JPH09252493A - Remote control receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a receiver receiving a prescribed radio wave sent intermittently from plural transmitters to register efficiently an identification number(ID) of each transmitter. SOLUTION: The receiver is set to the ID registration mode (S1), and an ID of a transmitter 1 is registered to an ID registration memory 1 (hereinafter called ID memory 1) by sending a radio wave from the transmitter 1 (S21). In this case, the transmitter 1 sends a radio intermittently and the receiver excludes the ID registered in the ID memory 1 within a prescribed time from the registration condition of the ID memory 2 (S4-S8) to prevent that the ID of the transmitter 1 successively registered in the ID memory 2. Similarly the ID of the transmitters is registered in ID memories 2, 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control system for remotely controlling the operation of an external device by transmitting a predetermined radio wave to the external device equipped with a receiver, and particularly to intermittently transmitting the radio wave. The present invention relates to a receiver that identifies a plurality of transmitters to be transmitted by an ID (identification) code.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, remote control systems for realizing start / stop and operation control of devices by remote control have been used in a wide range of fields. Generally, such a remote control system is composed of a small transmitter carried by a user and a receiver provided in a device to be controlled. For example, as a device to be controlled, a system (keyless entry system) for locking / unlocking a door of an automobile, which is a typical vehicle, is becoming popular. In this case, the purpose is to prevent theft, and the vehicle and It is desirable that the luggage user locks the user even if the user is far from the vehicle. Therefore, a security function is provided with a unique identification number (hereinafter, ID) for each transmitter and one set of transmitters for associating the transmitter with the receiver mounted on the vehicle (automobile). There is. The most suitable method is that the transmitter always transmits radio waves and the receiver always receives the radio waves. However, since the transmitter is usually carried by the user and is driven by a small battery, if the constant transmission method is adopted, the battery life is only a few days and is not feasible. Then, what was devised in order to extend the life of a battery is the intermittent transmission of the electric wave by a transmitter. FIG. 5 shows a form of radio wave transmission by a transmitter that performs this intermittent transmission.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a radio wave state of a transmitter which performs intermittent transmission as a conventional example. In the figure, the transmitter intermittently outputs radio waves at predetermined transmission intervals (hereinafter, intermittent period) T. In this case, if the intermittent period T of the radio wave from the transmitter is lengthened, the battery life will be extended,
On the contrary, it goes without saying that shortening the intermittent cycle shortens the battery life. However, considering the purpose of such a system, the shorter the intermittent cycle is, the more preferable.

In the above-mentioned conventional example, the transmitter and the receiver have a one-to-one correspondence.
Although the case has been described, a plurality of users may actually use the same vehicle. In that case, it is necessary to enable the IDs of the plurality of transmitters to be registered and identified in the receiver. And registration and update of ID is
Since it is necessary for a specific user to be able to do it after factory shipment, a simple and inexpensive method that does not require special jigs and tools is desirable for registration. For example, it is preferable to sequentially store the IDs of the transmitter received while the receiver is in the ID writing mode in a plurality of memories for ID registration.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional remote control system in which a plurality of transmitters each have an ID, for example, there are two transmitters that make up the system and are used for ID registration of the receiver. When there are two memories (ID memory 1 and ID memory 2),
After the receiver shifts to the ID registration mode, the first received ID of the transmitter is stored in the ID memory 1, and the next received ID of the transmitter is stored in the ID memory 2. Therefore, when writing the IDs of two transmitters, the operator (or user) first operates the transmitters to be registered in the ID memory 1 to transmit the IDs, and then transmits the IDs to be registered in the ID memory 2. Registration is completed by operating the machine and transmitting the ID.
However, as described above, the transmitter intermittently transmits electric waves, and the intermittent cycle is very short. Therefore, while preparing for ID transmission of one transmitter and starting transmission, the intermittent cycle time of the other transmitter elapses and transmission is performed again, so that the same ID is stored in the two ID memories. There was a problem of being registered.

In order to prevent this, it is necessary to perform an operation of stopping the transmission of the transmitter immediately after the transmitter has finished the transmission, that is, within a time shorter than the period of the next intermittent transmission. Its operation is extremely difficult.

Therefore, the present invention is to provide a receiver which receives a predetermined radio wave intermittently transmitted from a plurality of transmitters and which can efficiently register the IDs of the respective transmitters. And

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a receiver and a control method thereof according to the present invention are characterized by the following configurations.

That is, a receiver for remote control which receives a predetermined radio wave transmitted intermittently from a plurality of transmitters and a control method thereof, wherein a radio wave is transmitted from a transmitter among the plurality of transmitters. Receive, extract the identification code of the transmitter, register the extracted identification code, and
When a radio wave is received from a transmitter of the plurality of transmitters and the identification code of the transmitter is extracted, if the identification code is already registered, the registration is prohibited to prevent the plurality of transmitters from being registered. It is characterized by registering the identification codes respectively possessed by. This prevents duplicate registration of the same identification code, and the operator (or user)
Prioritize the work pace of.

Specifically, the receiver is a receiver in a vehicle keyless entry system, and is characterized in that it outputs an operation signal to an operation end for locking or unlocking a door of the vehicle.

Further, a predetermined time is measured at the start of the mode for registering the identification code and each time the identification code is registered in the memory means, and the mode is terminated when the predetermined time has elapsed. It is characterized by This prevents the worker from being left in the ID registration mode when the work is interrupted.

Further, the receiver causes the operator to recognize the state of the receiver by driving the driving means at the start of the mode for registering the identification code, at the completion of the registration of the identification code, and at the end of the mode. It is characterized by As a result, the door lock member provided on the door is used as the man-machine interface.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a keyless entry system for automobiles.

First, the structure of a transmitter for intermittently transmitting radio waves as shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a transmitter as an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the transmitter uses a battery 1 as a driving power source, and is equipped with a switch 3 having a lock switch 31 and an unlock switch 32.
A built-in microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 4 processes a signal to generate a digital signal, which is further modulated / amplified by a high frequency circuit 5 and used as a control signal for remote control from an antenna 6 to a car receiver described later. Send. Thus, the door of the automobile (not shown) is locked or unlocked by operating the lock switch 31 or the unlock switch 32. The remote control device also includes a rewritable read-only memory (EEPROM) 2 for storing an ID code and the like, and an LED 7 that emits light at the same time as transmission of radio waves. Further, the microcomputer 4 has therein a CPU 41 for controlling the entire operation of the remote control device, a read only memory (ROM) 42 for storing a program for realizing the above-described and later-described operations of the remote control device, a temporary storage and a working area. Random access memory (RAM) 43 used as

Next, the structure of the data block transmitted by the transmitter of FIG. 1 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of a data block of a transmitter as an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the data block 50 generated by the microcomputer 4 of the transmitter is a preamble 51 which makes the receiver recognize that it is the starting point of the data block, and the data signal received by the receiver is a regular transmitter. The code used by the receiver to determine if it was sent from
Then, the function to be operated by the receiver, that is, the function code 52 having a code indicating the door locking or unlocking operation in this embodiment, the unique ID code 53 for each transmitter, and the end point of the data block are recognized. It has a postamble 54 that causes it. This data block is modulated / amplified by the high frequency circuit 5, and then transmitted to the receiver every time a radio wave is transmitted.

Next, the structure of the receiver will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a receiver as an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the area within the broken line is the circuit configuration of the receiver itself, and the other parts are provided as constituent parts of the automobile. The radio waves transmitted from the transmitter (Fig. 1) are
The signal is input from the antenna 111 to the inside of the receiver, demodulated by the high-frequency demodulation circuit 104 into a digital signal of a logic level, and then a microcomputer (hereinafter, microcomputer) 1
It is input to 05. The microcomputer 105 analyzes the digital signal (the data block 50 in FIG. 2) input from the high frequency demodulation circuit 104, determines whether the signal is transmitted from a legitimate transmitter, and determines the door lock actuator according to the input signal. A signal is output to the output driver 106 that operates 107, and ID comparison and registration, which will be described later, are performed.
The door lock actuator 107 uses the output driver 10
The door of the car (not shown) is locked or unlocked in accordance with the output signal of 6. Further, the microcomputer 105 is configured to operate the door lock detection switch 110 and the mode change switch 109 during operation.
Also consider the detection result of the contact state of. In addition, the microcomputer 10
5 is a CPU 1 which controls the overall operation of the receiver
51, a read only memory (ROM) 152 for storing a program that realizes the above-described and later-described operations of the receiver,
A random access memory (RAM) 153 used as a temporary storage or a working area is provided. Also,
The receiver includes a rewritable read only memory (EEPROM) 103 for storing the ID of the transmitter and the like, and a power supply circuit 102 for converting the output of the automobile battery 101 into an appropriate voltage. The remote control system of the present embodiment adopts the AM modulation method, but it goes without saying that it is not limited to this.

An outline of the operation at the time of ID registration of the receiver having the above-mentioned configuration is described with two transmitters (transmitter 1 and transmitter 2).
Taking as an example a system in which the ID registration memories of the receivers that receive the radio waves of the two transmitters are the ID memory 1 and the ID memory 2, the receiver has an ID registration mode in which IDs can be registered, and It has a normal mode for locking or unlocking the door. The receiver is set to the ID registration mode, radio waves are transmitted from the transmitter 1 and the I of the transmitter 1 is stored in the ID memory 1.
Register D. At that time, the transmitter 1 intermittently sends out radio waves, but the receiver excludes the ID registered in the ID memory 1 from the registration condition of the ID memory 2 within a predetermined time, so that the ID of the transmitter 1 Is continuously registered in the ID memory 2. Therefore, the transmission of the radio wave of the transmitter 1 and the start of the transmission of the radio wave of the transmitter 2 can be performed at a pace preferable for the worker (or the user) without being aware of the intermittent cycle of the radio wave of the transmitter.

Next, a concrete operation at the time of ID registration in the receiver will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the receiver at the time of ID registration according to an embodiment of the present invention. Three transmitters (transmitters 1 to 3) and a receiver as an ID registration memory. The case where the ID memory 1 to the ID memory 3 are provided will be described as an example. Further, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the IDs are registered in the order of the transmitters 1, 2, and 3. In addition, when rewriting the ID, it is necessary to rewrite the ID for all the transmitters.

In the figure, in step S1, it is determined whether the ID registration mode has been set. In the case of NO, the receiver is set to the normal mode. On the other hand, in the case of YES, the door lock actuator 107 is driven and the lock / unlock operation is performed once in order to make the worker recognize that the ID registration mode has been entered. In addition, in order to shift from the normal mode to the ID registration mode, the mode change switch 1
It becomes possible by operating 09.

In step S3, a timer for measuring a predetermined time is reset and started, and it stands by to receive a signal from the transmitter. This timer prevents the worker from being left in the ID registration mode when the work is interrupted.

While the timer is counting, transmitter 1
When the reception of the signal transmitted from
5), it is determined whether or not the signal is from a regular (this system) transmitter (step S6). For this determination, the received signal is made to correspond to the above-mentioned data block 50, and it is determined whether the data corresponding to the function code 52 (4 bits in this embodiment) is equal to the data stored in the ROM 152 in advance.

In step S7, it is confirmed whether the ID of the transmitter 1 is already registered in the ID memory 1. For this judgment, the received signal is made to correspond to the above-mentioned data block 50, and it is judged whether the data corresponding to the ID code 53 (24 bits in this embodiment) is equal to the data stored in the ID memory 1. In the case of NO, the ID of the transmitter 1 is registered in the ID memory 1 (step S21), the process returns to step S2, and the door lock is set to lock / unlock 1
Drives each time, resets and starts the timer, and waits for a signal from the next transmitter.

On the other hand, if YES in step S7, that is, if the next intermittent signal from the transmitter 1 is received while the timer is counting, the ID contained in the received signal and the ID memory 1 are registered. It is determined whether or not the data matches the existing data (step S8). If YES, the received signal is canceled because the ID is already registered, and the process returns to step S4. Then, this routine is continued until a predetermined time elapses, and when the predetermined time elapses, step S
As 30 the door lock is driven twice, lock and unlock, the timer is stopped and the normal mode is entered (step S13). The operator recognizes that all the IDs could not be registered within a predetermined time because the door lock operated twice.

The operator who recognizes the completion of the registration of the ID of the transmitter 1 by the operation of the door lock ends the operation of the transmitter 1, that is, the transmission of the radio wave of the transmitter 1, and then the operation of the transmitter 2. Send out radio waves. On the other hand, the receiver that receives this radio wave continues the above-mentioned timer timing operation, and the transmitter 2
After determining whether the signal is a regular signal or not, the ID of the transmitter 2 is compared with the ID registered in the ID memory 1 (steps S5 to S8). The result of this comparison is
Since the IDs of the transmitters 2 are naturally different, the IDs of the transmitters 2 are registered in the ID memory 2 (step S22), the process returns to step S2, the door lock is locked and unlocked once, and the timer is reset and started to start the next transmission. Wait for the signal from the plane. Also in this case, if YES in step S7, that is, if the next intermittent signal of the transmitter 1 or the transmitter 2 is received while the timer is counting, the ID included in the received signal, the ID memory 1, and It is determined whether or not the data registered in the ID memory 2 match (steps S8 and S10). If YES, the received signal is canceled because the ID is already registered, and the process returns to step S4. Then, this routine is continued until a predetermined time elapses, and when the predetermined time elapses, step S
As 30 the door lock is driven twice, lock and unlock, the timer is stopped and the normal mode is entered (step S13). Also in this case, the operator recognizes that all the IDs could not be registered within the predetermined time because the door lock operated twice.

The operator who recognizes the completion of registration of the ID of the transmitter 2 through the door lock operation ends the operation of the transmitter 2, that is, the transmission of the radio wave of the transmitter 2, and then the operation of the transmitter 3. And send out radio waves. On the other hand, the receiver that received this radio wave continues the timekeeping operation of the above-mentioned timer,
After receiving the signal of the transmitter 3 and determining whether the signal is a proper signal, the ID of the transmitter 3 is set to the ID memory 1 and the ID memory 2
It is compared with the ID registered in (step S5 to step S10). Since the comparison result is naturally different, the ID of the transmitter 3 is registered in the ID memory 3 (step S1).
1). Then, in order to make the operator recognize that the ID registration is normally completed, the door lock is driven once to lock / unlock (step S12), and the timer is stopped to shift to the normal mode (step S13). ). With the above, the IDs of three different transmitters in the ID registration mode
Registration work is completed.

As a modification of the above embodiment, the following method can be considered. (1) When registering an ID, continuous transmission is prevented by transmitting only one block of a signal by a switch operation (for example, pressing all switches at the same time) that is not normally performed by the transmitter. (2) When registering an ID, by changing the intermittent cycle long enough so that the operator can follow it by a switch operation (for example, pressing all switches at the same time) that is not normally performed by the transmitter. , The probability that the same ID is registered continuously is reduced. (3) One-to-one flag is prepared in the ID registration memory of the receiver, and when the ID is registered, it corresponds to the memory in which the ID is not registered every time the operator turns on the switch provided in the receiver. Only one flag is turned on, and the ID can be registered. At the same time when the ID is registered, the flag is turned off so that the ID cannot be registered. This prevents continuous registration of the same ID.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a receiver that receives predetermined radio waves intermittently transmitted from a plurality of transmitters and that can efficiently register the IDs of the respective transmitters. As a result, it becomes possible to efficiently register the ID at a pace preferable for the worker (or the user). Also,
By operating the door lock depending on the state of the receiver in the ID writing mode, the buzzer and the LED for confirming the state can be eliminated from the circuit of the receiver, so that the cost can be reduced.

[0035]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a transmitter as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data block of a transmitter as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of a receiver as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of ID registration of the receiver as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a radio wave state of a transmitter that performs intermittent transmission as a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Battery 2 EEPROM 3 Switch 4 Microcomputer 5 High Frequency Circuit 6 Antenna 7 LED 31 Lock Switch 32 Unlock Switch 41 CPU 42 ROM 43 RAM 50 Data Block 51 Preamble 52 Function Code 53 ID Code 54 Postamble 101 Battery 102 Power Supply Circuit 103 EEPROM 104 high frequency demodulation circuit 105 microcomputer 106 output driver 107 door lock actuator 108 RAM 109 mode change switch 110 door lock detection switch 111 antenna

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location H04B 1/06 H04B 1/06 Z H04Q 9/10 H04Q 9/10 A (72) Inventor Yoshihiko Hishida 10-11 Nihonbashi Kodenmacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Mazda Trading Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kohei Okui 3-12-9 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Express Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A remote control receiver for receiving a predetermined electric wave intermittently transmitted from a plurality of transmitters, the electric wave being received from a transmitter of the plurality of transmitters, and Extracting means for extracting the identification code of the transmitter; memory means for registering the identification code extracted by the extracting means; and further, receiving radio waves from a transmitter of the plurality of transmitters, When the identification code is extracted by the extraction means, if the identification code is already registered in the memory means, a determination means for prohibiting registration is provided,
A receiver characterized by registering identification codes respectively possessed by the plurality of transmitters by repeating the above operation. 2. The receiver is a receiver in a keyless entry system of a vehicle, and is provided with a driving unit that outputs an operation signal to an operation end that locks or unlocks a door of the vehicle. The receiver according to item 1. 3. Further, there is provided a clocking means for starting a clocking of a predetermined time at the start of the mode for registering the identification code and every time the identification code is registered in the memory means, and the predetermined time has passed. The receiver according to claim 2, wherein the mode is terminated at the time. 4. The receiver causes the worker to recognize the state of the receiver by driving the driving means at the start of the mode, at the completion of registration of the identification code, and at the end of the mode, respectively. The receiver according to claim 3. 5. A method for controlling a receiver for remote control, which receives predetermined radio waves intermittently transmitted from a plurality of transmitters, wherein radio waves are received from a transmitter among the plurality of transmitters. When the identification code of the transmitter is extracted, the extracted identification code is registered, and the radio wave is received from a transmitter of the plurality of transmitters and the identification code of the transmitter is extracted. If the identification code has already been registered, the registration code is prohibited to register the identification codes of the plurality of transmitters, respectively. 6. The receiver according to claim 5, wherein the receiver is a receiver in a vehicle keyless entry system, and outputs an operation signal to an operation end that locks or unlocks a door of the vehicle. How to control the receiver.