JP7072996B2 - Vehicle control unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle control device that unlocks a vehicle door when a user carrying a portable device comes into contact with a request switch provided on a vehicle door handle.

Conventionally, when a user carrying a portable device comes into contact with a request switch embedded in the door handle of a vehicle, a detection signal is transmitted from the request switch to the control means, and the detection signal is received by the control means of the microcomputer configuration. , A device for unlocking a door has been proposed. In such a device, when the control means detects the detection signal from the request switch, the control means collates the portable device, and when the collation result is that the portable device carried by the user is legitimate. It is determined that the user has a legitimate mobile device and the door is unlocked. Further, a capacitance type sensor is usually used as a request switch, and a detection signal is transmitted by detecting the contact of the human body from the change of the capacitance due to the contact of the human body (for example, Patent Document). 1).

In such a device, it is controlled that the specified conditions are satisfied, such as the detection signal is not transmitted from the request switch for a predetermined period of time after the user (occupant) gets out of the vehicle and locks the door from the outside. Judging by the means, the control means goes into a so-called sleep state in which the consumption other than the necessary dark current is cut off in order to suppress the power consumption of the battery, and the power consumption of the battery is suppressed to prevent the battery from running out. ing. When the detection signal is transmitted from the request switch or another signal is received, the control means switches from the sleep state to the wake-up state (startup state).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-100662 (see paragraphs 0029 to 0041)

By the way, when the capacitance type sensor is used as described in Patent Document 1 described above, in addition to the human body (user) coming into contact with the request switch (capacitance type sensor), raindrops, snow, mud, etc. By adhering to the buried portion of the request switch, the capacitance of the request switch may change and a detection signal may be transmitted in the same manner as when a human body comes into contact with it. In addition, the capacitance of the request switch may change due to external noise, and a detection signal similar to that of contact with the human body may be transmitted even though it reacts to the noise.

Therefore, even if the user (occupant) is away from the vehicle, the request switch (capacitance type sensor) malfunctions and a detection signal is transmitted, and the control means wakes even though the user is not in contact with the request switch. It may be up and start operation. In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, a predetermined threshold value is set for the amount of change in capacitance and the amount of change in time of the capacitance type sensor to prevent malfunction, and the control means is unnecessarily waked up. However, the detection signal of the request switch is based on the contact of the human body, the one based on the adhesion of raindrops, snow, mud, and the external noise to the vehicle harness. It is difficult to make a clear distinction from those based on.

An object of the present invention is to prevent the body ECU from being in a wake-up state due to a contact other than the user's contact with the request switch, so that the power consumption of the battery can be reduced.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the user carrying the portable device contacts the request switch provided on the door handle of the vehicle, and the control means provided in the vehicle collates the portable device. In the vehicle control device for releasing the door lock, the request switch is a capacitance type sensor that is supplied with power from the control means and detects a change in capacitance, and the change in capacitance due to contact with the user. When the amount exceeds a predetermined value, an ON signal is output, and when the ON signal is detected, the control means changes from the sleep state to the wake-up state, collates the portable device, and the collation result is normal. When the door lock is released and the ON signal is detected more than a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time, it is determined that an abnormality has been detected, the wake-up state is changed to the sleep state, and the power supply to the request switch is stopped. (Claim 1).

According to the present invention, when the ON signal from the request switch is more than a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time, it is determined that the ON signal is an abnormal ON signal, and the control means goes from the wake-up state to the sleep state, and the control means determines. Since the power supply to the request switch is stopped, the ON signal after it is determined that an abnormality has been detected will be ignored, preventing the control means from unnecessarily entering a wake-up state due to a malfunction of the request switch. By doing so, the dark current can be reduced, and by stopping the power supply to the request switch by the control means, the dark current can be further reduced, the power consumption of the battery is suppressed, and the battery runs out. Can be prevented.

It is a block diagram of one Embodiment of the vehicle control device which concerns on this invention. It is an operation explanatory diagram of FIG. It is an operation explanatory diagram of FIG.

An embodiment of the vehicle control device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle control device 1, an in-vehicle antenna 2 and an out-of-vehicle antenna 3 having different detection areas provided in the vehicle, and a portable device 4 for transmitting and receiving by a wireless signal between these antennas 2 and 3. , The body ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 5 having a microcomputer configuration, which is powered by a battery (not shown) and controls the collation of the portable device 4 and the control of locking and unlocking the door, and the body ECU 5 controls the door to be locked and unlocked. From the door lock mechanism 6 that locks, the notification means 7 consisting of a buzzer, a lamp, etc. that gives a predetermined notification to the user (occupant), and the electrostatic capacity type sensor embedded in the handle of the door of the driver's seat and the passenger's seat. It includes a request switch 8 to which power is supplied via the body ECU 5.

When the owner (user) of the vehicle carrying the portable device 4 approaches from outside the vehicle within the detection area of the outdoor antenna 3, the outdoor antenna 3 and the portable device 4 transmit and receive wireless signals. This makes it possible, and it is determined that the owner (user) carrying the portable device 4 has approached the vehicle within a predetermined range.

Then, when the user touches the request switch 8 of the handle portion of the door, the capacitance of the request switch 8 changes to detect the contact of the human body (user), and the request switch 8 transmits an ON signal to the body ECU 5. As a result, the body ECU 5 that has been in the sleep state is activated in the wake-up state, and the portable device 4 can be collated. When the unlock signal including the ID is received from the portable device 4 by the outdoor antenna 3. , The collating unit 5a of the body ECU 5 verifies whether or not the ID of the signal received from the portable device 4 matches the ID registered in the storage unit 5b such as the built-in memory. 4 is determined to belong to the authorized owner (user), and the door lock mechanism 6 is controlled by the body ECU 5 to unlock all the doors of the vehicle.

At this time, even if the user operates the unlock key of the portable device 4 of the portable device 4 without touching the request switch 8, an unlock signal including an ID is transmitted from the portable device 4, and this is the vehicle outdoor antenna 3. The portable device 4 is collated and the door is unlocked. Further, when the lock key of the portable device 4 is operated by the user, the door is locked based on the lock key operation signal from the portable device 4.

Here, the door locking / unlocking control function by the body ECU 5 corresponds to the control means in the present invention.

When the user gets out of the vehicle and locks the door, the portable device 4 is in the detection area of the vehicle interior antenna 2 and the door lock is in a state where the portable device 4 can receive the transmission signal from the vehicle interior antenna 2. When operated, it is determined by the body ECU 5 that the portable device 4 is left in the vehicle interior and there is a risk of confinement, and the notification means 7 is controlled by the body ECU 5 to notify the user of the confinement of the portable device 4. Will be done.

Further, the body ECU 5 satisfies a predetermined sleep condition (for example, a signal from the portable device 4 or an ON signal from the request switch 8 described later is not received for a certain period of time) after the user gets out of the vehicle and locks the door. Then, the sleep state (current consumption reduction state) is set, and the sleep state is switched to the wake-up state by receiving the ON signal from the request switch 8 and the unlock signal from the portable device 4.

By the way, since the request switch 8 is composed of a capacitance type sensor as described above, as shown in FIG. 2, when the capacitance changes from the reference value due to the contact of the user (human body), the changed capacitance changes. If the difference between the detected value and the reference value is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount of change, an ON signal is transmitted from the request switch 8 to the body ECU 5 as a change in capacitance due to contact with the user (human body).

However, in addition to the change in capacitance due to contact with the human body, the capacitance of the request switch 8 also changes due to the effects of rain, snow, mud, etc. and external noise, as in the case of contact with the human body, and an ON signal is displayed. May be sent. In particular, when foreign matter such as rain, snow, or mud adheres, the ON signal from the request switch 8 continues to be transmitted repeatedly, and the body ECU 5 that should be held in the sleep state is erroneously switched to the wake-up state, resulting in dark current. May be unnecessarily increased and the power consumption of the battery increases, which may lead to the battery running out.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the ON signal from the request switch 8 is detected more than a predetermined number of times within a predetermined predetermined time, it is determined that the ON signal is abnormal and the body ECU 5 is switched to the sleep state. The supply of power to the request switch 8 by the body ECU 5 is stopped.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, when the body ECU 5 receives an ON signal from the request switch 8 that exceeds a predetermined number of times in one minute, which is a predetermined time, the body ECU 5 wakes up once. However, the body ECU 5 determines that an abnormal ON signal has been received and returns to the sleep state again, and at the same time, stops the power supply from the body ECU 5 to the request switch 8, and the request switch 8 becomes inoperable. Then, the ON signal cannot be transmitted, and the body ECU 5 is held in the sleep state.

As a result, it can be determined that the body ECU 5 has received an abnormal ON signal due to raindrops, snow, mud adhesion, and application of external noise, instead of the ON signal from the request switch 8 due to contact with the human body. However, it is possible to prevent the dark current from unnecessarily increasing due to a wake-up state. The predetermined time and the predetermined number of times are not limited to the above-mentioned 1 minute and 60 times.

Then, when the body ECU 5 receives an abnormal ON signal from the request switch 8 more than a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time and goes into a sleep state, the body ECU 5 then ignores the ON signal from the request switch 8 and causes the portable device 4 to operate. Even if the mobile user touches the request switch 8, the body ECU 5 does not switch from the sleep state to the wake-up state, and the door is unlocked even though the user carries the legitimate mobile device 4 and touches the request switch 8. It will not be locked.

Therefore, in order to switch the body ECU 5 held in the sleep state to the wake-up state by receiving the abnormal ON signal in this way and to return the normal ON signal from the request switch 8 to the receivable state. For example, the body ECU 5 detects an operation on the vehicle other than the contact of the request switch 8, such as an operation of the unlock key of the portable device 4 by the user or an operation of opening the trunk room or the rear door of the vehicle, via various sensors and switches. On condition that the body ECU 5 is switched from the sleep state to the wake-up state. As a result, the body ECU 5 held in the sleep state is switched to the wake-up state by receiving the abnormal ON signal, the power supply to the request switch 8 is restarted, and the normal ON signal due to human contact with the request switch 8 is performed. Can be restored to a state in which transmission can be performed to the body ECU 5.

Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, when the ON signal is detected more than a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time, it is determined that the body ECU 5 has detected an abnormality and the sleep state is set. The ON signal from the request switch 8 due to the adhesion of snow or the like or the ON signal due to the application of external noise can prevent the body ECU 5 from being unnecessarily waked up and suppress the increase in dark current, and the battery can be used. It is possible to reduce the power consumption of the battery and prevent the battery from running out.

Further, when the body ECU 5 detects an abnormal ON signal and goes into a sleep state, the power supply from the body ECU 5 to the request switch 8 is stopped, so that the request switch 8 is held in an inoperable state due to the stop of the power supply. Since the ON signal cannot be output, the body ECU 5 can be held in the sleep state to suppress the dark current, and the power consumption of the battery can be further reduced.

Further, after the abnormal ON signal is detected and the body ECU 5 is held in the sleep state, the body ECU 5 performs an operation on the vehicle other than the contact of the request switch 8 such as an operation of the unlock key of the portable device 4 by the user. Since the body ECU 5 is switched from the sleep state to the wake-up state on condition that it is detected, the body ECU 5 held in the sleep state by receiving an abnormal ON signal is subjected to a normal ON signal from the request switch 8. You can switch to the wake-up state.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the example provided with the vehicle interior antenna 2 and the vehicle interior outdoor antenna 3 is shown, but the present invention can be applied to a vehicle not provided with these antennas.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the predetermined time and the predetermined number of times for determining whether or not the signal is abnormal are described as 1 minute and 60 times, respectively, but the predetermined time and the predetermined number of times are not limited to these, and the user is not limited to these. The time and number of times it can be determined that the ON signal cannot be generated by the contact of the above may be set.

The present invention can be applied to a vehicle control device that releases a door lock by contacting a request switch provided on a door handle of a vehicle.

1 ... Vehicle control device 4 ... Portable device 5 ... Body ECU (control means)
8 ... Request switch

Claims (1)

In a vehicle control device in which a user carrying a portable device contacts a request switch provided on a door handle of the vehicle, and a control means provided in the vehicle collates the portable device to release the door lock. ,
The request switch is
It is a capacitance type sensor that is supplied with power from the control means and detects a change in capacitance.
When the amount of change in capacitance due to the contact of the user exceeds a predetermined value, an ON signal is output.
The control means is
When the ON signal is detected, the sleep state is changed to the wake-up state, the portable device is collated, and if the collation result is normal, the door lock is released.
When the ON signal is detected more than a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time, it is determined that an abnormality has been detected, the vehicle goes from a wake-up state to a sleep state, and the power supply to the request switch is stopped. Control device.

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