JP2010160017A - Vehicle search system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle search system for achieving a compact mobile apparatus (entry key). <P>SOLUTION: An vehicle-side device 20 includes three antennas 21 provided for different locations in a vehicle; a radar circuit 22 for transmitting transmission signals of a prescribed frequency from each antenna 21, receiving return signals returned from the mobile apparatus 30; comparing each transmitted transmission signal with each received return signal, and measuring information on the distance between each antenna 21 and the mobile apparatus 30; and a direction detection means 24 for detecting direction information indicating the direction of the mobile apparatus 30 when viewed from the side of the vehicle or the direction of the vehicle when viewed from the mobile apparatus 30 on the basis of measured distance information and transmits information including the direction information to the mobile apparatus 30. The mobile apparatus 30 includes: an antenna; a transponder for receiving transmission signals transmitted from the vehicle-side device 20, returning return signals synchronized with the transmission signals, and receiving information including direction information transmitted from the vehicle-side device 20; and an information output means for outputting information on the direction of the vehicle on the basis of the direction information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle search system for searching for a vehicle.

  Conventionally, as this type of vehicle search system, a system using a remote keyless entry (RKE) system that can remotely control the opening / closing of a vehicle door by a vehicle opening / closing key is known (Patent Document 1). reference). In this system, a transponder having three antennas having three-dimensional characteristics is provided in an opening / closing key (entry key) of the vehicle, and the distance to the vehicle is estimated based on signal strengths received by the three antennas.

Japanese translation of PCT publication No. 2002-533591

  However, since the three antennas provided in the transponder described in Patent Document 1 have directivity orthogonal to each other, the shape is also three-dimensional, and there is a problem that hinders downsizing of the entry key (portable device). .

  This invention is made | formed in view of this point, and it aims at providing the vehicle search system which can miniaturize a portable machine.

  The vehicle search system of the present invention is a vehicle search system that includes a vehicle side device provided in a vehicle and a portable device that wirelessly communicates with the vehicle side device, and searches for the position of the vehicle. Each of the three antennas provided at different positions of the vehicle, and a transmission signal of a predetermined frequency from the three antennas, and a reply signal returned from the portable device received and transmitted A radar circuit that measures distance information between each antenna and the portable device by comparing the transmitted signal and each received return signal, and the direction of the portable device viewed from the vehicle side from the distance information measured by the radar circuit Or azimuth detecting means for detecting azimuth information indicating the direction of the vehicle as viewed from the portable device, and transmits information including the azimuth information to the portable device. The tenor receives a transmission signal transmitted from the vehicle side device from the antenna and sends back a reply signal synchronized with the transmission signal, and receives the information including the direction information transmitted from the vehicle side device. A transponder and information output means for outputting information related to the direction of the vehicle based on the direction information received by the transponder are provided.

  According to this configuration, the azimuth information between the vehicle and the portable device based on the distance information measured from the phase difference by comparing each transmission signal transmitted from each antenna and each return signal returned from the portable device. Is detected and sent to the portable device, and the portable device outputs information on the direction of the vehicle based on the received azimuth information, so there is no need to incorporate three antennas in the portable device as in the past, reducing the number of antennas Thus, the portable device can be reduced in size, and vehicle orientation information can be guided to the portable device.

  In the vehicle search system according to the present invention, the vehicle-side device transmits distance information from the vehicle to the portable device together with the azimuth information to the portable device, and the information output means includes the azimuth information. It is preferable to output the distance information.

  According to this configuration, since distance information from the vehicle to the portable device can be sent in addition to the azimuth information, the accurate position of the vehicle can be guided to the portable device.

  In the vehicle search system according to the present invention, the portable device includes a direction detector that detects a direction in which the portable device is facing, and the direction in which the portable device is detected detected by the direction detector. It is preferable to indicate the direction of the vehicle as a reference.

  According to this configuration, since the direction of the vehicle is indicated with reference to the direction (absolute direction) that the portable device is facing, even if the absolute azimuth indicated by the portable device does not match the relative azimuth indicated by the azimuth information, An accurate azimuth of the vehicle based on the azimuth can be guided.

  In the vehicle search system according to the present invention, the azimuth detecting unit detects a traveling direction of the portable device from the history of the azimuth information, transmits the traveling direction together with the azimuth information to the portable device, The information output means preferably outputs the traveling direction and the direction information.

  According to this configuration, since the traveling direction of the portable device detected from the history of the azimuth information is sent to the portable device together with the azimuth information, even if the traveling direction of the portable device is moving to a direction different from the azimuth of the vehicle, It is possible to guide appropriately in the direction.

  In the vehicle search system according to the present invention, the portable device can be configured by an entry key or a mobile phone that opens and closes a door provided in the vehicle.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the vehicle search system which can miniaturize a portable machine can be provided.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing a vehicle search system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle side apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a circuit diagram which shows the structure of the radar circuit of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the portable device of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the control action of the vehicle search system of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle side apparatus which concerns on the modification of this Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle search system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A vehicle search system 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a vehicle-side device 20 provided in a vehicle 11 and a portable device 30 that can wirelessly communicate with the vehicle-side device 20. The vehicle search system 10 according to the present embodiment includes a vehicle 11 and a portable device 30 obtained by transmitting and receiving radio signals between the antennas (ANT) 21a, 21b, and 21c provided in the vehicle-side device 20 and the portable device 30. The direction information of the vehicle 11 is detected from the distance information and sent to the portable device 30 to guide the position of the vehicle 11 to the portable device 30.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the vehicle-side device 20. As shown in FIG. 2, three antennas 21a, 21b, and 21c, three radar circuits 22a, 22b, and 22c, a distance measuring unit 23, a CPU 24, a memory 25, a GPS device 26, and an unlocking system. 27.

  Each antenna 21 (21a, 21b, 21c) is constituted by, for example, a resin film antenna or the like, and is provided at different positions such as a windshield and a rear glass of the vehicle 11. The mounting position of each antenna 21 is provided so as to form a vertex of a triangle, and the triangle is provided so as to be substantially horizontal with respect to the ground. The mounting position of each antenna 21 on the vehicle 11 is stored in the memory 25. Each antenna 21 sends an interrogation signal sent from the radar circuit 22 to the portable device 30, receives a response signal from the portable device 30, and sends it to the radar circuit 22. Each antenna 21 transmits a transmission signal from each radar circuit 22 to the portable device 30, and receives a reply signal (reception signal) sent back from the portable device 30 and sends it to each radar circuit 22. Furthermore, each antenna 21 sends the azimuth information, distance information, and progress information sent from the radar circuit 22 to the portable device 30.

  Each radar circuit 22 (22a, 22b, 22c) intermittently transmits an interrogation radio wave (question signal) to the portable device 30 via the antenna 21 to the portable device 30, and from the portable device 30 for the inquiry signal. Is received via the antenna 21. The question signal includes ID information for identifying the portable device 30 associated with the vehicle 11, and the vehicle-side device 20 receives the response signal from the portable device 30 that matches the ID information. The distance information measurement operation starts. Each radar circuit 22 transmits a transmission signal of a predetermined frequency from each antenna 21, receives a reply signal returned from the portable device 30, and transmits each transmission signal transmitted by itself and each received reply signal. The individual distance information (individual distance information) between each antenna 21 and the portable device 30 is measured from the phase difference and the individual distance information is sent to the distance measuring unit 23. Here, the predetermined frequency is used in a band from several MHz to several GHz. Furthermore, the radar circuit 22 transmits the azimuth information, distance information, and traveling direction received from the CPU 24 to the portable device 30 via the antenna 21. In the present embodiment, the radar circuit 22a sends the interrogation signal, the direction information, the distance information, and the traveling direction to the portable device 30 and receives the response signal from the portable device 30, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Absent. Here, each of the radar circuits 22a, 22b, and 22c can be configured by a circuit as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

  FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram showing a configuration example of the radar circuit 22. Since each of the radar circuits 22a, 22b, and 22c has the same configuration, the radar circuit 22a will be described as an example here. The radar circuit 22a shown in FIG. 3 includes an oscillator 221, an amplifier 222, a divider 223, a circulator 224, an amplifier 225, a mixer 226, and a detector (DET) 227. Upon receiving a transmission signal output instruction from the CPU 24, the oscillator 221 generates a transmission signal by oscillating a carrier wave signal in a predetermined frequency band, and the amplifier 222 amplifies the transmission signal to a predetermined level and sends it to the divider 223. . The divider 223 sends the transmission signal amplified by the amplifier 222 to the circulator 224 and sends the same transmission signal to the mixer 226. The transmission signal sent to the circulator 224 is wirelessly transmitted from the antenna 21a to the portable device 30. A reply signal from the portable device 30 received by the antenna 21 a is sent to the amplifier 225 via the circulator 224, amplified to a predetermined level, and then sent to the mixer 226. The mixer 225 sends the transmission signal transmitted by the radar circuit 22a and the return signal received from the portable device 30 to the DET 227. The DET 227 obtains individual distance information between the antenna 21a and the portable device 30 from the phase difference between the transmission signal and the return signal. taking measurement.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the distance measurement unit 23 is based on the individual distance information between each antenna 21 and the portable device 30 sent from each radar circuit 22 and the mounting position information of each antenna 21 stored in the memory 25. Thus, for example, distance information between the vehicle 11 and the portable device 30 is measured using a triangulation method, and the measured distance information is sent to the CPU 24.

  The GPS device 26 acquires absolute azimuth information indicating the azimuth of the vehicle 11 and position coordinate information indicating the position of the vehicle 11, and sends the acquired absolute azimuth information and position coordinate information to the CPU 24. In the present embodiment, the absolute azimuth information of the vehicle 11 is detected by the GPS device 26, but may be detected by, for example, a magnetic azimuth sensor.

  The lock release system 27 releases the lock of the door provided in the vehicle 11. For example, based on the distance information between the vehicle 11 and the portable device 30 measured by the distance measuring unit 23, the unlocking system 27 is configured so that when the distance information becomes a predetermined value or less, the approaching side of the portable device 30 approaches. The door 11a is unlocked (see FIG. 1).

  The CPU 24 intermittently sends an interrogation radio wave generation instruction to the radar circuit 22 and controls the entire detection operation of the direction information and the distance information between the vehicle 11 and the portable device 30. The CPU 24 determines the direction of the portable device 30 viewed from the vehicle 11 side or the vehicle viewed from the portable device 30 based on the distance information measured by the distance measuring unit 23 and the absolute bearing information of the vehicle 11 received from the GPS device 26. 11 detects relative azimuth information (relative azimuth information) representing 11 directions, and sends the detected relative azimuth information to the radar circuit 22 (azimuth detection means). This relative orientation information is stored in the memory 25 and used to detect the traveling direction of the portable device 30. Further, the CPU 24 sends distance information between the vehicle 11 and the portable device 30 measured by the distance measuring unit 23 to the radar circuit 22. The relative azimuth information and the distance information are sent to the portable device 30 via the radar circuit 22 and the like, and the portable device 30 constitutes information related to the vehicle direction (vehicle direction related information). Further, the CPU 24 detects the traveling direction of the portable device 30 from the history of the relative orientation information stored in the memory 25, and sends the detected traveling direction together with the relative orientation information to the radar circuit 22 (azimuth detection means).

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the portable device 30. The portable device 30 includes a single antenna 31, a transponder 32, a CPU 33, a direction detector 35, and an information output unit 34. The portable device 30 can be configured by, for example, an entry key or a cellular phone that opens and closes a door 11a provided in the vehicle 11.

  The antenna 31 receives the interrogation radio wave (interrogation signal) sent from the vehicle side device 20 and sends it to the transponder 32, and sends the response radio wave (response signal) received from the transponder 32 to the vehicle side device 20. The antenna 31 receives a transmission signal sent from the vehicle side device 20 and sends it to the transponder 32, and sends a reply signal received from the transponder 32 to the vehicle side device 20.

  The transponder 32 sends the interrogation signal received from the antenna 31 to the CPU 33, generates a response signal in accordance with the response signal output instruction from the CPU 33, and sends it to the antenna 31. Further, the transponder 32 receives the transmission signal sent from the vehicle side device 20 from the antenna 31 and sends back to the antenna 31 a reply signal having the same frequency and the same phase as a signal synchronized with the transmission signal. Furthermore, when the transponder 32 receives the relative direction information, the distance information, and the traveling direction information sent from the vehicle-side device 20, the transponder 32 sends it to the CPU 33.

  The direction detector 35 detects the direction (absolute azimuth) that the portable device 30 faces, and sends the detected absolute azimuth information of the portable device 30 to the CPU 33.

  When the CPU 33 receives the interrogation signal from the transponder 32, the CPU 33 determines whether the ID information included in the interrogation signal matches the ID information of the portable device 30. If they coincide, the CPU 33 instructs the transponder 32 to output a response signal. Send. Further, the CPU 33 generates information related to the direction of the vehicle (vehicle direction related information) based on the relative azimuth information, distance information, and traveling direction received from the transponder 32, and sends the generated vehicle direction related information to the information output unit 34. Send it out. Thereby, even when the traveling direction of the portable device 30 is moving in a direction different from the direction of the vehicle 11, it is possible to guide the vehicle 11 appropriately in the direction.

  Further, the CPU 33 uses the relative direction information and the absolute direction information of the portable device 30 received from the direction detector 35 as a reference for the direction of the portable device 30 (absolute direction information). Information indicating the direction is generated, and this information is output to the information output unit 34 as vehicle direction related information. Thereby, even when the absolute azimuth | direction of the portable device 30 and the relative azimuth | direction of azimuth | direction information do not correspond, the exact azimuth | direction of the vehicle 11 on the basis of an absolute azimuth | direction can be guided.

  The information output unit 34 outputs and / or outputs the vehicle direction related information generated by the CPU 33 through the display unit 34a such as an LED or LCD and / or the speaker 34b (see FIG. 1). For example, the information output unit 34 outputs the relative azimuth information and the traveling direction information on the display unit 34a, and outputs the distance information on the speaker 34b.

  Next, the control operation of the vehicle search system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the vehicle search system 10 according to the present embodiment, and shows a flow until the portable device 30 is outside the vehicle 11 and the automatic lock is released. Here, a case will be described as an example in which an interrogation radio wave serving as a trigger for starting a control operation is sent from the vehicle side device 20 to the portable device 30.

  As shown in FIG. 5, after the vehicle-side device 20 has been in a sleep state for a certain period of time (step S501), an inquiry radio wave is transmitted to the portable device 30 (step S502). When the interrogation radio wave is received by the portable device 30 (step S551), it is determined whether the ID information included in the interrogation radio wave and the ID information of the portable device 30 match each other. It is determined to be transmitted to the car (step S552: Yes), and a response radio wave is transmitted to the vehicle side device 20 (step S553). When the response signal is transmitted, the portable device 30 shifts to a mode (ranging mode) for measuring the distance from the vehicle-side device 20 that is the transmission destination of the response signal (step S554).

  Next, when a response signal is received from the portable device 30 (step S503) and there is a response from the portable device 30 corresponding to the vehicle 11 provided with the vehicle side device 20 (step S504: Yes), the portable device The mode shifts to a distance measuring mode for measuring the distance to 30 (step S505). In addition, when there is no response from the portable device 30 corresponding to the own vehicle 11 (step S504: No), the inquiry radio wave is transmitted intermittently.

  In the ranging mode (steps S505 and S554), each radar circuit 22 transmits a transmission signal from each antenna 21, receives each reply signal returned from the portable device 30, and transmits each transmission signal transmitted from the own device. And the individual distance information between each antenna 21 and the portable device 30 is measured from the phase difference of each received reply signal, and the distance information between the vehicle 11 and the portable device 30 is obtained by the distance measuring unit 23 based on the individual distance information. Measured. When the distance measurement process between the vehicle 11 and the portable device 30 is completed (steps S506 and S555), a distance measurement completion signal is sent from the distance measurement unit 23 to the CPU 24 (step S507).

  Next, the CPU 24 performs positioning calculation between the vehicle 11 and the portable device 30 based on the distance information measured by the distance measuring unit 23 and the absolute azimuth information and position information of the vehicle 11 received from the GPS device 26. The positioning is converted (steps S508 and S509). Then, relative orientation information and distance information between the vehicle 11 and the portable device 30 are transmitted to the portable device 30 (step S510).

  When the relative azimuth information and the distance information from the vehicle side device 20 are received (step S556), the relative output information and the distance information are displayed / voiced by the information output unit 34 (step S557). Then, according to the relative azimuth information and the distance information, the user who owns the portable device 30 searches for the position of the vehicle while approaching the vehicle 11.

  Next, when the distance between the vehicle 11 and the portable device 30 approaches the unlocking distance for unlocking the door 11a of the vehicle 11 (step S511: Yes), the side where the portable device 30 approaches by the unlocking system 27. The door 11a is unlocked (step S512), and a door unlock signal is transmitted to the portable device 30 (step S513). Then, in the portable device 30, a door lock release signal is received (step S558), and it is confirmed whether or not the door lock is released (step S559).

  In the flow shown in FIG. 5, the interrogation radio wave that triggers the start of the control operation is sent from the vehicle-side device 20 to the portable device 30, but the trigger is sent from the portable device 30 to the vehicle-side device 20. It is also possible to cause the vehicle side device 20 to start a control operation by sending an interrogation radio wave. In this case, the inquiry radio wave includes ID information for identifying the portable device 30 and an activation signal for activating the vehicle-side device 20.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the vehicle-side device 20 is measured from the phase difference between each transmission signal transmitted from each antenna 21a, 21b, 21c and each return signal returned from the portable device 30. Based on the distance information between the vehicle 11 and the portable device 30 and the absolute azimuth information of the vehicle 11, the azimuth information between the vehicle 11 and the portable device 30 is detected and sent to the portable device 30. Based on the information, vehicle direction related information relating to the direction of the vehicle 11 is generated and output. For this reason, it is not necessary to incorporate three antennas in the portable device as in the prior art, the number of antennas of the portable device 30 can be reduced, and the portable device 30 can be downsized. Direction information can be guided. Further, since the distance information from the vehicle 11 to the portable device 30 is transmitted in addition to the azimuth information, the accurate position of the vehicle 11 can be guided to the portable device 30. Furthermore, since the direction of the vehicle 11 is shown based on the azimuth information on the basis of the direction (absolute azimuth) that the portable device 30 is facing, even if the absolute azimuth of the portable device 30 does not match the relative azimuth of the azimuth information. Thus, it is possible to guide the accurate direction of the vehicle 11 with respect to the absolute direction. Furthermore, since the traveling direction of the portable device 30 detected from the history of the orientation information is sent to the portable device 30 together with the orientation information, even when the traveling direction of the portable device 30 is moving in a direction different from the orientation of the vehicle, It is possible to guide appropriately in the direction.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications. In the above-described embodiment, the size, shape, and the like illustrated in the accompanying drawings are not limited thereto, and can be appropriately changed within a range in which the effect of the present invention is exhibited. In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the object of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, the vehicle-side device 20 is provided with the three antennas 21a, 21b, and 21c. However, a configuration in which four or more antennas 21 are provided is also possible. For example, referring to the reception level of the return signal from the portable device 30 received by each of the four or more antennas 21, the individual distance information between the upper three antennas 21 and the portable device 30 having the higher reception level is determined by the distance measuring unit. You may make it send to 23. Even in this case, it is preferable that the positions of the four or more antennas 21 lie on a substantially horizontal plane with respect to the ground.

  Furthermore, although the number of radar circuits 22 corresponding to the antennas 21 is provided in the above embodiment, the radar circuit 22 may be shared if individual distance information between each antenna 21 and the portable device 30 can be measured. . For example, each antenna 21 may be connected to the radar circuit 22d via the switch circuit 26 as in the vehicle-side device 20a shown in FIG. In this case, the CPU 24 sends a control signal for switching each antenna 21 to the switch circuit 26, causes the radar circuit 22 d to measure the individual distance information while switching each antenna 21, and receives the distance information from the distance measuring unit 23.

  In the above embodiment, the vehicle-side device 20 detects the relative orientation information. However, if the portable device 30 is provided with a magnetic sensor, the distance information sent from the vehicle-side device 20 on the portable device 30 side. It is also possible to detect relative orientation information based on In this case, it is not necessary to provide the direction detector 35 in the portable device 30.

  The present invention is applicable to a vehicle search system that searches for a vehicle such as an automobile.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle search system 20 Vehicle side apparatus 21a, 21b, 21c Antenna 22a, 22b, 22c Radar circuit 23 Ranging part 24 CPU
25 memory 26 GPS
27 Unlocking system 30 Mobile device 31 Antenna 32 Transmission / reception circuit 33 CPU
34 Information output part 35 Direction detector

Claims (6)

A vehicle search system comprising a vehicle side device provided in a vehicle and a portable device that wirelessly communicates with the vehicle side device, and searches for the position of the vehicle,
The vehicle side device
Three antennas provided at different positions on the vehicle;
A transmission signal of a predetermined frequency is transmitted from the three antennas, a reply signal returned from the portable device is received, and each antenna and the portable device are compared by comparing each transmitted transmission signal and each received reply signal. A radar circuit that measures distance information to the aircraft,
Direction detection means for detecting direction information representing the direction of the portable device viewed from the vehicle side or the direction of the vehicle viewed from the portable device from the distance information measured by the radar circuit, and the direction information To the portable device,
The portable device is
Information including one antenna and a transmission signal transmitted from the vehicle-side device from the antenna and returning a reply signal synchronized with the transmission signal, and including the direction information transmitted from the vehicle-side device A transponder to receive,
An information output means for outputting information related to the direction of the vehicle based on the azimuth information received by the transponder. The vehicle side device transmits distance information from the vehicle to the portable device together with the azimuth information to the portable device,
The vehicle search system according to claim 1, wherein the information output unit outputs the distance information together with the direction information.   The portable device includes a direction detector that detects a direction in which the portable device is facing, and indicates the direction of the vehicle on the basis of the direction in which the portable device is detected as detected by the direction detector. The vehicle search system according to claim 1 or 2. The direction detection means detects the traveling direction of the portable device from the history of the direction information, and transmits the traveling direction to the portable device together with the direction information,
The vehicle search system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the information output means outputs the traveling direction and the direction information.   The vehicle search system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the portable device is an entry key that opens and closes a door provided in the vehicle.   The vehicle search system according to claim 1, wherein the portable device is a mobile phone.

Images