JP2009175849A - Vehicle search apparatus using tire pressure detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stolen vehicle search apparatus for efficiently searching a stolen vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: Data related to the stolen vehicle of the feature of the stolen vehicle such as a registration number, a type of a vehicle, and a color are stored in a receiver 3 of a vehicle 1. Thereby, a frame transmitted from a transmitter 2 of the stolen vehicle is received by the receiver 3 through an antenna 31 of the vehicle 1 when the vehicle 1 has passed near the stolen vehicle, the feature, such as the registration number, of the stolen vehicle is displayed on a display unit 4, and then, the presence of the stolen vehicle to be searched near the vehicle 1 is notified to a user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention directly attaches a transceiver equipped with a pressure sensor to a wheel to which a tire is attached, transmits a detection signal from the pressure sensor from the transceiver, and receives it by a receiver attached to the vehicle body side. The present invention relates to a vehicle search device using a direct tire pressure detection device that detects tire pressure.

Conventionally, when searching for stolen vehicles, the registration number written on the number plate attached to the vehicle is mainly taken by visually or using a surveillance camera and collated with the registration number for which the theft report has been issued. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 11-296785 A

  However, it is not easy to confirm the registration numbers of all the vehicles, and it is highly likely to be overlooked particularly in a running vehicle, and it is difficult to find a stolen vehicle efficiently. Such a vehicle search is not limited to a stolen vehicle. For example, the same can be said for a search for a vehicle used by a criminal who is running away, and it is desired that the vehicle to be searched can be found efficiently. .

  An object of this invention is to provide the vehicle search apparatus which can search a search object vehicle more efficiently in view of the said point.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sensing unit that is provided on each of the plurality of wheels (6a to 6d) provided with tires and outputs a detection signal relating to the tire air pressure of each of the plurality of wheels. (21), the detection signal of the sensing unit is signal-processed, and the first control unit (22) that stores data related to tire air pressure in a frame together with unique ID information, and the frame processed by the first control unit is transmitted. A transmitter (2) having a transmitter (23) for transmitting, a first receiver (32) provided on the vehicle body (7) side for receiving a frame, ID information and tire pressure stored in the frame Vehicle search using a tire air pressure detection device comprising: a receiver (3) having a second control unit (33) for determining tire air pressure of each of a plurality of wheels based on data relating to A second receiving unit (32) for receiving a frame transmitted by the transmitter and a storage unit for storing data relating to the search target vehicle including ID information of the transmitter of the search target vehicle. A third control unit (33) having a determination unit for determining whether or not the vehicle is a search target vehicle by comparing the stored ID information with the stored ID information of the transmitter of the search target vehicle; And a warning unit (4) for notifying that when the determination unit determines that the vehicle is a search target vehicle.

  In this way, data related to the search target vehicle is stored in the receiver of the vehicle search device. Therefore, the vehicle to be searched for is notified to the user by causing the receiver of the vehicle search device to receive a frame transmitted from the transmitter of the vehicle to be searched and displaying data related to the vehicle to be searched for in the alarm unit. Can be notified. Thereby, it becomes possible to search for the vehicle to be searched more efficiently. The data related to the search target vehicle includes, for example, the vehicle number and color in addition to the registration number shown in claim 4.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the second receiver, the third controller, and the alarm are mounted on the vehicle body.

  Thus, the vehicle search device can be mounted on the vehicle. If it does in this way, it will become possible to search the search object vehicle by receiving the frame which the transmitter of various other vehicles transmits only by driving a vehicle as usual. And since it becomes possible for the user to search for the vehicle to be searched without carefully observing other vehicles, it is possible to concentrate on driving and to be safe. Searches can be performed simultaneously.

  In this case, as shown in claim 3, if the first receiving unit also serves as the second receiving unit and the second control unit also serves as the third control unit, the tire pressure originally mounted on the vehicle is used. The detection device can serve as a vehicle search device.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that data relating to the search target vehicle is transmitted to the third control unit in a wireless format and stored in the third control unit.

  In this manner, if data can be input in a wireless format, it is possible to cope with the case where the vehicle search device is assumed to be mounted on a police car (patrol car).

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same or equivalent parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a tire air pressure detection device used in a stolen vehicle search device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The upper direction in the drawing of FIG. 1 corresponds to the front of the vehicle 1, and the lower direction of the drawing corresponds to the rear of the vehicle 1. With reference to this figure, first, the tire pressure detecting device used in the stolen vehicle searching device according to the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tire air pressure detection device is attached to a vehicle 1 and includes a transmitter 2, a receiver 3, and a display 4.

  The transmitter 2 is attached to each of the four wheels 6a to 6d in the vehicle 1. The transmitter 2 detects the air pressure of the tire attached to each of the wheels 6a to 6d and the temperature in the tire, and a detection signal indicating the detection result. Are stored in a frame and transmitted. The receiver 3 is attached to the vehicle body 7 side of the vehicle 1 and receives a frame transmitted from the transmitter 2 and performs various processes and calculations based on a detection signal stored therein. Therefore, the tire pressure is obtained. 2A and 2B show block configurations of the transmitter 2 and the receiver 3.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the transmitter 2 includes a sensing unit 21, a control unit 22, an RF transmission unit 23, a battery 24, and a transmission antenna 25.

  The sensing unit 21 includes, for example, a diaphragm type pressure sensor and a temperature sensor, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the tire pressure and a detection signal corresponding to the temperature as a detection signal related to the tire pressure.

  The control unit (first control unit) 22 is configured by a known microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I / O, and the like, and executes a predetermined process according to a program stored in the ROM or the like.

  Specifically, the control unit 22 receives a detection signal related to the tire pressure from the sensing unit 21, processes the signal, processes the signal as necessary, and indicates the detection result (hereinafter referred to as data related to the tire pressure). Is stored in the frame to be transmitted, and then the frame is sent to the RF transmitter 23. In addition to data related to tire pressure, unique ID information attached to each transmitter 2 is stored in the frame so that it can be specified from which transmitter 2 of the own vehicle the frame to be transmitted is sent. It has become. The process of sending a signal to the RF transmitter 23 is executed at predetermined intervals in accordance with the program, but the controller 22 transmits the frame to the RF transmitter in order to prevent batting between transmission data from each transmitter 2. The timing to send to 23 is controlled.

  For example, the tire pressure detecting device is provided with a trigger machine (not shown) that can output a trigger signal, and outputs a trigger signal to each transmitter 2 when requesting data related to tire pressure. Transmits a frame including data on tire pressure. For this reason, the transmission timing of how many seconds after each transmitter 2 receives the trigger signal is set to a different value for each transmitter 2 in advance. As a result, frames are transmitted at different timings from the transmitters 2 of the wheels 6a to 6d, so that the batting can be prevented.

  Moreover, you may set the program memorize | stored in the control part 22 so that transmission timing may be changed at random every time. In this way, if it is changed randomly each time, it is possible to make the transmission timings of the transmitters 2 all different with a high probability.

  The RF transmission unit 23 functions as an output unit that transmits a frame transmitted from the control unit 22 to the receiver 3 through the transmission antenna 25 using an RF band, for example, a 300 MHz band radio wave.

  The battery 24 supplies power to the control unit 22 and the like, and receives power supply from the battery 24 to collect data related to tire air pressure in the sensing unit 21 and various calculations in the control unit 22. Is executed.

  The transmitter 2 configured in this way is attached to an air injection valve in each of the wheels 6a to 6d, for example, and is arranged so that the sensing unit 21 is exposed inside the tire. As a result, the corresponding tire pressure and the temperature in the tire are detected, and frames are transmitted at predetermined intervals (for example, every minute) through the transmission antenna 25 provided in each transmitter 2.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the receiver 3 includes an antenna 31, an RF receiving unit 32, and a control unit 33.

  The antenna 31 is a vehicle-mounted antenna that is fixed to the vehicle body 7 that receives frames sent from the transmitters 2. Here, the antenna 31 is a single common antenna that collectively receives frames sent from the transmitters 2. There may be a plurality corresponding to each transmitter 2.

  The RF receiving unit (first and second receiving units) 32 functions as an input unit that receives a frame transmitted from each transmitter 2 by the antenna 31 and sends it to the control unit 33. .

  The control unit (second and third control unit) 33 is configured by a known microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I / O, and the like, and executes predetermined processing according to a program stored in the ROM or the like. .

  Specifically, the control unit 33 stores the ID information of each transmitter 2 of the own vehicle in a storage device such as a RAM, and the ID information of each transmitter 2 provided in the stolen vehicle and the vehicle. Information indicating features is stored. When the control unit 33 receives the frame, the control unit 33 collates the ID information stored in the frame. If the control unit 33 matches one of the ID information of each transmitter 2 of the own vehicle, the control unit 33 stores the frame in the received frame. The tire pressure is obtained by performing various signal processing and calculations based on the data indicating the detected result, and an electric signal corresponding to the obtained tire pressure is output to the display 4. For example, the control unit 33 compares the obtained tire pressure with a predetermined threshold value Th, and outputs a signal to that effect to the display 4 when detecting that the tire pressure has decreased. Thereby, the indicator 4 is informed that the tire pressure of any of the four wheels 6a to 6d has decreased.

  Further, if the ID information stored in the received frame matches any of the ID information of each transmitter 2 provided in the stolen vehicle, the control unit 33, for example, the characteristics of the stolen vehicle, such as a registration number or An electrical signal representing data on the stolen vehicle such as the vehicle type and color is output to the display 4.

  The display device 4 corresponds to an alarm unit, and as shown in FIG. 1, is disposed at a place where the driver can visually recognize, and is configured by a display or the like installed in an instrument panel in the vehicle 1, for example. . For example, when a signal indicating that the system is abnormal or a signal indicating that the tire air pressure has decreased is transmitted from the control unit 33 in the receiver 3, the display 4 displays a message to that effect to the driver. Notifies that a system abnormality has occurred and that tire pressure has dropped.

  Further, when an electric signal indicating data related to the stolen vehicle is sent from the control unit 33, the display device 4 displays the characteristics such as the registration number of the stolen vehicle on the display, thereby visually preventing the user from theft. Make it possible to recognize various information about the vehicle.

  With such a structure, a tire air pressure detection device is configured, and the tire air pressure detection device is used as a stolen vehicle search device.

  Next, a stolen vehicle search method using the tire air pressure detection device configured as described above will be described.

  The receiver 3 mounted on each vehicle 1 is pre-registered with ID information relating to the own vehicle. However, when searching for a stolen vehicle, prior to that, ID information relating to the stolen vehicle and its information Data indicating characteristics such as the registration number of the vehicle is stored in a storage device such as a RAM provided in the receiver 3.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a database in the storage device of the receiver 3. As shown in this figure, the ID information of the transmitter 2 for four wheels provided in the host vehicle is stored in the ID information storage area for the host vehicle, and the transmitter 2 for the four wheels of the stolen vehicle to be searched. Is stored in an ID information storage area for an arbitrary vehicle (for example, arbitrary vehicles A to C). In addition, in the ID information storage area for an arbitrary vehicle, data relating to characteristics such as a registration number of the stolen vehicle can be stored. For this reason, prior to searching for a stolen vehicle, ID information of each transmitter 2 of the stolen vehicle to be searched for and data relating to characteristics such as a registration number of the vehicle are stored in the ID information storage area for an arbitrary vehicle.

  As a means for creating a database of various data related to stolen vehicles, for example, in a land transport station, a database is obtained by linking characteristics such as the ID information of the transmitter 2 and the vehicle registration number to the vehicle identification information when the vehicle number is registered. Can be made. Alternatively, since it is possible to link the vehicle identification information with features such as the ID information of the transmitter 2 and the registration number of the vehicle by a dealer, the data can be centrally managed and made into a database.

  As a method of newly registering various data related to stolen vehicles, a dedicated tool for registration is installed in a maintenance factory such as a vehicle 1 or a dealer, and data is input by wire using the dedicated tool. Wirelessly by receiving a signal storing data sent from the registration center through a receiving antenna of 3 or through a receiving antenna provided in the navigation device when linking with a communication module or navigation device mounted on the vehicle. And a method for inputting data. In addition, when it is assumed that the stolen vehicle search device is mounted on a police car (patrol car), it is necessary to register various information on the stolen vehicle in the receivers 3 of a plurality of police vehicles. The input method is preferred.

  At the time of registration, for example, as shown in the configuration diagram of the registration data shown in FIG. 4, a registration command for instructing registration of data related to the stolen vehicle, ID information of each transmitter 2 of the stolen vehicle, and the vehicle When a frame in which data indicating characteristics such as a registration number is stored is transmitted to the receiver 3 and the control unit 33 of the receiver 3 receives a registration command, the data relating to the stolen vehicle is automatically registered. be able to.

  When registration of various data related to the stolen vehicle is completed in this way, it is possible to search for the stolen vehicle only by running the vehicle 1 thereafter. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state when searching for a stolen vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a host vehicle 10 equipped with a stolen vehicle search device using the tire pressure detection device according to the present embodiment passes near the other vehicle 11 such as a parked vehicle, or a traveling vehicle in an opposite lane. When the vehicle passes the other vehicle 11, the frame is transmitted at the transmission timing even in the transmitter 2 provided in the other vehicle 11, so that the frame is received by the antenna 31 of the vehicle 1 and transmitted to the receiver 3. . Then, the ID information stored in the frame received by the receiver 3 is read, and it is verified whether or not it matches the ID information of the own vehicle and the registered ID information of the transmitter 2 of the stolen vehicle. To do. If the ID information of the registered stolen vehicle transmitter 2 matches the ID information of the stolen vehicle, for example, an electrical signal representing data on the stolen vehicle such as a registration number, vehicle type, and color is received by the receiver. 3 is output to the display 4.

  As a result, when an electrical signal representing data relating to the stolen vehicle is sent on the display device 4, a feature such as the registration number of the stolen vehicle is displayed on the display, so that the user can visually recognize the stolen vehicle. Make the feature recognized.

  As described above, according to the stolen vehicle search device using the tire air pressure detection device according to the present embodiment, the receiver 3 of the vehicle 1 relates to the stolen vehicle such as the stolen vehicle characteristics such as the registration number, the vehicle type, and the color. The data is memorized. For this reason, when the vehicle 1 passes the vicinity of the stolen vehicle, the receiver 3 receives a frame transmitted from the transmitter 2 of the stolen vehicle through the antenna 31 of the vehicle 1, and the display device 4 has the registration number of the stolen vehicle, etc. By displaying this feature on the display, it is possible to notify the user that there is a stolen vehicle to be searched in the vicinity of the vehicle 1.

  In this manner, by storing various data related to the stolen vehicle to be searched for in the receiver 3 of the vehicle 1, the transmitter 2 of various other vehicles 11 transmits only when the user drives the vehicle 1 as usual. It is possible to search for a stolen vehicle by receiving a frame to be transmitted. And since it becomes possible for the user to search for the stolen vehicle without carefully viewing the other vehicle 11, it is possible to concentrate on driving and to be safe, and by just driving the vehicle 1 as usual and patroling it. Multiple stolen vehicles can be searched simultaneously. Even if the license plate of the stolen vehicle has been replaced, it is possible to identify the stolen vehicle based on characteristics such as the model and color of the stolen vehicle unless the transmitter 2 is replaced. Furthermore, since the stolen vehicle can be searched as long as the frame transmitted from the transmitter 2 can be received, the search can be performed even if the stolen vehicle exists in the blind spot of the user.

  In addition, when the stolen vehicle is stopped, there is a tire pressure detecting device of a type in which the transmission time interval of the frame by the transmitter 2 of the stolen vehicle is longer than that during driving, but the frame is continuously transmitted even during the stop. It is possible to search for stolen vehicles as long as they are. Further, the normal transmission time interval is, for example, once every second, but a frame is transmitted from the transmitter 2 provided for each of the four wheels, and at least one of them is the receiver of the vehicle 1. 3, the stolen vehicle can be searched. Therefore, the time for the vehicle 1 to pass through the vicinity of the stolen vehicle may be short, or it may be away from the stolen vehicle to some extent.

  Further, the frame format (communication format) and frequency transmitted by the transmitter 2 provided in the tire air pressure detection device may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so that the receiver 3 may have a plurality of communication formats and frequencies. It is preferable that it can respond to. However, with respect to the frequency, because the frequency bands that are almost similar to each manufacturer are used due to legal restrictions and the like, the receiver 3 can be sufficiently versatile.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the alarm unit is configured by the display device 4 and the features such as the registration number related to the stolen vehicle can be visually recognized by the display device by the display device 4 has been described. For example, a feature such as a registration number related to the stolen vehicle may be guided by voice through a speaker or the like so as to be audibly recognized.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where a stolen vehicle was searched using the tire air pressure detection apparatus with which the own vehicle 10 and the other vehicle 11 were equipped, it is not restricted only to the search by the vehicle 1. FIG. That is, an antenna for receiving a frame transmitted by the transmitter 2 is provided in the road system so that the frame received by the antenna is transmitted to a receiver provided in the road system or a police station. By storing various data related to the stolen vehicle in the same manner as the receiver 3 mounted on the vehicle 1, it is possible to search for the stolen vehicle using a road system. In this case, if the police station is equipped with an alarm unit for notifying that the stolen vehicle has passed, if the location where the stolen vehicle is traveling is displayed or voice-guided through the alarm unit, the police in circulation in the vicinity It is also possible to notify the vehicle and search for the stolen vehicle.

  In the above-described embodiment, the receiver 3 and the display 4 of the tire air pressure detection device provided in the host vehicle 10 serve as a receiver and an alarm unit in the stolen vehicle search device. And in the control part 33 with which the receiver 3 of the tire pressure detection apparatus was equipped, the memory | storage part and determination part (whether it is a stolen vehicle based on ID information stored in the flame | frame) in a stolen vehicle search device The control part (third control part) provided with a means for determining whether or not is fulfilled. On the other hand, when a road system is used, a receiver or an alarm unit in a stolen vehicle search device is provided in a road system or a police station.

  Further, in the above embodiment, since the own vehicle 10 is also provided with the tire pressure detecting device, the receiver 3 and the display 4 of the tire pressure detecting device provided in the own vehicle 10 receive the signal in the stolen vehicle search device. Although it also serves as a machine and an alarm unit, a receiver and an alarm unit may be separately provided for searching for stolen vehicles. In that case, for example, a display used in a navigation device may be used as the alarm unit.

  In the above embodiment, the stolen vehicle search device has been described as an example of the vehicle search device. However, for example, a vehicle search device that searches for a vehicle used by a criminal who is running away can be used.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the tire-pressure detection apparatus utilized for the stolen vehicle search apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the block structure of the transmitter and the receiver with which the tire pressure detection apparatus was equipped, respectively. It is the figure which showed an example of the database in the memory | storage device of a receiver. It is a block diagram of the registration data used when registering various information on a stolen vehicle in the storage device of the receiver. It is the figure which showed the mode when searching for a stolen vehicle.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Transmitter 3 Receiver 4 Indicator 6a-6d Wheel 7 Car body 10 Own vehicle 11 Other vehicle 21 Sensing part 22 Control part 23 RF transmission part 24 Battery 25 Transmission antenna 31 Antenna 32 RF reception part 33 Control part

Claims (5)

A sensing unit (21) provided on each of a plurality of wheels (6a to 6d) having tires and outputting a detection signal relating to tire air pressure of each of the plurality of wheels; and a signal processing of the detection signal of the sensing unit. A first control unit (22) that stores data related to the tire pressure in a frame together with unique ID information, and a transmission unit (23) that transmits the frame processed by the first control unit. Machine (2),
A first receiver (32) provided on the vehicle body (7) side for receiving the frame, and tire pressure of each of the plurality of wheels based on the ID information and data on the tire pressure stored in the frame A vehicle search device using a tire air pressure detection device comprising a receiver (3) having a second control unit (33) for obtaining
A second receiving unit (32) for receiving the frame transmitted by the transmitter; and a storage unit for storing data relating to the search target vehicle including ID information of the transmitter of the search target vehicle; A third control unit having a determination unit that determines whether the vehicle is the search target vehicle by comparing the stored ID information with the stored ID information of the transmitter of the search target vehicle ( 33) and a warning unit (4) for notifying that when the determination unit determines that the vehicle is the search target vehicle, the vehicle using the tire air pressure detection device Search device.   The vehicle search device using a tire air pressure detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the second receiving unit, the third control unit, and the warning unit are mounted on the vehicle body. The first receiving unit also serves as the second receiving unit;
The vehicle search device using a tire air pressure detecting device according to claim 2, wherein the second control unit also serves as the third control unit.   The third control unit stores characteristics of the search target vehicle in addition to ID information of the transmitter of the search target vehicle, and when the determination unit determines that the search target vehicle is the search target vehicle The vehicle search device using the tire air pressure detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the feature is also notified through the alarm unit.   The data related to the search target vehicle is transmitted to the third control unit in a wireless format and stored in the third control unit, according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A vehicle search device using the tire pressure detection device described.

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