JP4329599B2 - Vehicle lighting control system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting control system installed in a vehicle such as an automobile.

  Conventionally, in vehicles such as automobiles, when automatically turning on and off lights when a user (such as a passenger) gets on and off, the lighting lighting time from when the door is closed until the lights are turned off is simplified. In general, a fixed time (about 15 seconds) is set for both getting on and off. However, originally, it is desirable that such an illumination lighting time is set to be long when the user gets on from an ergonomic viewpoint, and short when getting off from the viewpoint of energy saving. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 8-192678 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technique that can meet this demand by determining whether the door is locked from inside the vehicle interior or outside the vehicle interior. A technique is disclosed in which a room lamp is immediately turned off when a user performs door lock from outside the vehicle compartment, such as when door lock is performed in response to reception.

JP-A-8-192678

  In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, a preferable predetermined lighting time is secured when the user gets on, but when the user gets off, the room lamp is not turned off unless the door is locked. When leaving the vehicle without locking the door, the room lamp remains unnecessarily lit and battery power may be wasted. Therefore, it is required to control so that the illumination can be turned on as much as necessary when the user gets on and off.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a highly convenient vehicle illumination control system capable of turning on as many lights as necessary when a user gets on and off.

In the invention according to claim 1 of the present application, when the opening / closing state detecting means for detecting the opening / closing state of the door of the vehicle detects that the door is opened, the lighting device in the vehicle interior is controlled to be lit. Therefore , in the lighting control system installed in the vehicle, vehicle interior detection means for detecting whether or not the mobile device is in the vehicle interior by transmitting / receiving signals to / from the mobile device possessed by the user, and the mobile device From the vehicle exterior detection means for detecting whether the portable device is within a predetermined area from the vehicle outside the vehicle compartment by transmitting and receiving the signal, the open / close state detection means , the vehicle interior detection means, and the vehicle exterior detection means Lighting control means for controlling lighting and extinguishing of the lighting device based on the acquired information, and the lighting control means detects that the door is opened by the open / closed state detecting means. The After the lighting device is turned on, the open / close state detection means detects that the door is closed, and the vehicle interior detection means detects that the portable device is in the vehicle interior. When the closed state of the door is detected, the lighting device is turned off after a first predetermined time has elapsed, while the vehicle interior detection means detects that the portable device is not in the vehicle interior. The lighting apparatus is turned off after a second predetermined time shorter than the first predetermined time from the detection of the closed state of the door, and the lighting control means is configured to open the door by the open / close state detecting means. After the lighting device in the vehicle interior is turned on when the event is detected, the opening / closing state detection means detects that the door is closed, and the vehicle interior detection means and the vehicle exterior detection means Yo , If it the portable device is not in any of the predetermined area from the passenger compartment and the vehicle is detected, is obtained by said Rukoto is immediately turned off the lighting device.

According to the invention of claim 1 of the present application, when the door is closed, it is detected whether the portable device is in the passenger compartment by transmitting / receiving a signal to / from the portable device possessed by the user. It is possible to determine whether the door closing operation or the door closing operation that accompanies getting off, and by setting different lighting lighting times for each door closing operation, the lighting can be turned on as necessary it can. Thereby, a highly convenient lighting control system can be realized.

Further, according to the invention according to claim 1 of the present application, in the door closing operation accompanying the user's boarding, the lighting device is turned on for a relatively long time after the door is closed, thereby improving usability when riding at night. On the other hand, in the door closing operation that accompanies getting off, it is possible to avoid unnecessary lighting at the time of getting off by turning off the lighting device in a relatively short time after closing the door.

Furthermore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the user leaves the vehicle beyond a predetermined area after closing the door, the second predetermined time has not elapsed since the door closing operation. Since the lighting device is turned off, waste of battery power can be suppressed.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 and 2 are an explanatory plan view schematically showing an automobile equipped with an illumination control system according to an embodiment of the present invention and an explanatory diagram showing a system configuration of the illumination control system, respectively. The lighting control system 1 equipped in the automobile M basically includes a smart keyless control unit 2 and a lighting control unit 10.

  The smart keyless control unit 2 includes a vehicle interior / exterior determination circuit 2a that determines whether the portable device 20 is inside or outside the vehicle interior based on a signal from the outside. The smart keyless control unit 2 includes a vehicle interior detection antenna 5 that transmits a vehicle interior detection signal for detecting the portable device 20 in the vehicle interior, and a predetermined detection area outside the vehicle interior (hereinafter referred to as a vehicle exterior detection area). ) A vehicle exterior detection antenna 6 for transmitting a vehicle exterior detection signal for detecting the portable device 20 in S is connected to be able to send and receive signals. The smart keyless control unit 2 is also connected to a receiving antenna 3 for receiving a signal such as a response signal from the portable device 20 so that signals can be exchanged. The size of the vehicle exterior detection area S is determined by the strength of the vehicle exterior detection signal. In this embodiment, the vehicle exterior detection area S extends to form a semicircle having a radius of about 80 cm outside the doors 7A and 7B. ing.

  The vehicle interior detection signal and the vehicle exterior detection signal use LF waves (for example, about 30 to 300 kHz) effective for communication in a relatively narrow range, and the response signal of the portable device 20 is relatively wide. A UHF wave (for example, about 300 MHz to 3 GHz) or a VHF wave that can communicate within a range is used. The receiving antenna 3, the vehicle interior detection antenna 5 and the vehicle interior detection antenna 6 are all configured as so-called coil antennas formed by winding a coil around a ferrite bar. 1 and 2, the vehicle interior detection antenna 5, the vehicle exterior detection antenna 6 and the reception antenna 3 are provided one by one. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Also good.

  In response to the vehicle interior detection signal and the vehicle exterior detection signal respectively transmitted through the vehicle interior detection antenna 5 and the vehicle interior detection antenna 6, the vehicle interior / exterior determination circuit 2 a receives a response signal from the portable device 20 as the reception antenna 3. The position where the portable device 20 exists is determined based on whether or not it is received. More specifically, when the response signal from the portable device 20 is received by the receiving antenna 3 according to the vehicle interior detection signal transmitted via the vehicle interior detection antenna 5, the vehicle interior / exterior determination circuit 2a If 20 is determined to be in the passenger compartment and is not received, it is determined that the portable device 20 is outside the passenger compartment. When the response signal from the portable device 20 is received by the receiving antenna 3 in response to the vehicle exterior detection signal transmitted via the vehicle exterior detection antenna 6, the vehicle interior / exterior determination circuit 2 a If it is determined that the vehicle is outside the passenger compartment detection area S and is not received, it is determined that the portable device 20 is outside the passenger compartment detection area S. Further, when the response signal from the portable device 20 is not received by the receiving antenna 3 in accordance with the vehicle interior detection signal and the vehicle interior detection signal, the mobile device 20 moves away from the vehicle outside the vehicle exterior detection area S. It is determined that it is in the position.

  On the other hand, the lighting control unit 10 includes, for example, a room lamp 15a, an ignition key, based on information obtained from the outside, and a door open / close detection circuit 11 that detects the opening / closing of the doors 7A, 7B based on the on / off state of the door switches 8A, 8B. A lighting time determination circuit 12 for determining a lighting time to be set for the vehicle interior lighting 15 such as the lighting 15b for lighting and the meter decoration lighting 15c, and the vehicle interior lighting 15 for the lighting time determined by the lighting time determination circuit 12 And an illumination timer driving circuit 13 to be driven.

  Between the lighting control unit 10 and the smart keyless control unit 2, the door open / close detection circuit 11 in the lighting control unit 10 has the doors 7 </ b> A and 7 </ b> B connected to the vehicle interior / exterior determination circuit 2 a in the smart keyless control unit 2. An information signal indicating the open / closed state is connected to be exchanged. In addition, the lighting time determination circuit 12 in the illumination control unit 10 is connected to the position of the portable device 20 (in the vehicle interior or vehicle exterior detection area S or any other location) from the vehicle interior / exterior determination circuit 2a in the smart keyless control unit 2. Is connected so as to be able to exchange information signals.

  In the lighting control system 1 having such a configuration, the lighting time determination circuit 12 in the lighting control unit 10 includes an information signal indicating the opening / closing state of the doors 7A and 7B acquired from the door opening / closing detection circuit 11, and smart keyless control. Based on the information signal representing the position of the portable device 20 acquired from the vehicle interior / exterior determination circuit 2a in the unit 2, the lighting time to be set for the vehicle interior illumination 15 is determined, and based on this result, the illumination timer drive circuit 13 drives the interior lighting 15.

First, based on the information signal indicating the position of the portable device 20 determined using the vehicle interior detection signal transmitted via the vehicle interior detection antenna 5 of the smart keyless control unit 2, the lighting time determination circuit 12 A case where illumination control is performed by determining the lighting time of the illumination 15 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the illumination control process using the vehicle interior detection signal transmitted from the vehicle interior detection antenna 5. The illumination control process is performed in a state where the engine is stopped, that is, in a state where the ignition key for operating the engine is in the off position (ignition off state). In this process, after the engine is stopped, it is first determined whether or not the door 7A or 7B is opened (# 1). As a result, if it is determined that the door 7A or 7B is not open, # 1 is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the door 7A or 7B is open, the vehicle interior lighting 15 is turned on and turned on. (# 2).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the door 7A or 7B is closed (# 3). As a result, if it is determined that the door 7A or 7B is not closed, # 3 is repeated, while the door 7A or 7B is closed. If it is determined that 7B is closed, a vehicle interior detection signal is transmitted from smart keyless control unit 2 via vehicle interior detection antenna 5 (# 4).

  Furthermore, it is determined whether or not a response signal from the portable device 20 has been received by the receiving antenna 3 in accordance with the transmitted vehicle interior detection signal (# 5), and as a result, it has been determined that the response signal has been received. In this case, it is determined that the portable device 20 is in the vehicle interior (# 6), and the vehicle interior illumination 15 is turned off (turned off) after the lapse of T1 (# 7). The process is thus completed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the response signal is not received as a result of # 5, it is determined that the portable device 20 is outside the passenger compartment (# 8), and the interior lighting 15 is turned off after the time T2 has elapsed ( Off) (# 9). The process is thus completed.

FIG. 4 shows a timing chart of the room lighting 15 obtained by such lighting control processing. As is apparent from this chart, when the portable device 20 is in the vehicle interior, the vehicle interior illumination 15 is turned off after T1 time (for example, 15 seconds) has elapsed since the door 7A or 7B is closed, while When the machine 20 is outside the passenger compartment, the vehicle interior lighting 15 is turned off after a T2 time (for example, 3 seconds) shorter than the T1 time since the door 7A or 7B is closed.
Here, the extinction is adjusted so that the light extinguishes gradually so that it becomes darker, and ends in a predetermined time (1 second) after the light starts to diminish. Note that the time from the start of dimming to the complete extinction may be arbitrarily set.

In this way, when the doors 7A and 7B are closed using the existing smart keyless system, it is detected whether the portable device 20 is inside or outside the vehicle by transmitting and receiving signals to and from the portable device 20 possessed by the user. By doing so, it is possible to determine whether the door closing operation accompanying the user's boarding or the door closing operation accompanying the getting off is performed, and the lighting time of the vehicle interior lighting 15 that is different for each door closing operation is set. Thus, the illumination can be turned on as necessary. Thereby, the highly convenient illumination control system 1 can be realized.
Furthermore, in the door closing operation associated with boarding, by turning on the vehicle interior lighting 15 for a relatively long T1 hour after closing the doors 7A and 7B, it is possible to improve ease of use during boarding at night, while In the accompanying door closing operation, the vehicle interior lighting 15 is turned off in a relatively short T2 time after the door is closed, thereby avoiding unnecessary lighting when getting off the vehicle and suppressing waste of battery power.

  In the embodiment described above, when it is determined using the vehicle interior detection signal that the portable device 20 is outside the vehicle interior, the lighting time T2 of the vehicle interior illumination 15 after the door 7A or 7B is closed is set. However, in addition to the vehicle interior detection signal, the vehicle interior illumination 15 can be more actively turned off by using the vehicle exterior detection signal, and unnecessary lighting can be eliminated. Subsequently, an information signal indicating the position of the portable device 20 determined using the vehicle interior detection signal and the vehicle exterior detection signal transmitted via the vehicle interior detection antenna 5 and the vehicle exterior detection antenna 6 of the smart keyless control unit 2. The case where the lighting control is performed by the lighting time determination circuit 12 determining the lighting time of the vehicle interior lighting 15 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the illumination control process using the vehicle interior detection signal and the vehicle exterior detection signal. This illumination control process is performed in the ignition-off state, similarly to the process shown in FIG. In this process, after the engine is stopped, it is first determined whether or not the door 7A or 7B is opened (# 11). As a result, if it is determined that the door 7A or 7B is not open, # 11 is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the door 7A or 7B is open, the vehicle interior illumination 15 is turned on and turned on. (# 12).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the door 7A or 7B is closed (# 13). As a result, if it is determined that the door 7A or 7B is not closed, # 13 is repeated, while the door 7A or 7B is closed. If it is determined that 7B is closed, a vehicle interior detection signal is transmitted from smart keyless control unit 2 via vehicle interior detection antenna 5 (# 14).

  Further, it is determined whether or not a response signal from the portable device 20 is received by the receiving antenna 3 in accordance with the transmitted vehicle interior detection signal (# 15), and as a result, it is determined that the response signal has been received. In this case, it is determined that the portable device 20 is in the vehicle interior (# 20), and the vehicle interior illumination 15 is turned off (turned off) after the lapse of T1 (# 21). The process is thus completed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the response signal is not received as a result of # 15, an out-of-vehicle detection signal is subsequently transmitted from smart keyless control unit 2 through out-of-vehicle detection antenna 6 (# 16). . Thereafter, it is determined whether or not a response signal from the portable device 20 has been received by the receiving antenna 3 in accordance with the transmitted vehicle exterior detection signal (# 17), and as a result, it has been determined that the response signal has been received. In this case, it is determined that the portable device 20 is in the vehicle exterior detection area (symbol S in FIG. 1) (# 22), and the vehicle interior illumination 15 is turned off (turned off) after time T2 has elapsed (# 23). ). The process is thus completed.

  On the other hand, as a result of # 17, if it is determined that the response signal is not received in accordance with the transmitted vehicle exterior detection signal, it is determined that the portable device 20 is outside the vehicle exterior detection area S (# 18). The vehicle interior lighting 15 is immediately turned off (turned off) (# 19). The process is thus completed.

  FIG. 6 shows a timing chart of the room lighting 15 obtained by such lighting control processing. As is apparent from this chart, when the portable device 20 is in the vehicle interior, the vehicle interior illumination 15 is turned off after T1 time (for example, 15 seconds) has elapsed since the door 7A or 7B is closed, When the machine 20 is in the vehicle exterior detection area S, the vehicle interior lighting 15 is turned off after T2 time (for example, 3 seconds) shorter than T1 time has elapsed since the door 7A or 7B is closed. Further, when the portable device 20 moves out of the vehicle exterior detection area S after T3 time shorter than T2 time since the door 7A or 7B is closed, the vehicle interior illumination 15 is immediately turned off. Note that when the T3 time is equal to or longer than the T2 time, the effect of the lighting control process is not substantially exhibited, and the vehicle interior lighting 15 is turned off after the T2 time elapses.

  In this way, the smart keyless control unit 2 transmits the vehicle interior detection signal and the vehicle interior detection signal via the vehicle interior detection antenna 5 and the vehicle exterior detection antenna 6, and the portable device 20 in the vehicle interior and vehicle exterior detection area S. If there is not, the vehicle interior lighting 15 is immediately turned off, so that if the user leaves the vehicle beyond a predetermined area after closing the door, the vehicle can be turned on even if T2 time has not passed since the door closing operation. Since the interior lighting 15 is turned off, waste of battery power can be suppressed.

  Finally, a configuration in which lighting times T1 and T2 of the vehicle interior lighting 15 can be arbitrarily set from the portable device 20 will be described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the portable device 20. If this portable device 20 is used, the user can arbitrarily instruct the locking / unlocking of the doors 7A and 7B regardless of whether or not it is in the out-of-vehicle detection area S. For this reason, the portable device 20 can be pushed to instruct to lock the doors 7A and 7B and to instruct to unlock the doors 7A and 7B. And a lock switch (“Unlock SW” in the figure) 22.

Further, the portable device 20 includes a lock / unlock determination circuit 23 that determines the number of times the lock switch 21 and the unlock switch 22 are pressed and how to press them (simultaneous pressing or pressing for a predetermined time or more), and a lock / unlock determination circuit. A transmission command determination circuit 24 for determining the type of transmission command determined based on the number of times the lock switch 21 and the unlock switch 22 are pressed and how the lock switch 21 is pressed.
Furthermore, the portable device 20 includes a vehicle-side radio wave reception circuit 25 that receives a detection signal transmitted from the smart keyless control unit 2 via the vehicle interior detection antenna 5 or the vehicle exterior detection antenna 6, and a transmission command determination circuit 24. And a radio wave transmission circuit 26 that transmits a response signal to the lock signal, the unlock signal, and the detection signal from the smart keyless control unit 2.

  Corresponding to the portable device 20 having such a configuration, the lighting control system 1 has a system configuration shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, the same components as those shown in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and further description thereof is omitted. The smart keyless control unit 2 in the lighting control system 1 includes the number of times of pressing the lock switch 21 and the unlock switch 22 on the portable device 20 side based on a signal transmitted from the portable device 20 in addition to the vehicle interior / exterior determination circuit 2a. And a lock / unlock determination circuit 2b for determining how to push in.

  The illumination control unit 10 includes a lighting time setting circuit 31 in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. The lighting time setting circuit 31 selects either the T1 time setting mode or the T2 time setting mode, and sets the T1 time or the T2 time based on the information acquired from the lock / unlock determination circuit 2b. . Further, the lock switch 21 and the unlock switch 22 of the portable device 20 are pressed based on the information signal acquired from the lighting time setting circuit 31 so that the setting mode and the lighting time being set can be visually confirmed. A display 33 for displaying the number of times and the setting mode is provided.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for setting processing of the lighting time of the vehicle interior lighting 15 using the portable device 20. In this process, it is first determined whether or not the door 7A or 7B has been opened (# 31). As a result, if it is determined that the door 7A or 7B is not open, # 31 is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the door 7A or 7B is open, the lock on the portable device 20 side is continued. It is determined whether or not simultaneous pressing (ON) of the switch 21 and the unlock switch 22 for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) or more is detected (# 32).

  As a result of # 32, when it is determined that simultaneous pressing is not detected, the process returns to # 31, and the subsequent steps are repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that simultaneous pressing is detected, After the simultaneous pressing is detected, it is determined whether or not the unlock switch 22 is pressed (ON) (# 33).

  As a result of # 33, when it is determined that the unlock switch 22 has been depressed, the T1 time setting mode is set (# 34), whereas, when it is determined that the unlock switch 22 has not been depressed. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the depression (ON) of the lock switch 21 is detected (# 37).

  After the T1 time setting mode is set in # 34, the number of times the unlock switch 22 is pressed (the number of ON times) is counted (# 35). Thereafter, the number of seconds corresponding to the counted number of times of ON is set as T1 time (# 36). The process is thus completed.

  If it is determined as a result of # 37 that the lock switch 21 has been depressed, the T2 time setting mode is set (# 38). On the other hand, if it is determined that the lock switch 21 has not been depressed, , # 33, and the subsequent steps are repeated. After the T2 time setting mode is set at # 38, the number of times the lock switch 21 is depressed (number of times of ON) is counted (# 39). Thereafter, the number of seconds corresponding to the counted number of times of ON is set as T2 time (# 40). The process is thus completed.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the lighting time is set using the portable device 20 is taken as an example. However, the lighting control unit 10 mounted on the automobile M is not limited to this. It may be performed on the side. Further, the means for confirming the lighting time during the setting is not limited to the display 31, and a signal sound may be emitted in response to the pressing of the lock switch 21 and the unlock switch 22.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and it goes without saying that various improvements and design changes are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the room lamp 15 includes the room lamp 15a, the ignition key lamp 15b, and the meter decoration lamp 15c. However, the present invention is not limited to these. It can be applied to any lighting as long as it is indoors. In the embodiment described above, as the vehicle interior illumination 15, the room lamp 15a, the ignition key illumination 15b, and the meter decoration illumination 15c are controlled in the same manner. It is also possible to control each illumination individually, such as setting the T2 time.

It is a figure showing roughly the lighting control system with which the car concerning the embodiment of the present invention is equipped. It is explanatory drawing which shows the system configuration | structure of the said illumination control system roughly. It is a flowchart about the illumination control process using the vehicle interior detection signal by the said illumination control system. It is a timing chart of the indoor lighting controlled using the vehicle interior detection signal by the lighting control system. It is a flowchart about the illumination control processing using the vehicle interior detection signal and vehicle exterior detection signal by the said illumination control system. It is a timing chart of the interior lighting controlled using the interior detection signal and the exterior detection signal by the illumination control system. It is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the system configuration | structure of the illumination control system which enables arbitrary setting of the illumination lighting time by a user. It is explanatory drawing which shows the basic composition of a portable device. It is a flowchart about the setting process of the illumination lighting time using the said portable device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lighting control system 2 ... Smart keyless control unit 2a ... Vehicle interior / exterior determination circuit 2b ... Lock / unlock determination circuit 3 ... Reception antenna 5 ... Vehicle interior detection antenna 6 ... Vehicle interior detection antenna 8A, 8B ... Door switch 10 ... Illumination control unit 11 ... Door open / close detection circuit 12 ... Lighting time determination circuit 13 ... Illumination timer drive circuit 15 ... Car interior lighting 20 ... Portable device 21 ... Lock switch 22 ... Unlock switch M ... Car S ... Outside detection area

Claims (1)

Illumination control equipped in the vehicle for controlling the lighting device in the passenger compartment to be lit when it is detected by the open / close state detection means that detects the open / close state of the vehicle door. In the system,
Vehicle interior detection means for detecting whether or not the mobile device is in the vehicle interior by transmitting and receiving signals to and from the mobile device possessed by the user;
A vehicle exterior detection means for detecting whether the mobile device is in a predetermined area from the vehicle outside the vehicle compartment by transmitting and receiving signals to and from the portable device;
Lighting control means for controlling lighting and extinguishing of the lighting device based on information acquired from the open / close state detection means , vehicle interior detection means and vehicle exterior detection means ,
The lighting control means that the lighting device is turned on when the opening / closing state detecting means detects that the door is opened, and then the door is closed by the opening / closing state detecting means. And when the vehicle interior detection means detects that the portable device is in the vehicle interior, the lighting device is turned off after a first predetermined time has elapsed since the door closed state was detected, When it is detected by the vehicle interior detection means that the portable device is not in the vehicle interior, the lighting device is turned on after a second predetermined time shorter than the first predetermined time since the door closed state is detected. Turn it off ,
Further, the lighting control means turns on the lighting device in the passenger compartment when the opening / closing state detecting means detects that the door is opened, and then the opening / closing state detecting means causes the door to be closed. And when it is detected by the vehicle interior detection means and the vehicle exterior detection means that the portable device is not in either the vehicle interior or the predetermined area from the vehicle, lighting control system for a vehicle, characterized in Rukoto is immediately turned off the lighting device.

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