JP3738537B2 - Transmitter automatic output adjustment system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for adjusting a transmission output level of a transmitter so that an electric field strength at an arbitrary position of a radio wave output from the transmitter does not exceed a specified value.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a so-called wireless door lock system is known in which it is not necessary to insert a key directly into a door in order to lock and unlock the door of an automobile. In this system, for example, a transmitter is built in a key of an automobile, and a receiver built in the vehicle can be locked and unlocked by receiving radio waves from the transmitter.
[0003]
By the way, when providing such a system, no matter where the electric field strength of the radio wave transmitted from the transmitter is measured, the electric field strength should not exceed the specified value stipulated in the Radio Law. The transmission output level needs to be adjusted.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, the transmission output level is adjusted manually using a reception field strength measurement device, and the variable resistor for changing the transmission output level of the transmitter is manually adjusted while looking at the level meter of the reception field strength measurement device. It was common to do. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, in the conventional transmitter 100, the voltage variable block 17 for adjusting the transmission output level is provided with a regulator 17a such as a volume or a trimmer capacitor. Then, when adjusting the transmission output level of the transmitter 100, the reception electric field strength measurement device is used, and the transmission output level is manually adjusted by the adjuster 17a while looking at the level meter of the reception electric field strength measurement device. Met. Accordingly, the time required for the adjustment work of the transmission output level is increased. As a result, for example, when the labor cost required for the adjustment work is taken into consideration, the cost required for the adjustment work is also increased.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to reduce the time required for adjusting the transmission output level of the transmitter.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention]
The automatic output adjustment system for a transmitter according to claim 1, which has been made to achieve the above-described object, is used in a wireless door lock system that locks and unlocks a door of an automobile without using a key. The transmission output level of the transmitter is adjusted via the receiver so that the electric field strength at an arbitrary position of the radio wave output from the transmitter does not exceed a specified value. A specified value based on the distance from the transmitter is defined for the field strength. “The field strength at an arbitrary position does not exceed the specified value” means that at which position the field strength of the radio wave from the transmitter is measured. This means that the specified value will not be exceeded.
[0007]
In this automatic output adjustment system, the transmitter that is the object of adjustment of the radio wave transmission output level has at least three means: a transmission means, a transmission output level storage means, and a transmission control means. Here, the transmission output level storage means stores the transmission output level of the radio wave to be transmitted, and the transmission control means uses the transmission output level stored in the transmission output level storage means via the transmission means for transmitting the radio wave. Send radio waves.
[0008]
The receiver has at least receiving means, and the receiving means receives the radio wave transmitted from the transmitting means.
In addition, this system has three means: a received electric field strength measuring means, a correction value calculating means, and a data changing means. Here, the received electric field strength measuring means measures the received electric field strength of the radio wave received by the receiving means of the receiver. For example, the received electric field strength measuring means calculates the received electric field strength as a voltage. The correction value calculation means calculates a correction value of the transmission output level stored in the transmission output level storage means of the transmitter so that the electric field strength at an arbitrary position does not exceed the specified value based on the measured received electric field strength. Based on this correction value, the data changing means rewrites the transmission output level stored in the transmission output level storage means of the transmitter.
[0009]
In this way, a series of adjustment processes from when radio waves are transmitted at the transmission output level stored in the transmission output level storage means of the transmitter until the transmission output level stored in the transmission output level storage means is rewritten are repeated. Thus, the transmission output level is adjusted automatically and at high speed within an appropriate value range. As a result, the time required for adjusting the transmission output level can be shortened.
[0010]
Here, the transmitter has at least three means of transmission means, transmission output level storage means, and transmission control means, and the receiver has at least reception means in the system. It is conceivable that the transmitter has some of the above-described three means, that is, the received electric field strength measuring means, the correction value calculating means, and the data changing means. This is because the transmitter may have a part and the receiver may have another part. That is, a means other than a transmitter, a receiver, a transmission output level storage means, a transmission control means, and a receiving means, ie, a received electric field strength measuring means, a correction value calculating means, and data. The three means of changing means may be located anywhere in the automatic adjustment system.
[0011]
By the way, since the received field strength to be measured varies depending on the directivity of the transmitter to be adjusted and the measurement environment, it is conventionally guaranteed that the field strength at an arbitrary position does not exceed the specified value. It is common to use a transmitter to receive radio waves from the master transmitter, measure the received electric field strength, and adjust the transmission output level of the transmitter to be adjusted based on the measured value.
[0012]
Therefore, as described in claim 2, a reference value for storing, as a reference value, a received electric field strength of a radio wave transmitted from a master transmitter that is guaranteed that the electric field strength at an arbitrary position does not exceed a specified value. It is preferable that the correction value calculation unit includes a storage unit and calculates a correction value of the transmission output level based on the reference value stored in the reference value storage unit.
[0013]
In this case, instead of the transmitter to be adjusted, the received electric field strength of the radio wave from the master transmitter is measured. The master transmitter is a transmitter in which the electric field strength at an arbitrary position of a radio wave to be transmitted is guaranteed not to exceed a specified value.
The reference value storage means stores the received electric field strength of the radio wave from the master transmitter as a reference value. Then, the correction value calculating means compares the measured value of the received electric field strength of the radio wave from the transmitter to be adjusted measured by the received electric field strength measuring means with the reference value stored in the reference value storing means. Is calculated.
[0014]
By using the master transmitter in this way, even with another transmitter having a different directivity, adjustment can be performed using the same system. That is, it is not necessary to construct a system according to the type of transmitter. Further, the transmitter can be adjusted without being affected by the measurement environment.
[0015]
At this time, the reference value storage means may be included in the transmitter to be adjusted, but in that case, it is necessary to store the reference value every time one transmitter is adjusted. Therefore, it is preferable to provide the reference value storage means other than the transmitter to be adjusted. As a result, for example, once the received electric field strength of the radio wave from the master transmitter is measured and stored in the reference value storage means, then the transmitter to be adjusted can be replaced one after another and the transmission output can be adjusted. it can.
[0016]
In terms of transmission of radio waves when adjusting the transmission output level, the transmitter to be adjusted does not always transmit radio waves. For example, when the user presses a transmission switch attached to the transmitter. Generally, it is a mechanism that transmits radio waves. Therefore, at the time of adjustment of the transmitter that repeats a series of adjustment processes from transmitting radio waves at the transmission output level stored in the transmission output level storage means until rewriting the transmission output level stored in the transmission output level storage means, For example, it is conceivable that a human presses the transmission switch. Considering this point, the following configuration may be employed. That is, the transmission control unit is configured to transmit a radio wave when there is a transmission instruction to transmit a radio wave, and further, and is communicably Oite transmitter and a data changing means during adjustment of the transmitter It may be configured to include a transmission instruction output means for outputting a transmission instruction when connected .
[0017]
In this case, the transmission control means transmits radio waves when there is an external radio wave transmission instruction. The transmission instruction output means outputs this transmission instruction during the series of adjustment processes described above. As a result, for example, when the transmitter is adjusted, there is no need for a person to press the transmission switch as described above, and the time required for the output adjustment work can be further shortened.
[0018]
Meanwhile, the transmitter to be adjusted in the automatic output adjustment system, it is conceivable to those used in the wireless door lock system that performs locking and unlocking of the vehicle door without a key. Here, the transmitter in the wireless door lock system modulates and transmits the above-described radio wave carrier wave with a code signal for locking and unlocking. For this reason, a code storage means for storing this code is generally provided. Accordingly, as described in claim 3 , when the transmitter is configured to modulate and transmit a carrier wave of a radio wave with a code signal for locking and unlocking, a code memory for storing the code The means may be configured to be used as a transmission output level storage means.
[0019]
In this case, the transmitter to be adjusted is provided with code storage means for storing the code in order to modulate and transmit the radio wave carrier wave with the code signal for locking / unlocking. Therefore, this code storage means is used as a transmission output level storage means for storing the transmission output level. As a result, when the production of the transmitter is considered, it is not necessary to newly provide a transmission output level storage means in the transmitter.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an output adjustment system 1 of the present embodiment.
[0022]
The output adjustment system 1 includes a transmitter 10, a receiver 20, and a regulator 30. The output adjustment system 1 automatically adjusts the transmission output level of the transmitter 10 via the receiver 20 and the adjuster 30 so that the electric field intensity at an arbitrary position of the radio wave transmitted from the transmitter 10 does not exceed a specified value. Is. The transmitter 10 to be adjusted is connected to the adjuster 30 and automatically adjusted. The output adjustment system 1 of the present embodiment adjusts the transmitter 10 in a so-called wireless door lock system. The transmitter 10 may be configured as a key integrated type, or may be configured as a separate body from the key.
[0023]
The transmitter 10 includes a storage block 11 as “transmission output level storage means” for storing a transmission output level, a voltage variable block 12 that changes a voltage based on the transmission output level stored in the storage block 11, and the voltage variable block. An oscillation transmission block 14 that changes the amplitude of the radio wave according to the voltage from 12 and transmits the radio wave via the transmission antenna 15 as a “transmission means”, and a switch 16 for a user to instruct the transmission of the radio wave, When the switch 16 is pressed, the digital control block 13 is configured to transmit radio waves via the oscillation transmission block 14. Here, the voltage variable block 12, the digital control block 13, and the oscillation transmission block 14 correspond to “transmission control means”. The storage block 11 may be embodied as an electrically rewritable storage medium such as an EEPROM.
[0024]
The receiver 20 receives a radio wave transmitted from the transmission antenna 15 of the transmitter 10 as a “reception unit” 21 and a received electric field intensity of the radio wave received by the reception antenna 21 as a voltage value. And a received electric field strength measuring block 22 as “received electric field strength measuring means”.
[0025]
The adjuster 30 includes an analog / digital conversion block (hereinafter referred to as “A / D conversion block”) 31 that converts an analog voltage value from the reception electric field measurement block 22 of the receiver 20 into a digital signal, and a master transmitter described later. A reference value storage block 32 as a “reference value storage unit” that stores a voltage value based on the received electric field strength of the radio wave from the reference value, and a voltage value based on the received electric field strength of the radio wave from the transmitter 10 to be adjusted. The measured value storage block 33 to be stored, the reference value storage block 32, and the voltage value stored in the measured value storage block 33 are compared, and the correction value of the transmission output level stored in the storage block 11 of the transmitter 10 is calculated. The correction value calculation block 34 as “correction value calculation means” and the correction value calculated by the correction value calculation block 34 are written in the storage block 11 of the transmitter 10. When the transmitter 10 is connected to the data conversion output block 35 as “data changing means” that changes the transmission output level stored in the storage block 11 after being converted into data for replacement, the same radio wave as the switch 16 is connected. And a transmission instruction output block 36 for automatically outputting a transmission instruction.
[0026]
Next, the operation of the output adjustment system 1 of the present embodiment will be described by explaining the data flow between the blocks described above.
First, before setting the transmitter 10 to be adjusted, a master transmitter in which the electric field strength at an arbitrary position of a radio wave to be transmitted is guaranteed not to exceed a specified value is set in the same manner as the transmitter 10 shown in FIG. . Then, radio waves are transmitted to the master transmitter, received by the receiving antenna 21 of the receiver 20, converted into a voltage value by the received electric field strength measurement block 22, and further, an A / D conversion block 31 of the adjuster 30. Is digitized and stored in the reference value storage block 32. Here, the master transmitter is the same type as the transmitter 10 to be adjusted, and the directivity of the transmitted radio wave is the same.
[0027]
Subsequently, the transmitter 10 to be adjusted is set. When the transmitter 10 is connected to the adjuster 30, the transmission instruction output block 36 continues to output a radio wave transmission instruction. This radio wave transmission instruction is input to the digital control block 13 via the storage block 11 of the transmitter 10. As a result, the digital control block 13 transmits radio waves via the oscillation transmission block 14. At this time, the transmission output level of the transmitted radio wave is based on the transmission output level stored in the storage block 11 of the transmitter 10. That is, the transmission output level stored in the storage block 11 is converted into a voltage value by the voltage variable block 12, and the oscillation transmission block 14 transmits radio waves based on this voltage value.
[0028]
The transmitted radio wave is received by the receiving antenna 21 of the receiver 20. The received electric field strength measurement block 22 converts the received electric field strength of the radio wave received by the receiving antenna 21 into a voltage value and outputs the voltage value to the A / D conversion block 31 of the adjuster 30.
The A / D conversion block 31 of the adjuster 30 converts the voltage value output from the receiver 20 into digital data. This voltage value is stored in the measured value storage block 33 of the regulator 30. Subsequently, the correction value calculation block 34 compares the voltage value stored in the reference value storage block 32 with the voltage value stored in the measurement value storage block 33 to calculate a correction value. Then, the data conversion output block 35 converts the calculated correction value into data for storing in the storage block 11 of the transmitter 10 and outputs the data. As a result, the transmission output level of the storage block 11 of the transmitter 10 is changed. Since it is considered that the internal clock of the transmitter 10 and the internal clock of the adjuster 30 are not synchronized, the clock signal from the transmitter 10 is input to the data conversion output block 35 of the adjuster 30. The data conversion output block 35 outputs data to the storage block 11 of the transmitter 10 in accordance with this clock signal.
[0029]
Since the transmission instruction output block 36 continues to output a radio wave transmission instruction, it is stored in the storage block 11 from the transmission of radio waves based on the transmission output level stored in the storage block 11 of the transmitter 10 as described above. A series of adjustment processes of changing the transmission output level is repeated. By repeating such a series of adjustment processes, the transmission output level of the transmitter 10 automatically converges within a certain range that does not exceed the specified value.
[0030]
Next, the effect which the output adjustment system 1 of this embodiment exhibits is demonstrated.
As described above, the conventional transmitter 100 shown in FIG. 3 is provided with the adjuster 17a for adjusting the transmission output level, and the transmitter output level is generally adjusted manually by the adjuster 17a. there were. Therefore, it takes a lot of time to adjust the transmission output level.
[0031]
On the other hand, in the transmitter 10 of the output adjustment system 1 of the present embodiment, radio waves are output at the transmission output level stored in the storage block 11. Therefore, the transmission output level of the transmitter 10 can be adjusted by changing the transmission output level stored in the storage block 11. The transmission output level stored in the storage block 11 is automatically changed when the adjuster 30 calculates a correction value of the transmission output level based on the received electric field strength at the receiver 20. Thereby, the adjustment operation of the transmission output level of the transmitter 10 can be performed automatically and at high speed. As a result, for example, when personnel costs are taken into account, it is possible to reduce the cost for adjustment work.
[0032]
In the output adjustment system 1 of the present embodiment, the radio wave from the master transmitter is received in advance, and the received electric field strength of the radio wave is converted into a voltage value and stored in the reference value storage block 32 of the adjuster 30. The correction value calculation block 34 calculates the correction value by converting the received electric field strength of the radio wave transmitted from the transmitter 10 to be adjusted into a voltage value and comparing it with the voltage value stored in the reference value storage block 32. I did it. For this reason, even if it is the transmitter 10 from which directivity differs, a transmission output level can be easily adjusted by utilizing the master transmitter of the same directivity.
[0033]
Here, the directivity of radio waves will be described based on the explanatory diagram of FIG. FIG. 2 shows the plane directivity of the radio wave transmitted from the transmitter 10 and the receiver 20 of the present embodiment and the transmitter 10. In addition, the ellipse in FIG. 2 which shows planar directivity connects the point used as predetermined | prescribed electric field strength. At this time, it is assumed that the transmitter 10 is set in a predetermined direction.
[0034]
In FIG. 2A, the radio wave in the direction from the transmitter 10 to the receiver 20 is strong, while in FIG. 2B, the radio wave in the direction perpendicular to the direction from the transmitter 10 to the receiver 20 is strong. It shows how it is. When the electric field strength at an arbitrary position of the radio wave from the transmitter 10 does not exceed the specified value, the position in the direction in which the radio wave is strongest, for example, the position A in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B It is sufficient that the electric field intensity at the position B of the current does not exceed the specified value. At this time, the transmission output level of the transmitter 10 is adjusted based on the received electric field strength of the radio wave received by the receiver 20, but if the directivity of the transmitter 10 changes, the received electric field strength serving as a reference for adjustment is adjusted. Will also change. That is, the received electric field strength of the receiver 20 in FIG. 2 (a) such that the electric field strength at the position A in FIG. 2 (a) does not exceed the specified value, and the electric field strength at the position B in FIG. The received electric field strength of the receiver 20 in FIG. 2B that does not exceed the specified value becomes a completely different value. Therefore, by using a master transmitter having the same directivity as the transmitter 10 to be adjusted and measuring the received electric field strength in the receiver 20 in advance and storing it as a reference value, the transmitters 10 having different directivities are used. Can be adjusted without any problems.
[0035]
Even when the distance from the transmitter 10 is constant and radio waves are transmitted from the transmitter 10 at a constant transmission output level, the received electric field strength of the receiver 20 varies depending on the environment such as temperature and humidity. come. For this reason, it is also effective in this sense to store the reference value using the master transmitter first.
[0036]
Furthermore, in the output adjustment system 1 of the present embodiment, the transmission instruction output block 36 of the adjuster 30 determines that the transmitter 10 is connected to the adjuster 30, and automatically outputs a radio wave transmission instruction. It is configured. As a result, for example, when a person adjusts the transmission output level, there is no need to press the switch 16 of the transmitter 10 to instruct the transmission of radio waves, so that the time required for adjusting the transmission output level can be further shortened.
[0037]
Further, the output adjustment system 1 of the present embodiment adjusts the transmitter 10 used in the wireless door lock system as described above. In general, the transmitter 10 is configured to transmit a dedicated code signal in order to lock and unlock the door of the vehicle as a pair with the receiver on the vehicle side. Therefore, the conventional transmitter 100 shown in FIG. 3 includes the storage block 11 as “code storage means” for storing the code. Therefore, the transmitter 10 of the present embodiment also uses the storage block 11 that stores codes for storing the transmission output level. This eliminates the need to newly provide the storage block 11 for storing the transmission output level in the transmitter 10, which is advantageous in that the production cost of the transmitter 10 can be reduced.
[0038]
As described above, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention.
In the above embodiment, the transmitter 10 includes the receiver 20 and the adjuster 30. However, the transmission output received from the transmitter 10 and stored in the storage block 11 of the transmitter 10 is described. Any configuration that changes the level to an appropriate value may be used. For example, the receiver 20 may be configured to include each block of the adjuster 30, or the transmitter 10 may be configured to include each block of the adjuster 30. However, it is desirable that the transmitter 10 to be adjusted can be manufactured as inexpensively as possible with a simple configuration. Further, from the viewpoint of shortening the time required for adjusting the transmission output level, the reference value storage block 32 of the adjuster 30 is preferably configured separately from the transmitter 10. In this case, for example, once the received electric field strength of the radio wave from the master transmitter is measured and stored in the reference value storage block 32, then the transmitter 10 to be adjusted is replaced one after another and the transmission output level is adjusted. It is because it can be performed.
[0039]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the transmitter 10 in the system of a wireless door lock was premised, if it is the transmitter 10 which transmits an electromagnetic wave, it can adjust with the same structure. For example, the transmission output of a mobile phone or a transceiver can be adjusted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an output adjustment system according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the relationship between the directivity of radio waves from a transmitter and the received electric field strength at the receiver.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional transmitter.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Output adjustment system 10 ... Transmitter 11 ... Memory block 12 ... Voltage variable block 13 ... Digital control block 14 ... Oscillation transmission block 15 ... Transmission antenna 16 ... Switch 20 ... Receiver 21 ... Reception antenna 22 ... Receive electric field strength Measurement block 30 ... Adjuster 31 ... A / D conversion block 32 ... Reference value storage block 33 ... Measurement value storage block 34 ... Correction value calculation block 35 ... Data conversion output block 36 ... Transmission instruction output block

Claims (3)

Transmission output level of the transmitter so that the electric field strength at any position of the radio wave output from the transmitter used in the wireless door lock system that locks and unlocks the door of the car without using a key does not exceed the specified value An automatic output adjustment system of a transmitter that adjusts through a receiver,
The transmitter includes a transmission means for transmitting the radio wave, a transmission output level storage means for storing a transmission output level when transmitting the radio wave, and a transmission for instructing transmission of the radio wave via the transmission means. And at least transmission control means for transmitting radio waves at the transmission output level stored in the transmission output level storage means when instructed ,
The receiver has at least receiving means for receiving radio waves from the transmitting means,
In the system, a received electric field strength measuring means for measuring the received electric field strength of the radio wave received by the receiving means, and a correction value for the transmission output level is calculated based on the received electric field strength measured by the received electric field strength measuring means. Correction value calculating means for performing, data changing means for changing the transmission output level stored in the transmission output level storage means based on the correction value calculated by the correction value calculating means, and at the time of adjustment of the transmitter An automatic output adjustment system for a transmitter , comprising: a transmission instruction output unit that automatically outputs the transmission instruction when the transmitter and the data changing unit are communicably connected . In the automatic output adjustment system of the transmitter according to claim 1,
Further, the correction value calculating means comprises a reference value storage means for storing, as a reference value, the received electric field intensity of the radio wave received from the master transmitter that is guaranteed that the electric field intensity at an arbitrary position does not exceed the specified value. An automatic output adjustment system for a transmitter, wherein the transmission output level correction value is calculated based on the reference value stored in the reference value storage means. In the automatic output adjustment system of the transmitter according to claim 1 or 2,
When the transmitter is configured to modulate and transmit the radio wave carrier wave with a code signal for performing the locking / unlocking, the code storage means for storing the code is the transmission output level storage means automatic transmitter output adjustment system, characterized that you have been configured to be utilized as.

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