JP2015223878A - Engine switch gear - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an engine switch gear capable of smoothly introducing a user to engine operation even if an electronic key runs out of battery.SOLUTION: An engine switch 17 includes a bezel 25 that can be projected into a protrusion state from a normal state. A communication antenna 15 for immobilizer communication may be provided on the bezel 25. If an engine is not started despite the execution of normal engine starting operation, the bezel 25 is projected to be switched into the protrusion state. Upon switchover of the bezel 25 into the protrusion state, an operation guidance part 27 on which how to operate the bezel 25 in the protrusion state is written is exposed to outside. If a user pushes the bezel 25 in the protrusion state into the normal state with an electronic key in accordance with this guidance, then the electronic key faces the communication antenna 15 in the course of operation to establish the immobilizer communication.

Description

  The present invention relates to an engine switch device operated when switching between starting and stopping of an engine.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it is well known that an engine switch that is operated when switching the power state of a vehicle is provided in a vehicle equipped with an electronic key system that wirelessly performs ID verification with an electronic key (Patent Document 1). Etc.). By operating the engine switch in a situation where wireless ID verification by the electronic key system is established, it is possible to switch the power state of the vehicle to, for example, IG off, ACC on, IG on, and engine start. .

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-254672

  In an electronic key system, ID collation is normally performed by a key operation free system in which an electronic key is operated by a battery to perform wireless communication with a vehicle. However, if the battery of the electronic key runs out, wireless ID verification of the system cannot be performed. In this case, as an alternative, ID verification is executed by an immobilizer system that can execute communication even when the electronic key is dead.

  However, because the immobilizer system has a communication mode in which power is transmitted wirelessly to an electronic key, such as load modulation, the communication distance is short, so when establishing communication, the electronic key is brought close to the vehicle antenna. Action is required. However, since it is often difficult for the user to know where the electronic key should be placed over the vehicle, when the electronic key runs out of battery, the engine cannot be started and it is confusing There was a problem.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an engine switch device that can guide a user to engine operation in a natural flow even when an electronic key runs out of battery.

  An engine switch device that solves the above problems is a key operation-free system in which a vehicle and an electronic key communicate with each other by narrow-band radio triggered by communication from the vehicle, or an immobilizer system in which the vehicle and the electronic key communicate through a transponder of the electronic key. In any of the above, if the wireless ID verification is established, the power monitoring operation of the vehicle by the engine switch is permitted, and a state monitoring unit that monitors the engine start operation and the engine state, and a normal engine in the vehicle A component actuating part that activates a related part of the engine switch when the engine does not start even if the start operation is performed once or more, and operates the related part or its surroundings with the electronic key. In the operation process, the ID reference of the immobilizer system is It is taken, and allows starting the engine.

  According to this configuration, when the engine does not start even though the normal engine start operation is executed once or more in the vehicle, the related parts of the engine switch are activated. As a result, the user should take the act of operating the related parts that have been activated or the surrounding area. In this operation process, the ID verification of the immobilizer system is established, and the engine can be started. Therefore, even if the electronic key runs out of battery, the user can be guided to the engine operation in a natural flow.

  In the engine switch device, a guidance on how to operate the related parts that have been operated is written, and an operation guide part that is exposed to the outside when the related parts are operated is provided. According to the guidance of the operation guide part In the process of operating the related component with the electronic key, it is preferable that communication of the immobilizer system is executed. According to this configuration, it is possible to clearly notify the user of what operation should be executed after the related parts are activated. Therefore, the user can start the engine smoothly without being confused by reading the operation guide when the battery runs out.

  In the engine switch device, it is preferable that the operation imposed on the user after the related component is activated is an operation for returning the activated related component to its original state. According to this configuration, since the immobilizer system communication can be established at the same time in the operation process of returning the related parts that have been activated, the operation is simplified.

  In the engine switch device, the related component is a bezel of the engine switch, and the component actuating unit moves the bezel in a normal state when the engine does not start even though a normal engine start operation is performed. It is preferable to switch to the protruding state. According to this configuration, when the battery of the electronic key is exhausted, it is possible to clearly notify the user that a part has been operated on the vehicle side by the operation of the bezel protruding.

  In the engine switch device, it is preferable that a vehicle-side antenna of the immobilizer system is embedded in the bezel. According to this configuration, for example, when the bezel in the protruding state is pushed in with the electronic key, the electronic key can be brought as close as possible to the vehicle-side antenna.

  According to the present invention, even if the electronic key runs out of battery, the user can be guided to the engine operation in a natural flow.

The block diagram of the electronic key system and engine switch apparatus of one Embodiment. It is a perspective view of an engine switch, (a) is a figure when a bezel is in a normal state, (b) is a figure when a bezel is in a protruding state. Schematic diagram of immobilizer communication. Explanatory drawing which shows a mode that an engine does not start because an electronic key runs out of batteries. The operation | movement figure when a bezel switches to a protrusion state. The schematic diagram which shows the specific example of an operation guidance part. (A), (b) is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the bezel of a protrusion state is pushed in with an electronic key. The schematic diagram of the engine switch of another example. The schematic diagram of the engine switch of another example. The schematic diagram of the engine switch of another example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an engine switch device will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 is equipped with an electronic key system 3 that performs ID verification wirelessly with an electronic key 2. The electronic key system 3 includes, for example, a key operation free system 4 that executes ID collation by narrowband radio in response to communication from the vehicle 1, and an immobilizer system 6 that performs ID collation with the vehicle 1 through the transponder 5 of the electronic key 2. It is preferable to provide. Hereinafter, the ID verification of the key operation free system 4 is referred to as “smart verification”, and the communication is referred to as “smart communication”. The ID verification of the immobilizer system 6 is referred to as “immobilizer verification”, and the communication is referred to as “immobilizer communication”.

  The communication of the key operation free system 4 is preferably bidirectional communication in which both the vehicle 1 and the electronic key 2 require their respective power sources. The communication of the immobilizer system 6 is preferably short-range wireless communication, for example. Examples of short-range wireless communication include RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) and NFC (Near Field Communication). The immobilizer system 6 is provided in the vehicle 1 as a preparation for the case where the electronic key 2 cannot execute the smart collation due to some influence (battery or noise of the electronic key 2).

  The vehicle 1 includes a verification ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 7 that confirms the validity of the electronic key 2 in ID verification, a body ECU 8 that manages the power supply of the on-vehicle electrical components, and an engine ECU 9 that controls the engine 10. These ECUs are connected through a communication line 11 in the vehicle. The communication line 11 may be, for example, a CAN (Controller Area Network) or a LIN (Local Interconnect Network). In the memory (not shown) of the verification ECU 7, as an ID of the electronic key 2 registered in the vehicle 1, an electronic key ID of an ID used in the key operation free system 4 and a transponder ID which is an ID used in the immobilizer system 6 And are written and saved.

  The vehicle 1 includes an in-vehicle transmitter 12 that transmits a narrow-area radio wave to the outside of the vehicle, an in-vehicle transmitter 13 that transmits the narrow-area radio wave to the interior of the vehicle, a vehicle receiver 14 that receives the narrow-area radio wave, And a communication antenna 15 for transmitting and receiving short-range radio waves. The in-vehicle transmitter 12 and the in-vehicle transmitter 13 are preferably capable of transmitting radio waves in the LF (Low Frequency) band, for example. The vehicle receiver 14 may be able to receive, for example, UHF (Ultra High Frequency) radio waves. The vehicle-mounted transmitter 12, the vehicle-mounted transmitter 13, the vehicle receiver 14, and the communication antenna 15 are connected to the verification ECU 7 and their operations are managed.

  The vehicle 1 includes an engine switch device 16 that manages switching of vehicle power sources. In this case, the vehicle 1 includes an engine switch 17 that is operated when the vehicle power source is switched. The engine switch 17 is preferably a push-type momentary switch, for example. The verification ECU 7 switches the power state of the vehicle 1 based on the operation signal input from the engine switch 17. The vehicle power supply is switched to, for example, IG off, ACC on, IG on, or engine start. The body ECU 8 controls the operation of the door lock mechanism 18 which is a mechanical part that switches between locking and unlocking the vehicle door.

  The electronic key 2 includes a key control unit 19 that controls the operation of the electronic key 2, a receiving antenna 20 that receives a narrow-band radio wave, a transmission antenna 21 that transmits a narrow-band radio wave, and a short-range radio wave. And a communication antenna 22 for transmitting and receiving. An electronic key ID is written and stored in a memory (not shown) of the key control unit 19 as an ID used in the key operation free system 4. A transponder ID is written and stored in the transponder 5 as an ID used in the immobilizer system 6. The receiving antenna 20 is preferably capable of receiving LF radio waves. The transmission antenna 21 may be capable of transmitting UHF radio waves.

  When the outside transmitter 12 forms a communication area for LF radio waves outside the vehicle, when the electronic key 2 enters this communication area, a smart check outside the vehicle is executed. Specifically, when the electronic key 2 receives the wake signal transmitted from the external transmitter 12, the electronic key 2 is activated and returns an ACK, and in the subsequent communication process, vehicle code verification, challenge response authentication, electronic key Various verifications of ID verification are executed. The vehicle code collation is a collation in which a vehicle code that is a unique ID of the vehicle 1 (collation ECU 7) is transmitted to the electronic key 2, and the electronic key 2 is checked for the vehicle code. In the challenge response authentication, a challenge code whose code changes every time it is transmitted is transmitted from the vehicle 1 to the electronic key 2 and passed through the encryption key of the electronic key 2, and this response code is returned to the vehicle 1. This is verification for confirming the validity of the response code of the electronic key 2 based on the calculated response code. The electronic key ID collation is a collation in which the vehicle 1 confirms the validity of the electronic key ID registered in the electronic key 2. When the verification ECU 7 confirms that all of these verifications are established, the verification ECU 7 determines that smart verification outside the vehicle is established, and permits or executes the locking and unlocking of the vehicle door by the body ECU 8.

  When the electronic key 2 enters the communication area of the in-vehicle transmitter 13, the in-vehicle smart verification similar to the out-of-vehicle smart verification is executed by replacing the in-vehicle transmitter 12 with the in-vehicle transmitter 13. When the verification ECU 7 confirms that in-vehicle smart verification is established with the electronic key 2 located in the vehicle, the verification ECU 7 permits switching of the vehicle power source (engine start operation) by operating the engine switch 17.

  2 (a) and 2 (b) show the appearance of the engine switch 17. FIG. The engine switch 17 includes a switch body 23 that forms a body portion of the engine switch 17 and a knob 24 that serves as an operation portion of the engine switch 17. For example, the switch body 23 may have a substantially cylindrical shape. An annular bezel 25 is attached to the front surface of the switch body 23 so as to surround the knob 24. The above-described communication antenna 15 is embedded in the bezel 25.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the bezel 25 includes an annular bezel body 25a that surrounds the knob 24, and a plurality of legs 25b that support the bezel body 25a. The bezel body 25a is formed in an annular shape, for example. The leg 25b extends in the axial direction of the engine switch 17 (X-axis direction in FIG. 2B) and is slidably inserted into a plurality of recesses 26 provided on the front surface of the switch body 23. . In the communication antenna 15 described above, a plurality of antenna wires are wound around the bezel body 25a, and the antenna wires are drawn out through one leg portion 25b. The bezel 25 takes two positions, the normal state of FIG. 2A and the protruding state of FIG.

  The engine switch device 16 may include an operation guide unit 27 in which guidance on how to operate the bezel 25 in the protruding state is written. The operation guide portion 27 may be formed integrally with the bezel 25, for example. The operation guide portion 27 is made of a plate material extending in the XY plane direction of FIG. The operation guide portion 27 is slidably inserted into a cut portion 23 a provided on the front surface of the switch body 23.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the engine switch 17 includes a biasing portion 28 that biases the bezel 25 in the protruding direction, and a locking mechanism 29 that maintains the bezel 25 in a normal state against the biasing force of the biasing portion 28. It is preferable to provide. Thus, the normal state of the bezel 25 of this example is maintained by the locking mechanism 29, and when the locking mechanism 29 is released, the bezel 25 is switched to the protruding state by the biasing force. The urging unit 28 may be a spring, for example. The locking mechanism 29 may be a mechanism that holds the bezel 25 in a normal position by hooking a claw member or the like onto the bezel 25, for example.

  The engine switch device 16 includes a state monitoring unit 30 that monitors an engine start operation and an engine state. The state monitoring unit 30 is provided in the verification ECU 7, for example. The state monitoring unit 30 monitors the engine start operation based on, for example, a signal output from the brake sensor and a signal output from the engine switch 17. The engine start operation is monitored, for example, by monitoring whether or not the engine switch 17 is pressed while depressing a brake pedal (not shown). The state monitoring unit 30 monitors the engine state based on, for example, a signal input from the engine ECU 9. The monitoring of the engine state is, for example, monitoring whether the engine 10 is started or stopped.

  The engine switch device 16 includes a component operating unit 32 that operates the related component 31 of the engine switch 17. The component operating unit 32 is provided in the verification ECU 7, for example. The related component 31 is preferably the bezel 25 of the engine switch 17, for example. The component actuating unit 32 activates the related component 31 described above when the engine 10 does not start despite the normal engine starting operation being executed in the vehicle 1. In the case of this example, the operation of the related component 31 is, for example, switching the bezel 25 in the normal state to the protruding state.

Next, operation | movement of the engine switch apparatus 16 is demonstrated using FIGS.
[For users with knowledge of holding the electronic key over the engine switch]
As shown in FIG. 3, when the user who gets on the vehicle starts the engine 10, if the electronic key 2 is out of battery or the electric wire communication circuit is defective, the electronic key 2 cannot execute the smart collation in the vehicle. It is necessary to execute ID verification by the immobilizer system 6 that holds the key 2 over the communication antenna 15 of the vehicle 1. In this case, the transponder ID of the electronic key 2 is transmitted to the vehicle 1 by, for example, load modulation communication. The verification ECU 7 compares the transponder ID of the electronic key 2 with the transponder ID registered in the electronic key 2 and, if they match, allows the engine switch 17 to switch the vehicle power supply (engine start).

  When the ID verification of the immobilizer system 6 is established, or when the brake pedal is depressed while the ID verification is established, a display to the effect that the in-vehicle verification has been established is executed on the instrument panel in the vehicle. Thereby, the user recognizes that the in-vehicle verification has been established, and confirms that the engine 10 can be started. Therefore, in this state, when the knob 24 of the engine switch 17 is pushed while the brake pedal is depressed, the engine 10 is started.

[For users who have no knowledge of holding the electronic key over the engine switch]
As shown in FIG. 4, when the user who gets on the electronic key 2 runs out of the battery and starts the engine 10, it is necessary to hold the electronic key 2 over the engine switch 17 in order to perform immobilizer verification. However, a user who does not know this operation cannot move to this operation. For this reason, since the engine 10 does not start even if the user presses the knob 24, there is a high possibility that the user will check the periphery of the driver's seat after pressing once and press the knob 24 many times. .

  As shown in FIG. 5, the state monitoring unit 30 at this time has the knob 24 turned once in a state in which the normal engine starting operation, that is, the brake pedal is depressed, in a situation where the in-vehicle smart verification has not been established. Or, it recognizes that it has been operated multiple times. At this time, the state monitoring unit 30 recognizes this state and outputs a bezel protrusion request Sa to the component operating unit 32 as a request to switch the bezel 25 to the protruding state. When the component operating unit 32 inputs the bezel protrusion request Sa from the state monitoring unit 30, the component operating unit 32 releases the locking mechanism 29 that holds the bezel 25 in the normal state, and moves the bezel 25 in the normal state (the state of the two-dot chain line). The projection state (solid line state) is switched by the urging force of the urging unit 28.

  FIG. 6 is a view of FIG. 2B as viewed from the upper surface in the Z-axis direction. As shown in the figure, when the bezel 25 is switched to the protruding state, the operation guide portion 27 is exposed to the outside. In the operation guide section 27, for example, a description “Please push the ring (bezel 25) with the key (electronic key 2)” is written. Therefore, from the user's point of view, it is immediately understood that the operation requested from the vehicle 1 is to push the bezel 25 in the protruding state with the electronic key 2.

  As illustrated in the flow of FIG. 7A → FIG. 7B, the user pushes the protruding bezel 25 back with the electronic key 2 according to the description, and returns the bezel 25 to the original normal state. During this operation process, since the electronic key 2 naturally faces the communication antenna 15, communication of the immobilizer system 6 is established without the user being aware of it. That is, when the projecting bezel 25 is pushed into the normal state with the regular electronic key 2, the immobilizer system verification is automatically established.

  When immobilizer verification is established, or when the brake pedal is depressed while immobilizer verification is established, for example, an indication that vehicle exterior verification is established is executed on the in-vehicle instrument panel. Accordingly, since the user recognizes that the engine 10 can be started, the user presses the knob 24 of the engine switch 17 while depressing the brake pedal. Through the series of operations described above, even if the electronic key 2 has run out of battery, the user can switch the engine 10 to the start state without being confused.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the engine 10 is not started in spite of the normal engine start operation in the vehicle 1, the bezel 25 of the engine switch 17 is switched to the protruding state. When the bezel 25 is in the protruding state, the operation guide portion 27 integrally formed with the bezel 25 is exposed to the outside, and the user who has read the writing on the operation guide portion 27 pushes the bezel 25 in the protruding state with the electronic key 2. Is done. In this operation process, the ID verification of the immobilizer system 6 is established, and the engine 10 can be started. Therefore, even when the electronic key 2 runs out of battery, the user can be guided to the engine operation in a natural flow.

  (2) The bezel 25 is provided with an operation guide portion 27 in which guidance on how to operate the bezel 25 in the protruding state is written. Therefore, when the electronic key 2 runs out of batteries, the user can smoothly start the engine 10 without being confused by reading the operation guide unit 27.

  (3) The operation imposed on the user after the bezel 25 protrudes is an operation to return the bezel 25 in the protruding state to the original normal state. Therefore, since it becomes possible to establish communication of the immobilizer system 6 at the same time in the operation process of returning the bezel 25 that has been in the protruding state, the operation becomes simple. The operation for returning to the original normal state may not be strictly the original state. For example, when the bezel 25 is pushed back about 80%, the remaining 20% may be automatically returned.

  (4) The related component 31 that is activated when the engine 10 is not started despite the normal engine starting operation being performed is the bezel 25, and the operation of the bezel 25 is switched to the protruding state of the bezel 25. Therefore, when the battery of the electronic key 2 is dead, it is possible to clearly notify the user that an operation has been performed on the vehicle 1 side by the operation of protruding the bezel 25.

  (5) The communication antenna 15 on the vehicle 1 side is embedded in the bezel 25 of the engine switch 17. Therefore, when pushing the bezel 25 in the protruding state with the electronic key 2, the electronic key 2 can be brought as close as possible to the communication antenna 15 on the vehicle side.

Note that the embodiment is not limited to the configuration described so far, and may be modified as follows.
As shown in FIG. 8, the communication antenna 15 may be provided in the switch body 23. Since the communication distance of immobilizer communication is about several centimeters, communication can be established when the bezel 25 is pushed with the electronic key 2 in this case as well.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the operation guide unit 27 may be provided in the switch body 23. As an example, the operation guide 27 may be written in a portion of the switch body 23 that is hidden by the bezel 25. In this case as well, the user can be guided to the operation procedure for immobilizer verification.

  As shown in FIG. 10, instead of popping out the bezel 25, for example, the lid 51 provided on the knob 24 is opened, and the electronic key 2 is guided to be inserted into the groove 52 of the knob 24 exposed to the outside. May be.

  When the protruding bezel 25 is pushed in, if the immobilizer verification is not established, the bezel 25 may not be pushed in. In this case, there is no situation where only the bezel 25 is pushed even though immobilizer verification is not established.

  The normal engine starting operation is not limited to operating the engine switch 17 while the brake pedal is depressed, and for example, the engine switch 17 may be operated while the seating sensor of the driver's seat is turned on. As described above, the normal engine starting operation can be changed to various modes.

The related component 31 is not limited to the bezel 25 and the lid 51, and can be changed to various types as long as it operates in the engine switch 17.
-The circumference | surroundings of the related component 31 means components, such as a hole and a protrusion which appear after the related component 31 act | operates.

-Operation guidance of bezel 25 may be displayed, for example on an in-vehicle instrument panel.
The operation guidance for the bezel 25 may be notified by voice or the like in the vehicle, for example.
The determination performed by the state monitoring unit 30 can be changed to various modes as long as the determination content can confirm that the engine 10 does not start despite the normal engine start operation.

The key operation free system can be changed to various communication methods and frequencies as long as the electronic key 2 is operated by a battery in communication.
-The immobilizer system should just be a thing of the communication aspect which can communicate with the vehicle 1 without the electronic key 2 needing a power supply.

-The latching mechanism 29 is good also as a structure which maintains the normal state (storage state) of the bezel 25 by actuators, such as a solenoid, for example.
-When pushing the bezel 25 in the protruding state, the engine 10 may be switched to the starting state as it is, on condition that immobilizer verification is established.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle, 2 ... Electronic key, 3 ... Electronic key system, 4 ... Key operation free system, 6 ... Immobilizer system, 10 ... Engine, 15 ... Antenna on the vehicle side (communication antenna), 16 ... Engine switch device, 17 ... Engine switch, 25... Bezel, 27... Operation guide section, 30.

Claims (5)

ID verification by radio is established in either the key operation free system in which the vehicle and the electronic key communicate with each other through the communication from the vehicle or the immobilizer system in which the vehicle and the electronic key communicate through the transponder of the electronic key. If so, in the engine switch device that allows the power switch operation of the vehicle by the engine switch,
A state monitoring unit for monitoring engine start operation and engine state;
A component actuating section that activates a related component of the engine switch when the engine does not start even though a normal engine start operation is executed one or more times in the vehicle;
An engine switch device characterized in that, by operating the related part or its surroundings with the electronic key, ID verification of the immobilizer system is established in the operation process, and the engine can be started. A guidance on how to operate the related parts that have been operated is written, and an operation guide part that is exposed to the outside when the related parts are operated is provided.
2. The engine switch device according to claim 1, wherein communication of the immobilizer system is executed in a process of operating the related component by the electronic key in accordance with guidance of the operation guide unit. The engine switch device according to claim 2, wherein the operation imposed on the user after the operation of the related component is an operation of returning the operated related component to its original state. The related part is a bezel of the engine switch;
The said component operation part switches the said bezel of a normal state to a protrusion state, when an engine does not start despite normal engine starting operation being performed, The any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The engine switch device according to item. The engine switch device according to claim 4, wherein an antenna on a vehicle side of the immobilizer system is embedded in the bezel.