JP2009084929A - Wireless device, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

A key position required for a smart key or the like is realized with a simple configuration using a wireless device of a tire pressure sensor device.
Receiving radio waves from tire pressure sensor radios 5, 6, 7, and 8 installed on four-wheel tires with a portable key 14 and measuring a radio wave intensity level, each tire position and a portable key 15 The position of the portable key 14 is determined from each distance relationship. This allows you to unlock only the door on the side where the mobile device is located when unlocking the vehicle door or starting the engine without installing multiple antennas for keyless entry and smart key functions, Functions such as preventing unauthorized engine start without carrying the portable key 14 and preventing key confinement can be realized.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless key device such as a smart entry (registered trademark) or smart key (registered trademark) of a vehicle, or an in-vehicle wireless device such as a tire pressure monitor that measures an tire pressure to notify an abnormality. In particular, the invention relates to the security function of the wireless key device, such as unlocking only the door on the side close to the user holding the portable device or preventing the key from being locked in the vehicle.

  In recent years, the door lock can be unlocked simply by carrying a portable key with a built-in wireless device, such as Smart Entry (registered trademark) or Smart Key (registered trademark) as a wireless key device for a vehicle. However, wireless key devices have been introduced that allow users to open and enter the door simply by raising the door knob or touching the entry switch without having to insert the key into the keyhole and turn it.

  With such a portable key, it is determined that the portable key has approached when the range in which radio waves can be transmitted or received or the radio wave intensity level exceeds a threshold for setting a nearby area, and authentication is performed by transmitting and receiving a message including an ID. The method is common.

  In such a wireless key device, from the viewpoint of security, even if a suspicious person lurking on the other side of the vehicle cannot get in, only the door on the side with the mobile key is unlocked, or even if the window is broken and the mobile key is entered, It usually has functions such as the engine will not start if it is not possessed, and if the mobile key is left in the car, it cannot be locked to prevent confinement.

  In order to realize these functions, it is necessary to determine the position of the portable key. In addition to weak wireless equipment for performing communication including communication that starts communication and authentication codes, the position of the portable key is specified. Therefore, 5-6 or more antennas for long waves are provided under the dashboard, between the driver seat and the passenger seat, inside each door, and inside the mirror.

  In recent years, we have measured the appropriate tire pressure for safety during driving, and when an abnormality in tire pressure is detected, it is sent to an onboard radio to emit a warning sound or turn on a warning light on the display. Tire pressure sensors that perform tire pressure are beginning to become widespread, and in the United States and the like, a tire pressure sensor or a tire pressure monitor (TPMS) is required by law.

Furthermore, a device capable of operating the wireless key device and the tire pressure monitoring device in cooperation has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a request signal is transmitted when a user touches a door knob or a locking / unlocking switch when getting into a vehicle, and an abnormality detected by the tire pressure monitoring device is notified to a portable key. .
JP 2004-98929 A

  In the conventional method, a plurality of antennas for finding the location of the portable key must be installed. Considering the number of man-hours for installation and the cost required for harnesses, such as installing them on doors and mirrors, it is not a good idea.

  Further, the cooperation between the keyless entry and the smart key and the tire pressure sensor device is such that the detection result of the tire pressure sensor is displayed on the portable key.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is, for example, to receive the wireless communication of the tire pressure sensor radio and measure the electric field strength level to thereby determine the position of the portable key. Is determined.

  Therefore, the wireless device of the tire pressure sensor originally installed on each of the four-wheel tires also receives the radio wave that communicates the detection result with the portable key and measures the radio wave intensity level, thereby determining the distance between each tire position and the portable key. It is possible to estimate. This makes it possible to determine the position of the portable key when locking / unlocking the vehicle door or starting the engine without installing multiple antennas for keyless entry and smart key functions. Functions such as unlocking only the door, preventing unauthorized engine starting, and preventing key lock-in can be realized, and security and convenience can be improved.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a portable wireless device carried by a user, a tire pressure sensor wireless device that wirelessly communicates a signal of a tire pressure sensor that is installed in a tire and measures an air pressure, and a vehicle equipment are controlled. An in-vehicle wireless device that is connected to the vehicle control device and performs wireless communication with the tire pressure sensor wireless device or the portable wireless device, at least one of the tire pressure sensor wireless device or the in-vehicle wireless device, and the portable wireless device The position of the portable wireless device around the vehicle and inside and outside the vehicle is determined based on a measured value obtained by measuring the electric field strength level of the radio wave wirelessly communicated with the aircraft, and the vehicle control device performs the determination. Accordingly, whether or not control is possible is determined.

  Thus, by measuring the electric field strength level of the radio wave of the wireless communication of the tire pressure sensor radio, it is possible to determine the distance relationship between each tire and the portable radio, and carry it when locking / unlocking the vehicle door or starting the engine. Control with high security and convenience can be performed according to the result of determining the position of the wireless device.

  In this way, keyless entry and smart key functions can be realized without newly installing a plurality of antennas in each part of the vehicle, and a wireless device with excellent security and convenience can be provided.

  1st invention is connected to the portable radio | wireless machine which a user carries, the tire pressure sensor radio | wireless machine which carries out the radio | wireless communication of the signal of the tire pressure sensor which measures the air pressure of a tire, and the vehicle control apparatus which controls the equipment of a vehicle. And an in-vehicle wireless device that performs wireless communication with the tire pressure sensor wireless device or the portable wireless device, and performs wireless communication between at least one of the tire pressure sensor wireless device or the in-vehicle wireless device and the portable wireless device. Based on the measured value of the electric field intensity level of the radio wave, the position of the portable wireless device is determined around the vehicle and inside and outside the vehicle, and the vehicle control device determines whether control is possible or not according to the determination. Is.

  This makes it possible to optimally equip the vehicle according to the position of the portable wireless device without using a new antenna for determining the position of the portable wireless device by using the radio wave of the tire pressure sensor wireless device. Can be controlled.

In addition to the first invention, the second invention transmits radio waves wirelessly communicated by the tire pressure sensor radio and the in-vehicle radio when a user touches an unlock switch provided on the vehicle door. And determining the position of the portable wireless device around the vehicle and inside and outside the vehicle based on a measurement value obtained by measuring the electric field intensity level when the portable wireless device receives the radio wave, and the position is the user Is in the vicinity of the touched door, the door is unlocked.

  As a result, by using the radio waves of the tire pressure sensor radio, it is not necessary to newly install a new antenna for determining the position of the portable radio, and a high-security radio device that does not unlock other than the necessary door Can be realized.

  In addition to the first invention, the third invention transmits radio waves wirelessly communicated by the tire pressure sensor radio and the in-vehicle radio when the user touches an unlock switch provided on the vehicle door. And determining the position of the portable wireless device around the vehicle and inside and outside the vehicle based on a measurement value obtained by measuring the electric field intensity level when the portable wireless device receives the radio wave, and the position is the vehicle. When it is outside, the door is locked.

  As a result, by using the radio wave of the tire pressure sensor radio, there is no need to newly install a new antenna for determining the position of the mobile radio, and there is an inconvenience of accidentally confining the mobile radio in the vehicle. A highly convenient wireless device that does not occur can be realized.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the first aspect, when a user operates an engine start switch of the vehicle, the tire pressure sensor radio and the in-vehicle radio transmit radio waves that are wirelessly communicated, and the portable The position of the portable wireless device around the vehicle and inside and outside the vehicle is determined based on the measured value obtained by measuring the electric field intensity level when the wireless device receives the radio wave, and the position is inside the vehicle. In this case, the engine is started.

  As a result, by using the radio wave of the tire pressure sensor radio, it is not necessary to newly install a new antenna for determining the position of the portable radio, and it seems that the vehicle was illegally boarded by breaking the door Even in such a case, a highly secure wireless device that cannot start the engine can be realized.

  According to a fifth invention, in addition to the first invention, when the user operates an unlocking switch provided on the door of the vehicle, the in-vehicle wireless device transmits a request radio wave, and the portable wireless device An answer radio wave is transmitted with respect to the radio wave, and the tire pressure sensor radio or the in-vehicle radio receives the answer radio wave and measures the electric field strength level, and the vehicle around and inside and outside the vehicle The position of the portable wireless device is determined, and when the position is near the door touched by the user, the door is unlocked.

  As a result, by using the radio wave of the tire pressure sensor radio, it is not necessary to newly install a new antenna for determining the position of the portable radio, and by reducing the transmission from the portable radio, the battery In addition to extending the service life, it is possible to realize a highly secure wireless device that does not unlock any doors other than the necessary doors.

  According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in addition to the first aspect, when a user operates an unlocking switch provided on the vehicle door, the in-vehicle wireless device transmits a request radio wave, and the portable wireless device An answer radio wave is transmitted with respect to the radio wave, and the tire pressure sensor radio or the in-vehicle radio receives the answer radio wave and measures the electric field strength level, and the vehicle around and inside and outside the vehicle The position of the portable wireless device is determined, and the door is locked when the position is outside the vehicle.

As a result, by using the radio wave of the tire pressure sensor radio, it is not necessary to newly install a new antenna for determining the position of the portable radio, and by reducing the transmission from the portable radio, the battery In addition to extending the lifetime, it is possible to realize a highly convenient wireless device that does not cause the inconvenience of accidentally confining the portable wireless device in the vehicle.

  According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in addition to the first aspect, when the user operates a vehicle engine start switch, the in-vehicle wireless device transmits a request radio wave, and the portable wireless device transmits an answer radio wave to the request radio wave. The position of the portable wireless device around the vehicle and inside and outside the vehicle based on a measured value obtained by transmitting and measuring the electric field intensity level by the tire pressure sensor wireless device or the vehicle-mounted wireless device receiving the answer radio wave The engine is started when the position is in the vehicle.

  As a result, by using the radio wave of the tire pressure sensor radio, it is not necessary to newly install a new antenna for determining the position of the portable radio, and by reducing the transmission from the portable radio, the battery In addition to extending the service life, it is possible to realize a high-security wireless device that cannot start the engine even if the vehicle is illegally boarded by breaking the door.

  According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in addition to the first aspect, radio waves periodically wirelessly communicated by the portable wireless device or a user having the portable wireless device operates a switch provided in the portable wireless device. Based on the measured value of the radio wave intensity level received by the tire pressure sensor radio and the in-vehicle radio as a trigger, radio waves communicated wirelessly as a trigger of the portable radio around the vehicle and inside and outside the vehicle The position is determined.

  As a result, by determining the position of the portable wireless device before the user touches the door of the vehicle, faster responsiveness can be realized, or the user has intentionally operated the switch of the portable wireless device. Even in this case, vehicle control according to the location of the portable wireless device can be performed.

  The ninth aspect of the invention is connected to a portable wireless device carried by the user, a tire pressure sensor wireless device that wirelessly communicates a signal of a tire pressure sensor that measures tire air pressure, and a vehicle control device that controls the equipment of the vehicle. In addition, in the method for controlling an in-vehicle wireless device that performs wireless communication with the tire pressure sensor wireless device or the portable wireless device, wireless communication is performed between at least one of the tire pressure sensor wireless device or the in-vehicle wireless device and the portable wireless device. Measuring a field intensity level of radio waves to be transmitted, determining a position of the portable wireless device around the vehicle and inside and outside the vehicle based on the measurement value, and the vehicle control device according to the determination And a step of determining whether or not control is possible.

  This makes it possible to optimally equip the vehicle according to the position of the portable wireless device without using a new antenna for determining the position of the portable wireless device by using the radio wave of the tire pressure sensor wireless device. The control method can be realized.

  A tenth invention is a program for executing at least a part of the wireless device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

  Since it is a program, it is possible to easily realize at least a part of the wireless key system of the present invention by cooperating hardware resources such as an electric / information device, a computer, and a server. In addition, the program can be distributed / updated and installed easily by recording on a recording medium or distributing the program using a communication line.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a vehicle 13 provided with a tire air pressure sensor as an example of a radio apparatus according to the first embodiment. Only the arrangement of the devices is shown schematically. In FIG. 1, tire pressure sensors and tire pressure sensor radios 5, 6, 7, and 8 for transmitting the detected data are installed in tires 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Strong directivity areas 9, 10, 11, and 12 surrounded by dotted lines around the tire pressure sensor radios correspond to the tire pressure sensor radios 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively, with the antenna transmission / reception sensitivity. The directional area that becomes higher is schematically visualized and illustrated.

  In the first embodiment, the strong directivity areas 9, 10, 11, and 12 are designed and installed so as to have directivity (hereinafter referred to as a main lobe) in an obliquely upward direction outside the vehicle body. As described above, in general, a portion having a narrow directivity (hereinafter referred to as a back lobe) appears in the vehicle body low direction, that is, on the opposite side of the main lobe.

  1 is installed between the driver's seat and the passenger seat in the vehicle, in the ceiling roof portion, in the dashboard, etc., FIG. 1 shows an example of being installed between the driver's seat and the passenger seat. ing. An elliptical range indicated by a two-dot chain line around the in-vehicle wireless device 15 indicates the strong directivity area 16 of the in-vehicle wireless device 15 as in the case of the tire pressure sensor wireless device.

  The in-vehicle wireless device 15 is connected to a vehicle control device (hereinafter referred to as ECU) which is an electric control unit that performs electric control of the entire vehicle, and functions as a receiver of the tire pressure sensor wireless devices 5, 6, 7, and 8. In addition, when communication for notifying abnormality of each tire air pressure is received, notification such as displaying on the dashboard or blowing a buzzer is performed using the ECU. Further, the in-vehicle wireless device 15 has a function as a receiver of a keyless entry function, receives a radio wave when a user operates a switch of the portable wireless device 14, and inputs the received content to the ECU. The door is unlocked and the engine is started. The portable wireless device 14 is configured so as to be easily carried by the user such as a key holder as a portable key that the user possesses as an integral configuration with a mechanical key for manually opening and closing the door, starting the engine, and the like.

  Note that the communication between the tire pressure sensor wireless devices 5, 6, 7, 8 and the portable wireless device 14 and the in-vehicle wireless device 15 can be performed even when each of them is not within the opponent's strong directivity area. It is configured to obtain a possible radio field intensity level.

  In the first embodiment, a wireless communication protocol is shared between the three members of the tire pressure sensor wireless devices 5, 6, 7, 8 and the in-vehicle wireless device 15 and the portable wireless device 14 in FIG. The configuration is possible. With this configuration, the electric field strength level (hereinafter referred to as RSSI) of radio waves at the time of wireless communication between the wireless devices is measured, and the portable wireless device 14 is measured from the distance between each tire and the in-vehicle wireless device 15 to the portable wireless device 14. The ECU determines the presence range of the portable wireless device 14 when the user locks / unlocks the vehicle door or starts the engine by performing control according to the existing area of the portable wireless device 14. And convenience such as prevention of key confinement can be improved.

That is, when the user touches a knob or switch (not shown) of the vehicle door in an attempt to open the door, the portable wireless device 14 is not present in the presence area including the vehicle door, and is carried when the engine is started. In the case where the wireless device 14 is not present in the vehicle including the driver's seat, it is assumed that the vehicle is being operated illegally, and in addition to the security function such as keeping the vehicle door locked or preventing the engine from starting, When the operation for locking the door is performed, if the portable wireless device 14 is present in the vehicle, the utility function can be realized such that the lock is not executed and the buzzer notifies the user to prevent key confinement.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of each wireless device. The portable wireless device 14 is a wireless device portion configured in a portable key possessed by the user, and includes a control unit 20 and a transmission unit that control the entire wireless device. 22, receiving unit 21, authenticating unit 23 that determines whether the message is from the other party to be communicated based on an identification code (hereinafter referred to as ID) included in the received message, and measures RSSI of the received message An electric field intensity level measurement unit 19 and an antenna unit 37 are provided.

  Similarly, the in-vehicle wireless device 15 includes a control unit 34, an electric field strength level measurement unit 33, an authentication unit 30 transmission unit 36, a reception unit 35, and an antenna unit 38.

  The tire pressure sensor radios 5, 6, 7, and 8 have the same configuration. The tire pressure sensor radio 5 shown in FIG. 2 as a representative diagram measures the control unit 27, the electric field strength level measurement unit 25, and the tire pressure. Air pressure sensor unit 26, authentication unit 29, transmission unit 28, and reception unit 24. The tire air pressure sensor of the tire air pressure sensor unit 26 is a system that is attached to the wheel side surface of the tire and measures the pressure applied by the tube, or a system that measures the pressure of a valve that injects air into the tube.

  Here, as the installation place of the tire pressure sensor radio 5, when it is installed on the tire 1 side, power supply wiring cannot be performed from the vehicle side. Accordingly, when the battery life has expired, the tire 1 must be replaced. For this reason, the tire pressure sensor radio 5 itself is installed on the vehicle body side of the facing portion of the tire side surface, emits a long wave signal (request signal) as a sub communication circuit provided along with the air pressure sensor unit, and generates an electromotive force in the sub communication circuit. A power supply-less method (hereinafter referred to as a transponder method) that supplies and drives and returns the detected value of the tire pressure sensor unit as an answer signal has become mainstream. In the first embodiment, either scheme can be used. However, in the following description, the transponder scheme is used.

  In general, when the influence of multipath such as reflection or diffraction of radio waves is not large, the RSSI of the received radio waves is attenuated along with the distance from the transmission source due to propagation attenuation. Therefore, by comparing the RSSI of the radio waves from the tire pressure sensor radios installed at the four tire positions of the vehicle, the relative distance from the position of each tire can be determined. It is possible to determine the position.

  If it demonstrates in the example simplified in FIG. 1, when RSSI from the tire pressure sensor radio | wireless machine 5 of the tire 1 is the largest compared with RSSI measured with the portable key 14, it will be near the door of the driver's seat side. If there is a user who has the portable key 14 and the RSSI of the tire 3 from the tire pressure sensor radio 7 is the maximum, it can be determined that the user is in the vicinity of the passenger side door.

  In addition, if the RSSI of the tires 2 and 4 at the rear of the vehicle 13 is larger than the RSSI of the front tires 1 and 3 and the same value, it can be determined that the user is in the vicinity of the rear trunk door.

  Therefore, for example, if this determination is made at the timing when the user touches the door knob or the entry switch provided for the keyless entry function to open the vehicle door, the user who possesses the portable key 14 indicating that the user is a valid user However, it can be determined whether the door of the driver's seat, the passenger seat, or the rear trunk is intended to be opened, and the door at the location where the user is not present is kept locked.

  As a result, when the user tries to get into the vehicle 13, the suspicious person lurking on the opposite side of the vehicle can prevent the act of opening the opposite door at the timing of opening the user's door and riding together. A keyless entry device with high crime prevention can be realized.

  Finally, an example of the operation flow of the ECU and each radio when determining which direction the user who has the portable radio 14 is in will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  First, in the example of the operation flow diagram of FIG. 3, when the user holding the portable key 14 touches the door knob or the entry switch for keyless entry to open any one of the driver seat, the passenger seat, and the rear trunk ( In step S40), the ECU detects from the touch sensor installed on the door that the door is about to be opened. The ECU sends a signal to the in-vehicle wireless device 15 to each tire position and portable key to the tire pressure sensor wireless devices 5, 6, 7, 8 (indicated as TPS5, 6, 7, 8 in FIG. 3). A request message (M42) for transmitting a message for measuring the RSSI is transmitted (step S41).

  The tire pressure sensor radio units 5, 6, 7, and 8 that have received the broadcast telegram in step S41 transmit the RSSI measurement telegrams sequentially shifted by a delay time in order to avoid a telegram collision. Each delay time can be calculated according to a pre-programmed calculation method using a tire position ID, a wireless device ID, and the like as parameters.

  FIG. 3 shows an example in which transmission is performed at a delay interval of 10 milliseconds simply according to the order of the locations of tires 1, 2, 3, and 4. First, the tire pressure sensor radio of tire 1 first transmits a message for RSSI measurement ( M43) is transmitted, the portable wireless device receives the message M43, measures RSSI, and stores the RSSI in association with the tire position. Subsequently, tire pressure sensor radios 6, 7, and 8 of tires 2, 3, and 4 transmit radio waves (M44, M45, and M46) for RSSI measurement at intervals of 10 milliseconds, and portable radios receive them. Then, the measured RSSI is sequentially stored (steps S45, S47, S49).

  When the RSSIs from the four tire positions are complete, the portable wireless device 14 transmits a list of RSSIs to the in-vehicle wireless device 15 (M46). The in-vehicle wireless device 15 inputs the received RSSI to the ECU, and the ECU determines which of the vehicle doors the mobile key 14 is in based on the RSSI (step S47).

  Next, the ECU determines whether or not the result determined in step S47 matches the area where the vehicle door touched in step S40 is present (step S48), and if it matches, the door is unlocked (step S50). . If they do not match, it is determined that the door is unlocked and the door is not unlocked and remains locked (step S49).

  At this time, it is more effective to perform answer-back control to notify that door unlocking has been accepted or unauthorized operation, such as turning on a hazard lamp or sounding a horn or warning buzzer. is there.

  The message M42 and the like may be sequentially transmitted to the tire pressure sensor radio instead of the broadcast communication, the RSSI measurement message transmission order, the delay interval, and the frequency are randomized, or a sequence programmed in advance. You may change according to.

In addition, it is not necessary to transmit from all the tire pressure sensor radios of the four tires on the front, rear, left and right depending on which door is to be determined. For example, in the case of determining only the driver's seat door, a configuration in which radio waves for RSSI measurement are transmitted from only two front and rear tires on the driver's seat side is also possible.

  Moreover, instead of determining the position of the portable device by the ECU in step S47, the electronic message M46 for returning the RSSI, the determination is performed by the portable key 14 or the in-vehicle wireless device 15, and the determination result is transmitted as the electronic message of M46. It doesn't matter.

  Next, FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration in which the radio wave for RSSI measurement is transmitted from the portable key 14 side as another sequence, although the effect is the same as FIG. Compared with FIG. 3, the radio wave transmission / reception time of the portable key 14 can be made relatively short, which is effective in keeping the battery life of the portable key 14 longer.

  In FIG. 4, when the user approaches the vehicle and touches the door (step S51), the ECU sends a signal to the in-vehicle wireless device 15 that the door has been touched. The request telegram (M62) that triggers the start of RSSI measurement to determine the position of the tire is indicated by the tire pressure sensor radios 5, 6, 7, and 8 (indicated as TPS5, 6, 7, and 8 in FIG. 4). And it transmits to the portable radio | wireless machine 14 (step S52).

  The tire pressure sensor radio devices 5, 6, 7, and 8 that have received the request message enter a state of receiving an answer message (M63) for RSSI measurement from the portable radio device 14. The portable wireless device 14 that has received the request message transmits an RSSI measurement answer message (M63) (step S53).

  The tire pressure sensor radios 5, 6, 7, and 8 receive the answer message (M63) in a broadcast and send the answer message (M63) according to a preset order or the order specified in the answer message (M63). A notification message (M64 to M67) for reporting the RSSI measured at the time of reception to the in-vehicle wireless device 15 is transmitted (steps S54 to S57). Here, for simplification of explanation, it is assumed that the notification messages (M64 to M67) are transmitted in the order of the tire pressure sensor radio devices 5, 6, 7, and 8.

  The measured RSSI value in the notification message (M64 to M67) received by the in-vehicle wireless device 15 is input to the ECU by an interface signal connecting the in-vehicle wireless device 15 and the ECU (D68). Subsequently, the ECU determines the position of the portable key 14 from the input RSSI (step S58).

  As a determination method, the same method as described in FIG. 3 can be applied. That is, as an example of the determination method with simplified explanation, the RSSI notified by the notification message (M64 to M67) is the mobile key 14 and each tire 1, 2, 3 when the answer message (M63) is transmitted. 4, that is, it can be determined that it exists in the tire area where the largest RSSI is measured. Now, if the RSSI measured by the tire pressure sensor radio 5 of the tire 1 is the maximum, it can be determined that the user who has the portable key 14 is in the area near the door on the driver's seat side.

  In step S58, the position of the portable device is determined. In step S51, it is determined whether or not the result matches a certain direction of the touched door (step S59). If it does not match, it is determined that the person who does not have the portable key 14 has touched the door, and the door remains locked (step S60).

In the description so far, the description has been made when unlocking the vehicle door, but the present invention can be similarly applied when the engine is started or when the vehicle is getting off. For example, when the engine start switch is operated, the determination is made in the sequence of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, and the mobile key 14 is controlled not to start unless the portable key 14 is in the vehicle or near the driver's seat. When the door lock switch is operated, the determination is made according to the sequence shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4. The portable key 14 is not in the car or is not locked near the door on the driver's seat side. It is possible to realize a configuration for performing control to perform the notification.

  In the above description, an example is shown in which RSSI is measured by wireless communication that is transmitted and received using a user 13 touching a vehicle door as a trigger. However, wireless communication periodically transmitted by a portable wireless device, tire pressure If the sensor wireless device or in-vehicle wireless device receives and determines the presence area of the portable wireless device, the position of the portable key can be determined in advance when the user approaches the vehicle, and the user touches the door This is effective in that the response is faster than the determination from the above.

  Furthermore, the wireless communication transmitted when the manual switch for unlocking or unlocking the vehicle door provided in the portable wireless device is pressed is received by the tire pressure sensor wireless device or the in-vehicle wireless device, and the presence area of the portable wireless device is determined. If the door of the vehicle is manually operated remotely by the user, the door on the opposite side of the vehicle is kept locked to prevent a suspicious person from entering the vehicle. Security can be improved by not accepting unlocking.

  Finally, the first embodiment has been described as a wireless device for keyless entry (registered trademark) and smart entry (registered trademark) of a vehicle. For example, if there is no portable key in the vicinity, a settlement function, an address book display, a call A mobile phone system that locks functions, a system that automatically unlocks when a mobile key is brought close to the electronic lock of the front door, and an administrator who has the mobile key is in the vicinity of the device. If not, it can be widely applied to devices other than mobile phones, such as printers and personal computers that cannot accept input.

  Note that the means described in this embodiment causes hardware resources such as a CPU (or microcomputer), a RAM, a ROM, a storage / recording device, an electrical / information device including an I / O, a computer, a server, and the like to cooperate. You may implement with the form of a program. In the form of a program, new functions can be easily distributed / updated and installed by recording them on a recording medium such as magnetic media or optical media or distributing them via a communication line such as the Internet.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the distance relationship between each tire and the portable wireless device can be determined by measuring the electric field strength level of the radio communication of the tire pressure sensor wireless device, and the vehicle door can be unlocked and unlocked. In addition, a wireless device with high security and convenience can be realized according to the result of determining the position of the portable wireless device when starting the engine.

  Further, the present invention can be used not only for keys but also for wireless authentication systems that perform authentication.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example in which a wireless device according to Embodiment 1 as an example of the present invention is arranged in a vehicle. Schematic block diagram showing the configuration of each radio of the radio device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which shows an example of the communication sequence in the case of unlocking of the vehicle door in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows another example of the communication sequence in the case of unlocking of the vehicle door in Embodiment 1 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2, 3, 4 Tire 5, 6, 7, 8 Tire pressure radio 13 Vehicle 14 Portable key (portable radio)
15 On-vehicle wireless device 17 User 70 Vehicle control device (ECU)

Claims (10)

A portable radio carried by the user;
A tire pressure sensor radio that wirelessly communicates a signal of a tire pressure sensor that is installed in the tire and measures the air pressure; and
An in-vehicle wireless device that is connected to a vehicle control device that controls the equipment of the vehicle and performs wireless communication with the tire pressure sensor wireless device or the portable wireless device;
Based on the measured value of the electric field strength level of radio waves wirelessly communicated between at least one of the tire pressure sensor radio or the in-vehicle radio and the portable radio, in the vicinity of the vehicle and inside and outside the vehicle A wireless device that determines a position of the portable wireless device, and the vehicle control device determines whether control is possible according to the determination. When a user touches an unlocking switch provided on the door of the vehicle, the tire pressure sensor radio and the in-vehicle radio transmit radio waves that are wirelessly communicated, and the portable radio receives the radio waves to generate an electric field. Based on the measured value of the intensity level, the position of the portable wireless device around the vehicle and inside and outside the vehicle is determined, and when the position is in the vicinity of the door touched by the user, the door is The wireless device according to claim 1, which is unlocked. When a user touches a lock switch provided on the door of the vehicle, the tire pressure sensor radio and the in-vehicle radio transmit radio waves that are wirelessly communicated, and the portable radio receives the radio waves and the electric field strength. 2. The position of the portable wireless device around the vehicle and inside / outside the vehicle is determined based on a measurement value obtained by measuring a level, and the door is locked when the position is outside the vehicle. Wireless devices. When the user operates the engine start switch of the vehicle, the tire pressure sensor radio and the in-vehicle radio transmit radio waves that are wirelessly communicated, and the portable radio receives the radio waves and measures the electric field strength level. The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the position of the portable wireless device around the vehicle and inside and outside the vehicle is determined based on the measured value, and the engine is started when the position is inside the vehicle. . When a user operates an unlocking switch provided on the vehicle door, the in-vehicle radio transmits a request radio wave, the portable radio transmits an answer radio wave for the request radio wave, and the tire pressure sensor radio Alternatively, the position of the portable wireless device around the vehicle and inside and outside the vehicle is determined based on a measurement value obtained by the vehicle-mounted wireless device receiving the answer radio wave and measuring the electric field strength level, and the position is the user The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the door is unlocked when the door is in the vicinity of the touched door. When a user operates an unlocking switch provided on the vehicle door, the in-vehicle radio transmits a request radio wave, the portable radio transmits an answer radio wave for the request radio wave, and the tire pressure sensor radio Alternatively, the position of the portable wireless device around the vehicle and inside and outside the vehicle is determined based on a measurement value obtained by the vehicle-mounted wireless device receiving the answer radio wave and measuring the electric field strength level, and the position is the vehicle The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the door is locked when the door is outside. When a user operates an engine start switch of a vehicle, the in-vehicle wireless device transmits a request radio wave, the portable wireless device transmits an answer radio wave with respect to the request radio wave, and the tire pressure sensor radio device or the in-vehicle wireless device The position of the portable wireless device around the vehicle and inside / outside the vehicle is determined based on a measurement value obtained by receiving the answer radio wave and measuring the electric field strength level, and the position is within the vehicle The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the engine is started. The tire pressure sensor radio is a radio wave that is periodically communicated by the portable radio or a radio that is communicated when a user of the portable radio operates a switch provided in the portable radio. The wireless device according to claim 1, further comprising: determining a position of the portable wireless device around the vehicle and inside and outside the vehicle based on a measurement value received by the in-vehicle wireless device and measuring a radio field intensity level. A portable radio carried by the user;
A tire pressure sensor radio that wirelessly communicates a signal of a tire pressure sensor that is installed in the tire and measures the air pressure; and
In a control method of an in-vehicle wireless device that is connected to a vehicle control device that controls equipment of a vehicle and performs wireless communication with the tire pressure sensor wireless device or the portable wireless device,
Measuring at least one of the tire pressure sensor radio or the in-vehicle radio and a field strength level of radio waves wirelessly communicated between the portable radio; and
Determining the position of the portable wireless device around the vehicle and inside and outside the vehicle based on the measured value;
The vehicle control device includes a step of determining whether control is possible according to the determination. The program which performs at least one part of the radio | wireless apparatus of any one of Claims 1-8.

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