JP2019157449A - Vehicle control device and door control system - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress malfunctions and reduce the cost in a vehicle control on a sound basis.SOLUTION: A vehicle control device 100 controls an opening/closing body of a vehicle C for the opening/closing thereof by authentication through wireless communication with a portable device 200. The vehicle control device 100 includes a portable device search section 10 which transmits radio waves for searching a portable device, a microphone control section 33 which turns on/off a sound collection function of a microphone 20 provided inside an interior of the vehicle, and a window control section 31 which controls the opening/closing of a window of the vehicle, and controls the microphone control section to turn on the sound collection function of the microphone and the window control section to open the window when the portable device is confirmed that the radio waves transmitted by the portable device search section are within a reachable range.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle control device and a door control system, and in particular, communicates between a portable device and a control device provided in the vehicle to control unlocking and opening of the door of the vehicle and the door control. About the system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique for performing communication between a portable device and a control device provided in a vehicle and automatically controlling unlocking and opening of a vehicle door by voice is known. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an opening / closing control device for limiting an operator when a vehicle key or door is opened and closed by voice. The opening / closing control device includes a directional microphone. The directional microphone has a sound collecting unit that is attached to the vehicle and collects sound outside the vehicle, and has directivity above a horizontal plane that includes the mounting position of the sound collecting unit. The sound collection unit is attached to a position at a predetermined height of the vehicle. The opening / closing control device recognizes a voice signal detected within a range in which sound can be collected by the directional microphone, and controls the opening / closing operation of the key or door of the vehicle based on the obtained recognition result. In recent years, a microphone has been installed in the car, and it has become possible to make a call while driving hands-free by communicating with a mobile phone.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-166457

  However, when the microphone is provided outside the vehicle, a waterproof structure is necessary. Moreover, there was a possibility that the microphone installed outside the vehicle collected a lot of noise. On the other hand, when a microphone is provided in the vehicle, it is difficult to collect sound from outside the vehicle because the window is closed when unlocking or opening the door, even when attempting to collect sound. In addition, when collecting sound with a microphone, it is necessary to always keep the microphone in a standby state, which causes power consumption to increase during parking.

  The present invention has been devised in view of such circumstances, and by using a microphone provided in the vehicle, it can be unlocked and opened by sound from outside the vehicle, and since sound is collected inside the vehicle, there is less noise and malfunctions. It is possible to provide a vehicle control device and a door control system that can reduce the cost, reduce the cost because a waterproof mechanism is unnecessary, and further reduce power consumption during parking.

In order to solve the above problems, a vehicle control device that controls opening and closing of a vehicle opening / closing body by authentication via wireless communication with a portable device, the portable device searching unit for transmitting radio waves for searching for a portable device; A microphone control unit that turns on / off the sound collection of a microphone provided in the vehicle and a window control unit that controls the opening and closing of the vehicle window, and the radio waves transmitted by the portable device search unit are reachable When it is confirmed that the portable device has entered the range, a vehicle control device is provided in which the microphone control unit turns on the sound collection of the microphone and the window control unit performs control to open the window.
According to this, when it is confirmed that the portable device is within the reach of the radio wave transmitted by the portable device search unit, the microphone is turned on and the window is opened to control the inside of the vehicle. It is possible to provide a vehicle control device that can control a vehicle by sound from outside the vehicle using a provided microphone and suppress power consumption during parking. In addition, since the sound is collected in the vehicle, there is little noise and the malfunction can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced because a waterproof mechanism is unnecessary. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the cost by using the in-car microphone in common without providing a separate microphone for collecting sounds outside the car.

Further, the sound recognition unit may further recognize a sound collected by the microphone, and when the sound recognition unit detects a predetermined sound, the unlocking and / or opening of the vehicle door may be controlled. .
According to this, by controlling the unlocking / opening of the door when a predetermined sound is detected, it can be reliably controlled only when the unlocking / opening is intended.

Further, the portable device may be authenticated after the sound recognition unit detects a predetermined sound.
According to this, by performing authentication of the portable device after detecting a predetermined sound, it is possible to actually unlock / open the door only when the user carrying the portable device is in the vicinity.

Further, the portable device search unit may calculate the position of the portable device within the reachable range, and the window control unit may control to open only the window closest to the position.
According to this, sound can be reliably collected by opening only the window in the direction in which sound comes, and safe opening control of the window can be performed by not opening other windows.

Further, when the closest window is a back door of the vehicle, the window control unit may control to open the window of the rear seat of the vehicle.
According to this, even if it is a case where a user approaches from the back of vehicles without a window, sound collection can be carried out reliably.

In addition, a raindrop detection sensor is further provided, and when the raindrop detection sensor detects a raindrop of a predetermined amount or more, the window control unit performs control to reduce the amount of opening of the window as compared with a case where the raindrop of the predetermined amount or more is not detected. Control may be performed so as not to open or open the window.
According to this, it is possible to prevent rain from entering the vehicle when it is raining.

Furthermore, when the window of the vehicle is in an open state, the window control unit may control to close the window in the open state when an effective time for the sound to be received by the microphone control unit has elapsed.
According to this, it can be avoided that the window is unnecessarily left open.

Furthermore, when the window control unit detects that the vehicle window is in an open state, it must confirm that the portable device search unit transmits a radio wave and the portable device is within a reachable range. For example, the open window may be closed.
According to this, it can be avoided that the window is unnecessarily left open.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the vehicle includes a vehicle control device that transmits a response request signal for requesting a response and a portable device that returns a response signal to the response request signal. In a door control system that controls unlocking and / or opening of a door, a vehicle control device is provided in a vehicle interior of a vehicle, a transmission unit that transmits a response request signal, a reception unit that receives a response signal from a portable device. A microphone control unit that turns on / off the collected sound of the microphone, a sound recognition unit that recognizes the sound collected by the microphone, and a window control unit that controls opening and closing of the vehicle window, When the receiving unit receives the response signal from the portable device in response to the response request signal transmitted by the transmitting unit, the microphone control unit turns on the sound collection of the microphone and controls the window control unit to open the window, Sound recognition unit picks up the predetermined sound from the microphone Door control system is provided for controlling the unlocking and / or door opening of a door when a vehicle has been recognized that.
According to this, when the portable device enters the area that responds to the response request signal, the sound collection from the microphone is turned on and the window is opened to control the sound from outside the vehicle using the microphone provided in the vehicle. Thus, it is possible to provide a door control system that can unlock and open the door and suppress power consumption during parking.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a vehicle control device and a door control system that enable unlocking and opening with sound from outside the vehicle using a microphone provided in the vehicle and suppressing power consumption during parking. Can be provided.

1 is a block diagram of a door control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the reach | attainment range of the response request signal in the door control system of the 1st Example which concerns on this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the attachment position of the microphone in the door control system of the 1st Example which concerns on this invention. The flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the control method in the vehicle control apparatus of the 1st Example which concerns on this invention.

  As an application of a so-called passive entry system, the present invention opens a window when a portable device approaches a vehicle and enables sound collection with an in-vehicle microphone. Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Example>
With reference to FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 3, the door control system 1 and the vehicle control apparatus 100 in a present Example are demonstrated. The door control system 1 includes a vehicle control device 100 provided in the vehicle C, and a portable device 200 that is carried by the user of the vehicle C and communicates with the vehicle control device 100. The vehicle control device 100 searches for whether or not the portable device 200 exists in the vicinity by transmitting a response request signal for requesting a response to the LF receiving unit 210 included in the portable device 200 during parking. To do. When the LF reception unit 210 of the portable device 200 receives the response request signal transmitted from the vehicle C, the UHF transmission unit 220 of the portable device 200 returns a response signal together with its own authentication ID according to an instruction from the portable device control unit 230. .

  Upon receipt of the response signal of the portable device 200, the vehicle control device 100 authenticates whether or not the portable device 200 is related to the vehicle C using an authentication ID. If the authentication is successful, the vehicle control device 100 opens and closes the vehicle C. Controls the opening and closing of. The opening / closing body refers to a door or a window of the vehicle C. Therefore, when the authentication is successful, the vehicle control apparatus 100 executes, for example, unlocking the door of the vehicle C, controlling the opening of the door, and the like. The vehicle control device 100 turns on / off the sound collection of the LF transmitter 12 that transmits a response request signal, the UHF receiver 11 that receives a response signal from the portable device 200, and the microphone 20 provided in the vehicle C. A microphone control unit 33, a window control unit 31 that controls the opening and closing of the window of the vehicle C, a door control unit 32 that controls the opening and closing of the door of the vehicle C, and a control unit 30 that controls these components. In the present specification, the LF transmission unit 12 and the UHF reception unit 11 are collectively referred to as a portable device search unit 10.

  The portable device search unit 10 includes an LF transmission unit 12 and a UHF reception unit 11 so that the control unit 30 realizes a so-called passive function. Here, the passive function generally refers to a door or the like automatically when a user operates a door handle, a door knob switch, or the like without operating the portable device 200 or when the user approaches the vehicle C. The function to unlock / open the door. The portable device search unit 10 transmits a radio wave in the LF (Low Frequency) band for searching for the presence of the portable device 200 and receives a radio wave in the UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band from the portable device 200, thereby Discover that the machine 200 is in the vicinity.

  The LF transmission unit 12 intermittently transmits a response request signal in the LF band at a predetermined interval when the vehicle C is standing by, for example, while parked. The signal of the LF band has a long wavelength and the radiation intensity decreases more rapidly than the UHF band (inversely proportional to the cube of the distance), so it does not reach far compared with the radio wave of the UHF band. Therefore, the response request signal reaches the portable device 200 inside the reachable ranges A1, A2, and A3 as shown in FIG. 2, but does not reach the portable device 200 'located outside this range. In this figure, three LF transmitters 12A, 12B, and 12C are provided near the right door, the left door, and the rear door, respectively, and response request signals transmitted from these three LF transmitters 12A, 12B, and 12C. The ranges A1, A2, and A3 that are reached are respectively shown.

  The UHF receiver 11 receives the response signal transmitted by the UHF transmitter 220 of the portable device 200. Since the response signal is transmitted and received by radio waves in the UHF band, it is possible to communicate between the portable device 200 ′ and the vehicle C that are located relatively far beyond the ranges A1, A2, and A3 that the response request signal reaches. Even when the response request signal is received near the boundaries of the ranges A1, A2, and A3, the response signal can be reliably delivered to the vehicle C.

  In the normal passive function, when the UHF receiver 11 receives the response signal and the authentication is successful, the door control unit 32 solves the right door device DR, the left door device DL, and the rear door device (not shown) as they are. When the lock or the door is controlled or the door handle is operated, the door is unlocked / opened.

  In the vehicle control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, when the UHF receiving unit 11 receives a response signal from the portable device 200, that is, the portable device 200 enters a range where radio waves transmitted by the portable device searching unit 10 can be reached. When confirming this and discovering the portable device 200 possessed by the user of the vehicle C, the microphone control unit 33 first turns on the sound collection of the microphone 20 and controls the window control unit 31 to open the window. The timing at which the microphone 20 is turned on may be before or after the window control unit 31 performs control to open the window. The microphone 20 is provided such that a mechanism (diaphragm or the like) that receives air vibrations is directed toward the vehicle interior of the vehicle C. As shown in FIG. 3, the microphone 20 is preferably provided in the vicinity of the window frame so that the user can easily approach it and easily collect sound from outside the vehicle when the window is opened. This figure shows an example in which the microphone 20 is provided near the window frame of the left window device WL provided in the left door device DL.

  The microphone control unit 33 turns off the microphone 20 without energizing the microphone 20 in order to reduce power consumption when there is no user in the vehicle such as parking. However, when the portable device 200 is found in the vicinity of the vehicle C, it is determined that the user has approached, and the microphone control unit 33 energizes the microphone 20 to turn on its sound collection. At the same time, the window control unit 31 controls the right window device WR and the left window device WL so as to open the window.

  In the present embodiment, the portable device search unit 10 includes three LF transmission units 12A, 12B, and 12C. However, the RSSI included in the response signal returned based on the response request signal transmitted from each of the LF transmission units 12A, 12B, and 12C. Based on the value, the direction in which the portable device 200 exists may be calculated, and control may be performed so that only windows close to the direction are opened. According to this, sound can be reliably collected by opening only the window in the direction in which sound comes, and safe opening control of the window can be performed by not opening other windows. Further, when the user approaches from the rear of the vehicle C, the back door does not have a window. For example, control may be performed so that the window of the rear seat is opened. According to this, even if it is a case where a user approaches from the back of the vehicle C without a window, it can collect sound reliably. Note that RSSI (RSSI: Receive Signal Strength Indication) is the intensity of the signal in the LF band, and the value changes according to the distance between the portable device 200 and the LF transmitter 12 (12A / 12B / 12C). Therefore, the RSSI value is used as a substitute value for distance. Moreover, you may change the quantity which opens a window according to the magnitude | size of an RSSI value. For example, since the user is close when the RSSI value is large, the window control unit 31 may control the window opening amount to be small.

  In addition, the vehicle control device 100 further includes a raindrop detection sensor such as an electrostatic sensor, and when the raindrop detection sensor detects a raindrop of a predetermined amount or more, the window control unit 31 does not detect a rainfall of a predetermined amount or more. In contrast to the above, control for reducing the amount of opening the window may be performed, or control may be performed so as not to open the window. When it rains, use a raindrop detection sensor to check the surrounding conditions, and if it is raining heavily, you can open the window to the end of the side visor (rain protection) or control to prevent the window from opening Good. As a result, it is possible to prevent rain from entering the vehicle when it is raining.

  As described above, when the user finds the portable device 200 possessed by the user, the sound collection of the microphone 20 is turned on and the window (for example, the right window device WR or the left window device WL) is controlled to open. It is possible to provide the vehicle control device 100 that enables the vehicle C to be controlled by sound from outside the vehicle using the microphone 20 and suppresses power consumption during parking. In addition, since the sound is collected in the vehicle, there is little noise and the malfunction can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced because a waterproof mechanism is unnecessary. Furthermore, the cost can be reduced by using the in-vehicle microphone 20 in common without providing a separate microphone for collecting sounds outside the vehicle. In addition, there is also an effect of notifying the user that the microphone 20 can collect sound by opening the window. In addition, in order to know that the user can collect sound, a separate notification unit may be provided.

  In the door control system 1, when the UHF receiver 11 receives a response signal corresponding to the response request signal transmitted from the LF transmitter 12 from the portable device 200, that is, the portable device 200 receives the response request signal and responds thereto. When entering the area, the microphone 20 is turned on and controlled to open the window, so that the vehicle C can be controlled by sound from outside the vehicle using the microphone 20 provided in the vehicle, and the vehicle is parked. Power consumption can be suppressed.

  In addition, the vehicle control device 100 preferably further includes a sound recognition unit 21 that recognizes the sound collected by the microphone 20. When the sound recognition unit 21 detects a predetermined sound, the vehicle control device 100 controls the unlocking and / or opening of the door (the right door device DR or the left door device DL) of the vehicle C. The predetermined sound may be a voice of a person “open”, or a sound of applause or finger snap. The sound recognition unit 21 may perform voice recognition in which a user's voice is registered and collated with the registered voice. Then, the vehicle control device 100 may unlock the door only when the voice recognition is successful. In this way, by controlling the unlocking / opening of the door when a predetermined sound is detected, it can be reliably controlled only when the unlocking / opening is intended.

  Further, in the door control system 1, when the portable device 200 enters an area that responds to the response request signal, the microphone 20 is turned on and the window is opened, and the microphone 20 provided in the vehicle is used. The door can be unlocked and opened by sound from outside the vehicle. In addition, although the authentication of the portable device 200 when receiving the response signal has been described above, the authentication of the portable device 200 may be performed after the sound recognition unit 21 detects a predetermined sound. In this way, it is possible to actually unlock / open the door only when the user holding the portable device 200 is in the vicinity.

  A control method in the vehicle control device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. In the flowchart, S indicates a step. The vehicle control apparatus 100 searches for the portable device 200 by transmitting a response request signal from the LF transmitter 12 at a predetermined cycle. In S100, the UHF receiver 11 checks whether the portable device 200 is approaching or not. It is checked whether or not a response signal is received. If not received, the vehicle control device 100 determines that there is no approach of the portable device 200 and ends the process.

  When the response signal is received, the window control unit 31 of the vehicle control device 100 controls to open the right window device WR and the left window device WL in S102. In S104, the window control unit 31 inspects whether or not the right window device WR and the left window device WL are actually opened using a sensor or the like. If the vehicle control apparatus 100 is not actually in the open state, the vehicle control device 100 ends the process.

  When the windows of the right window device WR and the left window device WL are actually opened, the microphone control unit 33 starts processing for receiving sound input from the microphone 20 in S106. The sound input receiving process refers to turning on the microphone 20 to enable the microphone 20 and setting an effective time for receiving the sound. Thereby, it will not energize for an unnecessarily long time, and power consumption can be suppressed. By opening the window and activating the microphone 20, it is possible to collect sounds emitted by users from outside the vehicle.

  In S108, the sound recognizing unit 21 checks whether or not an effective time for receiving a sound has elapsed. If it has not elapsed, the sound recognition unit 21 checks whether or not the sound collected by the microphone 20 matches a predetermined sound set in advance in S110. When the control unit 30 recognizes that the sound matches the predetermined sound, the control unit 30 executes predetermined control content in S112. For example, when the sound recognition unit 21 recognizes “door open”, the door control unit 32 controls the unlocking and opening of the right door device DR and the left door device DL. If the sound recognition unit 21 does not recognize that the sound matches the predetermined sound, the sound recognition unit 21 continues to perform sound recognition for the effective time. If it is not recognized that it matches the predetermined sound during the valid time, the process is terminated.

  In addition, when one of the windows is in an open state, the window control unit 31 preferably performs control to close the corresponding window when an effective time for receiving sound has elapsed. Further, when the window is malfunctioning and opened, and the window control unit 31 detects that the window remains open for a long time, in the vehicle control device 100, the portable device search unit 10 sends a response request signal. If the response signal is not received, the window control unit 31 preferably controls to close the open window. Thereby, it can be avoided that the window is unnecessarily left open.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the illustrated Example, The implementation by the structure of the range which does not deviate from the content described in each item of a claim is possible. That is, although the present invention has been particularly illustrated and described with respect to particular embodiments, it should be understood that the present invention has been described in terms of quantity, quantity, and amount without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. In other detailed configurations, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art.

  For example, in the above description, the case where the portable device approaches the vehicle has been mainly described. However, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication device is provided as a portable device search unit in the vehicle, and a smartphone capable of using Bluetooth approaches and communicates as the portable device. If the window is established, the window control unit may control to open the window.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Door control system 100 Vehicle control apparatus 10 Portable machine search part 11 UHF reception part 12 LF transmission part 20 Microphone 21 Sound recognition part 30 Control part 31 Window control part 32 Door control part 33 Microphone control part 200 Portable machine 210 LF reception part 220 UHF transmission unit 230 portable device control unit C vehicle WR right window device WL left window device

Claims (9)

A vehicle control device that controls opening and closing of a vehicle opening / closing body by authentication via a portable device and wireless communication,
A portable device search unit for transmitting radio waves for searching the portable device;
A microphone control section for turning on / off sound collection of a microphone provided in the vehicle;
A window controller for controlling opening and closing of the vehicle window;
With
When it is confirmed that the portable device is within the reach of the radio wave transmitted by the portable device search unit, the microphone control unit turns on the sound collection of the microphone and the window control unit opens the window. To control,
Vehicle control device. A sound recognition unit for recognizing the sound collected by the microphone;
The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein when the sound recognition unit detects a predetermined sound, the vehicle control device controls unlocking and / or opening of the door of the vehicle.   The vehicle control device according to claim 2, wherein the portable device is authenticated after the sound recognition unit detects a predetermined sound.   2. The portable device search unit calculates a position of the portable device within the reachable range, and the window control unit controls to open only a window closest to the position. The vehicle control device according to any one of 1 to 3.   5. The vehicle control device according to claim 4, wherein when the closest window is a back door of a vehicle, the window control unit controls to open a window of a rear seat of the vehicle. A raindrop detection sensor,
When the raindrop detection sensor detects a predetermined amount or more of raindrops, the window control unit performs control to reduce the amount of opening the window, or does not open the window, compared to the case where the raindrop of the predetermined amount or more is not detected. 6. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed as described above.   2. When the window of the vehicle is in an open state, the window control unit performs control so that the window in the open state is closed when an effective time for the sound to be received by the microphone control unit has elapsed. The vehicle control apparatus in any one of thru | or 6.   When the window control unit detects that the window of the vehicle is in an open state, the portable device search unit transmits a radio wave and confirms that the portable device is within a reachable range. If not, the vehicle control device according to claim 7, wherein the open window is controlled to be closed. A vehicle control device provided in the vehicle for transmitting a response request signal for requesting a response;
A portable device that returns a response signal to the response request signal;
A door control system for controlling unlocking and / or opening of the vehicle door,
The vehicle control device includes:
A transmission unit for transmitting a response request signal;
A receiver for receiving a response signal from the portable device;
A microphone control section for turning on / off sound collection of a microphone provided in the vehicle;
A sound recognition unit for recognizing the sound collected by the microphone;
A window controller for controlling opening and closing of the vehicle window;
With
When the receiving unit receives a response signal from the portable device in response to the response request signal transmitted by the transmitting unit, the vehicle control device turns on the sound collection of the microphone, A window control unit controls to open a window, and the sound recognition unit controls unlocking and / or opening of the vehicle door when the microphone recognizes that a predetermined sound has been collected,
Door control system.