JP2017028575A - Vehicle control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress a dark current of an in-vehicle communication apparatus, while ensuring usability of a vehicle control device.SOLUTION: A vehicle control device 1 of a vehicle 2, having an in-vehicle communication apparatus 3, for controlling operation of an in-vehicle apparatus 6, on the basis of a control signal transmitted from a mobile terminal 4 includes: a GPS device 8 for detecting a vehicle position; and a start control section 12 for appropriately changing and setting a power-supply period of the in-vehicle communication apparatus 3 in a power-off state of the vehicle 2, on the basis of the vehicle position detected by the GPS device 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing the dark current of an in-vehicle communication device.

  In recent years, control devices for operating devices mounted on vehicles by remote control have been developed. Such a vehicle control device is a device that performs engine start / stop, air conditioner operation control, door lock / unlock switching, and the like from outside the vehicle using an external communication device such as a smartphone. The vehicle control device includes a communication device (on-vehicle communication device) in the vehicle, and receives signals from an external communication device such as a smartphone to control operation of on-vehicle equipment such as an air conditioner.

In such a vehicle control apparatus, the vehicle-mounted communication device must be able to receive even when the vehicle is turned off. Therefore, for example, when parking for a long period of time, there is a risk that the battery will run out due to power consumption by the in-vehicle communication device, so-called dark current.
Therefore, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique of intermittently energizing the in-vehicle communication device and changing the energization cycle to the in-vehicle communication device based on the day of the week or the time zone. For example, by increasing the energization cycle at midnight when there are few opportunities for using the vehicle, the dark current of the in-vehicle communication device can be reduced and the power consumption can be suppressed.

JP 2002-81239 A

  However, even if the energization cycle of the in-vehicle communication device is changed based on the time zone as in Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that the battery will still run out due to long-term parking. Although the dark current can be further reduced if the energization cycle is further increased or the energization cycle is lengthened even during the daytime, if the vehicle remote control device is used during the time period when the energization cycle is extended, Therefore, the response of the vehicle control device is lowered and the usability is lowered.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control device capable of suppressing dark current while ensuring usability. .

In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle control device of the present invention is a vehicle control device including an in-vehicle communication device that operates and controls an in-vehicle device based on a control signal transmitted from an external communication device, A position detection unit that detects a vehicle position, and an activation control unit that changes and sets the energization cycle of the in-vehicle communication device in a power-off state of the vehicle based on the vehicle position.
Preferably, the vehicular control device includes a user setting unit that sets a user of the vehicle, and the activation control unit further includes the vehicle-mounted in-vehicle state in a power-off state of the vehicle based on the user. It is recommended to change and set the energization cycle of the communication device.

Preferably, the activation control unit further includes a history storage unit that stores an operation history of the in-vehicle device corresponding to the vehicle position, and based on the stored operation history, the corresponding to the vehicle position The energization cycle when the vehicle is powered off may be set.
Preferably, the activation control unit may continuously change and set the energization cycle based on at least the vehicle position.

According to the present invention, since the energization cycle of the in-vehicle communication device in the vehicle control device changes based on the position of the vehicle, the energization cycle of the in-vehicle communication device corresponding to the frequency of use of the in-vehicle device that differs depending on the vehicle position can be set. it can.
For example, in a place where the parking time is relatively long and the use frequency of the in-vehicle device is low, such as a parking lot at home, the dark current of the in-vehicle communication device can be reduced by increasing the energization cycle. Also, in places where the frequency of use of in-vehicle devices by the vehicle control device is high, shortening the energization cycle can shorten the startup interval of the in-vehicle communication device and increase the operation responsiveness of the in-vehicle devices by the vehicle control device. it can.

  In this manner, a vehicle control device that can suppress dark current while ensuring usability can be obtained.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a table | surface which shows the 1st example of a setting of an electricity supply period. It is a table | surface which shows the 2nd example of a setting of an electricity supply period.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle control device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the configuration of the vehicle control device 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.
The vehicle control device 1 of the present embodiment includes an in-vehicle communication device 3 mounted on a vehicle 2 and a mobile terminal 4 (external communication device, user setting unit) such as a smartphone.

The mobile terminal 4 and the in-vehicle communication device 3 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via the server 5.
The portable terminal 4 can acquire and display various information (vehicle information) of the vehicle 2 by a mounted application, and has a function of outputting an operation instruction signal to a device (on-vehicle device 6) mounted on the vehicle 2. Have.

The in-vehicle device 6 is a device that is mounted on the vehicle 2 and can be remotely operated from outside the vehicle, such as an air conditioner, an engine start / stop device, and a charging device for the in-vehicle battery 7.
The vehicle information is information related to the vehicle 2 such as operation information of the in-vehicle device 6, a charging rate of the in-vehicle battery 7, an in-vehicle temperature, a vehicle position, and the like.
The in-vehicle communication device 3 includes a communication unit 10 that communicates with the server 5 and an in-vehicle device operation control unit 11 that performs operation control of the in-vehicle device 6.

Furthermore, the vehicle control device 1 of the present embodiment includes an activation control unit 12 that controls activation and stop of the in-vehicle communication device 3 and a GPS device 8 (position detection unit).
The activation control unit 12 is configured integrally with the in-vehicle communication device 3. The activation control unit 12 includes an input / output device, a storage device (ROM, RAM, nonvolatile RAM, etc.), a central processing unit (CPU), a clock, and the like. That is, the power supply to the communication unit 10 and the in-vehicle device operation control unit 11 is controlled to control the start and stop of the communication unit 10 and the in-vehicle device operation control unit 11.

The GPS device 8 is mounted on the vehicle 2 and has a function of outputting current position information (vehicle position) of the vehicle 2 to the activation control unit 12.
The vehicle-mounted communication device 3 is supplied with electric power from the vehicle-mounted battery 7 when the vehicle 2 is turned on, acquires the vehicle-mounted device 6 and other vehicle information, transmits them to the portable terminal 4, and transmits from the portable terminal 4. Based on the operation instruction signal (control signal) of the in-vehicle device 6, the operation control of the in-vehicle device 6 is possible.

When the vehicle 2 is powered off, the in-vehicle communication device 3 is activated by being supplied with power from the in-vehicle battery 7 every energization cycle Ts by the activation control unit 12. Also, the GPS device 8 is activated by being supplied with electric power from the in-vehicle battery 7 by the activation control unit 12 every energization cycle Ts when the vehicle 2 is powered off.
In the power-off state of the vehicle 2, the in-vehicle communication device 3 includes transmission of vehicle information to the mobile terminal 4 and start / stop of the in-vehicle device 6 based on the operation instruction signal from the mobile terminal 4 for each energization cycle Ts. Operation control is possible.

FIG. 2 is an example of a table for setting the energization cycle Ts. FIG. 3 is another example of a table for setting the energization period Ts.
In the vehicle control device 1 of the present embodiment, the activation control unit 12 sets the energization cycle Ts based on the vehicle position and the vehicle user.
The vehicle position is the current vehicle position, but the latest vehicle position information input from the GPS device 8 just before the vehicle 2 is powered off or at the previous activation may be used.

The vehicle user may be set to a user set in advance by the portable terminal 4 or the like, or a user of the portable terminal 4 that has been remotely operated by the vehicle control device 1 last time.
The activation control unit 12 stores a table as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in advance, and sets the energization cycle Ts based on the vehicle position and the vehicle user when the vehicle 2 is powered off.
The activation control unit 12 stores a reference value Tsb in advance for the energization cycle Ts. The reference value Tsb of the energization cycle Ts may be set to about 1 minute, for example.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, there are three vehicle users, A (husband), B (wife), and C (child), and the vehicle positions are A's company, shopping destination, and home. In this case, the vehicle 2 is an electric vehicle having a charging function, and the company A or the shopping destination is provided with a charger.
When the vehicle user is A and the vehicle position is a company of A, the energization cycle Ts is set shorter than the reference value Tsb. This is because it is assumed that the company 2 is charging the vehicle 2 while working, and it is possible to frequently check how much the in-vehicle battery 7 has been charged in-house.

When the vehicle user is A and the vehicle position is a shopping destination, the energization cycle Ts is set shorter than the reference value Tsb. This is also based on the assumption that the vehicle 2 is being charged at the shopping destination, so that it can be frequently confirmed how much the in-vehicle battery 7 has been charged.
When the vehicle user is A and the vehicle position is home, the energization cycle Ts is set shorter than the reference value Tsb. This is because vehicle information (travel distance, fuel consumption, travel route, etc. of the day) can be obtained from the vehicle 2 by the portable terminal 4 after parking at home.

When the vehicle user is B and the vehicle position is A, the energization cycle Ts is set longer than the reference value Tsb. This is because it is assumed that B is waiting for A in the company of A and waiting in the vehicle. Since B is in the vehicle, there is almost no opportunity to use the vehicle control device 1.
When the vehicle user is B and the vehicle position is a shopping destination, the energization cycle Ts is set shorter than the reference value Tsb. This assumes that the groceries purchased at the shop have been left in the vehicle and left the vehicle 2 for further shopping, so that the groceries in the vehicle do not deteriorate as necessary. This is so that the air conditioner can be operated immediately.

When the vehicle user is B and the vehicle position is home, the energization cycle Ts is set longer than the reference value Tsb. This is because after parking at home, there seems to be little opportunity to use the vehicle control device 1 until the next morning.
When the vehicle user is a company C and the vehicle position is A, the energization period Ts remains at the reference value. This is because the vehicle user C has little opportunity to go to the company A and there is no need to change the energization cycle Ts.

When the vehicle user is C and the vehicle position is a shopping destination, the energization cycle Ts is set shorter than the reference value Tsb. This is because since the vehicle user C is a child, he / she dislikes a state in which the interior of the vehicle is hot or cold and frequently uses the air conditioner in the vehicle control device 1.
When the vehicle user is C and the vehicle position is home, the energization cycle Ts is set shorter than the reference value Tsb. This is also because there is a high possibility that the vehicle user C dislikes the state in which the interior of the vehicle is at a high temperature or a low temperature and uses the air conditioner in the vehicle control device 1.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, you may set an electricity supply period based on a vehicle user and a vehicle position. In the example shown in FIG. 3, as in the example shown in FIG. 2, there are three vehicle users, A (husband), B (wife), and C (child). Let's say home.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the vehicle user is A and the vehicle position is a company of A, the energization cycle Ts is set longer than the reference value Tsb. This is because the time when A returns home from the company is a late night time zone, and therefore it is less necessary to operate the air conditioner by the vehicle control device 1 to cool the passenger compartment.

When the vehicle user is A and the vehicle position is a shopping destination, the energization cycle Ts is set longer than the reference value Tsb. This is because, in A, the shopping time is relatively short and the shopping vehicle is returned to the vehicle as soon as the shopping is completed, so that there are few opportunities to operate the in-vehicle device 6 by the vehicle control device 1.
When the vehicle user is A and the vehicle position is at home, the energization cycle Ts is set shorter than the reference value Tsb as in the embodiment of FIG.

When the vehicle user is B and the vehicle position is a company A, the energization cycle Ts is set shorter than the reference value Tsb. This is because it is assumed that B has picked up at A's company and A uses his / her mobile terminal 4 to confirm the vehicle position.
When the vehicle user is B and the vehicle position is a shopping destination, the energization cycle Ts is set shorter than the reference value Tsb. This assumes that the vehicle position is confirmed by the vehicle control device 1 when there is a possibility of forgetting the position where B is parked in a large parking lot.

When the vehicle user is B and the vehicle position is home, the energization cycle Ts is set longer than the reference value Tsb. About this, it assumes that B uses the control apparatus 1 for vehicles almost or only the minimum necessary.
When the vehicle user is C and the vehicle position is A, the energization period Ts is kept at the reference value Tsb as in FIG.

When the vehicle user is C and the vehicle position is a shopping destination, the energization cycle Ts is set longer than the reference value Tsb. This assumes a case where C (child) is told not to use the vehicle control device 1 by A or B (parents).
When the vehicle user is C and the vehicle position is home, the energization cycle Ts is set shorter than the reference value Tsb, as in FIG.

For the normal period Ts in the above embodiment, when the reference value Tsb is about 1 minute, the setting shorter than the reference value Tsb should be about 30 seconds, and the setting longer than the reference value Tsb should be about several minutes. .
As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the energization cycle Ts of the in-vehicle communication device 3 in the vehicle control device 1 can be changed and set. By setting the energization cycle Ts to be long, the dark current of the in-vehicle communication device 3 in the power-off state can be reduced, and the power consumption of the in-vehicle battery 7 can be suppressed. On the other hand, since the communication interval between the server 5 and the in-vehicle communication device 3 can be shortened by shortening the energization cycle Ts, the vehicle information can be quickly transmitted to the mobile terminal 4 and the in-vehicle device from the mobile terminal 4 can be transmitted. The in-vehicle device 6 can respond with good response to the operation instruction 6, and the usability of the vehicle control device 1 can be improved.

In particular, in this embodiment, since the energization cycle Ts can be changed and set based on the vehicle position, it can be set to an appropriate energization cycle Ts according to each vehicle position, while ensuring the responsiveness of the vehicle control device 1. The dark current of the in-vehicle communication device 3 can be further reduced, and the power consumption of the in-vehicle battery 7 can be further suppressed.
In addition, since the energization cycle Ts can be changed and set based on the vehicle user, the usage status of the vehicle control device 1 that is different depending on the vehicle user is reflected to ensure the usability of the vehicle control device 1 and to reduce the dark current. Can be reduced.

  Note that the energization cycle Ts is not limited to the setting shown in FIGS. The setting of the energization cycle Ts at the vehicle user or the vehicle position in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be arbitrarily changed in advance. Further, the setting of the energization cycle Ts may be arbitrarily changed on the mobile terminal 4 or the like based on the vehicle user or the vehicle position. Further, the number and items of vehicle users and vehicle positions may be set arbitrarily.

  Furthermore, the activation control unit 12 is provided with an operation history storage unit 13 for storing an operation history of the in-vehicle device 6 by the vehicle control device 1, and the energization cycle Ts for the vehicle user and the vehicle position is automatically based on the operation history. You may make it set. The operation history storage unit 13 stores the operation history of the in-vehicle device 6 by the vehicle control device 1 corresponding to the vehicle user and the vehicle position, and when the operation frequency of the vehicle control device 1 is low, the vehicle When the energization cycle Ts at the user or the vehicle position is longer than the reference value and the operation frequency of the re-vehicle controller 1 is high, the energization cycle Ts at the vehicle user or the vehicle position is shorter than the reference value and automatically To set. As a result, the energization cycle Ts for the vehicle user and the vehicle position can be automatically and appropriately set, and the effect of improving the usability of the vehicle control device 1 and the dark current of the in-vehicle communication device 3 can be further obtained. be able to.

Further, in the above embodiment, the energization cycle Ts is changed and set in two stages such as longer or shorter than the reference value Tsb, but these may be changed and set in more stages or continuously. . Also by this, the improvement of the usability of the vehicle control device 1 and the dark current reduction effect of the in-vehicle communication device 3 can be further obtained.
In addition to the vehicle user and the vehicle position, the energization cycle Ts may be set based on the time zone. For example, when the vehicle position is at home, the opportunity to use the vehicle control device 1 is reduced in the midnight time zone, so that the dark current of the in-vehicle communication device 3 can be further reduced by setting the energization cycle Ts longer. Can be reduced.

  The present invention only needs to change and set the energization cycle Ts based on at least the vehicle position, and can be widely applied to various vehicles.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control apparatus for vehicles 2 Vehicle 3 Car-mounted communication apparatus 4 Portable terminal (external communication apparatus, user setting part)
6 In-vehicle equipment 8 GPS device (position detector)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Communication part 11 In-vehicle apparatus operation control part 12 Start-up control part 13 Operation history memory | storage part (history memory part)

Claims (4)

A vehicle control device including an in-vehicle communication device that controls operation of an in-vehicle device based on a control signal transmitted from an external communication device,
A position detector for detecting a vehicle position;
An activation control unit configured to change and set the energization cycle to the in-vehicle communication device in a power-off state of the vehicle based on the vehicle position;
A vehicle control device comprising: A user setting unit for setting a user of the vehicle;
2. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the activation control unit further changes and sets an energization cycle of the in-vehicle communication device in a power-off state of the vehicle based on the user.   The activation control unit further includes a history storage unit that stores an operation history of the in-vehicle device corresponding to the vehicle position, and based on the stored operation history, the power supply of the vehicle corresponding to the vehicle position is turned off. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the energization cycle in a state is set.   4. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the activation control unit continuously changes and sets the energization cycle based on at least the vehicle position. 5.

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