JP3634015B2 - Remote control device for vehicle engine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle engine remote control device having a remote control means capable of starting a vehicle engine by remote control.
[0002]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, as this type, for example, there is one in which the start and stop of an automobile engine can be remotely controlled by a portable remote controller. This is, for example, a configuration in which an operation signal for starting the engine is transmitted from a remote controller as a radio signal, and a receiving device is provided on the vehicle side, and when the operation signal for starting the engine is received, the engine is controlled accordingly. It is configured to be started. In this case, such a remote control is usually provided with a function of remotely operating locking and unlocking of the door of the automobile.
[0003]
Then, the user can start the engine of the automobile parked in the garage or the table while staying indoors, and can use the user to go out when the warm-up operation of the automobile ends. As a result, for example, in a cold season such as winter, it is not necessary to perform an operation such as directly starting the engine by going to an automobile parked outside to warm up, and it is very easy to use. .
[0004]
In such an operation by the remote controller, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the engine start switch of the remote controller is turned on (see FIG. 4A), the transmission circuit outputs an operation signal Se corresponding to the engine start ( (See (b) in the figure). When the receiver on the automobile side receives the operation signal Se described above (see (c) in the figure), when the ID code matches, the engine start control signal is output to start the engine. (See (d) in the figure).
[0005]
Thereafter, when the engine is warmed up and the remote control is operated to output an unlock signal (see FIG. 5A), the unlock signal Su is similarly output (see FIG. 5B). ). As a result, when the receiver receives the unlock signal Su (see (c) in the figure), it outputs an unlock control signal to the door lock mechanism (see (e) in the figure). The operation is performed (see FIG. 5F).
[0006]
After this, if a predetermined time (about the time required for warm-up operation) elapses without the ignition key being inserted into the ignition key cylinder, that is, if the time elapses without the driver getting on board Assuming that the engine has been warmed by the warm-up operation, the engine is stopped by the timer operation on the automobile side (see FIG. 4D). Even in such an engine stop state, when an unlock signal is transmitted from the remote controller, the door lock mechanism is unlocked in the same manner as described above.
[0007]
However, in the above, after operating the remote control to start the engine, the remote control is operated again in order to release the door lock state, for example, when the vehicle is close to the automobile when the warm-up operation is finished. There is a problem that it is not easy to use because it is necessary. That is, the fact that the engine has been started is assumed to at least drive the automobile thereafter. However, in consideration of this, simultaneously releasing the door lock at the time of starting the engine releases the door lock of the unmanned automobile, which is not preferable from the standpoint of preventing theft. .
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to enable the door lock mechanism to be automatically released when the vehicle is subsequently boarded when the engine is started by remote control means. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle engine remote control device.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, when an aerial propagation signal corresponding to an operation of the engine start switch and an operation switch of the door lock mechanism is transmitted by the remote operation means, the reception means provided in the vehicle receives the signal. It is intended for a vehicle engine remote control device that controls the drive of a starter and the operation of a door lock mechanism,
The remote control means is provided with a signal generating means for intermittently transmitting a door unlock signal for a certain period after the engine start switch is operated,
The receiving means is provided with a door lock control circuit for causing the door lock mechanism to perform an unlocking operation when receiving an unlock signal of a predetermined level or higher after receiving the operation signal for starting the engine.
[0010]
When the user carrying the remote control means approaches the vehicle after operating the engine start switch at a remote place, the door unlock signal transmitted intermittently is received by the vehicle reception means. The door lock mechanism is unlocked when the level to be exceeded exceeds a certain value.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows an overall block configuration. A remote control 1 as a remote control means is provided with an engine start switch 2 as an operation switch and a lock switch 3 and an unlock switch 4 for operating a door lock mechanism. It has been.
[0012]
These switches 2, 3, 4 are connected to the input circuit 5 and the transmission determination circuit 6, and a transmission signal corresponding to the switch operated by the transmission determination circuit 6 is set. The transmission determination circuit 6 is connected to a code generation circuit 7 as signal generation means. In the code generation circuit 7, a code signal corresponding to the transmission signal is generated together with the ID code, and the antenna 9 is connected via the high frequency circuit 8. To output. The high frequency circuit 8 modulates a radio frequency high frequency signal with the input digital code signal and outputs it from the antenna as a radio signal as an aerial radio signal.
[0013]
In this case, when the engine start switch 2 is operated, the remote controller 1 transmits a signal obtained by adding an operation signal for starting the engine to the ID code signal registered in itself as a radio wave signal, and intermittently thereafter. A transmission signal obtained by synthesizing the ID code signal and the door unlock signal is continuously output for a predetermined time (a predetermined time required for warm-up operation, for example, about 10 minutes) (for example, a signal output time). Is repeated for 0.5 second and the signal stop time is 1.0 second). Further, the output level of the door unlock signal at that time is set to a level lower than the output level of the operation signal for starting the engine. When the lock switch 3 or the unlock switch 4 is operated, the remote controller 1 outputs a transmission signal obtained by synthesizing the lock signal or the unlock signal with the ID code signal.
[0014]
On the automobile side as a vehicle, although not shown, an engine starting device and a door lock mechanism are provided, and a receiving device 10 is provided as receiving means for driving and controlling them. In this receiving apparatus 10, an antenna 11 for receiving the above-described radio signal is connected to a high frequency circuit 12. The high-frequency circuit 12 includes two output terminals RSSI and DATA. The output terminal RSSI is connected to the code determination circuit 14 via the comparison circuit 13, and the output terminal DATA is directly connected to the code determination circuit 14. It is connected.
[0015]
The code determination circuit 14 is connected to an output circuit 15, and the output circuit 15 includes an output terminal A connected to an IG key contact and an output terminal B connected to a door controller. The output circuit 15 is connected to a condition determination circuit 16 that determines safety.
[0016]
In this case, the code determination circuit 14 outputs an engine start signal, a lock signal for the door controller, or an unlock signal based on the code signal and the comparison result signal supplied from the high-frequency circuit 12 and the comparison circuit 13. 15 and is provided with a function as a door lock control circuit.
[0017]
The condition determination circuit 16 is used to determine whether or not the automobile is in a safe state when the engine is started. Signals are input from various detection switches (not shown). . For example, the determination condition is that the door is closed, the trunk or hood is closed, and the shift lever knob is set to the parking position. If the condition is satisfied, an output signal for allowing the engine to start is given to the output circuit 15.
[0018]
Now, the high-frequency circuit 12 and the comparison circuit 13 of the above-described receiving apparatus 10 are shown more specifically in FIG. That is, the antenna 11 is connected to the coaxial cable 17 and is connected to the input terminal of the high-frequency circuit 12 via the connector 18. The high frequency circuit 12 is composed of a dedicated IC, and its power supply terminal is connected to a DC power supply VC and grounded via a noise removing capacitor 19.
[0019]
The output terminal RSSI is connected to the inverting input terminal of the comparator 20 constituting the comparison circuit 13 via resistors 21 and 22. The common connection point of the resistors 21 and 22 is grounded via the capacitor 23. The non-inverting input terminal of the comparator 20 is connected to the power supply terminal VC via the resistor 24, and is grounded via the resistor 25 and the variable resistor 26 for setting the receiving sensitivity in series, and further output via the resistor 27. It is connected to the. A capacitor 28 is connected to the variable resistor 26 in parallel. Note that a reference voltage is set by the resistors 24 and 25 and the variable resistor 26 and applied to the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator 20, and the reception sensitivity is changed by adjusting the resistance value of the variable resistor 26. Settings can be made.
[0020]
The high-frequency circuit 12 described above is configured to demodulate a high-frequency signal and output a digital signal from the DATA terminal, and to output the level of the input signal from the RSSI terminal as a voltage signal. In other words, it has a well-known configuration.
[0021]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
First, when the user operates the engine start switch 2 of the remote controller 1 at a position away from the automobile (see FIG. 3A), the remote controller 1 generates an operation signal input via the input circuit 5. In response, the transmission determination circuit 6 gives a signal to the code generation circuit 7 in order to transmit an engine start operation signal. The code generation circuit 7 gives the high-frequency circuit 8 as an operation signal obtained by adding an operation code signal for starting the engine to the ID code signal registered in advance, and transmits it from the antenna 9 as a radio wave signal obtained by modulating a high-frequency carrier wave. (See (b) of the figure).
[0022]
On the other hand, in the receiving device 10 on the automobile side, when a radio wave signal is received by the antenna 11, it is input as a high frequency signal to the high frequency circuit 12 via the coaxial cable 17 and the connector 18, and is demodulated in the high frequency circuit 12 to be a digital signal As a received signal converted to, it is output from the output terminal DATA, and the level of the received signal at that time is converted into a voltage signal and the level signal is output from the output terminal RSSI terminal.
[0023]
In this case, since the engine start operation signal transmitted from the remote controller 1 is set to a high output level, the signal level received by the high-frequency circuit 12 is sufficiently high when transmitted from within a predetermined distance range. The engine start operation signal is demodulated into a digital signal and output from the DATA terminal. When the code determination circuit 14 determines that the received signal is an engine start operation signal, the code determination circuit 14 outputs the signal via the output circuit 15. An output signal for starting the engine is output from the terminal A to the IG key contact.
[0024]
In this case, the output circuit 15 is in a state where an engine start permission signal is given from the condition determination circuit 16, that is, in a state where the door, trunk, bonnet, etc. are closed, and the shift lever is in the parking position. An engine start output signal is output when the condition of being set is satisfied.
[0025]
Now, after that, the remote controller 1 intermittently transmits an unlock signal for a predetermined time. As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the remote controller 1 outputs a door unlock signal, for example, for 0.5 seconds, and then pauses for 1.0 second following the engine start transmission signal. The pattern will continue for about 10 minutes. In this case, the transmission period of the unlock signal for 10 minutes is set corresponding to the duration of the warm-up operation of the engine, and is set assuming that the user gets on the car during this period. It's time.
[0026]
In this case, the unlock signal transmitted from the remote controller 1 is set at a lower output level than the engine start transmission signal described above. This is because the output signal of the engine start is set so that the remote control 1 can be received by the receiver 10 even from a position far away from the vehicle, whereas the door unlock signal is Considering the operation contents and safety, considering that the function can be sufficiently exerted by setting the output level to be received by the receiving device 10 when the user comes close to the vehicle. It is set.
[0027]
That is, at this time, for example, when the user operates the remote controller 1 at a position far away from the automobile, the engine start transmission signal is received by the receiving device 10 and the reception level is sufficient. Although the unlock signal is received by the receiving device 10 because the reception level at that time is low, the threshold value in the comparison circuit 13 is not reached and the comparator 20 outputs an “H” level signal. The determination result is at a level that does not determine the reception state.
[0028]
Thereafter, when the user approaches the vehicle with the remote control 1 carried, the reception level of the unlock signal transmitted from the remote control 1 is increased in the receiving device 10 on the vehicle side, and the comparison circuit 13 When the threshold value is exceeded, the comparator 20 outputs an “L” level signal, and the output circuit 15 outputs an unlock signal from the output terminal B based on the detection signal from the comparison circuit 13, and the door. Control the controller to unlock.
[0029]
As a result, the user can release the door lock without operating the remote controller 1 just by approaching the automobile. Conversely, when the user does not approach the automobile, the determination result of the comparison circuit 13 is “ Since the door lock mechanism can be held in the locked state because the state has not reached the “H” level, that is, the reception level, safety can be ensured.
[0030]
Now, unlike the above-mentioned case, after the user starts the engine, if the user does not approach the car, the engine is stopped when a predetermined warm-up operation time (for example, 10 minutes) elapses. As a result, after the engine is warmed up, the engine is temporarily stopped and no useless operation is performed until the user operates.
[0031]
According to this embodiment, when the engine start switch 2 is operated by the remote controller 1, an engine start transmission signal is output, and subsequently an unlock signal is output intermittently for a predetermined time. Since the door lock mechanism is unlocked when the receiving level of the unlock signal exceeds a predetermined reference level on the receiving device 10 side, the door unlocking operation is performed after the engine is started. This eliminates the need to operate the unlock switch to improve the usability.
[0032]
Further, according to the present embodiment, the output level of the transmission signal on the remote controller 1 side is set to be high for the engine start transmission signal and the unlock signal is set to be low, so that one reference level is set on the receiving apparatus 10 side. By doing so, it becomes possible to have a configuration for performing a discrimination operation.
[0033]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
A radio wave key incorporating a remote control means in the key grip may be used.
The lock switch and the unlock switch may be constituted by one operation switch.
Although the output level of the unlock signal following the engine start operation signal is set low on the remote control side, a similar effect may be realized by increasing the comparison level on the reception side.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
According to the remote control device for a vehicle engine according to claim 1, the engine is started and the unlock operation is automatically performed when the vehicle is close to the vehicle by only operating the engine start switch of the remote control means. Yes, it improves usability.
[0035]
According to the remote control apparatus for a vehicle engine according to claim 2, the determination operation can be performed while the determination level of the door lock control circuit on the receiving means side is set to the same level as the determination level of engine start. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an electrical block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an electrical configuration diagram of a high-frequency circuit and a comparison circuit of a receiving device. FIG. 3 is a time chart illustrating signal output states of each unit. 4] Figure corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a conventional example [Explanation of symbols]
1 is a remote control (remote operation means), 2 is an engine start switch, 3 is a lock switch (operation switch), 4 is an unlock switch (operation switch), 6 is a transmission determination circuit, 7 is a code generation circuit (signal generation means) , 8 is a high-frequency circuit, 10 is a receiving device (receiving means), 12 is a high-frequency circuit, 13 is a comparison circuit, 14 is a code determination circuit (door lock control circuit), 15 is an output circuit, 16 is a condition determination circuit, and 20 is It is a comparator.

Claims (2)

When the aerial propagation signal corresponding to the operation of the engine start switch and the door lock mechanism operation switch is transmitted by the remote operation means, the receiving means provided in the vehicle receives the signal and the engine starter is driven. And a vehicle engine remote control device for controlling the operation of the door lock mechanism,
The remote control means is provided with a signal generating means for intermittently transmitting a door unlock signal for a certain period after the engine start switch is operated,
For the vehicle, wherein the receiving means is provided with a door lock control circuit that causes the door lock mechanism to perform an unlocking operation when receiving a door unlock signal of a predetermined level or higher after receiving the operation signal for starting the engine. Engine remote control device. 2. The remote operation means is configured to set an output level of a door unlock signal output after the engine start switch is operated to be lower than an operation signal for engine start. Remote control device for vehicle engine.

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