JP2010121389A - Vehicle key and system for displaying residual energy amount of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle key and a system for displaying the residual energy amount of a vehicle which enable confirmation of information on the residual amount of vehicle driving energy even at a place spaced from the vehicle without carrying a special medium. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicle key 4 controls start and stop of a driving source 28 for traveling the vehicle 2 by key operation to a cylinder lock 25 and includes a residual-amount-information obtaining means 43 for obtaining the residual amount information showing the residual energy amount from an electronics system 3 grasping the residual energy amount of the driving energy stored in the vehicle 2 for driving the driving source 28 in a state where the cylinder lock 25 is inserted into a key insertion hole 25a, and a display means 45 for displaying the residual amount with regard to the residual energy amount based on the obtained residual amount information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle key for controlling traveling of a vehicle by a key operation on a cylinder lock of the vehicle, and a vehicle energy remaining amount display system.

Conventionally, the remaining amount of driving energy of the vehicle (for example, the remaining amount of gasoline or the remaining amount of battery) is displayed by a fuel gauge attached to the dashboard of the vehicle. However, for example, in the case of a vehicle that needs to be charged, such as an electric vehicle, since the travel distance is short, a means for confirming the remaining amount of driving energy in the vicinity (even at a place away from the vehicle) is desired. In order to solve this problem, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a display system that can check the remaining amount of drive energy at a location away from a vehicle. This display system is composed of a vehicle and a display card carried by the user. The display card receives the remaining amount of driving energy transmitted from the vehicle, and displays the remaining amount of driving energy received from the display unit ( Display on the display circuit). Thereby, the user can check the remaining amount of driving energy even in a place away from the vehicle.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-217724

  However, in the above-described display system, the user must have a display card, and there is a problem that a user who does not have a display card cannot check the remaining amount of drive energy. Further, in order to drive the vehicle, the vehicle key (vehicle key) is required, and when using the above display system, the user must carry (carry) the display card together with the vehicle key. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and a vehicle key and a vehicle that can check the remaining amount information of driving energy of a vehicle without carrying a special medium even in a place away from the vehicle. An object of the present invention is to provide an energy remaining amount display system.

  The vehicle key of the present invention is a vehicle key that controls the start and stop of a drive source for running the vehicle by a key operation on the cylinder lock, and is stored in the vehicle while being inserted into the key insertion hole of the cylinder lock. Remaining energy information acquisition means for acquiring remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of energy from the electronics system that grasps the remaining amount of driving energy for driving the drive source, and the remaining energy amount based on the acquired remaining amount information And a display means for displaying the remaining amount relating to.

  The vehicle energy remaining amount display system of the present invention controls the vehicle key described above and the drive energy source for controlling the drive source for driving the vehicle and driving the drive source stored in the vehicle. A vehicle energy remaining amount display system comprising a vehicle having an electronics system for grasping, wherein the electronics system includes a remaining amount detecting means for detecting a remaining energy amount and remaining amount information of the detected remaining energy amount. And remaining amount information transmitting means for transmitting to the quantity information acquiring means.

According to these configurations, by inserting a key (vehicle key) used to drive the vehicle into the cylinder lock (key insertion hole) of the vehicle (in the inserted state), the vehicle key is transferred from the vehicle to the vehicle. The remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of driving energy to be stored (for example, the remaining amount of gasoline or the remaining amount of battery) is acquired and displayed. Accordingly, the user can confirm (understand) the remaining driving energy of the vehicle even if the user has the vehicle key (portable) even at a location away from the vehicle, which is convenient. This is particularly effective when using a vehicle such as an electric vehicle that requires frequent battery charging.
In addition, since the remaining driving energy is displayed on the vehicle key that is absolutely necessary to drive the vehicle, for example, it is used more comfortably than when the remaining driving energy is displayed on a display card other than the vehicle key. It is possible to solve such a problem that the user cannot forget to have the display card and cannot check the remaining amount information.
Note that the drive energy described above includes fuel (gasoline, light oil, etc.) and batteries (secondary battery, fuel cell, etc.). The above-mentioned vehicles include general automobiles (vehicles driven by fuel), battery automobiles (secondary battery automobiles, fuel cell automobiles), motorcycles, electric bicycles, hybrid vehicles, and work vehicles (heavy machinery / cultivator etc.). Is included.

  In the vehicle key of the present invention, it is preferable that the vehicle key further includes power acquisition means for acquiring power for operating itself from the electronics system in a state of being inserted into the key insertion hole.

  According to this configuration, the vehicle key itself does not need a power source such as a battery, so that the cost and weight of the vehicle key can be reduced.

  In the vehicle key of the present invention, the display means is preferably formed of electronic paper.

  According to this configuration, by forming the vehicle key display means with electronic paper, only a minute amount of power is required only when the display content is rewritten, and no power is required to maintain the display content. Screen display can be performed. That is, since the electric power for maintaining the display of the remaining amount of driving energy is unnecessary, the display does not disappear even when the vehicle key is removed from the vehicle, and the user can surely check the remaining amount of energy.

  In the vehicle key of the present invention, it is preferable that the remaining amount information acquisition unit acquires the remaining amount information with a key operation for stopping the drive source as a trigger.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to acquire the latest remaining amount information when the vehicle stops, that is, when the user gets off the vehicle.

  In the vehicle key of the present invention, it is preferable that the display means displays the remaining amount information in at least one of a scale increase / decrease, a numerical value, and a travelable distance.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to display the remaining amount information in an easy-to-understand manner using the scale increase / decrease, the numerical value, the travelable distance, and the like.

  Hereinafter, a vehicle key and a vehicle energy remaining amount display system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, a vehicle (automobile) that uses gasoline as fuel (drive energy) will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of the remaining energy display system 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the remaining energy display system 1 includes a vehicle key 4 that controls starting and stopping of a vehicle 2 and an engine 28 (drive source) of the vehicle 2 by a key operation on the cylinder lock 25 of the vehicle 2. And is constituted by.

  The vehicle 2 includes vehicle mounted devices such as a cylinder lock 25, a fuel tank 26, a battery 27, and an engine 28 in addition to a vehicle control device 3 (electronic system) that controls the entire vehicle 2.

  The vehicle control device 3 includes a remaining amount detection unit 12 (remaining amount detection unit), a key position detection unit 13, a data transmission unit 14 (remaining amount information transmission unit), a power supply unit 15, and a main control unit 11 that controls them. In addition, various control units 16 (for example, an engine control unit, a brake control unit, etc.) mounted on the general vehicle 2 and various sensors 17 are provided.

  The main control unit 11 is a processing unit that controls the entire vehicle control device 3 (the entire vehicle 2), and is configured as a microprocessor centered on a CPU 21 (Central Processing Unit), and a ROM 22 (Read It includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores data, a peripheral circuit, an input / output interface, various drivers, and the like. The remaining amount detection unit 12 always detects the remaining amount of gasoline stored in the fuel tank 26 of the vehicle 2.

  The key position detector 13 detects the rotational position of the vehicle key 4 in the cylinder lock 25 for starting / stopping the engine 28. Specifically, the vehicle key 4 has a “START” position (hereinafter referred to as “engine start position 31”) where the engine 28 is started, and an “ON” position (hereinafter referred to as “engine start position 31”). "Engine drive position 32"), "ACC" position (hereinafter referred to as "engine stop position 33") indicating the stop of the engine 28, and "OFF (LOCK)" where the vehicle key 4 can be removed. The position (hereinafter referred to as “key insertion / removal position 34”) is detected (see FIG. 2).

  The power supply unit 15 supplies the electric power stored (charged) in the in-vehicle battery 27 to the vehicle key 4. Specifically, the vehicle key 4 is coupled to the cylinder lock 25 (that is, the vehicle key 4 is located at the engine start position 31, the engine drive position 32, the engine stop position 33, and the key insertion / removal position 34). In any position), power is supplied from the vehicle battery 27 to the vehicle key 4.

  The data transmission unit 14 transmits remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of gasoline detected by the remaining amount detection unit 12 to the vehicle key 4. The remaining amount information is transmitted while the key position detector 13 detects the vehicle key 4 at the engine stop position 33 of the cylinder lock 25 and then detects the vehicle key 4 at the key insertion / removal position 34 (number in FIG. 2). 35) The remaining amount information is modulated and superimposed on the power supplied from the power supply unit 15 and transmitted to the vehicle key 4. That is, the gasoline remaining amount immediately after the engine 28 is stopped can be transmitted.

  The vehicle key 4 includes a power acquisition unit 42 (power acquisition unit), a data reception unit 43 (remaining amount information acquisition unit), a storage unit 44, a display unit 45 (display unit), and a control unit 41 that controls these units. Has been. The control unit 41 includes a CPU 51 that is a central processing unit, a ROM 52 that stores control programs and control data, a RAM 53 that temporarily stores data, and the like, and controls the entire vehicle key 4.

  The power acquisition unit 42 acquires the power supplied from the vehicle control device 3 (power supply unit 15). The control part 41 operates each part using this electric power. As a result, the vehicle key 4 itself does not require a power source such as a battery, so that the cost and weight of the vehicle key 4 can be reduced.

  The data receiving unit 43 receives the remaining amount information transmitted from the vehicle control device 3 (data transmitting unit 14). Specifically, the remaining amount information transmitted by being superimposed on the electric power from the vehicle control device 3 is acquired via the electric power acquisition unit 42 and demodulated.

  The storage unit 44 stores the remaining amount information demodulated by the data receiving unit 43. The display unit 45 displays the remaining amount of gasoline stored in the vehicle 2. The control unit 41 displays the remaining amount of gasoline in various forms on the display unit 45 based on the stored remaining amount information (details will be described later).

  Here, the structure of the vehicle key 4 will be described with reference to the external view of the vehicle key 4 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2A, the vehicle key 4 is formed by a blade portion 61 and a knob portion 62. The blade part 61 is a part to be inserted into the cylinder lock 25 of the vehicle 2 (see the key insertion hole 25a of the cylinder lock 25, see FIG. 2), and functions as the power acquisition part 42 and the data reception part 43 in the present invention. The knob unit 62 includes a display unit 45 formed of electronic paper, and the gasoline remaining amount is displayed on the display unit 45.

  This remaining amount display expresses the remaining amount of gasoline in a scale format 63. When the gasoline is full, all five scales 64 from “E (Empty)” to “F (Full)” are black. Is displayed. As the remaining amount of gasoline decreases, the scale 64 is displayed in reverse color from black to white in order from the “F” side to the “E” side (that is, the scale 64 decreases), and the remaining amount of gasoline is empty. In this case, all the scales 64 are displayed in white.

  In addition to the display of the scale format 62 shown in FIG. 3A, as a display format of the remaining amount of gasoline, for example, as shown in FIG. 15 liters), or, as shown in FIG. 3C, a distance 66 (for example, capable of traveling 300 km) that can be traveled with the remaining gasoline may be displayed. Further, the display formats (62, 63, 64) shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C may be combined and displayed. As described above, the vehicle key 4 of the present embodiment can display the remaining amount information in an easy-to-understand manner in the form of increase / decrease in scale, numerical value, travelable distance, and the like.

  Further, by forming the display unit 45 with electronic paper, only a minute electric power is required only at the time of rewriting the display content, and no power is required to maintain the display content, and screen display can be performed with power saving. it can. That is, since the electric power for maintaining the gasoline remaining amount display is unnecessary, the display does not disappear even when the vehicle key 4 is removed from the vehicle 2, and the user can surely confirm the gasoline remaining amount.

  Next, a procedure for displaying the remaining amount of gasoline on the vehicle key 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the vehicle key 4 is inserted into the cylinder lock 25 (key insertion hole 25a) of the vehicle 2 (S01), the vehicle control device 3 detects that the vehicle key 4 has been inserted (S02). With this detection as a trigger, the vehicle control device 3 starts supplying power from the power supply unit 15 to the inserted vehicle key 4 (S03). And the vehicle key 4 acquires electric power from the vehicle control apparatus 3 (S04).

  Next, when the vehicle key 4 is rotated to the engine stop position 33 (S05), the vehicle control device 3 detects this (S06). Then, the vehicle control device 3 uses this detection as a trigger to acquire the remaining amount information of gasoline stored in the fuel tank 26 (S07), and the vehicle key 4 rotates from the engine stop position 33 to the key insertion / removal position 34. In the meantime, the remaining amount information is transmitted to the vehicle key 4 (S08).

  The vehicle key 4 receives the remaining amount information transmitted from the vehicle control device 3 (S09), and displays the remaining amount of gasoline on the display unit 45 based on the remaining amount information (S10). Thereby, the remaining amount information (the remaining amount information when the vehicle 2 is stopped) when the vehicle key 4 is rotated from the engine stop position 33 to the key insertion / removal position 34, that is, the latest when the user gets off the vehicle 2 The remaining amount information can be acquired and displayed.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the vehicle key 4 is inserted into the cylinder lock 25 (key insertion hole 25a) of the vehicle 2 so that the vehicle key 4 receives gasoline from the vehicle 2 (vehicle control device 3). The remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount can be acquired and displayed on the display unit 45. Thereby, the user can confirm (understand) the remaining amount of gasoline in the vehicle 2 as long as he / she carries (carries) the vehicle key 4 even at a location away from the vehicle 2, which is convenient.

  Further, since the remaining amount of gasoline is displayed on the vehicle key 4 that is absolutely necessary for driving the vehicle 2, for example, it is used more comfortably than when the remaining amount of gasoline is displayed on a portable terminal other than the vehicle key 4. In addition, it is possible to solve problems such as forgetting to carry the portable terminal and checking remaining amount information.

  In this embodiment, gasoline (fuel) is taken as an example of driving energy, and the remaining amount is displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the remaining amount display of other fuels (such as light oil) is displayed. It is also possible to do this. In addition, for example, if a battery (secondary battery or fuel cell) is used as driving energy, the remaining amount can be displayed. In this case, the remaining amount detection unit 12 detects a charging status (power storage status) of a battery or the like. Moreover, it is applicable also when using a fuel and a battery together as drive energy.

  The present invention is also applicable to battery cars (secondary battery cars, fuel cell cars), motorcycles, electric bicycles, hybrid vehicles, and work vehicles (heavy machinery / cultivator etc.).

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the vehicle key 4 is between the engine stop position 33 and the key insertion / removal position 34, the remaining amount information of gasoline is transmitted from the vehicle control device 3 to the vehicle key 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the remaining amount information may be periodically transmitted while the vehicle key 4 is inserted into the cylinder lock 25 (key insertion hole 25a).

  Further, the remaining amount information may be acquired from the cylinder lock 25 provided on the door at the timing when the key operation for closing the door of the vehicle 2 is performed by the vehicle key 4 and displayed.

  In addition, as a method of displaying the remaining amount information, instead of displaying with a scale or a numerical value as described above, for example, a message such as “The remaining amount of fuel is very little. Please refuel” is displayed. Anyway.

  Further, as the information recording / display medium, the vehicle control device 3 may calculate the fuel consumption during travel (travel distance per unit energy) and display the result.

  In addition, the device configuration and processing steps of the remaining energy display system 1 and the configurations and processing steps of the vehicle control device 3 and the vehicle key 4 are not limited to the above-described embodiments, so long as they do not depart from the spirit of the present invention. Changes can be made as appropriate.

It is a control block diagram of the remaining energy display system of the vehicle concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the position of the vehicle key in a cylinder lock in the case of transmitting the residual amount information of gasoline with respect to a vehicle key. It is a figure explaining the external form of a vehicle key, and the display format of residual amount information. It is a flowchart explaining the procedure which displays the gasoline remaining amount on a vehicle key.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Energy remaining amount display system 2 ... Vehicle 3 ... Vehicle control apparatus 4 ... Vehicle key 12 ... Remaining amount detection part 14 ... Data transmission part 25 ... Cylinder lock 25a ... Key insertion hole 28 ... Engine 42 ... Electric power acquisition part 43 ... Data receiving unit 45 ... display unit

Claims (6)

A vehicle key for controlling start and stop of a drive source for running the vehicle by a key operation on the cylinder lock,
In the state inserted into the key insertion hole of the cylinder lock, remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of energy is obtained from an electronics system that grasps the remaining amount of driving energy for driving the driving source stored in the vehicle. Remaining amount information acquisition means to acquire;
A vehicle key, comprising: a display unit configured to display a remaining amount related to the remaining amount of energy based on the acquired remaining amount information.   The vehicle key according to claim 1, further comprising power acquisition means for acquiring power for operating itself from the electronics system in a state of being inserted into the key insertion hole. The remaining amount information acquisition means includes:
The vehicle key according to claim 1, wherein the remaining amount information is acquired with a key operation for stopping the driving source as a trigger. The display means includes
The vehicle key according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vehicle key is formed of electronic paper. The display means includes
5. The vehicle key according to claim 1, wherein the remaining amount information is displayed in at least one of a scale increase / decrease, a numerical value, and a travelable distance. A vehicle key according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A vehicle energy level display system comprising: a vehicle having an electronics system for controlling a drive source for driving a vehicle and grasping a remaining energy level of drive energy for driving the drive source stored in the vehicle. And
The electronics system is
A remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of energy;
A remaining energy information display system for a vehicle, comprising: remaining amount information transmitting means for transmitting the detected remaining amount information of the remaining energy to the remaining amount information acquiring means.

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