JP6159673B2 - In-vehicle control device and system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted control device and system, and more particularly to a vehicle-mounted control device and system in a vehicle having a passive function.

  Conventionally, vehicles having a passive function have been widely used. The passive function is also called passive entry, etc., which is a function that locks and unlocks the vehicle door without the user operating the portable device, or a function that starts / stops the engine by operating the engine start switch, etc. That is. In the passive function, the vehicle transmits a response request signal to the portable device, and the portable device that has received the response request signal returns the response signal to the vehicle. Then, the vehicle authenticates the portable device based on the response signal from the portable device, and if the authentication is successful, it is determined that there is a legitimate portable device, and the door of the vehicle is locked and unlocked and the engine is started / Predetermined control such as stopping is performed. In this passive function, there are a pre-authentication method in which a response request signal is always transmitted from the vehicle side to the portable device, and a post-authentication method in which a response request signal is transmitted only when a door handle or a door knob switch is operated. . In the case of a vehicle with a pre-authentication system, communication and authentication are completed simply by a user with a portable device approaching the vehicle, so control such as locking and unlocking is performed immediately after the user operates the door handle. Is executed and does not give the user a sense of incongruity. However, since a response request signal is always transmitted, power consumption is large. On the other hand, in the case of a post-authentication system vehicle, the response request signal is transmitted only when the user performs a predetermined operation. However, since communication and authentication are performed after the user performs a predetermined operation, control such as locking / unlocking is not performed immediately after the user's operation, and the user feels uncomfortable.

  As a passive function, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a leisure vehicle antitheft device for the purpose of preventing the battery on the vehicle side from being unnecessarily consumed. This anti-theft device has a portable portable device that wirelessly transmits password data and a transceiver mounted on the vehicle. If the password data received from the portable device is legitimate password data, the vehicle can be used. To. The transceiver is connected to the vehicle-side power supply via a manual switch. When the manual switch is turned on, the transceiver is connected to the power supply and receives password data transmitted from the portable device, and authentication is performed. It is configured to do.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a straddle-type vehicle lock system that aims to reduce a driver's operation burden when unlocking and prevent waste of battery power. This straddle-type vehicle lock system includes a mobile terminal possessed by a driver, a control device that is provided in the straddle-type vehicle and performs authentication by wireless communication with the mobile terminal, and a lock whose operation is controlled by the control device. An ignition switch for switching between an ON state in which power is supplied to the device and a plurality of electrical components and an OFF state in which power is not supplied, and a wakeup signal for starting wireless communication for authentication according to the driver's operation And a wake-up switch for inputting to the control device. Then, when the ignition switch is in the OFF state, the control device sets the lock device to the unlocked state when the wake-up signal is input and the authentication is established. The driver unlocks the lock device just by operating the wake-up switch by approaching the saddle-riding vehicle with the mobile terminal held without the key operation. The operation burden can be reduced. Further, it is not necessary to operate the ignition switch to supply power to various electrical components just for unlocking the lock device, so that waste of battery power can be reduced.

  In addition, as a pre-authentication method for the passive function, Patent Document 3 aims to provide a time zone for stopping transmission of a polling signal in a smart key system and to cope with a decrease in convenience during the stop time zone. A control system is disclosed. This control system provides a basic time zone for stopping transmission of the polling signal, and if there is a keyless or mechanical key unlocking process within the stop time zone, the polling signal is sent according to the time. Change the time period when transmission stops. Further, this control system returns to the basic time zone if there is no unlocking process of the vehicle door by keyless or mechanical key within the time zone to stop transmission.

  Patent Document 4 discloses a motorcycle remote control device for the purpose of preventing the battery from rising due to the standby current of the receiver. This remote control device controls a drive device that drives an operating member such as a shutter type anti-theft device, a receiver that receives a signal from a transmitter, and a signal that the receiver receives. A motorcycle equipped with a control unit is remotely operated, and an auto power-off function is provided in the receiver.

  On the other hand, when a user operates a portable device and a vehicle receives a signal from the portable device, an answer-back function such as blinking a vehicle light or sounding a buzzer has been known. . Patent Document 5 discloses an answerback apparatus for facilitating setting operations such as a buzzer volume and a buzzer sound pattern for answerback. This answer back control apparatus receives a signal including an ID code sent from the vehicle key transmitter and performs answer back in a preset manner. The vehicular key includes a single operation unit that transmits an ID code. The answerback control device includes setting mode selection means for shifting to one of a plurality of answerback mode setting modes according to the number of ID code receptions. The setting mode selection unit includes a determination unit that detects that a predetermined number of ID codes have been received within a predetermined period, and when it is detected that the predetermined number of ID codes have been received a predetermined number of times, It shifts to one of a plurality of answer back mode setting modes according to the number of times the ID code is received.

JP 2006-199168 A JP 2011-098608 A JP 2012-036669 A JP 2001-278155 A JP2012-082597A

  Therefore, the present invention provides a control device and a control system capable of reducing standby current in a vehicle having a passive function for performing pre-authentication and controlling a device to be controlled without a sense of incongruity for the user.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a control device mounted on a vehicle capable of wireless communication with a portable device , wherein the position of the vehicle is determined according to a command signal transmitted from the portable device and causing the vehicle to answer back. A control device is provided that generates a predetermined event that can be identified and starts transmission of a response request signal that requests a return of identification information of the portable device.
According to this, in a vehicle having a passive function for pre-authentication, the standby current is reduced by starting to transmit a response request signal for the passive function from the time when a so-called answerback command signal is received from the portable device, and the user Therefore, it is possible to provide a control device that can control a device to be controlled without a sense of incongruity.

Further, the response request signal may be repeatedly transmitted at a predetermined interval after transmission is started.
According to this, it can authenticate reliably by repeatedly transmitting a response request signal, and it becomes difficult to produce delay in operation of the apparatus used as a control object.

Furthermore, the vehicle may be a motorcycle.
According to this, it is possible to provide a pre-authentication type passive function in a motorcycle and to suppress standby current and power consumption for realizing the passive function in a motorcycle having a relatively small battery capacity. it can.

Furthermore, when the authentication based on the identification information returned from the portable device in response to the response request signal is successful, the engine of the vehicle may be started.
According to this, in a motorcycle, the engine can be started simply by receiving an answerback command signal from a legitimate portable device, thereby providing a user-friendly operability with less operational burden for the user. Can do.

Further, after the engine is started, transmission of the response request signal may be stopped.
According to this, power consumption can be suppressed.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a control device mounted on a vehicle and a portable device capable of wireless communication with the control device are provided. The control device is transmitted from the portable device and causes the vehicle to answer back. In response to the command signal, there is provided a control system that generates a predetermined event that can specify the position of the vehicle and starts transmission of a response request signal that requests a return of identification information of the portable device.
According to this, in a vehicle having a passive function for pre-authentication, the standby current is reduced by starting to transmit a response request signal for the passive function from the time when a so-called answerback command signal is received from the portable device, and the user Therefore, it is possible to provide a control system that can control a device to be controlled without a sense of incongruity.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a control device and a control system capable of reducing standby current in a vehicle having a passive function for performing pre-authentication and controlling a device to be controlled without a sense of incongruity for the user. be able to.

The block diagram which shows the control system etc. of the 1st Example which concerns on this invention. The conceptual diagram which shows the communication area | region of the response request signal in the vehicle to which the 1st Example which concerns on this invention is applied. (A) is a communication area in a four-wheeled vehicle. (B) is a communication area in a motorcycle. The time chart which shows the control flow in the control system of the 1st Example which concerns on this invention. The time chart which shows the control flow in the control system of the modification of the 1st Example which concerns on this invention.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<First Example>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system 100 and a motorcycle 1 in this embodiment. The control system 100 includes a control device 10 mounted on the motorcycle 1 and a portable device 20 that is carried by a user and can communicate with the control device 10 wirelessly. The motorcycle 1 includes a control device 10, an engine 3 that drives the motorcycle 1, an engine control unit 30 that controls the engine 3, a lamp / buzzer 4 that can be visually and audibly recognized, and a lamp. / The external output control part 40 which controls the buzzer 4 is provided. A motor for driving the vehicle instead of the engine 3 may be used as long as it can generate an event in which the motorcycle 1 is recognized by a user or a nearby person instead of the lamp / buzzer 4.

  The portable device 20 controls the switch 22 operated by the user, the entire portable device 20, and generates a control command for controlling the equipment by the operated switch 22, and the portable device control. An RF transmission circuit 24 that transmits a response signal or a command signal to the RF reception circuit 14 of the control device 10 using the control command generated by the unit 21 as a command signal, and an LF transmission / reception circuit 25 that receives a response request signal from the control device 10 With. The portable device 20 can transmit various signals for controlling the equipment (for example, a lamp, a handle lock, etc.) of the motorcycle 1. The switch 22 is usually composed of a plurality of push buttons and the like, and includes a button for functioning an answer back and controlling a handle lock.

  The control device 10 includes one or more LF transmission / reception circuits 15 that transmit a response request signal to the portable device 20, an RF reception circuit 14 that receives a response signal and a command signal from the portable device 20, and the entire control device 10. The vehicle-mounted control part 11 which controls the engine control part 30 and the external output control part 40 based on the command signal which RF receiving circuit 14 received while it controls, and the authentication part 12 which authenticates the portable device 20 are provided. The authentication unit 12 authenticates that the mobile device 20 is an authorized mobile device 20 based on communication with the mobile device 20. Specifically, when the identification information included in the response signal from the portable device 20 matches the identification information held by the authentication unit 12, the portable device 20 that transmitted the signal is determined to be legitimate.

  The engine control unit 30 controls a startable / impossible state of the engine 3 and controls start / stop of the engine 3. When the engine control unit 30 receives a command indicating that the authentication of the portable device 20 is successful from the authentication unit 12, the engine control unit 30 sets the engine 3 in a startable state. The external output control unit 40 performs control for turning on / flashing / extinguishing lamps such as a headlight and a direction indicator, and sounding / stopping a buzzer such as a horn. In addition to this, the external output control unit 40 controls the lamp / buzzer 4 based on a command from the in-vehicle control unit 11.

  The LF transmission / reception circuit 25 of the portable device 20 and the LF transmission / reception circuit 15 of the control device 10 perform signal transmission / reception in the LF (Low Frequency) band, and the RF transmission circuit 24 of the portable device 20 and the RF reception circuit 14 of the control device 10 , Receive signals in UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band. The band and frequency of the radio wave are not limited to this, and can be appropriately selected depending on conditions such as a transmission distance. Since the portable device 20 functions as a key of the motorcycle 1, a unique communication method excellent in security is adopted as a communication method between the motorcycle 1 and the portable device 20.

  When the portable device 20 receives the response request signal of the LF wave from the LF transmission / reception circuit 15 of the control device 10 by the LF transmission / reception circuit 25, the portable device 20 measures the LF intensity (RSSI: Receive Signal Strength Indication) and passes through the RF transmission circuit 24. The LF intensity information may be returned as a response signal. The portable device 20 may send back information on the LF intensity as a response signal via the LF transmission / reception circuit 25.

  When the user operates the switch 22, the portable device control unit 21 generates a control command for operating the equipment to the control unit that controls the equipment of the motorcycle 1. When the switch 22 is a switch for causing the motorcycle 1 to answer back, when the user operates the switch 22, the portable device control unit 21 controls the lamp / buzzer with respect to the external output control unit 40 of the motorcycle 1. A control command for flashing / ringing 4 is generated. The portable device control unit 21 notifies the RF transmission circuit 24 of a control command for blinking / ringing the generated lamp / buzzer 4, and the notified RF transmission circuit 24 uses the answer back command signal as a control device 10. Is transmitted to the RF receiver circuit 14.

  The RF receiver circuit 14 that has received the answerback command signal notifies the vehicle-mounted control unit 11 of the answerback command signal as a control command. The vehicle-mounted control unit 11 notified of the answerback control command instructs the external output control unit 40 to blink / beep the lamp / buzzer 4. Upon receiving this command, the external output control unit 40 causes the lamp / buzzer 4 to blink / ring. Thereby, the user who operates the switch 22 can specify the position of the motorcycle 1.

  The in-vehicle control unit 11 instructs the external output control unit 40 and transmits a response request signal to the LF transmission / reception circuits 15 provided at a plurality of places in the motorcycle 1. Then, each LF transmission / reception circuit 15 starts to transmit a response request signal to the portable device 20 which is considered to be present in the vicinity of a relatively nearby area. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an area where the response request signal reaches.

  This figure (A) shows the communication area of the LF wave in a four-wheeled vehicle. This four-wheeled vehicle includes an LF transmission / reception circuit 15 including six antennas. 1-No. It is represented by the number 6. No. 1-No. 3 is provided in the four-wheeled vehicle. 4-No. 6 LF transmission / reception circuit 15 is provided outside the vehicle. Moreover, it has shown that the portable device 20 exists outside the four-wheeled vehicle near a driver's seat.

  The six LF transmission / reception circuits 15 on the four-wheeled vehicle side are No. 1 to No. A response request signal is transmitted up to 6. Since the distance attenuation in the LF band attenuates in inverse proportion to the cube of the distance, the arrival distance of the response request signal transmitted from one LF transmission / reception circuit 15 is relatively short and reaches only a specific region. A one-dot chain line in this drawing indicates a region where any one of the six LF transmission / reception circuits 15 reaches.

  Further, FIG. 4B shows the LF wave communication area in the motorcycle 1. The motorcycle 1 includes one LF transmission / reception circuit 15. Of course, a plurality of LF transceiver circuits 15 may be provided. The communication area in the motorcycle 1 is narrower than the communication area in a four-wheeled vehicle in consideration of safety and crime prevention. In any of the drawings, since the portable device 20 exists in the communication area (the region of the one-dot chain line), the response request signal transmitted by the LF transmission / reception circuit 15 reaches the portable device 20. Conversely, when the portable device 20 is outside this communication area, it cannot receive a response request signal and cannot return a response signal for the response request signal.

  When in this communication area, the LF transmission / reception circuit 25 of the portable device 20 can receive this response request signal. The LF transmission / reception circuit 25 that has received the response request signal notifies the portable device control unit 21 that the response request signal has been received. Receiving the notification, the portable device control unit 21 instructs the RF transmission circuit 24 to transmit a response signal including identification information of the portable device 20 in order to respond to the response request signal. Receiving the command, the RF transmission circuit 24 returns a response signal including the identification information of the portable device 20 to the motorcycle 1.

  The RF receiving circuit 14 that has received the response signal notifies the in-vehicle control unit 11 of the identification information included in the response signal. The in-vehicle control unit 11 that has received the notification of the identification information transmits the identification information of the portable device 20 to the authentication unit 12. The authentication unit 12 checks whether the mobile device is a legitimate mobile device based on the identification information of the mobile device 20. When the portable device 20 is a regular portable device and the authentication is successful, the authentication unit 12 notifies the in-vehicle control unit 11 to that effect. Then, for example, the vehicle-mounted control unit 11 releases the handle lock to make the rotation switch for starting the engine 3 rotatable, or immediately when the rotary or push-type engine start switch is operated. Wait in a state where it can be started.

  As described above, the control system 100 generates a predetermined event such as blinking / ringing the lamp / buzzer 4 that can specify the position of the motorcycle 1 in accordance with the answer back command signal transmitted from the portable device 20. Then, transmission of a response request signal for requesting a return of identification information of the portable device 20 is started. The control system 100 does not transmit the response request signal before receiving the answer back command signal transmitted from the portable device 20 by the user's operation, but after receiving the answer back command signal, Start sending. When the user intends to make the answerback function, the user is relatively close to the vehicle and usually reaches the motorcycle 1 soon and is about to get on. Therefore, the time from when the control device 10 starts to transmit the response request signal to when the user tries to operate the motorcycle 1 is not so long.

  In this way, the motorcycle 1 can be provided with a pre-authentication type passive function. That is, even in the motorcycle 1 with a relatively small battery capacity, the standby current required for the passive function can be obtained by starting to transmit the response request signal for the passive function when the answer back command signal is received from the portable device 20. It is possible to provide a passive function for performing pre-authentication. In addition, after the vehicle-mounted control unit 11 releases the handle lock and enables the engine 3 to start, the user can immediately start the engine by operating the engine start button or the like, so that the user can get on. The device (engine 3) to be controlled can be controlled without a sense of incongruity. In a four-wheeled vehicle, when authentication is successful, the door may be unlocked or the ignition may be turned on. The motorcycle 1 may determine whether the portable device 20 exists in the communication area according to the LF intensity measured by the portable device 20. In this case, the motorcycle 1 detects the distance from the portable device 20 from the LF intensity information included in the response signal from the portable device 20, and determines whether the portable device 20 exists in the communication area.

  FIG. 3 is a time chart for explaining communication between the control device 10 and the portable device 20. Note that S means a step. In S100, the user operates the switch 22 for transmitting the answerback command signal in the portable device 20. Then, the portable device 20 transmits an answer back command signal to the control device 10. At this time, the control device 10 has not transmitted a response request signal.

  When receiving the answer back command signal, the control device 10 instructs the external output control unit 40 to blink / buzz the lamp / buzzer 4 in S200. Upon receiving this command, the external output control unit 40 controls an answer back function such as blinking / ringing the lamp / buzzer 4 for several tens of seconds to 1 minute. The control device 10 blinks / rings the lamp / buzzer 4 and starts transmitting a response request signal to the portable device 20.

  The response request signal is transmitted intermittently repeatedly at a predetermined interval (for example, every 100 milliseconds) after the transmission is started. As described above, the response request signal is repeatedly and intermittently transmitted, so that the power can be reduced and the authentication can be surely performed, and the operation of the device to be controlled (engine or the like) is hardly delayed. Become.

  In S102, the portable device 20 receives one of the response request signals repeatedly transmitted intermittently for a predetermined time as described above. Then, the portable device 20 returns a response signal including identification information of the portable device 20 to the control device 10 in order to respond to the response request signal.

  In S202, the control device 10 authenticates the identification information of the portable device 20 included in the returned response signal. If the authentication is successful, the control device 10 performs a welcome operation by blinking, for example, a lamp in S204. If the authentication is not successful, the process is stopped without doing anything.

  When the control device 10 succeeds in the authentication based on the identification information returned from the portable device 20 in response to the response request signal, the control device 10 makes the engine of the motorcycle 1 startable. Further, the handle lock may be released. As described above, in the motorcycle 1, the engine can be started just by receiving an answerback command signal from a legitimate portable device, so that the operation load can be reduced immediately. That's it. In addition, since pre-authentication is started after receiving the answer back command signal, the operation is started as soon as the motorcycle 1 is operated, so that it is possible to provide operability that is comfortable for the user.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the transmission of the response request signal may be stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the transmission of the response request signal. This will be specifically described below. In S100, the user operates the switch 22 for transmitting the answerback command signal in the portable device 20. Then, the portable device 20 transmits an answer back command signal to the control device 10. Similar to the example described above, at this point, the control device 10 has not transmitted a response request signal.

  When receiving the answer back command signal, the control device 10 instructs the external output control unit 40 to blink / buzz the lamp / buzzer 4 in S200. The control device 10 blinks / buzzes the lamp / buzzer 4 and starts to repeatedly transmit a response request signal to the portable device 20 repeatedly at predetermined intervals.

If the control device 10 does not receive a response signal indicating that the portable device 20 has received the response request signal even if it continues to transmit the response request signal for a predetermined time (for example, after 10 seconds have elapsed), in S300, Recognize that the predetermined time has passed. Then, the control device 10 stops transmitting the response request signal in S302. Thus, by repeating the transmission of the response request signal only for a predetermined time, it is possible to suppress the power consumption associated with the transmission of the response request signal.
Note that it is preferable to stop transmission of the response request signal after the engine is started. According to this, power consumption for transmitting the response request signal can be suppressed.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the illustrated Example, The implementation by the structure of the range which does not deviate from the content described in each item of a claim is possible. That is, although the present invention has been particularly illustrated and described with respect to particular embodiments, it should be understood that the present invention has been described in terms of quantity, quantity, and amount without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. In other detailed configurations, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Motorcycle 3 Engine 4 Lamp / buzzer 10 Control apparatus 11 Car-mounted control part 12 Authentication part 14 RF reception circuit 15 LF transmission / reception circuit 20 Portable machine 21 Portable machine control part 22 Switch 24 RF transmission circuit 25 LF transmission / reception circuit 30 Engine control part 40 External output control unit 100 Control system

Claims (7)

A control device mounted on a vehicle capable of wireless communication with a portable device,
In response to a command signal transmitted from the portable device to cause the vehicle to answer back, a predetermined event that can specify the position of the vehicle is generated, and a response request signal that requests a return of identification information of the portable device Start sending
Control device.   The control device according to claim 1, wherein the response request signal is repeatedly transmitted at a predetermined interval after transmission is started. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the command signal is transmitted as a UHF band signal, and the response request signal is transmitted in an LF band having a shorter reach than the UHF band .   The control device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a motorcycle.   The control device according to claim 4, wherein when the authentication based on the identification information returned from the portable device in response to the response request signal is successful, the engine of the vehicle can be started.   The control device according to claim 5, wherein transmission of the response request signal is stopped after the engine is started. A control device mounted on the vehicle;
A portable device capable of wireless communication with the control device;
With
In response to a command signal transmitted from the portable device and causing the vehicle to answer back , the control device generates a predetermined event that can identify the position of the vehicle, and returns the identification information of the portable device. Start sending the requested response request signal,
Control system.