JP2010126966A - Vehicle key and system for indicating remaining amount of energy of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle key which enables the checking of information on the remaining amount of driving energy of a vehicle without the carrying of a special medium even in a place away from the vehicle, and a system for indicating the remaining amount of the energy of the vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicle key 4 for locking and unlocking a door of the vehicle 2 in a noncontact state includes: a remaining amount information acquiring means 34 which controls a driving source 27 for traveling the vehicle 2, and which acquires the remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of the energy by making a locking operation act as a trigger, from an electronics system 3 for grasping the remaining amount of the driving energy stored in the vehicle 2 so as to drive the driving source 27; and an indication means 37 for performing the indication of the remaining amount of the energy, associated with the remaining amount of the energy, on the basis of the acquired remaining amount information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle key that locks and unlocks a vehicle door in a non-contact manner, 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 locks and unlocks the door of a vehicle in a non-contact manner. The vehicle key controls the drive source for driving the vehicle and drives the drive source stored in the vehicle. Remaining amount information acquisition means for acquiring remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of energy triggered by a locking operation from an electronics system that grasps the remaining amount of energy, and a remaining amount display regarding the remaining amount of energy based on the acquired remaining amount information And display means for performing the above.

  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 level display system comprising a vehicle having an electronics system for grasping, wherein the electronics system stores a remaining capacity detecting means for detecting the remaining energy level and remaining capacity information indicating the detected remaining energy level. And a remaining amount information transmitting unit for transmitting the stored remaining amount information to the remaining amount information acquiring unit.

According to these configurations, triggered by the locking of the vehicle door, the vehicle key acquires remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of driving energy stored in the vehicle from the vehicle (for example, the remaining amount of gasoline or the remaining amount of battery), Display this. 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.
Further, by using the locking of the door of the vehicle as a trigger, it is possible to acquire the latest remaining amount information when the vehicle stops, that is, when the user gets off the vehicle.
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, 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 electric power for maintaining the display of the remaining amount of driving energy is not required, the display does not disappear even at a location away 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 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 2 and a vehicle key 4 that controls the locking / unlocking of the door of the vehicle 2 in a non-contact manner. The vehicle key 4 is also used when starting / stopping the engine 27 (drive source) of the vehicle 2.

  The vehicle 2 includes vehicle-mounted devices such as a fuel tank 25, a battery 26, an engine 27, and a door lock mechanism 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 storage unit 13 (storage unit), a vehicle side data transmission / reception unit 14 (remaining amount information transmission unit), a wireless antenna 15, a door lock control unit 16, and In addition to the main control unit 11 for controlling them, various control units 17 (for example, an engine control unit, a brake control unit, etc.) mounted on the general vehicle 2 and various sensors 18 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 25 of the vehicle 2. The storage unit 13 stores remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of gasoline detected by the remaining amount detecting unit 12.

  The vehicle-side data transmission / reception unit 14 functions as a communication unit that performs wireless communication (non-contact communication) with the vehicle key 4, and locks / unlocks the door of the vehicle 2 from the vehicle key 4 via the wireless antenna 15. (Hereinafter, these signals are referred to as “locking signal” and “unlocking signal”). Further, remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of gasoline stored in the storage unit 13 is transmitted to the vehicle key 4 via the wireless antenna 15. This remaining amount information is transmitted to the vehicle key 4 with the reception of the locking signal from the vehicle key 4 as a trigger.

  The door lock control unit 16 controls the locking / unlocking of the door locking mechanism 28, and locks the door locking mechanism 28 (locks the door) when receiving a locking signal from the vehicle key 4. When the signal is received, the door lock mechanism 28 is unlocked (the door is unlocked).

  The vehicle key 4 includes a power supply unit 32, an operation unit 33, a key-side data transmission / reception unit 34 (remaining amount information acquisition unit), a wireless antenna 35, a storage unit 36, a display unit 37 (display unit), and a control for controlling these units. The unit 31 is configured. The control unit 31 includes a CPU 41 that is a central processing unit, a ROM 42 that stores control programs and control data, a RAM 43 that temporarily stores data, and the like, and controls the entire vehicle key 4.

  The power supply unit 32 includes a battery 32 a that operates the vehicle key 4, and supplies power to each unit of the vehicle key 4. The operation unit 33 performs a locking / unlocking operation of the door of the vehicle 2, and includes a locking button 33a and an unlocking button 33b. When the user presses these buttons 33a and 33b, the vehicle key 4 transmits a locking signal or an unlocking signal, whereby the door of the vehicle 2 can be locked / unlocked.

  The key-side data transmission / reception unit 34 functions as a communication unit that performs wireless communication (non-contact communication) with the vehicle 2, and a signal (locking) by an operation of the operation unit 33 (pressing of the lock button 33 a and the unlock button 33 b). Signal and unlock signal) are transmitted to the vehicle 2 via the wireless antenna 35. Further, the remaining amount information of gasoline transmitted from the vehicle 2 is received via the wireless antenna 35.

  The storage unit 36 stores the remaining amount information received by the key-side data transmission / reception unit 34. The display unit 37 displays the remaining amount of gasoline stored in the vehicle 2. Based on the stored remaining amount information, the control unit 31 displays the remaining amount of gasoline in various formats on the display unit 37 (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 in a card shape, and the surface thereof includes an operation unit 33 and a display unit 37, and a battery 32a and a radio antenna 35 are built in the main body. ing. As described above, the operation unit 33 includes the locking button 33a and the unlocking button 33b. When the user presses the buttons 33a and 33b, the door of the vehicle 2 is locked / unlocked. The display unit 37 is made of electronic paper, and the remaining amount of gasoline is displayed on the display unit 37.

  This remaining amount display expresses the remaining amount of gasoline in a scale format 51. When the gasoline is full, all five scales 52 from "E (Empty)" to "F (Full)" are black. Is displayed. As the remaining amount of gasoline decreases, the scale 52 is displayed in reverse color from black to white in order from the “F” side to the “E” side (that is, the scale 52 decreases), and the remaining amount of gasoline is empty. In this case, all the scales 52 are displayed in white.

  In addition to the display of the scale format 51 shown in FIG. 2A, as the display format of the remaining amount of gasoline, for example, as shown in FIG. 15 liters), or, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), a distance 54 (for example, capable of traveling 300 km) that can travel with the remaining gasoline may be displayed. Further, the display formats (51, 53, 54) shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C 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.

  In addition, by forming the display unit 37 with electronic paper, only a minute power is required only when the display content is rewritten, power for maintaining the display content is unnecessary, and screen display can be performed with power saving. it can. That is, since electric power for maintaining the gasoline remaining amount display is unnecessary, the display does not disappear even in a place away 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 user presses the lock button 33a of the vehicle key 4 (S01), the vehicle key 4 transmits a lock signal to the vehicle control device 3 (S02). When the vehicle control device 3 receives the locking signal (S03), the remaining amount information of the gasoline stored in the fuel tank 25 (the remaining amount information stored in the storage unit 13) is triggered by the reception of the locking signal. (S04) and the remaining amount information is transmitted to the vehicle key 4 (S05).

  The vehicle key 4 receives the remaining amount information transmitted from the vehicle control device 3 (S06), and displays the remaining amount of gasoline on the display unit 37 based on the remaining amount information (S07). Thereby, the remaining amount information of gasoline when the door of the vehicle 2 is locked, that is, the latest remaining amount information when the user gets off the vehicle 2 (when the engine 27 of the vehicle 2 is stopped) is acquired. Can do.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the vehicle key 4 acquires the remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of gasoline from the vehicle control device 3 (vehicle 2) using the lock of the door of the vehicle 2 as a trigger, Can be displayed. 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.).

  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 the present embodiment, the operation unit 33 and the display unit 37 of the vehicle key 4 are individually configured. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the entire surface of the vehicle key 4 is used as the display unit 37. The operation unit 33 and the display unit 37 may be configured integrally by using the display unit 37 as a touch panel.

  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 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 13 ... Memory | storage part 14 ... Vehicle side data transmission / reception part 27 ... Engine 34 ... Key side data transmission / reception part 37 ... Display part

Claims (4)

A vehicle key that locks and unlocks a vehicle door without contact,
From the electronics system that controls the drive source for driving the vehicle and grasps the remaining amount of drive energy for driving the drive source stored in the vehicle, the remaining amount of energy is indicated using the locking operation as a trigger. Remaining amount information acquisition means for acquiring remaining amount information;
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 display means includes
The vehicle key according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle key is formed of electronic paper. The display means includes
3. 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. The vehicle key according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
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;
Storage means for storing remaining amount information indicating the detected remaining amount of energy;
A remaining energy display system for a vehicle, comprising: remaining amount information transmitting means for transmitting the stored remaining amount information to the remaining amount information acquiring means.

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