JP7290265B2 - Vehicle communication device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention comprises an antenna member that transmits or receives a signal wirelessly, a communication circuit that enables communication by transmitting or receiving a signal with the antenna member, and a predetermined antenna mounted on a vehicle based on communication by the communication circuit. The present invention relates to a vehicle communication device having a control circuit for controlling energization of electrical components, and a substrate on which an antenna member, a communication circuit and a control circuit are formed.

A portable device that is carried by a passenger and capable of transmitting a vehicle-specific authentication code by radio waves, and an in-vehicle unit capable of receiving the transmitted authentication code, wherein the authentication code wirelessly transmitted from the portable device is authenticated. A vehicle communication device (a so-called smart key device) that can permit unlocking of various vehicle locks and starting of a drive source only when the authentication code is .

Such a vehicle communication device normally has an antenna member that wirelessly transmits or receives an ID code unique to the vehicle with a portable device, and enables communication by transmitting or receiving the ID code with the antenna member. A received ID having a communication circuit, a control circuit for controlling energization of predetermined electrical components mounted on the vehicle based on communication by the communication circuit, and a substrate on which the antenna member, the communication circuit, and the control circuit are formed. Only when the code matches the regular ID code, the control circuit drives the actuator, unlocks the lock member, etc., and permits the engine to start.

JP 2016-220088 A

However, in the conventional vehicle communication device, it is necessary to separately form a heat sink or the like for dissipating the heat generated in the control circuit to the outside, which may increase the size of the device. In particular, a control circuit composed of a diode, an IPD, etc. for unlocking a lock member disposed in a vehicle generates a large amount of heat, making it difficult to maintain a communication function while achieving miniaturization. was

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle communication device capable of maintaining a communication function while reducing the size of the device.

The invention according to claim 1 comprises an antenna member that transmits or receives a signal wirelessly, a communication circuit that enables communication by transmitting or receiving a signal with the antenna member, and a vehicle based on communication by the communication circuit. and a substrate on which the antenna member, the communication circuit, and the control circuit are formed, wherein the antenna member extends in a bent shape. and a connection portion with the substrate is located near the control circuit so that heat generated in the control circuit can be absorbed , and the substrate has a plurality of substrates through which current can flow in the thickness direction. A layer is formed, and heat generated in the control circuit is transferred to the antenna member through the layer to which the antenna member is connected.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided the vehicle communication device according to the first aspect, wherein the antenna member is made of a metal plate extending in an L-shape .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle communication device according to the first aspect, the antenna member has a plurality of connecting portions with the substrate, and these connecting portions are positioned around the control circuit. It is characterized by

The invention according to claim 4 is the vehicle communication device according to claim 3 , wherein the connecting portion includes a first base end portion and a second base end portion formed by bending a base end portion of the antenna member. , wherein the first proximal end and the second proximal end are positioned around the control circuit.

The invention according to claim 5 is the vehicle communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the antenna member has a vehicle-specific ID code between the operator and a portable device. In addition to being capable of transmitting or receiving, the electrical component is an actuator that drives a lock member to lock or unlock, and the control circuit detects when the signal received by the antenna member matches a regular ID code. is characterized in that the actuator is driven only when

The invention according to claim 6 is the vehicle communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the amount of heat generated by the control circuit can be calculated or estimated, and based on the calculated or estimated amount of heat generated, and restricts the communication by the communication circuit.

According to the invention of claim 1, since the antenna member can absorb the heat generated by the control circuit, the antenna member has a heat sink function, eliminating the need for a separate means for heat generation. Therefore, the communication function can be maintained while miniaturizing the device.

In addition , since the connection portion of the antenna member with the substrate is positioned near the control circuit, the heat generated in the control circuit can be efficiently absorbed by the antenna member, thereby suppressing the occurrence of defects due to the heat of the control circuit. can do.
Furthermore, the substrate is formed with a plurality of layers through which current can flow in the thickness direction, and is configured such that heat generated by the control circuit is transferred to the antenna member through the layer to which the antenna member is connected. The heat generated by the control circuit can be transferred to the antenna member through the substrate and surely absorbed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the antenna member has a plurality of connection portions with the substrate, and these connection portions are positioned around the control circuit. The heat can be absorbed by the member, and the occurrence of problems due to the heat of the control circuit can be reliably suppressed.

According to the invention of claim 5, the antenna member can transmit or receive a vehicle-specific ID code to or from a portable device that can be carried by the operator, and the electrical component drives the lock member. It is an actuator that locks or unlocks, and the control circuit drives the actuator only when the signal received by the antenna member matches the regular ID code, so the timing of communication and the timing of heat absorption in the antenna member can be avoided, and the communication function of the antenna member can be prevented from being adversely affected by heat absorption.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the amount of heat generated by the control circuit can be calculated or estimated, and communication by the communication circuit is restricted based on the calculated or estimated amount of heat generated. communication by the antenna member can be restricted, and malfunction or the like can be prevented.

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a vehicle communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention; A plan view showing an internal configuration of a case member according to the vehicle communication device. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a connecting portion between a substrate and an antenna member in the vehicle communication device; Three views showing an antenna member according to the vehicle communication device A perspective view showing the same antenna member Block diagram showing the same vehicle communication device Schematic diagram showing a connection form of an antenna member to a substrate of the vehicle communication device. Schematic diagram showing a connection relationship of antenna members according to the vehicle communication device. 3 is a flow chart showing control by a limiting circuit in the vehicle communication device;

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
The vehicle communication device 1 according to the present embodiment performs wireless communication with an in-vehicle unit mounted in a vehicle such as a two-wheeled vehicle. It is applied to a so-called passive keyless entry system that can allow the start of the engine, which is the driving source of the vehicle, or allow the vehicle to run. As shown in FIG. It comprises an antenna member 2 for wirelessly transmitting or receiving a signal between them, a communication circuit 3, a control circuit 4, other circuits 5, and a substrate 6.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle communication device 1 according to the present embodiment has a steering lock device F (predetermined electrical component) attached to a case C containing a board 6, and the board 6 has an antenna. A member 2, a communication circuit 3, a control circuit 4 and other circuits 5 are formed. As shown in FIG. 6, the other circuit 5 has a determination circuit 5a, a limit circuit 5b, and the like, which are mounted on the substrate 6 at predetermined positions.

The steering lock device F has a lock member L and a motor M as an actuator. Thus, the lock member L can be moved between a lock position where the steering is locked and an unlock position where the lock is released.

The portable device K can be carried by an operator, and can wirelessly transmit a vehicle-specific ID code (authentication code) through an antenna Ka, for example, on condition that an access signal is received from the vehicle. The portable device K has a substrate in which a control circuit and the like are formed, as well as a battery, a coil, and the like. The vehicle-specific ID code transmitted from the portable device K is received by the antenna member 2 of the vehicle communication device 1 .

The antenna member 2 wirelessly transmits or receives signals to or from the portable device K. As shown in FIGS. It is made of a metal plate having a first base end portion 2b and a second base end portion 2c formed by bending from the end of the portion 2a. Then, when the connection portion P1 of the first base end portion 2b and the connection portion P2 of the second base end portion 2c are connected to the substrate 6 accommodated in the case member C, as shown in FIG. The installation portion 2a is arranged in an L shape on the upper surface of the substrate 6. As shown in FIG.

The communication circuit 3 enables communication by transmitting or receiving a signal with the antenna member 2, and is electrically connected to the antenna member 2 and the ground layer d as shown in FIG. Further, the communication circuit 3 is electrically connected to the other circuit 5 so that the signal received by the antenna member 2 can be transmitted to the determination circuit 5a and the limit circuit 5b (see FIG. 6) constituting the other circuit 5. It is configured.

The determination circuit 5a can determine whether or not the ID code of the signal transmitted from the communication circuit 3 is a normal ID code, and is electrically connected to the control circuit 4 as shown in FIGS. . That is, the ID code among the signals transmitted from the portable device K is transmitted to the determination circuit 5a via the antenna member 2 and the communication circuit 3, and the ID code received by the antenna member 2 is set in advance for each vehicle. The determination circuit 5a determines whether or not the ID code is unique to the vehicle.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the control circuit 4 includes an IPD (electric power source E) electrically connected to a steering lock device F, which is a predetermined electrical component mounted on the vehicle, and a power source E such as a battery mounted on the vehicle. Intelligent power device), which is composed of semiconductor elements such as diodes, and controls energization of the steering lock device F (predetermined electrical component) mounted on the vehicle based on communication by the communication circuit 3 .

When the determination circuit 5a determines that the ID code received by the antenna member 2 matches the regular ID code, the control circuit 4 controls energization of the motor M (actuator) in the steering lock device F to drive it. The steering lock can be released by moving the lock member L from the lock position to the unlock position. In the present embodiment, when the determination circuit 5a determines that the ID code received by the antenna member 2 matches the regular ID code, the steering lock is released and the engine start is permitted. It's like

The substrate 6 has the antenna member 2, the communication circuit 3, the control circuit 4, and other circuits 5 formed thereon, and as shown in FIG. It consists of a printed circuit board on which a layer of copper) is formed. Specifically, the substrate 6 according to the present embodiment is composed of two stages of substrates 6, a first substrate 6a positioned below and a second substrate 6b positioned above, of which at least the antenna member is provided on the first substrate 6a. 2 and a control circuit 4 are installed. In addition to surface layers (a1, a2, a3 and a4) and back layers (b1 and b2) forming predetermined circuits on the front and back surfaces of the substrate 6a, the substrate 6a has intermediate layers (c1, c2) and A ground layer d and the like are formed, and a glass epoxy layer, which is the material of the substrate 6, is positioned between these layers.

7, the control circuit 4 is connected to the surface layers a3 and a4, the other circuits 5 are connected to the surface layers a1 to a3 (strictly, the surface layers a1 to a3, and the middle layers c1 and c2), and the communication circuit 3 are connected to the back layer b1 and the back layer b2, and each circuit is connected to the ground layer d to allow current to flow. In addition, symbol h in FIG. 7 indicates a connection hole for electrically connecting layers.

Here, in the antenna member 2 of the vehicle communication device 1 according to the present embodiment, the connection portions (P1, P2) with the substrate 6 are located near the control circuit 4, and the heat generated in the control circuit 4 is can be absorbed. Specifically, as described above, the antenna member 2 according to this embodiment has a plurality of proximal end portions such as the first proximal end portion 2b and the second proximal end portion 2c. 2, the connecting portion P1 of the first base end portion 2b and the connecting portion P2 of the second base end portion 2c, which are the connecting portions with the substrate 6, are located around the control circuit 4, respectively.

Thus, the heat generated by the control circuit 4 is transmitted to the first base end portion 2b and the second base end portion 2c of the antenna member 2, and from there to the entire extension portion 2a. The heat generated can be absorbed by the antenna member 2 . Since the absorbed heat is accumulated after being absorbed by the entire antenna member 2, overheating of the control circuit 4 can be suppressed. Alternatively, the antenna member 2 may be positioned outside the case member C to dissipate the absorbed heat to the outside.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the antenna member 2 according to this embodiment has its connecting portions P1 and P2 connected to the back layer b2 and the ground layer d. As a result, the heat generated by the control circuit 4 can be transferred to the antenna member 2 through the ground layer d, which is the layer to which the antenna member 2 is connected. Further, since the connection portions P1 and P2 of the antenna member 2 are located near the control circuit 4, heat generated in the control circuit 4 can be transferred to the ground layer d through the glass epoxy.

The substrate 6 according to the present embodiment is composed of two stages of substrates 6, a first substrate 6a positioned below and a second substrate 6b positioned above. , P2) are located on the first substrate 6a, but may not have the second substrate 6b. In this case, the antenna member 2 is connected to the first substrate 6a, and the communication circuit 3, the control circuit 4 and other circuits 5 are formed. Further, the interior of the case member C to which the substrate 6 is attached is filled with a predetermined resin material for waterproofing and dustproofing.

On the other hand, the limiting circuit 5b is formed in the other circuit 5 according to the present embodiment. The limiting circuit 5b can calculate or estimate the amount of heat generated by the control circuit 4, and limits communication by the communication circuit 3 based on the calculated or estimated amount of heat generated. As shown in FIG. 9, the limiting circuit 5b calculates or estimates the amount of heat generated by the control circuit 4 based on the driving time of the actuator (motor M) whose energization is controlled by the control circuit 4 (S1). Alternatively, it is determined that the estimated calorific value has reached a predetermined calorific value (S2). Then, when it is determined in S2 that the amount of heat generated has reached a predetermined amount, the process proceeds to S3, in which communication by the communication circuit 3 is restricted.

According to this embodiment, since the antenna member 2 can absorb the heat generated by the control circuit 4, the antenna member 2 has a heat sink function, eliminating the need for separate measures against heat generation. Therefore, it is possible to maintain the communication function while reducing the size of the vehicle communication device 1 . Further, in the antenna member 2 according to the present embodiment, since the connection portions (P1, P2) with the substrate 6 are positioned near the control circuit 4, the heat generated in the control circuit 4 is efficiently absorbed by the antenna member 2. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems due to the heat of the control circuit 4 .

Further, the antenna member 2 according to this embodiment has a plurality of (two in this embodiment) connection portions (P1, P2) with the substrate 6, and these connection portions (P1, P2) are connected to the control circuit. 4, the heat generated in the control circuit 4 can be more efficiently absorbed by the antenna member 2, and the occurrence of problems due to the heat of the control circuit 4 can be reliably suppressed. Although the antenna substrate 2 according to the present embodiment has two connection portions with the substrate 6, the antenna substrate 2 has one connection portion with the substrate 6, or has three or more connection portions. may be

Further, the substrate 6 according to the present embodiment is formed with a plurality of layers capable of flowing current in the thickness direction, and the heat generated by the control circuit 4 is transferred to the layer (ground layer d) to which the antenna member 2 is connected. Therefore, the heat generated by the control circuit 4 can be transferred to the antenna member 2 through the substrate 6 and surely absorbed. Heat generated by the control circuit 4 may be transferred to the antenna member 2 in another layer.

Further, the antenna member 2 according to the present embodiment can transmit or receive a vehicle-specific ID code to or from a portable device K that can be carried by the operator. The control circuit 4 drives the actuator only when the signal received by the antenna member 2 matches the regular ID code. It is possible to prevent the timing of communication and the timing of heat absorption in the antenna member 2 from matching each other, and to suppress adverse effects on the communication function of the antenna member 2 due to heat absorption.

Furthermore, the amount of heat generated by the control circuit 4 can be calculated or estimated, and communication by the communication circuit 3 is restricted based on the calculated or estimated amount of heat generated. Communication can be restricted, and communication failure and damage to circuit elements or electronic elements constituting communication functions can be prevented. This restriction of communication may be to cut off communication, or to allow only communication under predetermined conditions.

Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. A device different from the steering lock device F (a device that unlocks the lid of the fuel tank, etc.) may be used. Further, in this embodiment, when the ID code is a regular ID code, it is applied to a so-called passive keyless entry system that permits starting of the engine, which is the drive source of the vehicle, or allows the vehicle to run. However, if the ID code is a regular ID code, the control circuit 4 may simply control the energization of a predetermined electrical component. Although the present embodiment is applied to a two-wheeled vehicle, it may be applied to other vehicles such as automobiles.

The antenna member extends in a bent shape, and the connection portion with the substrate is located near the control circuit so that heat generated in the control circuit can be absorbed. If the vehicle communication device is configured to transfer heat generated by the control circuit to the antenna member through the layer to which the antenna member is connected, the external shape is different. It may be a product or a product to which other functions are added.

1 Vehicle Communication Device 2 Antenna Member 2a Extension 2b First Base End 2c Second Base End 3 Communication Circuit 4 Control Circuit 5 Other Circuit 5a Judgment Circuit 5b Limiting Circuit 6 Board M Motor (Actuator)
F Steering lock device (predetermined electrical component)
L Lock member P1, P2 Connection part E Power supply C Case member K Portable device

Claims (6)

An antenna member that transmits or receives signals wirelessly;
a communication circuit that enables communication by transmitting or receiving a signal with the antenna member;
a control circuit for controlling energization of predetermined electrical components mounted on the vehicle based on communication by the communication circuit;
a substrate on which the antenna member, the communication circuit and the control circuit are formed;
In a vehicle communication device having
The antenna member extends in a bent shape, and the connecting portion with the substrate is located near the control circuit so that heat generated in the control circuit can be absorbed , and the substrate is: A plurality of layers are formed through which current can flow in a thickness direction, and heat generated by the control circuit is transferred to the antenna member through the layer to which the antenna member is connected. Vehicle communication device. 2. The vehicle communication device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna member is made of a metal plate extending in an L-shape . 2. The vehicle communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna member has a plurality of connection portions to be connected to the substrate, and the connection portions are positioned around the control circuit. The connection portion has a first base end portion and a second base end portion formed by bending a base end portion of the antenna member, and the first base end portion and the second base end portion are connected to the control circuit. 4. The vehicle communication device according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle communication device is positioned around the perimeter of the vehicle . The antenna member is capable of transmitting or receiving a vehicle-specific ID code to or from a portable device that can be carried by an operator, and the electrical component is an actuator that drives a lock member to lock or unlock the vehicle. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control circuit drives the actuator only when the signal received by the antenna member matches a regular ID code. communication equipment. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the amount of heat generated by the control circuit can be calculated or estimated, and communication by the communication circuit is restricted based on the calculated or estimated amount of heat generated. Vehicle communication device.

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