JP2007118899A - Vehicular communication control system, on-vehicle device, and portable machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular communication control system, an on-vehicle device, and a portable machine capable of easily establishing a suitable communication environment between the portable machine and the on-vehicle device. <P>SOLUTION: A portable machine 10 has a communication control unit 11 which detects the reception level of the request signal when receiving the request signal to be transmitted from an on-vehicle device 20 and transmits the ID code signal including the reception level code to indicate the reception level. The on-vehicle device 20 has a vehicle control unit 21, and the vehicle control unit 21 compares the reception level to be indicated by the reception level code with the preset in-cabin boundary threshold and out-of-vehicle boundary threshold when receiving the ID code signal. As a result, the vehicle control unit 21 is in an engine start permissible state when it is determined that the reception level is higher than the in-cabin boundary threshold, or automatically unlocks the door lock when it is determined that the reception level is higher than the out-of-vehicle boundary threshold, and not higher than the in-cabin boundary threshold. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle communication control system including a portable device having a wireless communication function and a vehicle-mounted device that controls the vehicle based on wireless communication with the portable device, and the vehicle-mounted device used in the vehicle communication control system. And a portable device.

  In recent years, automobiles have been required to improve convenience as well as basic performance and safety. Therefore, for the purpose of improving such convenience, conventionally, wireless communication is automatically performed between the portable device possessed by the user and the in-vehicle device (vehicle control device), and the wireless communication is established. There has been proposed a vehicle communication control system that automatically locks and unlocks a door lock and makes it possible to start an engine (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Specifically, the in-vehicle device intermittently transmits a radio signal (request signal) around the vehicle or in the vehicle interior. When a request signal is transmitted around the vehicle, the request signal is transmitted to a predetermined area (outside the vehicle area) around the vehicle, and when a request signal is transmitted inside the vehicle interior, the request signal is only an area within the vehicle interior (indoor area). It is set not to be transmitted outside the vehicle. For this reason, when a user (driver) possessing a portable device having a communication function enters a vehicle outside region or an indoor region, the portable device receives a request signal, and the ID set in itself in response to the request signal An ID code signal including the code is returned. The in-vehicle device receives this ID code signal and collates the ID code set in itself with the ID code included in the ID code signal. As a result, the vehicle control device determines that communication with the portable device has been established when the ID codes match each other, and if the ID code signal is a response to the request signal transmitted to the vehicle exterior area, the door lock is established. Is automatically unlocked, and if the ID code signal is a response to the request signal transmitted to the indoor area, the engine is ready to start. That is, mutual communication is automatically performed between the in-vehicle device and the portable device, and the door lock is automatically unlocked or the engine can be started on the condition that the mutual communication is established. To do. This eliminates the need for complicated operations such as the use of a mechanical key for locking and unlocking the door and starting the engine, improving the operability of the vehicle. Further, since locking / unlocking and engine starting are controlled based on electrical verification, the security level is also improved.
JP 2001-31333 A

  By the way, the shape and size of the vehicle interior differs for each vehicle type, and the arrangement position of the in-vehicle device may vary for each vehicle type. Therefore, the vehicle exterior area and the indoor area, which are request signal transmission areas, also vary depending on the vehicle type. Must be set. That is, it is necessary to individually set the output intensity of the request signal according to the vehicle type.

  However, in particular, when a portable device outside the vehicle returns an ID code signal in response to a request signal transmitted to the indoor area, the in-vehicle device is indoors even though the portable device is outside the vehicle. Since it is determined that it exists, it is necessary to set the indoor area with high accuracy, and adjustment of the output intensity of the request signal is complicated and difficult.

  In general, since the reception sensitivity of the portable device varies due to individual differences, it is necessary to adjust the output intensity of the request signal in response to such variation in reception sensitivity, which is very complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle communication control system, an in-vehicle device, and a portable device that can easily construct a suitable communication environment between the portable device and the in-vehicle device. It is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, in the invention described in claim 1, vehicle communication including a portable device having a wireless communication function and an in-vehicle device that controls the vehicle based on wireless communication with the portable device. In the control system, when the portable device receives a request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device, the portable device detects a reception level of the request signal and transmits a response signal including a reception level code indicating the reception level. When the response signal is received, the in-vehicle device compares the reception level indicated by the reception level code with a preset threshold value, and determines that the reception level is higher than the threshold value. The gist of the present invention is to provide vehicle control means for performing control corresponding to the above.

  According to the above configuration, when receiving the request signal, the transmission control unit of the portable device transmits a response signal including a reception level code indicating the reception level of the request signal. When the vehicle control means of the in-vehicle device receives the response signal from the portable device, the vehicle control means compares the reception level indicated by the reception level code included in the response signal with a threshold set in advance, and compares the reception level. Corresponding control when it is determined that is higher than the threshold. For this reason, for example, when the threshold value is set high, the corresponding control is not performed unless the portable device is close to the transmission source of the request signal, compared to when the threshold value is set low. That is, by appropriately changing the threshold setting value, the communication distance between the portable device and the in-vehicle device required for performing the corresponding control changes. Such a change in threshold value can be dealt with by a small change in software of the vehicle control means, and therefore can be performed more easily than changing the output intensity of the request signal. Therefore, it is possible to easily construct a suitable communication environment between the portable device and the in-vehicle device.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle communication control system according to the first aspect, as the threshold value, an indoor boundary threshold value that is a reception level of the request signal at a position where the portable device is closest to the vehicle outside the vehicle. Is set, and when the vehicle control means determines that the reception level indicated by the reception level code is higher than the indoor boundary threshold value, the vehicle control means determines that the portable device is present in the vehicle interior and performs corresponding indoor vehicle control. The gist is to do.

  According to the above configuration, the indoor boundary threshold is set as the threshold. And a vehicle control means performs indoor vehicle control corresponding when it is judged that the reception level shown by a reception level code is higher than this indoor boundary threshold value. That is, since the reception level does not exceed the indoor boundary threshold when the portable device exists outside the vehicle, the indoor vehicle control is not performed even though the portable device exists outside the vehicle. Moreover, it is possible to correspond to each vehicle type by setting such an indoor boundary threshold for each vehicle type without changing the output intensity of the request signal, so that a suitable communication environment between the portable device and the in-vehicle device can be easily constructed. It becomes possible to do.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle communication control system according to the second aspect, a vehicle exterior boundary threshold value that is a reception level lower than the indoor boundary threshold value is set as the threshold value. When it is determined that the reception level indicated by the reception level code is higher than the vehicle boundary threshold and equal to or less than the vehicle boundary threshold, it is determined that the portable device is present in the corresponding region of vehicle control. The gist is to perform control outside the vehicle.

  According to the above configuration, when the vehicle control means determines that the reception level indicated by the reception level code is higher than the vehicle boundary threshold and equal to or less than the vehicle boundary threshold, the vehicle control means performs vehicle exterior control different from the vehicle control. That is, the vehicle control means can perform individual control according to the reception level. Moreover, since the vehicle outside control is not performed when the reception level is equal to or less than the vehicle outside boundary threshold, the communication distance between the portable device and the in-vehicle device necessary for performing the vehicle outside control can be set by the vehicle outside boundary threshold.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle communication control system including a portable device having a wireless communication function and an in-vehicle device that controls the vehicle based on wireless communication with the portable device, the portable device includes: When the request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device is received, the reception level of the request signal is detected, and the reception level is compared with a preset threshold value, and it is determined that the reception level is higher than the threshold value. A vehicle that performs a control corresponding to the received code when the vehicle-mounted device receives the response signal that includes the received code. The gist is to provide a control means.

  According to the above configuration, when the transmission control unit of the portable device receives the request signal, it compares the reception level of the request signal with a preset threshold value, and determines that the reception level is higher than the threshold value. A response signal including a reception code indicating that is transmitted. And the vehicle control means of the vehicle-mounted apparatus will perform control corresponding to this received code, if the response signal from the portable device containing the received code is received. For this reason, for example, when the threshold value is set high, the corresponding control is not performed unless the portable device is close to the transmission source of the request signal, compared to when the threshold value is set low. That is, by appropriately changing the threshold setting value, the communication distance between the portable device and the in-vehicle device required for performing the corresponding control changes. Such a change in threshold value can be dealt with by a small change in software of the transmission control means, and therefore can be performed more easily than changing the output intensity of the request signal. Therefore, it is possible to easily construct a suitable communication environment between the portable device and the in-vehicle device. Moreover, in constructing such a suitable communication environment, it is possible to cope with it by changing only the setting on the portable device side, so that the change can be made more easily.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle communication control system according to the fourth aspect, as the threshold value, an indoor boundary threshold value at which the portable device is a reception level of the request signal at a position closest to the vehicle outside the vehicle. Is set, and the transmission control unit sets the indoor code as the reception code when it is determined that the reception level of the request signal is higher than the indoor boundary threshold, while the reception level is equal to or lower than the indoor boundary threshold. If the vehicle control means determines that the response code is transmitted as the reception code, the vehicle control means transmits the response signal. When it is determined that the vehicle is present indoors, the corresponding indoor vehicle control is performed, and when the response signal includes a vehicle outside code, the portable device is in the vicinity of the vehicle outside. And gist to carry out outside control corresponding to determined to exist.

According to the said structure, there exists an effect | action equivalent to Claim 3.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle communication control system according to the fifth aspect, a transmission boundary threshold set to a value lower than the indoor boundary threshold is set as the threshold, and the transmission control means includes: If the reception level of the request signal is determined to be lower than the transmission boundary threshold, the response signal is not transmitted.

  According to the above configuration, by setting the transmission boundary threshold, even if the portable device receives a request signal, if the mobile device is in a distance relationship with the in-vehicle device having a reception level lower than the transmission boundary threshold, Do not send a signal. For this reason, transmission of an unnecessary response signal is suppressed and the power consumption of the portable device can be reduced.

  The invention according to claim 7 is an in-vehicle device that controls a vehicle based on wireless communication with a portable device having a wireless communication function, and transmits a request signal requesting a response signal to the portable device. On the other hand, when the response signal including the reception level code indicating the reception level of the request signal is received, the reception level is compared with a preset threshold value, and it is determined that the reception level is higher than the threshold value. The gist of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control means for performing control corresponding to the situation.

  According to the above configuration, the corresponding control is performed by the vehicle control means only when it is determined that the reception level is higher than the threshold value. In other words, the corresponding control is not performed unless it is determined that the reception level is higher than the threshold value. For this reason, for example, when the threshold value is set high, the corresponding control is not performed unless the portable device is close to the transmission source of the request signal, compared to when the threshold value is set low. That is, by appropriately changing the threshold setting value, the communication distance between the portable device and the in-vehicle device required for performing the corresponding control changes. Such a change in threshold value can be dealt with by a small change in software of the vehicle control means, and therefore can be performed more easily than changing the output intensity of the request signal. Therefore, it is possible to easily construct a suitable communication environment between the portable device and the in-vehicle device.

  The invention according to claim 8 is an in-vehicle device that controls a vehicle based on wireless communication with a portable device having a wireless communication function, and transmits a request signal requesting a response signal to the portable device. On the other hand, when the response signal including the reception code set according to the reception level of the request signal is received, vehicle control means for performing corresponding control based on the reception code is provided.

  According to the above configuration, the corresponding control is performed by the vehicle control means only when a response signal including the reception code is received. In other words, the corresponding control is not performed unless a response signal including the reception code is received. For this reason, there exists an effect | action equivalent to the said effect | action.

  The invention according to claim 9 is a portable device that performs wireless communication with an in-vehicle device that controls a vehicle, and detects a reception level of the request signal when a request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device is received. The gist of the invention is to provide a transmission control means for transmitting a response signal including a reception level code indicating the reception level.

  According to the above configuration, when a request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device is received by the portable device, a response signal including a reception level code indicating the reception level of the request signal is transmitted from the portable device. For this reason, the in-vehicle device can recognize the distance from the portable device by receiving the response signal and recognizing the reception level. Therefore, the in-vehicle device can perform various controls based on the reception level. That is, by using such a portable device, it is possible to construct a communication environment that is optimal for vehicle control based on communication with an in-vehicle device.

  The invention according to claim 10 is a portable device that performs wireless communication with an in-vehicle device that controls a vehicle, and detects a reception level of the request signal when a request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device is received. And a transmission control means for comparing the reception level with a preset threshold and transmitting a response signal including a reception code indicating that the reception level is determined to be higher than the threshold. The gist.

  According to the above configuration, when the portable device receives a request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device, the portable device compares the reception level of the request signal with a preset threshold value. When the portable device determines that the reception level of the request signal is higher than a preset threshold value, the portable device transmits a response signal including a reception code indicating that fact. For this reason, the in-vehicle device can perform various controls based on the presence / absence of the received code in the received response signal.

  In the invention according to claim 11, in the portable device according to claim 9 or 10, when the transmission control means determines that the reception level of the request signal is lower than a preset transmission boundary threshold The gist is that no response signal is transmitted.

  According to the above configuration, even if the portable device receives a request signal, the portable device does not transmit a response signal when the reception level of the request signal is lower than a transmission availability threshold. For this reason, transmission of an unnecessary response signal is suppressed and the power consumption of the portable device can be reduced.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle communication control system, an in-vehicle device, and a portable device that can easily construct a suitable communication environment between the portable device and the in-vehicle device. .

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle communication control system 1 includes a portable device 10 possessed by a vehicle owner (user) and an in-vehicle device 20 disposed in the vehicle 2.

<Configuration of portable device 10>
The portable device 10 has a wireless communication function and can communicate with the in-vehicle device 20. Specifically, the portable device 10 includes a communication control unit 11 as a transmission control unit configured by a computer unit including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, a reception circuit 12 electrically connected to the communication control unit 11, and a transmission. Circuit 13.

  When receiving the radio wave (request signal) transmitted from the in-vehicle device 20, the receiving circuit 12 detects the reception level of the request signal, demodulates it to a pulse signal, and controls communication of the demodulated signal including the reception level of the request signal. To the unit 11.

  The communication control unit 11 includes a nonvolatile memory 11a, and a preset unique ID code is recorded in the memory 11a. When the demodulated signal is input from the receiving circuit 12, the communication control unit 11 includes an ID including the reception level code indicating the reception level of the request signal included in the demodulated signal and the ID code recorded in the memory 11a. The code signal is output to the transmission circuit 13.

The transmission circuit 13 modulates the ID code signal input from the communication control unit 11 into a radio wave having a predetermined frequency and transmits the modulated signal to the outside.
<Configuration of in-vehicle device 20>
The in-vehicle device 20 includes a vehicle control unit 21 as a vehicle control unit configured by a computer unit including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and a transmission circuit 22 and a reception circuit 23 electrically connected to the vehicle control unit 21. It has.

  The transmission circuit 22 is configured to be able to transmit radio waves in a predetermined frequency band. When a request signal is input from the vehicle control unit 21, the transmission circuit 22 modulates the request signal into a radio wave and transmits the request signal to the outside with a preset intermittent period and output intensity. In the present embodiment, the transmission circuit 22 includes a first transmission circuit 22a and a second transmission circuit 22b. As shown in FIG. 2, the first transmission circuit 22a is located at a position ahead of the vehicle from the center in the vehicle interior. The second transmission circuit 22b is disposed at a position behind the vehicle relative to the center in the passenger compartment. In the present embodiment, the first transmission circuit 22a and the second transmission circuit 22b are set to transmit the request signal with the same output intensity.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the receiving circuit 23 is arranged at a substantially central position in the vehicle interior together with the vehicle control unit 21. When receiving a corresponding radio wave, the reception circuit 23 demodulates the radio wave into a pulse signal and outputs it to the vehicle control unit 21. .

  The vehicle control unit 21 is electrically connected to a registration switch 31, a lock switch 32, a door courtesy switch 33, a start switch 34, a door lock device 35, and an engine control device 36 provided in the vehicle 2. The registration switch 31 and the start switch 34 are disposed in the vicinity of the driver's seat (for example, a dashboard) in the passenger compartment, and are configured by push button switches or the like. Moreover, the lock switch 32 is each provided in the outside door handle (not shown) of each door 2a-2d, for example, as shown to Fig.2 (a)-(c). On the other hand, the door courtesy switch 33 is provided in the vicinity of the doors 2a to 2d, and includes a first courtesy switch 33a to a fourth courtesy switch 33d that detect the open / closed state of the corresponding doors 2a to 2d. The door lock device 35 is a device that automatically locks and unlocks the door lock. When the unlock signal is input from the vehicle control unit 21, the door lock is unlocked, and when the lock signal is input, the door lock is locked. And a locking / unlocking state signal indicating the locking / unlocking state of the door lock is output to the vehicle control unit 21. The engine control device 36 is connected to a cell motor (not shown). When a drive signal is input from the vehicle control unit 21, the engine control device 36 drives the cell motor to automatically start the engine and outputs an engine state signal indicating the engine drive state. Output to the vehicle control unit 21. For this reason, the vehicle control unit 21 can recognize the locking / unlocking state of the door lock and the driving state of the engine based on the locking / unlocking state signal and the engine state signal.

  Such a vehicle control unit 21 includes a non-volatile memory 21a. The memory 21a includes an ID code equivalent to the ID code set in the corresponding portable device 10, and preset indoor boundary thresholds and vehicle boundary thresholds. Is recorded.

  In addition, the vehicle control unit 21 includes a threshold registration mode for setting (registering) the indoor boundary threshold value and the vehicle outer boundary threshold value in the memory 21 a and a vehicle control mode for controlling the vehicle 2 based on communication with the portable device 10. Switch selectively.

  Specifically, the vehicle control unit 21 is normally in the vehicle control mode, and switches to the threshold registration mode when an operation signal is input from the registration switch 31. In the threshold registration mode, the vehicle control unit 21 intermittently outputs a request signal to the transmission circuit 22 when an operation signal is input from the lock switch 32. When the ID code signal from the portable device 10 is received by the receiving circuit 23, the vehicle control unit 21 sets the reception level indicated by the reception level code included in the ID code signal to the indoor boundary threshold value of the corresponding ID code. Is recorded in the memory 21a. Further, the vehicle control unit 21 subtracts a preset value from the set indoor boundary threshold value, and records the calculated value in the memory 21a as the corresponding vehicle boundary threshold value of the ID code.

  On the other hand, in the vehicle control mode, the vehicle control unit 21 intermittently outputs request signals to the transmission circuit 22. When the ID code signal transmitted from the portable device 10 in response to the request signal is received by the receiving circuit 23, the vehicle control unit 21 records the ID code included in the ID code signal and the memory 21a. The ID code is compared (ID code verification). At the same time, the vehicle control unit 21 compares the reception level indicated by the reception level code included in the ID code signal and the threshold values (indoor boundary threshold value and vehicle boundary threshold value) recorded in the memory 21a corresponding to the ID code. Make a comparison. And the vehicle control part 21 performs corresponding vehicle control (door lock control, engine start permission) based on these results.

  Specifically, when the vehicle control unit 21 determines that the reception level is higher than the corresponding indoor boundary threshold value, the vehicle control unit 21 enters the engine start permission state, and when the operation signal is input from the start switch 34 in the engine start permission state, A drive signal is output to the engine control device 36 to start the engine. In other words, the vehicle control unit 21 does not output a drive signal to the engine control device 36 even if an operation signal is input from the start switch 34 unless the engine start permission state is entered.

  When the vehicle control unit 21 determines that the door is in an open state based on a detection signal from the door courtesy switch 33 (33a to 33d), the vehicle control unit 21 subtracts the predetermined value from the indoor boundary threshold. The engine start permission judgment is performed based on the value. That is, in the open state of the door, the request signal is more easily transmitted to the outside of the vehicle than in the closed state. Therefore, in this case, the vehicle control unit 21 sets the indoor boundary area value to a low value so that the portable device 10 The engine is prevented from being allowed to start even though it is outside the vehicle.

  Further, when the vehicle control unit 21 determines that the reception level is equal to or lower than the corresponding indoor boundary threshold value and is higher than the corresponding external boundary threshold value, the vehicle control unit 21 outputs an unlock signal to the door lock device 35. Unlock the door lock.

  Furthermore, when the operation signal is input from the lock switch 32 (32a to 32d) in a state where the vehicle control unit 21 determines that the reception level is equal to or less than the corresponding indoor boundary threshold value, the portable device 10 performs the vehicle outside control. It judges that it exists in a corresponding | compatible area | region, outputs a locking signal with respect to the door lock apparatus 35, and locks a door lock.

  Since the indoor boundary threshold is set to the reception level of the request signal by the portable device 10 when the lock switches 32a to 32d provided on the outside door handle are operated, the reception level exceeds the indoor boundary threshold. Communication areas between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 are areas A1a and A1b as schematically shown in FIG. That is, the reception level of the request signal by the portable device 10 exceeds the indoor boundary threshold only when the portable device 10 is present in the vehicle interior. Further, since the vehicle outside boundary threshold is set to a calculated value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value from the indoor boundary threshold, the communication area between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 in which the reception level is equal to or lower than the indoor boundary threshold and higher than the vehicle outside threshold. Are regions A2a and A2b as schematically shown in FIG. That is, only when the portable device 10 exists around the vehicle 2, the reception level of the request signal by the portable device 10 is equal to or lower than the indoor boundary threshold value and higher than the outside threshold value.

Next, the threshold value registration operation and vehicle control performed by the vehicle communication control system 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the sequence charts shown in FIGS.
<Threshold registration operation>
As shown in FIG. 3, in step S <b> 1, the in-vehicle device 20 is switched to the threshold registration mode when the registration switch 31 is operated by the user holding the portable device 10. And the vehicle-mounted apparatus 20 will start transmission of a request signal in step S3, if the lock switch 32 is operated in step S2.

  When receiving the request signal, the portable device 10 determines the reception level of the request signal in step S4, and transmits an ID code signal including a reception level code indicating the determined reception level and an ID code in step S4. .

  When receiving the ID code signal, the in-vehicle device 20 records the reception level indicated by the reception level code in step S6 in the memory 21a as an indoor boundary threshold in association with the ID code signal. Further, the vehicle boundary threshold value is calculated based on the indoor boundary threshold value and recorded in the memory 21a.

<Vehicle control>
In the vehicle control mode, the in-vehicle device 20 intermittently transmits a request signal at a predetermined cycle in step S11 as shown in FIG.

  Upon receiving the request signal, the portable device 10 determines the reception level of the request signal in step S12, and transmits an ID code signal including a reception level code indicating the determined reception level and an ID code in step S13. .

  When receiving the ID code signal, the in-vehicle device 20 performs ID code verification in step S14. As a result, when the ID code collation is established, the in-vehicle device 20 compares the reception level indicated by the reception level code of the ID code signal with the indoor boundary threshold value and the vehicle outer boundary threshold value recorded in the memory 21a in step S15. And the vehicle equipment 20 performs vehicle control based on a comparison result in step S16. That is, when the in-vehicle device 20 determines that the reception level is higher than the indoor boundary threshold value, it determines that the portable device 10 is present in the vehicle interior and enters the engine start permission state, the reception level becomes equal to or lower than the indoor boundary threshold value, and the outside of the vehicle. When it is determined that the value is higher than the threshold value, it is determined that the portable device 10 exists in the vicinity of the vehicle 2 and the door lock is unlocked.

<Action>
In the vehicle communication control system 1 configured as described above, if the indoor boundary threshold value and the vehicle boundary threshold value are set high, the portable device is closer to the transmission source of the request signal than when the threshold values are set low. Otherwise, the corresponding control will not be performed. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 2B, assuming that the in-vehicle device 20 is mounted on a vehicle 3 that is smaller than the vehicle 2, the output intensity of the request signal and each threshold value are the same. The communication area between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 whose reception level exceeds the indoor boundary threshold is the areas A1a and A1b as in the case where the vehicle 2 is mounted. Similarly, communication areas between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 in which the reception level is equal to or lower than the indoor boundary threshold and higher than the vehicle exterior threshold are areas A2a and A2b. For this reason, communication between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 whose reception level exceeds the indoor boundary threshold value is established even outside the vehicle 3.

  Conventionally, in order to prevent such communication from being established and to establish communication between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 whose reception level exceeds the indoor boundary threshold only in the indoor region, the output intensity of the request signal Must be set individually for each vehicle. However, in the present embodiment, this can be dealt with by changing the value of each threshold value. That is, the threshold value is set as the indoor boundary threshold value because the reception level of the request signal by the portable device 10 in a state where the user who owns the portable device 10 operates the lock switch 32 is shown in FIG. The communication areas are areas A1a ′ (<A1a), A1b ′ (<A1b), A2a ′ (<A2a), A2b ′ (<A2b). In particular, the communication areas A1a 'and A1b' between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 whose reception level exceeds the indoor boundary threshold are only indoor areas.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The communication distance between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 necessary for performing the corresponding control can be changed by appropriately changing the setting values of the indoor boundary threshold and the vehicle outer boundary threshold for each vehicle type, for example. . Such a change of the threshold value can be handled by a small change on the software of the vehicle control unit 21, and therefore can be performed more easily than changing the output intensity of the request signal. Therefore, a suitable communication environment between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 can be easily constructed.

  (2) An indoor boundary threshold is set as the threshold. And the vehicle control part 21 performs indoor vehicle control (engine start permission) corresponding when it judges that the reception level shown by a reception level code is higher than this indoor boundary threshold value. That is, since the reception level does not exceed the indoor boundary threshold when the portable device 10 exists outside the vehicle, the engine start permission state may occur even though the portable device 10 exists outside the vehicle. Absent. Moreover, since it is possible to correspond to each vehicle type by setting such an indoor boundary threshold value for each vehicle type without changing the output intensity of the request signal, a suitable communication environment between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 can be easily achieved. Can be built.

  (3) When the vehicle control unit 21 determines that the reception level indicated by the reception level code is higher than the vehicle boundary threshold and equal to or less than the vehicle boundary threshold, vehicle control (door lock control) different from the vehicle control is performed. Do. That is, the vehicle control unit 21 can perform individual control according to the reception level. Moreover, since the door lock control is not performed when the reception level is less than or equal to the vehicle outer boundary threshold, the communication distance between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 necessary for performing the door lock control is set by the vehicle outer boundary threshold. be able to.

  (4) The indoor boundary threshold and the vehicle boundary threshold are set individually for each portable device 10. For this reason, even when reception sensitivity varies for each portable device 10, the communication region between the portable device 10 for locking and unlocking the door and the in-vehicle device 20, and the portable device 10 for permitting start of the engine And the in-vehicle device 20 can be made to be substantially the same area.

  (5) When the vehicle control unit 21 determines that the door is open by the door courtesy switch 33 (33a to 33d), the vehicle control unit 21 decreases the indoor boundary threshold value. For this reason, in the open state of the door, it is possible to prevent the engine from being in a startable state even though the portable device 10 exists outside the vehicle.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the points different from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and common points will be simply denoted by the same member numbers, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the registration switch 14 is provided in the portable device 10 and the registration switch 31 connected to the in-vehicle device 20 is omitted, and the processing performed by the communication control unit 11 and the vehicle control unit 21 is the first. This is a main point different from the first embodiment.

<Portable machine 10>
The portable device 10 is provided with a registration switch 14 that can be operated by a user, and the registration switch 14 is electrically connected to the communication control unit 11. Therefore, when the registration switch 14 is operated, the operation signal is input to the communication control unit 11. The communication control unit 11 is selectively switched between a vehicle control communication mode and a threshold value registration mode.

  The communication control unit 11 is normally set to the vehicle control communication mode. When an operation signal is input, the communication control unit 11 is switched to the threshold registration mode and transmits a registration request signal to the outside via the transmission circuit 13. Further, when a registration permission signal is input via the receiving circuit 12, the communication control unit 11 determines the reception level of the registration permission signal, and obtains an indoor boundary threshold value and a transmission boundary threshold value based on the reception level. These threshold values are recorded in the memory 11a. Note that the transmission boundary threshold value is obtained by the same calculation procedure as the vehicle boundary threshold value in the first embodiment.

  Further, when the request signal is input via the receiving circuit 12 in the vehicle control communication mode, the communication control unit 11 compares the reception level of the request signal with each threshold value recorded in the memory 11a, and the result ID code signal transmission control is performed based on the above.

  Specifically, when the communication control unit 11 determines that the reception level of the request signal is higher than the indoor boundary threshold value, the communication control unit 11 transmits an ID code signal including the indoor code and the ID code via the transmission circuit 13. On the other hand, if the communication control unit 11 determines that the reception level of the request signal is equal to or lower than the indoor boundary threshold value and higher than the transmission boundary threshold value, the communication control unit 11 outputs an ID code signal including the vehicle exterior code and the ID code, Transmission is performed via the transmission circuit 13. Further, when the communication control unit 11 determines that the reception level of the request signal is equal to or less than the transmission boundary threshold value, the communication control unit 11 does not transmit the ID code signal.

<In-vehicle device 20>
On the other hand, when a registration request signal is input via the receiving circuit 23, the vehicle control unit 21 enters a transmission waiting state for a registration permission signal. Note that the registration permission signal is a signal equivalent to the request signal, and here, the signal name is referred to for convenience. Then, when an operation signal is input from the lock switch 32 in such a registration permission signal transmission standby state, the vehicle control unit 21 transmits a registration permission signal (request signal) via the transmission circuit 22 (22a, 22b). To do.

  In addition, the vehicle control unit 21 transmits a request signal through the transmission circuit 22 at a predetermined intermittent period when no registration request signal is input, and an ID code signal in response to this request signal is input. Then, the ID code verification is performed. And the vehicle control part 21 performs corresponding vehicle control (door lock control, engine start permission) based on the result of ID code collation similarly to 1st Embodiment.

Next, the threshold value registration operation and vehicle control performed by the vehicle communication control system 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to sequence charts shown in FIGS.
<Threshold registration operation>
As shown in FIG. 6, when the registration switch 14 is operated by the user in step S21, the portable device 10 switches to the threshold registration mode, and transmits a registration request signal in step S22.

  When receiving the registration request signal, the in-vehicle device 20 enters a registration permission signal transmission standby state. When an operation signal is input from the lock switch 32 in step S23, the in-vehicle device 20 transmits a registration permission signal in step S24.

  When receiving the registration permission signal, the portable device 10 determines the reception level of the registration permission signal in step S25, records the reception level in the memory 11a as the indoor boundary threshold value in step S26, and based on the indoor boundary threshold value. A transmission boundary threshold value is calculated and recorded in the memory 11a.

<Vehicle control>
In the vehicle control mode, the in-vehicle device 20 intermittently transmits a request signal at a predetermined cycle in step S31 as shown in FIG.

  Upon receiving the request signal, the portable device 10 determines the reception level of the request signal in step S32, and compares the determined reception level with the indoor boundary threshold value and the transmission boundary threshold value recorded in the memory 11a in step S33. To do. In step S34, the portable device 10 performs transmission control of the ID code signal based on the comparison result. That is, when it is determined that the reception level of the request signal is higher than the indoor boundary threshold, the portable device 10 determines that it is present in the vehicle interior and transmits an ID code signal including the indoor code as a reception code. On the other hand, when the portable device 10 determines that the reception level is equal to or lower than the indoor boundary threshold and is higher than the transmission boundary threshold, the portable device 10 determines that the mobile device 10 is in the vicinity of the vehicle 2 and uses the vehicle outside code as the reception code. The included ID code signal is transmitted. Further, when it is determined that the reception level is equal to or lower than the transmission boundary threshold, the portable device 10 determines that the mobile device 10 is present at a position separated from the vehicle 2 and does not transmit the ID code signal.

  When receiving the ID code signal, the in-vehicle device 20 performs ID code verification in step S35. As a result, when the ID code collation is established, the in-vehicle device 20 performs vehicle control based on the received code included in the ID code signal in step S36. That is, when the in-vehicle device 20 includes a reception code composed of an indoor code, the in-vehicle device 20 determines that the portable device 10 is present in the vehicle interior and enters an engine start permission state, and includes a reception code composed of an external code. In this case, it is determined that the portable device 10 exists in the vicinity of the vehicle 2 and the door lock is unlocked.

  Therefore, in the vehicle communication control system 1 configured as described above, as in the first embodiment, if the indoor boundary threshold value and the transmission boundary threshold value are set high, compared to the case where the threshold value is set low, If there is no portable device near the request signal transmission source, the corresponding control is not performed.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, in addition to the effects described in the above (1) to (3) in the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(6) The communication distance between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 necessary for performing the corresponding control can be changed by appropriately changing the setting values of the indoor boundary threshold and the vehicle outer boundary threshold for each vehicle type, for example. . Such a change in threshold value can be dealt with by a small change in software of the communication control unit 11 of the portable device 10, and therefore can be performed more easily than changing the output intensity of the request signal. Therefore, a suitable communication environment between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 can be easily constructed.

  (7) An indoor boundary threshold is set as the threshold. And the communication control part 11 of the portable device 10 transmits the ID code signal including the indoor code when it is determined that the reception level of the request signal is higher than the indoor boundary threshold value, so that the vehicle control part of the in-vehicle device 20 21 is set to the engine start permission state. Since the portable device 10 does not determine that the reception level of the request signal is higher than the indoor boundary threshold when the portable device 10 exists outside the vehicle, the indoor code is received from the portable device 10 even though the portable device 10 exists outside the vehicle. The included ID code signal is not transmitted. Therefore, the engine start permission state does not occur when the portable device 10 exists outside the vehicle. Moreover, since it is possible to correspond to each vehicle type by setting such an indoor boundary threshold value for each vehicle type without changing the output intensity of the request signal, a suitable communication environment between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 can be easily achieved. Can be built.

  (8) When the communication control unit 11 determines that the reception level indicated by the reception level code is higher than the vehicle boundary threshold and equal to or less than the vehicle boundary threshold, the communication control unit 11 transmits an ID code signal including the vehicle outside code, The door lock control is performed by 20. That is, the communication control unit 11 can cause the in-vehicle device 20 to perform individual control by transmitting an ID code signal including an individual reception code in accordance with the request signal reception level. Moreover, when the reception level is equal to or less than the vehicle boundary threshold, the ID code signal including the vehicle outside code is not transmitted, so that the door lock control is not performed. Therefore, the communication distance between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 necessary for performing the door lock control can be set by the vehicle outer boundary threshold.

  (9) A transmission boundary threshold set to a value lower than the indoor boundary threshold is set in the memory 11a of the communication control unit 11 of the portable device 10, and the communication control unit 11 determines that the reception level of the request signal is the transmission boundary threshold. If it is determined that it is lower than the ID code signal, the ID code signal is not transmitted. For this reason, even if the portable device 10 receives a request signal, the portable device 10 does not transmit an ID code signal if it is in a distance relationship with the in-vehicle device 20 that has a reception level lower than the transmission boundary threshold. Therefore, unnecessary transmission of the ID code signal is suppressed, and the power consumption of the portable device 10 can be reduced.

In addition, you may change embodiment of this invention as follows.
-In 1st Embodiment, you may set a lock | rock threshold value according to the lock switches 32a-32d of each door. Specifically, the vehicle control unit 21 records the reception levels included in the ID code signals transmitted when the lock switches 32a to 32d are operated in the threshold value registration mode in the memory 21a as individual lock threshold values. May be. When the operation signal is input from any of the lock switches 32a to 32d, the vehicle control unit 21 determines that the reception level included in the ID code signal is the lock switches 32a to 32d that are operated. When it is determined that the value is lower than the correspondingly set lock threshold value, the door lock may be locked. In this way, for example, even when the reception level of the request signal is different between the vicinity of the first lock switch 32a and the vicinity of the second lock switch 32b, the user who owns the portable device 10 can select the corresponding lock switch 32a. By operating ~ 32d, the door lock can be securely locked.

  -In 1st Embodiment, if the vehicle control part 21 judges that it is a door open state by the door courtesy switch 33 (33a-33d), it will reduce the indoor boundary threshold value. However, it is not always necessary to change the indoor boundary threshold according to the open / closed state of the door.

  In the first embodiment, the indoor boundary threshold and the vehicle outer boundary threshold can be individually set for each portable device 10. However, it may be possible to set only the indoor boundary threshold and the vehicle boundary threshold based on the model portable device 10. In this way, although the accuracy of communication with the in-vehicle device 20 for sensitivity variations due to individual differences of the portable device 10 is reduced, the registration work of each threshold value is simplified.

  In the first embodiment, any one of the indoor boundary threshold value and the vehicle outer boundary threshold value may be set as the threshold value, and in the second embodiment, only one of the indoor boundary threshold value and the transmission boundary threshold value may be set as the threshold value. . That is, the vehicle control based on the mutual communication between the portable device 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 may be only one of the engine start permission control and the door lock control.

  -In 2nd Embodiment, the communication control part 11 of the portable device 10 does not transmit an ID code signal, when it is judged that the reception level of a request signal is below a transmission boundary threshold value. However, even in such a case, the communication control unit 11 may transmit the ID code signal as long as the request signal can be received. In this case, the communication control unit 11 may transmit an ID code signal including a unique reception code other than the indoor code and the vehicle exterior code.

  In each embodiment, the transmission circuit 22 for transmitting a request signal in the in-vehicle device 20 is not limited to two (transmission circuits 22a and 22b), and may be configured by one or three or more.

Next, in addition to the technical ideas described in the claims, the technical ideas grasped by the embodiment described above are listed below.
(1) In the vehicle communication control system according to claim 3, the outside boundary threshold value is calculated from the indoor boundary threshold value by calculation. According to the technical idea described in (1), the vehicle boundary threshold can be easily set.

  (2) In the vehicle communication control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and (1), the vehicle control means is in a state where a lock switch provided on each door handle of the vehicle is operated. The reception level included in the response signal received at the step is individually set as a lock threshold, and when each lock switch is operated after the lock threshold is set, it is included in the response signal received at that time The door lock is locked on condition that it is determined that the received level is equal to or lower than the lock threshold value set corresponding to the operated lock switch. According to the technical idea described in (2), the door lock can be reliably locked.

  (3) In the vehicle communication control system according to claim 4, when a transmission boundary threshold is set as the threshold, and the transmission control means determines that the reception level of the request signal is lower than the transmission boundary threshold Does not transmit the response signal. According to the technical idea described in (3), transmission of a response signal in an unnecessary state can be suppressed, and the power consumption of the portable device can be reduced.

  (4) In the vehicle communication control system according to claim 6, the transmission boundary threshold value is calculated from the indoor boundary threshold value. According to the technical idea described in (4), the transmission boundary threshold can be easily set.

  (5) In the vehicle communication control system according to any one of claims 2, 3, 5, and 6, the indoor vehicle control is engine start permission control for setting the engine in a startable state.

(6) In the vehicle communication control system according to any one of claims 3, 5, and 6, the vehicle exterior control is door lock control that automatically unlocks the door lock.
(7) In the vehicle communication control system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and (1) to (6), the threshold value is set higher by a predetermined amount when the vehicle door is open. Change to According to the technical idea described in (7), since the reception level of the request signal by the portable device is high when the door is open, more appropriate vehicle control is possible by performing such control.

The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the communication control system for vehicles of 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A)-(c) is a top view which shows roughly the communication area | region of the portable device and vehicle equipment of the embodiment. The sequence chart which shows the threshold value registration operation | movement of the embodiment. The sequence chart which shows the vehicle control of the embodiment. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the communication control system for vehicles of 2nd Embodiment. The sequence chart which shows the threshold value registration operation | movement of the embodiment. The sequence chart which shows the vehicle control of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle communication control system, 2, 3 ... Vehicle, 10 ... Portable machine, 11 ... Communication control part as transmission control means, 20 ... In-vehicle apparatus, 21 ... Vehicle control part as vehicle control means.

Claims (11)

In a vehicle communication control system including a portable device having a wireless communication function and an in-vehicle device that controls the vehicle based on wireless communication with the portable device,
When the portable device receives a request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device, the portable device includes a transmission control unit that detects a reception level of the request signal and transmits a response signal including a reception level code indicating the reception level.
When the in-vehicle device receives the response signal, the on-vehicle device compares the reception level indicated by the reception level code with a preset threshold value, and performs control corresponding to the determination that the reception level is higher than the threshold value. A vehicle communication control system comprising vehicle control means for performing the above. As the threshold value, an indoor boundary threshold value that is a reception level of the request signal at a position closest to the vehicle outside the vehicle is set,
When the vehicle control means determines that the reception level indicated by the reception level code is higher than the indoor boundary threshold value, the vehicle control means determines that the portable device is present in the vehicle interior and performs corresponding indoor vehicle control. The vehicle communication control system according to claim 1, wherein: As the threshold value, a vehicle outer boundary threshold value that is a reception level lower than the indoor boundary threshold value is set.
When the vehicle control means determines that the reception level indicated by the reception level code is higher than the vehicle boundary threshold and equal to or less than the vehicle boundary threshold, the portable device is present in a corresponding region for vehicle control. The vehicle communication control system according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle outside control corresponding to the determination is performed. In a vehicle communication control system including a portable device having a wireless communication function and an in-vehicle device that controls the vehicle based on wireless communication with the portable device,
When the portable device receives a request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device, the portable device detects a reception level of the request signal, compares the reception level with a preset threshold value, and the reception level is the threshold value. Comprising a transmission control means for transmitting a response signal including a reception code indicating that when it is determined to be higher than
The vehicle-mounted apparatus includes a vehicle control unit that performs control corresponding to the received code when a response signal including the received code is received. As the threshold value, an indoor boundary threshold value that is a reception level of the request signal at a position closest to the vehicle outside the vehicle is set,
When determining that the reception level of the request signal is higher than the indoor boundary threshold, the transmission control means sets an indoor code as the reception code, and determines that the reception level is equal to or lower than the indoor boundary threshold. If so, set the vehicle outside code as the reception code and send the response signal,
When the response signal includes an indoor code, the vehicle control means determines that the portable device is present in the vehicle interior and performs a corresponding indoor vehicle control, and the response signal includes an out-of-vehicle code. 5. The vehicle communication control system according to claim 4, wherein when the mobile device is present, it is determined that the portable device exists in the vicinity of the vehicle, and corresponding vehicle outside control is performed.   A transmission boundary threshold set to a value lower than the indoor boundary threshold is set as the threshold, and when the transmission control unit determines that the reception level of the request signal is lower than the transmission boundary threshold, 6. The vehicle communication control system according to claim 5, wherein no response signal is transmitted. An in-vehicle device that controls a vehicle based on wireless communication with a portable device having a wireless communication function,
While transmitting a request signal for requesting a response signal response to the portable device, when the response signal including a reception level code indicating the reception level of the request signal is received, the reception level is set in advance. A vehicle-mounted device comprising vehicle control means for performing control corresponding to a comparison with a threshold and determining that the reception level is higher than the threshold. An in-vehicle device that controls a vehicle based on wireless communication with a portable device having a wireless communication function,
While transmitting a request signal for requesting a response signal response to the portable device, when receiving the response signal including a reception code set according to the reception level of the request signal, based on the received code An on-vehicle device comprising vehicle control means for performing corresponding control. A portable device that performs wireless communication with an in-vehicle device that controls a vehicle,
A portable device comprising transmission control means for detecting a reception level of a request signal when receiving a request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device and transmitting a response signal including a reception level code indicating the reception level. Machine. A portable device that performs wireless communication with an in-vehicle device that controls a vehicle,
When the request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device is received, the reception level of the request signal is detected, and the reception level is compared with a preset threshold value, and it is determined that the reception level is higher than the threshold value. A portable device comprising transmission control means for transmitting a response signal including a reception code indicating that when a response is received.   The said transmission control means does not transmit a response signal, when it is judged that the reception level of the said request signal is lower than the preset transmission boundary threshold value. Portable machine.

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