JP2006152763A - On-vehicle communication control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve noise resistant performance, by improving reception control of the on-vehicle radiocommunication function. <P>SOLUTION: This communication control system 10 receives a radio signal transmitted from an electronic key 11 by a receiving part 27 mounted on a vehicle; and has an ECU 15 for executing operation control of a wiper driving device 17 being a noise generating source and specifying a noise generating period in the wiper driving device 17, and a reception control means for setting the noise generating period as a reception prohibiting period on the basis of information on the noise generating period received from the ECU 15 and determines that the radio signal received by the receiving part 27 during the reception prohibiting period is invalid. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle communication control system, and more particularly to noise countermeasures for an electronic key system that performs wireless communication with a vehicle to unlock a door lock.

Conventionally, various keyless entry systems capable of locking and unlocking a vehicle door without inserting a key into a keyhole and operating the same have been provided.
For example, a keyless entry system that has been used since the beginning was put into practical use is one in which a door is unlocked / locked by wirelessly communicating with a vehicle by operating a button on a transmitter attached to a key. This type of system does not require a key to be inserted into the keyhole to unlock the door lock, but requires a button operation on the transmitter.

Therefore, in recent years, what is called a smart key system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2000-352243 and 2001-97186 has begun to be put into practical use.
The smart key system enables the door to be unlocked / locked simply by carrying the smart key. When the user holding the smart key approaches the vehicle, the door is automatically unlocked. It will automatically lock when you move away from it.

FIG. 6 shows a general configuration of the smart key system.
In the in-vehicle LAN, the smart receiver 1 and the smart ECU 2 are connected to the in-vehicle LAN, and various electronic control units such as a door ECU 4 that controls the door lock driving device 5 and a wiper ECU 6 that controls the wiper driving device 7 are used. Is connected. On the other hand, the user carries a card-type smart key 3.
When the user gets into the vehicle with the smart key system, the smart receiver 1 transmits the request signal intermittently, and the smart key 3 carried by the user enters the area where the request signal can be received or By touching a touch sensor or the like attached to the door, a response signal such as an ID code is wirelessly transmitted from the smart key 3. When the smart receiver 1 receives the response signal, the response signal is transmitted to the smart ECU 2 to confirm the ID code match. If the authentication matches, a door unlock signal is transmitted to the door ECU 4 to unlock the door.

Further, even after the door is opened and the user gets into the driver's seat and starts the engine, a predetermined key between the smart key 3 and the smart ECU 2 is used to check whether the smart key 3 exists in the vehicle. Communication is intermittent.
Specifically, when the shift lever is switched to “D (drive)” or “P (parking)” or when the door is opened or closed, the smart key 3 is searched for whether or not the smart key 3 exists in the vehicle. 3 prevents the door from being locked with another key while remaining in the vehicle.

However, after the engine is started, various electronic devices are already operating, and when these electronic devices are arranged in the vicinity of the smart receiver 1 and noise increases, the noise generated from the electronic device is reduced to the smart receiver 1. There is a problem that it may adversely affect the reception accuracy of the radio signal. In particular, electronic devices are concentrated in the vicinity of the center panel, and there are many noises that adversely affect the reception sensitivity. Therefore, it is difficult to install the reception function on the center panel.
In order to prevent noise from entering the receiving means, it is conceivable to perform a shielding process between the noise source and the receiving means, but this is not preferable because it increases the cost, and the communication path is wireless compared to wired communication. There is a problem that it is difficult to provide a shield.
JP 2000-352243 A JP 2001-97186 A

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said problem, and makes it the subject to improve the communication control of the radio | wireless communication function mounted in the vehicle, and to improve noise-proof performance.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a communication control system for receiving a radio signal transmitted from a radio transmitter by a receiving means mounted on a vehicle.
An in-vehicle ECU that controls the operation of a device that is a noise generation source and identifies the noise generation time in the device;
A reception control unit configured to set a noise generation time as a reception prohibition period based on information on the noise generation time received from the in-vehicle ECU, and to determine that a radio signal received by the reception unit during the reception prohibition period is invalid. The vehicle-mounted communication control system characterized by having provided is provided.

  Since the vehicle-mounted ECU controls the operation of a device that is a noise generation source, it is possible to know the generation timing of noise in the noise generation source. Therefore, as in the above configuration, the vehicle-mounted ECU specifies the noise generation time and informs the reception control means, so that the reception means must not receive a signal from the radio transmitter, and can effectively receive it. It is possible to determine a reception permission period that can be received. Therefore, a communication error due to sudden noise can be effectively prevented, and the receiving means can be installed in the vicinity of the noise generating source, and the degree of freedom of the mounting position of the receiving means is improved.

The vehicle is equipped with an electronic key system that automatically performs wireless communication and authentication between an electronic key carried by a user and an electronic key ECU mounted on the vehicle,
The electronic key is the wireless transmitter, and the receiving means is mounted on a center panel,
The electronic key ECU is preferably configured to receive a radio signal from the electronic key via the receiving means.

In general, the range for the electronic key ECU to receive the signal from the electronic key is set to the range from the driver's seat and passenger seat to the rear of the vehicle body. When radio wave receiving means is placed around the vehicle body, the metal panel of the vehicle body blocks the transmission of radio waves inside and outside the vehicle interior, and the radio waves inside the vehicle interior are scattered by the metal panel, so that sufficient reception sensitivity can be obtained. I understood.
However, in the vicinity of the center panel, for example, devices such as wiper driving devices, door lock driving devices, car navigation devices, air conditioner compressors, and the like are arranged in a concentrated manner. There is a problem that noise electromagnetic waves are likely to be generated when energizing a large current or operating a motor.

Therefore, by taking measures against noise as in the present invention, it is possible to arrange the receiving means on the center panel, and it is possible to stably secure the receiving sensitivity. In addition, since the conventional receiving means is often placed at the foot or the like, a high receiving sensitivity is required, but by placing it on the center panel, a low receiving sensitivity is sufficient. Equipment costs can be reduced.
Furthermore, by providing the receiving means on the center panel, a large space for wiring the electric wires connected to the receiving means can be secured in the instrument panel, and the harness wiring design can be facilitated. In addition, if the electronic key ECU that performs the authentication process of the signal from the electronic key received by the receiving means is arranged in the instrument panel of the vehicle and connected to the receiving means by an electric wire, the receiving means and the smart ECU are connected. It is possible to shorten the length of the electric wire to be performed, and to reduce the electric wire cost.

  As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, since the in-vehicle ECU controls the operation of the noise generation source, it is noted that the generation timing of noise in the noise generation source can be grasped. A communication error due to sudden noise can be prevented by the ECU identifying the noise generation time and notifying the reception control means. Therefore, it is possible to install the receiving unit in the vicinity of the noise generation source, and the degree of freedom of the mounting position of the receiving unit is improved.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 3 show an in-vehicle communication control system 10 equipped with an electronic key system (smart key system) that automatically performs wireless communication with an electronic key (smart key) 11 and performs door lock authentication. Yes.

The vehicle C constructs a vehicle-mounted LAN using the wire harness W / H as a transmission medium. The vehicle-mounted LAN includes a center panel 12, an electronic key ECU 13, a door control ECU 14 (vehicle ECU), and a wiper control ECU 15 ( Vehicle-mounted ECU).
The center panel 12 is a module that is attached to the central opening between the driver's seat and the passenger seat of the instrument panel I, and is a display that displays the CPU 25 having various calculation functions, the temperature of air conditioners, marks, and the like. Unit 26, a reception unit (reception means) 27 that receives a radio signal from electronic key 11, a transmission unit 28 that transmits a radio signal to electronic key 11, and a bus I / O that inputs and outputs signals to the in-vehicle LAN. An O unit 29 and an input / output unit 30 that transmits and receives signals to and from the electronic key ECU 13 are provided. The vehicle C is equipped with only one receiving unit 27 (and transmitting unit 28) provided on the center panel 12 as a receiving unit (and transmitting unit) that receives a radio signal from the electronic key 11. .

The CPU 25 is configured to control the display unit 26 and also control the receiving unit 27, the transmitting unit 28, and the like.
The receiving unit 27 and the transmitting unit 28 can wirelessly communicate with the electronic key 11 within a predetermined area. The transmitting unit 28 converts a request signal output from the electronic key ECU 13 into a radio wave having a predetermined frequency. Send. The receiving unit 27 receives a signal from the electronic key 11, modulates an ID code included in the signal into a pulse signal, and outputs the pulse signal to the electronic key ECU 13.

The electronic key ECU 13 is installed in a deep position in the instrument panel I (a position where the hand of the theft cannot be easily reached), and stores a CPU 32 having various calculation functions and various control programs. A control program storage unit 33, an input / output unit 35 that transmits and receives signals to and from the electronic key 11 via the center panel 12, and a bus I / O unit 36 that inputs and outputs signals to the in-vehicle LAN. ing.
The control program storage unit 33 includes a noise detection program (noise detection means) for determining whether or not noise is present in the radio wave received by the reception unit 27 of the center panel 12, and a noise detection program. A reception control program (reception control means) for controlling reception of a radio signal from the electronic key 11 based on the determined noise information, and an authentication program for processing authentication work between the electronic key 11 are stored. is doing.

The noise detection program determines that noise is detected when the amplitude of the radio signal received by the receiving unit 27 exceeds a predetermined threshold. The noise determination period, that is, the noise determination time interval is set to a value within a range of 140 ms to 180 ms, for example.
The reception control program sets the time during which noise is determined by the noise detection program and the time from when the noise detection program determines that there is noise to the next time when it is determined that there is no noise as the reception prohibition period. On the other hand, the reception permission period is from the time when it is determined that there is no noise to the next timing when noise is determined.
However, considering that the processing time of the radio signal from the electronic key 11 is generally as short as 80 to 120 ms, within a predetermined time (for example, 200 to 220 ms) from the time when it is determined that there is no noise. You may limit and set reception permission time.

The reception control program sets a noise generation time notified from a door control ECU 14 and a wiper control ECU 15 described later as a reception prohibition period, and sets a reception permission time at a time excluding the noise generation time.
In response to the input of the ID code signal from the electronic key 11 via the center panel 12, the authentication program performs collation with its own ID code stored in the ID code storage unit 34.

The door control ECU 14 is installed in the instrument panel I and has a CPU 38 having various arithmetic functions, a control program storage unit 39 in which various control programs are stored, and a bus I that inputs and outputs signals to the in-vehicle LAN. / O part 40 and the input-output part 41 which transmits / receives the control signal to the door lock drive device 16 are provided.
The control program storage unit 39 includes a door control program for controlling the release / locking of the door lock by the door lock drive device 16 and a noise generation time specification for specifying the generation time of electromagnetic noise generated by the operation of the door lock drive device 16. Saving programs and.

The wiper control ECU 15 is installed in the instrument panel I, and has a CPU 43 having various calculation functions, a control program storage unit 44 in which various control programs are stored, and a bus I that inputs and outputs signals to the in-vehicle LAN. / O unit 45 and an input / output unit 46 for transmitting and receiving a control signal to the wiper driving device 17.
The control program storage unit 44 stores a wiper control program for controlling the reciprocating operation of the wiper by the wiper driving device 17 and a noise generation timing specifying program for specifying the generation timing of electromagnetic noise generated by the operation of the wiper driving device 17. is doing.
The door lock driving device 16 and the wiper driving device 17 are provided with a driving motor, and electromagnetic noise is generated when the motor operates.

The electronic key 11 carried by the user is a card type, and an ID code storage unit 21 that stores an ID code for performing authentication work with the electronic key ECU 13 and a transmission that transmits a signal including the ID code by radio waves. Unit 23, receiving unit 22 that receives radio waves from transmitting unit 28 of center panel 12, and CPU 20 that controls transmission and reception of signals.
The electronic key 11 contains a battery (not shown). Further, the center panel 12, the electronic key ECU 13, the door control ECU 14, and the wiper control ECU 15 described above are provided with a power supply circuit (not shown) that supplies power supplied from the wire harness W / H to each part.

Next, the noise countermeasure processing procedure of the in-vehicle communication control system 10 will be described.
The electronic key ECU 13 intermittently transmits a door lock authentication request signal via the transmitter 28 of the center panel 12. When the user carrying the electronic key 11 enters the receivable area near the vehicle C, the electronic key 11 receives the request signal by the receiving unit 27, operates the CPU 20, and sends a response signal including the ID code from the transmitting unit 23. send. As described above, the electronic key 11 automatically transmits a response signal including the ID code only when the request signal is received in the standby state.

At this time, communication control is performed such that the timing at which the response signal from the electronic key 11 is received by the receiving unit 27 of the center panel 12 is a time when there is no noise around the center panel 12.
Specifically, as a first noise countermeasure, as shown in FIG. 4, the noise detection program stored in the control program storage unit 33 of the electronic key ECU 13 is a radio signal received from the reception unit 27 of the center panel 12. Whether or not the noise exceeds the threshold is determined at a predetermined timing, and the period from when it is determined that there is no noise to the timing when the next noise determination is performed is set as the reception permission period, and other than the reception permission period Is set as the reception prohibition period. Then, the electronic key ECU 13 transmits a request signal from the transmission unit 28 toward the electronic key 11 so that the response signal from the electronic key 11 can be received within the reception permission period.
If noise is mixed in the signal received by the receiving unit 27 during the reception permission period, whether the received signal pattern matches the format of the packet transmitted from the electronic key 11 in the electronic key ECU 13. If the format does not match, it may be determined that it is noise and discarded.

In the above description, it is assumed that the response signal transmitted by the electronic key 11 is one packet. However, when the amount of data is large, the response signal may be divided into a plurality of packets and transmitted.
For example, after the first packet transmitted from the electronic key 11 is received during the reception permission period, if it is determined that there is noise in the next noise determination, the second packet can be received during the reception prohibition period. Instead, it waits until the next reception permission period appears. If it is determined that there is noise in the middle of receiving all packets, it may be set to discard the packets received so far and start communication again.

Next, as a second noise countermeasure, the door control ECU 14 and the wiper control ECU 15 inform the electronic key ECU 12 of the generation time of noise generated from the actuators (the door lock driving device 16 and the wiper driving device 17) controlled by the door control ECU 14 and the wiper control ECU 15. I am doing so.
Hereinafter, the wiper control ECU 15 will be described as a representative example. As shown in FIG. 5, when the user operates the wiper switch attached to the driver's seat to turn on the wiper, the wiper control signal is intermittently sent from the wiper control ECU 15 to the wiper driving device 17 according to the reciprocating timing of the wiper. Sent. Then, noise due to magnetic field leakage from the motor is generated during the time when the wiper is actually moved and the motor of the wiper driving device 17 is operating, and the noise is stopped when the motor is stopped when the wiper reciprocating motion is turned back. . That is, noise is generated in synchronization with the wiper operation.

The wiper control ECU 15 pays attention to the regularity of the noise generation time, determines that the predetermined time from when the wiper control signal is transmitted to when the wiper stops and no noise is generated is the noise generation time. Information regarding the noise generation time (or the time when noise is not generated) is transmitted to the electronic key ECU 13.
The motor stop time at the time of turning back in the wiper reciprocating motion is an order in the range of 0.5 to 20 s depending on the speed adjustment status of the wiper, and the time of the reception processing that is instantaneously performed in the order of 80 to 120 ms is Enough can be secured.

In the reception control program of the electronic key ECU 13, the noise generation time is set as the reception prohibition period based on the noise generation time information received from the wiper control ECU 15, and the time other than the noise generation time is set as the reception permission period.
Next, in the reception control program, it is determined whether the reception permission period determined in FIG. 5 corresponds to the reception permission period determined in FIG. 4, and the corresponding time is directly received from the electronic key 11 as the reception permission period. The radio signal is received. On the other hand, when the reception permission period received from the wiper control ECU 15 corresponds to the reception inhibition period determined in FIG. 4, the wireless signal from the electronic key 11 is not received as the reception inhibition time.

As described above, according to the in-vehicle communication control system 10 of the present invention, even if the noise suddenly generated at the noise generation source is unexpectedly received by the receiving means, the receiving unit is in the reception prohibited period. Since it is determined that the radio signal received at 27 is invalid, sudden noise reception can be avoided and communication errors can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to install the receiving unit 27 in the vicinity of a noise generating source such as the wiper driving device 17 and the door lock control device 16, and the degree of freedom of attachment is improved.
Moreover, in the ECU that controls the noise generation source, such as the wiper control ECU 15 and the door lock control ECU 14, the noise generation time is specified and notified to the electronic key ECU 13. The timing can be grasped in advance, and communication errors can be prevented in advance.

In addition, since the receiving unit for detecting noise is also used as the receiving unit 37 that receives a radio signal from the electronic key 11, it is possible to share equipment and reduce costs.
In this embodiment, the door lock control device 16 and the wiper control device 17 are illustrated as noise generation sources, but like a windshield washer pump motor, an air conditioner compressor, a car navigation device, etc. Any device may be used as long as it is accompanied by generation of electromagnetic noise due to large current conduction or motor operation.

It is a block diagram which shows embodiment of this invention. It is a partially transparent perspective view which shows the center panel periphery. It is the schematic which shows a vehicle. It is drawing which shows the timing chart regarding the noise detection in the ECU side for electronic keys. It is drawing which shows the timing chart regarding noise generation specification in the vehicle-mounted ECU side. It is a block diagram which shows a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle-mounted communication control system 11 Electronic key 12 Center panel 13 Electronic key ECU
14 Door control ECU
15 Wiper control ECU
16 Door lock driving device 17 Wiper driving device 27 Receiving part (receiving means)
28 Transmitter C Vehicle I Instrument Panel W / H Wire Harness

Claims (2)

In a communication control system for receiving a radio signal transmitted from a radio transmitter by a receiving means mounted on a vehicle,
An in-vehicle ECU that controls the operation of a device that is a noise generation source and identifies the noise generation time in the device;
A reception control unit configured to set a noise generation time as a reception prohibition period based on information on the noise generation time received from the in-vehicle ECU, and to determine that a radio signal received by the reception unit during the reception prohibition period is invalid. An in-vehicle communication control system comprising: The vehicle is equipped with an electronic key system that automatically performs wireless communication and authentication between an electronic key carried by a user and an electronic key ECU mounted on the vehicle,
The electronic key is the wireless transmitter, and the receiving means is mounted on a center panel,
The in-vehicle communication control system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic key ECU is configured to receive a radio signal from the electronic key via the receiving means.

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