JP2008069565A - Keyless device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyless device for a vehicle capable of taking sufficient measures when the detection area overlaps with a detection area of another vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: An in-vehicle machine 3 is provided with; a processing means of a step S4 in which transmission of a signal to a portable machine (A1) is stopped when a signal is received from the portable machine (A1) of another vehicle (a vehicle A); a processing means of a step S6 in which the timing and cycle of signal transmission to the portable machine(A1) by an in-vehicle machine of another vehicle (the vehicle A) are estimated when the signal is received from the portable machine (A1) of another vehicle (the vehicle A) after the signal transmission is stopped; and processing means of steps S7, S8 in which the signal transmission to a portable machine (B1) is resumed after the signal transmission is stopped at the timing and in the cycle which do not overlap with the estimated signal transmission of another vehicle (the vehicle A). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a keyless device for a vehicle in which a portable device held by a person using the vehicle and an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle authenticate by communication, and mainly lock and unlock the vehicle door without key operation. It belongs to the technical field.

Conventionally, a stimulation sequence (challenge signal) consists of a first telegram part and a second telegram part having an identifier of the protection device, and the protection device is located in a predetermined range of the transmitter of the transmission device by the first telegram part. A radio key suitable for each is activated at different times during the transmission of the second telegram part due to the mutually offset transmission of the response signals (response signals), and the control device determines the appropriate radio based on the response signals. A key is selected from a wireless key and a selection signal is transmitted. This selection signal causes the selected wireless key to transmit an enable signal (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-320212 A (page 2-7, full view)

In the case where the conventional method for the operation of the protection device is adopted in a keyless device for a vehicle, a challenge signal and a response signal, and a selection signal and an enable signal are exchanged between the portable device and the in-vehicle device. Become.
However, in the conventional communication method, the countermeasure when the detection area overlaps with another vehicle occurs is not sufficient and is a problem.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular keyless device that can sufficiently take measures when a detection area overlaps with another vehicle. .

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, an in-vehicle device provided in the vehicle transmits to the portable device, and the portable device sends a signal to the in-vehicle device upon receiving the transmission from the in-vehicle device, and performs ID authentication by communication. In a vehicular keyless device that locks and unlocks a vehicle door without performing a key operation, the vehicle-mounted device stops transmission to the portable device when receiving a signal from the portable device of another vehicle And after stopping the transmission, when receiving a signal from the portable device of the other vehicle, the other vehicle transmission estimation means for estimating the transmission timing and the transmission cycle to the portable device by the on-vehicle device of the other vehicle, and after stopping the transmission And transmission restarting means for restarting transmission to the portable device at a timing and a period that do not overlap with the estimated transmission of the other vehicle.

  Therefore, in the present invention, sufficient countermeasures can be taken when the detection area overlaps with another vehicle, and communication for the keyless function can be performed satisfactorily.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment for realizing a keyless device for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described based on Example 1 corresponding to the invention according to claims 1 to 3.

First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle keyless device according to a first embodiment.
The keyless device 1 for a vehicle according to the first embodiment mainly includes a portable device 2 and an in-vehicle device 3.
The portable device 2 mainly includes a control unit 21, an RF transmission unit 22, a transmission antenna 23, an LF reception unit 24, a reception coil 25, and a display 26.

  The control unit 21 stores an ID code that is identified for each vehicle, and determines that the signal by the search radio wave processed by the LF reception unit 24 corresponds to the ID code of the own device, or the user When a request operation is performed on the vehicle or the portable device 2 and a search radio wave is transmitted from the vehicle side and received, and it is determined that the signal by the search radio wave corresponds to the ID code of the own device, the ID code Is output to the RF transmitter 22. In addition, reception strength determination processing is performed as necessary.

The RF transmission unit 22 converts the signal indicating the ID code from the control unit 21 into a radio wave signal to be transmitted and outputs it to the antenna 23.
The antenna 23 transmits a radio wave signal from the RF transmission unit 22.
The LF receiving unit 24 converts the search radio wave from the receiving coil 25 into a signal that can be processed by the control unit 21 and outputs the signal to the control unit 21.
The receiving coil 25 receives the search radio wave from the in-vehicle device 3 and sends the received radio wave signal to the LF receiver 24.
The display 26 displays the state, operation state, and the like of the vehicle keyless device 1 and provides useful information to the user.

  The in-vehicle device 3 includes a control unit 31, an LF transmission unit 32, an RF reception unit 33, door opening / closing input units 34, a lock state input unit 35, a lock output unit 36, an unlock output unit 37, and outdoor antenna output units 38 to 40. The indoor antenna output units 41 to 43, the reception antenna 44, the outdoor antennas 45 to 47, the indoor antennas 48 to 50, and the request input unit 51 are the main components.

  The control unit 31 processes input information from each door opening / closing input unit 34 and lock state input unit 35 and information from the portable device 2 input from the RF receiving unit 33 for transmission to the portable device 2. The output to the LF transmitter 32, the output to the lock output unit 36, and the unlock output unit 37 are controlled. Further, it is assumed that the control unit has a built-in memory for temporarily storing data or is connected to a memory provided outside.

  The LF transmission unit 32 converts the search signal from the control unit 31 to search for a specific portable device 2 corresponding to the vehicle into a radio signal that can be transmitted, and outputs the outdoor antenna output units 38 to 40 and the indoor antenna output units 41 to 41. Output to 43.

The RF reception unit 33 receives a radio signal indicating the ID code of the portable device 2 from the reception antenna 44, converts it into a signal that can be processed by the control unit 31, and outputs the signal.
Each door opening / closing input unit 34 inputs information on the opening / closing state of each door from the vehicle, and outputs the information to the control unit 31.
The lock state input unit 35 inputs information on the door lock / unlock state of the vehicle from the vehicle and outputs the information to the control unit 31.

The lock output unit 36 outputs a command signal for locking the door to a vehicle locking device (not shown) according to a command from the control unit 31.
The unlock output unit 37 outputs a command signal for releasing the door lock to a vehicle locking device (not shown) according to a command from the control unit 31.

The outdoor antenna output units 38 to 40 output radio signals to the outdoor antennas 45 to 47.
The indoor antenna output units 41 to 43 output radio signals to the indoor antennas 48 to 50.
The outdoor antennas 45 to 47 transmit radio wave signals to the outside of the vehicle.
The indoor antennas 48 to 50 transmit radio signals to the vehicle interior.
The request input unit 51 receives an input of a request switch provided in the vehicle from the vehicle and outputs the request switch to the control unit 31.

Next, the operation will be described.
[Overlapping detection areas with other vehicles]
Here, overlapping of detection areas with other vehicles will be described.
In recent vehicles, a function associated with a keyless device is increasingly provided.
For example, when a portable device is approached to the vehicle, a proof installed in the vehicle is turned on to illuminate the user's feet, and so on.
In order to satisfactorily establish such a function, the communication distance between the in-vehicle device and the portable device of the vehicle must be increased.

However, this increase in communication distance causes overlapping of detection areas of other vehicles.
If the detection areas of other vehicles overlap, the interference of the signals transmitted from the vehicle for detecting the portable device, or the detection of the detection signal from the own vehicle because the portable device is analyzing the detection signal of the other vehicle. A communication failure such that analysis cannot be performed (detection failure of the portable device) occurs, and a phenomenon that the position of the portable device cannot be detected occurs and becomes a problem.
The keyless device for a vehicle according to the first embodiment solves these problems.

[Interference countermeasure processing]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of interference processing executed by the control unit 31 of the in-vehicle device 3 of the vehicle keyless device according to the first embodiment. Each step will be described below.

  In step S1, it is determined whether or not a radio signal has been received from a portable device of another vehicle. If received, the process proceeds to step S2, and if not received, the process proceeds to step S8.

  In step S2, it is determined whether the ID can be analyzed from the signal received from the portable device of the other vehicle. If the ID can be analyzed, the process proceeds to step S3. If the ID cannot be analyzed, the process proceeds to step S8.

  In step S3, the ID of the portable device of the other vehicle that can be analyzed is temporarily stored.

  In step S4, transmission of the portable device detection signal from the in-vehicle device of the host vehicle is stopped.

  In step S5, it is determined whether the same ID is received within T1 sec. If the same ID is received, the process proceeds to step S6. If the same ID is not received, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S6, the transmission timing and transmission cycle of the detection signal of the other vehicle are analyzed.
Further, after calculating the transmission cycle of the other vehicle, a time T2 for shifting the transmission timing of the portable device detection signal of the on-vehicle device of the own vehicle is calculated.

  In step S7, after receiving a signal from the portable device of another vehicle, it is determined whether or not T2 sec has elapsed. To do.

  In step S8, transmission of a detection signal from the in-vehicle device of the own vehicle to the portable device is started.

[Action to prevent interference]
First, the interference state in the conventional state will be described.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an interference state that occurs in a conventional vehicle keyless device.
Here, it is assumed that two vehicles equipped with an in-vehicle device of a vehicle keyless device are a vehicle A and a vehicle B, and communicate with the portable device A1 and the portable device B1, respectively.
The range detected by the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle A is set as the detection range 60, the range detected by the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle B is set as the detection range 70, and the region where the detection ranges 60, 70 of the vehicle A and the vehicle B overlap is an interference area. 80.
A detection signal for detecting the portable device from the in-vehicle device is transmitted at a constant cycle, and the portable device transmits a reply signal at a constant cycle in response to the detection signal.

In the conventional vehicle keyless device, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), when the vehicle A and the vehicle B are positioned side by side, the interference in which the communication range overlaps between the vehicle A and the vehicle B. Area 80 is generated.
Here, it is assumed that the portable device B1 corresponding to the vehicle B is located in the interference area 80 where the vehicle A and the vehicle B overlap.

Then, originally, the portable device B1 should transmit a reply signal to the detection signal transmitted from the vehicle B, but due to the detection signal interference from the vehicle, the portable device B1 cannot receive a normal signal, Do not send a reply to the vehicle.
Therefore, although the portable machine B1 is carried and approached with respect to the vehicle provided with the keyless apparatus for vehicles, the malfunction that a door lock is not cancelled | released will generate | occur | produce.

Next, the case of the vehicle keyless device according to the first embodiment will be described.
4 to 9 are explanatory diagrams of the interference preventing operation in the vehicle keyless device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a time chart showing the other vehicle transmission timing, the estimation of the transmission cycle, and the change of the transmission timing of the host vehicle in the vehicle keyless device of the first embodiment.
In the following description, the vehicle B is the own vehicle, the vehicle A is the other vehicle, the other vehicle (the vehicle A) stops near the own vehicle (the vehicle B), and the person with the portable device A1 leaves the vehicle A. Thus, the case where the door is locked will be described as an example.
When the vehicle A moves to and stops at a position adjacent to the position where the vehicle B is stopped, the portable device A1 of the vehicle A is located in the vehicle A (see FIG. 4A).
The vehicle keyless device 1 according to the first embodiment can be unlocked and locked without a key operation by carrying the portable device 2, and further, the portable device 2 can be used in the vehicle by entering the vehicle as it is. The vehicle-mounted device 3 communicates and authenticates so that the engine can be started without a key operation. Therefore, in a vehicle provided with the vehicle keyless device 1, when the vehicle is newly stopped at a nearby position, the portable device is positioned inside the vehicle.

  When this vehicle A opens and closes a door in the vicinity of the vehicle B, the return signal of the portable device A1 in communication performed between the portable device A1 and the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle A uses an RF band having a relatively long reach. Therefore, not only the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle A but also the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle B is received (see FIG. 5).

Then, the in-vehicle device B analyzes the received return signal, determines the ID, and temporarily stores this ID. And transmission of the detection signal to portable machine B1 of the own vehicle (vehicle B) is stopped (refer to Steps S1-S4 and Drawing 6).
That is, when a reply signal from a portable device of another vehicle is received, transmission is stopped when the ID can be analyzed and stored.
Here, the useless stop is prevented by specifying the portable device A1 by analyzing the ID.

When the transmission of the detection signal of the own vehicle (vehicle B) is stopped, the communication between the other vehicle (vehicle A) and the portable device A1 of the other vehicle causes the person with the portable device A1 to detect the detection signal of the own vehicle and the other vehicle. Even if it moves to the range which overlaps, it is performed reliably (refer FIG. 7).
Here, further explanation will be given. In the Walk away Door Lock function in the vehicle keyless device 1, when the door is opened from the open state, it is confirmed by communication that the portable device 2 is outside the vehicle, and the Walk away Door Lock mode is entered. . In the first embodiment, when the transmission of the own vehicle is stopped, the other vehicle is favorably shifted to this mode, and the user of the other vehicle carries the portable device A1 and leaves the vehicle A, so that there is no key operation at a predetermined distance. Door lock can be performed.

  Then, when the vehicle-mounted device 3 of the own vehicle (vehicle B) receives the return signal of the same ID stored within T1 sec by the process of step S5 (see FIG. 10 (a)), the detection is continued and other than the reception timing. The transmission timing and transmission cycle of the portable device detection signal by the in-vehicle device of the car (vehicle A) are calculated (see FIG. 10 (c)). Furthermore, in order not to overlap with the transmission timing and transmission cycle of the other vehicle (vehicle A), a time T2 for shifting the transmission timing of the own vehicle (vehicle B) is calculated (steps S5 and S6).

Then, the start of transmission is waited for the shifting time T2 sec (step S7, see FIG. 8), and transmission of the own vehicle (vehicle B) is started at a shifted timing without interference with the other vehicle (vehicle A) (step S8). FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 (d)).
As described above, in the first embodiment, when the own vehicle stops transmitting, the communication of other vehicles is smoothly and quickly ended, and further, interference is avoided and transmission is resumed in a state where each other can communicate well. Do.
Therefore, interference is prevented, a good communication environment can be realized, and keyless operation is performed without any problem.

  After that, when there is no reception from the portable device A1, since it is known that there is no reception in the processes of steps S1, S2, and S8, in that case, a process of returning the transmission timing is performed.

Next, the effect will be described.
In the vehicle keyless device according to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The in-vehicle device 3 provided in the vehicle transmits to the portable device 2, and when the portable device 2 receives the transmission from the in-vehicle device 3, the portable device 2 sends a reply signal to the in-vehicle device 3, and performs ID authentication by communication to perform key authentication. In the vehicle keyless device 1 that locks and unlocks the vehicle door without operation, when the vehicle-mounted device 3 receives a signal from the portable device (A1) of the other vehicle (vehicle A), the vehicle-mounted device 3 moves to the portable device (A1). When the signal from the portable device (A1) of the other vehicle (vehicle A) is received after the process of step S4 for stopping the transmission and the transmission is stopped, the portable device (A1) by the on-vehicle device of the other vehicle (vehicle A) ) The transmission process to the portable device (B1) is resumed at the timing and cycle that do not overlap with the estimated transmission of the other vehicle (vehicle A) after stopping the transmission and the process of step S6 for estimating the transmission timing and transmission cycle. To provide the processing of steps S7 and S8 Measures when the overlapping of the detection area is generated with can be sufficiently satisfactorily can perform communication for the keyless function.

In other words, the keyless device for a vehicle according to the first embodiment secures the communication between the portable device of the other vehicle and the in-vehicle device by intentionally delaying the communication of the own vehicle, and quickly terminates the communication of the own vehicle. Is to be secured early.
When the transmission timing is changed and the transmission cycle is changed, it is changed by waiting for transmission.
If communication is not established due to interference, re-challenges will be repeated, and both will not be able to secure communication and will not end. In the first embodiment, the communication of the own vehicle is intentionally delayed so that the communication is ensured at an early stage including other vehicles, thereby shortening the communication.
This can be said to have an effect of improving the communication environment between the in-vehicle device and the portable device.
In addition, it is not necessary to add a circuit for that purpose, or even if it is provided, there are very few points. Therefore, it is advantageous in terms of cost reduction and easy adoption in practice.

Further, the operation and effect of the vehicle keyless device of the first embodiment will be described. In the vehicle keyless device of the first embodiment, not only the case of the walk away door lock mode described above but also other vehicles in the vicinity. Similar effects can be obtained when a person with a portable device gets into the vehicle. However, in the Walk away Door Lock mode, if you are away from the vehicle with a portable device, if it is not locked due to interference, the possibility of theft will increase, and the reliability of the keyless device will be greatly lost . For this reason, in the vehicle keyless device of the first embodiment, interference is prevented even if there is a nearby vehicle in the Walk away Door Lock mode of the other vehicle, and also in the Walk away Door Lock mode of the own vehicle. It will be prevented and will function reliably. This greatly improves the reliability of the door lock by the vehicle keyless device.
This is also advantageous for vehicles that are mass-produced using many of the same communication methods.

(2) The transmission stop unit of the in-vehicle device 3 includes an ID determination process for determining the ID of the portable device from the received signal of the portable device, an ID storage process for temporarily storing the ID determined by the ID determination unit, and a predetermined detection time Because there is a stop determination process that determines the stop of transmission of the in-vehicle device when there are multiple receptions from the same ID in the inside, by identifying the ID of the portable device of the other vehicle by ID, it is surely identified from noise Unnecessary transmission stop can be prevented.
Moreover, the fact that the vehicle to be processed can be fixed by this processing ensures the processing. In addition, the transmission state of other vehicles can be monitored by this ID analysis and memory processing.

  (3) The transmission restarting means of the in-vehicle device 3 restarts the transmission, and if the signal from the portable device A1 of the other vehicle (vehicle A) is not received a plurality of times within a predetermined time, the own vehicle (vehicle B ) To the portable device B1 is returned to the state before the stop, so that the communication of the own vehicle can be used in a better communication environment state when it is not necessary.

As mentioned above, although the keyless device for vehicles of the present invention has been described based on the first embodiment, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the invention according to each claim of the claims. Design changes and additions are allowed without departing from the gist.
For example, each input / output unit is separately provided in the in-vehicle device, but when using in-vehicle communication, a communication unit may be provided.
In the portable device, a display device is used as a display means for the user. However, the display device may not have a display device, or may be provided with a buzzer or the like that transmits sound.

It is a block diagram of the keyless device for vehicles of Example 1. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the interference process performed in the control part 31 of the vehicle equipment 3 of the vehicle keyless apparatus of Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the interference state which generate | occur | produces in the conventional vehicle keyless apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of the interference prevention operation | movement in the keyless apparatus for vehicles of Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the interference prevention operation | movement in the keyless apparatus for vehicles of Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the interference prevention operation | movement in the keyless apparatus for vehicles of Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the interference prevention operation | movement in the keyless apparatus for vehicles of Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the interference prevention operation | movement in the keyless apparatus for vehicles of Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the interference prevention operation | movement in the keyless apparatus for vehicles of Example 1. FIG. It is a time chart which shows the state of the other vehicle transmission timing in the vehicle keyless apparatus of Example 1, the estimation of a transmission period, and the change of the transmission timing of the own vehicle.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle keyless apparatus 2 Portable machine 21 Control part 22 RF transmission part 23 Transmission antenna 24 LF reception part 25 Reception coil 26 Indicator 3 Onboard equipment 31 Control part 32 LF transmission part 33 RF reception part 34 Each door opening / closing input part 35 Lock State input unit 36 Lock output unit 37 Unlock output unit 38-40 Outdoor antenna output unit 41-43 Indoor antenna output unit 44 Reception antenna 45-47 Outdoor antenna 48-50 Indoor antenna 51 Request input unit A1 (Vehicle A) Machine 60 (Vehicle A) detection range 70 (Vehicle B) detection range 80 Interference area

Claims (3)

The in-vehicle device installed in the vehicle transmits to the portable device, and when the portable device receives the transmission from the in-vehicle device, it sends a reply signal to the in-vehicle device, performs ID authentication by communication, and locks the vehicle door without key operation. In the vehicle keyless device for unlocking,
The in-vehicle device is
When receiving a signal from the portable device of another vehicle, transmission stop means for stopping transmission to the portable device;
After stopping the transmission, upon receiving a signal from the portable device of the other vehicle, other vehicle transmission estimation means for estimating the transmission timing and the transmission cycle to the portable device by the on-vehicle device of the other vehicle;
A transmission resumption means for resuming transmission to the portable device at a timing and period that does not overlap with the estimated transmission of the other vehicle after stopping transmission;
A vehicle keyless device comprising: The keyless device for a vehicle according to claim 1,
The transmission stop means of the in-vehicle device is
ID discriminating means for discriminating the ID of the portable device from the received signal of the portable device;
ID storage means for temporarily storing the ID determined by the ID determination means;
Stop determination means for determining the transmission stop of the in-vehicle device when there are multiple receptions from the same ID within a predetermined detection time,
A vehicle keyless device comprising: In the keyless device for vehicles according to claim 1 or 2,
The transmission restarting means of the in-vehicle device is
After resuming transmission, when the signal from the portable device of the other vehicle is not received multiple times within a predetermined time, the transmission timing to the portable device of the own vehicle is returned to the state before stopping.
A keyless device for a vehicle.

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