JP6628709B2 - Vehicle communication system, in-vehicle device, portable device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle in which the operation of an object mounted in a vehicle is permitted or prohibited based on a radio signal transmitted and received between an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle and a portable device carried by a user of the vehicle. The present invention relates to a communication system.

  Based on a radio signal transmitted and received between an on-board device mounted on the vehicle and a portable device carried by the user of the vehicle, an object mounted on the vehicle, such as locking and unlocking a door of the vehicle, is controlled. There are vehicle communication systems whose operation is permitted or prohibited. This vehicle communication system is for improving security and convenience for a vehicle such as an automobile.

  The in-vehicle device and the portable device each include a transmission unit and a reception unit that transmit and receive wireless signals. The transmitting unit of the vehicle-mounted device transmits a response request signal to the outside or inside of the vehicle. When the mobile device approaches the vehicle to a communicable distance, the response request signal transmitted by the transmission unit of the in-vehicle device is received by the reception unit of the mobile device, and a response signal is returned from the transmission unit of the mobile device. Then, when the response signal is received by the receiver of the vehicle-mounted device, the vehicle-mounted device authenticates the portable device using the ID (identification information) included in the response signal. Lock and unlock.

  However, if there is noise (radio waves) that hinders wireless communication between the in-vehicle device and the portable device around the vehicle, a signal transmitted from one of the in-vehicle device and the portable device will not be received by the other. Then, it becomes impossible to normally operate the object mounted on the vehicle.

  Then, as a countermeasure against noise, for example, in Patent Document 1, after the in-vehicle device transmits an LF signal (request signal) at the first frequency, if there is no response from the portable device, the in-vehicle device changes the transmission frequency to the second frequency. After transmitting the information to be set by UHF radio waves, the LF signal is retransmitted at the second frequency. Further, when there is no response from the portable device, the vehicle-mounted device transmits information for setting the transmission frequency to the third frequency by UHF radio wave, and then retransmits the LF signal at the third frequency.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, a portable device determines whether or not a signal received by a portable device-side receiving antenna is noise. If the signal is noise, the portable device further determines the voltage level of the noise and determines the voltage pattern. The LED provided on the portable device is turned on and off in a pattern corresponding to The user recognizes the noise reception status based on the light-on / off pattern of the LED, and takes measures such as changing the storage location of the portable device.

  In Patent Document 3, in addition to noise countermeasures, a CH1 frame including bit data is continuously transmitted from a channel CH1 of a portable device, and then a channel CH2 having a frequency different from that of the channel CH1 is transmitted for the purpose of early establishment of wireless communication. The CH2 frame including the bit data is continuously transmitted. Further, a dummy bit is added to the bit data included in the CH2 frame to extend the frame length of the CH2 frame.

  Further, in Patent Document 4, in order to reduce battery consumption of the portable device, as the operation of an operation button provided on the portable device is continued, the portable device sets an ID code, a function code, and a first error detection code. And transmitting a first signal including a data frame having the following. Thereafter, the portable device transmits a second signal including a data frame having the function code and the second error detection code.

JP 2008-174960 A JP 2010-105645 A JP 2009-278597 A JP 2014-114562 A

  For example, in order to determine the position of the portable device inside and outside the vehicle, a plurality of transmitting units of the vehicle-mounted device are provided in the vehicle, and each of the transmitting units transmits a radio signal to the portable device. However, it takes time for the portable device to receive the transmission signals from the plurality of transmission units, which deteriorates the communication responsiveness.

  Also, when the data to be included in the transmission signal is reduced, the signal length is shortened, but it is easily confused with noise on the receiving side. For this reason, communication between the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device may not be established, and the object mounted on the vehicle may not operate normally.

  An object of the present invention is to improve communication responsiveness in a vehicle communication system including an in-vehicle device and a portable device, and to enable communication to be established even when noise occurs.

  A vehicle communication system according to the present invention is provided with an in-vehicle unit transmitting unit and an in-vehicle unit receiving unit that are mounted on a vehicle and transmit and receive a radio signal, and a portable unit that is carried by a user of the vehicle and transmits and receives a radio signal. And a portable device having a portable device receiving unit. The onboard unit transmits a response request signal by the onboard unit transmitting unit, and the portable unit transmits a response signal by the portable unit transmitting unit in response to receiving the response request signal by the portable unit receiving unit. The operation of the object mounted on the vehicle is permitted or prohibited based on the response signal received by the receiving unit. In this configuration, the on-vehicle device transmits the transmission signal of the on-vehicle device transmission unit to a first response request signal including predetermined data and a second response request signal including no predetermined data and having a shorter signal length than the first response request signal. And a transmission signal switching unit for switching to any one of signals. The portable device further includes a noise detection unit that detects noise that hinders reception of the first response request signal and the second response request signal by the portable device receiving unit. The in-vehicle device transmits a first response request signal from some of the in-vehicle device transmission units among a plurality of in-vehicle device transmission units provided in the vehicle, and transmits a second response request signal from another in-vehicle device transmission unit. . The portable device transmits the response signal by the portable device transmitting unit when the first response request signal and the second response request signal transmitted by each vehicle-mounted device transmitting unit can be received by the portable device receiving unit. Also, the portable device detects noise by the noise detection unit, and fails to normally receive the first response request signal and the second response request signal transmitted by each vehicle-mounted device transmission unit by the portable device reception unit. Then, a retransmission request signal is transmitted by the portable device transmitting unit. When the retransmission request signal is received by the on-vehicle device receiving unit, the on-vehicle device retransmits the first response request signal by some of the on-vehicle device transmission units, and transmits the transmission signal of another on-vehicle device transmission unit to the transmission signal switching unit. To switch to the first response request signal, and the first response request signal is transmitted by another on-vehicle device transmission unit.

  Further, the in-vehicle device according to the present invention includes an in-vehicle device transmitting unit and an in-vehicle device receiving unit that are mounted on a vehicle and transmit and receive a radio signal, and transmit the in-vehicle device to a portable device carried by a user of the vehicle. The response request signal is transmitted by the unit, the response signal transmitted by the portable device in response to the reception of the response request signal is received by the on-vehicle device reception unit, and based on the response signal, the object mounted on the vehicle is detected. Allow or prohibit operation. In this configuration, the on-vehicle device transmits the transmission signal of the on-vehicle device transmission unit to a first response request signal including predetermined data and a second response request signal including no predetermined data and having a shorter signal length than the first response request signal. And a transmission signal switching unit for switching to any one of signals. Then, among the plurality of in-vehicle device transmitters provided in the vehicle, some of the in-vehicle device transmitters transmit the first response request signal, and the other in-vehicle device transmitters transmit the second response request signal. . Thereafter, when the portable device receives the response signal transmitted in response to the reception of the first response request signal and the second response request signal transmitted by each vehicle-mounted device transmission unit by the vehicle-mounted device reception unit, The in-vehicle device permits or prohibits the operation of the target object based on the response signal. Further, when the mobile device receives the retransmission request signal transmitted in response to detecting the noise that hinders the reception of the first response request signal and the second response request signal by the vehicle-mounted device receiving unit, the vehicle-mounted device: The first response request signal is retransmitted by some on-vehicle unit transmission units, and the transmission signal of another on-vehicle unit transmission unit is switched to the first response request signal by the transmission signal switching unit. Is transmitted by the in-vehicle device transmitting unit.

Further, the portable device according to the present invention is a portable device that performs wireless communication with the above-mentioned in-vehicle device, wherein the portable device transmitting unit that transmits a radio signal to the in-vehicle device, and a plurality of in-vehicle device transmitting units of the in-vehicle device. And a portable device receiving unit for receiving a signal, in response to the response request signal transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device being received by the portable device receiving unit, for permitting or prohibiting the operation of the object mounted on the vehicle. The response signal is transmitted to the on-vehicle device by the portable device transmitting unit. In this configuration, the portable device further includes a noise detection unit that detects noise that hinders reception of the response request signal by the portable device receiving unit. The first response request signal transmitted from some of the on-vehicle device transmission units and the second response request signal transmitted from another on-vehicle device transmission unit among the plurality of on-vehicle device transmission units included in the on-vehicle device are transmitted. When the portable device can be received by the portable device receiving unit, the portable device transmits a response signal by the portable device transmitting unit. In addition, the noise detection unit detects noise, and converts the first response request signal transmitted from some on- vehicle unit transmission units and the second response request signal transmitted from other on-vehicle unit transmission units to the portable unit. If the receiving unit fails to receive the data normally, the portable unit transmits a retransmission request signal requesting that the first response request signal be retransmitted from both the onboard unit transmitting unit and the other onboard unit transmitting units. Is transmitted by the transmission unit.

  According to the above, among the plurality of in-vehicle unit transmission units, a first response request signal including predetermined data is transmitted by some of the in-vehicle unit transmission units, and the first response request signal including the predetermined data is not included by the other in-vehicle unit transmission units. A second response request signal having a shorter signal length than one response request signal is transmitted. Therefore, the time for receiving both response request signals transmitted by the respective on-vehicle device transmission units by the portable device reception unit is reduced, and the communication responsiveness between the on-vehicle device and the portable device can be improved accordingly. Further, since the second response request signal does not include predetermined data and has a short signal length, if noise (radio wave) is generated around the vehicle, it is determined whether the noise received by the portable device receiving unit is noise. It may be difficult to determine whether the signal is a two-response request signal. However, when noise is detected by the noise detection unit of the portable device, and the first response request signal and the second response request signal transmitted by each on-vehicle device transmission unit cannot be normally received by the portable device reception unit, , A retransmission request signal is transmitted by the portable device transmitting unit. Then, when the retransmission request signal is received by the on-vehicle device receiving unit, the first response request signal is retransmitted by some of the on-vehicle device transmitting units, and instead of the second response request signal by the other on-vehicle device transmitting units, A first response request signal is transmitted. For this reason, even if noise is generated in the surroundings, if the signal received by the portable receiver includes predetermined data, it is easy to determine that the signal is not the noise but the first response request signal. It is possible to establish communication between the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device.

  In the present invention, the first response request signal includes an intensity signal for measuring the reception intensity in the portable device and data, and the second response request signal includes the intensity signal and does not include data. Is also good.

  Also, in the present invention, the portable device further includes a reception signal switching unit that switches a setting of treating a reception signal of the portable device reception unit as a first response request signal or a second response request signal, and Before the transmission of the retransmission request signal by the unit, the setting is switched by the reception signal switching unit so that the reception signal by the portable unit reception unit is treated as the first response request signal or the second response request signal, and the retransmission request by the portable unit transmission unit is processed. Along with the transmission of the signal, the setting may be switched by the reception signal switching unit so that the reception signal by the portable device reception unit is treated as the first response request signal.

  According to the present invention, in a vehicle communication system including an in-vehicle device and a portable device, it is possible to improve communication responsiveness and establish communication even when noise occurs.

1 is a configuration diagram of a vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a vehicle equipped with the vehicle communication system of FIG. 1. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the on-vehicle device in FIG. 1. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the portable device of FIG. 1. 2 is a time chart illustrating an example of a communication state between the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device in FIG. 1. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the vehicle-mounted device according to another embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the respective drawings, the same portions or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  First, the configuration of the vehicle communication system 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the vehicle communication system 100. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a vehicle 30 on which the vehicle communication system 100 is mounted.

  The vehicle communication system 100 includes an in-vehicle device 10 mounted on a vehicle 30 and a portable device 20 carried by a user. The vehicle 30 includes a four-wheeled motor vehicle as shown in FIG.

  In the vehicle communication system 100, the operation of an object mounted on the vehicle 30 is permitted or prohibited based on a radio signal transmitted and received between the on-vehicle device 10 and the portable device 20. Specifically, the operation of the door lock device 5 (FIG. 1) that locks and unlocks the door of the vehicle 30 as an object is permitted or prohibited.

  The onboard unit 10 includes a control unit 1, an onboard unit transmitting unit 2, and an onboard unit receiving unit 3. The control unit 1 includes a CPU, a memory, and the like. The control unit 1 includes a transmission signal switching unit 1b.

  A plurality of in-vehicle device transmitting units 2 are installed in the vehicle 30. Each in-vehicle device transmission unit 2 includes a transmission antenna 2a and an LF signal transmission circuit 2b.

  The transmission antenna 2a (DR) of the vehicle-mounted device transmitter 2 (DR) of the plurality of vehicle-mounted device transmitters 2 is provided on a door 31 of a driver seat of the vehicle 30 as shown in FIG. The transmitting antenna 2a (FR) of the on-vehicle device transmitting unit 2 (FR) is provided at the front of the vehicle 30. The transmitting antenna 2 a (RE) of the on-vehicle device transmitting unit 2 (RE) is provided at the rear of the vehicle 30.

  Each on-vehicle device transmission unit 2 generates a radio signal in a low frequency (LF) band by an LF signal transmission circuit 2b and transmits the radio signal from the transmission antenna 2a to the portable device 20 outside or inside the vehicle compartment. The wireless signal transmitted by each in-vehicle device transmission unit 2 includes a response request signal requesting a response from the portable device 20. The response request signal includes a first response request signal and a second response request signal.

  The transmission signal switching unit 1b of the control unit 1 in FIG. 1 switches the transmission signal (LF signal) of each on-vehicle device transmission unit 2 to one of the first response request signal and the second response request signal. The first response request signal includes an intensity signal for measuring the reception intensity (RSSI value) of the signal by the portable device 20 and data such as a unique ID (identification information) of the vehicle-mounted device 10. The second response request signal includes the above intensity signal, but does not include the above data (see FIG. 5 described later). For this reason, the signal length of the second response request signal is shorter than the signal length of the first response request signal.

  The on-vehicle device receiving unit 3 includes a receiving antenna 3a and an RF signal receiving circuit 3b. The in-vehicle device receiving unit 3 receives a radio signal in an RF (Radio Frequency) band transmitted from the portable device 20 by the receiving antenna 3a and the RF signal receiving circuit 3b.

  The control unit 1 controls each of the on-vehicle device transmitting units 2 and the on-vehicle device receiving unit 3 to perform wireless communication with the portable device 20 and transmit and receive signals and information to and from the portable device 20. Further, the control unit 1 controls the transmission signal switching unit 1b to switch the radio signal transmitted by each vehicle-mounted device transmission unit 2 to one of the first response request signal and the second response request signal.

  A plurality of passive request switches 4 are provided in the vehicle 30 and are each connected to the control unit 1 of the vehicle-mounted device 10. The passive request switch 4 (DR) is provided on a knob outside the door 31 of the driver's seat of the vehicle 30 as shown in FIG. The passive request switch 4 (AS) is provided on a knob outside the door 32 of the passenger seat of the vehicle 30. The passive request switch 4 (BD) is provided on an outer knob of the back door 35 of the vehicle 30. When the user approaches or contacts the outer knob of any of the doors 31, 32, 35, the passive request switch 4 is operated (switched from off to on).

  As another example, the passive request switch 4 may be provided on the right side door 33 and the left side door 34 of the rear seat of the vehicle 30.

  The door lock device 5 of FIG. 1 is connected to the control unit 1 of the vehicle-mounted device 10. The door lock device 5 includes a mechanism for locking and unlocking the doors 31 to 35 of the vehicle 30 and a drive circuit for the mechanism. When the control unit 1 controls the door lock device 5, the doors 31 to 35 are locked and unlocked.

  The portable device 20 includes a FOB key. The portable device 20 includes a control unit 21, a portable device receiving unit 22, a portable device transmitting unit 23, and a door switch 24. The control unit 21 includes a CPU, a memory, and the like. The control unit 21 includes a noise detection unit 21a, a reception signal switching unit 21b, and a reception intensity measurement unit 21c.

  The portable receiver 22 includes a receiving antenna 22a and an LF signal receiving circuit 22b. The portable device receiving section 22 receives a radio signal in the LF band by the receiving antenna 22a and the LF signal receiving circuit 22b.

  The noise detection unit 21a of the control unit 21 detects noise (radio waves) that interferes with the reception of the response request signal by the portable device reception unit 22. The reception signal switching unit 21b switches settings for handling the reception signal of the portable device reception unit 22 as a first response request signal or a second response request signal. The reception intensity measurement unit 21c measures the reception intensity of the intensity signal included in the first response request signal and the second response request signal received by the portable device reception unit 22.

  The portable device transmitting section 23 includes a transmitting antenna 23a and an RF signal transmitting circuit 23b. The portable device transmitting unit 23 transmits the RF signal in the RF band generated by the RF signal transmitting circuit 23b from the transmitting antenna 23a to the vehicle-mounted device 10.

  The radio signal (RF signal) transmitted by the portable device transmitting unit 23 includes a response signal responding to the above-described response request signal, a retransmission request signal requesting retransmission of the response request signal, and a remote operation signal described later. It is.

  The door switch 24 is operated by a user to lock and unlock the door of the vehicle 30. When the door switch 24 is operated, the control unit 21 generates a remote operation signal corresponding to the operation, and transmits the remote operation signal to the in-vehicle device 10 by the portable device transmission unit 23.

  The control unit 21 controls the portable device signal receiving unit 22 and the portable device signal transmitting unit 23 to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle-mounted device 10, and transmits and receives signals and information to and from the vehicle-mounted device 10.

  The remote control signal and the response signal transmitted from the portable device 20 to the in-vehicle device 10 by the portable device transmitting unit 23 include data such as a unique ID (identification information) of the portable device 20. The response signal also includes the value of the reception strength of the response request signal measured by the reception strength measurement unit 21c as described above.

  When the remote control signal transmitted from the mobile device 20 is received by the on-vehicle device receiving unit 3, the control unit 1 of the on-vehicle device 10 determines the ID of the mobile device 20 included in the remote control signal and the on-vehicle information stored in advance. The collation with the ID of the device 10 is performed. When the two IDs match, the control unit 1 determines that the authentication of the portable device 20 has been successful, and controls the door lock device 5 based on the remote operation signal to lock and unlock the door of the vehicle 30. (Keyless entry method)

  When the user carrying the portable device 20 approaches the vehicle 30 and operates any of the passive request switches 4, the control unit 1 of the on-vehicle device 10 causes the on-vehicle device transmitting unit 2 to perform a first response. A request signal or a second response request signal is transmitted to the portable device 20. When the response request signal is received by the portable device receiving unit 22, the control unit 21 of the portable device 20 transmits the response signal to the in-vehicle device 10 by the portable device transmitting unit 23. When the response signal is received by the on-vehicle device receiving unit 3, the control unit 1 of the on-vehicle device 10 collates the ID of the mobile device 20 included in the response signal with the ID of the on-vehicle device 10. If the IDs match, the control unit 1 determines that the authentication of the portable device 20 has been successful, controls the door lock device 5 based on the response signal, and locks and unlocks the door of the vehicle 30. (Passive entry method)

  Next, the operations of the in-vehicle device 10 and the portable device 20 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, an operation in the case of the passive entry method will be described as an example.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle-mounted device 10. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the portable device 20. FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an example of a communication state between the vehicle-mounted device 10 and the portable device 20.

  When any one of the passive request switches 4 is operated by the user while the portable device 20 is outside the cabin of the vehicle 30, the control unit 1 of the on-vehicle device 10 detects the operation (step S1: in FIG. 3). YES). Then, the control unit 1 transmits a first response request signal (LF signal) by the on-vehicle device transmission unit 2 (DR) (Step S2a in FIG. 3, FIG. 5), and transmits the second response request signal (LF) by the on-vehicle device transmission unit 2 (FR). A response request signal (LF signal) is transmitted (step S2b in FIG. 3, FIG. 5), and a second response request signal (LF signal) is transmitted by the in-vehicle device transmission unit 2 (RE) (step S2c in FIG. 3, FIG. 5).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first response request signal includes data such as the ID of the vehicle-mounted device 10 and an intensity signal. The second response request signal includes the strength signal but does not include data. The signal length of the second response request signal is shorter than the signal length of the first response request signal.

  In the portable device 20, first, the portable device receiving unit 22 receives the LF signal three times based on the three response request signals transmitted in steps S2a to S2c in FIG. 3 (steps S11a, S11b, and S11c in FIG. 4). . At this time, since the retransmission request signal has not been transmitted, the reception signal switching unit treats only the LF signal received first as the first response request signal and treats the two LF signals received thereafter as the second response request signals. The setting is switched by 21b.

  For this reason, in the reception signal processing of step S12 in FIG. 4, the control unit 21 regards the LF signal received first as the first response request signal and performs a process of extracting data from the LF signal. Further, the reception intensity of the intensity signal is measured by the reception intensity measurement unit 21c. Further, a process of detecting noise of a predetermined signal level by the noise detection unit 21a is performed.

  Then, when data can be extracted from the LF signal received first and the reception intensity of the intensity signal can be measured, the control unit 21 determines that the first response request signal has been received. . On the other hand, noise of a predetermined signal level is detected by the noise detection unit 21a from the LF signal received first, and data cannot be extracted or the reception intensity of the intensity signal cannot be measured. In this case, the control unit 21 detects the noise and determines that the first response request signal has not been normally received. In addition, if data can be extracted from the first received LF signal even if noise of a predetermined signal level is detected by the noise detection unit 21a, the control unit 21 determines whether noise is included. , The received signal strength is measured, and it is determined that the first response request signal has been received.

  Further, in the reception signal processing of step S12 in FIG. 4, the control unit 21 regards the LF signals received second and third as the second response request signal and extracts data from the LF signals. Without performing the processing, the reception intensity of the intensity signal is measured by the reception intensity measurement unit 21c. Further, a process of detecting noise of a predetermined signal level by the noise detection unit 21a is performed.

  When the reception strength of the strength signal can be measured from the second and third received LF signals, the control unit 21 determines that the second response request signal has been received. On the other hand, if the noise detector 21a detects noise at a predetermined signal level from the second or third received LF signal and cannot measure the reception intensity of the intensity signal, the controller 21 Detects the noise and determines that the second response request signal has not been normally received. Also, when it is not possible to determine whether the second or third received LF signal is noise or an intensity signal of the second response request signal, the control unit 21 detects the noise and outputs the second response request signal. It is determined that the request signal has not been normally received.

  Next, the control unit 21 determines whether or not all of the first response request signal and the second response request signal transmitted by each vehicle-mounted device transmission unit 2 have been received (Step S13 in FIG. 4). If all of these signals have been received (step S13: YES), the control unit 21 verifies the ID included in the first response request signal (step S16 in FIG. 4). At this time, for example, the control unit 21 checks whether the received first response request signal includes the ID of the vehicle-mounted device 10. Alternatively, the control unit 21 may collate the ID included in the first response request signal with an ID stored in the internal memory in advance.

  Then, the control unit 21 transmits a response signal (RF signal) by the portable unit transmission unit 23 (Step S17 in FIG. 4, FIG. 5A). The response signal includes an ID previously assigned to the portable device 20 and data such as the value of the reception strength of each response request signal measured in step S12 of FIG.

On the other hand, to detect the noise by the noise detection unit 21a, the first of the response request signal and the second response request signal transmitted from the vehicle device transmitting unit 2, when Tsu whether such received normally at least one (Step S13 in FIG. 4: NO), the control unit 21 transmits a retransmission request signal (RF signal) for requesting the in-vehicle device 10 to retransmit the response request signal from the portable device transmission unit 23 (step in FIG. 4). S14, FIG. 5 (b)). This retransmission request signal includes an instruction to switch the content of the response request signal.

  Further, in accordance with the transmission of the retransmission request signal, the control unit 21 switches the setting by the reception signal switching unit 21b so that all the LF signals received thereafter are treated as the first response request signal (step S15 in FIG. 4). .

  After transmitting the response request signal from each vehicle-mounted device transmitting unit 2, the vehicle-mounted device 10 determines whether or not the retransmission request signal has been received by the vehicle-mounted device receiving unit 3 (Step S3 in FIG. 3). When the retransmission request signal is received (step S3: YES), the control unit 1 causes the transmission signal switching unit 1b to keep the transmission signal from the onboard unit transmission unit 2 (DR) as the first response request signal, The transmission signals from the other in-vehicle device transmission units 2 (FR) and 2 (RE) are switched from the second response request signal to the first response request signal (step S4 in FIG. 3).

  Then, the control unit 1 transmits a first response request signal by the in-vehicle device transmission unit 2 (DR) (Step S2d in FIG. 3, FIG. 5B), and transmits the first response request signal by the in-vehicle device transmission unit 2 (FR). A request signal (LF signal) is transmitted (step S2e in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 (b)), and a first response request signal (LF signal) is transmitted by the on-vehicle device transmission unit 2 (RE) (step S2f in FIG. 3). 5 (b)).

  In the portable device 20, when the three LF signals are received by the portable device receiving unit 22 (steps S11a, S11b, S11c in FIG. 4), since the retransmission request signal has been transmitted, each of the LF signals is transmitted to the first response request. The signal is set by the reception signal switching unit 21b so as to be treated as a signal.

  For this reason, the control unit 21 of the portable device 20 performs a process of extracting data for each LF signal in the reception signal processing of step S12 in FIG. 4 and the reception intensity of the intensity signal is received by the reception intensity measurement unit 21c. Is measured. Further, a process of detecting noise of a predetermined signal level by the noise detection unit 21a is performed.

  Then, when data can be extracted from each LF signal and the reception intensity of the intensity signal can be measured, the control unit 21 determines that the first response request signal has been received. On the other hand, noise of a predetermined signal level was detected by the noise detection unit 21a from any of the LF signals, and data could not be extracted or the reception intensity of the intensity signal could not be measured. In this case, the control unit 21 detects the noise and determines that the first response request signal has not been normally received. Further, even if noise of a predetermined signal level is detected by the noise detection unit 21a from any of the LF signals, if the data can be extracted, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the noise is included. The reception signal is measured by locating the intensity signal, and it is determined that the first response request signal has been received.

  After transmitting the response request signal from each vehicle-mounted device transmitting unit 2, the vehicle-mounted device 10 receives the response signal by the vehicle-mounted device receiving unit 3 without receiving, for example, a retransmission request signal (step S3: NO in FIG. 3). (Step S5 in FIG. 3: YES). In this case, the control unit 1 authenticates the portable device 20 based on the response signal.

  At this time, the control unit 1 compares the ID of the portable device 20 included in the received response signal with the ID of the vehicle-mounted device 10 stored in advance. When the two IDs match, the control unit 1 determines that the authentication of the portable device 20 has succeeded (step S6 in FIG. 3: YES), permits the door lock device 5 to lock and unlock the door, and The lock is executed (step S7 in FIG. 3).

  On the other hand, it is assumed that the predetermined time has elapsed without receiving the retransmission request signal and the response signal after the transmission of the response request signal by each vehicle-mounted device transmission unit 2 (step S3: NO, step S5: NO in FIG. 3) ( Step S8 in FIG. 3: YES). Alternatively, even when the response signal is received (Step S5 in FIG. 3: YES), the ID of the portable device 20 included in the response signal does not match the ID of the vehicle-mounted device 10, and thus the authentication of the portable device 20 succeeds. It is assumed that the predetermined time has elapsed (step S8 in FIG. 3: YES) (step S6 in FIG. 3: NO). In these cases, the control unit 1 prohibits locking and unlocking of the door by the door lock device 5 and does not execute the locking and unlocking (step S9 in FIG. 3).

  According to the above-described embodiment, of the plurality of on-vehicle device transmission units 2, one of the on-vehicle device transmission units 2 (DR) transmits the first response request signal including data, and the other on-vehicle device transmission unit 2 (FR) , 2 (RE), a second response request signal containing no data and having a shorter signal length than the first response request signal is transmitted. For this reason, the time for receiving both response request signals transmitted by the respective on-vehicle device transmitting units 2 by the portable device receiving unit 22 is reduced, and the communication responsiveness between the on-vehicle device 10 and the portable device 20 is correspondingly improved. it can.

  Further, since the second response request signal does not include data and has a short signal length, if noise is generated around the vehicle 30, it is determined whether the noise received by the portable device receiving unit 22 is the second response request signal. It may be difficult to determine whether the signal is a signal. However, noise is detected by the noise detection unit 21a of the portable device 20, and the first response request signal and the second response request signal transmitted by each on-vehicle device transmission unit 2 are all normally received by the portable device reception unit 22. If the retransmission request cannot be made, a retransmission request signal is transmitted by the portable unit transmitting section 23. Then, when the retransmission request signal is received by the on-vehicle device receiving unit 3, the first response request signal is retransmitted by one of the on-vehicle device transmitting units 2 (DR) and the other on-vehicle device transmitting units 2 (FR), 2 By (RE), the first response request signal is transmitted instead of the second response request signal. For this reason, even if noise is generated in the surroundings, if predetermined data is included in the LF signal received by the portable device receiver 22, it is easily determined that the signal is not the noise but the first response request signal. It is possible to establish communication between the vehicle-mounted device 10 and the portable device 20.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the first response request signal includes an intensity signal for measuring the reception intensity in the portable device 20 and data, and the second response request signal includes the intensity signal. Not included. For this reason, the signal length of the second response request signal is shorter than the signal length of the first response request signal, so that the portable device 20 has more time to receive both response request signals transmitted by the on-vehicle device transmitters 2. The communication responsiveness between the vehicle-mounted device 10 and the portable device 20 can be further improved.

  Further, in the above embodiment, before transmission of the retransmission request signal, the setting is switched by the reception signal switching unit 21b so that the reception signal by the portable device reception unit 22 is treated as the first response request signal or the second response request signal, With the transmission of the retransmission request signal, the setting is switched by the reception signal switching unit 21b so that all the reception signals from the portable device reception unit 22 are treated as the first response request signal. Therefore, the first response request signal or the second response request signal transmitted from each in-vehicle device transmission unit 2 can be reliably received before and after the transmission of the retransmission request signal. The control unit 21 of the portable device 20 treats the second response request signal transmitted from the on-vehicle device transmission unit 2 and received by the portable device reception unit 22 as a second response request signal, thereby extracting data from the signal. By omitting such a process, the communication responsiveness can be further improved.

  The present invention can adopt various embodiments other than those described above. For example, in the above embodiment, the passive entry system in which the response request signal is transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 10 due to the operation of the passive request switch 4 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Not something. In addition to the above, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the present invention is also applied to a polling method in which a response request signal is intermittently transmitted from each vehicle-mounted device transmitting unit 2 at a predetermined cycle regardless of a switch operation. Is possible.

  In the example of FIG. 6, when the portable device 20 is outside the vehicle compartment, the on-vehicle device 10 intermittently transmits the first response request signal or the second response request signal at a predetermined cycle by each on-vehicle device transmission unit 2. (Steps S2a ', S2b', S2c 'in FIG. 6). Also, after receiving the retransmission request signal from the portable device 20 (step S3 in FIG. 6: YES) and switching the transmission signal by the transmission signal switching unit 21b (step S4 in FIG. 6), the onboard device 10 continues The first response request signal is intermittently transmitted at a predetermined cycle by the on-vehicle device transmission unit 2 (steps S2d ', S2e', S2f 'in FIG. 6). The portable device 20 operates in the same manner as the procedure in FIG.

  As another example, after the portable device 20 transmits a remote control signal based on the operation of the door switch 24, the in-vehicle device 10 that has received the remote control signal responds to the portable device 20 by a wireless signal (LF). The present invention can be applied to the transmission of a signal).

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, first (before the retransmission request signal is transmitted from the portable device 20), the on-vehicle device transmission unit 2 (DR) provided on the door 31 of the driver's seat of the vehicle 30 where the user frequently approaches the vehicle 30 is provided. ) Transmits the first response request signal from the transmitting antenna 2a (DR), and transmits the second response request signal from the transmitting antennas 2a (FR) and 2a (RE) of the other in-vehicle device transmitting units 2 (FR) and 2 (RE). An example of transmitting a signal is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The number of in-vehicle device transmitting units and transmitting antennas may be two or four or more, and the installation locations in the vehicle may be appropriately set. In addition, the positions and numbers of the on-vehicle unit transmitting units that transmit the first response request signal first and the on-vehicle unit transmitting units that transmit the second response request signal may be appropriately set.

  Further, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the first response request signal is retransmitted from the transmission antennas 2a of all the on-vehicle device transmission units 2 in response to the transmission of the retransmission request signal from the portable device 20. Is not limited to this. In addition to this, for example, the number of in-vehicle device transmitting units that transmit the first response request signal may be increased in the in-vehicle device according to the number of times the retransmission request signal is received.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the door lock device 5 that locks and unlocks the door of the vehicle 30 has been described as an example of the object whose operation is permitted or prohibited in the vehicle communication system 100, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Not something. Other than this, for example, an engine device for starting / stopping a vehicle engine, an air conditioner device for driving an air conditioner of a vehicle, an audio system, or an automatic opening / closing device for an opening / closing body such as a door, etc. The operation may be permitted or prohibited.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to the vehicle communication system 100, the vehicle-mounted device 10, and the portable device 20 for a four-wheeled vehicle has been described. The present invention can be applied to a vehicle communication system, an in-vehicle device, and a portable device.

1b Transmission signal switching unit 2 On-board unit transmission unit 3 On-board unit reception unit 5 Door lock device (object)
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 vehicle-mounted device 20 portable device 21 a noise detecting unit 21 b received signal switching unit 22 portable device receiving unit 23 portable device transmitting unit 30 vehicle 100 vehicle communication system

Claims (6)

An on-board unit equipped with an on-board unit transmitting unit and an on-board unit receiving unit that is mounted on a vehicle and transmits and receives a wireless signal,
A portable device provided with a portable device transmitting unit and a portable device receiving unit that are carried by a user of the vehicle and transmit and receive a wireless signal,
The in-vehicle device transmits a response request signal by the in-vehicle device transmission unit,
In response to the portable device receiving the response request signal by the portable device receiving unit, transmits a response signal by the portable device transmitting unit,
In the vehicle communication system in which the operation of the object mounted on the vehicle is permitted or prohibited, based on the response signal received by the vehicle-mounted device by the vehicle-mounted device receiving unit,
The on-vehicle device transmits a transmission signal of the on-vehicle device transmission unit to a first response request signal including predetermined data and a second response request including no predetermined data and having a shorter signal length than the first response request signal. Further comprising a transmission signal switching unit for switching to any one of a signal and
The portable device further includes a noise detection unit that detects noise that hinders reception of the first response request signal and the second response request signal by the portable device reception unit,
The on-vehicle device transmits the first response request signal by a part of the on-vehicle device transmission units among the on-vehicle device transmission units provided in the vehicle, and transmits the second response by another on-vehicle device transmission unit. Send a request signal,
The portable device includes:
When the first response request signal and the second response request signal transmitted by each of the on-vehicle device transmission units can be received by the portable device reception unit, the response signal is transmitted by the portable device transmission unit,
When the noise is detected by the noise detection unit, and the first response request signal and the second response request signal transmitted by the on-vehicle device transmission units are not normally received by the portable device reception unit. Transmitting a retransmission request signal by the portable device transmitting unit;
The in-vehicle device, when receiving the retransmission request signal by the in-vehicle device reception unit, retransmits the first response request signal by the some in-vehicle device transmission units, and transmits the first response request signal by the another in-vehicle device transmission unit. A vehicle communication system, wherein a signal is switched to the first response request signal by the transmission signal switching unit, and the first response request signal is transmitted by the other on-vehicle device transmission unit. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1,
The first response request signal includes an intensity signal and data for measuring reception intensity at the portable device,
The vehicle communication system according to claim 2, wherein the second response request signal includes the strength signal and does not include the data. In the vehicle communication system according to claim 1 or 2,
The portable device includes:
A reception signal switching unit configured to switch a setting of handling the reception signal of the portable device reception unit as the first response request signal or the second response request signal,
Before the transmission of the retransmission request signal by the portable device transmission unit, the setting is switched by the reception signal switching unit so that the reception signal by the portable device reception unit is treated as a first response request signal or a second response request signal. ,
Along with the transmission of the retransmission request signal by the portable device transmitting unit, the setting is switched by the received signal switching unit so as to treat the received signal by the portable device receiving unit as a first response request signal. Vehicle communication system. An in-vehicle device equipped with an in-vehicle device transmission unit and an in-vehicle device reception unit that are mounted on a vehicle and transmit and receive a radio signal,
For a portable device carried by a user of the vehicle, a response request signal is transmitted by the on-vehicle device transmitting unit,
A response signal transmitted by the portable device in response to receiving the response request signal is received by the on-vehicle device reception unit, and operation of an object mounted on the vehicle is permitted or prohibited based on the response signal. In-vehicle equipment that
The transmission signal of the in-vehicle device transmission unit may be one of a first response request signal including predetermined data and a second response request signal not including the predetermined data and having a shorter signal length than the first response request signal. Further comprising a transmission signal switching unit for switching to
Among the plurality of in-vehicle device transmission units provided in the vehicle, the first response request signal is transmitted by some of the in-vehicle device transmission units, and the second response request signal is transmitted by another in-vehicle device transmission unit. ,
The response signal transmitted by the portable device in response to receiving the first response request signal and the second response request signal transmitted by each of the in-vehicle device transmission units is received by the in-vehicle device reception unit. In this case, the operation of the object is permitted or prohibited based on the response signal,
When the mobile device receives a retransmission request signal transmitted in response to detecting noise that hinders reception of the first response request signal and the second response request signal by the on-vehicle device receiving unit, The first response request signal is retransmitted by some of the on-vehicle device transmission units, and the transmission signal of the another on-vehicle device transmission unit is switched to the first response request signal by the transmission signal switching unit. A vehicle-mounted device, wherein a signal is transmitted by the another vehicle-mounted device transmitting unit. A portable device that performs wireless communication with the in-vehicle device according to claim 4,
A portable device transmitting unit that transmits a wireless signal to the on-vehicle device,
A portable device receiving unit that receives a wireless signal from each of the plurality of on-vehicle device transmitting units of the on-vehicle device,
The response request signal transmitted from the previous SL wheel mounting machine in response to received by the portable device receiving unit, by a response signal for permitting or prohibiting the operation of the pre-Symbol Target was the portable device transmission unit In the portable device transmitting to the in-vehicle device,
The portable device further includes a noise detection unit that detects noise that hinders reception of the response request signal by the reception unit,
Of vehicle device transmission portion before Kifuku number, and the first response request signal transmitted from the vehicle device transmitting portion of said portion, the second response request signal transmitted from the another-vehicle device transmission unit and Is received by the portable device receiving unit, the response signal is transmitted by the portable device transmitting unit,
Wherein detecting the noise by the noise detection unit, and the first response request signal transmitted from the vehicle device transmitting portion of said portion, the second response request signal transmitted from the another-vehicle device transmission unit and and when said not normally received by the portable device receiving unit to request to retransmit the first response request signal from both the part of the vehicle device transmitting section and the other-vehicle device transmission unit retransmission A portable device, wherein the request signal is transmitted by the portable device transmitting unit. The portable device according to claim 5,
A reception signal switching unit configured to switch a setting of handling the reception signal of the portable device reception unit as the first response request signal or the second response request signal,
Before the transmission of the retransmission request signal by the portable device transmission unit, the setting is switched by the reception signal switching unit so that the reception signal by the portable device reception unit is treated as a first response request signal or a second response request signal. ,
Along with the transmission of the retransmission request signal by the portable device transmitting unit, the setting is switched by the received signal switching unit so as to treat the received signal by the portable device receiving unit as a first response request signal. Portable device.

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