JP2017011557A - Remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control system which detects, with high accuracy, a specific operation including a swing operations in a plurality of directions.SOLUTION: A microcomputer 22 determines knee bending start timing T1 and knee bending completion timing T3 from the detection value of an acceleration sensor 24, to determine that the knee bending operation is made on condition that a difference of the detection values at the timing T1, T3 in an RSSI circuit 21a is smaller than and including a preset first reference value K1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote operation system.

  Conventionally, when a movement of a portable device is detected by an acceleration sensor and the detected value of the acceleration sensor reaches a determination threshold value, an affirmative determination is made that there is a specific operation stored in advance in the portable device, and the portable device is transferred to the vehicle. There has been proposed a remote operation system that outputs an operation completion and remotely operates the in-vehicle device in response to the output. For example, in the system of Patent Document 1, the swing operation of the portable device is reflected in the open / close control of the slide door.

  In the above example, the opening / closing control of the slide door is performed by the swing operation, but remote operation of other devices is also assumed by the swing operation in another direction. However, there is a limit to the number of swing directions that can be set according to an increase in the number of devices to be remotely controlled. Therefore, remote operation of the in-vehicle device is assumed by moving the portable device in a plurality of directions as a specific operation.

JP2011-903A

Since the operation of moving in a plurality of directions is an operation combining the operations of moving in one direction, it is difficult to detect a specific operation with high accuracy.
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a remote operation system that detects a specific operation including a swing operation in a plurality of directions with high accuracy.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a remote operation for remotely operating a control target on the condition that a motion of a mobile device is detected by a motion sensor and a detection value of the motion sensor is a value indicating a specific operation in the mobile device. In the system, the specific operation is an operation for returning to a position at the start of the operation when the operation is completed, and a signal strength detection unit that detects a signal strength of a radio signal exchanged between the portable device and the control target One of the portable device and the object to be controlled is determined from the detection value of the motion sensor when the operation is started and when the operation is completed, and the signal intensity at the start of the operation and the signal intensity at the completion of the operation The difference is that the portable device is determined to have been subjected to the specific operation on the condition that the difference is equal to or less than a first reference value set in advance.

  When the specific operation is an operation for returning to the position at the start of the operation when the operation is completed, the position of the portable device with respect to the control target is the same at the start of the operation and at the completion of the operation. Therefore, if the specific operation is normally performed, the signal strength of the radio signal exchanged between the controlled object and the portable device is the same at the start of the operation and at the completion of the operation.

  According to this configuration, since it is determined whether or not the specific operation is performed through whether or not the difference between the signal intensity at the start of the operation and the signal intensity at the completion of the operation, which has not been conventionally performed, is equal to or less than the first reference value, The presence / absence of the specific operation can be determined with higher accuracy than before.

  In the system, the specific operation is a reciprocal operation including a forward path displaced in a specific direction and a return path displaced in the opposite direction, and one of the portable device and the control target is a motion sensor. It is determined at the time of switching when the displacement from the detected value to the forward path and the backward path is switched, and the difference between the signal intensity at the start of the operation and the signal intensity at the time of switching exceeds the first reference value. It is preferable to determine that the portable device has been subjected to the specific operation as a condition.

  If the specific operation is a reciprocating operation, the position of the portable device with respect to the control target is different between when the operation starts and when the operation is switched. Therefore, if the reciprocating operation is normally performed, the signal strength of the radio signal exchanged between the controlled object and the portable device also differs between when the operation is started and when the operation is switched.

  According to this configuration, since the presence / absence of the specific operation is determined based on whether the difference between the signal strength at the start of the operation and the signal strength at the time of switching does not exceed the first reference value, the specific operation can be performed with higher accuracy. The presence or absence can be determined.

  In the system, one of the portable device and the control target is the portable device on condition that a difference between a signal strength at the time of switching and a signal strength at the time of completion of the operation exceeds a preset second reference value. It is preferable that the machine determines that the specific operation has been performed.

  If the specific operation is a reciprocal operation, the position of the portable device with respect to the control target is different when switching and when the operation is completed. Therefore, if the reciprocating operation is normally performed, the signal strength of the radio signal exchanged between the controlled object and the portable device also differs between when switching and when the operation is completed.

  According to this configuration, since the presence / absence of the specific operation is determined based on whether or not the difference between the signal strength at the time of switching and the signal strength at the completion of the operation does not exceed the second reference value, the specific operation can be performed with higher accuracy. The presence or absence can be determined.

  The system of the present invention can detect a specific operation including a swing operation in a plurality of directions with high accuracy.

(A) is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of a remote control system, (b) is an image figure of an antenna. The related figure which shows the change of the acceleration in knee bending operation. The related figure which shows each change of the position of an antenna and RSSI in the case of performing knee bending operation in the state which stopped. The related figure which shows each change of the position of an antenna and RSSI in the case of performing a knee bending operation in a state while moving one step.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a remote control system will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the remote control system 1 is capable of bidirectional wireless communication between the portable device 2 and the vehicle 3, and unidirectional wireless communication with the portable device 2 as a transmission side. Is possible. For bidirectional wireless communication, LF (low frequency) band radio waves and UHF (ultrahigh frequency) band radio waves are used, and for unidirectional wireless communication, UHF band radio waves are used.

The portable device 2 includes an LF reception circuit 21, a microcomputer 22, a UHF transmission circuit 23, and an acceleration sensor 24.
The LF receiving circuit 21 can receive a request signal transmitted from the vehicle 3 as an LF band radio wave. In addition, the LF reception circuit 21 is provided with an RSSI circuit 21 a that detects the signal strength (RSSI) of the request signal. When receiving the request signal, the LF receiving circuit 21 demodulates the signal. In addition, information indicating the signal strength (RSSI) of the request signal is output to the microcomputer 22. As shown in FIG. 1B, the LF reception circuit 21 includes three antennas 21x, 21y, and 21z whose reception antennas are orthogonal to each other, and the RSSI circuit 21a includes the respective antennas 21x, 21y, and 21z. The signal strength of the request signal received at is detected. The RSSI circuit 21a constitutes a signal intensity detection unit.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the acceleration sensor 24 is a medium for detecting acceleration applied to the portable device 2, and outputs a detected acceleration value to the microcomputer 22. The acceleration sensor 24 is a three-axis sensor having three detection axes.

  A non-volatile memory 22 a provided in the microcomputer 22 stores an ID (identification) unique to the portable device 2. The memory 22a stores detection logic for determining whether or not a specific operation, here, a knee bending operation is performed. Further, a first reference value K1 and a second reference value K2 set in advance in the detection logic are included.

  More specifically, the microcomputer 22 performs knee bending start timing (timing at which the knee begins to bend) T1, switching timing (timing at which knee bending / extension is switched) T2, and knee bending in accordance with detection logic. Completion timing (timing when the knee is fully extended) T3 is determined. Then, the detected values of the RSSI circuit 21a at the timings T1, T2, and T3 are compared. The microcomputer 22 determines that the difference between the detected values of the RSSI circuit 21a at the timings T1 and T2 exceeds the preset first reference value K1, and the difference between the detected values of the RSSI circuit 21a at the timings T2 and T3 is the second reference. When the three conditions of exceeding the value K2 and that the difference between the detected values of the RSSI circuit 21a at the timings T1 and T3 is equal to or less than the first reference value K1 are determined to be knee bending operations.

When receiving the request signal, the microcomputer 22 generates a response signal including an ID as a response to the request signal.
Further, while receiving the request signal, the microcomputer 22 constantly monitors the detected value of the RSSI circuit 21a and the detected value of the acceleration sensor 24, and determines the presence or absence of the knee bending operation using the detection logic.

  When the microcomputer 22 determines that there is a knee bending operation, the microcomputer 22 generates a specific operation signal including information requesting opening / closing of the sliding door and the ID. The specific operation signal is modulated into a UHF band radio wave by the UHF transmission circuit 23 and transmitted to the outside of the portable device 2.

  The vehicle 3 includes an LF transmitter 31, a UHF receiver 32, a verification ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 33, and a slide door 34. The LF transmitter 31 is controlled by the verification ECU 33 and transmits a request signal to a communication area set around each door (including the driver's seat door and the slide door 34). When the portable device 2 enters the communication area, a response signal is returned from the portable device 2 in response to a request signal. The UHF receiver 32 can receive a specific operation signal in addition to the response signal from the portable device 2.

  The verification ECU 33 includes a non-volatile memory 33a. In the memory 33a, the ID of the portable device 2 suitable for the vehicle 3 is registered. In order to monitor the approach of the portable device 2, the verification ECU 33 periodically generates a request signal and transmits the request signal from the LF transmitter 31. When the verification ECU 33 receives the response signal through the UHF receiver 32 along with the transmission of the request signal, the verification ECU 33 verifies the ID included in the signal.

  In addition, when receiving the specific operation signal, the verification ECU 33 performs verification of the ID included in the signal, and when the verification is established, opens and closes the slide door 34 through control of an actuator (not shown).

  Next, the knee bending operation will be described with reference to FIGS. For ease of understanding, the triaxial antenna provided in the LF receiving circuit 21 displays only one specific axis, and only the x and y axes for the three detection axes of the acceleration sensor 24. For the sake of explanation, although the antenna is described as one axis and the detection axis of the acceleration sensor is described as two axes, the actual microcomputer 22 is configured to detect the detected values of all the RSSI circuits 21a of the three-axis antenna and the three detection axes. Knee bending operation is judged using all acceleration values.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the user performs a knee bending operation, the portable device 2 moves with the user, that is, moves up and down. Therefore, the detected acceleration value changes greatly in a specific direction (here, the Y-axis direction). This is because there is a timing T2 at which the motion acceleration M acts in the same direction as the gravitational acceleration G and a timing T3 at which the motion acceleration M acts in the opposite direction. Regarding the change in the detection value of the acceleration sensor 24, there is no great difference whether the knee bending operation is performed in a stationary state or while walking.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, a case where the knee bending operation is performed in a stopped state will be described. When the knee bending operation is performed in a stationary state, the positional relationship between the vehicle 3 (communication area) and the portable device 2 at the knee bending start timing T1, and between the vehicle 3 and the portable device 2 at the knee bending completion timing T3. There is no change in the positional relationship. Therefore, it is difficult for a difference to occur in the detected value of the RSSI circuit 21a at the timings T1 and T3.

  On the other hand, since the knee bending operation is literally an operation of bending the knee, the position of the portable device 2 at the timing T2 is lower than the position of the portable device 2 at the timings T1 and T3. Since the vehicle 3 does not move, the positional relationship between the vehicle 3 and the portable device 2 changes as the position of the portable device 2 decreases. Therefore, there is a difference between the detection value of the RSSI circuit 21a at the timings T1 and T2 and the detection value of the detection value of the RSSI circuit 21a at the timings T2 and T3.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 4, a case where the knee bending operation is performed in a state including movement will be described. For example, when the knee bending operation is performed while moving one step, the position of the portable device 2 at the timing T3 is moved more horizontally than the position of the portable device 2 at the timing T1 by the amount of one step movement. Therefore, a difference occurs in the detection value of the RSSI circuit 21a at the timings T1 and T3.

  Moreover, since a difference occurs in the communication environment between the vehicle 3 and the portable device 2 due to the movement, there is no difference in the detected value of the RSSI circuit 21a at the timings T1 and T2, or the RSSI at the timings T2 and T3. A case where there is no difference in the detection value of the circuit is also assumed.

Next, the operation of the remote operation system 1 will be described.
While receiving the request signal, the microcomputer 22 constantly monitors the detection value of the RSSI circuit 21a and the detection value of the acceleration sensor 24, and obtains the determination result of the knee bending operation using the detection logic. In addition to the conventional acceleration, a judgment procedure based on the comparison of the detected value difference of the RSSI circuit 21a at each timing of the knee bending start timing T1, the knee bending timing T2, and the knee bending completion timing T3 is added. Therefore, it is possible to determine the presence or absence of the knee bending operation with higher accuracy.

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The microcomputer 22 determines the knee bending start timing T1 and the knee bending completion timing T3 based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor 24, and the difference between the detection values of the RSSI circuit 21a at the timings T1 and T3 is set in advance. If it is below the reference value K1, the knee bending operation is determined.

  Thus, since the detection value of the RSSI circuit 21a depending on the positional relationship between the portable device 2 and the vehicle 3 is used in addition to the detection value of the acceleration sensor 24, the portable device 2 reciprocates like a knee bending operation. The specific operation and the specific operation in which the portable device 2 returns to the position of the knee bending start timing T1 can be determined with high accuracy.

  (2) The microcomputer 22 determines the switching timing T2 based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor 24, and the first reference value in which the difference between the detection values of the RSSI circuit 21a at the knee bending start timing T1 and the switching timing T2 is set in advance. When K1 is exceeded, it is determined that the knee bending operation.

Thus, since the knee bending operation is not determined unless the knee is sufficiently bent, an opening / closing operation of the slide door 34 which is not intended by the user, that is, a so-called malfunction is suppressed.
(3) The microcomputer 22 determines that the knee bending operation is performed when the difference between the detected values of the RSSI circuit 21a at the switching timing T2 and the knee bending completion timing T3 exceeds a preset second reference value K2.

As a result, the knee bending operation is not determined unless the knee is fully extended from the knee bent state, so that the opening / closing operation of the slide door 34 not intended by the user, that is, a so-called malfunction is suppressed.
(4) The RSSI circuit 21a and the acceleration sensor 24 are configurations that have been conventionally considered to be provided in the portable device 2. In other words, since it can be handled only by updating the software of the microcomputer 22, it can be easily applied to a conventional remote operation system. It is also effective for cost.

  (5) The LF receiving circuit 21 is provided with triaxial antennas 21x, 21y, and 21z orthogonal to each other. The RSSI circuit 21a detects the signal strength received by each of the triaxial antennas 21x, 21y, and 21z. Thereby, the detection accuracy of the change in the posture of the portable device 2 is increased.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the above embodiment, the case where the specific operation is the knee bending operation has been described, but other operations such as a swing operation can be applied. However, it is a condition that the portable device 2 returns to the position at the start of the operation when the operation is completed.

  -In above-mentioned embodiment, when the sliding door 34 is opened and closed through knee bending operation, it is preferable to alert | report by the alerting | reporting part provided in the vehicle 3 or the portable device 2, for example, a buzzer, a blinker, a display. If notified, it is easy to recognize that the specific operation has been suitably performed. Further, even when a specific operation is performed unintentionally, it is easy to recognize this.

In the above embodiment, the RSSI circuit 21a is a three-axis sensor having three detection axes. However, the RSSI circuit 21a can be applied even if the number of detection axes is one or two.
In the above-described embodiment, the acceleration sensor 24 is a three-axis sensor having three detection axes. However, the present invention can be applied even when the number of detection axes is one or two.

  In the above embodiment, the operation target is not limited to the sliding door. Other configurations such as vehicle door lock / unlock switching may be used. Further, the operation target such as switching of lock and unlock of the door for a house is not limited to the configuration of the vehicle.

Further, by increasing the direction in which the portable device 2 is reciprocated, to three or more directions, it is possible to adapt to an increase in the number of remote operation targets.
In the above embodiment, the case where the second reference value K2 is different from the first reference value K1 has been described, but it may be the same value.

  In the above embodiment, the determination as to whether or not the difference between the detected values of the RSSI circuit 21a at the knee bending start timing T1 and the switching timing T2 exceeds the first reference value K1 may be omitted.

  In the above embodiment, the determination as to whether or not the difference between the detection values of the RSSI circuit 21a at the switching timing T2 and the knee bending completion timing T3 exceeds the second reference value K2 may be omitted.

In the embodiment described above, the presence / absence of the specific operation is determined by the microcomputer 22, but may be performed by a vehicle-mounted control unit such as the verification ECU 33.
In the above embodiment, the portable device 2 is not limited to a vehicle-dedicated electronic key, and may be a portable terminal such as a smartphone.

  -In the said embodiment, the radio | wireless communication performed between the portable device 2 and the vehicle 3 is not restricted to the signal of the band of LF band and UHF band, You may use the signal of another band.

K1, K2 ... reference value, 1 ... remote control system, 2 ... portable device, 3 ... vehicle, 21 ... LF receiver circuit, 21a ... RSSI circuit, 21x, 21y, 21z ... antenna, 22 ... microcomputer, 22a ... memory, 23 ... UHF transmission circuit, 24 ... acceleration sensor, 31 ... LF transmitter, 32 ... UHF receiver, 33 ... reference ECU, 33a ... memory, 34 ... sliding door.

Claims (3)

In a remote operation system for remotely operating a control object on the condition that the motion of the mobile device is detected by a motion sensor and the detection value of the motion sensor is a value indicating a specific operation in the mobile device,
The specific operation is an operation for returning to the position at the start of the operation when the operation is completed,
A signal strength detection unit that detects a signal strength of a radio signal transmitted and received between the portable device and the control target;
One of the portable device and the control target determines when the operation is started and when the operation is completed from the detection value of the motion sensor, and the difference between the signal strength at the start of the operation and the signal strength at the completion of the operation A remote operation system that determines that the portable device has been subjected to the specific operation on the condition that is equal to or less than a first reference value set in advance. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein
The specific operation is a reciprocating operation consisting of a forward path displaced in a specific direction and a return path displaced in the opposite direction;
One of the portable device and the object to be controlled determines a switching time at which the displacement to the forward path and the displacement to the backward path are switched from the detection value of the motion sensor, and the signal strength at the start of the operation and the signal at the switching time A remote operation system that determines that the portable device has been subjected to the specific operation on the condition that a difference from intensity exceeds the first reference value. The remote control system according to claim 1 or 2,
One of the portable device and the control target is determined by the portable device on condition that a difference between a signal strength at the time of switching and a signal strength at the time of completion of the operation exceeds a second reference value set in advance. A remote control system that determines that an operation was performed