JP3901566B2 - Charging device and anti-theft device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a charging device that controls charging of a second battery for an anti-theft device from a vehicle power source including an in-vehicle battery and a generator.
The present invention also relates to an anti-theft device provided with the above charging device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In-vehicle devices such as car audios operate using a vehicle power source including an in-vehicle battery and a generator as a power source. The generator is driven by the automobile engine and charges the in-vehicle battery when a voltage higher than a predetermined voltage is generated. Therefore, the in-vehicle battery is not charged when the engine is stopped or the voltage of the generator is low. For this reason, when electric power is consumed by the in-vehicle device when the engine is stopped, the remaining capacity of the battery is lost, and a situation in which the engine cannot be started occurs. In order to prevent such a situation, a method for forcibly stopping the power supply from the battery to the in-vehicle device when the engine is stopped has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-49185).
[0003]
Some in-vehicle devices require power supply even when the engine is stopped. Such an in-vehicle device consumes a small amount of power even when not in operation, maintains the CPU in a standby mode, and protects data stored in the RAM. Such an in-vehicle device must be supplied with power from the in-vehicle battery when the engine is stopped. Normally, the power consumption of the in-vehicle device during non-operation is very small, so that the remaining capacity of the battery will not be extremely reduced even if power is supplied from the in-vehicle battery to the in-vehicle device when the engine is stopped.
[0004]
However, if the in-vehicle device has a timer function, the operation of the device is automatically started at a scheduled time, and a large amount of power is consumed. In this case, the remaining capacity of the in-vehicle battery becomes extremely small, and the engine may not be started. For such an in-vehicle device, a device in which a second battery for the in-vehicle device is installed in addition to the in-vehicle battery has been proposed (see JP-A-11-318041).
[0005]
This second battery is charged when the engine is operating, and is disconnected from the vehicle power source together with the in-vehicle device when the engine is stopped. When the engine is stopped, power is supplied to the in-vehicle device from the second battery. Therefore, even if the in-vehicle device starts operation by the timer function while the engine is stopped, only the second battery supplies power, and the remaining capacity of the in-vehicle battery does not become so small that the engine cannot be started.
As described above, conventionally, the in-vehicle battery is prevented from discharging while the engine is stopped by various methods, and the remaining capacity of the in-vehicle battery is prevented from decreasing.
[0006]
In recent years, with the frequent theft of vehicles, vehicle antitheft devices are often mounted on vehicles. The vehicle anti-theft device detects a vehicle abnormality caused by the theft or the like and reports it. This notification includes a notification to the outside by voice or the like, or a notification for acquiring the current position information and reporting a theft abnormality and position information to a previously specified notification destination. In a theft prevention device that reports location information, current location information is collected using a GPS satellite or a mobile phone base station.
[0007]
The anti-theft device needs to continue to operate even when the engine is stopped. The anti-theft device consumes a small amount of power even in a standby mode until an abnormality is detected. Moreover, the electric power required at the time of abnormality detection is very large compared with other vehicle equipment. Furthermore, after the abnormality is detected, it is necessary to continue the abnormality notification operation until the stolen vehicle is found and the abnormality is reset.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When a vehicle power source including an in-vehicle battery and a generator is used as a power source for the anti-theft device, power is supplied from the in-vehicle battery when the engine is stopped, which increases the burden on the in-vehicle battery. For this reason, there is a situation where the remaining battery capacity is lost and the engine cannot be started. Also, if the power supply line connecting the anti-theft device and the vehicle power supply is disconnected, there is a risk that the abnormality report cannot be continued.
[0009]
It is conceivable to employ a method in which a second battery is provided as a power source for the anti-theft device, the battery is charged when the engine is operating, and is disconnected from the vehicle battery when the engine is stopped. In this case, since the antitheft device consumes a large amount of power when an abnormality is detected, the remaining capacity of the second battery is immediately lost when the abnormality is detected. For this reason, it becomes difficult to maintain the abnormality notification operation until the discovery of the stolen vehicle.
[0010]
The present invention relates to a charging device that controls charging of a second battery for an anti-theft device from a vehicle power supply including an on-vehicle battery and a generator. The purpose is to maintain power supply with priority.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an anti-theft device using a charging device that suppresses the burden on the on-vehicle battery and allows the power supply to the anti-theft device to be continued even when the engine is stopped.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made to achieve the above object. In the charging device of the present invention, the input side of the current limit unit that performs limitation of the charging current is connected to the vehicle power supply with a generator and the vehicle-mounted battery, and an output side connected to the second battery for theft prevention device.
In the first aspect of the present invention, the charging control unit that controls the charging current flowing through the current limiting unit controls the charging current so that the charging is always performed when the engine is operating. Further, when the engine is stopped, the charging current is controlled so that intermittent charging is performed.
[0012]
Here, the constant charging means a method in which charging from the in-vehicle battery to the second battery is always performed without stopping on the way. Intermittent charging means a method of repeatedly charging and stopping charging by appropriately inserting a time for stopping charging during charging. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the second battery is charged by constant charging during engine operation. When the engine is stopped, the on-board battery is not always charged from the second battery, and the antitheft device is supplied with power from the second battery. Therefore, the burden on the in-vehicle battery while the engine is stopped is lightened, and the possibility that the engine cannot be started due to insufficient battery remaining capacity is reduced.
[0013]
In order to prevent the engine stop time from increasing and the remaining capacity of the second battery from decreasing, the second battery is appropriately charged from the in-vehicle battery. By receiving such intermittent charging, the second battery always has a capacity necessary for maintaining the operation of the antitheft device.
Moreover, even if the power supply line from the vehicle-mounted battery is disconnected due to theft or the like, the anti-theft device can be operated by the second battery, so that the abnormality notification process can be continued.
[0014]
In the second aspect of the present invention, when the charging control unit that controls the charging current flowing through the current limiting unit detects an abnormality, the charging current is always charged until the abnormality is canceled. To control.
As described above, the anti-theft device requires a large amount of power when an abnormality is detected. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the operation of the antitheft device can be maintained because the second battery continues to be charged from the in-vehicle battery even when the engine is stopped. Further, since the charging can be continuously received until the abnormality is canceled, the reporting operation can be maintained.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
A notification system using an anti-theft device will be described with reference to FIG.
The anti-theft device 1 is mounted on a vehicle 2 such as a motorcycle. The antitheft device 1 receives power from the vehicle power supply 6. The vehicle power supply 6 will be described later.
[0016]
When the motorcycle driver leaves the vehicle 2, the anti-theft device 1 is set to the monitoring mode. When set in the monitoring mode, the anti-theft device 1 detects this by a sensor when a motorcycle theft action occurs.
Then, the theft information and position information are reported to the monitoring center 7 through the base station 4 and the mobile phone network 5.
The monitoring center 7 tracks stolen vehicles and reports to the police.
[0017]
The configuration of the antitheft device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the antitheft device 1.
The antitheft device 1 includes an abnormality detection charging device 8 and a positioning notification device 10. The positioning notification device 10 includes a positioning notification unit 11 and a dedicated battery (second battery) 12.
The vehicle power supply 6 is a power supply unit that includes the in-vehicle battery 3 and the generator 15. Normally, the power supply from the vehicle power source 6 is performed by the generator 15 while the engine is operating, and is performed by the vehicle-mounted battery 3 while the engine is stopped. Further, when the output voltage of the generator 15 is larger than the output voltage of the in-vehicle battery 3, the in-vehicle battery 3 is charged by receiving power supply from the generator 15.
[0018]
The abnormality detection charging device 8 includes a current limiting unit 13 that controls the charging current. The current limiting unit 13 is usually composed of a voltage conversion unit and a switch unit, but other types can also be used. In this example, at least a function for turning on and off the charging current is necessary. The current limiting unit 13 has an input side connected to the vehicle power source 6 and an output side connected to the dedicated battery 12 via the ammeter 14.
[0019]
The abnormality detection charging device 8 receives power from the vehicle power source 6. Note that power may be received from the dedicated battery 12 while the engine is stopped. The positioning notification unit 11 receives power from the dedicated battery 12. In addition, during engine operation, you may make it receive electric power supply from the vehicle power supply 6 side.
A current value measured by an ammeter 14 connected between the current limiting unit 13 and the dedicated battery 12 is input from the I / F (interface) 16 to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 recognizes the state of charge of the dedicated battery 12 based on the measured current value.
[0020]
The control unit 20 includes a CPU and controls each unit of the abnormality detection charging device 8.
FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the control unit 20.
The control unit 20 includes a determination unit 31 and a charge control unit 32. The charging control unit 32 includes a normal charging processing unit 33, an intermittent charging processing unit 34, and an abnormal charging processing unit 35.
[0021]
A charging current value detected by the ammeter 14 is input to the determination unit 31 from the I / F 16 and the input unit 36. An engine operation detection signal detected by the vibration sensor 21 is input from the I / F 17 and the input unit 36. Further, a vehicle abnormality detection signal detected by the opening / closing detection sensor 22 for detecting opening / closing of the seat is input from the I / F 18 and the input unit 36 to the determination unit 31.
[0022]
A monitoring mode signal or a release mode signal is transmitted wirelessly from the remote controller 23 and input from the I / F 19 and the input unit 36 to the determination unit 31. When the driver leaves the vehicle 2 by operating the remote controller 23, the driver sets the monitor mode, and when returning to the vehicle 2, the driver sets the release mode. The determination unit 31 is set to the monitoring mode when the monitoring mode signal is input, and is set to the cancellation mode when the cancellation mode signal is input.
[0023]
First, the determination unit 31 controls the positioning notification unit 11 based on the engine operation detection signal, the vehicle abnormality detection signal, and the monitoring / cancellation mode. A signal is transmitted to the positioning notification unit 11 via the abnormal signal output unit 37 and the I / F 25.
The positioning notification unit 11 includes a communication unit 26, a GPS system 27, a wireless communication unit 28, and a processing unit 29. Since the operation of the positioning notification unit 11 is known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted and only a brief description will be given.
[0024]
When the communication unit 26 receives the abnormality signal from the abnormality detection charging device 8, the processing unit 29 configured by the CPU acquires the current position information based on the signal received from the GPS satellite 9 by the GPS system 27. Then, the position information and theft information are transmitted from the wireless communication means 28 to the monitoring center 7.
Note that the current position information can be obtained by a method other than the GPS system. As another method, for example, there is a position detection method using a mobile phone base station.
[0025]
Further, the determination unit 31, the second charging current value, the engine operation detection signal, based on the vehicle abnormality detection signal and the monitoring / release mode, determining abnormal situation. Normal charge processing means 33 of the charging control section 32, the intermittent charging process unit 34, the abnormality charging process unit 35, based on a signal input from the determination unit 31, a current limit unit 13 controls the signal charge control signal output Output from the unit 38.
[0026]
The operation of the determination unit 31 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 shows the entire process.
When the process is started, it is determined whether or not the monitoring mode is set (S1). If it is set to the release mode, it becomes N, and it is determined whether or not an engine operation signal is input (S2). If Y here, the normal charge processing means 33 is driven, and the charge from the vehicle power source 6 to the dedicated battery 12 is normal charge (S3). If it is N, the intermittent charge process means 34 will be driven and it will be set as intermittent charge (S6). Details of normal charging and intermittent charging will be described later.
[0027]
If it is determined in step S1 that the monitoring mode is set, it is determined whether a vehicle abnormality detection signal is input (S4), and it is determined whether an engine operation signal is input (S5). ). If both of steps S4 and S5 are N, charging from the vehicle power source 6 to the dedicated battery 12 is intermittent charging (S6). If any of them is Y, the abnormal charging processing means 35 is driven, and charging from the vehicle power source 6 to the dedicated battery 12 is abnormal charging (S7). Details of the abnormal charging will be described later.
[0028]
According to the processing of FIG. 4 described above, charging from the vehicle power source 6 to the dedicated battery 12 is normal charging when the engine is operating in a normal state (release mode). When the engine is not operating, intermittent charging is performed. In addition, when a vehicle abnormality due to theft is detected or the engine is operated during the monitoring mode, the battery is abnormally charged.
[0029]
The details of normal charging (S3), intermittent charging (S6), and abnormal charging (S7) will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 5 shows details of normal charging by the normal charging processing means 33.
When the process proceeds to normal charging, the current limiting unit 13 is turned on and charging is started (S11). Next, the presence / absence of abnormality detection is determined (S12). If N here, it is determined whether or not an engine operation signal is input (S13). If it is Y here, the process of step S12, S13 is repeated.
[0030]
When the engine is stopped (N in S13), charging is terminated (S14).
As described above, the normal charging is a charging method in which the dedicated battery 12 is always charged from the vehicle power source 6. This constant charging ends when the engine is stopped (N in S13) and when an abnormality described below is detected (Y in S12).
[0031]
If an abnormality is detected during engine operation (Y in S12), the process proceeds to abnormal charging (FIG. 4, S7). The abnormality detected here is different from the theft abnormality in the monitoring mode, for example, when the driver is attacked by a bandit during driving.
The notification system may be configured to make an emergency notification to the monitoring center by operating an emergency button (not shown) provided on the remote controller 23. In this case, even if the engine is stopped, the battery shifts to abnormal charging so that charging for reporting is maintained.
[0032]
Details of intermittent charging by the intermittent charging processing means 34 will be described with reference to FIG.
It is determined whether or not charging is in progress (S21). When shifting from the normal charging to the intermittent charging, the charging is stopped, so the determination here is N and the process proceeds to step S22 to determine whether or not the counter is being activated. Here, if the counter is not activated, the count is started (S23), and if it is activated, step S23 is passed.
[0033]
Next, it is determined whether or not the counter value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (S24). If the predetermined value is not reached, the processing in FIG. 6 is terminated, and the processing returns to the processing in FIG. By repeating these processes, the counter value becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined value when a predetermined time elapses after the counter is activated (Y in S24). Then, the counter is reset (S25), and the current limiting unit 13 is turned on to start charging (S26). As a result of the above processing, charging is resumed when a predetermined time has elapsed since charging was stopped.
A timer can be used instead of the counter.
[0034]
When charging is started (Y in S21), it is determined whether or not the charging current measured by the ammeter 14 is equal to or less than a predetermined value (S27). The charging current shows a large value when the remaining battery capacity is small, and becomes a small value when the battery is nearly fully charged. When the charging current becomes a predetermined value or less (Y in S27), the charging is stopped (S28). During charging (N in S27), the process of FIG. 6 is terminated without stopping charging.
[0035]
As described above, according to the intermittent charging in FIG. 6, charging and charging are repeatedly performed while the engine is stopped. By performing such intermittent charging, it is possible to reduce the burden on the in-vehicle battery 3 and to prevent the positioning notification device 10 from operating due to the remaining battery capacity of the dedicated battery 12 being lost.
[0036]
Note that the method for determining the timing of the start and end of charging in intermittent charging is not limited to the above example. For example, in the process of FIG. 6, charging starts after a predetermined time has elapsed from the end of charging, but the remaining battery capacity is calculated by integrating the discharge current and calculating the remaining battery capacity regardless of the elapsed time. You may do when it becomes. Further, the end of charging may be determined by the passage of time. Furthermore, the start and end may be determined by monitoring the charging voltage.
[0037]
Details of the abnormal charging by the abnormal charging processing means 35 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the current limiting unit 13 is turned on and charging is started (S31). Next, it is determined whether or not the abnormality has been reset (S32). If the abnormality is not reset, N, and the determination in step S32 is repeated.
As a result, the dedicated battery 12 is continuously charged from the vehicle power supply 6.
[0038]
When the stolen vehicle is found or the response to the emergency call is finished, a predetermined signal is transmitted from the monitoring center 7 or the remote controller 23 performs a cancel operation to the cancel mode. When the signal is received or the release mode is set, the abnormality is reset (Y in S32), and charging is stopped (S33).
As is clear from the above description, the abnormal charging is charging in which the current limiting unit 13 is controlled so as to be always charged from the abnormality detection to the abnormality reset.
[0039]
According to the abnormal charging of FIG. 7 described above, when the positioning notification device 10 makes a theft abnormality notification or an emergency notification to the monitoring center 7, the vehicle power source 6 is charged. Therefore, even when an abnormality is detected that consumes a large amount of power, the positioning notification device 10 can maintain its operation. Moreover, since charge is maintained until an abnormal state is cancelled | released, a report is not interrupted on the way.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while suppressing the burden of a vehicle-mounted battery, the charging device which enabled it to continue electric power supply at the time of an engine stop can be obtained.
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an anti-theft device using a charging device that can suppress the burden on the on-vehicle battery and can continue to supply power even when the engine is stopped.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a notification system using an antitheft device to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an anti-theft device to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit in FIG. 2;
4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit of FIG. 2;
5 is a flowchart showing the contents of constant charging in FIG. 4;
6 is a flowchart showing the contents of intermittent charging in FIG. 4;
7 is a flowchart showing the contents of abnormal charging in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Anti-theft device 2 ... Vehicle 3 ... In-vehicle battery 4 ... Base station 5 ... Mobile phone network 6 ... Vehicle power supply 7 ... Monitoring center 8 ... Abnormality detection charging device 9 ... GPS satellite 10 ... Positioning notification device 11 ... Positioning notification unit 12 ... Dedicated battery 13 ... Current limiting unit 14 ... Ammeter 15 ... Generators 16, 17, 18, 19 ... I / F
20 ... Control unit 21 ... Vibration sensor 22 ... Open / close detection sensor 23 ... Remote control 25 ... I / F
26 ... Communication means 27 ... GPS system 28 ... Wireless communication means 29 ... Processing means 31 ... Determining part 32 ... Charge control part 33 ... Normal charge processing means 34 ... Intermittent charge processing means 35 ... Abnormal charge processing means 36 ... Input part 37 ... Abnormal signal output unit 38 ... Charge control signal output unit

Claims (5)

A current limiting unit for controlling a charging current flowing from the vehicle power source to the second battery, the input side being connected to a vehicle power source including an in-vehicle battery and a generator, and the output side being connected to a second battery for the anti-theft device. When,
An engine operation signal input unit to which an engine operation signal is input;
A charging control unit that controls a charging current by controlling the current limiting unit; when the engine operation signal is input, the charging operation is controlled so that charging is always performed; Is not input, a charging control unit for controlling the charging current so as to be intermittent charging, and
An abnormality detection signal input unit for inputting an abnormality detection signal for detecting an abnormal state of the vehicle,
When the abnormality detection signal is input, the charging control unit controls the current limiting unit to always charge until the abnormality detection signal is canceled . A current limiting unit for controlling a charging current flowing from the vehicle power source to the second battery, the input side being connected to a vehicle power source including an in-vehicle battery and a generator, and the output side being connected to a second battery for the anti-theft device. When,
An engine operation signal input unit to which an engine operation signal is input;
A charging control unit that controls a charging current by controlling the current limiting unit; when the engine operation signal is input, the charging operation is controlled so that charging is always performed; Is not input, a charging control unit for controlling the charging current so as to be intermittent charging, and
A mode signal input unit to which a monitor / release mode signal is input;
A determination unit that detects an abnormality when an engine operation signal is input to the engine operation signal input unit when the monitoring mode is set by a signal input to the mode signal input unit;
The charging control unit controls the current limiting unit to always charge until the abnormal state is canceled after the determination unit detects an abnormality. Furthermore, it comprises a measuring unit for measuring the charging current or charging voltage,
The intermittent charging starts when the engine operation signal is no longer input or when a predetermined time elapses after the charging process ends, and the charging current value is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, or the charging voltage There charging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 to end the charging process exceeds a predetermined value. A current limiting unit for controlling a charging current flowing from the vehicle power source to the second battery, the input side being connected to a vehicle power source including an in-vehicle battery and a generator, and the output side being connected to a second battery for the anti-theft device. When,
An abnormality signal input unit to which an abnormality detection signal for detecting an abnormal state of the vehicle is input;
A charging control unit that controls a charging current by controlling the current limiting unit, and when the abnormality detection signal is input, the charging current is always charged until the abnormality detection signal is canceled. A charge control unit for controlling
A charging device comprising: The charging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A positioning notification unit having a positioning means for acquiring the current position and a communication means for performing wireless notification to the monitoring center;
A battery charged by the charging device;
An anti-theft device comprising:

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