JP2001301576A - Vehicle communication device using cellular phone - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle communication device capable of easily achieving vehicle communication control using cellular phones at a low cost. SOLUTION: The vehicle communication device 1 is so designed that a communication module 5 connected to the cellular phone 3 outputs the dial tone of the cellular phone 3 in the form of a wireless signal; a communication control part 7 provided in the vehicle receives the wireless signal and converts it into a predetermined control code so that a control signal corresponding to the control code is outputted to an on-vehicle unit 40. Thus, because the predetermined code is verified according to the dial tone outputted from the cellular phone 3, there is no need for complex voice recognition as is necessary for communications through the input of human voices, and misrecognition is unlikely during the process of communications. Because the dial tone can be generated even not in a call state, communication between vehicles is made possible without requiring users to use cellular phones.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle communication device capable of controlling a vehicle-mounted unit using a portable telephone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-10109, a vehicle remote control device for remotely controlling an on-vehicle unit such as an air conditioner unit or an AV unit using a radio wave or an infrared ray as a medium is known. .

However, such a technique requires a dedicated remote controller, and there is a problem that the remote controller may be lost or stolen if the remote controller is mounted on a vehicle. Under these circumstances, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-54749 discloses a multi remote control device having both a remote control device and a telephone such as a mobile phone or a PHS. This multi-remote control device is configured to remotely control a vehicle-mounted unit by voice via a telephone, and to notify the telephone of the state of the vehicle-mounted unit by synthesized voice. Usually, such a telephone is carried by the user, and thus such a configuration does not cause the above-described problem such as loss or theft, and the user can interact with the vehicle as if talking. Can be

[0004]

However, in the latter technique, a voice recognition IC for recognizing voice transmitted from a user via a telephone is required. Generally, such a voice of a person is recognized. The amount of data when converting this into a predetermined control code becomes enormous. Therefore, there is a problem that the voice recognition processing becomes complicated. In addition, since the above technology is performed via a general-purpose telephone, a telephone charge is not required for such communication control, and there is a problem in terms of cost for a user to easily use the communication.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular communication apparatus that can easily and at low cost control communication of a vehicle using such a telephone.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, in a vehicle communication device according to the present invention, a communication module is detachably connected to a portable telephone via an input / output terminal, and the communication module is connected to the portable telephone. The dial tone is output as a radio signal. Then, the communication control unit provided in the vehicle receives the radio signal, converts it into a predetermined control code, and outputs a control signal corresponding to the control code to a vehicle-mounted unit such as an engine ECU or an air conditioner ECU.

Therefore, the user (driver) automatically prepares to start on the vehicle side by entering a predetermined code from the portable telephone before getting on the remote vehicle. Can be. Thus, for example, the engine ECU automatically starts the engine and warms up the engine, and the air conditioner ECU performs control such as automatically adjusting the temperature in the vehicle compartment to a comfortable temperature.

[0008] Therefore, the user can get into the vehicle at an appropriate time and start the vehicle comfortably and smoothly. In addition, since the dial tone of the mobile phone can be generated even when the mobile phone is not in a call state, communication with the vehicle can be performed without the user having to call the mobile phone. Therefore, the user can easily perform communication without incurring a telephone charge. Furthermore, since a predetermined code is identified by the dial tone output from the mobile phone, it is not necessary to perform complicated voice recognition as in the case of performing communication by inputting a human voice, and it is used for communication processing. Data amount can be reduced. Therefore, the possibility of erroneous recognition occurring in the course of communication is extremely low.

According to the vehicle communication device of the present invention,
As described above, in addition to the mode in which the vehicle is subjected to the predetermined control processing from outside the vehicle, a mode in which the information on the vehicle side is notified to the user via the mobile phone can be adopted. For example, claim 2
In the vehicle communication device according to the aspect, the communication control unit converts a signal indicating the vehicle state output from the on-vehicle unit into a wireless signal and transmits the wireless signal to the communication module. Then, the communication module on the mobile phone side receives the wireless signal and converts it into a communication code for notifying the vehicle state via the mobile phone. When this communication code is output to the mobile phone via the input / output terminal, the communication code is output to the display device of the mobile phone. The user can grasp the state of the vehicle by determining the communication code.

For this reason, for example, if a theft detection sensor or the like is connected to a communication control unit on the vehicle side and a security signal is generated when the theft detection sensor detects an abnormality in the vehicle, the user is provided with Since this fact is notified via the mobile phone, a countermeasure can be taken immediately. Also,
In addition to this, in relation to the above-described engine control and air conditioner control, a mode in which the warming-up of the vehicle is completed or the temperature in the vehicle interior has reached a comfortable temperature is notified via a mobile phone. Can also. The user can start the vehicle comfortably and smoothly if he / she gets on his / her vehicle based on this notification.

It is preferable that the communication module and the communication control unit both include a Bluetooth transmission / reception module. “Bluetooth” is a code name of a new industry standard aiming at realizing wireless connection in PC peripheral devices such as mobile PCs, mobile phones, printers, and human interface devices such as data pads and mice. It has been noted by many manufacturers. The Bluetooth transceiver module is superior to other wireless interfaces in terms of cost, size, and power consumption. In the vehicle communication device according to claim 3, the Bluetooth transmission / reception module is effectively applied to the communication module and the communication control unit,
The function as the wireless interface is effectively exhibited.

In this case, the communication control unit side
How to install the Bluetooth transceiver module is a problem, but depending on the vehicle, a cradle (installation table) may be installed to connect the mobile phone to a so-called hands-free communication device. Claim 4
The vehicle communication device described in (1) has a configuration in which the communication device is disposed inside the cradle.

Further, in the above configuration, there is a problem in that a control unit of a communication control unit for converting a radio signal into a control code or a signal indicating a vehicle state into a radio signal is provided. In a vehicle equipped with a navigation system, the control unit of the navigation system may be configured to also serve as at least a part of the communication control unit.

With this configuration, it is not necessary to provide a separate control unit separately, which is convenient from the viewpoint of the device configuration. If such a configuration is adopted, the above-mentioned Blueto
It is also conceivable to arrange the oth transceiver module on a part of the control board of the navigation system.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a vehicle communication device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an external configuration of a main part thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle communication device 1 comprises:
It comprises a communication module 5 detachably connected to the mobile phone 3 via its input / output terminal, and a communication control unit 7 provided in the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication module 5 is formed in a shape suitable for mounting on the mobile phone 3 and in a size matching the housing of the mobile phone 3, and through a connector 5 a provided on one end surface thereof. Mobile phone 3
(Not shown). In addition, a wireless interface, which will be described later, for performing wireless communication with the communication control unit 7 on the vehicle side is provided therein.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the communication control unit 7 is provided in a cradle 8 installed in the vehicle compartment for housing and fixing the mobile phone 3.
The control unit is also used by the control unit of the navigation system 30 mounted on the vehicle and not shown in detail. That is, the cradle 8 is, as shown in FIG.
The communication module 5 mounted on the mobile phone 3 is provided with a concave receiving portion 8a which can be installed (stored) while being mounted on the mobile phone 3, and the communication module 5 is provided therein.
A wireless interface, which will be described later, for performing wireless communication with the device is provided. An input / output terminal 8b provided on one end surface of the cradle 8 has a connector 31a of a cable 31 connected to the navigation system 30.
Are detachably connected. As shown in FIG. 1, a circuit in the cradle 8 is connected to an electronic control unit (engine ECU) 4 for engine control via a cable 31 and a control circuit 35 of the navigation system 30.
1. Electronic control unit for air conditioner control (Air conditioner EC
U) 43 or an in-vehicle unit such as an anti-theft unit 45. Therefore, in the present embodiment, communication control of the vehicle can be performed via the control circuit 35 of the navigation system 30.

Next, an electrical configuration of the communication module 5 and the communication section of the communication control section 7 will be described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. Inside the communication module 5, a communication control IC 11 mainly composed of a known microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and a Bluetooth, which is an interface for performing wireless communication with the communication control unit 7 on the vehicle side, are provided. I / F unit 1 for exchanging communication data with transmission / reception module 13 and mobile phone 3
5 and a microphone 17 for receiving and amplifying a dial tone from the dial 3b of the mobile phone 3 and transmitting the amplified dial tone to the communication control IC 11 for communication control described later. The communication control IC 11 is provided with a Bluetooth
h Transmission / reception module 13, I / F unit 15, and microphone 17
Are connected via data lines 19 so that communication data can be exchanged with each other.
The power to the communication module 5 is supplied from the mobile phone 3 via the connector 15a.

On the other hand, inside the cradle 8, a Bluetooth transmitting / receiving module 23, which is an interface for performing wireless communication with the communication module 5, and transmission and reception of communication data with the control circuit 35 via the input / output terminal 8a. The I / F unit 25 and the Bluetooth transmission / reception module 23 and the I / F which supply power supplied from the outside (in this embodiment, from a vehicle-mounted battery via a cigar socket).
An external power input unit 27 for supplying the power to the unit 25 is provided. The Bluetooth transmission / reception module 23 and the I / F unit 25 are connected via a data line 29 so that communication data can be exchanged with each other.

Next, a specific communication process executed by the communication module 5 and the communication control unit 7 configured as described above will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. In the communication control of the present embodiment, a control code indicating the control process is set in advance in order to cause the in-vehicle unit 40 to perform a predetermined control process by a dial input from the mobile phone 3. Specifically, this control code is set so that it starts with a start code “#”, then has a data code represented by a predetermined number, and ends with an end code “#”. For example, as a control code for automatically starting the engine of the vehicle-mounted unit 40 via the engine ECU 41 and performing warm-up, "# 1"
56 # "is set, and the air conditioner ECU 4
A code such as “# 170 #” is set as a control code for automatically adjusting the temperature in the vehicle compartment to a comfortable temperature via the control unit 3.

For this reason, for example, when the user warms up the engine, "#", "1",
If you dial in the order of "5", "6", "#",
In accordance with this input, the microphone 17 picks up each dial tone and outputs it to the communication control IC 11. Then, the communication control IC 11 converts the dial tone into a radio signal and transmits it to the Bluetooth transmitting / receiving module 13.
A wireless signal is transmitted from the luetooth transmitting / receiving module 13 to the communication control unit 7 on the vehicle side.

Then, on the communication control unit 7 side, the Bluetooth transmission / reception module 23 disposed in the cradle 8 receives the radio signal, and the radio signal is transmitted to the data lines 29 and I
The signal is transmitted to the control circuit 35 via the / F unit 25 and the cable 31. Then, the control circuit 35 converts the wireless signal into the control code, and identifies the control content.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the control circuit 35 first determines whether or not the start code "#" has been transmitted (S110). At this time, when it is determined that the start code “#” has been transmitted (S110: YES), a standby for receiving the subsequent data code is performed (S12).
0). Then, it is determined whether or not the first data code represented by any of the numbers “1” to “9” has been transmitted (S130), and if it is determined that the first data code has been transmitted (S130:
(YES), this data code is stored in the buffer (S140).

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the clear code "end call (may be a power button)" has been transmitted (S).
150). This clear code is transmitted in order to cancel the input data up to that time when the user makes an input error from the mobile phone 3. In this embodiment, the input of this clear code is carried out by the user. The configuration is such that the “end” button of the telephone 3 is used. Therefore, at this time, if the clear code "end" is detected by the control circuit (S150: YES), the buffer storing the data code is initialized in S140 (S160).

Subsequently, the start code, the data code,
It is determined whether a code other than the clear code and the end code has been transmitted (S170). When the code is detected (S170: YES), it is determined that this is an erroneous input that has nothing to do with the communication control and is ignored (S180).

Then, it is determined whether or not the end code "#" has been transmitted (S190). Here, since it is the stage where the first data code is input, a negative determination is made (S190: NO), and the process returns to S120. And
The processing of S120 to S190 as described above is repeatedly executed, and if it is determined in S190 that the end code “#” has been transmitted (S190: YES), the code is generated based on the data code stored in the buffer in S140. The analysis is performed, and the control code selected by the user is determined (S20).
0). When the control code is determined, a control signal corresponding to the control code is output to the on-vehicle unit 40 (S
210). For example, if the control code analyzed at this time is “# 156 #”, it is determined that the control code is a control code for warming up the engine, and the engine ECU 41
, A control signal for starting the engine is output.

Each of the on-vehicle units 40 receiving the control signal output at this time executes a predetermined control process represented by the control signal. In the above, the mobile phone 3
Has been described in which the vehicle is subjected to a predetermined control process from outside the vehicle by using the communication device 1. However, according to the vehicle communication device 1, information on the vehicle side can be notified to the user via the mobile phone 3. . For example, it is possible to notify via the mobile phone 3 that the warming-up of the engine executed by the control command from outside the vehicle as described above has been completed, or that the temperature in the vehicle interior has reached a comfortable temperature. Alternatively, a theft detection sensor or the like may be connected to the vehicle as the anti-theft unit 45, and a security signal may be generated when the theft detection sensor detects an abnormality in the vehicle. It can also be notified.

In this case, the communication control section 7 converts a signal indicating the vehicle state output from the on-vehicle unit 40 into a radio signal and transmits the signal to the communication module 5. Then, the communication module 5 of the mobile phone 3 receives the wireless signal and converts the signal into a communication code for notifying the vehicle state via the mobile phone 3. When this communication code is output to the mobile phone 3 via the input / output terminal, the communication code is output to the display device 3a of the mobile phone. In this case, for example, in connection with the above-described example, the fact that the warm-up of the engine is completed may be displayed on the display device 3a as "# 156 # OK", or the communication code data may be displayed. Characters may be converted and displayed such as "warm-up completed". The user can grasp the state of the vehicle by referring to the display device 3a.

When notifying the vehicle state as described above, a predetermined warning sound may be generated when the communication module 5 receives the signal to notify the user of the incoming call. It is valid. As described above, in the vehicle communication device 1 of the present embodiment, the communication module 5 connected to the mobile phone 3 outputs the dial tone of the mobile phone 3 as a radio signal, and the communication module provided in the vehicle. The control unit 7 receives the wireless signal, converts it into a predetermined control code, and converts a control signal corresponding to the control code into
It is configured to output to an in-vehicle unit 40 such as an engine ECU 41 or an air conditioner ECU 43. For this reason,
The user (driver) inputs a predetermined code from the mobile phone 3 before entering the remote vehicle, thereby automatically warming up the vehicle or adjusting the temperature in the passenger compartment before entering the vehicle. Can be executed. Therefore, the user can get into the vehicle in a timely manner and start the vehicle comfortably and smoothly.

The dial tone of the mobile phone 3 is
Since the alarm can be generated even in a state in which a call is not made, communication with the vehicle can be performed without the user having to call the mobile phone. Therefore, the user can easily perform communication without incurring a telephone charge. Further, since a predetermined code is identified by the dial tone output from the mobile phone 3, there is no need to perform complicated voice recognition as in the case of performing communication by inputting a human voice. The amount of data used for control can be reduced. Therefore, the possibility of erroneous recognition occurring in the course of communication is extremely low.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may take various forms within the technical scope of the present invention. Needless to say. For example, in the above embodiment, the control circuit of the navigation system 30 mounted on the vehicle is also used as the control circuit of the communication control unit 7 for convenience in terms of equipment configuration. In the case of a vehicle not equipped with the communication control unit 7, the control circuit of the communication control unit 7 may be configured as a communication control IC separately installed in the cradle 8. Alternatively, when the content of the communication control is limited to the operation of the specific in-vehicle unit 40, the control circuit of the in-vehicle unit 40 may be combined with the control circuit of the communication control unit 7. For example, in a case where the control is limited to engine control (such as warming up the engine), the control circuit of the communication control unit 7 may be shared by the control circuit of the engine ECU 41.

In the above embodiment, the communication module 5
Although power supply to the mobile phone 3 is performed from the mobile phone 3 side, power supply may be performed from a battery built in the communication module 5. In this case, the communication module 5 has a built-in storage battery connected to the coil,
A configuration in which a power supply coil is provided on the cradle 8 side, and if necessary, power is supplied to the power supply coil to generate induced electromotive force on the communication module 5 side by electromagnetic induction, and this is stored in a battery. You can also.

Further, in the above embodiment, when a signal indicating the vehicle state is transmitted from the vehicle, the communication code or the like is transmitted to the mobile phone 3 so that the user can visually recognize the signal.
However, in addition to this, a warning sound according to the vehicle state is set and generated by the mobile phone 3 so that the user can recognize the vehicle state. May be configured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a vehicle communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external configuration diagram illustrating a main part of the vehicle communication device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the vehicle communication device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a communication process performed by the vehicle communication device according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication device for vehicles 3 ... Mobile phone 3
a: display device, 5: communication module, 7 ...
・ Communication control unit, 8 ・ ・ ・ Cradle, 13,23 ・ ・
・ Bluetooth transmission / reception module, 15 ・ ・ ・ I / F
Unit, 17: microphone, 30: navigation system, 35: control circuit, 40: in-vehicle unit

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04Q 9/00 301 H04Q 9/00 301B

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A communication module detachably connected to a mobile phone via an input / output terminal to output a dial tone of the mobile phone as a wireless signal, and a wireless module provided in a vehicle and transmitted from the communication module. A communication control unit that receives a signal, converts the signal into a predetermined control code, and outputs a control signal corresponding to the control code to an on-vehicle unit. 2. The communication control unit converts a signal indicating a vehicle state output from the on-vehicle unit into a wireless signal and transmits the wireless signal to the communication module, and the communication module transmits the signal from the communication control unit. The wireless signal is converted into a communication code for notifying the vehicle state via the mobile phone, and the communication code is output to the mobile phone via the input / output terminal. Communication device for vehicles using the mobile phone of the present invention. 3. The communication device for a vehicle using a mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein both the communication module and the communication control unit include a Bluetooth transmission / reception module. 4. The vehicle communication device using a mobile phone according to claim 3, wherein the Bluetooth transmission / reception module on the communication control unit side is disposed inside a cradle installed in the vehicle. . 5. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the communication control unit is also used by a control unit of a navigation system mounted on the vehicle. Communication device for vehicles.