JP2010065395A - Electronic key search system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic key search system capable of specifying the position of an electronic key in real time. <P>SOLUTION: This electronic key system for a vehicle specifies the position of the electronic key 1 by the mutual communication between the control unit 4 of a vehicle side unit and the electronic key 1. The electronic key 1 includes a vibration sensor 1d for detecting the movement of the electronic key. When the movement of the electronic key is detected by the vibration sensor 1d, the electronic key notifies the control unit 4. The control unit 4 which has received that notification performs an in-cabin collation by outputting a transmission indication signal which indicates the transmission of a request signal to an in-cabin transmitter 2f. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic key search system.

  Conventionally, the electronic key returns a response signal including an ID code in response to a request signal transmitted from the vehicle-side unit in order to search whether the electronic key is in the vehicle compartment or outside the vehicle compartment. In some cases, the vehicle-side unit receives a response signal from the electronic key and collates an ID code included in the response signal with a registered code registered in advance.

As an example, there is a vehicle interior matching device disclosed in Patent Document 1. This vehicle interior verification device performs verification outside the vehicle compartment or in the vehicle interior based on input information such as a door open / close switch for detecting the open / closed state of each door of the vehicle.
Japanese Patent No. 3760740

  However, in the case of the vehicle interior matching device disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the mutual communication with the electronic key is performed at the timing of opening and closing of the door, etc., the position of the electronic key specified by the vehicle side unit and the actual There is a possibility that the position of the electronic key is misaligned, or that it takes time to eliminate the misalignment.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic key search system that can specify the position of an electronic key in real time.

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic key retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic key returns a response signal including an ID code in response to at least a request signal transmitted from the vehicle side unit to the vehicle interior. An electronic key search system in which a vehicle-side unit receives a response signal from an electronic key by communication and collates an ID code included in the response signal with a registered code registered in advance, thereby specifying the position of the electronic key Because
Electronic key
A key side receiving means for receiving a request signal;
A key side transmission means for transmitting a response signal;
Movement detection means for detecting its own movement;
A key side notification means for notifying the vehicle side unit when movement is detected by the movement detection means;
The vehicle side unit
Vehicle interior transmission means for transmitting the request signal to the vehicle interior;
Vehicle-side receiving means for receiving a response signal;
When the ID code included in the response signal received by the vehicle-side receiving means is compared with a registered code registered in advance, and if the verification is established, it is specified that the electronic key is in the passenger compartment, and the verification is not established Means for identifying that the electronic key is outside the passenger compartment,
Upon receiving notification from the key side notification means, the vehicle interior transmission means includes instruction means for instructing transmission of a request signal.

  In this way, upon receiving notification from the key-side notification means, verification can be performed when the user carrying the electronic key moves (for example, getting off) by transmitting a request signal and performing verification. Therefore, the position of the electronic key can be specified in real time.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the vehicle-side unit is provided with a travel detection unit that detects the travel of the vehicle. It may be ignored.

  While the vehicle is running, it is unlikely that a user with an electronic key will move (get off or get on). However, it is also conceivable that the movement detection means notifies the vehicle side unit by a failure or erroneous detection. Therefore, as described in claim 2, while the vehicle is running, it is possible to suppress transmission of an unnecessary request signal by ignoring the notification from the key-side notification means, thereby suppressing power consumption by the vehicle-side unit. be able to.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the vehicle includes a travel detection unit that detects the travel of the vehicle, and a first vehicle-side notification unit that notifies the electronic key when the travel detection unit detects the travel of the vehicle. When the key is notified by the first vehicle-side notification means, the key may not be notified by the key-side notification means.

  As described above, while the vehicle is running, a user who possesses the electronic key cannot move (get off or get on). Therefore, as described in claim 3, the electronic key can suppress unnecessary notification by not performing notification by the key-side notification means while the vehicle is running, thereby reducing the power consumption of the electronic key. Can be suppressed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided second vehicle-side notification means for notifying the electronic key when the verification by the verification means is not established and a predetermined time has elapsed since the verification, When the notification by the two-vehicle-side notification means is received, the notification by the key-side notification means may not be performed.

  By doing in this way, when a user parks a vehicle and leaves | separates from a vehicle, it can avoid notifying by a key side notification means. Therefore, unnecessary notifications can be suppressed and power consumption of the electronic key can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In the present embodiment, each door is locked / unlocked based on the ID code collation result by mutual communication between the electronic key 1 carried by the user and the vehicle side unit provided in the vehicle. An example applied to an electronic vehicle key system for controlling the state and permission to start the engine will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle electronic key system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a time chart showing an operation in the vehicle electronic key system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an image diagram at the time of getting off in the electronic key system for a vehicle in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a table showing implementation conditions in the vehicle electronic key system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic key 1 includes a receiver (key side receiving means) 1a for receiving a request signal from the vehicle interior transmitters 2a to 2e or the vehicle interior transmitter 2f of the vehicle side unit. In response to reception, a transmitter (key side transmission means) 1b for transmitting a response signal including an ID code and the like is provided. The control unit 1c is connected to the above-described receiver 1a and transmitter 1b and executes various control processes. Specifically, the control unit 1c determines whether or not the request signal is received based on the reception signal of the receiver 1a, or generates a response signal including an ID code in response to the request signal, Or transmitting from the transmitter 1b.

  In addition, the electronic key 1 includes a vibration sensor (movement detecting means) 1d including, for example, a gyro sensor for detecting movement of the electronic key 1 itself (movement between the vehicle interior and the exterior of the vehicle interior). That is, the vibration sensor 1d detects that the user holding the electronic key 1 has moved (get off) from the vehicle interior to the vehicle interior and moved from the vehicle interior to the vehicle interior (boarded). In addition, when the vibration sensor 1d detects movement, the control unit 1c notifies the vehicle-side unit using, for example, the transmitter 1b (key-side notification means). Note that the vibration sensor 1d regards that the electronic key 1 itself has moved when the detection signal exceeds a predetermined threshold, for example. Further, the threshold value is set to a value that can detect, for example, that the user has moved up from a seat in the vehicle interior.

  The vehicle-side unit includes vehicle interior transmitters 2a to 2e provided at the doors 11 to 15 of the vehicle 10 and a vehicle interior transmitter (vehicle interior transmission means) 2f provided in the vehicle interior. The vehicle interior transmitters 2a to 2e and the vehicle interior transmitter 2f transmit a request signal based on a transmission instruction signal from the control device 4 of the vehicle side unit. The control device 4 is a computer including a CPU 41 and a memory 42. For example, the control device 4 outputs a transmission instruction signal to the vehicle interior transmitters 2a to 2e every predetermined time when the vehicle 10 is parked, or to the vehicle interior transmitter 2f when the doors 11 to 15 are opened and closed. A transmission instruction signal is output. Further, when receiving the notification from the electronic key 1, the control device 4 outputs a transmission instruction signal to the vehicle interior transmitter 2f (instruction means).

  The arrival distance of the request signals of the vehicle interior transmitters 2a to 2e is set to about 0.7 to 1.0 m, for example. When the vehicle 10 is parked with the doors 11 to 15 locked, a communication area corresponding to the reach distance of the request signal is formed around the doors 11 to 15 of the vehicle 10 and the electronic key 1 It is possible to detect that the holder of the vehicle approaches the vehicle 10. The communication area by the vehicle interior transmitter 2f is set so as to cover the vehicle interior, and detects whether or not the electronic key 1 is in the vehicle interior. It should be noted that a plurality of vehicle interior transmitters 2f may be provided, and their combined communication area may cover the vehicle interior.

  The vehicle-side unit is provided in the vehicle interior of the vehicle 10 and is in a state in which a response signal can be received in synchronization with the output of transmission instruction signals to the vehicle interior transmitters 2a to 2e and the vehicle interior transmitter 2f. 1 includes a receiver (vehicle-side receiving means) 3 that receives a response signal transmitted from 1. The response signal received by the receiver 3 is output to the control device 4. The control device 4 collates whether or not the ID code included in the received response signal satisfies a predetermined relationship such as coincidence with a registered code registered in the memory 42 in advance (collation means).

  Further, the control device 4 specifies the position of the electronic key 1 based on the collation result (collation means). In other words, the control device 4 searches for the position of the electronic key 1 and searches for whether the electronic key 1 is inside the vehicle compartment or outside the vehicle compartment. For example, the control device 4 specifies that the electronic key 1 is in the vehicle interior when the response signal received by the receiver 3 is a response to the request signal transmitted by the vehicle interior transmitter 2f and verification is established. If the verification is not established, it is specified that the electronic key 1 is outside the passenger compartment (verification means). In the following, verification based on the response signal returned in response to the request signal from the in-vehicle transmitter 2f is returned in response to the request signal from the in-vehicle verification and the outdoor transmitters 2a to 2e. Verification based on the response signal is also referred to as out-of-vehicle verification.

  Moreover, the vehicle side unit is provided in each door 11-15 of the vehicle 10, and has the lock control parts 5a-5e which lock and unlock each door 11-15. The control device 4 controls the lock control provided to each door 11-15 with a drive signal (lock signal / unlock signal) for controlling the locked / unlocked state of each vehicle door 11-15 according to the collation result. Or output to the sections 5a to 5e. Specifically, the lock control units 5a to 5e have a door lock motor that rotates forward / reversely according to a lock signal / unlock signal transmitted from the control device 4, and each vehicle is rotated by the rotation of the door lock motor. The doors 11 to 15 are locked or unlocked.

  The door handles 6a to 6e of the doors 11 to 15 of the vehicle 10 are provided with touch sensors 6a1 to 6e1, and the holder of the electronic key 1 touches the door handles 6a to 6e, and the door handles 6a to 6e. It is possible to detect that an operation has been performed on. When an operation on the door handles 6a to 6e is detected, the doors 11 to 15 are unlocked. The door handles 6a to 6d are also provided with door lock switches (sensors) 6a2 to 6e2 configured as push switches (or touch sensors). When the door lock switches (sensors) 6a2 to 6e2 are operated, the doors 11 to 15 can be locked.

  Further, the control device 4 controls the supply and stop of power to devices mounted on the vehicle according to the result of the vehicle interior verification, for example, according to the engine start permission or the combination of the engine switch operation and the brake operation. You may make it do. When the control device 4 supplies power to the vehicle-mounted device, it drives the relay circuit 8 and supplies power from the battery (not shown) to the vehicle-mounted device via the relay circuit 8. The control device 4 receives signals from various sensors such as an engine switch and a seating sensor for detecting passengers.

  Here, an example of the operation in the vehicle electronic key system will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, an example in which the user U gets off the vehicle 10 will be described.

  When the user U holding the electronic key 1 is in the vehicle interior (user state), the electronic key 1 is also in the vehicle interior (electronic key state). When the user U gets out of the vehicle from this state, first the door 11 of the driver's seat is unlocked and opened. At this time, the control device 4 outputs a transmission instruction signal instructing the vehicle interior transmitter 2f to transmit a request signal. As a result, vehicle interior verification is executed (electronic key verification timing in this case). At this point, there is a high possibility that the electronic key 1 is in the passenger compartment. Therefore, the control device 4 recognizes that the electronic key 1 is in the vehicle interior and has a high possibility of specifying the position of the electronic key 1 as the vehicle interior. The vehicle interior verification based on the opening of the door is performed in the same manner in the conventional vehicle electronic key system (conventional electronic key verification timing).

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3, when the user U moves from the passenger compartment to the exterior of the passenger compartment, the electronic key 1 moves outside the passenger compartment until the user U completely moves out of the passenger compartment. And in this Embodiment, if the vibration sensor 1d detects a user's movement (getting off), the electronic key 1 will notify the control apparatus 4 of a vehicle side unit using the transmitter 1b. Receiving this notification, the control device 4 executes vehicle interior verification by outputting a transmission instruction signal for instructing transmission of the request signal to the vehicle interior transmitter 2f (electronic key verification timing in this case). In other words, the electronic key 1 notifies the control device 4 at the timing when the user (electronic key 1) is actually moving, and performs vehicle interior verification.

  At the time when the vehicle interior verification is performed, the electronic key 1 is outside the vehicle interior, so the vehicle interior verification is not established. Therefore, the control device 4 recognizes that the electronic key 1 is outside the passenger compartment (not in the passenger compartment), and identifies the position of the electronic key 1 as being outside the passenger compartment (vehicle compartment).

  Thereafter, when the user U who has moved from the vehicle interior to the vehicle interior closes the door 11 or when a certain period of time has elapsed since the door 11 opened, the control device 4 confirms that the electronic key 1 is not present in the vehicle interior. In order to do so, a transmission instruction signal for instructing the in-vehicle transmitter 2f to transmit a request signal is output. At this time, the electronic key 1 is outside the passenger compartment. Therefore, the control device 4 recognizes that the electronic key 1 is not in the passenger compartment and identifies the position of the electronic key 1 as being outside the passenger compartment.

  On the other hand, in the case of a conventional vehicle electronic key system, the vehicle interior verification is performed after a certain period of time has elapsed from the opening of the door and the closing of the door or the opening of the door (conventional electronic key verification timing). Actually, even though the electronic key is outside the passenger compartment, the electronic key is present in the passenger compartment from the time when the door is opened until the door is closed or when a certain time has elapsed since the door is opened. In other words, since the actual movement of the electronic key 1 cannot be estimated, the control device recognizes that the electronic key 1 is actually inside the vehicle compartment even though it is outside the vehicle compartment, and sets the position of the electronic key 1 as the vehicle interior. Will be identified. In other words, there may be a time lag between the timing at which the electronic key 1 actually moves from the passenger compartment to the outside of the passenger compartment and the timing at which the position of the electronic key 1 is specified.

  As described above, when receiving the notification from the electronic key 1, the control device 4 according to the present embodiment transmits a request signal to perform vehicle interior verification, so that the user holding the electronic key 1 moves (gets off). At this point, verification can be performed. Therefore, the actual movement of the electronic key 1 can be estimated. That is, the position of the electronic key 1 can be specified in real time. In other words, it is possible to shorten the time during which the accurate position of the user (electronic key 1) can be grasped (shorten the above time lag). In addition, since the position of the electronic key 1 can be specified in real time in this way, the function of the condition that the electronic key 1 is outside the passenger compartment (for example, unlocking the doors 12 and 14 of other seats) is quick. can do.

  Note that the notification from the electronic key 1 or the verification based on the notification is preferably performed according to the state of the vehicle as shown in FIG. That is, notification or collation based on the notification is stopped in a scene where the movement of the electronic key 1 is small.

  For example, if there is no electronic key 1 in the previous vehicle interior verification and a certain time has elapsed since the previous vehicle interior verification, the user can park the vehicle and assume that it has gone somewhere, so the key notification Do not implement. In this case, the control device 4 of the vehicle side unit notifies the electronic key 1 when the vehicle interior verification is not established and a predetermined time has elapsed since the verification (second vehicle side notification means). When receiving the notification from the control device 4, the electronic key 1 is configured not to notify the control device 4. By doing so, unnecessary notifications can be suppressed, and power consumption of the electronic key 1 can be suppressed.

  Also, key notification is not performed while the vehicle is running. In this case, the vehicle-side unit includes a travel detection device (travel detection means) that detects travel of the vehicle such as a shift position sensor that detects the shift position and a vehicle speed sensor that detects the vehicle speed of the vehicle. And the control apparatus 4 of the vehicle side unit notifies the electronic key 1 when the driving | running | working detection apparatus detects driving | running | working of a vehicle (1st vehicle side notification means). When receiving the notification from the control device 4, the electronic key 1 is configured not to notify the control device 4. By doing so, unnecessary notifications can be suppressed, and power consumption of the electronic key 1 can be suppressed.

  Further, the control device 4 may ignore the notification from the electronic key 1 when the traveling detection device detects the traveling of the vehicle. By doing in this way, the unnecessary request signal transmitted in response to the notification due to failure or erroneous detection of the electronic key 1 can be suppressed, and power consumption by the vehicle side unit (control device 4) can be suppressed. .

  Further, the electronic key 1 may count the number of times that the detection result of the vibration sensor 1d exceeds the threshold (counting means) and notify the control device 4 when the number of times reaches a predetermined number. By doing so, the power consumption of the electronic key 1 can be suppressed, and the detection accuracy of the movement of the user (electronic key 1) can be improved.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the electronic key system for vehicles in embodiment of this invention. It is a time chart which shows the operation | movement in the electronic key system for vehicles in embodiment of this invention. It is an image figure at the time of alighting in the electronic key system for vehicles in an embodiment of the invention. It is a table | surface which shows the implementation conditions in the electronic key system for vehicles in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic key 1a ... Receiver 1b ... Transmitter 1c ... Control part 2a-2e ... Outside-vehicle transmitter 2f ... In-vehicle transmitter 3 ... Receiver 4 ... Controller 41 ... CPU
42 ... Memory 5a-5e ... Door lock control part 6a-6e ... Door handle 10 ... Vehicles 11-15 ... Door

Claims (4)

In response to at least a request signal transmitted from the vehicle-side unit to the vehicle interior, the vehicle-side unit receives a response signal from the electronic key by mutual communication in which the electronic key returns a response signal including an ID code. An electronic key search system for identifying the position of the electronic key by comparing an ID code included in the response signal with a registered code registered in advance,
The electronic key is
Key-side receiving means for receiving the request signal;
Key-side transmission means for transmitting the response signal;
Movement detection means for detecting its own movement;
A key side notifying means for notifying the vehicle side unit when movement is detected by the movement detecting means;
The vehicle side unit is:
Vehicle interior transmission means for transmitting the request signal to the vehicle interior;
Vehicle-side receiving means for receiving the response signal;
The ID code included in the response signal received by the vehicle-side receiving means is collated with a registered code registered in advance, and if the collation is established, the electronic key is identified as being in the vehicle compartment, A collating means for specifying that the electronic key is outside the passenger compartment if the collation is not established;
When notified by the key side notification means, an instruction means for instructing the vehicle interior transmission means to transmit the request signal;
An electronic key retrieval system comprising:   The vehicle-side unit includes travel detection means for detecting travel of the vehicle, and the vehicle-side unit ignores the notification from the key-side notification means when the travel detection means detects the travel of the vehicle. The electronic key retrieval system according to claim 1.   Travel detection means for detecting travel of the vehicle, and first vehicle-side notification means for notifying the electronic key when the travel detection means detects the travel of the vehicle, wherein the electronic key is the first key 2. The electronic key retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein when the notification by the vehicle side notification means is received, the notification by the key side notification means is not performed.   When the collation by the collation means is not established and a predetermined time has elapsed since the collation, the electronic key includes a second vehicle-side notification means for notifying the electronic key, and the electronic key is the second vehicle-side notification means. 2. The electronic key retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein when the notification is received, notification by the key side notification means is not performed.

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