JP2009177767A - Channel selection communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a channel selection communication system establishing wireless communication even when a format noise occurs in a channel in which a wireless signal is to be received by a preceding reception preparation operation in polling, by smoothly receiving the wireless signal of a channel in which the signal is received by the succeeding reception preparation operation in polling. <P>SOLUTION: A channel selection communication function that performs wireless communication through a channel uninfluenced by the noise, among a plurality of channels, is provided between a vehicle and a portable device. In this wireless communication, when a wireless signal of CH1 is received by a preceding reception preparation operation of CH1 in polling, a determination is carried out on whether a CH1 format noise 48 is occurring. If it is determined that the CH1 noise 48 is occurring, and if it is determined that the noise 48 is still continuously occurring even in the succeeding polling, then in the succeeding polling, the CH1 reception preparation operation is canceled on the way, and CH2 reception preparation operation for receiving the wireless signal of CH2 is preferentially started. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a channel selection type communication system that selects a channel in a frequency band that is not affected by noise from a plurality of channels and performs wireless communication using the channel.

  In recent years, many vehicles are equipped with an electronic key system for permitting or executing door locking / unlocking and engine start / stop of the vehicle with an electronic key that wirelessly transmits an ID code that each key has uniquely. As a kind of this electronic key system, when a request for replying an ID code is received from the vehicle, the portable device returns an ID code in response to the request, and the ID code of the portable device matches the ID code of the vehicle. If the ID verification matches, there is a key operation free system that permits or executes door locking / unlocking and engine start / stop of the vehicle. If the vehicle is equipped with a key operation free system, the actual key operation of inserting the key into the key cylinder and turning it during the operation of the vehicle becomes unnecessary, and the vehicle operation can be performed easily.

  By the way, in recent years, wireless communication is used to exchange various types of information in many devices and devices, so various radio waves (floating radio waves) are flying in the space. There is also a radio wave having a frequency band that adversely affects smart communication that a portable device and a vehicle perform as wireless communication according to a key operation free system. For this reason, in the situation where this kind of stray radio wave is generated around the parked vehicle, the possibility that the stray radio wave cancels the normal radio wave and it becomes difficult to establish smart communication between the portable device and the vehicle cannot be denied. In this situation, even if the user has a portable device, a situation occurs in which various vehicle operations such as locking / unlocking the door of the vehicle and starting / stopping the engine are not permitted or executed, causing the user to feel stress. was there.

  Therefore, as one type of wireless communication system, for example, a channel-selective communication system that selectively selects a channel that is not affected by ambient noise from a plurality of channels (frequency) and performs wireless communication using signals in the frequency band. Is being developed. This type of channel-selective communication system is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 and the like. As another example of the channel-selective communication system, for example, a transmission signal is sequentially transmitted from a communication terminal to a communication destination in a plurality of types of frequency bands one channel at a time, and the signal receiving apparatus affects noise from among them. It is also assumed that a transmission signal transmitted from a communication terminal is transmitted to a signal reception device by receiving a signal that is not received.

  A specific operation example of a key operation free system using this type of channel selective communication system will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, a vehicle equipped with a key operation free system can transmit an LF band signal. The LF signal 81 is intermittently transmitted from various LF transmitters as various signal requests to the portable device. When the portable device receives the LF signal 81 at its own LF receiver, the portable device returns an RF signal 82 having data contents corresponding to the request for the LF signal 81 from the RF transmitter to the vehicle. At this time, the RF transmitter of the portable device first returns an ID signal (hereinafter referred to as CH1 key signal 82a) at the frequency of the first channel (hereinafter referred to as CH1), and then a predetermined constant. An ID signal (referred to as CH2 key signal 82b) is sent back at a frequency of the second channel (hereinafter referred to as CH2) after a while.

  On the other hand, the RF receiver of the vehicle performs polling at regular intervals as a confirmation operation of whether or not it accepts a radio signal transmitted externally. In this polling, first, a CH1 reception preparation operation is performed as a confirmation operation as to whether or not a CH1 radio signal is received, and then a CH2 reception preparation operation is performed as a confirmation operation as to whether or not a CH2 radio signal is received. The process of continuously performing the CH1 reception preparation operation and the CH2 reception preparation operation is repeated in a polling cycle. These reception preparation operations are confirmation processing in a short time of ten and several ms. The RF receiver starts the reception preparation operation at a predetermined time from the time when the LF signal 81 is transmitted, thereby performing the reception preparation operation in synchronization with the transmission of the LF signal 81. .

Here, as shown in FIG. 11, for example, assuming that no noise affecting the CH1 key signal 82a exists around the vehicle, the CH1 key signal 82a is normally transmitted to the RF receiver of the vehicle at this time. Therefore, the receiver receives the CH1 key signal 82a at the time of the CH1 reception preparation operation and enters a state in which smart communication is established. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, as the noise affecting the CH1 key signal 82a, for example, random noise 83 having the same frequency as the CH1 key signal 82a and an intensity that cancels the CH1 key signal 82a is generated. Assuming the case, since the CH1 key signal 82a is not normally transmitted to the RF receiver at this time, the RF receiver cannot receive the signal during the CH1 reception preparation operation, and the CH2 key during the CH2 reception preparation operation. The operation of receiving the signal 82b is taken. For this reason, the RF receiver enters a state in which smart communication is established by an operation of accepting the CH2 key signal 82b when the CH2 reception preparation operation is performed. The random noise 83 is a noise that may cause a random signal having the same frequency as that of a signal used in smart communication to be superimposed on a regular signal and a signal transmitted from the portable device may not be received correctly on the receiving side. Yes, also called unformatted noise.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-028569

  Now, as the noise affecting the smart communication between the vehicle and the portable device, in addition to the random noise 83 described above, as shown in FIG. 13, for example, the format itself for constructing a data group of wireless signals is the same. There is format noise 84 in which radio signals having different specific data contents are subjected to regular signals. The format noise 84 is often caused by, for example, a radio signal transmitted from a portable device of another vehicle. Here, for example, assuming that the format noise 84 is generated in the smart communication environment, the format noise 84 has the same format as the CH1 key signal 82a. If the format noise 84 is received when the data is taken, a data receiving operation for receiving the format noise 84 is performed.

  By the way, the vehicle of this example recognizes that the regular data is not received by the RF receiver, and also checks whether or not the processing time Tux of the CH1 reception preparation operation exceeds the set time Tua. The presence or absence of noise is judged. Therefore, when the RF receiver of the vehicle receives the format noise 84, the RF receiver cannot read normal data and the processing time Tux after starting the data reception operation exceeds the set time Tua. At that time, it is determined that there is noise, and the data reception operation for the pair CH1 is forcibly terminated. Then, after the data reception operation for the pair CH1 is forcibly terminated, the CH2 reception preparation operation is performed to confirm the reception of the CH2 signal, and the reception preparation operation is repeatedly performed in a period cycle of the polling cycle.

  By the way, even if the CH2 reception preparation operation is performed after the data reception operation of the format noise 84 of the pair CH1 is forcibly terminated, the CH2 key signal 82b has already been transmitted from the portable device at this time. The CH2 key signal 82b cannot be accepted. If the format noise 84 is generated over a long period of time, the situation where neither the CH1 key signal 82a nor the CH2 key signal 82b can be received in the smart communication continues for the generation period of the format noise 84. . For this reason, when the format noise 84 of the pair CH1 is generated in the smart communication environment, there is a problem that smart communication is not established during the generation period.

  An object of the present invention is to receive a wireless signal of a channel received in the next reception preparation operation after polling without delay even in a situation where format noise occurs in a channel received in the reception preparation operation ahead of polling. An object of the present invention is to provide a channel-selective communication system that can be established.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the present invention, a communication terminal transmits a wireless signal sequentially in different channels to transmit a wireless signal in a plurality of channels, and a signal receiving apparatus that is a communication partner of the communication terminal includes: Polling for determining a receivable channel by repeatedly performing a reception preparation operation for each channel to see which channel is receiving a radio signal is repeatedly performed at a period interval of the polling, and among the plurality of reception preparation operations, In a channel-selective communication system that establishes wireless communication by receiving a wireless signal on a channel that is not affected by the noise even when noise is generated by receiving the wireless signal on a channel for reception preparation operation that can receive the wireless signal When the signal reception device receives the wireless signal in the previous reception preparation operation at the time of polling, The presence / absence determination means for determining the presence / absence of noise that may affect the wireless communication of the destination channel by looking at the reception state of the destination channel radio signal received in the reception preparation operation, and the noise presence / absence determination means include noise. In the next polling, priority is given to the reception preparation operation after the next channel instead of the previous channel, and the wireless communication is established by receiving the wireless signal in the reception preparation operation after the next channel. And a means.

  According to this configuration, when the communication terminal transmits one wireless signal, the wireless signal is transmitted by sequentially transmitting the same signal content on different channels. That is, the radio signal of the communication terminal is not transmitted on only one channel, but is transmitted on a plurality of channels by sequentially transmitting a data string having the same signal content on different channels. For example, when a communication terminal transmits one radio signal on two channels (first channel and second channel), first, a radio signal is first transmitted on the first channel, followed by the second channel following this transmission operation. A radio signal is transmitted with.

  The signal receiving device repeatedly performs a reception preparation operation for confirming which channel's wireless signal is accepted for each channel, and repeatedly performs polling to determine which channel can perform wireless communication at a certain cycle interval. When a wireless signal is received during the preparation operation, wireless communication with the communication terminal is performed by receiving the wireless signal through the channel of the reception preparation operation at that time. For example, when the signal reception device accepts the first channel radio signal when the signal receiving device is in the first reception preparation state for confirming acceptance of the radio signal on the first channel, the radio signal is accepted and the radio communication is performed. However, the radio signal cannot be accepted in the first channel reception preparation operation, and the second channel radio signal is accepted when the signal reception device takes the second reception preparation state for confirming reception of the radio signal on the second channel. Then, the wireless communication is executed by receiving the wireless signal of the second channel.

  Incidentally, one type of noise that affects wireless communication is format noise that has the same format as a wireless signal. If the signal receiving apparatus accepts format noise during the first reception preparation operation, the data reception operation is temporarily started. However, since the reception data at this time is not regular data, the data reception operation is terminated halfway. Take the receiving action. At this time, since the format noise has a higher signal strength than the radio signal, the radio signal of the first channel cannot be received when the format noise is received, and the second reception preparation is performed after the format noise reception operation is forcibly terminated. Since the operation is performed, the second reception preparation operation of the signal reception device is not in time for the timing at which the communication terminal transmits the second channel radio signal, and the second channel radio signal cannot be received. For this reason, the situation in which wireless signals cannot be received by both the first channel and the second channel is repeated every time polling is performed, and thus there is a problem that wireless communication between the communication terminal and the signal receiving device is not established. Arise.

  Therefore, in this configuration, when the first channel radio signal is received in the first reception preparation operation at the time of polling, the noise presence / absence judging means affects the first channel radio communication by looking at the reception state at that time. It is determined whether or not noise that may occur is generated. When the noise presence / absence determining means determines that there is noise, the priority means prioritizes the second reception preparation operation over the first reception preparation operation in the next polling, and the second reception preparation operation performed by the signal receiving apparatus is the communication. The signal reception device receives the radio signal transmitted from the communication terminal in time for the transmission operation of the radio signal of the second channel of the terminal. As a result, even if format noise that affects wireless communication according to the first channel occurs, wireless communication between the communication terminal and the signal receiving device can be established without delay.

  In the present invention, when the wireless signal is received at the next polling of the polling that the noise presence / absence determining unit determines that there is noise, by checking the reception state of the wireless signal, the noise is still not detected in the next polling. Noise continuation occurrence presence / absence determining means for determining whether or not the generation continues, and when the priority means determines that the noise continuation occurrence / non-occurrence determination means that noise continuation occurrence has occurred, The gist is to establish the wireless communication between the communication terminal and the signal receiving device by forcibly terminating the reception preparation operation and giving priority to the reception preparation operation for the next channel and thereafter.

  According to this configuration, the priority processing that prioritizes the subsequent reception preparation operation over the previous reception preparation operation in the next polling is included as a condition that noise is still occurring in the next polling. For this reason, although format noise occurred during the previous polling, it is difficult for the next polling to execute priority processing even when the format noise disappears, so unnecessary priority processing is wasted. It is difficult for the situation to occur to occur.

  In the present invention, when the communication terminal receives a signal return request transmitted from the signal receiving device, the communication terminal automatically transmits a first wireless signal having a signal content corresponding to the signal return request, and the communication terminal Even when the operation means provided in the terminal, the second radio signal having the signal content corresponding to the operation means operated at that time can be transmitted, and the signal reception device performs the reception preparation operation. By setting as an operation capable of accepting both the first radio signal and the second radio signal, the first radio communication for accepting the first radio signal and the second radio communication for accepting the second radio signal The gist is that both wireless communications are possible.

  According to this configuration, between the communication terminal and the signal receiving device, the first wireless communication (for example, smart communication: two-way communication) using the signal transmission request from the signal receiving device as a condition for signal transmission of the communication terminal. ) And second wireless communication (for example, wireless communication: one-way communication) using the operation of the operation means in the communication terminal as a condition for signal transmission of the communication terminal is possible. For this reason, even if the format noise that affects the radio signal in accordance with the previous reception preparation operation occurs in the radio communication environment, each radio communication is performed regardless of whether the first radio communication or the second radio communication is performed. Can be established without delay.

  In the present invention, when the signal reception apparatus normally receives the wireless signal from the communication terminal in the polling, the signal reception apparatus ends the polling in that cycle, and thereafter the communication terminal itself communicates with the communication terminal. The gist is to execute authentication communication that actually confirms whether or not a pair is formed.

  According to this configuration, even if noise for one channel is generated in a wireless communication environment, polling can be established by performing communication on another channel. It becomes possible to shift to the authentication operation without any problem.

  In the present invention, when the communication terminal receives a signal reply request transmitted from the signal receiving device, the communication terminal automatically transmits a first wireless signal having a signal content corresponding to the signal reply request. When performing the wireless communication and transmitting the first wireless signal to the signal receiving device, first transmit the wireless signal in one channel, and if a response to the signal transmission is not received from the signal receiving device in time, This time, the gist is to perform signal transmission on a channel different from the one channel and repeat the signal transmission until the response is received.

  According to this configuration, when the communication terminal transmits a radio signal to the signal receiving device, it is determined whether the signal transmission should be performed on another channel within a predetermined time at the time of signal transmission on one channel. This is done by checking whether this response is received from the signal receiving device. Therefore, since this type of determination can be performed by a simple method of viewing time, this type of processing is not complicated.

  According to the present invention, even in a situation where format noise occurs in a channel received in the reception preparation operation before polling, the wireless signal of the channel received in the next reception preparation operation after polling is received without delay and wireless communication is performed. It can be in an established state.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a channel selection type communication system embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 is a kind of an electronic key system 2 that uses an electronic key as a vehicle key, and performs vehicle operations such as door locking / unlocking and engine start / stop without actual key operations. The key operation free system 3 that can be used is mounted. In the key operation free system 3, a portable device 4 capable of transmitting an ID code (key code) unique to a key by wireless communication is used as a vehicle key. The key operation free system 3 transmits a request signal Srq as an ID code reply request from the vehicle 1, and when the portable device 4 receives the request signal Srq, the portable device 4 carries its own ID code in response to the request signal Srq. When the ID signal Sid is returned to the vehicle 1 by narrow-range communication and the ID code of the portable device 4 matches the ID code of the vehicle 1, door locking / unlocking and engine start / stop are permitted or executed. The portable device 4 corresponds to a communication terminal, the request signal Srq corresponds to a signal return request, and the ID signal Sid constitutes a first wireless signal (wireless signal).

  The key operation free system 3 includes a smart entry system 5 as a function that does not require actual vehicle key operation at the time of door lock locking / unlocking operation. The smart entry system 5 will be described below. As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle 1 is provided with a verification ECU 6 that performs ID verification when performing narrow-area communication with the portable device 4. The verification ECU 6 includes an in-vehicle LF transmitter 7 embedded in each door of the vehicle 1 and capable of transmitting an LF band signal outside the vehicle, and an in-vehicle LF embedded in the interior of the vehicle under the vehicle floor and capable of transmitting an LF band signal. A transmitter 8 is connected to an RF receiver 9 installed in the vehicle and capable of receiving an RF band signal. These LF transmitters 7 and 8 can transmit the request signal Srq to the surroundings, and the outside LF transmitter 7 forms a communication area (external communication area) of the request signal Srq around the vehicle, and the in-vehicle LF transmitter 8 Forms a communication area (in-vehicle communication area) for the request signal Srq throughout the vehicle. The verification ECU 6 and the RF receiver 9 constitute a signal receiving device.

  For example, a touch sensor 10 embedded in the door handle knob 1a outside the vehicle is connected to the verification ECU 6. The touch sensor 10 detects an operation of touching the outside door handle knob 1a when the operator releases the locked door lock. For example, a lock button 11 provided on the outside door handle knob 1a is connected to the verification ECU 6. The lock button 11 is pushed when the operator locks the unlocked door lock. A door ECU 12 that controls the locking and unlocking of the door lock is connected to the verification ECU 6 via an in-vehicle LAN 13. The door ECU 12 controls the door lock motor 14 based on a command from the verification ECU 6 to place the door lock in a locked state or an unlocked state.

  On the other hand, the portable device 4 is provided with a communication control unit 15 as a control unit when performing wireless communication with the vehicle 1 according to the key operation free system 3. The communication control unit 15 is connected to an LF receiver 16 capable of receiving an LF band signal transmitted from the outside and an RF transmitter 17 capable of transmitting an RF band signal in accordance with a command from the communication control unit 15. Yes. The LF receiver 16 demodulates the LF band signal received by its own LF reception antenna 18 by the LF reception circuit 19 and outputs the demodulated signal to the communication control unit 15 as reception data. Further, the RF transmitter 17 modulates the communication data obtained from the communication control unit 15 with the RF transmitter circuit 20, and transmits the RF band ID signal Sid carrying the unique ID code of the portable device 4 from the RF transmitter antenna 21. It is possible to make a call.

  When the vehicle 1 is parked (engine stopped and door locked), the verification ECU 6 intermittently transmits a request signal Srq for the LF band from the external LF transmitter 7 to form an external communication area around the vehicle. When the portable device 4 enters the outside communication area and receives the request signal Srq with the LF receiver 16, the portable device 4 responds to the request signal Srq and has an ID with an ID code registered in its own memory 22. The signal Sid is returned from the RF transmitter 17 as an RF band signal. When smart communication is established when the RF receiver 9 receives the ID signal Sid, the verification ECU 6 compares the ID code registered in its own memory 23 with the ID code of the portable device 4 and performs ID verification (external vehicle verification). I do. When the verification ECU 6 recognizes that the vehicle verification is established, it sets a vehicle verification flag in the memory 23 for a certain period of time and activates the touch sensor 10 in the standby state during that period. When the activated touch sensor 10 detects that the outside door handle knob is touched, the door ECU 12 rotates the door lock motor 14 to one side to unlock the locked door lock.

  On the other hand, when the vehicle 1 is in a stopped state (engine stop and door lock unlocked state), the verification ECU 6 transmits a request signal Srq from the outside LF transmitter 7 when detecting that the lock button 11 is pressed. When the verification ECU 6 receives the request signal Srq and recognizes that the verification outside the vehicle is established in the ID signal Sid returned from the portable device 4, the verification ECU 6 outputs a door lock locking request to the door ECU 12. Receiving the door lock locking request, the door ECU 12 rotates the door lock motor 14 to the other side to lock the unlocked door lock.

  Further, the key operation free system 3 has a one-push engine start system 24 as a function capable of performing an engine start / stop operation only by a simple switch operation without requiring an actual vehicle key operation at the time of engine start / stop operation. There is. The one-push engine start system 24 will be described below. The vehicle 1 includes an engine ECU 26 that performs ignition control and fuel injection control of the engine 25, a shift ECU 27 that controls an automatic transmission based on operation of a select lever, A power supply ECU 28 that performs power supply management of in-vehicle electrical components is provided. These ECUs 26 to 28 are connected to various ECUs such as the verification ECU 6 through the in-vehicle LAN 13.

  An engine switch 29 is provided at the driver's seat of the vehicle 1 as an operation system for switching the power supply state (power supply position) of the vehicle 1. The engine switch 29 is a push operation type that pushes in and operates a switch operation portion 29a that is an operation location, and is connected to the power supply ECU 28 via a harness. This engine switch 29 has an engine start / stop operation function that switches the engine 25 to a start state or a stop state when the engine switch 29 is pressed, and the power state of the vehicle 1 is changed from an off state to an ACC on state when the engine switch 29 is pressed. And a power supply transition operation function for switching to the IG ON state.

  Further, a vehicle speed sensor 30 that detects the speed of the vehicle 1 and a brake sensor 31 that detects an operation amount of a brake pedal are connected to the power supply ECU 28. The power supply ECU 28 can determine whether or not the brake pedal is depressed based on the pedal depression amount information acquired from the brake sensor 31 while recognizing the current speed of the vehicle 1 based on the vehicle speed information acquired from the vehicle speed sensor 30. . Further, an ACC relay 32 connected to various on-vehicle accessories, an IG relay 33 connected to the engine ECU 26, and a starter relay 34 connected to the starter motor of the engine 25 are connected to the power supply ECU 28.

  The verification ECU 6 transmits a request signal Srq from the in-vehicle LF transmitter 8 when it recognizes that the driver has boarded by opening the door with the courtesy switch 35 after the vehicle outside verification is established and the door lock is unlocked. Thus, an in-vehicle communication area is formed throughout the vehicle. When the ID signal Sid returned by the portable device 4 entering the in-vehicle communication area is received by the RF receiver 9, the verification ECU 6 compares the ID code registered in itself with the ID code of the portable device 4. Perform verification (in-vehicle verification). When the in-vehicle collation is established, the collation ECU 6 sets an in-vehicle collation establishment flag in the memory 23 and recognizes that the in-vehicle collation is established.

  When the power supply ECU 28 detects that the engine switch 29 is pressed while the brake pedal is depressed while the engine 25 is stopped, the power supply ECU 28 starts the stopped engine 25 on condition that the vehicle interior verification is established. Accordingly, an activation signal is output to the engine ECU 26 while turning on the three relays 32 to 34. If this is not established when the in-vehicle collation is confirmed, the power supply ECU 28 causes the collation ECU 6 to re-execute in-vehicle collation and confirms once again whether or not the in-vehicle collation has been established. The engine ECU 26 that has received the activation signal performs confirmation of the in-vehicle collation result and pairing for confirming whether the collation ECU 6 is paired with itself by encrypted communication. After confirming both of these conditions, the engine ECU 26 starts ignition control and fuel injection control and starts the engine 25. On the other hand, when the power supply ECU 28 detects that the engine switch 29 is pressed while the engine 25 is operating, the three relays 32 to 34 are provided on the condition that the vehicle 1 is stopped (vehicle speed “0”). Are all turned off, and the engine 25 is stopped.

  Further, when the power supply ECU 28 detects that only the engine switch 29 is pressed without being depressed by the brake pedal when the engine 25 is stopped, the shift lever is set to P while the vehicle collation is established. If it is in the range position, every time the engine switch 29 is pressed, the power supply state is switched in the order of OFF state → ACC ON state → IG ON state during one operation. For example, if only the engine switch 29 is pressed while the engine 25 is stopped, the power state of the vehicle 1 is switched from the OFF state to the ACC state, and only the engine switch 29 is pressed again from this state. Then, when the power state of the vehicle 1 becomes the IG on state, and only the engine switch 29 is further pressed again from this state, the power state of the vehicle 1 returns to the off state.

  As a kind of other electronic key system 2, the vehicle 1 performs a door locking / unlocking operation of the vehicle 1 by wirelessly sending a locking / unlocking request Swk to the vehicle 1 by a manual operation of a locking / unlocking button provided on the portable device 4. A wireless key system 36 is installed. The wireless key system 36 will be described. The portable device 4 includes a lock button 37 that is pressed when the door lock of the vehicle 1 is locked, and an unlock button that is pressed when the door lock of the vehicle 1 is unlocked. 38. The lock button 37 and the unlock button 38 employ a momentary type that automatically returns to the original operation start position before the operation when the finger is released from the button after the pressing operation. The lock button 37 and the unlock button 38 constitute an operation means, and the locking / unlocking request Swk corresponds to the second radio signal (radio signal).

  The lock button 37 and the unlock button 38 are electrically connected to the communication control unit 15 and output an ON signal, for example, to the communication control unit 15 when pressed. The communication control unit 15 sequentially monitors the output signals from the lock button 37 and the unlock button 38 and determines whether the lock button 37 and the unlock button 38 are operated. When the communication control unit 15 detects that the lock button 37 has been pressed, the communication control unit 15 transmits a locking request Slk from the RF transmitter 17 using a signal in the RF band. When the communication control unit 15 detects that the unlock button 38 has been pressed, the communication control unit 15 performs RF. An unlocking request Sul is transmitted from the transmitter 17 using an RF band signal. The lock request Slk and the unlock request Sul are radio signals mainly having a unique ID code possessed by the portable device 4 and a function code in which specific command contents (locking or unlocking) are written.

  When the vehicle 1 receives the locking request Slk by the RF receiver 9, the vehicle 1 performs key verification by comparing the ID code included in the locking request Slk with the ID code registered in its own memory 23. If the door lock is unlocked while the above is established, the door lock is unlocked according to the command of the function code included in the lock request Slk. In addition, when the unlocking request Sul is received by the RF receiver 9, the verification ECU 6 compares the ID code included in the unlocking request Sul with the ID code registered in its own memory 23, and performs key verification. If this key verification is established and the door lock is in the locked state, the door lock is unlocked according to the command of the function code included in the unlock request Sul.

  In addition, in consideration of the occurrence of noise in a wireless communication environment, the electronic key system 2 selectively selects a channel that can be communicated at that time from a plurality of channels (frequency bands) and performs wireless communication using the channel. A channel-selective communication system 39 for performing the above is provided. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the channel-selective communication system 39 in this example transmits wireless signals transmitted from the portable device 4 toward the vehicle 1 through a plurality of channels (two types in this example), and there are a plurality of wireless signals. Wireless communication is established by allowing the vehicle 1 to receive a wireless signal through a channel that can be received at that time from among the channels to be transmitted. The wireless signal transmitted by the portable device 4 to the vehicle 1 is transmitted through multiple channels because a high frequency band such as an RF band is used for the frequency band of this wireless communication, and this high frequency is affected by noise. It is easy.

  When the electronic key system 2 is the key operation free system 3, the channel selection type communication system 39 returns the ID signal Sid in response to the request signal Srq as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. By transmitting Sid on a plurality of channels (multi-channel), smart communication is established by allowing the vehicle 1 to receive an ID signal Sid of a channel that can be received therein. Further, when the electronic key system 2 is the wireless key system 36, the channel selection type communication system 39, when the lock button 37 or the unlock button 38 of the portable device 4 is operated to transmit the lock / unlock request Swk, FIG. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, by transmitting this locking / unlocking request Swk through a plurality of channels (multi-channel), the vehicle 1 can receive wireless locking by allowing the vehicle 1 to receive the locking / unlocking request Swk of the channels that can be received therein. Establish.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the verification ECU 6 confirms whether the portable device 4 exists in the communication area of smart communication (external vehicle verification, in-vehicle verification) as an operation performed by the key operation free system 3. Accordingly, the WAKE signal (wake pattern) 40 is intermittently transmitted from the outside LF transmitter 7 (in-vehicle LF transmitter 8) using a signal in the LF band. For example, when performing outside vehicle verification, the WAKE signal 40 is intermittently transmitted from the outside LF transmitter 7 to the outside of the vehicle to form a communication area for the WAKE signal 40 around the vehicle. Further, when performing in-vehicle verification, the WAKE signal 40 is transmitted from the in-vehicle LF transmitter 8 to the entire vehicle interior, and a communication area for the WAKE signal 40 is formed in the entire vehicle interior. The WAKE signal 40 is a command signal that activates the portable device 4 in the standby state, and is repeatedly transmitted from the outside LF transmitter 7 (in-vehicle LF transmitter 8) at a predetermined constant interval.

  The verification ECU 6 repeatedly executes a reception preparation operation for confirming which channel the radio signal is currently received by the RF receiver 9 in accordance with the transmission of the WAKE signal 40, that is, in a polling cycle. The verification ECU 6 of this example first performs a start-up operation for starting up the standby RF receiver 9 as a polling reception preparation operation, and then the first channel (hereinafter referred to as CH 1) in the RF receiver 9. ) Is performed to confirm whether or not a radio signal is received, and then a CH1 reception preparation operation is performed, and subsequently whether or not a radio signal of the second channel (hereinafter referred to as CH2) is received by the RF receiver 9 is determined. As confirmation, a CH2 reception preparation operation is performed. Then, the verification ECU 6 repeats a series of operations such as a continuous startup operation → CH1 reception preparation operation → CH2 reception preparation operation in accordance with the transmission of the WAK E signal 40.

  The polling reception preparation operation (startup operation, CH1 reception preparation operation, CH2 reception preparation operation) is a predetermined value determined from the transmission of the LF signal so that a reply from the portable device 4 can be received during the reception confirmation operation. It is set to start at a certain time. The startup operation is a very short time process, and is set to a short process time of, for example, several ms. Further, in the CH1 reception preparation operation and the CH2 reception preparation operation, the data of the ACK signals (ACK signals 41a and 42a shown in FIG. 5) received from the portable device 4 after the WAKE transmission is set with the same operation time for reception confirmation. And a value obtained by adding a predetermined allowable time (for example, several tens of ms). The acknowledgment signals 41a and 42a constitute a radio signal (first radio signal).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that when the portable device 4 performs smart communication with the vehicle 1, noise that affects CH <b> 1 is not generated. When the portable device 4 enters the communication area of the WAKE signal 40 and receives the WAKE signal 40 by the LF receiver 16, the portable device 4 is switched from the standby state to the activated state by the WAKE signal 40. If the portable device 4 is normally activated at this time, the portable device 4 sends an ACK reply from the RF transmitter 17 to the vehicle 1 to notify that. At this time, the portable device 4 first returns a CH1 ACK signal 41a with CH1. The CH1 ACK signal 41a is set at a transmission timing to reach the RF receiver 9 when the RF receiver 9 is performing a CH1 reception preparation operation (CH1 reception presence / absence confirmation operation).

  When no CH1 noise is generated, the collation ECU 6 at this time transmits a WAKE signal 40 and then performs a reception operation of receiving the CH1 ACK signal 41a in the subsequent polling CH1 reception preparation operation. The verification ECU 6 recognizes ACK reception by checking the bit in the CH1 ACK signal 41a. The verification ECU 6 determines that the portable device 4 exists in the communication area of smart communication when the ACK reply is normally received after the WAKE signal 40 is transmitted. In addition, when the verification ECU 6 normally accepts the ACK reply in response to the WAKE signal 40, the verification ECU 6 ends the polling in that cycle, and thereafter, the portable device 4 is authorized with the portable device 4 with which communication has been established. It shifts to the authentication communication operation to actually confirm whether it is a thing.

  In addition, when the verification ECU 6 receives an ACK reply from the portable device 4 after the WAKE transmission, the vehicle ID 43 is subsequently transmitted as its own vehicle code, and the vehicle LF transmitter 7 (in-vehicle LF transmitter 8) receives an LF band signal. Make a call. If the portable device 4 can receive the vehicle ID 43 within a predetermined time after the CH1 ACK signal 41a is transmitted, the portable device 4 recognizes that the ACK reply has been successful on CH1, and takes an operation to try the ACK reply again on another channel. Absent. When the portable device 4 receives the vehicle ID 43 from the vehicle 1, the portable device 4 checks the vehicle ID as a confirmation to see whether or not the vehicle ID 43 is a normal code. At this time, the vehicle 1 performing smart communication is a regular vehicle. It is determined whether or not. In this way, the vehicle ID 43 is transmitted from the vehicle 1 to the portable device 4 to cause the portable device 4 to perform the vehicle type determination because there are a plurality of vehicles around the portable device 4 and wireless signals are received from these vehicles. This is because smart communication is performed only with a regular vehicle. When the portable device 4 recognizes that the vehicle ID verification has been established, the portable device 4 sends an ACK reply from the RF transmitter 17 to the vehicle 1 to notify the fact. At this time, the portable device 4 first returns the CH1 ACK signal 41b in the same manner as when the WAKE signal 40 is received. The CH1 ACK signal 41b is set so that the bit length and the transmission timing are the same as those of the CH1 ACK signal 41a returned when the WAKE signal 40 is received. The vehicle ID 43 corresponds to the response.

  After transmitting the vehicle ID, the verification ECU 6 performs an anti-ac reception preparation operation as a first reception preparation operation in authentication communication after a predetermined time. This anti-ac reception preparation operation consists of a start-up operation, a CH1 reception preparation operation, and a CH2 reception preparation operation, similar to that performed at the time of polling, and the activation time is set at a timing at which an ACK reply from the portable device 4 can be accepted. ing. In addition, the operation time for confirming whether or not to receive the CH1 reception preparation operation and the CH2 reception preparation operation at this time is an ACK signal received from the portable device 4 after the vehicle ID transmission (the CH1 signal is the ACK signal 41b and the CH2 signal is the ACK signal 42b). Is set to a time obtained by adding a predetermined allowable time to the data length (for example, a few dozen ms).

  At this time, the verification ECU 6 performs the operation of receiving the CH1 ACK signal 41b during the CH1 reception preparation operation of the anti-ac reception preparation operation after transmitting the vehicle ID 43. When the reply is received, it is recognized that the vehicle ID verification has been established with the portable device 4, and the portable device 4 existing in the smart communication communication area is recognized as a pair with itself. Even if the verification ECU 6 accepts an ACK reply (CH1 ACK signal 41b) for the transmission of the vehicle ID 43, the verification ECU 6 performs the CH2 reception preparation operation just in case, and when it is finished, the anti-ACK reception preparation operation ends.

  When the verification ECU 6 receives the CH1 ACK signal 41b after the vehicle ID is transmitted, the verification ECU 6 then transmits an authentication code 44 for challenge response authentication from the outside LF transmitter 7 (in-vehicle LF transmitter 8) as a signal in the LF band. The authentication code 44 includes a challenge code used as a random number and a key number (several bit data) of the portable device 4 registered on the vehicle 1 side. At this time, the key number of the portable device 4 is transmitted from the vehicle 1 to the portable device 4 and the key number is collated on the portable device 4 side, and it is assumed that both the master key and the sub key exist around. Since these may simultaneously cause smart communication, interference may occur, so this type of interference can be prevented by sending a key number from the vehicle 1 side and specifying the communication target for the occasional smart communication. is doing.

  If the portable device 4 can accept the authentication code 44 within a predetermined time after transmitting the CH1 ACK signal 41b, the operation of recognizing that the ACK reply is successful on CH1 and trying the ACK reply again on another channel is I will not take it. When the portable device 4 receives the authentication code 44 from the vehicle 1, the portable device 4 collates the key number received at this time with the key number registered in the mobile device 4, and performs self-verification for the smart communication at this time. Judge whether there is. At this time, the portable device 4 for which the number verification is established shifts to an operation of returning the ID code registered in the vehicle 1 to the vehicle 1, and the challenge code included in the authentication code 44 when the ID code is returned. A special calculation is added to this as a response, and a response reply including this response and the ID code is transmitted from the RF transmitter 17 as an RF band signal. As the response reply, the portable device 4 first transmits a CH1 response code 45a. The response code 45a is set at a transmission timing to reach the RF receiver 9 when the RF receiver 9 is taking a response reception preparation operation (CH1 reception preparation operation).

  The verification ECU 6 starts an anti-response reception preparation operation as a reception preparation operation after a predetermined time after the authentication code 44 is transmitted. This pair response preparation operation includes a CH1 reception preparation operation for confirming response reception for the pair CH1 and a CH2 reception preparation operation (see FIG. 5) for confirming response reception for the pair CH2. The operation time for confirming whether or not to receive the CH1 reception preparation operation and the CH2 reception preparation operation at this time is obtained by adding a predetermined allowable time to the data length of the response (to CH1 is the CH1 response code 45a and to CH2 is the CH2 response code 45b). The total time (for example, hundreds of tens of ms) is set. If no CH1 noise is generated, the verification ECU 6 at this time transmits an authentication code 44 and then enters an operation state in which the CH1 response code 45a is accepted during the CH1 reception preparation operation. When the verification ECU 6 receives the CH1 response code 45a, the verification ECU 6 compares the ID code included in the CH1 response code 45a with the ID code registered in the vehicle 1 to perform ID verification. When the verification ECU 6 sends the challenge code to the portable device 4, the verification ECU 6 also performs a process of adding a special calculation to the challenge code. If the smart communication target portable device 4 forms a pair, the calculation result is the same. Therefore, in order to confirm the pair, a response verification is performed by comparing the response obtained by itself with the response included in the CH1 response code 45a. The verification ECU 6 determines that the smart verification has been established when both the ID verification and the response verification are established when the CH1 response code 45a is received. If the data reception can be normally executed during the CH1 reception preparation operation, the verification ECU 6 stops the response reception preparation operation and returns to the standby state at that time.

  When the verification ECU 6 recognizes that the smart verification has been established, the verification ECU 6 transmits an end code (finish code) Cfn to that effect from the outside LF transmitter 7 (in-vehicle LF transmitter 8) as a signal in the LF band. When the portable device 4 receives the end code Cfn within a predetermined time after transmitting the CH1 response code 45a, the mobile device 4 recognizes that the smart communication is completed by receiving this code, and tries to return the response again on another channel. Instead, it returns from the activated state to the original standby state.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5, when the portable device 4 performs smart communication with the vehicle 1, for example, noise that affects CH <b> 1 is canceled at the same frequency as CH <b> 1 and a wireless signal of CH <b> 1. Assume that random noise (also referred to as unformatted noise) 46 having a high intensity occurs. When the portable device 4 receives the WAKE signal 40 transmitted from the vehicle 1, the portable device 4 first returns a CH1 ACK signal 41 a to the vehicle 1 in response thereto. However, when the random noise 46 is generated, the CH1 ACK signal 41 a is disturbed by the random noise 46 and cannot reach the vehicle 1. Therefore, even if the portable device 4 transmits the CH1 ACK signal 41a, the vehicle 1 cannot accept the CH1 ACK signal 41a and remains in a standby state. Does not migrate.

  Therefore, the portable device 4 at this time cannot accept the vehicle ID 43 within a predetermined time after returning the CH1 ACK signal 41a. For this reason, the portable device 4 recognizes that anti-CH1 noise is generated in the communication environment of the RF signal transmission operation, and this time transmits the CH2 ACK signal 42a to try to establish communication on another channel. Since the CH2 ACK signal 42a is not disturbed by the random noise 46, it reaches the vehicle 1. Therefore, since the vehicle 1 receives the CH2 ACK signal 42a during the CH2 reception preparation operation in the same polling, the vehicle 1 recognizes that the portable device 4 exists in the communication area of smart communication by accepting this ACK reply. In the same manner as when no CH1 noise is generated, the verification ECU 6 terminates polling at that cycle when it normally receives an ACK reply in response to the WAKE signal 40, and determines whether the portable device 4 is genuine. The authentication communication actually seen is entered. Further, the CH2 ACK signal 42a is set at a transmission timing to reach the RF receiver 9 when the RF receiver 9 is taking a CH2 reception preparation operation.

  Subsequently, the verification ECU 6 transmits a vehicle ID 43 to the portable device 4 in response to the CH2 ACK signal 42a received at this time. When the portable device 4 receives the vehicle ID 43, the portable device 4 performs vehicle ID collation. When the portable device 4 recognizes that the vehicle ID collation has been established, the portable device 4 first returns the CH1 acknowledgment signal 41b to the vehicle 1 first. However, when the random noise 46 is generated, the CH1 ACK signal 41 b does not reach the vehicle 1 due to the interference by the random noise 46. Therefore, the portable device 4 at this time cannot accept the authentication code 44 within a predetermined time after returning the CH1 ACK signal 41b. For this reason, the portable device 4 recognizes that anti-CH1 noise is generated in the communication environment of the RF signal transmission operation, and transmits the CH2 ACK signal 42b this time in order to try to establish communication on another channel. Since the CH2 ACK signal 42 b is not disturbed by the random noise 46, it reaches the vehicle 1.

  By the way, the verification ECU 6 switches the operation state to the CH2 reception preparation operation when the operation time of the CH1 reception preparation operation has passed the confirmation time while performing the anti-ac reception preparation operation. In some cases, the CH2 ACK signal 42b is received during the CH2 reception preparation operation of the ACK reception preparation operation. Therefore, the verification ECU 6 recognizes that the vehicle ID verification has been established by accepting the ACK reply. When the verification ECU 6 receives an ACK reply (CH2 ACK signal 42b) to the transmission of the vehicle ID 43, the counter-ACK reception preparation operation that has been performed is terminated.

  Subsequently, the verification ECU 6 transmits the authentication code 44 to the portable device 4 this time in response to the CH2 ACK signal 42b received at this time. When the portable device 4 receives this authentication code 44, it performs key number verification. If this verification is established, the CH1 response code 45a is first returned to the vehicle 1 as a response to this authentication code 44. However, when the random noise 46 is generated, the CH1 response code 45a does not reach the vehicle due to interference by the random noise 46. Therefore, the portable device 4 at this time cannot accept the end code Cfn for a predetermined time after transmitting the CH1 response code 45a. For this reason, the portable device 4 recognizes that anti-CH1 noise is generated in the communication environment of the RF signal transmission operation, and this time, in order to try to establish communication on another channel, a response is returned on CH2, and CH2 A response code 45b is transmitted to the vehicle 1. Since the CH2 response code 45b is not disturbed by the random noise 46, it reaches the vehicle 1.

  By the way, the verification ECU 6 switches the operation state to the CH2 reception preparation operation when the operation time of the CH1 reception preparation operation passes the confirmation time while performing the response reception preparation operation. In some cases, the CH2 response code 45b is received during the CH2 reception preparation operation of the response reception preparation operation. When the verification ECU 6 receives the CH2 response code 45b in this way, the verification ECU 6 performs authentication for this, and if it is confirmed that the challenge response authentication has been established, it determines that the smart verification has been established. When the verification ECU 6 recognizes that the smart verification has been established, the verification ECU 6 sends an end code (finish code) Cfn to that effect to the vehicle 1. Therefore, even if random noise 46 is generated in the smart communication environment, smart communication is established without any problem.

  Further, when the lock button 37 or the unlock button 38 is operated as an operation performed by the wireless key system 36, the portable device 4 has a command content corresponding to the button operation as shown in FIGS. The locking / unlocking request Swk is transmitted from the RF transmitter 17 to the vehicle 1 with an RF band signal. That is, when the communication control unit 15 detects that the lock button 37 is pressed, the communication control unit 15 transmits the lock request Slk as the lock / unlock request Swk from the RF transmitter 17 and detects that the unlock button 38 is pressed. The unlocking request Sul is transmitted from the RF transmitter 17 as the unlocking request Swk.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lock / unlock request Swk has a data array in which a plurality of frames 47 (seven in this example) are arranged as a unit of data. These frames 47, 47... All have the same data content (data string), and if one of these frames 47, 47... Can be read, the reception operation of the lock / unlock request Swk is established by reading the frame. To do. As described above, a plurality of frames 47, 47,... Are transmitted in the wireless communication of the locking / unlocking request Swk when accidental noise occurs in the wireless communication environment and the frame cannot be acquired temporarily. Alternatively, even when the RF receiver 9 receives the locking / unlocking request Swk in the middle of the frame, it is possible to correctly receive one frame 47 from the head.

  Each of these frames 47, 47... Is encoded every time the lock button 37 or the unlock button 38 is operated, a frame start bit for notifying the start of the frame 47, an ID code that the portable device 4 has as a unique key code. Is a rolling code that changes, and a function code that notifies the operation content of the button operation at that time. Therefore, in this frame 47, the head of the frame 47 is recognized by reading the frame start bit, and the key ID is verified by comparing the subsequent ID code and rolling code with that on the vehicle 1 side. Then, it is determined whether the key operation at that time is a locking operation or a releasing operation. The ID code and the rolling code are a data group registered in the memory 22 of the portable device 4.

  The portable device 4 transmits a plurality of frames 47, 47... As a lock / unlock request Swk (lock request Slk, unlock request Sul) at the time of button operation. 2 types of channels). In this example, first, three frames (hereinafter referred to as CH1 frame 47a) are transmitted at the frequency of CH1, and then four frames (hereinafter referred to as CH2 frame 47b) are successively transmitted at the frequency of CH2. send.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, when the portable device 4 performs wireless communication with the vehicle 1, assuming that there is no noise that affects CH1, the collation ECU 6 at this time uses the CH1 for polling. During the reception preparation operation, the RF receiver 9 is in a state of receiving the CH1 radio signal (that is, the CH1 frame 47a). By the way, the RF receiver 9 at this time receives the CH1 frame 47a in the middle of the frame, and the verification ECU 6 performs an operation of reading the data content of the frame 47 from the top of the frame. Therefore, when the verification ECU 6 receives the CH1 radio signal and starts the data reception operation during the CH1 reception preparation operation, the verification ECU 6 performs a start bit search for searching for the head position of the frame 47, and the next CH1 that follows thereafter. The frame start bit of the frame 47a is searched.

  If the collation ECU 6 can normally read the frame start bit by the start bit search, the verification ECU 6 recognizes that the frame 47 acquired at this time is normal, and continues reading the data content that follows. Then, the verification ECU 6 performs key verification by comparing the ID code and rolling code following the frame start bit with the ID code and rolling code registered in its own memory 23. If this key verification is established, the verification ECU 6 refers to the function code following the ID code and rolling code in the locking / unlocking request Swk, and drives the door lock motor 14 in accordance with the command code of the function code to thereby lock the door. Lock and unlock.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, when the portable device 4 wirelessly communicates with the vehicle 1, the random noise 46 of the CH1 that may affect the CH1 radio signal is generated over the entire period of the wireless communication. Suppose. When the portable device 4 transmits the locking / unlocking request Swk, the CH1 frame 47a is initially transmitted in succession, but the CH1 frame 47a is canceled due to the random noise 46, so the verification ECU 6 receives the polling CH1. The CH1 frame 47a cannot be received during the preparation operation, and the CH2 frame 47b is not transmitted from the portable device 4 during the polling CH2 reception preparation operation.

  Since the portable device 4 transmits three CH1 frames 47a and then moves to the operation of transmitting four CH2 frames 47b, the verification ECU 6 receives the next polling CH2 when the portable device 4 takes this signal transmission state. The CH2 frame 47b is received at the timing of the preparation operation. Then, as in the case of receiving the above-described CH1 frame 47a, the verification ECU 6 first searches for the start bit, searches for the head of the next CH2 frame 47b, and finds the head of the CH2 frame 47b. The data group 47b is taken in and the locking / unlocking request Swk is acquired. Therefore, even if the random noise 46 that affects CH1 occurs in the wireless communication environment, since the frame is received on CH2 at this time, wireless communication is established without any problem.

  Incidentally, as the noise that affects CH1 when the portable device 4 performs smart communication (including wireless communication) with the vehicle 1, in addition to the random noise 46 described above, as shown in FIG. There is a format noise 48 in which a radio signal is affected by a radio signal having a specific data arrangement (data and code types and allocation) although the format itself for constructing the data group is the same. As described above, when the format noise 48 is generated in the wireless communication environment, the RF receiver 9 cannot accept both the CH1 and CH2 radio signals as described in the background art. There was a problem that a situation where the above was not established occurred.

  Therefore, the channel selective communication system 39 of this example gives priority to the wireless communication in the next channel (CH2) in the next polling when the wireless communication in the previous channel (CH1) is affected by noise and communication is not established. A next channel reception priority function is provided. This next channel reception priority function will be described below. As shown in FIG. 3, the memory 23 of the verification ECU 6 stores a next channel communication priority program Dpr to be executed when the next channel reception priority function is performed. This next channel communication priority program Dpr indicates that when the portable device 4 sequentially transmits a plurality of channels of radio signals (ACK, etc.) to the vehicle 1, if noise is detected during data reception operation in the previous channel, This program gives priority to data reception on the next channel by stopping data reception on the channel. The verification ECU 6 executes this next channel communication priority program Dpr every time the RF receiver 9 receives a radio signal, and tries to establish smart communication.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the verification ECU 6 determines that the presence / absence of noise is determined by the noise presence / absence determination unit 49 and the noise presence / absence determination unit 49 that determine the presence / absence of noise affecting the wireless communication during wireless communication in the previous channel. In the next polling, the noise monitoring unit 50 that monitors whether noise is still generated, and when the noise monitoring unit 50 recognizes the continuous generation of noise, the wireless communication of the next channel is prioritized in the next polling. A next channel priority unit 51 is provided. The noise presence / absence determination unit 49, the noise monitoring unit 50, and the next channel priority unit 51 are functionally generated when the verification ECU 6 executes the next channel communication priority program Dpr in the memory 23. FIG. These are represented by block diagrams. The noise presence / absence determination unit 49 corresponds to a noise presence / absence determination unit, the noise monitoring unit 50 corresponds to a noise continuation occurrence determination unit, and the next channel priority unit 51 corresponds to a priority unit.

Next, the operation of the next channel reception priority function will be described.
As shown in FIG. 8, when the CH1 format noise 48 is generated in the wireless communication environment between the vehicle 1 and the portable device 4, when the reception preparation operation is performed in the polling, the response is normally made to the WAKE signal 40. The CH1 ACK signal 41a returned from the portable device 4 should be accepted during the CH1 reception preparation operation. However, if the format noise 48 is stronger than the CH1 ACK signal 41a, the CH1 reception is performed. During the preparatory operation, not the CH1 ACK signal 41a but the format noise 48 is received. That is, under the condition in which the format noise 48 is generated, the data reception state is entered by receiving the format noise 48 during the polling CH1 reception preparation operation.

  Since the verification ECU 6 performs a start bit search for searching for the data head in the received data as one process during the data reception operation, the start bit search is performed in the same manner during the data reception operation of the format noise 48. Do. By the way, if normal data is received by polling and normal data reception operation is performed, within the time required to read one received radio signal from the beginning to the end (hereinafter referred to as time limit Tka), The start bit search should end. On the other hand, if the start bit search is not yet completed even if the processing time Tkx after the start of the data receiving operation exceeds the limit time Tka, the received data received by the RF receiver 9 at this time is illegal data. Can be considered.

  Moreover, since the polling of this example confirms the presence / absence of signal reception in both smart communication and wireless communication, it is necessary to be able to judge fraud on all wireless signals received in these communication. Therefore, the time limit Tka needs to be set to a time required to read a radio signal having the longest time length among signals received in both smart communication and wireless communication. In this example, the ACK signals 41a, 41b, 42a, and 42b and the response codes 45a and 45b are accepted during smart communication, and the reception operation of accepting the frame 47 is performed during wireless communication. The longest time length among these radio signals is taken. Since it has the frame 47, the time limit Tka in this example is set to the time length Tw of the frame 47 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

  When receiving the CH1 radio signal during the polling CH1 reception preparation operation, the noise presence / absence determination unit 49 measures the processing time Tkx from the start of the data reception operation, and the processing time Tkx is within the time limit Tka. Meanwhile, whether or not the CH1 narrowband noise affecting CH1 is generated is determined by checking whether or not the frame start bit can be read. When the RF receiver 9 receives the format noise 48 during the CH1 reception preparation operation, since the reception data at this time is not regular data, the processing time Tkx of the data reception operation takes time within the time limit Tka. The frame start bit cannot be read. Therefore, when the processing time Tkx exceeds the time limit Tka, the noise presence / absence determination unit 49 recognizes that noise is accepted at this time, and receives the data of CH1 when the processing time Tkx exceeds the time limit Tka. The operation is forcibly terminated and the noise monitoring unit 50 is notified accordingly. The verification ECU 6 forcibly ends the data reception operation for the pair CH1, and then performs a CH2 reception preparation operation for confirmation to see whether the CH2 frame 47b is accepted.

  Since the verification ECU 6 repeatedly performs polling at regular intervals, even after recognizing that the CH1 format noise 48 is generated in the wireless communication environment, the verification ECU 6 starts the reception preparation operation at the next polling after the determination of the presence of noise. At this time, if the CH1 format noise 48 is continuously generated in the wireless communication environment, even when the next polling of the polling in which the occurrence of the CH1 format noise 48 is detected, the format is performed in the CH1 reception preparation operation. The data receiving operation for receiving the noise 48 is started.

  When the noise monitoring unit 50 receives the notification that the format noise has occurred from the noise presence / absence determination unit 49, the noise monitoring unit 50 monitors whether or not the noise generation is still continued in the polling next to the polling in which the noise presence determination is performed. . By the way, the CH1 format noise 48 is a jamming radio wave that cancels the radio signal of the smart communication or wireless communication of CH1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the RSSI value E1, which is the value of the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the CH1 format noise 48, is transmitted to the vehicle 1 when the portable device 4 performs smart communication or wireless communication. The value should be higher than the RSSI value E2 of the radio signal of CH1.

  Therefore, when the noise monitoring unit 50 receives the CH1 radio signal in the CH1 reception preparation operation at the next polling after the polling determined by the noise presence / absence determination unit 49 as having noise, the portable device 4 performs smart communication or wireless communication. The RSSI value E2 of the CH1 radio signal transmitted at the time of performing is used as a threshold value, and the RSSI value of the received signal is compared with the threshold value to confirm whether or not the format noise 48 is continuously generated. When the noise monitoring unit 50 confirms that the RSSI value of the received signal exceeds the threshold at this time, the noise monitoring unit 50 recognizes that the generation of the format noise 48 continues for two polls, and notifies the next channel priority unit 51 to that effect. Notice.

  When the next channel priority unit 51 receives a notification from the noise monitoring unit 50 that the generation of the format noise 48 is continued, the CH1 reception preparation operation performed in the next polling is interrupted and the CH2 reception preparation operation is started instead. Thus, priority is given to data reception of the radio signal of CH2. The CH2 ACK signal 42a transmitted from the portable device 4 can be received by the RF receiver 9 after the CH1 reception preparation operation is aborted (in short, the CH2 reception preparation operation start timing). It is set to the timing at which the CH2 reception preparation operation is started by the time when 42a is received. The timing for aborting the CH1 reception preparation operation in this example is set to the same timing as when the CH1 reception preparation operation is terminated due to the arrival of the confirmation time during normal polling.

  The start timing of the CH2 reception preparation operation in this example is set to a timing that is started slightly before the RF receiver 9 receives the CH2 ACK signal 42a. The start timing of the CH2 reception preparation operation is not limited to a short time before the CH2 ACK signal 42a is received by the RF receiver 9, but may be the same timing, for example. In addition, the CH2 reception preparation operation performed after the CH1 reception preparation operation is aborted in this example is the start-up operation performed in the CH1 reception preparation operation immediately before the abortion, and thus includes only the CH2 reception presence confirmation operation, and the confirmation time ( The longest time taken for confirmation) is set to the same processing time as normal polling.

  As a result, when the portable device 4 receives the WAKE signal 40 and repeatedly sends back the two-channel ACK signals 41a and 42a, if the CH1 format noise 48 is generated in the smart communication environment, the CH1 reception is performed in polling. Since the preparatory operation is forcibly terminated and the CH2 reception preparatory operation is preferentially started, the verification ECU 6 takes an operation of accepting the CH2 ack signal 42a at the time of this CH2 reception preparatory operation. Therefore, even if the CH1 format noise 48 is generated in the smart communication environment, the verification ECU 6 can accept the ACK reply by receiving the CH2 ACK signal 42b returned from the portable device 4 when the WAKE signal is transmitted. It becomes possible to recognize that the portable device 4 exists in the communication area of smart communication.

  Thereafter, the verification ECU 6 performs vehicle ID verification with the portable device 4, but at this time, the CH1 format noise 48 is received during the CH1 reception preparation operation of the anti-ac reception preparation operation. Note that the CH1 reception preparation operation of this anti-ac reception preparation operation is set so that the process ends when all data cannot be normally received even after the operation time passes the confirmation time. Therefore, even if the CH1 format noise 48 is received during the CH1 reception preparation operation, all data cannot be normally received within the time limit, and the process ends when the operation time has passed the confirmation time. The operation state is switched to the CH2 reception preparation operation. As a result, a state in which the CH2 ACK signal 42b is received in the anti-ACK reception preparation operation is taken, and the establishment of the vehicle ID verification is recognized from this.

  When the verification ECU 6 recognizes that the vehicle ID verification has been established in the portable device 4, it subsequently sends an authentication code 44 to the portable device 4 to check whether challenge response authentication is established with the portable device 4. However, at this time, the CH1 format noise 48 is received during the CH1 reception preparation operation of the response reception preparation operation. Note that the CH1 reception preparation operation of the response reception preparation operation is also set so that the process ends when all data cannot be received normally even after the operation time has passed the confirmation time. Therefore, even if the CH1 format noise 48 is received during the CH1 reception preparation operation, all data cannot be normally received within the time limit at this time, and the operation ends when the operation time exceeds the confirmation time. The operation state is switched to the CH2 reception preparation operation. As a result, a state in which the CH2 response code 45b is received in the response reception preparation operation is taken, and if this verification is established, it is determined that smart communication (external vehicle verification, in-vehicle verification) has been established.

  In addition, since the portable device 4 of this example can perform wireless communication by operating the lock button 37 and the unlock button 38, the CH2 reception preparation after forcibly terminating the polling CH1 reception preparation operation is performed. When the lock / unlock request Swk is received during the operation, the key verification is performed according to the above-described procedure. Therefore, when the CH1 reception preparation operation is interrupted in the middle when the CH1 format noise 48 is generated as in this example and the CH2 reception preparation operation is preferentially executed, not only smart communication but also wireless communication is performed. Can be established without delay.

  Therefore, in this example, when the wireless communication is accepted in the polling CH1 reception preparation operation, the verification ECU 6 recognizes the generation of the CH1 format noise 48, and the CH1 format noise 48 is still generated in the next polling. If it is determined, the CH1 reception preparation operation is forcibly terminated at the time of the next polling, and the CH2 reception preparation operation (CH2 reception presence confirmation operation) is preferentially performed. Accordingly, the verification ECU 6 can accept various signals generated by the portable device 4 during smart communication (wireless communication) at the timing of the CH2 reception preparation operation, so that smart communication (wireless communication) can be established without any problem. It becomes possible.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When it is determined that the CH1 format noise 48 is generated during the data reception operation of the previous polling CH1 reception preparation operation, the CH1 format noise 48 is still generated in the next polling. If it is determined, the CH1 reception preparation operation is immediately terminated in the next polling, and the CH2 reception preparation operation is prioritized. Thereby, since the CH2 reception preparation operation of the RF receiver 9 is in time for the timing when the portable device 4 transmits the CH2 radio signal, the verification ECU 6 (RF receiver 9) accepts the CH2 radio signal in the CH2 reception preparation operation. As a result, wireless communication between the verification ECU 6 and the portable device 4 is established. Therefore, even if the CH1 format noise 48 is generated in the wireless communication environment of the vehicle 1 and the portable device 4, wireless communication between the vehicle 1 and the portable device 4 can be established without delay.

  (2) In the priority processing that prioritizes the CH2 reception preparation operation over the CH1 reception preparation operation in the next polling, the CH1 format noise 48 is still generated even in the polling next to the polling in which the generation of the CH1 format noise 48 is detected. Things are a condition. For this reason, although the CH1 format noise 48 is generated at the time of the previous polling, it is difficult for the situation that the priority processing is executed even when the CH1 format noise 48 has disappeared at the next polling. Thus, a situation in which unnecessary priority processing is performed wastefully can be prevented.

  (3) The reception preparation operation (CH1 reception preparation operation, CH2 reception preparation operation) performed at each polling confirms whether or not both radio signals according to smart communication and radio signals according to wireless key communication are received. This is a reception preparation operation. As a result, even if the CH1 format noise 48 is generated in the wireless communication environment of the vehicle 1 and the portable device 4, it can be established without any delay in both smart communication and wireless communication.

  (4) Since whether or not the CH1 format noise 48 is continuously generated is sequentially executed in each polling after it is determined that there is noise, it is more accurately determined whether or not the CH1 format noise 48 is continuously generated. It becomes possible to judge. For this reason, it is possible to further reduce the situation in which the priority process that preferentially performs the CH2 reception preparation operation with respect to the CH1 reception preparation operation is wastefully performed.

  (5) The presence / absence of the CH1 format noise 48 is determined by the threshold (time limit Tka) required to read from the beginning to the end of the radio signal received in this radio communication (in this example, the frame 47 having the longest time length). The presence or absence of noise is determined by comparing the processing time Tkx after the reception of the radio signal in the CH1 reception preparation operation and the start of the data reception operation with the time limit Tka. For this reason, it is possible to determine whether or not the CH1 format noise 48 is generated by a simple process of time comparison for comparing the processing time Tkx of the data reception operation and the time limit Tka.

  (6) The forcible termination timing when the CH1 reception preparation operation is forcibly terminated at the next polling when the CH1 format noise 48 is generated is the confirmation time that the CH1 reception preparation operation can take in the normal polling when no radio signal is accepted ( Processing maximum time). As a result, when priority is given to the CH2 reception preparation operation, the start of the CH2 reception preparation operation can be made the same as the start timing of the CH2 reception preparation operation at the time of normal polling. For this reason, even when priority is given to the CH2 reception preparation operation, the CH2 radio signal is matched with the matching ECU 6 (RF) at the timing of the CH2 reception preparation operation of the normal polling, that is, at the optimal reception timing for receiving the CH2 radio signal. It can be received by the receiver 9).

The embodiment is not limited to the configuration so far, and may be changed to the following modes.
The priority processing that prioritizes the CH2 reception preparation operation at the next polling when the CH1 format noise 48 is generated is limited to the condition that the CH1 format noise 48 is still generated even at the next polling. Not. That is, if it is determined that the CH1 format noise 48 has been generated in the previous polling, the CH2 format noise 48 is received unconditionally without confirming the continuation of the CH1 format noise 48 in the next polling (subsequent polling). The preparatory operation may be prioritized.

  The presence / absence determination of the presence or absence of the CH1 format noise 48 in the previous polling is not limited to the time comparison processing in which the processing time Tkx after the start of the data reception operation of the CH1 radio signal is compared with the time limit Tka. . For example, by checking the received signal strength (RSSI) when the RF receiver 9 receives the CH1 radio signal, it is determined whether or not the radio signal received at that time is the CH1 format noise 48. Also good.

  -When priority is given to the CH2 reception preparation operation in the next polling when the CH1 format noise 48 is generated, the CH1 reception preparation operation is not interrupted and the operation proceeds to the CH2 reception preparation operation. Only the operation may be performed.

When the portable device 4 transmits wireless signals to the vehicle 1 through a plurality of channels, the number of channels is not necessarily limited to two, and may be three or more.
• When giving priority to the CH2 reception preparation operation in the next polling, the CH1 reception preparation operation is aborted in the middle of this polling. Time). That is, the timing for terminating the CH1 reception preparation operation may be before or after this confirmation time. In short, as long as the CH2 radio signal can be received, the time for the termination is not particularly limited.

  When priority is given to the reception preparation operation after CH1 at the time of next polling under the occurrence of CH1 format noise 48, this is not necessarily limited to priority to the reception preparation operation of CH2 immediately after CH1. For example, when the number of channels of wireless signals transmitted by the portable device 4 is three or more, the channel that is given priority for reception may be the channel after CH3 by skipping CH2 following CH1.

The wireless communication between the vehicle 1 and the portable device 4 is not limited to communication processing in which wireless signal exchanges are reciprocated multiple times (in this example, three times), and may be performed only once, for example.
The wireless communication between the vehicle 1 and the portable device 4 is not necessarily limited to being capable of both smart communication and wireless communication, and it is sufficient that at least smart communication can be performed.

  The key operation free system 3 is not limited to requiring operation of the touch sensor 10 and the lock button 11 of the door handle knob 1a when the door lock is unlocked. That is, the door lock is automatically unlocked when the portable device 4 enters the outside communication area of the outside LF transmitter 7, and the door lock is automatically locked when the portable device 4 comes out from the outside communication area. Good.

  The electronic key system 2 does not necessarily need to include both the key operation free system 3 and the wireless key system 36, and may have at least one of these functions. The key operation free system 3 does not necessarily need to include both the smart entry system 5 and the one-push engine start system 24, and may have at least one of these functions.

  The operation means provided in the portable device 4 is not necessarily limited to the lock button 37 and the unlock button 38, and may be, for example, an operation button that executes an opening operation of the slide door of the vehicle 1.

The channel selective communication system 39 is not necessarily employed in the key system of the vehicle 1 and may be used in various other devices and apparatuses.
Next, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above-described embodiment and other examples will be described below together with their effects.

  (1) In Claims 2-5, the noise continuation occurrence presence / absence determination means determines the presence / absence of noise continuation occurrence for each polling. In the polling when it is determined that the noise is continuously generated, priority is given to the reception preparation operation after the next channel. According to this configuration, it is possible to further reduce the situation in which the process of prioritizing the reception preparation operation after the next channel is performed wastefully in the next polling.

  (2) In any one of claims 1 to 5 or the technical idea (1), the noise presence / absence determining means uses a time required to read the received radio signal from the beginning to the end as a threshold, and the signal The reception device measures the reception time after receiving the wireless signal in the previous reception preparation operation, and determines whether the noise is present by checking whether the reception time exceeds the threshold. According to this configuration, it is possible to determine the presence / absence of noise by a simple process of determining time-up (time for receiving a radio signal).

  (3) In any one of claims 1 to 5 or the technical ideas (1) and (2), the timing for terminating the reception preparation operation performed at the priority time is the reception preparation operation at the time of normal polling. Confirmation time (maximum processing time) is set. According to this configuration, since the maximum polling processing time is the same between the normal time and the priority time, it is possible to receive a radio signal at a suitable timing even during the priority time.

The image figure which shows the outline of the electronic key system in one Embodiment. The model figure which shows the data structure of the radio signal which a portable device transmits at the time of wireless communication. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of an electronic key system. The timing chart which shows the operation | movement aspect of smart communication without a noise. The timing chart which shows the operation | movement aspect at the time of smart communication at the time of random noise generation | occurrence | production. The timing chart which shows the operation | movement aspect of wireless communication without a noise. The timing chart which shows the operation | movement aspect of the wireless communication at the time of random noise generation | occurrence | production. The timing chart which shows the operation | movement aspect of radio | wireless communication at the time of format noise generation | occurrence | production. The functional block diagram which shows the structure of a channel selective communication system functionally. The wave form diagram which shows the relationship of the received signal strength of a regular signal and noise. The timing chart which shows the operation | movement aspect of radio | wireless communication without a noise of a prior art. The timing chart which shows the operation | movement aspect of radio | wireless communication at the time of random noise generating. The timing chart which shows the operation | movement aspect of radio | wireless communication at the time of format noise generation | occurrence | production.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... Portable machine as a communication terminal, 6 ... Collation ECU which comprises signal receiving device, 9 ... RF receiver which comprises signal receiving device, 37 ... Lock button which comprises operation means, 38 ... Un which comprises operation means Lock button, 39... Channel selective communication system, 41a... Ch1 ack signal constituting the first radio signal (radio signal), 42a... CH2 ack signal constituting the first radio signal (radio signal), 43. Vehicle ID 49: Noise presence / absence determination unit as noise presence / absence determination unit 50: Noise monitoring unit as noise continuation occurrence determination unit 51: Next channel priority unit as priority unit Srq ... Request signal as signal return request , Sid: ID signal constituting the first wireless signal (wireless signal), Swk: Locking / unlocking request as the second wireless signal (wireless signal).

Claims (5)

A communication terminal transmits a wireless signal sequentially on different channels to transmit wireless signals on a plurality of channels, and the signal receiving apparatus that is the communication partner of the communication terminal sequentially performs a reception preparation operation for each channel to determine which channel. Polling for determining a receivable channel by checking whether a radio signal is received is repeatedly performed at a periodic interval of the polling, and the radio is received in a reception preparation operation channel that can receive the radio signal among a plurality of reception preparation operations. In a channel selective communication system that accepts the radio signal in a channel that is not affected by the noise even when noise is generated by receiving the signal, and establishes radio communication,
When the signal reception device receives the wireless signal in the previous reception preparation operation at the time of the polling, by checking the reception state of the wireless signal of the destination channel received in the previous reception preparation operation, the wireless communication of the destination channel Noise presence / absence determination means for determining the presence or absence of noise that may affect
When the noise presence / absence determining means determines that there is noise, priority is given to reception preparation operation after the next channel instead of the previous channel in the next polling, and reception of the radio signal is performed at the reception preparation operation after the next channel. A channel selection type communication system, comprising: priority means for establishing the wireless communication. When the wireless signal is received at the next polling of the polling that the noise presence / absence determining unit determines that there is noise, the generation of the noise is still continued in the next polling by checking the reception state of the wireless signal. Including noise continuation occurrence determination means for determining whether or not
The priority means forcibly aborts the reception preparation operation of the previous channel in the next polling and prioritizes the reception preparation operation of the next channel and later in the next polling when the noise continuation occurrence determination unit determines that the noise continuation occurrence has occurred. The channel selective communication system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication is established between the communication terminal and the signal receiving device. When the communication terminal receives a signal reply request transmitted from the signal receiving device, the communication terminal automatically transmits a first radio signal having a signal content corresponding to the signal reply request and is provided in the communication terminal. When the operation means is operated, the second radio signal having the signal content corresponding to the operation means operated at that time can be transmitted,
The signal reception device is configured such that the reception preparation operation is set as an operation capable of accepting both the first radio signal and the second radio signal, whereby the first radio communication accepting the first radio signal, The channel-selective communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein both wireless communication and two wireless communication are possible when receiving the second wireless signal.   When the signal reception apparatus normally receives the radio signal from the communication terminal in the polling, the signal reception apparatus ends the polling in the cycle, and thereafter the communication terminal forms a pair with the communication terminal. The channel selective communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein authentication communication for actually confirming whether the communication is true is executed.   When the communication terminal receives a signal reply request transmitted from the signal receiving device, the communication terminal automatically performs the wireless communication by bidirectional communication that automatically transmits a first wireless signal having a signal content corresponding to the signal reply request. If the first radio signal is transmitted to the signal receiving device, the radio signal is first transmitted by one channel, and if the response to the signal transmission is not received from the signal receiving device in time, the first radio signal is 5. The channel selective communication system according to claim 1, wherein signal transmission is performed on a channel different from a channel, and the signal transmission is repeated until the response is received.

Images