in-vehicle device 20 operates to have the ID code (registered ID code), random number code, transmission antenna data, and reception sensitivity reduction data shown in FIG. The signal is transmitted to the portable device 40 carried by the passenger.

  In step 3, when the portable device 40 receives the above signal, the portable device 40 compares the transmitted ID code with the ID code of the portable device 40. If the ID codes match, the portable device 40 proceeds to step 3A and must match. If the answer is NO, the engine start permission control routine ends.

  In step 3A, the step control circuit 45 turns on the transistor TR to reduce the reception sensitivity of the antenna 43, and sends a response signal having the ID code, response code, and reception sensitivity reduction process completion data shown in FIG. Send.

  In step 4, when the antenna 21 AN of the smart key control unit 21 receives the response signal from the portable device 40, an output increase process is performed to increase the output of the signal transmitted from the indoor antennas 8 and 9 by the smart key control unit 21.

  In step 5, the smart key control unit 21 controls the steering lock unit 33 to release the steering lock. That is, the knob rotation prohibiting latch is driven to the unlock side, and the ignition knob 7 and the steering wheel can be rotated.

  In step 6, when the ignition knob 7 is rotated to the start position, the smart key control unit 21 gives the engine controller 32 permission to start the engine, and the engine controller 32 starts the engine and ends.

  When the engine is started, in order to warn about taking out the portable device 40 (in order to prevent the engine from being stopped (engine is stopped)), communication is performed between the indoor antenna 8 and the portable device 40, It is detected whether or not the portable device 40 is in the vehicle, and a warning is given if the portable device 40 is not in the vehicle.

  As described above, if the registered ID code matches the ID code of the portable device 40, the reception sensitivity of the portable device 40 is reduced, so that the air conditioner motor, navigation system, Interference of the portable device 40 due to noise such as a meter can be prevented.

  In addition, since the transmission output from the indoor antennas 8 and 9 of the in-vehicle device 20 is increased after the reception sensitivity of the portable device 40 is lowered, an air conditioner motor or a navigation system is used for communication between the portable device 40 and the in-vehicle device 20. Interference caused by noise from meters and meters can be prevented more reliably.

  In order to stop the engine, the ignition knob 7 is rotated counterclockwise. When the ignition knob 7 is rotated counterclockwise from the start position, the engine is stopped.

  In step 10, when the ignition knob 7 is returned to the locked position, the depressed ignition knob 7 is restored, the push switch SW4 is turned off, and the process proceeds to step 11.

  In step 11, the smart key control unit 21 of the in-vehicle device 20 operates to have the ID code (registered ID code), random number code, transmission antenna data, and reception sensitivity improvement data shown in FIG. The signal is transmitted to the portable device 40 carried by the passenger.

  In step 12, when the portable device 40 receives the signal, the portable device 40 compares the transmitted ID code with the ID code of the portable device 40. If the ID codes match, the portable device 40 proceeds to step 12A and must match. If the answer is NO, this routine ends.

  In step 12A, the control circuit 45 turns off the transistor TR to restore the reception sensitivity of the antenna 43, and sends a response signal having the ID code, response code, and reception sensitivity improvement treatment completion data shown in FIG. Send.

  In step 13, when the antenna 21AN of the smart key control unit 21 receives the response signal from the portable device 40, the smart key control unit 21 performs a process for restoring the output of the signal transmitted from the indoor antennas 8 and 9 and ends. To do.

  As described above, after the engine is stopped, the reception sensitivity of the portable device 40 is returned to the original state, thereby returning to the initial state.

  In the above-described embodiment, a process of increasing the transmission output of the in-vehicle device 20 is performed in step 4 and a process of returning the transmission output of the in-vehicle device 20 to the original in step 13 is performed. However, these processes may not be performed.

It is the perspective view which showed the vehicle carrying the electronic key device for vehicles concerning this invention from the driver's seat side. It is the perspective view which showed the vehicle of FIG. 1 from the passenger seat side. It is explanatory drawing which showed a part of driver's seat of the vehicle of FIG. 1 schematically. It is explanatory drawing which showed the ignition knob. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the electronic key apparatus for vehicles concerning this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the portable device. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a routine for engine start permission control. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the electronic key apparatus for vehicles. It is explanatory drawing which showed the content of the data which a vehicle-mounted apparatus transmits at the time of engine starting. It is explanatory drawing which showed the content of the data which a portable device transmits at the time of engine starting. It is explanatory drawing which showed the content of the data which an in-vehicle apparatus transmits when an engine stops. It is explanatory drawing which showed the content of the data which a portable device transmits when an engine stops.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Driver's seat door antenna 5 Passenger's seat door antenna 8 Indoor antenna 10 Vehicle electronic key apparatus 20 In-vehicle apparatus 21 Smart key control unit 40 Portable machine (electronic key)
SW4 push switch

Claims (3)

A vehicle that collates each other's ID code by performing wireless communication between an electronic key carried by the occupant and an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle, and locks and unlocks the door and starts the engine based on the collation result Electronic key device for
An electronic key device for a vehicle that reduces the reception sensitivity of an electronic key when the engine is started based on the collation result, and returns the reception sensitivity of the electronic key when the engine is stopped.   The vehicle electronic key device according to claim 1, wherein when the reception sensitivity of the electronic key is lowered, the transmission output of the in-vehicle device is increased.   The vehicle electronic key device according to claim 2, wherein when the reception sensitivity of the electronic key is restored, the transmission output of the in-vehicle device is restored.

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