JP2009162027A - Mobile device system of electronic key - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a convenient mobile device system of an electronic key. <P>SOLUTION: This mobile device system comprises a main mobile device 10 for transmitting and receiving signals by radio communication between itself and an on-vehicle machine 100 and an auxiliary mobile device 30 having an operation part 33 enabling predetermined operations and transmitting operation signals to the main mobile device 10 by the radio communication using a radio wave weaker than the radio wave transmitted from the main mobile device 10 according to the operations at the operation part 33. The main mobile device 10 transmits predetermined functional signals to the on-vehicle machine 100 according to the operation signals received from the auxiliary mobile device 30 thereto. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable device system carried by a user in an electronic key system.

Conventionally, it has an on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle and a portable device carried by a user, and the vehicle door is locked and unlocked and the engine is permitted to start based on the collation result of the identification code by wireless communication between the on-vehicle device and the portable device. There is an electronic key system having a so-called smart entry function. There is also known an electronic key system that has a so-called keyless entry function combined with a smart entry function that can lock and unlock a vehicle door by an operation on the portable device side (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2007-107348 A

  In an electronic key system having both a smart entry function and a keyless entry function, if the user carries a portable device, the smart entry function can be used to lock and unlock the vehicle door without performing any special operation on the portable device. The engine can be started. For this reason, the user can keep the portable device stored in a bag or a wallet.

  However, when using the keyless entry function when forgetting to lock the vehicle door, etc., the user takes the portable device out of the bag or wallet and performs a predetermined operation. Need to be stored. Therefore, the electronic key system having both the smart entry function and the keyless entry function has a problem that the convenience of the portable device is not necessarily high.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic key portable device system that is more convenient.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means.

  The invention according to claim 1 includes a first portable device that transmits and receives signals to and from an in-vehicle device by wireless communication, and an operation unit that can perform a predetermined operation, and based on an operation at the operation unit, And a second portable device that transmits a predetermined operation signal to the first portable device by wireless communication using a emitted radio wave weaker than the emitted radio wave of the first portable device. An electronic key portable device system that transmits a predetermined function signal to an in-vehicle device based on an operation signal received from the second portable device.

  By making the emitted radio wave of the second portable device weaker than the emitted radio wave of the first portable device, the second portable device can be reduced in size and weight with respect to the first portable device. Further, since the predetermined operation can be performed by the second portable device, the first portable device can be kept stored. Therefore, a more convenient electronic key portable device system can be obtained.

  The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that the emitted radio wave of the second portable device is a weak radio wave. Thereby, the procedure as a radio station of the second portable device becomes easy or unnecessary.

  A third aspect of the present invention is an electronic key system comprising the portable device system according to the present invention. Thereby, the effect similar to the said invention is acquired.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means has shown an example of the corresponding relationship with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic key system including a portable device system of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic key system has an in-vehicle device 100 mounted on a vehicle and a portable device system 1 carried by a user. The portable device system 1 includes a main portable device (first portable device) 10 that transmits and receives signals to and from the in-vehicle device 100 by wireless communication, and a sub-transmitter that transmits signals to the main portable device 10 by wireless communication. A portable device (second portable device) 30.

  The main portable device 10 wirelessly transmits an identification code signal in response to a request from the in-vehicle device 100, and the in-vehicle device 100 collates the identification code received from the main portable device 10 with a pre-registered identification code. Based on this, locking and unlocking of the vehicle door, permission to start the engine, and the like are performed. When the main portable device 10 receives a predetermined operation signal from the sub-portable device 30, the main portable device 10 transmits a predetermined function signal to the in-vehicle device 100 based on the received operation signal.

  FIG. 2 is an external view showing the configuration of the main portable device 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the main portable device 10 includes a main body case 20 made of, for example, a resin having a card shape. A battery holder (not shown) that holds a battery that supplies power to each circuit of the main portable device 10 is provided in the main body case 20. The main body case 20 is provided with a battery cover 21 that covers the battery held by the battery holder. By sliding the battery cover 21 with respect to the main body case 20 in the upper right direction in the figure, the battery can be attached to and detached from the battery holder. The main portable device 10 of this embodiment is not provided with an operation button operated by the user. The main portable device 10 has a configuration that is assumed to be used while being stored in a user's wallet, for example.

  FIG. 3 is an external view showing the configuration of the auxiliary portable device 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the sub-portable device 30 includes a main body case 40 made of, for example, a resin having a substantially disk shape. The main body case 40 includes an upper case 42 and a lower case 43 that fits into the upper case 42. The upper case 42 is provided with a circular operation button 41. The operation button 41 is a push button type switch used for a locking operation in a keyless entry function described later. A battery holder (not shown) that holds a battery that supplies power to each circuit of the sub portable device 30 is provided in the main body case 40. By disassembling the main body case 40 into an upper case 42 and a lower case 43, the battery can be attached to and detached from the battery holder. The lower case 43 is provided with a protrusion 45 that protrudes toward the outer periphery of the disk. The protrusion 45 is provided with an insertion hole 44 through which a strap, a pendant chain, a key ring, or the like is inserted. The secondary portable device 30 is smaller and lighter than the main portable device 10. The auxiliary portable device 30 is easier to carry and operate by the user than the main portable device 10 by inserting a strap, a pendant chain, a key ring or the like through the insertion hole 44.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the main portable device 10 includes a control unit 11 and a wireless transmission unit 12 and a wireless reception unit 13 connected to the control unit 11, respectively. The control unit 11, the wireless transmission unit 12, and the wireless reception unit 13 are supplied with necessary power from the battery held in the battery holder.

  The control unit 11 includes a central processing unit (CPU) that performs various controls and calculations, a read-only storage device (ROM) that stores a unique identification code, various control programs, and the like, and data in an arbitrary storage area. And a storage device (RAM) capable of writing and reading data, and an input / output port for inputting / outputting signals to / from the outside.

  The wireless reception unit 13 receives a request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device 100 side and outputs the request signal to the control unit 11. In addition, the wireless reception unit 13 receives a predetermined operation signal transmitted from the sub-portable device 30 side and outputs it to the control unit 11.

  Based on a command from the control unit 11, the wireless transmission unit 12 transmits an identification code signal or a predetermined function signal superimposed on, for example, an RF band radio wave. When the request signal from the in-vehicle device 100 is input from the wireless reception unit 13, the control unit 11 causes the wireless transmission unit 12 to transmit an identification code signal. In addition, when a predetermined operation signal (for example, a locking operation signal) is input from the wireless receiving unit 13, the control unit 11 wirelessly transmits a function signal (for example, a locking function signal) corresponding to the operation signal. The part 12 is transmitted. The intensity of the radio wave emitted from the wireless transmission unit 12 is relatively strong, and long-distance communication with the in-vehicle device 100 over a communication distance of 10 m or more is possible.

  The secondary portable device 30 includes a control unit 31, a wireless transmission unit 32 and an operation unit 33 connected to the control unit 31, respectively. The secondary portable device 30 is not provided with, for example, a wireless reception unit. The control unit 31, the wireless transmission unit 32, and the operation unit 33 are supplied with necessary power from the battery held in the battery holder. The control unit 31 has a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an input / output port.

  The operation unit 33 includes the operation buttons 41 shown in FIG. The operation unit 33 is configured to output a predetermined signal to the control unit 31 when the operation button 41 is pressed by the user.

  The wireless transmission unit 32 wirelessly transmits a locking operation signal to the main portable device 10 side based on a command from the control unit 31. The intensity of the radio wave emitted from the wireless transmission unit 32 is weaker than the intensity of the radio wave emitted from the wireless transmission unit 12 of the main portable device 10, and short-distance communication with a communication distance of about 1 m is performed with the main portable device 10. It is possible. For example, in a product for Japan, a weak radio wave is emitted from the radio transmission unit 32 based on the provisions of the Radio Law. Even in the case of products for other countries, the radio transmission unit 32 emits weak radio waves that are easy or unnecessary for the procedure as a radio station, for example, based on the laws of other countries and international conventions. ing.

  The in-vehicle device 100 mounted on the vehicle includes a control unit 101, a wireless transmission unit 102, a wireless reception unit 103, an operation unit 104, and an actuator 105 connected to the control unit 101. The control unit 101 has a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an input / output port. In the ROM, a unique identification code corresponding to the identification code of the main portable device 10 is stored. The control unit 101 can communicate with another control device (ECU) mounted on the vehicle based on a predetermined communication protocol.

  In order to detect the approach of the main mobile device 10, the wireless transmission unit 102 superimposes the request signal generated by the control unit 101 on, for example, an LF band radio wave and periodically transmits the signal outside the vehicle interior or the vehicle interior. It has become. The wireless receiving unit 103 receives an identification code signal and a function signal transmitted from the main portable device 10 inside and outside the vehicle interior and outputs them to the control unit 101.

  The operation unit 104 includes, for example, a push switch for locking operation, a touch switch for unlocking operation, and the like provided on the handle portion of the vehicle door. When a user performs a locking operation by pressing a push switch, the operation unit 104 outputs a locking operation signal to the control unit 101. Further, when the unlocking operation is performed by the user touching the touch switch, the operation unit 104 outputs an unlocking operation signal to the control unit 101.

  The control unit 101 collates the identification code of the main portable device 10 received by the wireless reception unit 103 with the identification code stored in advance in the ROM, and if both identification codes correspond to each other, the control unit 101 unlocks and unlocks the vehicle door. The operation of the actuator 105 to be performed is permitted.

  Next, the operation of the electronic key system including the portable device system 1 of the present embodiment will be described. First, a procedure in which a user carrying the portable device system 1 unlocks a door of a vehicle on which the vehicle-mounted device 100 is mounted by a so-called smart entry function will be described. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user carries both the main portable device 10 and the sub portable device 30. The main portable device 10 is housed in a wallet or the like that is relatively complicated, but is less likely to be lost or stolen. On the other hand, the secondary portable device 30 is carried so that it can be easily put in and out and operated even if the possibility of loss or the like is relatively high.

  When the vehicle door is in the locked state, the wireless transmission unit 102 of the in-vehicle device 100 periodically transmits the request signal generated by the control unit 101 in order to detect the approach of the main portable device 10. Thereby, the detection area of the main portable device 10 is formed inside and outside the vehicle interior.

  When the user approaches the vehicle and the main portable device 10 carried by the user enters the detection area, the wireless receiver 13 of the main portable device 10 receives the request signal from the in-vehicle device 100 and sends it to the controller 11. Output. In response to the received request signal, the control unit 11 transmits an identification code signal from the wireless transmission unit 12 to the in-vehicle device 100 side.

  When receiving the identification code signal from the main portable device 10, the wireless reception unit 103 of the in-vehicle device 100 outputs the received identification code signal to the control unit 101. The control unit 101 collates the identification code of the main portable device 10 with the identification code stored in the ROM. If both identification codes correspond, the control unit 101 transitions to an unlocking standby state in which unlocking of the vehicle door is permitted.

  When the user touches the touch switch on the vehicle door, the operation unit 104 outputs an unlocking operation signal to the control unit 101. When the unlocking operation signal is input from the operation unit 104 in the unlocking waiting state, the control unit 101 outputs an operation signal to the actuator 105 to unlock the vehicle door. That is, when the user carrying the main portable device 10 approaches the vehicle and performs a door opening operation for opening the door, the door is automatically unlocked.

  Next, a procedure for a user carrying the portable device system 1 to lock the door of the vehicle with the smart entry function will be described. When the push switch on the vehicle door is pushed by the user who gets off the vehicle, the operation unit 104 outputs a locking operation signal to the control unit 101. The control unit 101 to which the locking operation signal is input causes a request signal to be transmitted from the wireless transmission unit 102 to the outside of the vehicle interior.

  The wireless reception unit 13 of the main portable device 10 carried by the user receives a request signal from the in-vehicle device 100 and outputs it to the control unit 11. In response to the received request signal, the control unit 11 transmits an identification code signal from the wireless transmission unit 12 to the in-vehicle device 100 side.

  When receiving the identification code signal from the main portable device 10, the wireless reception unit 103 of the in-vehicle device 100 outputs the received identification code signal to the control unit 101. When the control unit 101 determines that the main portable device 10 is outside the passenger compartment and determines that the identification code of the main portable device 10 corresponds to the identification code stored in the ROM, an operation signal is sent to the actuator 105. Is output to lock the vehicle door.

  The portable device system 1 of the present embodiment has a so-called keyless entry function in addition to the smart entry function as described above. In the present embodiment, the vehicle door can be locked by a keyless entry function using the auxiliary portable device 30.

  For example, when the user carrying the portable device system 1 notices that the user forgot to lock the vehicle door after leaving a predetermined distance from the vehicle, the user pushes the operation button 41 of the auxiliary portable device 30. As a result, a predetermined signal is output from the operation unit 33 of the auxiliary portable device 30 to the control unit 31. When the signal from the operation unit 33 is input, the control unit 31 transmits a locking operation signal from the wireless transmission unit 32 to the main portable device 10 side.

  The wireless reception unit 13 of the main portable device 10 receives the locking operation signal from the sub portable device 30 and outputs it to the control unit 11. When the locking operation signal is input, the control unit 11 transmits the locking function signal generated based on the locking operation signal and the identification code signal stored in the ROM from the wireless transmission unit 12 to the in-vehicle device 100 side. Let

  The wireless receiving unit 103 of the in-vehicle device 100 receives the lock function signal and the identification code signal from the main portable device 10 and outputs them to the control unit 101. The control unit 101 collates the identification code of the main portable device 10 with a previously stored identification code, and if both identification codes correspond, outputs an operation signal to the actuator 105 to lock the vehicle door. .

  As described above, in this embodiment, the user can lock and unlock the vehicle door by the smart entry function without performing any operation on the portable device system 1, and the user can use only the auxiliary portable device 30. The vehicle door can be locked by the keyless entry function. For this reason, when using either the smart entry function or the keyless entry function, it is not necessary to take out and operate the main portable device 10. Therefore, the user of the portable device system 1 can keep the main portable device 10 stored in a wallet, a bag, or the like that has a low possibility of being lost even if taking in and out is relatively complicated.

  On the other hand, the secondary portable device 30 is used only for the keyless entry function and is not used for the smart entry function. For this reason, even if the user loses the secondary portable device 30, there is no problem in locking / unlocking the vehicle door or starting the engine by the smart entry function. Further, since the identification code corresponding to the identification code of the in-vehicle device 100 is not stored in the secondary portable device 30, another person who has picked up the secondary portable device 30 does not carry the primary portable device 10 and does not carry the primary portable device 30. It is impossible to lock and unlock the vehicle door using only the door. Furthermore, since the radio wave emitted from the secondary portable device 30 is a weak radio wave having a communication distance of about 1 m, an operation signal that is not intended for the primary portable device 10 carried by the user is generated by the operation of another person who has picked up the secondary portable device 30. It is unlikely to be sent. Therefore, the user of the portable device system 1 does not need to consider the possibility of loss of the secondary portable device 30 so much, and carries the secondary portable device 30 with priority on ease of taking in and out and operation. Can do. That is, the user can carry the auxiliary portable device 30 using a strap, a pendant chain, or the like so that it can be easily taken in and out and operated.

  The main portable device 10 transmits / receives a signal wirelessly to / from the in-vehicle device 100, whereas the sub-mobile device 30 transmits a signal wirelessly to the main portable device 10, but from the main portable device 10 Do not receive signals. For this reason, since there is no need to provide the wireless receiver in the secondary portable device 30, the secondary portable device 30 can be reduced in size and weight compared to the primary portable device 10. Therefore, the portability of the auxiliary portable device 30 can be improved.

  Further, the secondary portable device 30 emits a radio wave weaker than the emitted radio wave of the main portable device 10. For this reason, since the wireless transmission unit 32 and the like of the secondary portable device 30 can be reduced in size and weight, the secondary portable device 30 can be reduced in size and weight relative to the main portable device 10. Therefore, the portability of the auxiliary portable device 30 can be further improved.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a user carrying the portable device system 1 including the main portable device 10 and the auxiliary portable device 30 operates with the auxiliary portable device 30 while the main portable device 10 is stored in a wallet or the like. It can be performed. Thereby, the operability is improved and the possibility of the main portable device 10 being lost or the like is reduced, so that the more convenient portable device system 1 and the electronic key system can be obtained.

  In the present embodiment, since the radio wave emitted from the secondary portable device 30 is weak, the procedure of the secondary portable device 30 as a radio station becomes easy or unnecessary. Therefore, the increase in the cost of the portable device system 1 and the electronic key system can be suppressed.

(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, the unlocking function is exemplified as a function that can be operated by the sub-portable device 30. However, in order to notify the user of the locking function or the vehicle position in the parking lot, the hazard lamp blinks or the horn sounds. Other functions such as a car finder function for performing the above may be used.

  Moreover, although the example which provided the one operation button 41 in the sub portable machine 30 was given in the said embodiment, the sub portable machine 30 may be provided with the several operation button.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the main portable device 10 is not provided with an operation button has been described, but the main portable device 10 may be provided with an operation button for keyless entry.

It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the electronic key system containing the portable device system of 1st Embodiment. It is an external view which shows the structure of the main portable machine of the portable machine system in 1st Embodiment. It is an external view which shows the structure of the subportable device of the portable device system in 1st Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Mobile device system 10 Main mobile device (first mobile device)
11, 31 Control unit 12, 32 Wireless transmission unit 13 Wireless reception unit 30 Secondary portable device (second portable device)
33 Operation unit 100 In-vehicle device

Claims (3)

A first portable device that transmits and receives signals to and from an in-vehicle device by wireless communication;
An operation unit capable of a predetermined operation is provided, and a predetermined operation signal is transmitted by wireless communication using a radio wave that is weaker than a radio wave emitted from the first portable device based on an operation at the operation unit. A second portable device that transmits to the portable device;
The first portable device transmits a predetermined function signal to the in-vehicle device based on the operation signal received from the second portable device.   2. The electronic key portable device system according to claim 1, wherein the emitted radio wave of the second portable device is a weak radio wave.   An electronic key system comprising the electronic key portable device system according to claim 1.

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