JP2010038684A - Vehicle search system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle search system that can search for the direction of the vehicle with high reliability by displaying information on the direction of the vehicle and also information on the reliability of the information. <P>SOLUTION: A vehicle search system 1 includes: an electronic compass 22 for detecting the absolute direction viewed from a portable device 2; array antennas 33a, 33d for detecting a relative direction of the portable device viewed from the vehicle 3 and measuring the intensity of radio waves arriving at the vehicle; an electronic compass 32 for detecting the absolute direction viewed from the vehicle 3; a vehicle-side control part 31 for computing the absolute direction of the portable device viewed from the vehicle 3 based on the information on the relative direction of the portable device 2 and the information on the absolute direction viewed from the vehicle 3; a portable device-side control part 21 for computing the relative direction of the vehicle 3 viewed from the portable device 2 based on the information on the absolute direction of the portable device 2 viewed from the vehicle 3 that is transmitted from the vehicle 3 to the portable device 2 and the information on the absolute direction viewed from the portable device 2; and a display part 25 for displaying the information on the relative direction of the vehicle 3 and also displaying the information on the intensity of the radio waves by a predetermined expression means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention performs wireless communication between a portable device carried by a user (driver or the like) of a vehicle such as an automobile and the vehicle, and the vehicle viewed from the portable device (user) based on the result of the communication. The present invention relates to a vehicle search system for searching directions.

  This type of vehicle search system uses so-called mobile communication technology, and is mounted on a portable device and a vehicle carried by the vehicle user in order to stably search the direction of the vehicle viewed from the vehicle user. In addition to the in-vehicle communication device, a communication infrastructure facility (a guidance terminal, a recognition terminal, a management computer, etc.) that relays wireless communication is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Also, mobile communication technologies that do not use such communication infrastructure facilities are known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). That is, in this technique, when the vehicle receives a search request signal from a portable device (start key), information on the absolute direction as viewed from the vehicle detected by the vehicle's geomagnetic sensor (direction detection means) (east-west as viewed from the vehicle) 4 types of direction identification signals (signals distinguished by 4 types of direction identification codes) based on the 4 directions of east, west, south, and north in different directions. It transmits to a portable machine from the directional antenna provided in four places of vehicles so that it may face.

  In the portable device, the relative direction and separation distance of the vehicle viewed from the portable device are detected (calculated) based on the received intensity distribution of each azimuth identification signal, and the geomagnetic sensor (azimuth detecting means) of the portable device is detected. ) Information of the absolute direction seen from the portable device (information of the orientation based on the four directions of east, west, south, and north as seen from the portable device) of the direction of the vehicle as seen from the vehicle user (portable device). Search is to be performed.

  However, according to the former technique, a considerable amount of investment is required to install terminals as communication infrastructure equipment. Of course, the vehicle search system can be used only in a limited facility where such communication infrastructure facilities are installed.

  On the other hand, according to the latter technique, such a communication infrastructure facility is unnecessary, so that it can be used in various places including a space where external radio waves are blocked, such as an underground parking lot. However, since the detection of the relative direction and the separation distance of the vehicle viewed from the portable device depends on the reception strengths of the four types of direction identification signals in the portable device, the reception strength depends on the relative direction and the separation distance of the vehicle. In the case of fluctuation due to some other factor, for example, when the influence of an obstacle such as a building or reflection on the ground cannot be ignored, it is conceivable that the vehicle direction is not accurately searched.

Furthermore, according to this technology, in principle, the vehicle side cannot have information on the direction of the portable device viewed from the vehicle.
On the other hand, the applicant of the present application has developed a vehicle search system that is a mobile communication technology of the same type and can accurately search the direction of the vehicle in various places.

In this technology, an adaptive array antenna as a relative direction detection unit of a portable device and an electronic compass as an absolute direction detection unit are provided on the vehicle side, and the portable device absolute direction on the vehicle side based on information detected by each unit The absolute direction of the portable device viewed from the vehicle is calculated by the vehicle side control unit as the calculating means. And based on the information on the absolute direction of the portable device transmitted from the vehicle to the portable device and the information on the absolute direction viewed from the portable device by the portable device side control unit as the vehicle direction calculation means provided on the portable device side. The relative direction of the vehicle as viewed from the portable device is calculated.
JP-A-2005-350916 JP 2006-125983 A

  According to this technology, there is no need for communication infrastructure equipment, and when the reception intensity of the radio wave transmitted from the portable device to the vehicle fluctuates due to some factor, for example, the influence of an obstacle, reflection on the ground, etc. Even if it cannot be ignored, an excellent effect that the direction of the vehicle can be searched accurately can be obtained.

  Furthermore, as an improvement technique of this technique, for example, when there is an influence such as an obstacle such as a building or reflection on the ground, in addition to the direct wave that the vehicle should originally receive from the portable device, the reflected wave etc. If the influence by the information can be confirmed by some information, the information can be used as a reliability judgment standard for the direction of the vehicle displayed on the display unit of the portable device, that is, reliability information of the relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle, It is considered that the direction of the vehicle can be searched with higher reliability.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to use the reliability information of the information together with the information on the direction of the vehicle to thereby change the direction of the vehicle with high reliability. The object is to provide a vehicle search system capable of searching.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 performs wireless communication between a portable device possessed by a user of the vehicle and the vehicle, and views from the portable device based on a result of the communication. A vehicle search system for searching a direction of a vehicle, the first absolute azimuth detecting means provided in the portable device for detecting an absolute azimuth as viewed from the portable device, and provided in the vehicle respectively. Portable device relative direction detection means for detecting the relative direction of the portable device viewed from the vehicle based on the radio wave transmitted from the vehicle, second absolute direction detection means for detecting the absolute direction viewed from the vehicle, and the portable Based on the information on the relative direction of the machine and the information on the absolute orientation seen from the vehicle, the portable machine absolute direction calculating means for calculating the absolute direction of the portable machine viewed from the vehicle, provided in the portable machine or vehicle, Information on the absolute direction of the portable device Vehicle direction calculation means for calculating a relative direction or an absolute direction of the vehicle viewed from the portable device based on information on the absolute direction viewed from the portable device or the vehicle, and a relative direction of the vehicle provided in the portable device. Alternatively, in addition to displaying the information in the absolute direction, the gist of the present invention is to include display means for displaying the reliability information in the respective directions by a predetermined expression means.

  According to this configuration, when the portable device relative direction detection means is provided on the vehicle side, the relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle viewed from the portable device detected based on the radio wave transmitted from the portable device is determined. The information is displayed on the display means of the portable device together with the reliability information in each direction. For this reason, the user of the vehicle includes obstacles such as buildings, reflected waves reflected by the ground, etc., and each of a plurality of incoming radio waves displayed on the display means as a relative direction or an absolute direction of the vehicle. The reliability information on the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle can be used as a criterion for determining whether the single radio wave accurately indicates the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle. Thereby, when the relative direction or the absolute direction of a plurality of vehicles is displayed on the display unit, corresponding to the direction of the incoming radio wave coming from the portable device, the reliability information is used as a criterion for determination on the portable device side. The relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle can be recognized with high reliability.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle search system according to the first aspect, a radio wave intensity measuring unit provided in the vehicle for measuring radio wave intensity of an incoming radio wave arriving at the vehicle, and provided in the portable device. In addition to displaying the information in each direction, the gist is provided with a display means for displaying the information of the radio field intensity as reliability information in each direction by a predetermined expression means.

  According to the configuration, when the relative direction or the absolute direction of a plurality of vehicles is displayed on the display means, corresponding to the direction of the incoming radio wave coming from the portable device, the radio wave intensity of each incoming radio wave as reliability information With this information as a criterion, the relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle can be recognized with high reliability on the portable device side.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle search system according to the second aspect, the display means displays the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle as an arrow, and the radio wave intensity as the reliability information The gist is that it is displayed as the length of the arrow.

  According to this configuration, the display unit of the portable device displays the relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle corresponding to the direction of the incoming radio wave as an arrow, and the radio wave intensity of the incoming radio wave as reliability information is the length of the arrow. Therefore, on the portable device side, the relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle and the reliability of the information on each relative direction or absolute direction can be easily and surely grasped through vision.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle search system according to the second or third aspect, the display means has a maximum radio field strength among a plurality of radio waves transmitted from the portable device to the vehicle. The relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle corresponding to the information on the relative direction or absolute direction of the portable device acquired by a certain radio wave is displayed as an arrow, and the radio wave intensity with the maximum radio wave intensity is 2 The radio wave intensity ratio with the second largest radio wave is used as reliability information in the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle, and when the radio wave intensity ratio is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio, the arrow is displayed in the first color. The gist is that the arrow is displayed in the second color when the radio field intensity ratio is less than the predetermined ratio.

  According to the configuration, the display unit of the portable device has a vehicle corresponding to information on the relative direction of the portable device acquired by the radio wave having the maximum radio field intensity among the plurality of radio waves transmitted from the portable device to the vehicle. The relative direction was displayed as an arrow. Moreover, the radio wave intensity ratio between the radio wave having the maximum radio wave intensity and the radio wave having the second highest radio wave intensity is used as reliability information in the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle, and the radio wave intensity ratio is greater than or equal to a predetermined ratio. In some cases, the arrow is displayed in the first color, while when the radio wave intensity ratio is less than the predetermined ratio, the arrow is displayed in the second color. Accordingly, when the relative direction of the vehicle is displayed as an arrow of the first color on the display unit corresponding to the direction of the incoming radio wave coming from the portable device, information on each radio field strength, that is, The color can be used as a means for expressing the reliability information, and the relative direction of the vehicle can be recognized with high reliability on the portable device side.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle search system according to the fourth aspect, the display means further sets the radio wave quality having the maximum radio wave intensity as reliability information in the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle. The gist is that an image that is changed according to the quality as the reliability information is further displayed.

  According to the configuration, the quality of the radio wave having the maximum radio wave intensity is further displayed on the display unit of the portable device as reliability information in the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle, and is changed according to the quality as the reliability information. The image is further displayed as a means for expressing the reliability information. Thereby, not only the color of the arrow but also the image can recognize the reliability of the radio wave corresponding to the arrow.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle search system according to the first aspect, an absolute direction is provided in the portable device or the vehicle, and determines the coincidence between the absolute direction of the portable device and the absolute direction of the vehicle. Further, it is provided with a match judgment means, and the match information between the absolute direction of the portable device and the absolute direction of the vehicle is used as the reliability information, provided in the portable device, and the absolute direction of the portable device and the absolute direction of the vehicle. And a display means for displaying information on the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle.

  According to the configuration, reliability information is the consistency between the absolute direction of the portable device and the absolute direction of the vehicle, and the absolute direction of the portable device viewed from the vehicle matches the absolute direction of the vehicle viewed from the portable device. Sometimes, information on the relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle is displayed on the display means of the portable device. For this reason, the user of the vehicle can use the relative direction or absolute direction information of the vehicle itself as a criterion for determining the reliability of the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle displayed on the display unit. As a result, the information on the relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle displayed on the display means itself becomes a means for expressing the reliability information, and the portable device can recognize the relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle easily and reliably. become able to.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the vehicle search system according to the sixth aspect, wherein when the absolute direction of the portable device matches the absolute direction of the vehicle, the display means While displaying the absolute direction as an arrow and displaying the image of the vehicle at the tip area of the arrow, when the absolute direction of the portable device does not match the absolute direction of the vehicle, the image of the vehicle is not displayed. The gist is that only the arrow is displayed.

  According to this configuration, when the display unit of the portable device matches the absolute direction of the portable device and the absolute direction of the vehicle, the relative direction or the absolute direction of the portable device is displayed as an arrow and the tip region of the arrow is trusted. Since the vehicle image is displayed as the sex information expression means, when the relative direction of the portable device does not match the relative direction of the vehicle, only the arrow is displayed without displaying the vehicle image. On the side, the correct relative direction of the vehicle can be grasped easily and reliably through vision.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the vehicle search system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the vehicle and portable device relative direction detection means is an adaptive array antenna. To do.

  According to this configuration, the directional beam can be freely controlled by adjusting the amplitude or phase of radio waves input from multiple antenna elements, and the arrival direction of radio waves can be detected by creating various directivities. An array antenna is used as a relative direction detection means provided in the vehicle. For this reason, the arrival direction of the radio wave, that is, the relative direction of the portable device viewed from the vehicle can be detected easily and reliably. In addition, since the adaptive array antenna can be estimated by concentrating it at one location of the vehicle, the configuration of the relative direction detecting means can be simplified.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the vehicle search system which can search the direction of a vehicle under high reliability can be provided by using the reliability information of this information with the information on the direction of a vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
<Overall configuration of vehicle search system 1>
As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle search system 1 according to this embodiment includes a portable device 2 possessed by a user of a vehicle 3 and in-vehicle communication that is mounted on the vehicle 3 and performs wireless communication with the portable device 2. The apparatus 3a is comprised. Here, examples of the portable device 2 include a radio wave key that exclusively functions as a key of the vehicle 3 and a cellular phone key that combines the key of the vehicle 3 and the cellular phone. A cellular phone key is assumed (see FIG. 7).

  The portable device 2 transmits a radio wave (ID code signal or the like) to the in-vehicle communication device 3a via the antenna 23a, and a radio wave (request signal or the like) transmitted from the in-vehicle communication device 3a to the antenna 24a. And a portable device side control unit 21 that is electrically connected to the transmission circuit 23 and the reception circuit 24 and controls the transmission / reception state of both the circuits 23 and 24. Here, the ID code signal and the request signal are transmitted and received between the portable device 2 and the vehicle 3 for ID code authentication.

  The portable device side controller 21 is electrically connected to an unlocking switch 27 and a locking switch 28 that are provided in the portable device 2 and are operated to remotely lock and unlock the door of the vehicle 3. The portable device side controller 21 is further electrically connected to a search request switch 26 that is provided in the portable device 2 and transmits predetermined information to be described later from the in-vehicle communication device 3a. The portable device-side control unit 21 further includes an electronic compass 22 provided as a first absolute azimuth detecting means for detecting the absolute azimuth as viewed from the portable device 2 and predetermined information described later. A display unit 25 as display means for displaying is electrically connected. Here, the display unit 25 is configured by a small liquid crystal panel device.

  And the said portable device side control part 21 memorize | stored the required data while storing the control program which controls each operation | movement of each said circuits 23 and 24, each switch 26-28, the display part 25, and the electronic compass 22. A memory 21a is provided.

  On the other hand, the in-vehicle communication device 3a directly transmits a radio wave (request signal or the like) to the portable device 2 via the antenna 34a and a radio wave (ID code signal or the like) transmitted from the portable device 2. Mobile device relative direction detecting means for detecting the relative direction of the portable device 2 as viewed from the vehicle 3 and the incoming radio wave arriving at the vehicle 3 including the radio waves directly transmitted from the portable device 2 An adaptive array antenna (array antenna) 33a (antenna element # 1, ..., antenna element #k, ..., antenna element #K) and an adaptive array antenna 33d (antenna element # 1, antenna elements) as radio wave intensity measuring means for measuring radio wave intensity ..., antenna elements #k, ..., antenna elements #K), and a receiving circuit 33 that receives the radio waves via the adaptive array antennas 33a and 33d; It is electrically connected to the transmitting circuit 34 and receiving circuit 33, and a vehicle-side control unit 31 for controlling the transmission and reception state of the two circuits 34 and 33.

  The vehicle-side control unit 31 is further provided in the in-vehicle communication device 3a, and is provided in the vehicle 3 as an electronic compass 32 as second absolute direction detection means for detecting the absolute direction viewed from the vehicle 3, and A door lock device 35 for controlling the locking / unlocking state of a door locking / unlocking device 3 (not shown) is electrically connected.

  The vehicle-side control unit 31 stores a control program for controlling the operations of the circuits 33 and 34, the door lock device 35, and the electronic compass 32, and includes a memory 31a that stores necessary data. .

<Configuration of Adaptive Array Antennas 33a and 33d>
Each of the adaptive array antennas 33a and 33d is configured by K (plural) antenna elements with reference to FIG. Specifically, the antenna elements # 1,..., Antenna elements #k,..., And antenna elements #K (K ≧ k ≧ 2) are arranged linearly at equal intervals. Each of the adaptive array antennas 33a and 33d is scanned only in an angular range of 180 °, and the direction of the 360 ° range (all directions) is scanned in a complementary manner. Since the array antennas 33a and 33d have the same structure except for the scanning range as described above, the description of the corresponding portions will be omitted, and only the adaptive array antenna 33a will be described below.

The antenna elements # 1,..., #K,..., #K respectively output the outputs from the antenna elements # 1 to #K via the phase adjustment circuits δ1,. It is electrically connected to an adder 33b that performs addition through a predetermined process using δ1 to δK. The adder 33b controls the phase adjustment circuits δ1 to δK on the basis of the added output and weighting coefficients w _{1 to} w _K described later to direct the directivities of the antenna elements # 1 to #K. Phase weighting control means 33c for aligning the beam phase to a predetermined angle θ (−90 ° ≦ θ ≦ 90 °) is electrically connected. The phase adjusting circuits δ1 to δK, the adder 33b, and the phase weighting control means 33c exist for each of the array antennas 33a and 33d, and constitute a part of the receiving circuit 33 described above. These operations are controlled by the control program stored in the memory 31a.

<Radio direction detection method>
The vehicle search system 1 of the present embodiment is configured as described above. Hereinafter, a method for detecting the arrival direction of radio waves by the vehicle search system 1 will be described. Here, as a method for detecting the direction of arrival of radio waves, a beamformer method that performs spatial operation with a directional beam is used. The beamformer method scans the main beam of an adaptive array antenna 33a (33d), which is a uniform excitation array antenna, in the direction of 180 ° [direction of (−90 ° ≦ θ ≦ 90 °)], and its output power. This is a method of searching for a direction in which becomes larger.

As shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that radio waves (plane waves) are coming from the direction of angle θ (−90 ° ≦ θ ≦ 90 °). In the figure, x _k (t) (k = 1, 2,..., K) is an adaptive array that is also a radio wave arrival direction estimating means in addition to the portable device relative direction detecting means and the radio wave intensity measuring means. The received signal at time t by the antenna 33a, w _k (k = 1, 2,..., K) is a weighting coefficient at each antenna element #k (k = 1, 2,..., K), d _k (k = 1). , 2,..., K) are k (k = 1, 2,..., K) -th antenna elements #k (k = 1) measured from the reference point P (reference point P on the baseline) shown in FIG. , 2,..., K) respectively.

In this case, the output y (t) (t: time) from the adaptive array antenna 33a (each antenna element # 1 to #K) via the adder 33b is expressed by the following equation (1).
[Equation 1]
y (t) = W ^H · X (t) (1)
Here, X (t) = [x ₁ (t), x ₂ (t),..., X _K (t)] ^T , W (weight vector) = [w ₁ , w ₂ ,..., W _K ] ^T Where the subscript H indicates complex conjugate transpose and the subscript T indicates transpose.

Then, the output power P _out of the adaptive array antenna 33a is given by the following expression (2).
[Equation 2]
P _out = 0.5 · E [| y (t) | ² ] = 0.5 · W ^H · R _xx · W Equation (2)
Here, R _xx (autocorrelation matrix) = E [X (t) · X ^H (t)] (E [] means taking an average of values sampled in time series). Then, the weighting factors w _k (k = k =) are set according to a common phase condition for aligning the phases so that the main beams of the adaptive array antennas 33a (the antenna elements # 1 to #K) are in phase so as to be directed to the angle θ. 1, 2,..., K) are set as in the following equation (3).
[Equation 3]
w _k = exp (−j · 2π / λ · d _k · sin θ) (k = 1, 2,..., K) Equation (3)
Next, the angle θ is changed from −90 ° to 90 °, and the peak of the output power P _out (θ) of the adaptive array antenna 33a is searched.

Since the weight vector W composed of the weighting coefficients w _k (k = 1, 2,..., K) shown in the above equation (3) is expressed as a mode vector a (θ) with the angle θ as a variable, (4) is established.
[Equation 4]
W = a (θ) = [exp (−j · 2π / λ · d ₁ · sin θ),..., Exp (−j · 2π / λ · d _K · sin θ)] Equation (4)
Then, the output power P _out (θ) of the adaptive array antenna 33a is expressed by the following equation (5) from the above equation (2).
[Equation 5]
P _out (θ) = 0.5 · a ^H (θ) · R _xx · a (θ) (5)
Therefore, the angle distribution (angle spectrum) P _BF (θ) according to the present beam former method is obtained as the following expression (6) by normalizing the output power P _out (θ).
[Equation 6]
P _BF (θ) = P _out / (a ^H (θ) · a (θ) / 2)
= A ^H (θ) · R _xx · a (θ) / a ^H (θ) · a (θ) (6)
In the above equation (6), the arrival direction of the radio wave is detected from the angle position θp (−90 ° ≦ θp ≦ 90 °) of the peak of P _BF (θ) when the angle θ is changed from −90 ° to 90 °. Is done.

<Relative direction search method for vehicle 3>
Hereinafter, a method for searching for the relative direction of the vehicle 3 viewed from the portable device 2 by the vehicle search system 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, regarding the positional relationship between the portable device 2 possessed by the user of the vehicle 3 and the vehicle 3, the vehicle 3 is located in the east direction as viewed from the portable device 2, that is, The state where the portable device 2 is located in the west direction as viewed from the vehicle 3 is set. Here, the portable device 2 is provided with the antenna 23a, and the vehicle 3 is provided with the vehicle-side control unit 31, the electronic compass 32 and the adaptive array antenna 33a that are electrically connected to the vehicle-side control unit 31. (33d) is provided.

Referring to FIG. 4, first, the search request switch 26 (see FIG. 7) is operated to search (detect) the relative direction of the portable device 2 viewed from the vehicle 3 toward the vehicle 3. A search request signal for transmitting the request is transmitted. Then, the vehicle 3 uses the adaptive array antenna 33a to detect the arrival direction of the search request signal (radio wave), that is, the relative direction β1 of the portable device 2 viewed from the vehicle 3 by using the above-described radio wave arrival direction detection method. 5) is detected, and the vehicle-side control unit 31 calculates the calculation result based on the calculation expression of P _out = 0.5 · E [| y (t) | ² ] in Expression 2 described above. from there the output power _{P out,} the radio wave intensity Ea [dBm] is the fact that in almost proportional to _{P out,} the radio field intensity Ea of the search request signal (radio wave) is estimated. Various information such as the relative direction β1 of the portable device 2 and the radio wave intensity Ea is transmitted to the vehicle-side control unit 31 electrically connected to the array antenna 33a. Here, in addition to the original search request signal, the search request signal is also received by the adaptive array antenna 33a of the vehicle 3 as a reflected wave (see FIG. 7) reflected by an obstacle such as a building or the ground. For each radio wave of the search request signal and its reflected wave, the relative direction β1 of the portable device 2 is detected, and the radio wave intensity Ea is estimated. In addition to displaying information on the relative direction β2 (see FIG. 5) of the vehicle 3 calculated by a method described later based on the relative direction β1 of the portable device 2, the information is displayed on the display unit 25 of the portable device 2. The information of the radio field intensity Ea is displayed on the display unit 25 by a predetermined expression means.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in the same vehicle 3, information on the relative direction β <b> 1 of the portable device 2 and the absolute value viewed from the vehicle 3 detected by the electronic compass 32. By using information on the azimuth (north azimuth) α2 (see (b-i) in FIG. 5B), the vehicle-side control unit as a portable machine absolute direction calculating means electrically connected to the electronic compass 32 31, the absolute direction of the portable device 2 viewed from the vehicle 3, that is, the relative direction β 1 of the portable device 2 viewed from the vehicle 3 mapped on the azimuth coordinates 100 based on the four directions of east, west, south, and north is calculated. And the radio field intensity Ea is estimated (see (b-ii) in FIG. 5B).

Thereafter, information on the absolute direction of the portable device 2 is transmitted from the vehicle 3 to the portable device 2 as a portable device absolute direction information signal and a radio wave intensity signal (see (a-ii) in FIGS. 4 and 5A). ).
In the portable device 2, information on the absolute direction of the portable device 2 transmitted from the vehicle 3 and information on the absolute direction (north direction) α1 viewed from the portable device 2 detected by the electronic compass 22 (see FIG. 5 (a) (see (a-i)) by the portable device side control unit 21 (see FIG. 1) as vehicle direction calculation means electrically connected to the electronic compass 22 The relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 viewed from 2 (which is 180 ° opposite to the relative direction β1 of the portable device 2) and the radio wave intensity Ea are calculated (see (a-iii) in FIG. 5A).

  Thereby, in the portable device 2, the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 viewed from the portable device 2 is acquired, and further, as shown in (a-iii) of FIG. Information on the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 is converted into image information indicated by an arrow (β2) pointing in the direction of the radio wave, and an image indicated by the arrow (β2) is electrically connected to the control unit 21. 25 (see FIGS. 1 and 7), the length is displayed in proportion to the radio field intensity Ea.

  5 (a) and 5 (b), only the detection method of the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 by the search request signal (radio wave) and the estimation method of the radio wave intensity Ea have been described. Similarly, the reflected wave of the search request signal is regarded as information on the absolute direction of the portable device 2 in the vehicle-side control unit 31. And it transmits to the portable device 2 from the vehicle 3 as a portable device absolute direction information signal and a radio wave intensity signal.

<Operation Flow of Vehicle Search System 1>
Hereinafter, the operation of the vehicle search system 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

  First, in the reception standby state of step S11, as shown in FIG. 7, the operation of the search request switch 26 of the portable device 2 is directed toward the vehicle 3 from the portable device 2 and relative to the portable device 2 viewed from the vehicle 3. A search request signal for searching (detecting) the direction is transmitted (see FIG. 4). 7 is a mobile phone key, and a search request switch 26, an unlock switch 27, a lock switch 28, and a plurality of input buttons 29,... ing.

  Then, in step S12, when a search request signal (radio wave) is received by the adaptive array antennas 33a and 33d (see FIGS. 1 to 3) of the vehicle 3 (in the case of “Y”), the process proceeds to step S13 and received. When not performed (in the case of “N”), the reception standby state in step S11 is maintained.

  In the subsequent step S13, the arrival direction of the search request signal as a direct wave is detected in the vehicle 3 using the above-described radio wave arrival direction detection method, that is, relative to the portable device 2 viewed from the vehicle 3 based on the search request signal. The direction β1, the arrival directions of the reflected wave a and the reflected wave b of the search request signal reflected by the building A and the building B, respectively, that is, the relative direction of the portable device 2 based on the reflected wave a and the reflected wave b are detected. Is done.

In addition the step S14, the adaptive array antenna 33a of the vehicle 3 based on the output power _{P out} of the 33d, the radio wave intensity Ea of the search request signal, and radio field intensity Ea of the reflected wave a and reflected wave b of the search request signal is estimated Is done.

  In step S15, in addition to the information on the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 being displayed on the display unit 25 of the portable device 2 in the portable device 2, the information on the radio field intensity Ea is included in the information as a predetermined expression means. Is displayed on the display unit 25. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 is converted into image information of an arrow (β2) pointing in the direction, and the image of the arrow (β2) is displayed on a point O on the display unit 25. Is displayed on the display unit 25 as a length proportional to the radio wave intensity Ea. At this time, the relative direction β12 of the portable device 2 and the relative direction β13 of the portable device 2 corresponding to the arrival directions of the reflected wave a and the reflected wave b of the search request signal are also arrows having lengths proportional to the radio field intensity Ea (β12). , Β13) is displayed with the point O as the center. In this case, each arrow (β2, β12, β13) corresponding to the relative direction β2, the relative direction β12, and the relative direction β13 of the portable device 2 has a length corresponding to the radio wave intensity Ea of each incoming radio wave. As shown, the length of the arrow (β2)> the length of the arrow (β12)> the length of the arrow (β13).

  Here, the portable device-side control unit 21 determines whether or not the incoming radio wave arriving at the vehicle 3 has a radio field intensity Ea exceeding a predetermined threshold Eth, The display unit 25 is configured to be displayed as arrows (β2, β12, β13).

  Thus, the relative direction β2 of the portable device 2 based on the search request signal as a direct wave that should be received by the in-vehicle communication device 3a of the vehicle 3 is displayed as the longest arrow (β2), and the search request The arrows (β12, β13) corresponding to the relative direction β12 of the portable device 2 and the relative direction β13 of the portable device 2 due to the reflected wave a and the reflected wave b of the signal are displayed with a shorter length than the arrow (β2). The Thereby, when the relative directions β2, β12, β13 of the plurality of vehicles 3 are displayed on the display unit 25 as arrows (β2, β12, β13), information on the radio wave intensity Ea of each incoming radio wave, that is, each arrow Using the length of (β2, β12, β13) as an expression means, the mobile device 2 side can accurately recognize the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 with high reliability. Furthermore, since the interference effect on the relative direction search of the vehicle 3 due to the reflected wave a and the reflected wave b of the search request signal increases as the portable device 2 moves away from the vehicle 3, the separation distance between the portable device 2 and the vehicle 3 The reliability of the vehicle 3 in the relative direction β2 can be further improved by increasing the number of searches by the search request signal while appropriately changing the relative position.

According to the vehicle search system 1 of the present embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained.
(1) In the case where the adaptive array antennas 33a and 33d are provided in the vehicle 3, detected based on the search request signal (radio wave), the reflected wave a, and the reflected wave b transmitted from the portable device 2. The relative direction β2, the relative direction β12, and the relative direction β13 of the vehicle 3 as viewed from the portable device 2 are displayed on the display unit 25 of the portable device 2 with arrows (β2, β12, β13) together with information on each radio wave intensity Ea of the incoming radio wave. And the length of each arrow (β2, β12, β13) is displayed in proportion to the radio wave intensity Ea. Therefore, the user of the vehicle 3 determines whether any one of a plurality of incoming radio waves displayed on the display unit 25 as the relative direction of the vehicle 3 indicates the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 accurately. The information of the radio field intensity Ea can be used as a reliability criterion, that is, reliability information in the relative direction β2 or absolute direction of the vehicle 3. Accordingly, when the relative directions β2, β12, β13 of the plurality of vehicles 3 are displayed on the display unit 25 as arrows (β2, β12, β13) corresponding to the directions of the incoming radio waves arriving from the portable device 2, Information on the radio wave intensity Ea of each incoming radio wave as the reliability information, that is, the lengths of the arrows (β2, β12, β13) are displayed as a means for expressing the reliability information. Relative direction β2 can be recognized with high reliability.

  (2) The display unit 25 of the portable device 2 displays the relative direction of the vehicle 3 corresponding to the direction of the incoming radio wave as arrows (β2, β12, β13), and the radio wave intensity Ea of the incoming radio wave as the reliability information Is displayed as the means for expressing the reliability information, the relative direction of the vehicle 3 and the relative direction of the vehicle 3 are displayed on the portable device 2 side. The reliability of information can be grasped easily and reliably through vision.

  (3) Adaptively controlling the directional beam by adjusting the phase of radio waves input from the plurality of antenna elements # 1 to #K, and detecting the direction of arrival of radio waves by creating various directivities The array antennas 33 a and 33 d are used as portable device relative direction detection means provided in the vehicle 3. For this reason, the arrival direction of the radio wave, that is, the relative direction β1 of the portable device 2 viewed from the vehicle 3 can be detected easily and reliably. In addition, since the adaptive array antennas 33a and 33d are provided in one place on the vehicle 3, the arrival direction of radio waves can be detected, so that the configuration of the portable device relative direction detection means can be simplified.

[Second Embodiment]
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the vehicle search system 1 a according to the present embodiment includes an error correction unit 33 e and a quality evaluation between the receiving circuit 33 and the vehicle-side control unit 31 in the in-vehicle communication device 3 a provided in the vehicle 3. Since the configuration is the same as that of the vehicle search system 1 of the first embodiment except that the unit 33f is connected in parallel, the corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and hereinafter the first embodiment. A different part from a form is demonstrated.

  The error correction unit 33e receives the radio signal X transmitted from the portable device 2 toward the vehicle 3 and encoded with a Hamming code via the adaptive array antennas 33a and 33d and the reception circuit 33, and the radio signal Bit error (sign error) is determined by multiplying X by a check matrix H, and error correction processing is performed to correct the error based on the determination result, and the radio signal Y after error correction is controlled on the vehicle side. To the unit 31 and the quality evaluation unit 33f. The quality evaluation unit 33f calculates a difference signal Z (Z = X−Y) between the radio signal X before error correction and the radio signal Y after error correction, and a bit which is a basic unit of the amount of information included in Z is calculated. The error rate (code error rate) is calculated by dividing the total number of points equal to 1 by the total number of bits of the radio signals X and Y. If the error rate exceeds a predetermined threshold, the quality of the received radio wave is In other cases, it is determined that the quality of the received radio wave is good, and a quality evaluation result signal as a result of the quality evaluation of the radio wave is output to the vehicle-side control unit 31.

  In the present embodiment, the display unit 25 of the portable device 2 is controlled by the portable device-side control unit 21, and among the plurality of radio waves transmitted from the portable device 2 to the vehicle 3, the radio wave having the maximum radio field intensity Ea (here) Then, the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 obtained from the information of the relative direction β1 of the portable device 2 corresponding to the search request signal is displayed as an arrow (β2), and the quality of the radio wave that carries the search request signal It is configured to display an antenna image 25a (see FIG. 10) that is changed according to the above.

  In addition, the display unit 25 is controlled by the portable device-side control unit 21, and the search request signal having the maximum radio field intensity Ea and the radio wave having the second highest radio field intensity Ea (here, the reflected wave a When the ratio of the radio wave intensity to the radio wave based on the above is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio (here, 1.2), the arrow (β2) is displayed in red as the first color. On the other hand, when the radio field intensity ratio is less than the predetermined ratio, the arrow (β2) is displayed in blue as the second color.

  In the present embodiment, only the incoming radio waves that are controlled by the portable device control unit 21 and arrive at the vehicle 3 whose radio field intensity Ea exceeds a predetermined threshold Eth are indicated on the display unit 25 of the portable device 2 by arrows. It is configured to be displayed as (β2).

<Operation Flow of Vehicle Search System 1a>
Hereinafter, the operation of the vehicle search system 1a will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9 and FIG. Here, it is assumed that the portable device 2 is in the same state as that shown in FIG.

Here, Steps S21 to S24 are the same as Steps S11 to S14 of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
And in step S25, in addition to the information of the relative direction of the vehicle 3 being displayed on the display part 25 of the portable device 2 which is controlled by the portable device side control unit 21 in the portable device 2, the radio wave intensity is added to the information. Information of Ea is displayed on the display unit 25 by a predetermined expression means. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 is converted into image information of an arrow (β2) pointing in the direction, and an image of the arrow (β2) is displayed on the display unit 25. Here, the radio wave having the maximum radio field intensity Ea is a search request signal corresponding to the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3, and the search request signal having the maximum radio field intensity Ea and the second radio field intensity Ea are the second. Assuming that a large radio wave is a reflected wave a, the radio wave intensity ratio with respect to the reflected wave a (see FIG. 7) is equal to or greater than the predetermined ratio (here, 1.2). Therefore, the arrow (β2) is displayed in red as the first color.

  In this step S25, the radio field intensity ratio between the search request signal whose radio field intensity Ea is the maximum radio wave and the reflected wave a (see FIG. 7) whose radio field intensity Ea is the second largest radio wave is the predetermined value. When the ratio is less than the ratio (specifically, more than 1.0 and less than 1.2), the arrow (β2) is displayed in blue as the second color.

  Further, in step S25, an antenna image 25a that is changed according to the quality of the search request signal whose radio field intensity Ea is the maximum radio wave is displayed on the display unit 25 of the portable device 2. Specifically, the portable device side control unit 21 transmits an information signal corresponding to the quality evaluation result signal output from the in-vehicle communication device 3 a to the vehicle side control unit 31 via wireless communication between the vehicle 3 and the portable device 2. If the quality of the radio wave is evaluated to be the best based on the information signal, all three display bars 25a1, 25a2, and 25a3 of the antenna image 25a are turned on. The display bars 25a1, 25a2, and 25a3 are sequentially turned off with the decrease. Specifically, when the quality is the best: all of the display bars 25a1, 25a2, and 25a3 are lit (see (i) in α in FIG. 10), and when the quality is medium: the display bars 25a1, 25a2 are lit (see FIG. When the quality is low: the display bar 25a1 is lit (see (iii) in α in FIG. 10).

According to the vehicle search system 1a of the present embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained.
(4) The display unit 25 of the portable device 2 uses the information on the relative direction β1 of the portable device 2 acquired by the radio wave having the maximum radio field intensity Ea among the plurality of radio waves transmitted from the portable device 2 to the vehicle 3. The relative direction β2 of the corresponding vehicle 3 is displayed as an arrow (β2). Moreover, the radio field intensity ratio between the radio wave with the maximum radio field intensity Ea and the radio wave with the second highest radio field intensity Ea is used as reliability information in the relative direction β2 or the absolute direction of the vehicle 3, and the radio field intensity ratio is predetermined. When the ratio is greater than or equal to the ratio, the arrow (β2) is displayed in red as the first color, while when the radio field intensity ratio is less than the predetermined ratio, the arrow (β2) is displayed as the second arrow. Displayed in blue, which is the color of. Accordingly, when the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 is displayed as a red arrow (β2) on the display unit 25 corresponding to the direction of the incoming radio wave coming from the portable device 2, information on each radio wave intensity Ea, that is, The color of each arrow (β2) can be used as a means for expressing the reliability information, and the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 can be recognized with high reliability on the portable device 2 side.

  (5) On the display unit 25 of the portable device 2, the quality of the radio wave having the maximum radio wave intensity Ea is further set as reliability information in the relative direction β2 or the absolute direction of the vehicle, and is changed according to the quality as the reliability information. The antenna image 25a to be displayed is displayed as a means for expressing the reliability information. Thereby, not only the color of the arrow (β2) but also the reliability of the radio wave corresponding to the arrow (β2) can be recognized not only by the antenna image 25a.

[Third Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 11, in the vehicle search system 1 b of this embodiment, the antenna 24 a of the receiving circuit 24 of the portable device 2 in the vehicle search system 1 of the first embodiment is the same as the adaptive array antennas 33 a and 33 d of the vehicle 3. The configuration is the same as that of the vehicle search system 1 of the first embodiment except that it is replaced by the adaptive array antennas 24b and 24c that function as vehicle relative direction detection means. In the following, different points from the first embodiment will be described.

<Operation Flow of Vehicle Search System 1b>
Hereinafter, the operation of the vehicle search system 1b will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 12 and FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b). Here, it is assumed that the portable device 2 is in the same state as that shown in FIG.

  First, in the reception standby state in step S31, as shown in FIG. 13A, by operating the search request switch 26 of the portable device 2, the portable device viewed from the vehicle 3 toward the vehicle 3 from the portable device 2. A search request signal for searching (detecting) the relative direction of 2 is transmitted. At this time, a request signal for transmitting an ID code signal from the portable device to the portable device 2 is intermittently transmitted from the vehicle 3.

  Then, in step S32, as shown in FIG. 13A, the search request signal as an incoming radio wave is received by the adaptive array antennas 33a and 33d of the vehicle 3, and the adaptive array antennas 24b and 24c of the portable device 2 are received. Thus, when a request signal as an incoming radio wave is received (in the case of “Y”), the process proceeds to step S33, and when it is not received (in the case of “N”), the reception standby state in step S31 is maintained.

  In the subsequent step S33, the arrival direction of the search request signal as a direct wave is detected in the vehicle 3 using the above-described radio wave arrival direction detection method, that is, relative to the portable device 2 viewed from the vehicle 3 based on the search request signal. Mobile device 2 based on direction β1, arrival directions of reflected wave a and reflected wave b (see FIG. 7) of the search request signal reflected by building A and building B, respectively, that is, reflected wave a and reflected wave b The relative direction of is detected. From the relative directions, the absolute direction of the portable device 2 is calculated and acquired by the vehicle-side control unit 31 on the vehicle 3 side. On the other hand, on the portable device 2 side, the arrival direction of the request signal transmitted from the vehicle 3 to the portable device 2 by the adaptive array antennas 24b and 24c using the above-described radio wave arrival direction detection method, that is, based on the request signal. The relative direction of the vehicle 3 is detected based on the reflected wave of the request signal reflected by an obstacle such as a building or an obstacle such as a building or the ground.

In addition the step S34, the adaptive array antenna 33a of the vehicle 3, 33d output power _{P out} of, and adaptive array antenna 24b of the portable device 2, based on the output power _{P out} of 24c, the radio wave search request signal and the request signal The intensity Ea and the radio wave intensity Ea of the reflected wave of the search request signal and the request signal are estimated. In the vehicle 3 and the portable device 2, the vehicle-side control unit 31 and the portable device-side control unit 21 cause the relative direction β1 of the portable device 2 and the relative direction β23 of the vehicle 3 corresponding to the radio wave having the maximum radio wave intensity Ea. Only be sorted out. On the portable device 2 side, the absolute direction of the vehicle 3 is calculated and acquired by the portable device-side control unit 21 based on the relative direction β23 of the vehicle 3. On the other hand, on the vehicle 3 side, the absolute direction of the portable device 2 is calculated and acquired by the vehicle-side control unit 31 based on the relative direction β1 of the portable device 2. And it transmits to the portable device 2 from the vehicle 3 as a portable device absolute direction information signal.

  In the following step S35, in the portable device side control unit 21 of the portable device 2 as the absolute direction matching judgment means, the absolute direction of the portable device 2 viewed from the vehicle 3 and the portable device 2 obtained from the portable device 2, and The absolute directions of the vehicle 3 are compared, and the coincidence of both absolute directions is determined. Specifically, the adaptive array antennas 33a and 33d and the vehicle-side control unit 31 of the vehicle 3 are larger and have better performance than the adaptive array antennas 24b and 24c and the portable-device control unit 21 of the portable device 2. . For this reason, the relative direction β1 of the portable device 2 is detected by the adaptive array antennas 33a and 33d of the vehicle 3, and the absolute direction of the portable device 2 calculated by the vehicle-side control unit 31 based on the information of the relative direction β1. However, the relative direction β23 of the vehicle 3 is detected by the adaptive array antennas 24b and 24c of the portable device 2, and is more accurate than the absolute direction of the vehicle 3 calculated by the portable device-side control unit 21 based on the information of the relative direction β23. Is considered high. Therefore, in the portable device side control unit 21, the absolute direction of the vehicle 3 calculated by the portable device side control unit 21 from the absolute direction of the portable device 2 acquired in the vehicle 3 is set as a reference direction, and the portable device from the reference direction is used. Whether the deviation of the angle θ (radiation angle θ) of the absolute direction of the vehicle 3 directly acquired on the machine 2 side is within a predetermined angle range (for example, 0 [deg] ≦ θ ≦ 3 [deg]) Is judged. If the angle deviation in both absolute directions is within the predetermined angle range, it is determined that they are matched (in the case of “Y”), the process proceeds to step S36, and the angle deviation in both absolute directions is detected. If it is outside the predetermined angle range, it is determined that they do not match (in the case of “N”), and the process proceeds to step S37.

  In step S36, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), the display unit 25 of the portable device 2 displays the relative direction β2 of the portable device 2 as an arrow (β2) and displays the vehicle 3 in the tip region of the arrow (β2). The image 25b is displayed. In this case, it is assumed that the vehicle 3 is receiving a search request signal as a direct wave from the portable device 2 with good sensitivity.

  On the other hand, in step S37, as shown in FIG. 13B, the display unit 25 displays only the relative direction β23 of the vehicle 3 as an arrow (β23) without displaying the image 25b of the vehicle 3. In this case, for example, it is assumed that the vehicle 3 is receiving the reflected wave a of the search request signal from the building A from the portable device 2.

According to the vehicle search system 1c of the present embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained.
(6) The consistency between the absolute direction of the portable device 2 and the absolute direction of the vehicle 3 is used as reliability information, and the absolute direction of the portable device 2 viewed from the vehicle 3 and the absolute direction of the vehicle 3 viewed from the portable device 2 Is matched, information on the relative direction of the vehicle 3 is displayed on the display unit 25 of the portable device 2. For this reason, the user of the vehicle 3 can use the relative direction information itself of the vehicle 3 as a criterion for determining the reliability of the relative direction of the vehicle 3 displayed on the display unit 25. Thereby, the information itself (arrow (β2)) of the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 displayed on the display unit 25 becomes a means for expressing the reliability information, and the relative direction of the vehicle 3 can be easily and reliably displayed on the portable device 2 side. You will be able to recognize higher.

  (7) When the display unit 25 of the portable device 2 matches the absolute direction of the portable device 2 and the absolute direction of the vehicle 3, the relative direction β2 of the portable device 2 is displayed as an arrow (β2) and the arrow (β2 When the absolute direction of the portable device 2 and the absolute direction of the vehicle 3 do not coincide with each other, the image 25b of the vehicle 3 is displayed. Since only the arrow (β23) is displayed instead, the accurate relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 can be easily and reliably grasped visually through the portable device 2 side.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows.
In each of the above-described embodiments, the two adaptive array antennas 33a and 33d are configured by the antenna elements # 1 to #K arranged at equal intervals in a linear shape (linear). It is also possible to comprise a plurality of arrayed antenna elements. Thereby, it is possible to scan a radio wave (plane wave) coming from a 360 ° range direction (omnidirectional) [(−180 ° ≦ θ ≦ 180 °)] with a single adaptive array antenna.

  In each of the above embodiments, based on the information on the absolute direction of the portable device 2 viewed from the vehicle 3 transmitted from the vehicle 3 to the portable device 2 and the information on the absolute orientation viewed from the portable device 2, the portable device The vehicle search systems 1, 1a, 1b are configured to calculate the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 viewed from 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and based on the same information, the absolute direction of the vehicle 3 viewed from the portable device 2, that is, viewed from the portable device 2 mapped on the azimuth coordinates 101 based on the four directions of east, west, south, and north It is also possible to change the control program so that the portable device-side control unit 21 calculates the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 (see the portion A surrounded by the broken line in FIG. 5A). According to this configuration, the user of the vehicle 3 can further accurately grasp the direction of the vehicle 3 viewed from the portable device 2 based on the information on the absolute direction of east, west, north, and south.

  In each of the above embodiments, the beam former method is used as a method for detecting the arrival direction of radio waves using the adaptive array antennas 33a and 33d. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various methods such as Capon method, MUSIC (Multiple Signal Classification: Music) method with higher angular resolution, and ESPRIT (Estimation of Signal Parameters via Rotational Invariance Techniques: Esprit) method may be used.

  In each of the above embodiments, an electronic compass is used as the first absolute azimuth detecting unit and the second absolute azimuth detecting unit. However, the first absolute azimuth detecting unit and the second absolute azimuth detecting unit are not limited to this. A GPS (Global Positioning System) device already provided in the portable device 2 or the vehicle 3 can also be used.

  In each of the above embodiments, the vehicle 3 calculates the absolute direction of the portable device 2 viewed from the vehicle 3 based on the information on the relative direction of the portable device 2 and the information on the absolute orientation viewed from the vehicle 3. A vehicle-side control unit 31 (portable device absolute direction calculating means) is provided. On the other hand, the portable device 2 includes the information on the absolute direction of the portable device 2 transmitted from the vehicle 3 to the portable device 2 and the portable device detected by the electronic compass 22 (first absolute azimuth detecting means). On the basis of the information on the absolute direction viewed from the portable device 2, a portable device-side control unit 21 (vehicle direction calculating means) that calculates the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle 3 viewed from the portable device 2 is provided. Information on the direction of the vehicle 3 viewed from the portable device 2 is acquired on the second side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the vehicle-side control unit 31 of the vehicle 3 is used as vehicle absolute direction calculation means. Based on the information on the relative direction of the portable device 2 and the information on the absolute direction viewed from the vehicle 3, the portable device 2 While calculating the absolute direction of the vehicle 3 viewed, information on the absolute direction of the vehicle 3 (at this stage, the direction of the vehicle 3 viewed from the portable device 2 is not determined in the portable device 2). Wireless transmission is performed from the vehicle 3 to the portable device 2. And based on the said information and the information of the absolute azimuth | direction seen from the said portable device 2 detected by the electronic compass 22 (1st absolute azimuth | direction detection means), the vehicle 3 seen from the said portable device 2 on the portable device 2 side. Information related to the direction, that is, the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle 3 is calculated by the portable device side control unit 21 (at this stage, the direction of the vehicle 3 viewed from the portable device 2 is determined in the portable device 2). It is also possible to obtain (display) (at this time, the absolute direction of the vehicle 3 is calculated to be 180 ° opposite to the absolute direction of the portable device 2 calculated in the above embodiment). . In this case, the same effect as the above embodiment can be obtained.

  In each of the above embodiments, the reflected wave a and the reflected wave b of the search request signal are assumed as radio waves that hinder the relative direction search of the vehicle 3 by the portable device 2, but are not limited thereto, and the same kind of portable device 2 or Of course, it is possible to assume radio waves in the same frequency band transmitted from the vehicle 3 and radio waves in the same frequency band transmitted from general buildings.

  In the first and second embodiments, the adaptive array antennas 33a and 33d as the relative direction detecting means for detecting the relative direction of the portable device 2 viewed from the vehicle 3 are provided only in the vehicle 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the adaptive array antennas 24 b and 24 c are provided in the portable device 2, as shown in FIG. 14, for example, information on the relative direction of the vehicle 3 viewed from the portable device 2 and from the portable device 2. Based on the absolute azimuth information, the portable device-side control unit 21 of the portable device 2 calculates the absolute direction of the vehicle 3 viewed from the portable device 2, and the relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle 3 as necessary. Can be configured to be displayed on the display unit 25 as an arrow, for example.

  In the first embodiment, the reliability information in the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle is used as information on the radio wave intensity Ea, and each of the arrows (β2, β12, β13) is used as a means for expressing the reliability information. Length was used. In the second embodiment, the reliability information in the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle is obtained by using the radio field intensity ratio and the radio field intensity Ea of the radio wave having the maximum radio field intensity Ea and the radio wave having the second highest radio field intensity Ea. And the color of each arrow (β2) and the antenna image 25a were used as means for expressing the reliability information. Further, in the third embodiment, the reliability information of the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle is the consistency between the absolute direction of the portable device 2 and the absolute direction of the vehicle 3, and as a means for expressing the reliability information, The information itself (arrow (β2)) of the relative direction β2 of the vehicle 3 displayed on the display unit 25 and the image 25b of the vehicle 3 were used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the reliability information and the means for expressing the reliability information can be freely combined. That is, for example, as the reliability information, information on the radio wave intensity Ea can be used, and the color of each arrow can be used as a means for expressing the reliability information. Furthermore, as the reliability information, the consistency between the absolute direction of the portable device 2 and the absolute direction of the vehicle 3 can be used, and the length of each arrow can be used as a means for expressing the reliability information.

Further, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above-described embodiments and modifications will be described below.
In the vehicle search system, the vehicle search system in which the first absolute direction detection unit or the second absolute direction detection unit is GPS. According to the configuration, the GPS device already provided in the portable device or the vehicle is utilized and the absolute value viewed from the portable device or the vehicle without using the electronic compass or the like for detecting the direction in the portable device or the vehicle. It becomes possible to acquire information on the direction.

  A vehicle search system that performs wireless communication between a portable device possessed by a user of the vehicle and the vehicle, and searches the direction of the vehicle viewed from the portable device based on the result of the communication, the portable device A first absolute azimuth detecting means for detecting an absolute azimuth as viewed from the portable device, and a vehicle relative for detecting a relative direction of the vehicle viewed from the portable device based on a radio wave transmitted from the vehicle. Vehicle absolute direction calculating means for calculating a relative direction or an absolute direction of the vehicle viewed from the portable device based on direction detection means, information on the relative direction of the vehicle and information on the absolute direction viewed from the portable device; In addition to displaying the radio field intensity measuring means for measuring the radio field intensity of the incoming radio wave arriving at the portable device and the relative direction or absolute direction information of the vehicle, the reliability of each direction is included in the information of each direction. As information Vehicle retrieval system characterized by comprising a display means for displaying the information of the wave intensity by a predetermined expression means.

  According to the configuration, when the vehicle relative direction detection means is provided on the portable device side, the relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle viewed from the portable device detected based on the radio wave transmitted from the vehicle is It is displayed on the display means of the portable device together with information on the radio wave intensity of the incoming radio wave arriving at the portable device. For this reason, the user of the vehicle includes an obstacle such as a building and a reflected wave reflected by the ground, each of which is one of a plurality of radio waves displayed on the display means as a relative direction or an absolute direction of the vehicle. The radio wave intensity information can be used as a criterion for determining whether or not the radio wave indicates an accurate relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle, that is, reliability information of the relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle. Accordingly, when the relative direction or the absolute direction of a plurality of vehicles is displayed on the display unit corresponding to the direction of the incoming radio waves coming from the vehicle, the portable device On the side, the relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle can be recognized with high reliability.

1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a vehicle search system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The detailed block diagram of the adaptive array antenna (array antenna) which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is an operational diagram showing a state in which the arrival direction of radio waves is detected by the adaptive array antenna according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The schematic diagram which shows the positional relationship of a vehicle and a portable device (vehicle user). In the vehicle search system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a conceptual diagram which shows the process by the portable device side, (b) is a conceptual diagram which shows the process by the vehicle side. The flowchart figure which shows operation | movement of the vehicle search system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is an operation diagram for explaining the operation of the vehicle search system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the vehicle search system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart figure which shows operation | movement of the vehicle search system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The action figure explaining operation | movement of the vehicle search system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention ((alpha) is the elements on larger scale which show three display states of an antenna image). The block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the vehicle search system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart figure which shows operation | movement of the vehicle search system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. (A) is an effect | action figure explaining operation | movement of the vehicle search system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention, (b) is another action | operation figure explaining operation | movement of the vehicle search system. The block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the vehicle search system which concerns on the modification of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1a, 1b, 1c ... Vehicle search system, 2 ... Portable machine, 3 ... Vehicle, 21 ... Portable machine side control part, 22 ... Electronic compass, 25 ... Display part, 31 ... Vehicle side control part, 32 ... Electronic compass , 24b, 24c, 33a, 33d... Adaptive array antenna.

Claims (8)

A vehicle search system that performs wireless communication between a portable device possessed by a user of the vehicle and the vehicle, and searches a direction of the vehicle viewed from the portable device based on a result of the communication,
A first absolute azimuth detecting means provided in the portable device for detecting an absolute azimuth viewed from the portable device;
A portable device relative direction detection means for detecting a relative direction of the portable device viewed from the vehicle, and an absolute azimuth viewed from the vehicle, based on radio waves transmitted from the portable device, each provided in the vehicle. A second absolute azimuth detecting unit; a portable unit absolute direction calculating unit that calculates an absolute direction of the portable unit viewed from the vehicle based on information on a relative direction of the portable unit and information on an absolute direction viewed from the vehicle; ,
The relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle viewed from the portable device is calculated based on the information on the absolute direction of the portable device and the information on the absolute direction viewed from the portable device or the vehicle. Vehicle direction calculation means;
In addition to displaying information on the relative direction or absolute direction of the vehicle, the portable device includes display means for displaying reliability information in the respective directions by a predetermined expression means. Vehicle search system. The vehicle search system according to claim 1,
A radio wave intensity measuring means provided in the vehicle for measuring the radio wave intensity of an incoming radio wave arriving at the vehicle;
In addition to displaying the information in each direction, the portable device includes display means for displaying the information on the radio wave intensity as reliability information in each direction by a predetermined expression means. Vehicle search system. In the vehicle search system according to claim 2,
The display means displays a relative direction or an absolute direction of the vehicle as an arrow, and displays a radio wave intensity as the reliability information as a length of the arrow. In the vehicle search system according to claim 2 or claim 3,
The display means includes a relative direction of the vehicle corresponding to information on a relative direction or an absolute direction of the portable device acquired by a radio wave having the maximum radio field intensity among a plurality of radio waves transmitted from the portable device to the vehicle. Or, the absolute direction is displayed as an arrow, and the radio wave intensity ratio between the radio wave having the maximum radio wave intensity and the radio wave having the second highest radio wave intensity is used as reliability information in the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle, If the radio wave intensity ratio is greater than or equal to the predetermined ratio, the arrow is displayed in the first color, while if the radio wave intensity ratio is less than the predetermined ratio, the arrow is changed to the second color. A vehicle search system that displays it. The vehicle search system according to claim 4,
The display means further sets the radio wave quality having the maximum radio wave intensity as reliability information in the relative direction or the absolute direction of the vehicle, and further displays an image that is changed according to the quality as the reliability information. Vehicle search system. The vehicle search system according to claim 1,
Provided in the portable device or vehicle, further comprising an absolute direction conformity determining means for determining the conformity between the absolute direction of the portable device and the absolute direction of the vehicle,
Consistency between the absolute direction of the portable device and the absolute direction of the vehicle is used as the reliability information, provided in the portable device, and when the absolute direction of the portable device matches the absolute direction of the vehicle, A vehicle search system further comprising display means for displaying information on a relative direction or an absolute direction of the vehicle. The vehicle search system according to claim 6, wherein
When the absolute direction of the portable device and the absolute direction of the vehicle match, the display means displays the relative direction or the absolute direction of the portable device as an arrow and displays the image of the vehicle in the tip region of the arrow. On the other hand, when the absolute direction of the portable device and the absolute direction of the vehicle do not match, only the arrow is displayed without displaying the image of the vehicle. In the vehicle search system according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A vehicle search system in which the vehicle and portable device relative direction detection means is an adaptive array antenna.

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