JPH06108720A - Remote control device for locking and unlocking automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable appropriate battery replacement by providing the transmitter of a remote-controlled door lock device with a device for detecting the drop of source voltage, providing a receiver with a reporting device (display) provided with a controller, and reporting the voltage drop to the user. CONSTITUTION:When a voltage detecting portion 8 detects that the voltage of a power source 7 has dropped below a reference value, the transmitter 1 of a door lock device generates 9 a reporting code and displays it in a reporting device 4 provided in a receiver 2 (provided in the body of an automobile). The reporting device 4 has a controller 14 installed therein and its reporting operation is continued until an ignition key switch 16 is turned on, so as to ensure that the voltage drop of the transmitter 1 is reported to the user. Appropriate battery replacement is thus made possible.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle locking / unlocking remote control device for remotely operating a vehicle door lock mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-105469, a transmitter for outputting a preset identification code signal and a locking / unlocking code signal corresponding to a button operation, and an output from this transmitter. There is known a locking / unlocking remote control device for an automobile having a receiver that outputs an operation command signal for locking and unlocking a door lock mechanism in accordance with a code signal.

The locking / unlocking remote control device usually comprises a voltage detecting section for detecting the voltage of the battery provided in the transmitter, and a display means composed of a light emitting diode or the like which emits light according to the output signal of the voltage detecting section. The display unit is configured to lower the brightness of the display unit in response to the voltage drop, thereby informing the user that the battery needs to be replaced.

[0004]

In the locking / unlocking remote control device having the above-mentioned structure, it is necessary to form an opening for installing the display means composed of the above-mentioned light-emitting diode or the like on the surface of the transmitter, so that the remote control device is not waterproof. It is difficult to ensure that the brightness of the display means is lowered when the voltage drops, which is necessary to display, and the visibility is lowered, and it is impossible to clearly inform that the voltage has dropped. There's a problem.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to clearly indicate that the voltage of the power supply provided in the receiver has dropped.

[0006]

The invention according to claim 1 is
In a locking / unlocking remote control device for an automobile having a transmitter that outputs an identification code signal and a locking / unlocking code signal, and a receiver that receives an output signal of the transmitter and outputs an operation command signal to a door lock mechanism, A voltage detection unit that detects the voltage of the power supply installed in the machine, and generates a notification code that notifies the voltage drop of the power supply when the voltage detection unit detects that the voltage of the power supply falls below a reference value. The notification code generation unit for transmitting the code signal and the transmission unit for transmitting the code signal are provided in the transmitter, and the notification means for operating in response to the code signal is provided in the vehicle body, and the notification command signal for operating the notification means is provided. The control means for outputting is provided in the receiver.

In the invention according to claim 2, the ignition key switch is started from the time when it is confirmed that the door is opened in response to the output signal of the door switch for detecting the open / closed state of the door when the notification code signal is output. The notification means is maintained in the operating state until it is confirmed that the ignition key switch has been turned on in accordance with the output signal of.

[0008]

According to the invention described in claim 1, when the voltage of the power supply provided in the transmitter drops, a signal having a notification code is output from the transmitter and the signal is received by the receiver. Then, the control means of this receiver outputs a notification command signal for operating the notification means provided on the vehicle body, and the notification means is in an operating state, and the battery or the like constituting the power supply of the transmitter is to be replaced. Informed that there is.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the transmitter outputs the alarm code signal for notifying that the voltage of the power source provided in the transmitter has dropped, the door is opened from the time when the door is opened. Until the ignition key switch is turned on, the notifying means provided on the vehicle body is in an operating state, and it is notified that the battery or the like constituting the power supply of the transmitter is to be replaced.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a vehicle locking / unlocking remote control device according to the present invention. This locking / unlocking remote control device includes a portable transmitter 1 and a receiver 2 installed in the vehicle body.
And a door lock mechanism 3 provided on the door, and an alarm means 4 including an alarm lamp or a buzzer installed on the display portion of the instrument panel or the like.

In the transmitter 1, an identification code output section 5 for outputting a preset identification code signal and an operation command code composed of a locking code signal and an unlocking code signal corresponding to a user's button operation are generated. Command code generator 6, a voltage detector 8 for detecting the voltage of a power supply 7 including a battery, and a notification code when it is confirmed that the voltage of the power supply 7 has dropped below a preset reference voltage. A notification code generation unit 9 for outputting the above and a transmission unit 10 for transmitting each of the above code signals are provided.

An output signal of a code pattern consisting of a start bit, an identification code, an operation command code, a notification code and an end bit is received in the vehicle body from the transmitter 10 of the transmitter 1 according to the button operation by the user. The call is sent to the machine 2.

The receiver 2 includes a receiver 11 for receiving a signal transmitted from the transmitter 1, and an identification code storage means 12 for storing an identification code corresponding to the identification code output from the transmitter 1. A control means 14 is provided which outputs an operation command signal to the door lock mechanism 3 in response to the output signals of the storage means 12 and the receiving section 13 and outputs a notification command signal to the notification means 4. .

The control means 10 compares the identification code on the transmitter side output from the transmitter 1 with the identification code on the receiver side read from the storage means 9, and when they match each other. An operation command signal for unlocking or locking the door lock mechanism 3 is output to the door lock mechanism 3 in response to the lock code signal or the unlock code signal of the output signal. When the output signal contains a notification code, the control means 10 outputs a notification command signal to the notification means 4 at a predetermined timing to activate the notification means 4.

Further, the control means 4 outputs outputs from a door switch 15 which detects that the door has been opened and closed and an ignition key switch 16 which detects that the ignition key cylinder has been rotated. A signal is input. When the notification code is input from the receiver 1, a notification command signal is output to the notification means 4 from the time when the door switch 15 is turned on to the time when the ignition key switch 16 is turned on. It is supposed to be done.

The control operation of the notification means 4 by the control means 14 will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.
First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not an output signal is transmitted from the transmitter 1. Then, when it is confirmed that the output signal is transmitted, in step S2, it is determined whether or not the notification code is present in the output signal. As a result of this determination, when it is confirmed that the notification code does not exist, it is not necessary to operate the notification means 4, so the control operation ends.

Next, in step S2, when it is confirmed that the notification code exists in the output signal, it is determined in step S3 whether the door switch 15 is in the ON state, that is, the door is in the open state. It is determined whether or not. Then, when it is confirmed that the door is in the open state, in step S4, a notification command signal is output to activate the notification means 4.

Next, in step S5, it is determined whether or not the ignition switch 16 has been turned on. Then, when YES is determined in the step S5, in step S6, the output of the notification command signal is stopped to make the notification means 4 inactive, and then the control operation is ended.

As described above, the notifying means 4 is provided on the vehicle body side for notifying that the voltage of the power source 7 provided in the transmitter 1 has dropped below a preset reference voltage and the battery needs to be replaced. Control means 14 for operating the notification means 4 in accordance with the notification code output from the transmitter 1.
Since the receiver 2 is provided, the notifying means 4 is properly operated by using the power source such as the battery provided on the vehicle body side without being affected by the voltage drop of the power source 7, and the battery The user can be clearly notified that the replacement is necessary.

Further, it is possible to notify the voltage drop state without providing the transmitter 1 with a display such as a light emitting diode, and it is necessary to form an opening for installing the display on the surface of the transmitter 1. Therefore, the structure of the transmitter 1 can be simplified, and its waterproof property can be sufficiently ensured.

Further, when the notification code signal is output from the transmitter 1 as described above, the notification means 4 is operated from the time when the door is detected to be opened, and the ignition key switch is turned on. Up to the above, when the notification means 4 is configured to maintain the operating state, the display can be performed during an appropriate period when the driver gets on the vehicle.

That is, after the driver unlocks the door using the transmitter 1 and opens the door to get on the vehicle, that is, when the vehicle where the driver's attention is most concentrated is started, Since the notification means 4 is configured to be activated in the display section, it is possible to properly notify the driver or the like that the voltage of the power supply 7 is decreasing. Then, after the ignition key is operated and the ignition key switch 15 is turned on,
Since the driver's attention shifts to other directions such as the condition of the traveling road, by stopping the operation of the notification means 4 at this point, it is possible to prevent wasteful power consumption.

In the above embodiment, the notification means 4 is activated when the ignition key switch 15 is turned on.
However, the timer is started to elapse from the above-mentioned time point, and the operating state of the notification means 4 is maintained until a predetermined time set by the timer elapses. May be. Further, when it is confirmed that a predetermined time set by a timer or the like has elapsed after starting the operation of the notification means 4 at the time when the ignition key switch 15 is turned on, the notification means 4 The operation may be stopped.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the voltage of the power source provided in the transmitter falls below the preset reference voltage and the battery needs to be replaced, Since the notification means provided on the vehicle body side is operated according to the output notification code, the power supply 7
It is clear to the user that it is necessary to replace the battery by using the power source such as the battery provided on the vehicle body to properly operate the notification means without being affected by the voltage drop of Can be notified.

Further, unlike the case where the transmitter is provided with a display portion such as a light emitting diode, it is not necessary to form an opening for installing the display portion on the surface of the transmitter, so that the structure of the transmitter is provided. There is an advantage that the water resistance can be sufficiently ensured while the water resistance can be simplified.

Then, when the notification code signal is output from the transmitter, the notification means is operated from the time when the door is detected to be opened until the ignition key switch is turned on. If the means is configured to maintain the operating state, it is appropriate for the driver or the like that the voltage of the power source is dropping on the display when the vehicle where the driver's attention is most concentrated is started. Can be informed. Further, by stopping the operation of the notification means after the time when the ignition key switch is turned on, there is an advantage that wasteful power consumption can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle locking / unlocking remote control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control operation of a notification unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 transmitter 2 receiver 3 door lock mechanism 7 power supply 8 voltage detection unit 9 notification code generation unit 10 transmission unit 14 control means 15 door switch 16 ignition key switch

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location H04Q 9/00 301 B 7170-5K

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A remote locking / unlocking control of an automobile having a transmitter for outputting an identification code signal and a locking / unlocking code signal, and a receiver for receiving an output signal of the transmitter and outputting an operation command signal to a door lock mechanism. In the device, a voltage detection unit for detecting the voltage of the power supply provided in the transmitter, and a voltage drop of the power supply when the voltage detection unit detects that the voltage of the power supply drops below a reference value. A notification code generation unit for generating a notification code for notification and a transmission unit for transmitting the code signal are provided in the transmitter, and a notification means for operating in response to the code signal is provided in the vehicle body, and the notification means is operated. A locking / unlocking remote control device for an automobile, characterized in that the receiver is provided with control means for outputting a notification command signal. 2. From the time when it is confirmed that the door has been opened in response to the output signal of the door switch that detects the open / closed state of the door when the notification code signal is output, in response to the output signal of the ignition key switch. 2. The locking / unlocking remote control device for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the notification means is kept in an operating state until it is confirmed that the ignition key switch is turned on.