JPH09303020A - Remote control device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent malfunction and downsize a transmitter by switching a transmission mode to a door locking device and an engine starter only by two switches provided at the portable transmitter. SOLUTION: When an unlock/start switch (hereinafter referred to as a US switch) 3 is turned on in a door lock control mode, a microcomputer 9 is started, and a release signal is sent to a door locking device from a transmission circuit 10 through a rod antenna 6. When the operating time of a lock/stop/engine switch (hereinafter referred to as an LSE switch) 4 is less than the prescribed time, a lock signal is sent, and when the LSE switch 4 is continuously operated for the prescribed time or longer, an engine operating mode is started. When the US switch 3 or the LSE switch 4 is operated within the set time after the first operation release of the LSE switch 4, an engine start or stop signal is transmitted. A transmission mode can thus be switched without providing a separate change-over switch.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention transmits a door lock signal or an unlock signal to a vehicle door lock device when a transmission mode is a door lock control mode.
The present invention relates to a remote control device for a vehicle that transmits an engine start signal or an engine stop signal to an engine starter of a vehicle when the transmission mode is an engine control mode.

[0002]

Such a remote control device for a vehicle, such as a transmitter for an automobile, is provided with three start / lock switches, a stop / unlock switch, and a transmission mode switch on the body case. There is.
The normal transmission mode of the transmitter is the door lock control mode. When the start / lock switch is turned on, a lock signal is transmitted to the door lock device of the automobile, which is the vehicle, by microwaves, etc. An unlock signal is transmitted when the unlock switch is turned on.

When the transmission mode switch is turned on, the transmission mode of the transmitter is switched to the engine control mode, and when the start / lock switch is turned on thereafter, a start signal is transmitted to the engine starter and the engine starter is stopped. A stop signal is transmitted when the unlock switch is turned on.

It is desirable for such a portable transmitter to be formed as small as possible, but a total of three transmitters are added by adding two operation switches shared in each transmission mode and a switch for switching the transmission mode. Since it is necessary to provide a switch, it has been a constraint in reducing the size and price of the transmitter.

[0005] The present invention is to solve the above problems,
An object of the invention is to provide a small-sized and low-priced vehicle remote control device that does not require an independent switch for switching transmission modes.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a remote control device for a vehicle according to claim 1 has two switches, and one of these two switches is used as a changeover switch. When the ON operation is continued for a predetermined time or longer, the transmission mode is changed from the door lock control mode to the engine control mode, and in the door lock control mode, the changeover switch in the transmission mode switching means is continued for less than a predetermined time. A lock signal or an unlock signal is transmitted to the vehicle door lock device by an air propagation signal in response to an on operation or the other one of the two switches, and in the engine control mode, the two switches are turned on. Propagation of a start signal or stop signal to the vehicle engine starter in the air according to Characterized by comprising a transmission control means for controlling to transmit the items.

According to this structure, the transmission mode switching means changes the transmission mode from the door lock control mode to the engine control when one of the two switches is used as a changeover switch and the ON operation is continued for a predetermined time or more. The transmission control means switches the transmission mode because the transmission control means selectively transmits a signal to the door lock device of the vehicle or a signal to the engine starter by turning on the two switches according to each transmission mode. There is no need to provide a separate switch. Further, in particular, the signal transmission in the engine control mode is performed in two stages of the ON operation of the changeover switch and the ON operation of the two switches thereafter, thereby preventing unnecessary start or stop of the engine due to the occurrence of an erroneous operation. be able to.

In this case, the transmission control means transmits a lock signal in response to the ON operation of the changeover switch in the transmission mode changeover means in the door lock control mode, and in the engine control mode in response to the ON operation of the changeover switch. It is preferable to control so as to transmit a stop signal by using such a configuration. With such a configuration, even if an erroneous operation occurs, a door lock unlock signal or an engine start signal may be transmitted. No (Claim 2).

Further, the transmission mode switching means may be configured to cancel the engine control mode after a lapse of a certain time after shifting the transmission mode to the engine control mode. With this configuration, the user can Even if the engine control mode is set erroneously, the control mode is automatically released after a certain period of time without any further operation (claim 3).

Further, a transmission mode display means is provided, and the transmission control means is configured to control the transmission mode display means to display that the current transmission mode is the door lock control mode or the engine control mode. According to this structure, the user can easily know which the current transmission mode is by looking at the display of the transmission mode display means (claim 4).

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a portable transmitter of an automobile, which is a vehicle, will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the outer appearance of the transmitter (vehicle remote control device) 1. On the surface of the body case 2, an unlock / start switch (hereinafter,
Two push button switches (switches), namely a US switch 3 and a lock / stop / engine switch (hereinafter referred to as LSE switch) 4, are arranged vertically. The display "engine" of the main body case 2 on the LSE switch 4 indicates that the LSE switch 4 is used as a changeover switch for shifting the transmission mode to the engine control mode.

Further, above these switches, an indicator (transmission mode display means), which is an LED for lighting up and indicating the current transmission mode and signal transmission, is provided.
5 are arranged. A rod antenna 6 for transmission, which is configured to be expandable, is provided on the upper portion of the main body case 2.

In FIG. 4 showing the electrical structure, one terminal of each of the US switch 3 and the LSE switch 4 is a battery 7
Is commonly connected to the positive terminal of
It is connected to the ground via resistors 8a and 8b, respectively. A common connection point between the US switch 3 and the resistor 8a and a common connection point between the LSE switch 4 and the resistor 8b are connected to input terminals of a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer) 9 serving as transmission control means. .

The ON signal output from the US switch 3 or the LSE switch 4 also serves as a trigger signal for supplying power to the microcomputer 9, and when the LSE switch 4 is turned on, specifically, Although not shown, the power supply circuit inside the microcomputer 9 receives the ON signal and starts supplying power to the control unit inside the microcomputer 9.

The anode of the indicator (LED) 5 is
It is connected to the output terminal of the power supply circuit inside the microcomputer 9, and the cathode is connected to the output terminal of the microcomputer 9 via the resistor 5a. The microcomputer 9 outputs a low or high level signal to its output terminal,
The indicator 5 is turned on or off.

The output terminal of the microcomputer 9 is connected to the rod antenna 6 via the transmission circuit 10, and is unlocked or unlocked by a microwave, which is an air propagation signal, to a door lock device or an engine starter (not shown). A lock signal or a start or stop signal is transmitted.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
In FIG. 1 showing a flow chart of the control contents of the microcomputer 9, the microcomputer 9 starts the program when the US switch 3 or the LSE switch 4 is turned on and the power supply to the control unit is started, and first, "Lock / Stop / Go to judgment step S1 of "engine switch ON?"
It is determined whether or not the LSE switch 4 is turned on, and the LSE switch 4 is turned on to display "YE
If it is determined to be "S", the processing step S1a of "start of timing"
Move to

Further, in the judgment step S1, the LSE
The switch 4 has not been turned on, and the microcomputer 9
If it is determined to be "O", the process proceeds to determination step S1b of "unlock / start switch ON?". In this case, the power is turned on by the UL switch 3 being turned on.

At the decision step S1b, the microcomputer 9
Confirms that the ON operation of the UL switch 3 is not caused by noise or the like, and then confirms that the duration of the ON operation is, for example, 100 msec or more, and then "YES".
If it is determined that the indicator is turned on, step S6 is performed.
If the ON operation is not performed or the duration of the ON operation is less than 100 ms, "N
When it is determined to be "O", the process proceeds to step S14 of "power OFF". In processing step A14, the microcomputer 9
Terminates the program when it gives a control signal to the power supply circuit so as to turn off the power supplied to the control unit.

In processing step S6, the microcomputer 9
When the indicator 5 is turned on, the process proceeds to the next "unlock signal transmission" processing step S7, and the unlock signal is transmitted in the door lock control mode. That is, FIG.
As shown in, the microcomputer 9 outputs the code of the unlocking signal to the transmission circuit 10 and causes the rod antenna 6 to transmit it as a microwave signal. Then, after shifting to step S14, the program is ended. At this time, since the indicator 5 is turned off, the user can recognize that the transmission of the unlock signal has been completed.

On the other hand, in the processing step S1a, the microcomputer 9 starts the timing from the time when the ON operation of the LSE switch 4 is recognized in step S1 by the internal timer (not shown), and the next "indicator lighting" processing step. After shifting to S2 and turning on the indicator 5 in the same manner as in step S6, the process proceeds to the judgment step S3 of "predetermined time elapsed?"

At the decision step S3, the microcomputer 9
Determines whether or not the time when the time counting is started reaches a predetermined time in step S1a. The predetermined time is set to 1.5 seconds, for example. In the determination step S3, if the microcomputer 9 determines "NO" because the time has not reached the predetermined time, "Lock / Stop / Engine switch OFF?"
The determination step S4 is performed.

At the decision step S4, the microcomputer 9
Determines whether or not the LSE switch 4 has been turned off, and if the LSE switch 4 has been turned on since the power was turned on and it is determined to be "NO", step S3
Move to In addition, when the LSE switch 4 is turned off, the microcomputer 9 confirms that the off state is, for example, 100 msec or more in order to confirm that the off operation is reliably performed, and then “YES”. If it is determined, the process proceeds to the processing step S5 of "transmission of lock signal".

In processing step S5, the microcomputer 9
Transmits a lock signal in the door lock control mode. That is, as shown in FIG. 2A, the microcomputer 9 outputs the code of the lock signal to the transmission circuit 10 and causes the rod antenna 6 to transmit it as a microwave signal to the door lock device. Then, after shifting to step S14, the program is ended.

Further, when the LSE switch 4 is turned on and the microcomputer 9 is activated, the turning on operation is continuously maintained, and when a predetermined time of 1.5 seconds elapses while the loop of steps S3 and S4 is being rotated. The microcomputer 9 determines "YES" in step S3 and shifts to "indicator blinking" processing step S8. Processing step S
In 8, the microcomputer 9 blinks the indicator 5 continuously at a constant interval to display that the transmission mode has shifted to the engine control mode. The process moves to the determination step S9 of "OFF?" Incidentally, steps S1, S1a, S3 and S4 correspond to the transmission mode switching means.

At decision step S9, the microcomputer 9
Waits until the LSE switch 4 is turned off by making the same determination as in step S4, and when the LSE switch 4 is turned off, the next "start timing" processing step S1.
Move to 0. In processing step S10, the microcomputer 9 starts timing from the time when the LSE switch 4 is turned off in step S9 by the internal timer,
The process moves to the determination step S11 for "unlock / start switch ON?"

In the judgment step S11, the microcomputer 9
Performs the same determination as step S1b, and if the US switch 3 is turned on and determines "YES", the process proceeds to step S12 of "indicator lighting". Also,
The US switch 3 is not turned on and the microcomputer 9 is "NO".
If so, the process proceeds to a determination step S15 of "Lock / Stop / Engine switch ON?".

In processing step S12, the microcomputer 9
When the indicator 5 is changed from the blinking state to the continuous lighting state again, the process proceeds to the process step S13 of "transmission of start signal" to transmit the start signal in the engine control mode. That is, as shown in FIG.
Outputs the code of the starting signal to the transmission circuit 10 and causes the rod antenna 6 to transmit it as a microwave signal. Then, after shifting to step S14, the program is ended.

Further, in the judgment step S15, the microcomputer 9 makes the same judgment as in step S1, and if the LSE switch 4 is turned on and the judgment is "YES",
The process moves to the processing step S16 of "lighting the indicator",
If the LSE switch 4 is not turned on and it is determined to be "NO", the process proceeds to a determination step S18 of "elapse of a certain time?".

In processing step S16, the microcomputer 9
Performs the same processing as step S12, and then proceeds to processing step S17 of "transmission of stop signal" to transmit a stop signal in the engine control mode. That is, FIG.
As shown in (b), the microcomputer 9 outputs the code of the stop signal to the transmission circuit 10 and causes the rod antenna 6 to transmit it as a microwave signal. Then, after shifting to step S14, the program is ended.

At the decision step S18, the microcomputer 9
Determines whether or not the time when the time counting is started in step S10 has exceeded a certain time. Here, the fixed time is set to, for example, 2 seconds. In this determination step S18,
If the microcomputer 9 determines "NO" when the time counting time has not passed 2 seconds, the process proceeds to step S11, the time counting time has passed 2 seconds, and the microcomputer 9 returns "YES".
If so, the program ends after shifting to step S14.

That is, in step S8, the engine control mode is entered, and after the LSE switch 4 is once turned off,
A certain period of time has passed since the time measurement started in step S10. 2
Within seconds, the indicator 5 continues to blink and the engine control mode is displayed. During that time, in step S11 or S15, the US switch 3 or L is selected.
When the SE switch 4 is turned on, a start signal or a stop signal is transmitted as shown in FIG. 3, and the engine control mode is automatically released when 2 seconds have elapsed from step S10.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the microcomputer 9 is activated by turning on the power when the US switch 3 or the LSE switch 4 is turned on, and is activated when the US switch 3 is turned on. In the lock control mode, it sends an unlock signal to the door lock device, and the LSE
If the time during which the switch 4 is continuously operated is less than 1.5 seconds, the locking signal for the door lock device is transmitted in the same manner in the door lock control mode, and the time during which the LSE switch 4 is continuously operated is 1.5 seconds. When it exceeds the limit, the engine control mode is entered, and if the US switch 3 or the LSE switch 4 is turned on within 2 seconds after the first ON operation of the LSE switch 4 is released (OFF operation), the engine is started to the engine starter. A signal or a stop signal was transmitted.

Therefore, unlike the prior art, the two switches 3 for unlocking / starting and locking / stopping 3 are provided without separately providing a transmission mode changeover switch.
Only by providing 4, it is possible to switch the transmission mode, and the transmitter 1 can be configured in a small size and at a low price. Further, particularly in the engine control mode, the transmission of the start and stop signals is performed by two steps, that is, the ON operation of the LSE switch 4 and the ON operations of the switches 3 and 4 thereafter. Stoppage can be prevented.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the LSE switch 4 is used as the transmission mode switching switch, so that even if an erroneous operation occurs in which the LSE switch 4 is turned on without the user being aware, the transmitter Since the signal transmitted from 1 is a door lock locking signal or an engine stop signal, it is possible to prevent accidental unlocking of the door lock or start of the engine.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, even if the user makes an operation error and the transmission mode is set to the engine control mode against the user's intention, the US switch 3 or the LSE switch 4 is set. The engine control mode is automatically released after 2 seconds without being turned on, so no special operation is required to release it, which is convenient, and careless engine starting or Stoppage can also be prevented.

In addition, according to this embodiment, when the transmission mode enters the engine control mode, the indicator 5 is switched from the lit display to the blinking display, so that the user can see the display of the indicator 5. It is possible to know whether the current transmission mode is door lock control or engine control, and it is possible to perform a reliable operation.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but the following modifications are possible. The predetermined time in step S3 and the fixed time in step S18 are not limited to 1.5 seconds and 2 seconds, respectively, and may be set longer or shorter. For example,
If it is set longer, the operation can be performed with more margin, and if it is set shorter, the operation can be switched more quickly. Similarly, the time for confirming the ON operation of the switches 3 and 4 is not limited to 100 mS and may be set longer or shorter. Step S18 may be provided as necessary, and if the engine control mode is mistakenly entered, the LSE switch 4 may be turned on to cancel the engine control mode.

Although one of the two switches is the unlock / start switch 3 and the other is the lock / stop / engine switch 4, the door lock control (unlock / lock) and engine control (start / stop) of the two switches are used. The combination of the function of the changeover switch (/ engine) in addition to the operation of 1) is not limited to this, and the combination may be appropriately changed. The transmission mode display means
The display is not limited to one indicator 5 only,
The door lock control mode or the engine control mode may be separately displayed. The indicator 5 may be provided if necessary. The airborne signal is not limited to electromagnetic waves such as microwaves, but electromagnetic induction signals, electrostatic induction signals, or optical signals may be used by appropriately changing the configuration of the transmission circuit. The invention is not limited to automobiles and may be applied to general vehicles equipped with a door lock device and an engine starter.

[0040]

Since the present invention is as described above,
The following effects are obtained. According to the vehicle remote control device of claim 1, when one of the two switches is used as a changeover switch and the changeover switch is kept on for a predetermined time or longer, the transmission mode changes from the door lock control mode to the engine control. Since it shifts to the mode, unlike the past, it is possible to switch the transmission mode without separately providing a transmission mode changeover switch, and it is possible to configure it at a small size and at a low price, and prevent unnecessary start or stop of the engine due to erroneous operation. be able to.

According to the vehicle remote control device of the second aspect, in the door lock control mode, the lock signal is transmitted in response to the ON operation of the changeover switch in the transmission mode changing means, and in the engine control mode, the lock signal is transmitted. Since the stop signal is transmitted in response to the ON operation of the changeover switch, even if an erroneous operation occurs, the careless unlocking of the door lock or the start of the engine can be prevented.

According to the vehicle remote control device of the third aspect, the engine control mode is released after a lapse of a certain time after the transmission mode is shifted to the engine control mode, so that the user makes an operation error. Even if the transmission mode is set to the engine control mode contrary to the user's intention, the engine control mode is automatically released after a certain period of time, and no special operation is required to release it, which is convenient. In addition, it is possible to prevent the engine from being started or stopped carelessly.

According to the vehicle remote control device of the fourth aspect, since the current transmission mode is displayed on the transmission mode display means, the user sees the display to indicate that the current transmission mode is the door lock control. It is possible to know which of the engine controls is being performed, and it is possible to perform a reliable operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the control contents of a microcomputer in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart in a door lock control mode.

FIG. 3 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 in an engine control mode.

FIG. 4 is an electrical configuration diagram.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the appearance of a transmitter.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is transmitter (remote control device for vehicle), 3 is unlock /
Start switch (switch), 4 is lock / stop / engine switch (switch, changeover switch), 5
Is an indicator (transmission mode display means), and 9 is a microcomputer (transmission control means).

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical display location H04Q 9/00 301 H04Q 9/00 301B

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Two switches, and one of these two switches is used as a changeover switch, and when the changeover switch is kept on for a predetermined time or more, the transmission mode is changed from the door lock control mode to the engine control mode. In the transmission mode switching means and the door lock control mode, a lock signal or a lock signal is issued in response to an ON operation of the changeover switch in the transmission mode switching means continued for less than the predetermined time or an operation of the other of the two switches. An unlock signal is transmitted to the vehicle door lock device by an airborne signal,
In the engine control mode, there is provided a transmission control means for controlling a start signal or a stop signal to be transmitted to an engine starter of a vehicle by an air propagation signal in response to an ON operation of the two switches. Remote control device for vehicles. 2. The transmission control means transmits a lock signal in response to an on operation of a changeover switch in the transmission mode changeover means in the door lock control mode, and in an engine control mode in response to an on operation of the changeover switch. The vehicle remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control device is controlled to transmit a stop signal. 3. The remote control for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the transmission mode switching means releases the engine control mode after a lapse of a certain time after shifting the transmission mode to the engine control mode. Operating device. 4. A transmission mode display means is provided, and the transmission control means controls the transmission mode display means to display that the current transmission mode is a door lock control mode or an engine control mode. The remote control device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3.