JP3859513B2 - Vehicle control method and system using smart card - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement of a so-called smart card system that detects whether or not a card is present inside a vehicle whose state changes.
[0002]
Traditionally, vehicles are controlled by mechanical keys used to unlock doors and start ignition. The operation of these devices usually requires an operator to insert a key into the key lock and rotate the key lock, thereby providing controls such as unlocking the door or starting the ignition.
[0003]
Recently, remote controls have been developed that remotely operate the RKE device by actuating a switch to perform door locking, ignition start-up and other functions. These devices, known as key fobs, utilize connections that do not rely on hard wires, such as connections by RF or LF. Vehicles with the ability to communicate with such RKE devices can usually also be operated with mechanical keys. Thus, these systems must also use some device that requires a specific command to be issued when activated.
[0004]
More recently, the use of passive control devices has been proposed. This type of device is commonly known as a “smart card” and has a portable card that gives the user permission to operate a particular vehicle. The card emits an encoded signal that is checked by the vehicle computer so that only the correct operator of the vehicle can request a specific action. As an example, some cards have an LF transmitter / receiver as commonly used in ignition lock systems. When in the car, the operator simply issues a request to start the vehicle. Do not use a key. Upon receiving the vehicle start request, the in-vehicle sensor searches whether there is an appropriate key in the vehicle. If the operator is carrying the proper key, the sensor communicates with the vehicle controller to trigger a signal to start the vehicle. As an example, some cards have the ability to receive an encoded interrogation signal from a vehicle and modify the signal in a certain manner. The modified signal is then sent back to the vehicle. The vehicle can check whether the card is proper based on the correction of the signal. Both the card and the vehicle are programmed in a manner within the skill of the artisan.
[0005]
Although the basic concept of smart cards is promising, there are many challenges that must be encountered and overcome in the process of practical use. One particular challenge is the response to the fact that it is easy to forget that the user is carrying or not carrying the card at any particular time. Since the card generates a signal without active operation, the user may forget whether the card is carried or not.
[0006]
As an example, a case is assumed in which a passenger holds an appropriate card out of two people on a vehicle and leaves the vehicle. That is, the driver in the vehicle does not hold a proper card, but may be held by a passenger. The driver may have forgotten the card. However, in this case, since the passenger's card is identified, the vehicle can be started. If the vehicle continues to travel after the passenger gets off the car halfway (ie, the passenger is unloaded at the airport or the like), the operator can continue to operate the vehicle. However, if the operator stops the vehicle and turns off the ignition after the passenger has left the car, the operator will not be able to start the vehicle again.
[0007]
Another example of a problem associated with passive cards is when the passive cards are misplaced on the dashboard or in a console, such as in a car. In that case, the driver locks the vehicle door to leave the vehicle. Since the driver does not carry the card, he cannot enter the car again.
European Patent Publication EP-A-0924370 discloses an automobile door locking and unlocking device that stores a drive authorization code and provides an alarm when removed from a vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,160 discloses a vehicle keyless locking system that gives an alarm if the card is left in the car or the card is not found.
[0008]
The present invention alerts an operator when such a situation occurs in a smart card system.
[0009]
Summary of the Invention
In an embodiment of the present invention, the smart card system alerts the operator when the state of the card in the vehicle is undesirable for the operation required of the vehicle. In one embodiment, before turning off the vehicle ignition, the sensor checks the interior of the vehicle to make sure that the correct card is present in the vehicle. Therefore, as outlined in the first example, if the passenger who got out of the car holds the correct card, the driver will not have a valid card in the car if he tries to stop the ignition. I get a warning. Even if the driver stops the car on the way home, the driver can continue to drive as long as the ignition is not turned off. After that, you will have the right card. In this way, the situation where the driver walks home is avoided. As one example, if an appropriate card is not detected in the vehicle, a light or voice signal can be provided to the operator upon request for an ignition off.
[0010]
Similarly, after the operator leaves the car, if the controller senses that the door is closed and that the door is required to be locked, the sensor checks whether there is a card in the car. If it is known that there is a card in the car, an alarm signal such as an audio alarm is issued. This warning signal allows the operator to remove the card before locking the door.
[0011]
These and other features of the present invention will be best understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012]
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
FIG. 1A shows a vehicle 20 incorporating a smart card system. The sensor and control device 22 is disposed in the vehicle. Driver 24 and passenger 26 are shown as being in the car. In the scenario of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the smart card 28 is held by the passenger 26. Driver 24 is unaware that he is not holding a card. Since the passenger holds the card, the control device 22 allows the vehicle to start. The vehicle has a start button 30 and a stop button 32. In addition, the door lock controls 34, 36 are also activated passively upon sensing an appropriate card. These switches 30, 32, 34, 36 are all simple actuating switches. No key is required to allow the operation of these switches. This is one of the major advantages that can be gained from this smart card system. Some key lock mechanisms are no longer necessary.
[0013]
In FIG. 1B, passenger 26 is getting off the vehicle. The driver 24 does not stop the engine of the vehicle as when the passenger is taken down. When the driver drives and goes to another location and activates the stop button 32 to stop the engine, the sensor 22 first checks whether there is a valid card in the vehicle. Prior to operating the appropriate step of stopping the vehicle engine, the sensor 22 searches the vehicle for an appropriate card. If a suitable card is not found, the alarm signal 33 is sent to the operator because the operator may not be able to start the vehicle again if the engine is stopped in this state as described in the paragraph . This signal may be both visual and audio. Thereafter, the operator actuates the stop ignition button 32 again to stop the engine.
[0014]
Thus, if the operator forgets his smart card, the system gives the operator the opportunity to not stop the engine. Thus, the present invention avoids situations where the operator walks home.
[0015]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the scenario of FIG. Upon receiving a request to turn off the engine, the control device searches the vehicle for the presence of an appropriate card. If a suitable card is found, stop the ignition. If no suitable card is found, a signal is sent. When the second engine stop request is received, the ignition is stopped.
[0016]
FIG. 3 illustrates another scenario that allows the controller to avoid an undesirable lockout situation that may occur. The driver 24 gets out of the car, but forgets to place the card 40 in the car. In this case, so that an always unlikely if you close the door once, before the door 34 is you lock, the sensor 22, to scan whether or not the car there is an appropriate card. When a proper card 40 is sensed, a signal such as an audio alarm 42 is sent as well as a visual alarm 33 to inform the operator 24 that the card 40 is in the vehicle. For this reason, the operator 24 can open the door 34 again and take out the card 40. Without such a signal, the operator 24 may lock the door 34 outside the vehicle and leaving the card 40 in the vehicle. When such a situation occurs, the operator cannot reopen the door. By providing an alarm signal, the system provides the operator with an opportunity to remove the card before locking the door.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 4, when the vehicle door is closed, the control device first searches the interior of the vehicle for an appropriate card. When a suitable card is found in the car, an alarm is activated. The alarm will then stop when the operator opens the door.
[0018]
More specifically, upon receiving a request to lock the vehicle door, the system first checks whether the driver's door has been opened or closed within a predetermined time. If so, this indicates that the operator has exited the vehicle. When this condition occurs, the controller searches for a card in the car. If no card is detected, the system returns to steady state operation and locks the door. However, when a card is detected, a short-term alarm is generated. If the door opens during this short alarm period, the system will search the card again. If the card is not found, lock the door. However, if the card is still sensed, the alarm will be triggered again. The system can continue to send an alarm signal until a signal indicating the second activation of the door lock is received or until a predetermined period of time has passed.
[0019]
These aspects of the controller are described in one preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other examples or embodiments that provide these advantages are within the scope of the present invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating a first situation addressed by the present invention.
FIG. 1B shows the subsequent steps in the first situation.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a first situation.
FIG. 3 shows a second situation.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a second situation.

Claims (4)

A method of operating a vehicle,
1) Prepare a passive card (28) equipped with a cord that allows operation of the vehicle, and a sensor (22) on the vehicle,
2) Search whether the right card is in the car, and if it is found that the right card is in the car, allow the operation of the vehicle,
3) Receiving a signal relating to a change in the state of the vehicle, which is a request for stopping the vehicle ignition,
4) Upon receiving the signal of step 3, check if there is a proper card in the car,
5) A vehicle operating method comprising the step of giving an alarm to the operator regarding the state change required in step 3 when it is found in step 4 that there is no appropriate card in the vehicle.   2. The method of claim 1 wherein upon receiving an ignition stop request and determining that there is no card in the vehicle, the ignition is not stopped unless a signal is sent to the operator and a second ignition stop request is received. A sensor (22) that senses the presence of a proper card in the car, a card (28) that carries a code sensed by the sensor, and at least one vehicle device that is actuated by an operator request, A vehicle control system in communication with a control device that allows operation of at least one vehicle device,
Vehicle device is an ignition of the vehicle, the controller checks the ignition stop request is a signal requesting a change in the state of the vehicle device is received, whether or not there is a card that is authenticated in the vehicle, appropriate If a card is found to be not in the vehicle, the vehicle control system to send a warning to the operator as to the status of a change request of the vehicle device. 4. The vehicle control system according to claim 3 , wherein after the alarm signal is generated, the ignition of the vehicle is not stopped until a second ignition stop request is issued.

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