JP2018012933A - Communication system for vehicle and on-vehicle machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication system for vehicle capable of specifying the location and moving direction of a portable machine in the periphery of a vehicle thoroughly, and capable of controlling the operation of electrical equipment provided in the vehicle, based on the specified location and moving direction of the portable machine.SOLUTION: A communication system for vehicle includes: an on-vehicle machine 1 for transmitting a signal for location detection from a plurality of antennas provided in a vehicle; and a portable machine 2 for receiving the signal for location detection transmitted from the on-vehicle machine 1, and for transmitting a response signal including receiving signal intensity of the received signal for location detection. The plurality of antennas are provided at a plurality of front, rear, left and right tire 4 positions in which the tires 4 of the vehicle C are provided. The on-vehicle machine 1 receives the response signal transmitted from the portable machine 2, specifies the location and the moving direction of the portable machine 2 based on the received response signal, and according to the specified location and moving direction of the portable machine 2, controls the operation of electrical equipment provided in the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle communication system and an in-vehicle device.

There is a control system that locks and unlocks a vehicle door without using a mechanical key. For example, a keyless entry system that locks and unlocks a vehicle door simply by operating a button on a portable device, or a smart entry that unlocks and unlocks a vehicle door simply by operating a request button on the vehicle by a user holding the portable device (Registered trademark) system has been put into practical use.
In such a communication system, the in-vehicle device specifies the position of the portable device possessed by the user by wireless communication. For example, the portable device receives position detection signals transmitted from a plurality of antennas provided on the driver side and passenger side pillars, back doors, etc. of the vehicle, and each position detection signal received by the portable device The position of the portable device can be identified using the received signal strength. The in-vehicle device performs locking and unlocking of the vehicle door when the authorized portable device is in the vicinity of the vehicle door.

JP 2003-269023 A

  On the other hand, a system for operating an electrical component provided in a vehicle according to the position and moving direction of a portable device possessed by a user has been considered. However, when antennas are placed on the driver's and passenger's side pillars, back doors, etc., there are parts where the intensity of the radio wave transmitted from the antenna is weak, such as in the front of the vehicle, diagonally, etc. There was a possibility that the direction could not be specified sufficiently.

  An object of the present invention is to uniformly specify the position and moving direction of portable devices around the vehicle, and to control the operation of electrical components provided in the vehicle based on the specified position and moving direction of the portable device. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle communication system and an in-vehicle device.

  The vehicle communication system according to this aspect includes an in-vehicle device that transmits a position detection signal from a plurality of antennas provided in the vehicle, and the position detection signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device. A vehicle communication system including a portable device that transmits a response signal including a received signal strength of a detection signal, wherein the plurality of antennas are provided at a plurality of tire positions at front, rear, left, and right where a tire of the vehicle is provided. The in-vehicle device includes a receiving unit that receives a response signal transmitted from the portable device, and a specifying unit that specifies a position and a moving direction of the portable device based on the response signal received by the receiving unit. And a control unit that controls the operation of the electrical components provided in the vehicle according to the position and movement direction of the portable device specified by the specifying unit.

  The in-vehicle device according to this aspect transmits a position detection signal from a plurality of antennas provided at a plurality of front, rear, left and right tire positions where a vehicle tire is provided, and is transmitted from a portable device in accordance with the position detection signal. An in-vehicle device that receives the response signal, the reception unit receiving the response signal including the received signal strength of the position detection signal transmitted from each of the plurality of antennas in the portable device, and the reception unit Based on the received response signal, a specifying unit that specifies the position and moving direction of the portable device, and an electrical component provided in the vehicle according to the position and moving direction of the portable device specified by the specifying unit A control unit for controlling the operation.

  Note that the present application can be realized not only as a vehicle communication system including such a characteristic control unit, but also as a vehicle communication method using such characteristic control as a step. It can be realized as a program for execution. Moreover, it can implement | achieve as a semiconductor integrated circuit which implement | achieves a part or all of the vehicle communication system, or can implement | achieve as another system containing a vehicle communication system.

  According to the above, the position and moving direction of the portable device around the vehicle can be specified uniformly, and the operation of the electrical components provided in the vehicle is controlled based on the specified position and moving direction of the portable device. It is possible to provide a vehicular communication system and an in-vehicle device.

It is a mimetic diagram showing an example of 1 composition of a communications system for vehicles concerning this embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the signal for position detection transmitted from each LF transmission antenna. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the vehicle equipment which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the portable device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the vehicle-mounted control part which concerns on the user's illumination approaching a vehicle. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which concerns on the detection of the position and movement direction of a portable machine. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the vehicle-mounted control part which concerns on automatic locking. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the vehicle-mounted control part which concerns on alerting by vehicle-to-vehicle communication. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the vehicle-mounted control part which concerns on provision of the facility information in the movement destination of a portable machine. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the vehicle-mounted control part which concerns on the drive of an external apparatus.

[Description of Embodiment of the Present Invention]
First, embodiments of the present invention will be listed and described. Moreover, you may combine arbitrarily at least one part of embodiment described below.

(1) A vehicle communication system according to this aspect receives an on-vehicle device that transmits a position detection signal from a plurality of antennas provided in the vehicle, and receives the position detection signal transmitted from the on-vehicle device. A vehicle communication system including a portable device that transmits a response signal including a received signal strength of the position detection signal, wherein the plurality of antennas are a plurality of tire positions on the front, rear, left, and right sides where the vehicle tire is provided. The in-vehicle device identifies a position and a moving direction of the portable device based on the receiving unit that receives the response signal transmitted from the portable device and the response signal received by the receiving unit. An identification unit, and a control unit that controls the operation of the electrical component provided in the vehicle according to the position and moving direction of the portable device identified by the identification unit.

In this aspect, since the plurality of antennas for transmitting the position detection signals are provided at the front, rear, left and right tire positions of the vehicle, the position detection signals transmitted from the plurality of antennas are provided around the vehicle. It is transmitted evenly (see FIG. 2). Therefore, the portable device at an arbitrary position around the vehicle can accurately measure the received signal strength of the position detection signals transmitted from the plurality of antennas, and the in-vehicle device can measure the received signal strength based on the measured received signal strength. Thus, the position and moving direction of the portable device can be specified. Therefore, the vehicle-mounted device can control the operation of the electrical component by specifying the position and moving direction of the portable device at an arbitrary position around the vehicle.
The tire position is a position around the tire house and its surroundings, and at least a portable device located around the vehicle can receive a signal transmitted from the antenna.

(2) The electrical component includes a plurality of illumination devices that illuminate different positions around the vehicle, and the in-vehicle device operates one or a plurality of the illumination devices corresponding to the position and movement direction of the portable device. The structure to be made is preferable.

  In this aspect, the operation of the lighting device can be controlled in accordance with the position and moving direction of the portable device. For example, it is possible to illuminate a user who has a portable device and approaches the vehicle or a user who moves around the vehicle.

(3) It is preferable that the electrical component includes a locking / unlocking device that locks / unlocks the door of the vehicle, and the vehicle-mounted device operates the locking / unlocking device according to a position and a moving direction of the portable device.

  In this aspect, the operation of the locking / unlocking device can be controlled according to the position and moving direction of the portable device. For example, the vehicle door can be locked when the user carrying the portable device moves away from the vehicle. Moreover, when the user who has a portable device approaches a vehicle, a vehicle door can be unlocked.

(4) The electrical component includes an inter-vehicle communication device that communicates with another vehicle, and the control unit transmits information indicating the position and moving direction of the portable device to the other vehicle using the inter-vehicle communication device. A configuration for transmitting to is preferable.

  In this aspect, the position and moving direction of the portable device located around the vehicle, that is, the position and moving direction of the user holding the portable device can be notified to the other vehicle.

(5) The electrical component includes an external communication device that transmits information to an external communication device, and the in-vehicle device acquires a position information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the position and orientation of the vehicle, and the position information acquisition. Based on the position and orientation of the vehicle acquired by the unit and the moving direction of the portable device relative to the vehicle, the destination specifying unit for specifying the destination of the portable device and the destination specifying unit It is preferable that the information processing apparatus includes a facility information acquisition unit that acquires information related to a facility at a destination, and the control unit causes the external communication device to transmit information acquired by the facility information acquisition unit.

In this aspect, it is possible to identify the destination of the user who owns the portable device, and to transmit information related to the facility at the destination to an external communication device. For example, information on a restaurant at the user's destination can be transmitted to a mobile communication terminal possessed by the user.
Note that the facilities include not only restaurants but also retail stores, entertainment facilities, cultural facilities, medical facilities, and other buildings and facilities that provide arbitrary product services and facilities. The communication device includes a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, and the like, but is not limited to a specific application and device, and includes any receiving device that can receive and output information.

(6) The electrical component includes a drive signal transmission device that transmits a drive signal for driving the external device to an external device at a predetermined position, and the in-vehicle device acquires information indicating the position and orientation of the vehicle. A location information acquisition unit, and a destination specification unit for specifying a destination of the portable device based on the position and orientation of the vehicle acquired by the position information acquisition unit and the movement direction of the portable device relative to the vehicle; A determination unit that determines whether the destination specified by the destination specification unit is the predetermined position, and the control unit determines whether the destination of the portable device is the predetermined unit in the determination unit. When it determines with it being a position, the structure which transmits the said drive signal with the said drive signal transmitter is preferable.

  In this aspect, the destination of the user who owns the portable device is specified, and when the user is moving toward a predetermined position of the external device, a drive signal is transmitted to the external device and operated. Can do. For example, the external device is a device that locks and unlocks the entrance door of a building, and a device that illuminates the entrance of the building. When the user is heading to the building, the in-vehicle device illuminates the entrance and unlocks the entrance. Etc. can be instructed to an external device.

(7) The in-vehicle device according to this aspect transmits position detection signals from a plurality of antennas provided at a plurality of front and rear tire positions where a vehicle tire is provided, and a portable device according to the position detection signals. An in-vehicle device that receives the response signal transmitted from the plurality of antennas, the reception unit receiving the response signal including the received signal strength of the position detection signal transmitted from the plurality of antennas in the portable device, and the reception Provided in the vehicle according to the position and the moving direction of the portable device specified by the specifying unit and the specifying unit that specifies the position and moving direction of the portable device based on the response signal received by the unit And a control unit that controls the operation of the electrical component.

  In this aspect, as in aspect (1), the in-vehicle device can specify the position and moving direction of the portable device at an arbitrary position around the vehicle and control the operation of the electrical component.

[Details of the embodiment of the present invention]
A specific example of a vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to these illustrations, is shown by the claim, and intends that all the changes within the meaning and range equivalent to the claim are included.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of a vehicle communication system according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a position detection signal transmitted from each LF transmission antenna 3. The vehicle communication system according to the present embodiment includes a vehicle-mounted device 1 that transmits and receives various signals using a plurality of LF transmitting antennas 3 and RF receiving antennas 10 provided in the vehicle C, and a signal between the vehicle-mounted device 1. And a plurality of portable devices 2 that transmit and receive. The in-vehicle device 1 controls the operation of the electrical component 5 provided in the vehicle C based on the result of communication performed with the portable device 2.
A plurality of LF transmission antennas 3 corresponding to the respective tires 4 are connected to the in-vehicle device 1. For example, the four LF transmitting antennas 3 are provided at the right front, right rear, left rear, and left front tire positions of the vehicle C. The tire position is a position around the tire house and its surroundings, and is a position where the portable device 2 located around the vehicle C can receive signals transmitted from the LF transmitting antennas 3 separately. When the LF transmitting antenna 3 is arranged in this way, the radio wave transmitted from the LF transmitting antenna 3 spreads uniformly around the vehicle as shown in FIG. 2, and the portable device 2 at an arbitrary position around the vehicle is constant. An intensity position detection signal can be received.
In FIG. 2, a two-dot chain line circle schematically indicates a position where a radio wave transmitted from each LF transmission antenna 3 has a predetermined intensity. As can be seen from FIG. 2, a sufficiently strong radio wave spreads in the front-rear and left-right directions of the vehicle C, the diagonally right front of the vehicle C, the diagonally left front, the diagonally right rear, and the diagonally left rear.
The LF transmission antenna 3 according to the first embodiment may be a dedicated antenna for detecting the position of the portable device 2 or may be used as another communication system, for example, an air pressure monitoring system. . The LF band is an example of a radio wave band for transmitting a signal from the LF transmission antenna 3, and is not necessarily limited to this.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the in-vehicle device 1 according to the present embodiment. The in-vehicle device 1 includes an in-vehicle control unit 11 that controls the operation of each component of the in-vehicle device 1. The in-vehicle control unit 11 is a microcomputer having, for example, one or a plurality of CPUs (Central Processing Units), a multi-core CPU, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a timing unit, and the like. A storage unit 12, an in-vehicle receiving unit 13, an in-vehicle transmitting unit 14, an in-vehicle communication unit 15, and an input unit 16 are connected to the in-vehicle control unit 11.

  The in-vehicle control unit 11 controls the operation of each component by executing a control program described later stored in the storage unit 12, and performs wireless communication with the portable device 2, thereby performing the portable device 2. The position and moving direction of the electronic component 5 are detected, and the operation of the various electrical components 5 is controlled according to the detected position and moving direction.

  The storage unit 12 is a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) or a flash memory. The storage unit 12 detects the position and moving direction of the portable device 2 by the vehicle-mounted control unit 11 controlling the operation of each component of the vehicle-mounted device 1, and various electrical components according to the detected position and moving direction. The control program for controlling operation | movement of 5 is memorize | stored.

  The in-vehicle receiving unit 13 is connected to the RF receiving antenna 10, receives various signals transmitted from the portable device 2 using radio waves in the UHF band, and outputs received information to the in-vehicle control unit 11. For example, the in-vehicle receiving unit 13 receives a response signal (described later) transmitted from the portable device 2. In addition, since the area | region which can communicate by the electromagnetic wave of a UHF band is wide, arrangement | positioning of the RF receiving antenna 10 in the vehicle C is not specifically limited.

The in-vehicle transmission unit 14 is connected to the plurality of LF transmission antennas 3, and transmits various signals for specifying the position of the portable device 2 separately under the control of the in-vehicle control unit 11. For example, the in-vehicle transmission unit 14 transmits a processing start signal including an activation signal that activates the portable device 2 and a position detection signal for detecting the position of the portable device 2. The position detection signal is a signal for detecting the position of the portable device 2 based on the received signal strength of the position detection signal in the portable device 2. The position detection signal is, for example, an unmodulated carrier wave. The strength of the position detection signals transmitted from the plurality of LF transmission antennas 3 is such that the portable device 2 around the vehicle can receive the position detection signals transmitted from the LF transmission antennas 3.
In the following description, an example in which position detection signals are transmitted from all LF transmission antennas 3 will be described. However, a configuration in which detection signals are transmitted from some of the LF transmission antennas 3 according to the situation is described in the present invention. It is not excluded from.

  The in-vehicle communication unit 15 is a communication circuit that performs communication according to a communication protocol such as CAN (Controller Area Network) or LIN (Local Interconnect Network), and includes an illumination ECU 51, a door ECU 52, an inter-vehicle communication device 53, an external communication device 54, a drive Various electrical components 5 such as the signal transmission device 55 and the navigation device 6 are connected. The in-vehicle communication unit 15 transmits a control signal for controlling the operation of each electrical component 5 to each electrical component 5 according to the control of the in-vehicle control unit 11. Further, the in-vehicle control unit 11 acquires information indicating the position and orientation of the vehicle C, information on a facility at a specific position or range, and the like from the navigation device 6 via the in-vehicle communication unit 15.

  The lighting ECU 51 is connected to a plurality of lighting devices 51a that can respectively illuminate different parts around the vehicle. The lighting ECU 51 turns on and off each lighting device 51a according to the control of the in-vehicle control unit 11. Control separately. The illuminating device 51a may be a dedicated light emitting unit that illuminates the periphery of the vehicle C, or existing light emitting devices such as direction indicators, lights such as hazard lamps, headlamps, and the like provided on the front, rear, left and right of the vehicle C. May be part. It is preferable that the plurality of lighting devices 51a illuminate the front, rear, and side of the vehicle C, and the right diagonal front, left diagonal front, right diagonal rear, and left diagonal rear of the vehicle C, respectively.

The door ECU 52 includes an actuator that drives a locking / unlocking device 52a that locks and unlocks the vehicle door. When the request switch on the vehicle door is operated, the vehicle-mounted device 1 detects the position of the portable device 2, authenticates the portable device 2, determines whether the portable device 2 is outside the vehicle, When the machine 2 is located outside the operated request switch, a lock signal or an unlock signal is transmitted to the door ECU 52. In addition, the vehicle-mounted device 1 detects the position and moving direction of the portable device 2 when the ignition door 7 is turned off and the vehicle door is opened and closed. When the portable device 2 leaves the vehicle C, the vehicle-mounted device 1 transmits a locking signal to the door ECU 52. When the door ECU 52 receives the locking signal, the door ECU 52 drives the locking / unlocking device 52a to lock the vehicle door.
Further, the door ECU 52 controls the operation of the locking / unlocking device 52a in accordance with the operation of the locking / unlocking switch in the vehicle, and can lock or unlock the vehicle door, and information indicating the locking / unlocking state of the vehicle door is obtained. It can transmit to the vehicle equipment 1 via a communication line. The in-vehicle device 1 can recognize the locking / unlocking state of the vehicle door by receiving the information transmitted from the door ECU 52 at the in-vehicle communication unit 15.

  The inter-vehicle communication device 53 includes a radio having a transmission / reception antenna, and wirelessly transmits various information to and from other vehicles existing within a range of several hundred meters around the host vehicle C on which the inter-vehicle communication device 53 is mounted. Send and receive. Hereinafter, wireless communication performed between the host vehicle C and another vehicle will be appropriately referred to as inter-vehicle communication. In the present embodiment, the inter-vehicle communication device 53 is information indicating the position and moving direction of the portable device 2 located around the host vehicle C, that is, the user who owns the portable device 2 in accordance with the control of the in-vehicle control unit 11. Is transmitted to other vehicles. The other vehicle can receive the information and notify the driver of the other vehicle of the position and moving direction of the person existing around the vehicle C as the information transmission source. In addition, you may comprise so that road-to-vehicle communication may be performed between the roadside communication apparatuses provided in the roadside, and the information regarding a user's position and moving direction may be transmitted to another vehicle via a roadside communication apparatus.

  The external communication device 54 is a wireless communication device that performs wireless communication with a communication device outside the vehicle, for example, a mobile communication terminal possessed by a user, using a wireless LAN or a public wireless line. Transmission and reception of various information by the external communication device 54 is controlled by the in-vehicle control unit 11. For example, the in-vehicle control unit 11 causes the external communication device 54 to transmit information related to a facility in the moving direction of the portable device 2 possessed by the user to the portable communication terminal. Note that the in-vehicle device 1 can acquire information related to the facility in the moving direction of the portable device 2 from, for example, the navigation device 6 or an external web server (not shown).

  The drive signal transmission device 55 is, for example, a wireless device that wirelessly transmits a drive signal for driving an entrance lighting fixture and an entrance locking / unlocking unit set at the entrance of a building (not shown) according to the control of the in-vehicle control unit 11. is there. The in-vehicle control unit 11 controls the operation of the drive signal transmission device 55 via the in-vehicle communication unit 15 and transmits the drive signal. An external device that receives the drive signal and operates the entrance lighting device and the entrance locking / unlocking unit based on the received drive signal is installed at the entrance.

  The navigation device 6 includes a GPS receiver and a gyro sensor for detecting the position and orientation of the vehicle C, a display unit for outputting route guidance to a destination, a speaker, and the like. The GPS receiver constitutes a GPS system together with an artificial satellite (GPS satellite), receives radio waves from the artificial satellite, and detects the position of the own apparatus, that is, the position of the vehicle C. The position of the host vehicle C is an absolute position, and is represented by latitude and longitude, for example. The direction of the vehicle C is an absolute direction such as east, west, north, and south. The display unit is a display device such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or electronic paper. The display unit displays a map image based on the map information stored in a storage device (not shown), the current location of the vehicle C detected using the GPS receiver, and the travel route to the destination, so that the vehicle C can travel. invite. The speaker outputs sound that guides the travel route to the destination. Moreover, the navigation apparatus 6 transmits the information which shows the position and direction of the own vehicle C in which the said navigation apparatus 6 is mounted to the vehicle equipment 1 via a communication line.

  An ignition switch 7 is connected to the input unit 16. An ignition switch signal (hereinafter referred to as IG switch signal) corresponding to the operation state of the ignition switch 7 is input to the input unit 16, and the in-vehicle control unit 11 receives the IG switch signal input to the input unit 16. Based on this, the operation state of the ignition switch 7 can be recognized.

  The input unit 16 is connected to a door open / close detection switch 8 that is turned on / off according to the open / close state of the door. A door opening / closing signal corresponding to the opening / closing state of the door is input to the input unit 16, and the in-vehicle control unit 11 may recognize the opening / closing state of the door based on the door opening / closing signal input to the input unit 16. it can. The door open / close detection switch 8 is, for example, a courtesy switch.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the portable device 2 according to the present embodiment. The portable device 2 includes a portable control unit 21 that controls the operation of each component of the portable device 2. The portable control unit 21 is a microcomputer having, for example, one or a plurality of CPUs, a multi-core CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a timer unit, and the like. The portable control unit 21 is provided with a portable reception unit 22, a portable transmission unit 23, a portable storage unit 24, and a received signal strength measurement unit 25.

  The portable control unit 21 reads out a control program, which will be described later, stored in the portable storage unit 24 and controls the operation of each component, thereby controlling the operation of each component, and the position and movement of the portable device 2. The process which transmits the response signal containing information required for calculation of a direction to the vehicle equipment 1 is performed.

  The portable storage unit 24 is a non-volatile memory similar to the storage unit 12. The portable storage unit 24 controls the operation of each component of the portable device 2 by the portable control unit 21 to measure the received signal strength of the position detection signal and calculate the position and moving direction of the portable device 2. The control program for performing the process which transmits the response signal etc. containing information required for to the vehicle equipment 1 is memorize | stored.

  The mobile-side receiving unit 22 is connected to the LF receiving antenna 22a, receives various signals transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 1 using radio waves in the LF band, and outputs received information to the mobile control unit 21. . The LF receiving antenna 22a is, for example, a triaxial antenna, and a constant received signal strength can be obtained regardless of the orientation or posture of the portable device 2 with respect to the vehicle C.

  The received signal strength measuring unit 25 is a circuit that detects the received signal strength of the position detection signal received by the LF receiving antenna 22 a and outputs the detected received signal strength to the portable control unit 21.

  The portable transmitter 23 is connected to the RF transmission antenna 23a and transmits various signals using radio waves in the UHF band according to the control of the portable controller 21. For example, the portable-side transmission unit 23 transmits a response signal corresponding to the position detection signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device 1. Specifically, the response signal includes the received signal strength of each position detection signal transmitted from each LF transmission antenna 3. The UHF band is an example of a radio wave band for transmitting signals, and is not necessarily limited to this.

Hereinafter, a control example of the electrical component 5 according to the position and moving direction of the portable device 2 will be described.
<Foot lighting of the user approaching the vehicle>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the in-vehicle control unit 11 related to the illumination of the user approaching the vehicle C. The vehicle-mounted control unit 11 determines whether or not the ignition switch 7 is in an off state based on the IG switch signal input to the input unit 16 (step S11). When it determines with the ignition switch 7 being an ON state (step S11: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 finishes a process. When it determines with the ignition switch 7 being an OFF state (step S11: YES), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 determines whether the vehicle door is in a locked state based on the information transmitted from the door ECU52 ( Step S12). When it determines with a vehicle door not being in a locked state (step S12: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 complete | finishes a process.

  If it is determined that the vehicle door is in the locked state (step S12: YES), the in-vehicle control unit 11 determines whether or not the portable device 2 is present around the vehicle (step S13). For example, the in-vehicle control unit 11 transmits a signal for searching for the portable device 2 by the in-vehicle transmission unit 14, and the presence of the portable device 2 based on the presence / absence of a response signal from the portable device 2 according to the signal. Is detected. When it determines with there being no portable device 2 around a vehicle (step S13: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 finishes a process.

  When it is determined that the portable device 2 is present around the vehicle (step S13: YES), the in-vehicle control unit 11 performs wireless communication with the portable device 2 and detects the position and moving direction of the portable device 2 (step S13). S14). Details of the method of detecting the position and moving direction of the portable device 2 will be described later. And the vehicle-mounted control part 11 determines whether the portable device 2 exists in the predetermined range around a vehicle (step S15). When it determines with the portable device 2 being in the predetermined range (step S15: YES), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 can illuminate the illuminating device 51a corresponding to the position of the portable device 2, ie, the position of the portable device 2. The illumination device 51a is specified (step S16). For example, the storage unit 12 stores a plurality of predetermined areas around the vehicle and the identifier of the lighting device 51a in association with each other, and the in-vehicle control unit 11 stores the information stored in the storage unit 12 and the step S14. Based on the detected position information of the portable device 2, the corresponding lighting device 51a is specified.

  Next, the in-vehicle control unit 11 includes the identifier of the lighting device 51a specified in step S16 and transmits a lighting control signal instructing lighting of the lighting device 51a corresponding to the identifier to the lighting ECU 51 by the in-vehicle communication unit 15. By doing so, the corresponding illumination device 51a is turned on (step S17). That is, the vehicle-mounted control unit 11 turns on the lighting device 51a that can illuminate the step of the user who owns the portable device 2.

  Next, the in-vehicle controller 11 determines whether or not the vehicle door has been manually unlocked based on the information transmitted from the door ECU 52 (step S18). When it determines with the vehicle door not being unlocked (step S18: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 returns a process to step S14. When it is determined that the vehicle door is unlocked (step S18: YES), or when it is determined in step S15 that the portable device 2 is not within the predetermined range (step S15: NO), the vehicle-mounted control unit 11 performs step S17. The lighting device 51a is turned off by causing the in-vehicle communication unit 15 to transmit to the lighting ECU 51 a turn-off control signal instructing turning off of the lighting device 51a that has been turned on in the process (step S19), and the process ends.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure related to detection of the position and moving direction of the portable device 2. The in-vehicle control unit 11 causes the in-vehicle transmission unit 14 to transmit a process start signal (step S31). The process start signal is a signal for starting the portable device 2 and starting a process for transmitting a response signal for detecting the position of the portable device 2, and is transmitted from the LF transmission antenna 3 using radio waves in the LF band. Is done. In addition, when transmitting a process start signal from a plurality of LF transmission antennas 3, it may be transmitted sequentially from the plurality of LF transmission antennas 3 at different timings for each LF transmission antenna 3 or simultaneously. May be.

  The portable control unit 21 receives the processing start signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device 1 at the portable side receiving unit 22 (step S32). Receiving the processing start signal, the portable control unit 21 measures the received signal strength of the position detection signal transmitted from the LF transmitting antenna 3 later, and starts a process of transmitting a response signal including the received signal strength. The portable control unit 21 causes the timing unit to start counting the elapsed time from when the processing start signal is received.

  The in-vehicle control unit 11 that has transmitted the processing start signal causes the in-vehicle transmission unit 14 to transmit a position detection signal subsequent to the transmission of the processing start signal (step S33). The position detection signals are sequentially and sequentially transmitted from the plurality of LF transmission antennas 3 at different timings for each LF transmission antenna 3. Transmission of the position detection signal from each LF transmission antenna 3 is performed without waiting for a response from the portable device 2. The position detection signal may be transmitted from all the LF transmission antennas 3 or may be transmitted from some of the LF transmission antennas 3 as necessary.

  The portable control unit 21 measures the received signal strength of the position detection signal transmitted from each LF transmitting antenna 3 in the received signal strength measuring unit 25 (step S34). Then, the portable control unit 21 sends a response signal including the received signal strengths of the position detection signals transmitted from the plurality of LF transmission antennas 3 at a predetermined timing with reference to the time point when the processing start signal is received. The transmission unit 23 transmits the data to the vehicle-mounted device 1 (step S35).

  The in-vehicle control unit 11 that has transmitted the processing start signal and the position detection signal receives the response signal transmitted from the portable device 2 by the portable-side receiving unit 22, and based on the received signal strength included in the received response signal. The position of the portable device 2 with respect to the vehicle C is calculated (step S37). The received signal strength corresponds to the distance between the LF transmitting antenna 3 that has transmitted the position detection signal and the portable device 2, and therefore, the received signals of the position detection signals transmitted from the plurality of LF transmitting antennas 3. The position where the strength matches can be specified as the position of the portable device 2. The in-vehicle controller 11 temporarily stores the calculated position of the portable device 2 in order to specify the moving direction of the portable device 2. And the vehicle-mounted control part 11 pinpoints the moving direction of the portable device 2 based on the time conversion of the position of the portable device 2 (step S38), and complete | finishes the process which concerns on the detection of the position and moving direction of the portable device 2. FIG.

<Walkaway closing and user's foot lighting>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the in-vehicle control unit 11 related to automatic locking. The in-vehicle control unit 11 determines whether or not the ignition switch 7 is in an OFF state based on the IG switch signal input to the input unit 16 (step S51). When it determines with the ignition switch 7 being an ON state (step S51: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 complete | finishes a process. When it determines with the ignition switch 7 being an OFF state (step S51: YES), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 monitors the door opening / closing signal input into the input part 16, and determines whether the vehicle door was opened and closed. (Step S52). That is, the vehicle-mounted control unit 11 determines whether some vehicle doors are open and then all vehicle doors are closed.

  When it determines with the vehicle door not being opened and closed (step S52: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 complete | finishes a process. If it is determined that the vehicle door has been opened and closed (step S52: YES), the in-vehicle controller 11 determines whether or not the vehicle door is in an unlocked state based on information transmitted from the door ECU 52 (step S53). ). When it determines with a vehicle door being in a locked state (step S53: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 finishes a process.

  If it is determined that the vehicle door is in the unlocked state (step S53: YES), the in-vehicle control unit 11 performs wireless communication with the portable device 2 and detects the position and moving direction of the portable device 2 (step S53). S54). The method for detecting the position and moving direction of the portable device 2 is as described with reference to FIG. And the vehicle-mounted control part 11 specifies the illuminating device 51a corresponding to the position of the portable device 2, ie, the illuminating device 51a which can illuminate the position of the portable device 2 (step S55). And the vehicle-mounted control part 11 transmits the lighting control signal which instruct | indicates lighting of the illuminating device 51a corresponding to the said identifier including the identifier of the illuminating device 51a specified by step S56 to illumination ECU51. By doing so, the illumination device 51a is turned on (step S56).

  Next, the in-vehicle controller 11 determines whether or not the vehicle door has been opened based on a door opening / closing signal input from the door opening / closing detection switch 8 to the input unit 16 (step S57). When it determines with the vehicle door not opening (step S57: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 determines whether the portable device 2 is outside a predetermined range (step S58). When it determines with the portable device 2 being outside a predetermined range (step S58: YES), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 locks a vehicle door by transmitting a locking signal to the door ECU 52 (step S60).

  When it determines with the portable device 2 being in the predetermined range (step S58: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 determines whether the vehicle door is in an unlocked state based on the information transmitted from the door ECU52. (Step S59). When it determines with a vehicle door being in an unlocking state (step S59: YES), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 returns a process to step S54. When it is determined that the vehicle door is locked (step S59: NO), when the processing of step S60 is completed, or when it is determined that the vehicle door is opened at step S57 (step S57: YES), the in-vehicle control unit 11, the in-vehicle communication unit 15 transmits a turn-off signal to the lighting ECU 51 to turn off the lighting device 51a turned on in step S56 (step S61), and the process is completed.

<Awareness by vehicle-to-vehicle communication>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the in-vehicle control unit 11 related to alerting by inter-vehicle communication. The vehicle-mounted control unit 11 monitors the door opening / closing signal input to the input unit 16 and determines whether or not the vehicle door has been opened / closed (step S71). That is, the vehicle-mounted control unit 11 determines whether some vehicle doors are open and then all vehicle doors are closed. When it determines with the vehicle door not being opened and closed (step S71: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 finishes a process.

  When it determines with the vehicle door having been opened and closed (step S71: YES), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 performs radio | wireless communication between the portable devices 2, and detects the position and moving direction of the portable device 2 (step S72). The method for detecting the position and moving direction of the portable device 2 is as described with reference to FIG. And the vehicle-mounted control part 11 transmits the information which concerns on the position and movement direction of the user around a vehicle to another vehicle by the inter-vehicle communication apparatus 53 (step S73).

  Next, the in-vehicle controller 11 determines whether or not the portable device 2 is outside the predetermined range (step S74). When it determines with the portable device 2 being in the predetermined range (step S74: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 returns a process to step S72, and continues and transmits the information which concerns on the position and movement direction of the portable device 2. To do. When it determines with the portable device 2 being outside a predetermined range (step S74: YES), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 complete | finishes vehicle-to-vehicle communication (step S75), and complete | finishes a process.

<Provision of destination facility information>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the in-vehicle control unit 11 related to provision of facility information at the destination of the portable device 2. The vehicle-mounted control unit 11 determines whether or not the ignition switch 7 is in an off state based on the IG switch signal input to the input unit 16 (step S91). When it determines with the ignition switch 7 being an ON state (step S91: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 finishes a process. When it determines with the ignition switch 7 being an OFF state (step S91: YES), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 determines whether the vehicle door is in a locked state based on the information transmitted from the door ECU52 ( Step S92). When it determines with a vehicle door not being in a locked state (step S92: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 finishes a process.

  If it is determined that the vehicle door is in the locked state (step S92: YES), the in-vehicle control unit 11 determines whether or not the portable device 2 is present around the vehicle (step S93). When it determines with there being no portable device 2 around a vehicle (step S93: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 finishes a process. When it is determined that the portable device 2 is present around the vehicle (step S93: YES), information indicating the position and orientation of the vehicle C is acquired from the navigation device 6 (step S94).

  Next, the in-vehicle controller 11 performs wireless communication with the portable device 2 to detect the position and moving direction of the portable device 2 (step S95), and the portable device 2 moves in a direction away from the vehicle C. It is determined whether or not there is (step S96). The method for detecting the position and moving direction of the portable device 2 is as described with reference to FIG. When it determines with the portable device 2 not moving in the direction away from the vehicle C (step S96: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 has a vehicle door in the locked state based on the information transmitted from door ECU52. It is determined whether or not (step S97). If it is determined that the vehicle door is in the locked state (step S97: YES), the in-vehicle control unit 11 returns the process to step S94 and continues to track the portable device 2. When it determines with a vehicle door not being in a locked state (step S97: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 complete | finishes a process.

When it is determined that the portable device 2 is moving in a direction away from the vehicle C (step S96: YES), the in-vehicle control unit 11 acquires the position and orientation information of the vehicle C acquired in step S94, and the portable device. The destination of the portable device 2 is specified based on the information related to the movement direction 2 (step S98). The position of the portable device 2 detected in step S95 is a relative position with respect to the position of the vehicle C, and the moving direction of the portable device 2 is a specific direction of the vehicle C, for example, a relative direction based on the front. . Therefore, the absolute position and moving direction of the portable device 2 can be specified based on the absolute position and orientation of the vehicle C acquired in step S94.
And the vehicle-mounted control part 11 acquires the information which concerns on the facility in a moving destination from the navigation apparatus 6 (step S99). The information relating to the facility is, for example, information such as outlines of restaurants, retail stores, entertainment facilities, etc., opening times, URLs, and the like. And the vehicle-mounted control part 11 transmits the information which concerns on the acquired facility to a user's portable communication terminal in the external communication apparatus 54 (step S100), and complete | finishes a process.

<Automatic driving of external devices>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the in-vehicle control unit 11 related to driving of an external device. The vehicle-mounted control part 11 performs the process similar to step S91-step S96 in step S111-step S117. If it is determined in step S116 that the portable device 2 is moving in a direction away from the vehicle C (step S116: YES), the in-vehicle control unit 11 acquires the position and orientation information of the vehicle C acquired in step S114. And the destination of the portable device 2 is specified based on the information related to the moving direction of the portable device 2 (step S118). And the vehicle-mounted control part 11 determines whether the movement destination of the portable device 2 is the predetermined position where the external apparatus is arrange | positioned (step S119). The predetermined position is, for example, the position of the entrance of a building, and the storage unit 12 stores the position. The external devices are an entrance lighting device that illuminates the entrance, and an entrance locking / unlocking unit that locks and unlocks the entrance. When it determines with the movement destination of the portable device 2 not being a predetermined position (step S119: NO), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 finishes a process.

  When it determines with the movement destination of the portable device 2 being a predetermined position (step S119: YES), the vehicle-mounted control part 11 transmits a drive signal to an external device (step S120), and complete | finishes a process. The drive signal is, for example, a signal for instructing lighting of the entrance lighting apparatus, a signal for instructing to unlock the entrance door or gate by operating the entrance locking / unlocking unit. The external device receives the drive signal transmitted from the drive signal transmitter 55, turns on the entrance lighting fixture, operates the entrance lock / unlock unit, and locks / unlocks the entrance according to the received drive signal.

  In the vehicle communication system and the vehicle-mounted device 1 configured as described above, the position and moving direction of the portable device 2 around the vehicle can be specified uniformly, and the specified position and moving direction of the portable device 2 can be determined. Based on this, it is possible to control the operation of the electrical component 5 provided in the vehicle C.

  Specifically, it is possible to illuminate a user who has the portable device 2 and approaches the vehicle C or a user who moves around the vehicle. In particular, in this embodiment, the user's feet approaching the vehicle C from the front or rear of the vehicle C can also be illuminated. The user can grasp the position of the vehicle C by illumination.

  Further, when the user carrying the portable device 2 moves away from the vehicle C, the door of the vehicle C can be automatically locked.

  Furthermore, the position and moving direction of the portable device 2 located around the vehicle, that is, the position and moving direction of the user holding the portable device 2 can be notified to other vehicles. In particular, in the present embodiment, it is possible to detect a user who is in a blind spot around the vehicle, and to notify the other vehicle of the position of the user.

  Furthermore, information related to facilities such as restaurants and stores at the user's destination can be transmitted to the mobile communication terminal owned by the user.

  Furthermore, when the user is heading for the building, the external device can be operated such as automatically lighting the entrance lighting fixture of the building and automatically unlocking the door or gate of the entrance.

  Furthermore, since the LF transmission antenna 3 is arranged at the tire position, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the LF transmission antenna 3 can be improved as compared with the case where the LF transmission antenna 3 is arranged at the center of the pillar and the vehicle. . Since the degree of freedom of arrangement of the LF transmission antenna 3 is high, for example, the degree of freedom in designing the shape and position of the door handle can be improved. In addition, the design freedom of the shape and size of the LF transmission antenna 3 itself can be improved.

  It should be thought that embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the meanings described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 In-vehicle device 2 Portable device 3 LF transmission antenna 4 Tire 5 Electrical component 6 Navigation device 7 Ignition switch 8 Door open / close detection switch 10 RF receiving antenna 11 In-vehicle control unit 12 Storage unit 13 In-vehicle reception unit 14 In-vehicle transmission unit 15 In-vehicle communication unit 16 Input unit 21 Mobile control unit 22 Mobile side reception unit 22a LF reception antenna 23 Mobile side transmission unit 23a RF transmission antenna 24 Mobile side storage unit 25 Received signal strength measurement unit 51 Lighting ECU
51a Lighting device 52 Door ECU
52a Locking / unlocking device 53 Vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 54 External communication device 55 Drive signal transmission device C Vehicle

Claims (7)

A vehicle-mounted device that transmits a position detection signal from a plurality of antennas provided in the vehicle, a response that receives the position detection signal transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device and includes the received signal strength of the received position detection signal A vehicle communication system comprising a portable device for transmitting a signal,
The plurality of antennas are:
It is provided at a plurality of tire positions on the front, rear, left and right where the tire of the vehicle is provided,
The in-vehicle device is
A receiver for receiving a response signal transmitted from the portable device;
A specifying unit for specifying the position and moving direction of the portable device based on the response signal received by the receiving unit;
A vehicle communication system comprising: a control unit that controls an operation of an electrical component provided in the vehicle according to the position and moving direction of the portable device specified by the specifying unit. The electrical component is
A plurality of lighting devices for illuminating different positions around the vehicle;
The in-vehicle device is
The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein one or a plurality of the lighting devices corresponding to a position and a moving direction of the portable device are operated. The electrical component is
Including a locking and unlocking device for locking and unlocking the door of the vehicle,
The in-vehicle device is
The vehicle communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking / unlocking device is operated according to a position and a moving direction of the portable device. The electrical component is
Including a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device that communicates with other vehicles,
The controller is
The vehicle communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein information indicating a position and a moving direction of the portable device is transmitted to another vehicle by the inter-vehicle communication device. The electrical component is
Including an external communication device that transmits information to an external communication device;
The in-vehicle device is
A position information acquisition unit for acquiring information indicating the position and orientation of the vehicle;
A destination identifying unit that identifies the destination of the portable device based on the position and orientation of the vehicle acquired by the position information acquisition unit and the moving direction of the portable device relative to the vehicle;
A facility information acquisition unit that acquires information related to the facility at the destination specified by the destination specification unit;
The controller is
The vehicle communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein information acquired by the facility information acquisition unit is transmitted by the external communication device. The electrical component is
Including a drive signal transmitting device that transmits a drive signal for driving the external device to an external device at a predetermined position;
The in-vehicle device is
A position information acquisition unit for acquiring information indicating the position and orientation of the vehicle;
A destination identifying unit that identifies the destination of the portable device based on the position and orientation of the vehicle acquired by the position information acquisition unit and the moving direction of the portable device relative to the vehicle;
A determination unit that determines whether the destination specified by the destination specification unit is the predetermined position, and
The controller is
5. The drive signal is transmitted by the drive signal transmission device when the determination unit determines that the destination of the portable device is the predetermined position. 5. Vehicle communication system. An in-vehicle device that transmits position detection signals from a plurality of antennas provided at front, rear, left, and right tire positions where a vehicle tire is provided and receives a response signal transmitted from a portable device in response to the position detection signals Because
A receiver that receives a response signal including a received signal strength of the position detection signal transmitted from each of the plurality of antennas in the portable device;
A specifying unit for specifying the position and moving direction of the portable device based on the response signal received by the receiving unit;
An in-vehicle device comprising: a control unit that controls an operation of an electrical component provided in the vehicle according to the position and moving direction of the portable device specified by the specifying unit.

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