JP2011097363A - Wireless communication system of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless communication system of a vehicle capable of assuring an appropriate operation as the wireless communication system even when wireless signals are transmitted from two communication machines, respectively, through communication control to be individually performed through two controllers to be provided to the vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: The wireless communication system of the vehicle unlocks a vehicle door by transferring wireless signals between an on-vehicle device 10 and portable machines 20, 21 which transmit the wireless signals from a transmitter 11a and a reader/writer 12a through the communication control by a smart controller 11e and an RFID controller 12c. Here, the on-vehicle device 10 is provided with a receiver 12d which receives the wireless signal to be transmitted from the transmitter 11a. In addition, the RFID controller 12c transmits, while monitoring whether the wireless signal is transmitted from the transmitter 11a through the receiver 12d, the wireless signal from the reader/writer 12a in a period when the wireless signal from the transmitter is not transmitted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle wireless communication system that executes various types of vehicle control through wireless communication between a portable device and a vehicle.

  Conventionally, as one of such wireless communication systems, for example, a so-called smart entry system in which unlocking of a vehicle door or the like is automatically executed when a user having a portable device (electronic key) approaches the vehicle door, for example Is well known. In this smart entry system, a request signal is transmitted from a transmitter mounted on a vehicle to a communication area set around a vehicle door, for example. In this smart entry system, a user has a portable device that receives a request signal transmitted from a transmitter and transmits a response signal including information such as an ID code (identification code) to the received request signal. To do. That is, when a user who has a portable device enters the communication area, a response signal is transmitted from the portable device. In this system, the response signal transmitted from the portable device is received by the receiver mounted on the vehicle, and the receiver transmits the received response signal to the in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle. This in-vehicle device collates the ID code included in the transmitted response signal with the ID code stored in itself, and if it is determined that the ID codes match each other through this collation, Perform unlock.

  On the other hand, in the above-described wireless communication system, in addition to such a smart entry system, wireless communication is performed between a portable device owned by a user and an in-vehicle device using, for example, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. There are also so-called RFID systems that perform unlocking of vehicle doors and the like. In this RFID system, an RF tag in which various electronic components such as an IC chip, an antenna, and a memory are incorporated in a portable device, and various data such as the ID code are stored in the memory of the RF tag. Yes. The in-vehicle device is provided with a reader / writer that performs reading and writing of various data stored in the RF tag through wireless communication. In this system, a request signal is transmitted from the reader / writer to, for example, a communication area set around the door knob of the vehicle. That is, when the portable device enters this communication area, the portable device receives the request signal. Here, when the RF tag is a passive type that does not incorporate a battery, for example, in the portable device, power is supplied to the RF tag by the received request signal, and the RF tag operates. Also, a command for requesting an ID code to the RF tag is transmitted via the request signal, and the RF tag generates a response signal including the ID code stored in the built-in memory based on the request command. This is transmitted to the reader / writer. When the in-vehicle device receives the transmitted response signal via the reader / writer, the in-vehicle device collates the ID code included in the response signal with the ID code stored in the memory in the in-vehicle device, When it is determined that the ID codes match, the vehicle door is unlocked.

  By the way, when it is going to mount both such a smart entry system and RFID system in a vehicle, there exists a possibility that the radio | wireless communication used in those systems may mutually interfere, and each system originates in interference of such radio | wireless communication. May not work properly. Specifically, for example, in a situation where the reader / writer receives a request signal transmitted from a transmitter, the reader / writer may malfunction, and the RFID system may not operate normally.

  Therefore, in such a wireless communication system, for example, as seen in Patent Document 1, reception of a wireless signal by a reader / writer is temporarily stopped during a period in which a request signal is transmitted from a transmitter. ing. As a result, malfunction of the reader / writer based on reception of the request signal can be prevented, so that each system can be operated appropriately.

JP 2007-332547 A

  By the way, in the wireless communication system described in Patent Document 1, since one control device that controls the operations of both the smart entry system and the RFID system is mounted on the vehicle, the communication status of one system It is easy to perform communication control of the other system based on the above. That is, if the system can be coordinated by such a single control device, the reader / writer temporarily receives the radio signal during the period in which the request signal is transmitted from the transmitter as described above. It is possible to easily perform control such as stopping at a short time.

  On the other hand, many vehicles on the market are equipped with only the smart entry system among the two systems described above. When the above-described RFID system is mounted on a vehicle in which only such a smart entry system is mounted, devices necessary for the system, such as the reader / writer, and various communication controls through the reader / writer are executed. It is conceivable to install an RFID control device or the like on the vehicle as a retrofit. That is, in this case, the vehicle is provided with a smart control device that controls communication of the smart entry system and an RFID control device that controls communication control of the RFID system.

  However, when each control device is provided in this way, unlike the system described in Patent Document 1 described above, the smart control device transmits a request signal via a transmitter, and the RFID control device passes a reader / writer. The transmission control for transmitting the request signal is performed independently of each other. For this reason, if the timing at which the request signal is transmitted from the transmitter and the timing at which the request signal is transmitted from the reader / writer may overlap, the respective radio signals interfere with each other. There is a possibility that a communication failure occurs such that the portable device cannot receive the request signal transmitted from. And when such a communication failure occurs, for example, when the user has only a portable device used exclusively in the smart entry system, the user cannot unlock the vehicle door. The functions required as a communication system may be hindered.

  Such a problem is not limited to a vehicle wireless communication system in which an RFID system is retrofitted to a smart entry system, but is also a problem common to a vehicle wireless communication system in which these two systems are installed from the beginning. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to transmit request signals from two communication devices to a portable device through transmission control performed separately through two control devices provided in the vehicle. Even if it does, it is providing the radio | wireless communications system of the vehicle which can ensure appropriate operation | movement as a radio | wireless communications system.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is to request intermittently from the first and second communication devices with a predetermined cycle through transmission control by the first and second control devices provided in the vehicle. A vehicle-mounted device that transmits the signal and a portable device that transmits a response signal to the vehicle-mounted device when the request signal is received, and the response signal is transmitted to the first communication device or the second communication device. A wireless communication system for a vehicle in which various processes relating to vehicle control are executed by receiving the received communication device, wherein the in-vehicle device receives a request signal transmitted from the first communication device. The second control device monitors whether the request signal is transmitted from the first communication device through the receiver, and receives the request from the first communication device. It is summarized in that the bets signal intermittently transmits the request signal from the second communication device during the period that has not been sent.

  As in the system, if a receiver that receives a request signal transmitted from the first communication device is provided in the in-vehicle device, the second control device makes a request from the first communication device through this receiver. It is possible to monitor whether a signal is being transmitted. The second control device monitors whether or not the request signal is transmitted from the first communication device, and from the second communication device during a period when the request signal is not transmitted from the first communication device. If a request signal is transmitted, interference of request signals transmitted from each communication device can be avoided, so that the portable device appropriately receives the request signal transmitted from each communication device. Will be able to. For this reason, it becomes possible to ensure an appropriate operation as a wireless communication system.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle wireless communication system according to the first aspect, the second control device includes the first control unit during a period in which the request signal is not transmitted from the first communication device. The gist is that the request signal and the response signal are exchanged between the communication device 2 and the portable device.

  According to the system, since interference between a response signal transmitted from the portable device to the second communication device and a request signal transmitted from the first communication device can be avoided, the signal is transmitted from the portable device. The response signal can be appropriately received by the second communication device. For this reason, it becomes possible to ensure an appropriate operation as a wireless communication system more accurately.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system for a vehicle according to the first aspect, the second control device includes the request signal and the response between the first communication device and the portable device. The gist is that the request signal is intermittently transmitted from the second communication device during a period in which no signal is exchanged.

  According to the system, interference between the response signal transmitted from the portable device to the first communication device and the request signal transmitted from the second communication device can be avoided, so that the signal is transmitted from the portable device. The response signal can be appropriately received by the first communication device. For this reason, it becomes possible to ensure an appropriate operation as a wireless communication system more accurately.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system for a vehicle according to the first aspect, the second control device includes the request signal and the response between the first communication device and the portable device. The gist is that the request signal and the response signal are exchanged between the second communication device and the portable device during a period in which no signal is exchanged.

  According to the system, the interference between the response signal transmitted from the portable device to the second communication device and the request signal transmitted from the first communication device to the portable device, and the first communication device from the portable device. Since it is possible to avoid both interference between the response signal transmitted to the mobile station and the request signal transmitted from the second communication device to the portable device, it is possible to more appropriately ensure an appropriate operation as a wireless communication system. become able to.

And in this case, specifically, according to the invention of claim 5,
The intermittent transmission of the request signal from the second communication device, when the time required for the first communication device to transmit the request signal is a first transmission time, through the receiver If a configuration in which the request signal is received and then started after waiting until the first transmission time elapses, the second signal is transmitted during a period when the request signal is not transmitted from the first communication device. A request signal is transmitted from the communication device.
Or according to the invention of claim 6,
The time required for intermittent transmission of the request signal from the second communication device to be transmitted by the second communication device is the second transmission time, and the first transmission time When a cycle in which the request signal is intermittently transmitted from a communication device is a first transmission cycle, the first transmission cycle has passed since the reception of the request signal has been detected through the receiver. It is stopped at a time point before the second transmission time or at a time point before that time point.
Or according to the invention according to claim 7,
The time required for the intermittent transmission of the request signal from the second communication device to exchange the request signal and the response signal between the first communication device and the portable device is the first time. Transmission / reception time is started after waiting for the first transmission / reception time to elapse after detecting reception of the request signal through the receiver.
Or according to the invention according to claim 8,
The time required for the intermittent transmission of the request signal from the second communication device to exchange the request signal and the response signal between the second communication device and the portable device is a second time. Transmission / reception time, and when the request signal is intermittently transmitted from the first communication device is defined as a first transmission cycle, the reception of the request signal is detected through the receiver. It is stopped at a time point before the second transmission / reception time before the elapse of the first transmission cycle, or at a time point before that time point.
By adopting such a configuration, the invention according to claims 1 to 4 can be easily realized.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle wireless communication system according to the fifth aspect, the second control device measures the reception time when detecting the reception of the request signal through the receiver. The gist is to learn the first transmission time from the measured value.

  In such a wireless communication system, the first transmission time, which is the time required for the first communication device to transmit the request signal, may be variably set by the first control device. It may be difficult to store the transmission time as a fixed value in advance, for example, in a memory built in the second control device. In this regard, according to the above system, even if the first control device variably sets the first transmission time in this way, the second control device learns the first transmission time correspondingly. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately execute transmission control for transmitting a request signal from the second communication device while flexibly responding to a change in the first transmission time.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle wireless communication system according to the sixth or eighth aspect, the second control device detects a period when the reception of the request signal is detected through the receiver. And the first transmission cycle is learned from the measured value.

  In such a radio communication system, the first transmission cycle, which is the cycle in which the request signal is transmitted from the first communication device, may be variably set by the first control device. It may be difficult to store the cycle as a fixed value in advance, for example, in a memory built in the second control device. In this regard, according to the above system, even if the first control device variably sets the first transmission cycle in this way, the second control device learns the first transmission cycle correspondingly. Therefore, transmission control for transmitting a request signal from the second communication device can be appropriately executed while flexibly responding to a change in the first transmission cycle.

  According to the wireless communication system for a vehicle according to the present invention, even when request signals are transmitted from the two communication devices to the portable device through transmission control performed separately through two control devices provided in the vehicle, An appropriate operation as a communication system can be ensured.

The block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure about one Embodiment of the radio | wireless communications system of the vehicle concerning this invention. The top view which shows the planar structure of the vehicle carrying the radio | wireless communications system of the embodiment. 6 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a control processing procedure for transmitting an RFID request signal by the RFID control device of the wireless communication system according to the embodiment; (A)-(d) is a timing chart which shows the operation example of the radio | wireless communications system of the embodiment. (A)-(d) is a timing chart which shows the operation example about the modification of the radio | wireless communications system of the embodiment. (A)-(d) is a timing chart which shows the operation example about the other modification of the radio | wireless communications system of the embodiment. (A)-(d) is a timing chart which shows the operation example about the other modification of the radio | wireless communications system of the embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying a wireless communication system for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a vehicle wireless communication system according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows a planar structure of a vehicle on which the wireless communication system is mounted. is there. First, the configuration and operation of this wireless communication system will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in this wireless communication system, various communication controls according to the above-described smart entry system are performed between a portable device 20 used exclusively in the smart entry system and an in-vehicle device 10 mounted on the vehicle. Is executed. Further, in this wireless communication system, an RF tag 21a is built in a portable device 21 used as a mobile phone by a user, and based on the above-described RFID system between the RF tag 21a and the in-vehicle device 10. Various communication controls are executed. The RF tag 21a is also embedded with various electronic components necessary for RFID communication, such as an IC chip, a memory, and an antenna. The RF tag 21a is of a so-called passive type that operates by obtaining a power supply voltage from a radio signal (radio radio wave) transmitted from the in-vehicle device 10 without incorporating a battery.

  On the other hand, the in-vehicle device 10 receives, as a first communication device, the smart response signal Ssq transmitted from the portable device 20 together with the transmitter 11a that transmits the smart request signal Ssr via the transmission antenna 11b. A receiver 11c for receiving via 11d is provided. Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 2, the transmission antenna 11b is housed inside the door knob 16 of the vehicle, and the reception antenna 11d is disposed inside the vehicle. Among these, the former transmission antenna 11b functions as a part that transmits a smart request signal Ssr having a predetermined signal strength to the communication area A set around the vehicle door. As shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle device 10 is provided with a smart control device 11e as a first control device mainly composed of a microcomputer, and the smart control device 11e transmits the data. The transmission control of the smart request signal Ssr by the machine 11a and the processing of the smart response signal Ssq received via the receiver 11c are executed in a centralized manner.

  The in-vehicle device 10 is also provided with a vehicle control device 13 that controls a control object 14 such as a door lock actuator or an in-vehicle engine for locking / unlocking the vehicle door, for example. The vehicle control device 13 is connected to the smart control device 11e via an in-vehicle LAN 15 such as a CAN (Controller Area Network), for example, and these control devices exchange various data through the in-vehicle LAN 15.

  Further, the in-vehicle device 10 is equipped with an RFID device 12 for retrofitting wireless communication with the portable device 21 by the RFID communication method, and this RFID device 12 is also connected to the in-vehicle LAN 15 via a terminal 12g. Has been. The RFID device 12 includes a reader / writer 12a that transmits the RFID request signal Srr via the RFID antenna 12b and receives the RFID response signal Srq transmitted from the portable device 21 as the second communication device. Is provided. Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 2, the RFID antenna 12b is also accommodated in the door knob 16 of the vehicle, and is set in a communication area B set in the vicinity of the door knob 16, that is, in an area narrower than the communication area A. An RFID request signal Srr having a predetermined signal strength is transmitted. As shown in FIG. 1, the RFID device 12 is provided with an RFID control device 12c as a second control device mainly composed of a microcomputer. The RFID control device 12c is a reader. The transmission control of the RFID request signal Srr by the writer 12a and the processing of the RFID response signal Srq received through the reader / writer 12a are collectively executed. The RFID controller 12c exchanges various data with the smart controller 11e and the vehicle controller 13 through the in-vehicle LAN 15 connected via the terminal 12g.

  In this wireless communication system, wireless communication between the in-vehicle device 10 and the portable device 20 is performed by a polling method. In other words, the smart request signal Ssr is intermittently transmitted from the transmitter 11a to the communication area A with a predetermined period, and when the portable device 20 possessed by the user enters the communication area A, Signals are exchanged with the machine 20. Specifically, first, the smart request signal Ssr transmitted from the transmitter 11a is received by the portable device 20, and the portable device 20 stores the smart request signal Ssr in a built-in memory based on the reception of the smart request signal Ssr. The smart response signal Ssq including the ID code is generated and transmitted to the in-vehicle device 10. By transmitting the smart response signal Ssq in this way, the receiver 11c receives this via the reception antenna 11d and transmits the smart response signal Ssq to the smart control device 11e. As a result, the smart control device 11e collates the ID code included in the transmitted smart response signal Ssq with the ID code stored in advance in the memory built in the control device 11e. Then, through this verification, it is determined that the authentication of the portable device 20 has been established on the condition that the mutual ID codes match, and a command to unlock the vehicle door is issued via the in-vehicle LAN 15 to the vehicle control device 13. To communicate. When the command for unlocking the vehicle door is thus transmitted, the vehicle control device 13 drives the door lock actuator that is the control target 14 to unlock the vehicle door.

  On the other hand, in the wireless communication system, wireless communication between the in-vehicle device 10 and the portable device 21 is also performed by a polling method. That is, the RFID request signal Srr is intermittently transmitted from the reader / writer 12a to the communication area B with a predetermined period, and when the portable device 21 possessed by the user enters the communication area B, Signal exchange is performed with the machine 21. Specifically, first, the RFID request signal Srr transmitted from the reader / writer 12a is received by the portable device 21, and the portable device 21 supplies power to the RF tag 21a by the RFID request signal Srr. The RF tag 21a operates. Also, a command for requesting an ID code to the RF tag 21a is transmitted via the RFID request signal Srr, and the RF tag 21a uses the ID code stored in the built-in memory based on the request command. An RFID response signal Srq is generated and transmitted to the in-vehicle device 10. By transmitting the RFID response signal Srq in this way, the reader / writer 12a receives this via the RFID antenna 12b and transmits the RFID response signal Srq to the RFID controller 12c. As a result, the RFID control device 12c compares the ID code included in the transmitted RFID response signal Srq with the ID code stored in advance in the memory built in the control device 12c. Then, through this verification, it is determined that the authentication of the portable device 21 has been established on the condition that the ID codes match each other, and a command to unlock the vehicle door is sent via the terminal 12g and the in-vehicle LAN 15 to the vehicle. This is transmitted to the control device 13. Even when a command to unlock the vehicle door is transmitted in this manner, the vehicle control device 13 drives the door lock actuator that is the control target 14 to unlock the vehicle door.

  By the way, in such a wireless communication system, the control in which the smart control device 11e transmits the smart request signal Ssr and the control in which the RFID control device 12c transmits the RFID request signal Srr are independently performed. Therefore, each radio signal may be transmitted in duplicate. On the other hand, the frequency of the smart request signal Ssr is generally LF band frequency (about 130 [kHz]), and the frequency of the RFID request signal Srr and response signal Srq is generally 13.56 [MHz]. Each radio signal has a frequency that is likely to interfere with each other. For this reason, as described above, if the smart request signal Ssr and the RFID request signal Srr are transmitted in duplicate, the radio signals may interfere with each other and cause a communication failure. Specifically, for example, when the user who has the portable device 20 enters the communication area A, the smart request signal Ssr and the RFID request signal Srr are simultaneously transmitted from the transmitter 11a and the reader / writer 12a. . At this time, if the signal strength of the RFID request signal Srr is stronger than the signal strength of the smart request signal Ssr received by the portable device 20, the portable device 20 may receive the smart request signal Ssr. There is a risk that it will not be possible. Note that such communication failure is likely to occur as the portable device 20 approaches the communication area B.

  In the wireless communication system described above, the transmission antenna 11b of the transmitter 11a and the RFID antenna 12b of the reader / writer 12a are both disposed inside the doorknob 16, and therefore are close to each other. For this reason, the timing at which the smart request signal Ssr is transmitted from the transmitter 11a and the timing at which the RFID response signal Srq is transmitted from the portable device 21 to the reader / writer 12a may overlap. However, the radio signals may interfere with each other, and the reader / writer 12a may not be able to receive the RFID response signal Srq.

  When such a communication failure occurs, there arises a disadvantage that the user cannot unlock the vehicle door, and the function required for the wireless communication system may be hindered.

  In order to avoid interference between the smart request signal Ssr and the RFID request signal Srr, the following method may be adopted. That is, each time the smart request signal Ssr is transmitted from the transmitter 11a, the smart control device 11e sequentially notifies the RFID control device 12c via the in-vehicle LAN 15. The RFID control device 12c transmits the RFID request signal Srr at a timing that does not interfere with the timing at which the smart request signal Ssr is transmitted, based on the information notified via the in-vehicle LAN 15. However, when such a method is adopted, the amount of information flowing through the in-vehicle LAN 15 becomes too large, which causes problems such as communication delays in other systems connected to the in-vehicle LAN 15, and is not realistic.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, in the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment, the in-vehicle device 10 includes a receiver 12d that receives the smart request signal Ssr transmitted from the transmitter 11a via the reception antenna 12e. Specifically, the RFID device 12 is provided. Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 2, the receiving antenna 12e is provided, for example, inside a vehicle door. The receiver 12d receives a radio wave having a frequency band equivalent to the smart request signal Ssr, that is, a frequency in the LF band (about 130 [kHz]), and incorporates the radio wave intensity of the received radio wave. Detection is performed through the RSSI circuit 12f. On the other hand, in this wireless communication system, the detection signal of the receiver 12d is taken into the RFID control device 12c. Then, the RFID control device 12c monitors whether or not the smart request signal Ssr is transmitted from the transmitter 11a based on the radio wave intensity detected through the receiver 12d, while the smart request signal Ssr is received. During the period in which no transmission is performed, the RFID request signal Srr and the response signal Srq are exchanged between the reader / writer 12a and the portable device 21.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of control for transmitting the RFID request signal Srr executed through the RFID control device 12c. The process shown in FIG. 3 is actually repeatedly executed with a predetermined calculation cycle.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in this control, first, it is determined whether or not the smart request signal Ssr is transmitted from the transmitter 11a (step S1). Specifically, it is determined that the smart request signal Ssr is transmitted from the transmitter 11a when the radio wave intensity detected through the receiver 12d is equal to or higher than a predetermined intensity. When it is determined that the smart request signal Ssr is transmitted from the transmitter 11a (step S1: YES), the transmission time S1 required for the transmitter 11a to transmit the smart request signal Ssr is determined. Also waits for a time P1 (= S1 + α1) that is longer by a margin time α1 (step S2). Specifically, the elapsed time from the time when transmission of the smart request signal Ssr is detected in step S1 is measured through the internal timer of the RFID control device 12c, and this elapsed time waits until the standby time P1 is reached. To do. Each value of the transmission time S1 and the margin time α1 is stored in a memory built in the RFID control device 12c. Thereafter, as the processing of the subsequent step S3, the RFID request signal Srr is intermittently transmitted from the reader / writer 12a with the transmission cycle T2, and whether or not a certain time has elapsed since the transmission of the smart request signal Ssr was detected. Is determined (step S4). Specifically, the period at which the smart request signal Ssr is intermittently transmitted from the transmitter 11a is T1, and when the RFID request signal Srr and the response signal Srq are exchanged between the reader / writer 12a and the portable device 21. S2 is the time required for the above and α2 is the surplus time, it is determined that the fixed time has elapsed when the elapsed time measured through the internal timer reaches the fixed time P2 (= T1− (S2 + α2)). The Note that the values of the transmission cycles T1, T2, the transmission / reception time S2, and the margin time α2 are also stored in a memory built in the RFID control device 12c. The intermittent transmission process of the RFID request signal Srr in step S3 is continued only during a period (step S4: NO) in which a certain time has not elapsed since the transmission of the smart request signal Ssr was detected. When a certain time has elapsed (step S4: YES), transmission of the RFID request signal Srr from the reader / writer 12a is stopped (step S5), and the RFID control apparatus ends this series of processing.

  4A to 4D show transitions of radio signals transmitted and received by the transmitter 11a, the receiver 11c, the receiver 12d, and the reader / writer 12a as an operation example of the radio communication system based on such control. The operation of this wireless communication system will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (d). In FIG. 4B, the smart response signal Ssq transmitted from the portable device 20 when the portable device 20 receives the smart request signal Ssr is indicated by a broken line, and in FIG. The RFID response signal Srq transmitted from the portable device 21 when the portable device 21 receives the RFID request signal Srr is indicated by a broken line. Further, in FIG. 4, the first transmission cycle in which the smart request signal Ssr is transmitted from the transmitter 11a is indicated by T1, and the second transmission in which the RFID request signal Srr is transmitted from the reader / writer 12a. The period is indicated by T2. Further, a first transmission time required when the transmitter 11a transmits the smart request signal Ssr is indicated by S1, and the RFID request signal Srr and the response signal are transmitted between the reader / writer 12a and the portable device 21. A second transmission / reception time required for sending and receiving Srq is indicated by S2.

  For example, when the smart request signal Ssr is transmitted from the transmitter 11a with the first transmission cycle T1 (FIG. 4A), the smart request signal Ssr is received by the receiver 12d at time t1. It is assumed that it has been received (FIG. 4C). At this time, intermittent transmission of the RFID request signal Srr from the reader / writer 12a is started at time t2 when the standby time P1 (= S1 + α1) has elapsed from time t1 (FIG. 4D). For this reason, when intermittent transmission of the RFID request signal Srr from the reader / writer 12a is started, interference between the RFID request signal Srr transmitted first from the reader / writer 12a and the smart request signal Ssr is omitted. It can be completely avoided. Therefore, the smart request signal Ssr can be appropriately received by the portable device 20.

  Thereafter, when a predetermined time P2 has elapsed from the time t1 when the smart request signal Ssr was received by the receiver 12d, that is, a predetermined time (from time t4 when the first transmission cycle T1 elapses from time t1). The intermittent transmission of the RFID request signal from the reader / writer 12a is temporarily stopped at time t3 before S2 + α2) (FIG. 4D). Therefore, even if the RFID response signal Srq is transmitted from the portable device 21 to the reader / writer 12a in response to the RFID request signal Srr transmitted last from the reader / writer 12a, the response signal Srq and the transmitter 11a Interference with the transmitted smart request signal Ssr can also be avoided. Therefore, the inconvenience that the RFID response signal Srq transmitted from the portable device 21 cannot be received by the reader / writer 12a can be avoided. In other words, the RFID response signal Srq transmitted from the portable device 21 can be appropriately received by the reader / writer 12a.

  As described above, according to the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment, interference between the smart request signal Ssr and the RFID request signal Srr, and interference between the smart request signal Ssr and the RFID response signal Srq are substantially complete. Will be able to avoid. For this reason, it is possible to accurately ensure an appropriate operation as a wireless communication system.

As described above, according to the wireless communication system for vehicles according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The in-vehicle device 10 is provided with a receiver 12d that receives the smart request signal Ssr transmitted from the transmitter 11a. The RFID control device 12c waits until the waiting time P1 (= S1 + α1) elapses after detecting reception of the smart request signal Ssr through the receiver 12d, and then receives the RFID request signal Srr from the reader / writer 12a. The intermittent transmission of was started. Accordingly, interference between the RFID request signal Srr and the smart request signal Ssr can be substantially completely avoided, so that the smart request signal Ssr can be appropriately received by the portable device 20. Become. Therefore, it is possible to ensure an appropriate operation as a wireless communication system.

  (2) Stop transmission of the RFID request signal Srr from the reader / writer 12a when a predetermined time P2 (= T1- (S2 + α2)) has elapsed since the reception of the smart request signal Ssr was detected through the receiver 12d. I did it. Accordingly, interference between the RFID response signal Srq and the smart request signal Ssr can be avoided, so that the reader / writer 12a appropriately receives the RFID response signal Srq transmitted from the portable device 21. Will be able to. For this reason, it becomes possible to ensure an appropriate operation as a wireless communication system more accurately.

  (3) Whether or not the smart request signal Ssr is transmitted from the transmitter 11a is monitored based on the signal level of the radio wave detected through the receiver 12d. This makes it possible to easily monitor whether or not the smart request signal Ssr is transmitted from the transmitter 11a.

In addition, the said embodiment can also be implemented with the following forms which changed this suitably.
Depending on the frequency of the smart response signal Ssq transmitted from the portable device 20, there is also a wireless communication system in which the smart response signal Ssq and the RFID request signal transmitted from the reader / writer 12a interfere with each other. In such a wireless communication system, as shown in FIG. 4, the timing for receiving the smart response signal Ssq by the receiver 11c and the RFID request signal Srr are transmitted from the reader / writer 12a. If the timing overlaps, the smart response signal Ssq may not be properly received by the receiver 11c. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5 as a diagram corresponding to the previous FIG. 4, the time required for exchanging the smart request signal Ssr and the response signal Srq between the transmitter 11a and the receiver 11c and the portable device 20 is as follows. When the first transmission / reception time S3 is set, the standby time P1 may be set to (S3 + α1). According to such a configuration, interference between the smart response signal Ssq and the RFID request signal Srr can be substantially completely avoided, so that the smart response signal Ssq transmitted from the portable device 20 is received by the receiver 11c. It will be possible to receive properly.

  In the above embodiment, the transmission antenna 11b of the transmitter 11a and the RFID antenna 12b of the reader / writer 12a are close to each other. Instead, for example, by appropriately changing the arrangement position of the transmission antenna 11b, The transmission antenna 11b and the RFID antenna 12b may be arranged apart from each other. As a result, the interference between the RFID response signal Srq and the smart request signal Ssr can be avoided. In such a wireless communication system, it is effective to adopt the following configuration. That is, as shown in FIG. 6 as a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 and FIG. 7 as a diagram corresponding to FIG. 5, the reader / writer 12a needs to transmit the RFID request signal Srr. When the transmission time of 2 is S4, the fixed time P2 may be set to (T1- (S4 + α2)). Even if such a configuration is adopted, the effect illustrated in (1) of the above-described embodiment is achieved by the configuration illustrated in FIG. 6, and this configuration (1) is achieved by the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7. In addition to the effects described above, the interference between the smart response signal Ssq and the RFID request signal Srr can be substantially completely avoided.

  Depending on the wireless communication system, the first transmission time S1 and the first transmission cycle T1 may be variably set by the smart control device 11e. Therefore, the first transmission time S1 and the first transmission cycle T1. May be difficult to store in advance in the memory of the RFID controller 12c as a fixed value. For this reason, when the RFID control apparatus 12c detects reception of the smart request signal Ssr through the receiver 12d, the reception time may be measured, and the first transmission time S1 may be learned from the measurement value. Further, when the RFID controller 12c detects the reception of the smart request signal Ssr through the receiver 12d, the period may be measured, and the first transmission period T1 may be learned from the measured value. With such a configuration, even if the smart control device 11e variably sets the first transmission time S1 or the first transmission cycle T1, the RFID control device 12c can flexibly cope with these changes. It becomes like this.

  In the above embodiment, the allowance time α1 is provided for the standby time P1, and the allowance time α2 is provided for the fixed time P2, but these allowance times α1 and α2 may be omitted. . If the margin time α1 is omitted, the transmission timing of the RFID request signal Srr can be advanced, so that the responsiveness of the RFID system can be improved. Further, if the margin time α2 is omitted, the number of times of transmission of the RFID request signal Srr can be increased, so that the responsiveness of the RFID system can be improved also in this case.

  In the above embodiment, the portable device 20 used in the smart entry system and the portable device 21 used in the RFID system are separate, but for example, the portable device 21 has the function of the portable device 20. A portable device in which these are integrated may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the vehicle wireless communication system according to the present invention is applied to a wireless communication system of a vehicle in which an RFID system is mounted on a smart entry system. However, for example, both the smart entry system and the RFID system However, the present invention can also be applied to a vehicle wireless communication system that has been installed from the beginning.

  In the above embodiment, it is determined whether or not the smart request signal Ssr is transmitted from the transmitter 11a based on the radio wave intensity detected through the receiver 12d. Instead of this, for example, the following method may be employed. First, the receiver 12d transmits an LF-band radio wave to the RFID control device 12c when it is received. The RFID control device 12c performs signal analysis of the transmitted LF band radio wave to determine whether the received radio wave is the smart request signal Ssr. When it is determined that the received radio wave is the smart request signal Ssr, it may be determined that the smart request signal Ssr is transmitted from the transmitter 11a. By adopting such a method, it becomes possible to more accurately determine whether or not the smart request signal Ssr is transmitted from the transmitter 11a.

  In the above embodiment, the vehicle radio communication system according to the present invention is applied to a vehicle radio communication system equipped with a smart entry system and an RFID system. Instead, for example, both the transponder system that unlocks the vehicle door by performing wireless communication between the transponder built in the portable device and the immobilizer mounted on the in-vehicle device, and the above-described smart system You may apply to the radio | wireless communications system of the vehicle mounted. Further, the present invention may be applied to a radio communication system for a vehicle on which three systems, a smart entry system, an RFID system, and a transponder system are mounted. In short, various processes related to vehicle control through wireless communication between an in-vehicle device and a portable device that intermittently transmit wireless signals from two communication devices with a predetermined cycle through communication control by two control devices provided in the vehicle. The vehicle wireless communication system according to the present invention can be applied as long as the vehicle wireless communication system executes the above.

In the above embodiment, the vehicle wireless communication system according to the present invention is applied to a wireless communication system for unlocking a vehicle door. It is also possible to do. Specifically, after the transmitter 11a and the reader / writer 12a are arranged in the vehicle interior, the smart request signal Ssr and the RFID signal are transmitted from the transmitter 11a and the reader / writer 12a to a predetermined communication area set in the vehicle interior. A request signal Srr is transmitted. Then, when the portable device 20 or the portable device 21 enters the communication area in the vehicle interior, wireless communication is performed between the portable devices 20 and 21 and the in-vehicle device 10 to authenticate the portable devices 20 and 21. When the authentication is established, the on-vehicle engine is permitted to start. Furthermore, the wireless communication system according to the present invention can be applied to a wireless communication system for a vehicle that performs both unlocking of the vehicle door and start permission of the in-vehicle engine. In short, any wireless communication system for vehicles that executes various processes related to vehicle control by transmitting and receiving wireless signals between the in-vehicle device 10 and the portable devices 20 and 21 may be used.
(Appendix)
Next, a technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment and its modifications will be additionally described.

  (A) The vehicle wireless communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first communication device is a communication area set around a vehicle door or a communication set in a vehicle interior. The first control device is configured to exchange the wireless signal with the portable device on condition that the portable device enters the area, and the first control device receives from the portable device received through the first communication device. Authentication of the portable device is performed based on a wireless signal transmitted, and the second communication device transmits and receives the wireless signal to and from the portable device by an RFID communication method. The second control device authenticates the portable device based on a radio signal transmitted from the portable device received through the second communication device, and the in-vehicle device includes the first and second devices. Through the control device The portable device vehicle of a wireless communication system and executes various processes according to the vehicle control based on the authentication of, respectively are performed. According to the system, a so-called smart entry system that executes various controls related to vehicle control on condition that a portable device enters a communication area set in the vicinity of the vehicle door or a communication area set in the vehicle interior. Can be realized by the first communication device and the first control device. In addition, a so-called RFID system that executes various controls related to vehicle control by performing wireless communication between the in-vehicle device and the portable device by the RFID communication method can be realized by the second communication device and the second control device. It becomes like this. By the way, in the wireless communication system in which both the smart entry system and the RFID system are mounted as described above, the wireless signals transmitted from the respective communication devices are likely to interfere with each other as described above. Therefore, it is significant to apply the above-described system to such a wireless communication system.

  (B) In the vehicle wireless communication system according to appendix i, the first communication device is configured to communicate with the portable device on condition that the portable device enters a communication area set around the vehicle door. The second communication device transmits and receives a radio signal, and the second communication device communicates with the portable device by the RFID communication method on condition that the portable device enters a communication area set around a door knob of a vehicle. A wireless communication system for a vehicle, which transmits and receives a wireless signal, and wherein the various processes relating to the vehicle control are processes for unlocking a vehicle door. When performing the process of unlocking the vehicle door as various processes related to vehicle control, in the smart entry system, wireless communication between the in-vehicle device and the portable device is performed in an area set around the vehicle door, In an RFID system, wireless communication between an in-vehicle device and a portable device is often performed in an area set around a door knob of a vehicle. For this reason, there is the actual situation that the radio signals transmitted from the communication devices of each system easily interfere with each other. Therefore, it is effective to apply the above-described system to such a system.

  (C) In the radio communication system for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 10, appendix i, and appendix b, the receiver is equivalent to a radio signal transmitted from the first communicator. A radio wave having a frequency band is received and the radio wave intensity of the received radio wave is detected, and monitoring whether the radio signal is transmitted from the first communication device is performed by the receiver. A wireless communication system for a vehicle, which is performed based on radio field intensity of a radio wave detected through the vehicle. According to the system, it is possible to monitor whether or not a radio signal is transmitted from the first communication device by simply monitoring the radio wave intensity of the radio wave received through the receiver. For this reason, since it becomes possible to easily monitor whether or not a radio signal is transmitted from the first communication device, the above-described system can be easily realized.

  A ... Communication area, B ... Communication area, Srq ... RFID response signal, Srr ... RFID request signal, Ssq ... Smart response signal, Ssr ... Smart request signal, 10 ... In-vehicle device, 11a ... Transmitter, 11b ... Transmitting antenna, 11c ... receiver, 11d ... receiving antenna, 11e ... smart controller, 12 ... RFID device, 12a ... reader / writer, 12b ... RFID antenna, 12c ... RFID controller, 12d ... receiver, 12e ... receiving antenna, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12f ... RSSI circuit, 12g ... Terminal, 13 ... Vehicle control apparatus, 14 ... Control object, 15 ... In-vehicle LAN, 16 ... Doorknob, 20, 21 ... Portable machine, 21 ... Portable machine, 21a ... RF tag.

Claims (10)

When the request signal is received, and the in-vehicle device that intermittently transmits the request signal at predetermined intervals from the first and second communication devices through transmission control by the first and second control devices provided in the vehicle A portable device that transmits a response signal to the in-vehicle device, and various processes relating to vehicle control are executed by receiving the response signal by the first communication device or the second communication device. A vehicle wireless communication system,
The in-vehicle device is provided with a receiver that receives a request signal transmitted from the first communication device, and the second control device receives the request signal from the first communication device through the receiver. A vehicle characterized by intermittently transmitting the request signal from the second communication device during a period in which the request signal is not transmitted from the first communication device while monitoring whether or not it is transmitted. Wireless communication system. The second control device exchanges the request signal and the response signal between the second communication device and the portable device during a period when the request signal is not transmitted from the first communication device. The vehicle radio communication system according to claim 1. The second control device receives the request signal from the second communication device during a period in which the request signal and the response signal are not exchanged between the first communication device and the portable device. The vehicle wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is intermittently transmitted. The second control device includes the second communication device and the portable device during a period in which the request signal and the response signal are not exchanged between the first communication device and the portable device. The vehicle wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the request signal and the response signal are exchanged between the two. The intermittent transmission of the request signal from the second communication device, when the time required for the first communication device to transmit the request signal is a first transmission time, through the receiver The vehicle wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle wireless communication system is started after waiting until the first transmission time elapses after detecting reception of a request signal. The intermittent transmission of the request signal from the second communication device takes the time required for the second communication device to transmit the request signal as the second transmission time, and the first communication. When the period at which the request signal is intermittently transmitted from the machine is the first transmission period, the first transmission period has elapsed since the reception of the request signal through the receiver has been detected. The vehicle wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication system is stopped at a time point before two transmission times, or at a time point before that time point. The time required for intermittent transmission of the request signal from the second communication device to exchange the request signal and the response signal between the first communication device and the portable device is the first time. 5. The vehicle wireless communication system according to claim 3, wherein when the transmission / reception time is set, the vehicle communication system is started after waiting for the first transmission / reception time to elapse after detecting reception of the request signal through the receiver. The time required for the intermittent transmission of the request signal from the second communication device to exchange the request signal and the response signal between the second communication device and the portable device is a second time. When the first transmission cycle is a transmission / reception time and a cycle in which the request signal is intermittently transmitted from the first communication device, the reception of the request signal is detected through the receiver. 5. The vehicle wireless communication system according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle is stopped at a time point before the second transmission / reception time or a time point before the second transmission / reception time period after one transmission cycle elapses. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the second control device measures the reception time when detecting reception of the request signal through the receiver, and learns the first transmission time from the measurement value. Wireless communication system. The said 2nd control apparatus measures the period detected when detecting reception of the said request signal through the said receiver, and learns the said 1st transmission period from the measured value. Vehicle wireless communication system.

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