JP2003269023A - Door lock control device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] In a vehicle smart entry system, an auto-lock function for automatically locking a door when a user leaves the vehicle is realized with ease of use and low cost. SOLUTION: An LF-UH is provided between a portable device 10 and a vehicle-mounted device 20.
F is configured to perform mutual communication, and an auto-lock distance switch 30 that allows a user to specify an auto-lock distance to a long distance or a short distance is installed. The automatic lock function is executed based on the fact that the LF communication from the portable device 10 to the portable device 10 is not established, and when the long distance is designated, the UHF communication from the portable device 10 to the on-vehicle device 20 is not established. Execute the auto lock function based on the information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a door lock control device that realizes an automatic lock function that locks a door automatically when a user leaves the vehicle, for example, in a vehicle entry system, at a low cost and with ease of use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for example, as a vehicle entry system, a so-called smart entry system (keyless entry system, which is a hands-free entry system that automatically locks and unlocks doors in a hands-free manner, is a passive or hands-free entry system, etc.). (Also called) has been put to practical use, and is expected to spread in the future. This has a portable device that can be carried by a user and a main body device (in this case, an in-vehicle device) installed on the vehicle side, and an authentication code (ID code or key) by bidirectional wireless communication between them. (Also called a code) is automatically checked, and the operation of the vehicle door locking mechanism (unlocking operation and locking operation) is automatically controlled by the control of the main unit, provided that the matching results match. Will be realized in real time. That is, basically, a user carrying a predetermined portable device approaches the vehicle (enters a communication area with the main body device), communication with the main body device is established, and the collation confirmation (that is, the predetermined portable device) is performed. Is confirmed), the locked door is automatically unlocked. In addition, when a user carrying a predetermined portable device leaves the vehicle (out of the area where communication with the main device is possible) and communication with the main device is no longer established, the door in the unlocked state is automatically locked. It has become. However, conventionally, the size of the communicable area (the communicable distance from the main unit side antenna provided in the vehicle) where the above-mentioned automatic locking function (auto lock function) operates is normally fixed to one type and a fixed value. Was there.

[0003]

Therefore, there are the following problems. In other words, if the communicable area where the auto-lock function works is set to be narrow, when the user carrying a portable device moves around the vehicle, for example, to raise or lower luggage or to assist the child getting on or off, the communicable area is set by the user. As a result, the vehicle door will be locked and unlocked frequently and unnecessarily and frequently, and the battery of the vehicle will be consumed unnecessarily, and other passengers who do not have a portable device There is a risk of hindering boarding / alighting and loading / unloading work of other workers. On the other hand, if the communicable area is wide enough, the above-mentioned problem is solved, but the auto-lock function does not work unless the user moves far away, and the user's ears whether the auto-lock function really locks the lock or not. There is a problem in that it is difficult for the user to visually check, and the user cannot feel relieved.

In order to solve the above problem, it has been proposed to change the size of the communicable area by switching the transmission output or the reception sensitivity of wireless communication according to the user's designation. However, in this case, there is a problem that an extra circuit is required for adjusting the transmission output or the reception sensitivity, resulting in a high cost. Therefore, the present invention has an auto-lock function that automatically locks the door when the user leaves.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a door lock control device that is easy to use and low cost.

[0005]

A door lock control device according to the present invention is mounted on or connected to a portable device which can be carried by a user, and an object including a door and a locking mechanism thereof, and wireless communication between the portable device and the portable device. In a door lock control device having a main body unit that executes control processing of the locking mechanism after confirming that the mobile unit is a predetermined portable unit, communication can be performed between the portable unit and the main body unit. The configuration is such that a plurality of types of wireless communication with different distances are performed, and an auto-lock distance designating unit that allows a user to designate the distance of the distance at which the auto-lock function for automatically performing the locking operation of the locking mechanism is provided by the user, Based on the fact that the wireless communication of the communicable distance corresponding to the designation by the automatic lock distance designation means is not established among the plurality of types of wireless communication, Is obtained by a configuration in which the line.

According to the present invention, the auto-lock function is executed based on the fact that the wireless communication having the communicable distance corresponding to the designation of the user is not established among the plural kinds of wireless communication having the different communicable distances. Therefore, the distance that the auto lock function works (hereinafter referred to as the auto lock distance), in other words, the size of the area where the auto lock function works, can be selected according to the user's preference and situation without adding an extra circuit. Become. That is, for example, when the user raises or lowers the luggage near the door, if the automatic lock distance is designated as a long distance, the automatic lock function can be prevented from being unnecessary and frequently working. On the other hand, if the auto-lock distance is specified to be a short distance, the user can easily confirm with the ears and eyes whether or not the lock is really performed by the auto-lock function. Therefore, the problems mentioned above are solved,
The auto lock function can be used conveniently and at low cost.

In the present invention, the "object including the door and its locking mechanism" means, for example, a vehicle or a house. Also,
The “plurality of wireless communication with different communicable distances” may include, for example, different communicable distances due to different frequencies used, or different communicable distances due to different modulation schemes used. Further, when bidirectional communication is performed between the main body device and the portable device, it is not necessary to perform plural types of wireless communication in communication in each direction. For example, as wireless communication from a portable device to the main unit,
Wireless communication using UHF waves having a relatively long communication range (hereinafter referred to as UHF communication) is used, and wireless communication using LF waves having a relatively short communication range (hereinafter referred to as LF) is used as wireless communication from the main unit to the portable device. Communication is used)
There are two levels of auto-lock distance by the auto-lock distance designating means (the long distance corresponding to the UHF communication and the LF
It may be specified in any one of (short distance corresponding to communication). In this case, as compared with the case where a plurality of types of wireless communication are performed in communication in each direction, the configuration of circuits and the like required for communication is simplified, and, for example, the following unique advantages are provided. That is, the power consumption of the portable device can be saved by using the LF wave from the main device to wake up the portable device only when necessary, and the operation switch is provided on the portable device to enable unidirectional communication to the main device. The operable distance in the case of remote control can be made sufficiently long.

Further, according to the present invention, three or more kinds of wireless communication having different communicable distances are performed, and any one of three or more kinds of auto-lock distances (for example, long distance, medium distance, short distance) corresponding to the wireless communication is performed. Alternatively, the mode may be specified by the automatic lock distance specifying means (the mode in which the automatic lock distance can be selected in three or more steps). Further, as a preferred mode of the present invention, the main body machine may enable an answer back operation for notifying the user of the operation of the locking mechanism only when the long distance side is designated by the automatic lock distance designating means. . According to this aspect, the problem that the answer back operation is unnecessarily executed even when the user is at a short distance is solved. Here, the "answer back operation" is, for example, blinking a hazard lamp or a room lamp of a vehicle or ringing a horn in order to notify that a specified operation has been performed in response to a remote operation of a user. .
"Long-distance side" means long-distance designation when the auto-lock distance is designated in two steps (long-distance and short-distance).
If the auto-lock distance is specified in three steps or more (for example, long distance, medium distance, short distance), one or more designations including the longest distance designation (for example, long distance, medium distance, or long distance). (Distance only).

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
It is an example in which the present invention is applied to a smart entry system of a door type vehicle 1. The controller of this system is
As shown in FIG. 1, the portable device 10 and an in-vehicle device 20 (main unit) mounted on the vehicle 1 are provided. As an antenna of the vehicle-mounted device 20, a doorknob antenna 22 installed on a doorknob of each door, a trunk antenna 23 installed on a knob of a trunk, a front portion (between the driver's seat and the passenger seat) and a rear portion (in the passenger compartment) are provided. Vehicle interior antenna 24 installed in the rear seat center)
And are provided. Further, on the front surface of the driver's seat, there is provided an auto-lock distance switch 30 (auto-lock distance designating means) for the user to designate the distance of the auto-lock distance (in this case, long distance or short distance).

In this example, the main unit 20 to the portable unit 10
A low frequency in the LF band is used for communication with the main unit 20, and a high frequency in the UHF band is used for communication from the portable device 10 to the main unit 20 (LF-UHF intercommunication system). This method is likely to be general-purpose in this type of entry system in the future. The LF wave has a relatively short communication range (usually 1 to 2 m), but the transmission output limit is relatively loose due to legal regulations. Therefore, in order to save the battery consumption of the portable device, the transmission from the main unit is performed by the portable device. This is because it is easy to wake up the CPU of (1) only when necessary (or to transfer power to the portable device to cover the portable device). On the other hand, UHF waves have a relatively long communication range (usually 5-6 m in Japan and 5-10 m in the United States).
Remote control as a normal keyless entry is possible from a fairly distant position, and various information (for example, ID code, vehicle type code, remote control command, etc.) is sent to the main unit because of high frequency. This is because it becomes possible to easily transmit.

The portable unit 10 uses UHF waves (300 to 3000 MHz) as a means for wireless communication with the main unit 20.
UHF transmission means (which includes an internal antenna and a transmission circuit; not shown) for transmitting
LF wave (for example, 100 to 200 KH) as a means for wireless communication (including reception of a wakeup signal) from the
z), which has LF receiving means (including an internal antenna and a receiving circuit; not shown). In addition, the portable device 10
Includes a control circuit (not shown) including a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer) that realizes control processing of the entire portable device, a built-in battery (not shown), and the like. The operation surface of the portable device 10 is provided with, for example, a push button type operation unit such as a lock switch and an unlock switch (not shown). Here, the control circuit of the portable device 10 has portable device side storage means (for example, E ² PROM; not shown) for storing the authentication code and the like.
In addition, this control circuit is activation-controlled by, for example, a separate circuit so as to be activated from a so-called sleep state only when necessary, by using a wake-up signal received by the LF receiving means as a trigger. Further, when the lock switch or the unlock switch is operated, the control circuit shifts from the sleep state to the activated state as necessary, and accepts this switch operation.

Then, the portable device 10 is
It has a function of executing the following control. That is, when a request signal (a signal including a so-called challenging code) wirelessly transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 20 is received, a function of transmitting an answer signal including the authentication code registered in the storage unit on the portable device side by the UHF transmitting unit is provided. Have. In this example, the request signal is separate from the wakeup signal, but the wakeup signal may also serve as the request signal. Further, when an auto-lock mode signal (a long-distance mode signal or a short-distance mode signal described later) transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 20 is received, a regular communication signal (hereinafter,
(Hereinafter referred to as ACK) is transmitted by the UHF transmitting means once or a plurality of times (described later with reference to FIG. 4). Also,
When the locking switch or the unlocking switch is operated, it also has a function of transmitting a signal including the authentication code and the locking command or a signal including the authentication code and the unlocking command by the UHF transmitting means a predetermined number of times. In addition, such a signal is transmitted,
When this is received by the vehicle-mounted device 20, the operation of locking or unlocking the door of the vehicle 1 is executed after the collation confirmation is made by the control of the control unit 21 of the vehicle-mounted device 20 described later. That is, the control device of this example also has the same functions as the control device (one-way communication type) of a general keyless entry system.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle device 20 includes a control unit 21, the above-mentioned door knob antenna 22, trunk antenna 23, and vehicle interior antenna 24.
With. Here, the doorknob antenna 22 and the trunk antenna 23 are antennas as LF transmitting means for transmitting LF waves to the portable device 10, and the communicable area AL is a distance range of 1 to 2 m from each antenna, for example. ing. In addition, the vehicle interior antenna 24 is used for the portable device 10.
It is an antenna as a UHF receiving means capable of receiving the UHF wave from, and its communicable area AU is a distance range of 5 to 6 m from the center of the vehicle 1, for example. That is, the user who carries the portable device 10 can measure, for example, 5 to 6 from the center of the vehicle.
When approaching within the range of m (communication area AU), UHF communication from the portable device 10 to the vehicle-mounted device 20 is established, and further approaching the vehicle, for example, within a range of 1 to 2 m from the door (communication is possible). When located in the area AL), LF communication from the vehicle-mounted device 20 to the portable device 10 is established.

Here, the control unit 21 includes a control circuit (not shown) including a microcomputer and a transmitting circuit as the LF transmitting means (a circuit for transmitting an LF wave from the doorknob antenna 22 or the trunk antenna 23; not shown). And a receiving circuit as the UHF receiving means (a circuit for receiving UHF waves via the vehicle interior antenna 24;
(Not shown) and a power supply circuit (not shown). The control circuit of the control unit 21 includes a vehicle-mounted device side storage unit (for example, E ² P) for storing an authentication code and the like.
ROM; not shown). It should be noted that this control circuit detects that a door opening / closing sensor (a sensor for detecting opening / closing of the door; not shown) provided on the vehicle 1 or a door knob sensor (a hand approaching the door knob or a hand being inserted into the door knob). Connected to a sensor (not shown) for detecting
As described later, L is triggered by the output of these sensors.
The configuration is such that operations including the transmission of F waves are executed, whereby the power consumption of the vehicle-mounted device 20 is suppressed to the necessary minimum.

The control unit 21 has a function of executing the following control. That is, when it is detected that the hand approaches (or is inserted into) the door knob of the locked door, a wake-up signal is transmitted through the door knob antenna 22 of the door knob, and then a predetermined time (portable) A request signal is transmitted via the doorknob antenna 22 after a lapse of a time sufficient for the machine 10 to start. Then, when the answer signal from the portable device 10 is received via the doorknob antenna 22 after the transmission of the request signal, the authentication code included in the answer signal corresponds to the authentication code registered in the main body side storage means. It has a function of determining whether or not it is present, and if the result of this determination is affirmative, it is determined that the collation is confirmed and the control for opening the locking mechanism of the door is executed. As a result, the user carrying the predetermined portable device 10 automatically unlocks the door locked when he / she puts his / her hand on the door knob (that is, the automatic unlock function is realized). In addition, the control unit 21 operates in the short range auto lock mode in which the auto lock distance switch 30 specifies the short range auto lock distance.
In the long-distance auto-lock mode in which the auto-lock function is executed based on the fact that the LF communication to the portable device 10 is no longer established and the auto-lock distance is designated as long-distance,
It has a control function for executing the auto-lock function based on the fact that the UHF communication from the portable device 10 is not established (which will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2 to 3). Further, the control unit 21 has a function of activating the so-called answer-back operation only when the long-distance auto-lock mode is designated by the auto-lock distance switch 30.

Next, the control processing for the auto-lock function will be described with reference to FIGS. First, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a control process started by, for example, a periodic timer interrupt in the control circuit of the control unit 21 in the short-distance auto lock mode. When the processing is started, first, in step S1, it is determined based on the output of the door opening / closing sensor whether the driver's seat door has changed from the closed state to the open state. Then, if there is the above change, the process proceeds to step S2, and if there is no such change, the process of one sequence is ended.
Next, in step S2, after transmitting a wake-up signal to activate the portable device 10, a signal indicating the short-range auto-lock mode (hereinafter referred to as the short-range mode signal).
Then, in the next step S3, it is determined whether or not an ACK (which is transmitted in step S22 of FIG. 4 described later) which is a response signal from the portable device 10 to the short-distance mode signal is received. Then, when the ACK is received, the predetermined portable device exists in the communicable area AL, and thus the process proceeds to step S5 to proceed the process for the auto-lock function. On the other hand, if no ACK is received, step S
By the branch processing of 4, a predetermined reception waiting time (for example, 1
If the ACK is not received even after repeating the determination in step S3 for 50 msec), the predetermined portable device does not exist in the communicable area AL, and thus the sequence of processing is terminated to cancel the execution of the auto-lock function.

It should be noted that the reason why the process of the auto-lock function is proceeded after confirming the reply of the ACK is that the auto-lock function works even if there is no user having a portable device, and other passengers can get on and off. This is to avoid being hindered. Further, on the premise that the process of FIG. 2 is started, when the wake-up signal has already been transmitted and the portable device 10 is in the activated state, it is not necessary to transmit the wake-up signal in step S2. Further, the collation confirmation of the portable device 10 in the control process of the auto-lock function is configured such that, for example, the ACK includes the authentication code, and the collation of the authentication code is also included in the above step S3 (and step S7 described later). (That is, if the authentication code included in the received signal does not match the in-vehicle device side, AC
This can be realized by not determining that K has been received).

Next, in step S5, it is determined whether or not all the doors are in the closed state, and if all the doors are not in the closed state, step S5 is repeatedly executed, and if all are in the closed state, the process proceeds to step S6. Then, in step S6, step S2
Similarly, if a wake-up signal is transmitted to activate the portable device 10 as necessary, then a short-distance mode signal is transmitted, and in the next step S7, is an ACK for this short-distance mode signal received? Determine whether or not. And AC
When K is received, it is estimated that the predetermined portable device is present within the communicable area AL and the user has not left the driver's seat door, and thus the process proceeds to step S9. On the other hand, if no ACK is received, a predetermined reception waiting time (for example, 150 ms) is determined by the branching process in step S8.
ec) repeats the determination of step S7, but still A
When CK is not received, it is estimated that the user has left the driver's seat door (that is, the portable device 10 has gone out of the communicable area AL and the LF communication of the short-range mode signal has not been established). The process proceeds to step S10 to immediately execute the auto lock operation.

On the other hand, in step S9, it is determined whether or not a predetermined permissible time (for example, 30 sec) has elapsed since it was determined in step S5 that all the doors were in the closed state. If the time has elapsed, the process returns to step S6 to repeat the processing from step S6. Then, in step S10, a control signal for locking the locking mechanism of all the doors (including the trunk) is output, and an auto-lock operation for automatically locking all the doors is executed. Step S
When 10 is passed, the process of one sequence is completed. When any of the doors is open at the time when the process proceeds to step S10 (that is, after any time when the determination in step S5 becomes affirmative, any one of the doors has been opened and remains as it is. At this time), for example, the automatic lock operation may be executed after waiting for all the doors to be closed again, or the automatic lock operation may not be executed at that point and the process may return to step S5.

Next, FIG. 3 shows the control circuit of the control unit 21 in the case of the long-distance auto lock mode.
For example, it is a flowchart of a control process started by a periodic interrupt. When the process is started, it is determined in step S11 whether the driver's door has changed to the open state, as in step S1 described above. If there is this change, the process proceeds to step S12. Next, in step S12, as in the case of step S2 described above, a wake-up signal is transmitted as necessary to activate the portable device 10, and then a signal indicating a long-distance auto-lock mode (hereinafter referred to as a long-distance mode signal). Is transmitted, and in the next step S13, A which is a response signal from the portable device 10 to the long-distance mode signal.
It is determined whether CK (transmitted in step S24 of FIG. 4 described later) is received.

When this ACK is received,
Since the specified mobile device exists in the communicable area AL,
The process proceeds to step S15 and the process for the auto lock function proceeds. On the other hand, if the ACK is not received, the branching process of step S14 repeats the determination of step S13 for a predetermined reception waiting time (for example, 150 msec), and if the ACK is not received,
Similar to step S4 described above, the processing of one sequence ends. It should be noted that the collation confirmation of the portable device 10 is performed in the same manner as in the case of the short-range auto-lock mode described above, for example, in the configuration in which the ACK includes the authentication code, and the above-described step S13
(Furthermore, in step S16 described below), the determination may be made including the verification of the authentication code.

Next, in step S15, it is determined whether all the doors are closed as in step S5, and if all the doors are closed, the process proceeds to step S16. Next, in step S16, it is determined whether or not an ACK (which is transmitted in step S26 of FIG. 4 described later), which is a subsequent response signal from the portable device 10 to the long-distance mode signal, is received. When this ACK is received, it is estimated that the predetermined portable device exists in the communicable area AU and the user is not far from the vehicle.
It proceeds to step S18. On the other hand, when the ACK is not received, a predetermined reception waiting time (for example, 1 sec; step S2 to be described later) is performed by the branch process of step S17.
Step S16 for the time corresponding to the transmission waiting time of 5)
If the ACK is still not received, the user is far from the vehicle (that is, the portable device 1
It is estimated that 0 has gone out of the communicable area AU and the UHF communication of the ACK has been unsuccessful), so the process proceeds to step S19 to immediately execute the autolock operation.

On the other hand, in step S18, step S15
It is determined whether a predetermined permissible time (for example, 30 sec) has elapsed since it was determined that all the doors are closed, and if so, the process proceeds to step S19, and if not, step S1.
Returning to step 6, the processing after step S16 is repeated. Then, in step S19, similarly to step S10 described above, an auto-lock operation for automatically locking all seats is executed.
After step S19, the process of one sequence ends. When any of the doors is open at the time when the process proceeds to step S19, the autolock operation may be executed after waiting for all the doors to be closed again.

Next, FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the control process which is started when the LF wave is received in the control circuit of the portable device 10. The received LF wave is only a request signal, and the control for simply returning an answer signal (control for the auto unlock function) is
In this case, it is realized by a routine different from that shown in FIG. When the processing is started, first, in step S21, it is determined whether or not the received signal is the short-distance mode signal, and if it is the short-distance mode signal, the process proceeds to step S22, and if not, the process proceeds to step S23. Then, in step S22, the ACK is transmitted once, and the process of one sequence is completed. On the other hand, in step S23, it is determined whether or not the received signal is the long-distance mode signal, and if it is the long-distance mode signal, the process proceeds to step S24, and if not, the process of one sequence ends.

Then, in step S24, the ACK is transmitted once, and the process proceeds to step S25. In step S25, the elapsed time from the time when the ACK is transmitted once in step S24 is a predetermined transmission waiting time (for example, 1se).
It is determined whether or not (c) has been reached. If it has not been reached, this step S25 is repeated to stand by, and if it has been reached, the process proceeds to step S26. Next, in step S26, the ACK is transmitted once, and the process proceeds to step S27. In step S27, for example, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time from the time when the ACK is transmitted once in step S24 has passed a predetermined allowable time (for example, 30 sec), and if it has passed, one sequence of processing is terminated. If it has not elapsed, the process returns to step S25 to repeat the processing from step S25.

Of the control processing described above, the following operation is realized by the processing on the portable device side shown in FIG. That is, each time a short range mode signal is received,
The ACK is transmitted only once each time (step S2).
1, S22). On the other hand, when the long distance mode signal is received, the operation of repeatedly transmitting the ACK at the interval of the transmission waiting time is continued for the allowable time (steps S23 to S27). Then, according to the process on the in-vehicle device side shown in FIG.
The following operation is realized. That is, when the driver's seat door is opened in the short-distance auto-lock mode, it is determined whether or not the short-distance mode signal is transmitted and the ACK for the short-distance mode signal is received, and as described above, the existence of the predetermined portable device 10 is confirmed. (Steps S1 to S4). Then, when all the doors are closed thereafter, the process of determining whether the ACK for the short range mode signal is transmitted again is repeated, and when the ACK is not received (that is, the LF of the short range mode signal is received). If the communication is not established), the user automatically leaves the communicable area AL and the autolock operation is immediately executed. When the ACK is continuously received, the autolock operation is performed when the allowable time elapses. It is executed (steps S5 to S10).

Further, according to the processing on the in-vehicle device side shown in FIG. 3, when the driver's door is opened in the long-distance auto-lock mode, it is judged whether or not the long-distance mode signal is transmitted and the ACK is received. The presence of the predetermined portable device 10 is also confirmed (steps S11 to S1).
4). Then, when all the doors are closed thereafter, the ACK described above is repeatedly transmitted from the portable device 10 for the allowable time.
This ACK is repeated by repeating the process of determining whether
When the ACK is not received (that is, the UHF communication of the ACK becomes unsuccessful), the auto-lock operation is immediately executed assuming that the user has moved outside the communicable area AU, and when the ACK is continuously received. , When the allowable time has elapsed, the auto lock operation is executed (step S
15-S19).

According to the apparatus of this embodiment described above, 2
Of the types of wireless communication (LF communication from the in-vehicle device to the portable device and UHF communication from the portable device to the in-vehicle device), wireless communication corresponding to the designation by the auto-lock distance switch 30 (auto-lock distance designating means) ( The LF communication is performed in the short-distance auto-lock mode, and the UHF communication is not established in the long-distance auto-lock mode). Therefore, without adding an extra circuit, the auto-lock distance, in other words, the size of the area where the auto-lock function works can be selected according to the user's preference and situation. Therefore, the above-mentioned problems can be solved, and the auto-lock function can be realized easily and at low cost. In addition, in this embodiment, the answerback operation is enabled only when the long-distance auto-lock mode is specified, so the problem that the answerback operation is unnecessarily executed even when the user is in the short distance is solved. To be done. Further, in this example of the embodiment, even if the predetermined communication is established, the auto-lock operation is forcibly executed after the above-described allowable time has elapsed, so the crime prevention is high.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned form example, but may have various modes. For example, the automatic lock distance designating means can be realized by an operation switch on the portable device. For example, when a user operates an operation switch on a portable device to specify a mode, a signal indicating the specified content is appropriately transmitted from the portable device to the main body device in a communicable state and is also set on the main body device side. do it. Further, a display unit for displaying the designated state of the mode may be provided inside the vehicle or in the portable device. Further, the permissible time (for example, 30 sec) in the above-described embodiment may be variable so that the setting can be changed by the user, factory worker or the like. Further, the present invention may not have the functions of a general keyless entry system. Further, the present invention can be widely applied to devices other than the vehicle entry system as long as it is a device for controlling the locking of a door or something similar thereto (for example, a lid of a safe) based on wireless communication between the portable device and the main body device. it can.

[0030]

According to the door lock control device of the present invention,
Of the multiple types of wireless communication with different communication distances, the auto-lock function is executed when the wireless communication with the communication distance that corresponds to the user's specification is no longer established, so add an extra circuit Instead, the auto-lock distance, in other words, the size of the area where the auto-lock function works can be selected according to the user's preference and situation.
Therefore, the above-mentioned problems can be solved, and the auto-lock function can be realized easily and at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration or the like of a smart entry system of a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the vehicle-mounted device (short-range auto lock mode).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the vehicle-mounted device (long-distance auto-lock mode).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the portable device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Vehicle (thing including door and its locking mechanism) 10 Portable device 20 In-vehicle device (main unit) 21 Control unit 30 Auto-lock distance switch (auto-lock distance designating means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A portable device that can be carried by a user, and is mounted or connected to an object including a door and a locking mechanism thereof, and wireless communication is performed with the portable device to confirm that the portable device is a predetermined portable device. In addition, in the door lock control device having a main body device that executes the control process of the locking mechanism, a configuration is provided in which a plurality of types of wireless communication with different communicable distances between the portable device and the main body device are performed, The lock mechanism is provided with an auto-lock distance designating unit that allows the user to designate the distance of the distance at which the auto-lock function for automatically executing the locking operation is performed, A door lock control device characterized in that the auto lock function is executed when wireless communication of a communicable distance corresponding to designation by the auto lock distance designating means is not established. . 2. A portable device that can be carried by a user, and is mounted on or connected to an object including a door and its locking mechanism, and wireless communication is performed with the portable device to confirm that it is a predetermined portable device. In addition, a door lock control device having a main body unit that executes control processing of the locking mechanism, wherein wireless communication using a UHF wave having a relatively long communicable distance is used as wireless communication from the portable unit to the main body unit. Communication is used, and as wireless communication from the main unit to the portable unit, wireless communication using an LF wave having a relatively short communication range is used, and the locking operation of the locking mechanism is automatically executed. Is provided with an auto-lock distance designating unit capable of designating a long distance or a short-distance by a user, and when the short-range is designated by the auto-lock distance designating unit, the LF When the main unit executes the auto-lock function based on the fact that the radio communication by the wave is no longer established and the long distance is designated by the auto-lock distance designation means, the radio communication by the UHF wave is performed. The door lock control device, wherein the main body unit executes the automatic lock function based on the fact that the condition is not satisfied. 3. The answering action for notifying the user of the action of the locking mechanism is enabled only when the long distance side is designated by the automatic lock distance designating means. The door lock control device according to claim 1 or 2.