JP6148026B2 - Electronic key system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic key system.

  Conventionally, in a state where wireless communication between a control object such as a vehicle and a house and an electronic key possessed by a user is established, control of locking and unlocking of a door and opening of a sliding door, etc., triggered by a switch operation by the user Electronic key systems that allow control of objects are known.

  In this electronic key system, for example, when a slide door (open / close target) is opened, it is conceivable that the user's hand is blocked by luggage or the like. In this case, it is difficult to operate the switch for opening the slide door.

  In this regard, for example, in the electronic key system described in Patent Document 1, the slide door is opened when it is detected that the user holding the electronic key has stopped. For this reason, a slide door can be opened without operating a switch around the vehicle.

JP 2006-328932 A

  In the electronic key system described in Patent Document 1, when the user stops around the vehicle without intention of opening the slide door, the slide door opens. As described above, there is a possibility that the opening of the slide door does not conform to the user's intention.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic key system that enables the opening / closing object to be opened more in line with the user's intention.

Hereinafter, means for achieving the above-described object and its operation and effects will be described.
In order to solve the above-described problem, an electronic key that wirelessly transmits a response signal when a request signal is received, and a control device that transmits the request signal and permits opening / closing of an opening / closing object when the response signal is received are provided. In the electronic key system, the electronic key system includes a user operation direction detection unit that detects forward, backward, or stop by the user with respect to the opening / closing object through movement of the electronic key, and the control device detects the user detected through the user operation direction detection unit. Acceleration detecting unit that detects the acceleration applied to the electronic key in response to the walking of the user who holds the electronic key when the forward / backward movement or stoppage is determined to have changed in a preset combination. The control device includes a forward movement of the user through the user movement direction detection unit. In the period in which the reverse is detected, it is determined that there is a user's walk based on the detection result of the acceleration detection unit, or in the period in which the user's stop is detected through the user motion direction detection unit, One of the opening conditions of the opening / closing object is to determine that the user does not walk based on the detection result of the acceleration detection unit.
According to this configuration, the user performs forward, reverse, or stop operations in a preset combination with respect to the opening / closing target. As a result, the object to be opened / closed can be opened. For this reason, for example, even when the user's hands are blocked by luggage, the object to be opened / closed can be opened without performing a switch operation. Therefore, convenience is high.
In general, the user rarely moves forward, reverse, or stops in a preset combination. Therefore, the opening / closing object can be opened more in line with the user's intention.
Furthermore, the control device determines the validity of the detection result of the user motion direction detection unit based on the presence or absence of acceleration according to the user's walking detected through the acceleration detection unit. Thereby, it is suppressed that the object of opening and closing is opened without a user's intention.
In the electronic key system, it is preferable that the user movement direction detection unit is a reception signal strength detection unit that detects a reception signal strength of the response signal or the request signal.

The closer the distance between the electronic key and the object to be opened and closed, the stronger the received signal strength of the response signal or request signal. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the user is moving forward, backward, or stopped based on the detection result of the received signal strength detection unit. In this way, the user's movement direction (forward or backward) can be easily detected simply by detecting the received signal strength in the response signal or request signal exchanged with the existing electronic key system.

  In the electronic key system, it is preferable that the control device opens the object to be opened and closed when it is determined that the received signal strength detected through the received signal strength detecting unit has changed in a decreasing, constant and increasing order.

  According to this configuration, when the user holding the electronic key operates in the order of backward, stop, and forward around the opening / closing target, the received signal strength detected through the received signal strength detecting unit decreases, increases in a constant and increasing order. It changes with. In general, when the user gets on the board, it is rare that the user operates in the above order. Therefore, the opening / closing object can be opened more in line with the user's intention.

  The electronic key system includes an answerback unit that notifies the user that the opening / closing object can be opened through a combination of forward, backward, or stop by the user when the user stops around the opening / closing object. It is preferable.

  When the user holding the electronic key approaches the object to be opened / closed by walking and first stops around the object to be opened / closed, the user passes through the answer back part thereafter, through the combination of forward, backward or stop by the user. It is notified that the opening / closing object can be opened. Therefore, the user can smoothly open and close the opening / closing object according to the notification.

  According to the present invention, in the electronic key system, it is possible to open an object to be opened and closed more in line with the user's intention.

The block diagram of the electronic key system in 1st Embodiment. The top view of the vehicle in a 1st embodiment. The top view of the vehicle in a 1st embodiment. The graph which showed the detection result of the RSSI detection part in 1st Embodiment. The sequence chart which showed the process sequence of the electronic key control part in 1st Embodiment, and a vehicle-mounted control part.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an electronic key system will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle has an electronic key that enables remote control of the vehicle through automatic two-way wireless communication between an electronic key 10 possessed by a user and an in-vehicle device 20 mounted on the vehicle. The system is installed. Hereinafter, the configuration of the electronic key 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 will be described.

<Electronic key 10>
As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic key 10 includes an electronic key control unit 11, an LF reception unit 12, a UHF transmission unit 13, a lock switch 17, and an unlock switch 16.

  The electronic key control unit 11 is configured by a computer unit and includes a nonvolatile memory 11a. An ID code (identification code) unique to the electronic key 10 is stored in the memory 11a.

  When the LF receiving unit 12 receives a request signal Sreq or a door opening completion signal Sfi, which is a radio signal in the LF (Low Frequency) band wirelessly transmitted from the in-vehicle device 20, the electronic key control unit 11 demodulates the received signal. Output to.

  When the electronic key control unit 11 recognizes the request signal Sreq from the LF receiving unit 12, the electronic key control unit 11 generates a response signal Sres including an ID code stored in the memory 11a, and outputs the generated response signal Sres to the UHF transmission unit 13. To do. The UHF transmitter 13 modulates the response signal Sres from the electronic key controller 11 into a UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band, and wirelessly transmits the modulated response signal Sres.

  The unlock switch 16 and the lock switch 17 are provided on the surface of the electronic key 10 so as to be pressed. When the unlock switch 16 and the lock switch 17 are pressed, an operation signal indicating that is output to the electronic key control unit 11.

  When the electronic key control unit 11 recognizes that the unlock switch 16 has been operated through the input of an operation signal, the electronic key control unit 11 generates an unlock request signal Sul including an ID code stored in the memory 11a, and the unlock request signal Sul is wirelessly transmitted through the UHF transmitter 13. In addition, when the lock switch 17 is operated, the electronic key control unit 11 wirelessly transmits the locking request signal Slo including the ID code stored in the memory 11 a through the UHF transmission unit 13.

  The LF receiver 12 includes an RSSI detector 12a. The electronic key control unit 11 recognizes a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the request signal Sreq through the RSSI detection unit 12a. This RSSI increases as the distance between the electronic key 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 decreases. The RSSI detector 12a is an example of a received signal strength detector.

  When the electronic key control unit 11 first receives the request signal Sreq through the LF reception unit 12, the electronic key control unit 11 starts monitoring RSSI through the RSSI detection unit 12a. Further, when the electronic key control unit 11 receives the door opening completion signal Sfi through the LF reception unit 12, the electronic key control unit 11 ends the RSSI monitoring through the RSSI detection unit 12a.

  As shown in the graph of FIG. 4, when the RSSI increases at a certain rate or more, the electronic key control unit 11 moves (forwards) in a direction in which the user holding the electronic key 10 approaches the vehicle. When the RSSI decreases at a certain rate or more, it is determined that the user who holds the electronic key 10 is moving (reversing) away from the vehicle. This fixed ratio is set based on a change in RSSI that occurs as the user holding the electronic key 10 moves forward or backward. Further, the electronic key control unit 11 determines that the user holding the electronic key 10 is stopped (stopped) when the RSSI is constant.

  When the electronic key control unit 11 determines that the RSSI of the request signal Sreq has become constant after decreasing at a certain rate or more and then increased at a certain rate or more, the door opening request signal Sop for requesting the opening of the slide door 34a. And the door opening request signal Sop is wirelessly transmitted through the UHF transmission unit 13. As shown in FIG. 3, such a change mode of the RSSI is detected when the user holding the electronic key 10 operates in the order of backward, stop, and forward, which is a preset combination.

<In-vehicle device 20>
As shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle device 20 includes an in-vehicle control unit 21, an LF transmission unit 23, and a UHF reception unit 22. In addition, a door switch 32, a door control device 33, a slide door device 34, and a hazard lamp 36 are electrically connected to the in-vehicle control unit 21.

  The in-vehicle control unit 21 is configured by a computer unit and includes a nonvolatile memory 21a. The memory 21a stores the ID code of the electronic key 10 registered in the vehicle.

  The in-vehicle control unit 21 generates a request signal Sreq at every predetermined period and outputs the signal to the LF transmission unit 23. The LF transmitter 23 modulates the request signal Sreq from the in-vehicle controller 21 into the LF band, and wirelessly transmits the modulated request signal Sreq.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the door switch 32 is provided on the outside door handle of the vehicle door. When the door switch 32 is pushed, an operation signal to that effect is output to the in-vehicle control unit 21. The request signal Sreq is transmitted in a semicircular communication area 50 formed on the side of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when receiving the response signal Sres, the unlock request signal Sul, the lock request signal Slo, or the door open request signal Sop wirelessly transmitted from the electronic key 10, the UHF receiver 22 demodulates the received signal. Then, the data is output to the in-vehicle control unit 21.

  When receiving the response signal Sres, the unlock request signal Sul, the lock request signal Slo or the door open request signal Sop from the UHF receiver 22, the in-vehicle controller 21 stores the ID code included in the signal and the memory 21a. The ID code is checked.

  The vehicle-mounted control unit 21 unlocks the vehicle door through the door control device 33 when the ID verification related to the unlock request signal Sul is established. Moreover, the vehicle-mounted control part 21 locks a vehicle door through the door control apparatus 33, if ID collation which concerns on the locking request signal Slo is materialized.

  The in-vehicle control unit 21 switches the lock / unlock state of the vehicle door through the door control device 33 when determining that the door switch 32 has been pushed in a state where the ID verification (external vehicle verification) related to the response signal Sres is established.

  Moreover, the vehicle-mounted control part 21 will open the sliding door 34a via the sliding door apparatus 34, after unlocking a vehicle door, if ID collation concerning the door opening request signal Sop is materialized. When the opening of the slide door 34 a is completed, the in-vehicle control unit 21 wirelessly transmits a door opening completion signal Sfi indicating that the opening of the sliding door 34 a is completed through the LF transmission unit 23.

  When the vehicle-mounted control unit 21 determines that the vehicle outside verification is established for a certain time Tth because the vehicle outside verification is established for a plurality of times, the user who holds the electronic key 10 is stopped in the communication area 50. The answer back is executed by blinking the hazard lamp 36 a plurality of times. This hazard lamp 36 corresponds to an answerback section.

Next, processing of the electronic key control unit 11 and the in-vehicle control unit 21 when the user gets on will be described according to the sequence chart of FIG.
The vehicle-mounted control unit 21 periodically transmits a request signal Sreq to the communication area 50 (S101). The electronic key control unit 11 transmits a response signal Sres every time it receives the request signal Sreq (S102). The in-vehicle control unit 21 performs ID verification (external verification) for the received response signal Sre. When the vehicle-mounted control unit 21 determines that the vehicle exterior verification has been established for a certain time Tth by establishing the vehicle exterior verification multiple times (S103), the vehicle-mounted control unit 21 causes the hazard lamp 36 to blink multiple times. An answer back is performed (S104).

  When receiving the request signal Sreq, the electronic key control unit 11 starts monitoring RSSI through the RSSI detection unit 12a (S105). When the electronic key control unit 11 determines that the RSSI of the request signal Sreq is constant after being decreased at a certain rate or more and then increased at a certain rate (S106), the electronic key control unit 11 wirelessly transmits the door opening request signal Sop ( S107).

  The vehicle-mounted control part 21 will open the slide door 34a via the slide door apparatus 34, after unlocking a vehicle door, if ID collation concerning the received door open request signal Sop is materialized (S108). When the opening of the slide door 34a is completed, the in-vehicle control unit 21 wirelessly transmits a door opening completion signal Sfi (S109).

  When receiving the door opening completion signal Sfi, the electronic key control unit 11 ends the RSSI monitoring of the request signal Sreq through the RSSI detection unit 12a (S110). Thus, the processes of the electronic key control unit 11 and the in-vehicle control unit 21 are completed.

  On the other hand, when the electronic key control unit 11 cannot receive the door opening completion signal Sfi after transmitting the door opening request signal Sop (S107), the electronic key control unit 11 returns to the process of step S106. Thereby, the user can try to open the slide door 34a again based on the backward, stop, and forward motions.

Finally, a method of getting on the user's vehicle will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the user who holds the electronic key 10 enters the communication area 50 with a baggage in both hands, for example. Then, the user stops once in the communication area 50. Then, the hazard lamp 36 blinks a plurality of times. The user sees the blinking of the hazard lamp 36, and then falls back, stops at the spot, and then moves forward. Thereby, the slide door 34a opens after the vehicle door is automatically unlocked. Therefore, the user can get on without carrying out the switch operation to the electronic key 10 or the like even with the baggage in both hands. Therefore, convenience is high. Similarly, even when the user has no luggage, the user can get on without operating the electronic key 10 or the like, which is highly convenient.

Incidentally, RSSI detection unit 12a is an example of a user operation direction detecting unit and the received signal strength detecting unit, an example of the in-vehicle device 20 includes a control device, the sliding door 34a is an example of a closing target.

As described above, according to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) A user who holds the electronic key 10 performs reverse, stop, and forward operations in order within the communication area 50. When the electronic key control unit 11 determines that the RSSI of the request signal Sreq has become constant after decreasing at a certain rate or more and then increases at a certain rate or more, the advance, reverse or stop by the user changes in a preset combination. As a result, the sliding door 34a is opened through transmission of the door opening request signal Sop. For this reason, for example, even when the user's hands are blocked by luggage or the like, the slide door 34a can be opened without performing a switch operation. Therefore, convenience is high.

In general, the user rarely moves forward, reverse, or stops in a preset combination. Therefore, the slide door 34a can be opened more in line with the user's intention.
(2) The electronic key control unit 11 can determine whether the user is moving forward, backward, or stopped based on the RSSI of the request signal Sreq through the RSSI detection unit 12a. As described above, the user's operation direction (forward or backward) can be easily detected only by detecting the RSSI in the request signal Sreq exchanged with the existing electronic key system.

  (3) When the user who possesses the electronic key 10 approaches the slide door 34a by walking and stops around the slide door 34a (in the communication area 50), the hazard lamp 36 is turned to the user multiple times. The answer back is executed by blinking over. Therefore, the user can smoothly open the slide door 34a along the answer back.

  (4) The user can open the slide door 34a by sequentially performing reverse, stop and forward operations in the communication area 50. Since the last is the forward movement, it is possible to get on smoothly after that.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the electronic key system will be described. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the user's action is determined in consideration of the acceleration generated in the electronic key. Hereinafter, a description will be given focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

  As indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1, an acceleration sensor 18 is connected to the electronic key control unit 11. The acceleration sensor 18 detects the acceleration generated in the electronic key 10 as the user walks as a signal (voltage value) corresponding to the acceleration, and outputs the detection result to the electronic key control unit 11.

  The electronic key control unit 11 activates the acceleration sensor 18 when the user having the electronic key 10 enters the communication area 50 and receives the request signal Sreq through the LF reception unit 12, and passes through the LF reception unit 12. When the door open completion signal Sfi is received, the acceleration sensor 18 is stopped.

  When the user stops and stops, the acceleration detected through the acceleration sensor 18 is within a certain range. When the user is moving forward or backward, the acceleration detected through the acceleration sensor 18 exceeds a certain range.

The electronic key control unit 11 determines the validity of RSSI through the RSSI detection unit 12 a based on the acceleration of the electronic key 10.
Specifically, the electronic key control unit 11 determines that the acceleration of the electronic key 10 exceeds a certain range when the RSSI increases or decreases at a certain rate or more, and the acceleration of the electronic key 10 is within the certain range when the RSSI is constant. Is the transmission condition of the door opening request signal Sop.

  Therefore, when this transmission condition is not satisfied, that is, when the RSSI is increased or decreased at a certain rate or more, the electronic key control unit 11 has an acceleration of the electronic key 10 within a certain range, or the RSSI is constant. If the acceleration of the electronic key 10 exceeds a certain range, the door opening request signal Sop is not transmitted.

  Thereby, for example, as shown by an arrow 55 in FIG. 3, when the user holding the electronic key 10 moves while keeping the distance to the LF transmission unit 23 constant, the RSSI becomes constant, but the electronic key 10 The acceleration of exceeds a certain range. For this reason, the slide door 34a is not opened. Therefore, the opening of the slide door 34a without the user's intention is suppressed.

The acceleration sensor 18 is an example of an acceleration detection unit.
As described above, according to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be achieved.
(5) The vehicle-mounted control unit 21 determines the validity of the detection result of the RSSI detection unit 12a based on the presence or absence of acceleration according to the user's walking detected through the acceleration sensor 18 built in the electronic key 10. Thereby, it is suppressed that the slide door 34a is opened without a user's intention.

  (6) The electronic key control unit 11 activates the acceleration sensor 18 when receiving the request signal Sreq, and stops the acceleration sensor 18 when receiving the door opening completion signal Sfi. In this way, by limiting the operation time of the acceleration sensor 18, it is possible to reduce the power required for the operation of the acceleration sensor 18.

In addition, the said embodiment can be implemented with the following forms which changed this suitably.
In each of the above embodiments, the in-vehicle control unit 21 executes the answer back by blinking the hazard lamp 36 a plurality of times when it is determined that the vehicle outside verification has been established for a certain time Tth. However, the electronic key control unit 11 may wirelessly transmit the answerback request signal through the UHF transmission unit 13 when determining that the RSSI has become constant for the first time after starting the RSSI monitoring. When the in-vehicle control unit 21 receives the answer back request signal through the UHF receiving unit 22, it executes the answer back.

  In each of the above embodiments, the slide door 34a can be opened by the user having the electronic key 10 operating in the order of backward, stop, and forward. However, the order of the combination of reverse, stop, and forward is not limited to this, and may be, for example, the order of forward, stop, and reverse, or may be further stopped after reverse, stop, and forward. The electronic key control unit 11 may define the backward, stop, and forward times required for opening the slide door 34a.

  In the above embodiment, the answer back is performed through the blinking of the hazard lamp 36. However, the answer back method is not limited to the blinking of the hazard lamp 36, and other display methods may be used. Moreover, you may perform an answerback through the audio | voice from a vehicle. Further, the answer back may be performed by both blinking of the hazard lamp 36 and sound.

  Further, answer back may be performed on the electronic key 10 side. In this case, the user may answer back through display on the electronic key 10, sound from the speaker, and vibration of the vibrator. Display, sound, and vibration may be combined as appropriate.

Further, answer back may be performed by both the electronic key 10 and the in-vehicle device 20. Thereby, a user can be notified more reliably.
In the above embodiment, the electronic key 10 may be further provided with a slide door opening switch. When the electronic key control unit 11 recognizes that the slide door opening switch has been pressed for a long time by inputting an operation signal, the electronic key control unit 11 wirelessly transmits the door opening request signal Sop including the ID code stored in the memory 11a through the UHF transmission unit 13. To do. In this case, the slide door 34a can be opened through the operation of the slide door opening switch and the user's backward, stop, and forward operations.

  Further, even when the electronic key 10 has no sliding door opening switch, the electronic key control unit 11 wirelessly transmits the door opening request signal Sop when the lock switch 17 and the unlock switch 16 are simultaneously pressed. It may be.

  In each of the above embodiments, the RSSI detection unit 12a is mounted on the electronic key 10, but may be mounted on the in-vehicle device 20. For example, the UHF receiver 22 is provided with an RSSI detector. The in-vehicle control unit 21 recognizes the RSSI of the response signal Sres through the RSSI detection unit, and determines the operation of the user holding the electronic key 10 based on the change in the RSSI. In this configuration, the vehicle-mounted control unit 21 opens the slide door 34a when it is determined that the user has performed the reverse, stop, and forward operations in order based on the change in RSSI, regardless of reception of the door opening request signal Sop. In this configuration, the electronic key 10 requiring higher portability can be configured more compactly by providing the in-vehicle device 20 with the RSSI detection unit.

  In the electronic key system in each of the above embodiments, the vehicle door can be locked and unlocked and the slide door can be opened. However, the control content is not limited to this, and the trunk opening or closing through the trunk opening and closing device of the vehicle is not limited to this. The door may be unlocked and opened through a residential door device.

  The door opening completion signal Sfi in the above embodiments may be omitted. In this case, the electronic key control unit 11 may stop monitoring the acceleration sensor 18 and the RSSI after transmitting the door opening request signal Sop.

In the above embodiments, the door switch 32 may be replaced with a touch sensor. Thereby, the user can unlock the vehicle door only by touching the outside door handle.
In the first embodiment, the electronic key control unit 11 determines the user's operation based on the detection result of the RSSI detection unit 12a. However, the electronic key control unit 11 includes the detection result of the RSSI detection unit 12a in the response signal Sres or wirelessly transmits it as a single information signal, and the in-vehicle control unit 21 is included in the received response signal Sres or information signal. You may judge a user's operation | movement based on the detection result of the RSSI detection part 12a. According to this configuration, the electronic key 10 requiring higher portability can be configured more easily.

  In the second embodiment, similarly to the above, the electronic key control unit 11 includes the detection result of the RSSI detection unit 12a and the detection result of the acceleration sensor 18 in the response signal Sres, or wirelessly transmits it as a single information signal. May be.

Next, the technical idea that can be grasped from the embodiment will be described together with the effects.
(A) The control device is mounted on a vehicle, and the object to be opened and closed is a sliding door.

  According to this configuration, even if the user's hands are covered with luggage, the user can get on smoothly.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electronic key, 11 ... Electronic key control part, 16 ... Unlock switch, 17 ... Lock switch, 18 ... Acceleration sensor, 20 ... In-vehicle apparatus, 21 ... In-vehicle control part, 32 ... Door switch, 33 ... Door control apparatus, 34 ... slide door device, 34a ... slide door, 36 ... hazard lamp.

Claims (4)

In an electronic key system comprising: an electronic key that wirelessly transmits a response signal when receiving a request signal; and a control device that transmits a request signal and permits opening and closing of an opening and closing object when receiving the response signal.
A user operation direction detection unit that detects forward, reverse, or stop by the user with respect to the opening / closing object through movement of the electronic key;
When the control device determines that forward, reverse or stop by the user detected through the user movement direction detection unit has changed in a preset combination, the control device opens the opening and closing object,
An acceleration detection unit that detects acceleration applied to the electronic key in response to walking of a user who possesses the electronic key;
The control device determines that there is a user's walk based on a detection result of the acceleration detection unit in a period in which the user's forward or backward movement is detected through the user movement direction detection unit, or the user movement direction One of the opening conditions of the opening / closing object is to determine that the user does not walk based on the detection result of the acceleration detection unit during a period in which the user's stop is detected through the detection unit. Key system. The electronic key system according to claim 1 .
The electronic key system, wherein the user movement direction detection unit is a reception signal strength detection unit that detects a reception signal strength of the response signal or the request signal. The electronic key system according to claim 2 .
When the control device determines that the received signal strength detected through the received signal strength detector has changed in a decreasing, constant, and increasing order, the control device opens the opening / closing object. The electronic key system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
When the user stops around the opening / closing object, an answer back unit is provided for notifying the user that the opening / closing object can be opened through a combination of forward, backward, or stop by the user. Electronic key system.