JPH0580927U - Vehicle remote control device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To improve the safety against theft of a vehicle, reduce the space for arranging lead wires connecting the transmission / reception unit and the control unit, and prevent malfunction. [Structure] The transmission / reception unit 2 is installed in a place where radio wave reception is good in the passenger compartment, and converts the operation command signal Sc from the portable transceiver 1 into a serial signal to control the control unit 7.
Send to. The control unit 7 is installed at a concealed portion that is difficult to be worked from the outside in the vehicle interior, and is connected to the transmission / reception unit 2 by four lead wires 9a to 9d including a serial bus line.
Connected by. The CPU 11 in the control unit 7
When the operation command signal Sc converted into a serial signal is received, the output voltage of the vehicle-mounted battery is sufficient, the shift position is set to the parking position, and the like.
When the G relay 15 and the starter relay 16 are operated to start the engine and the start is normally performed, the start completion signal Sk is fed back to the portable transceiver 1 through the transceiver unit 2.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a vehicle remote control device for starting a vehicle engine by remote control.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Conventionally, the engine of a car stopped in a remote place is started by a radio signal from a terminal device carried by the driver to start warm-up operation, and if necessary, the load of the car such as an air conditioner is also started. There is a system that allows it. In such a system, it is necessary to feed back the started state of the engine to the terminal device on the driver side, and therefore, a device having a transmission / reception function is used as the terminal device, and the terminal device on the automobile side is also used. A transmission / reception unit is provided for exchanging radio signals with the transmission / reception unit.

In this case, on the vehicle side, in addition to the transmission / reception unit, a plurality of relays that form a starter circuit for starting the engine and a drive circuit for driving a vehicle load such as an air conditioner, and an engine A control unit that includes a plurality of sensors for detecting the starting condition and the driving condition of the automobile load is provided.The transmitting / receiving unit is a control unit in the control unit when receiving a radio signal from the terminal device. It is configured to perform engine start control and vehicle load drive control through a relay, and feed back the detection information from the sensor in the control unit to the terminal device.

In such a system, it is desirable to integrate the transmission / reception unit and the control unit into one circuit box in order to eliminate the routing of the signal line between them. However, because the control unit requires multiple relays, the circuit box must be quite large, and the transceiver unit must be installed in a position that is less susceptible to radio interference. This is a large restriction.In practice, the transmitter / receiver unit and the control unit are installed in different parts, and there are multiple lead wires between them (this lead wire depends on the number of relays and sensors in the control unit). It is configured to be connected according to the required number).

In addition, in the system as described above, it is desirable that the antenna for the transmission / reception unit on the automobile side be installed in a place where visibility is not obscured by a radio wave shield in order to improve reception sensitivity. In addition, it is common to use transceivers of so-called specified low power type standards because it is necessary to transmit radio signals to a relatively distant place and to be able to use them without a license or without qualification. However, in the transmitter / receiver of the specified low power type standard, separation of the antenna and the transmitter / receiver main body is prohibited by the electromagnetic wave method. Install in a place with good visibility that does not obscure the shield, such as the rear tray in the passenger compartment or the lower part of the driver's seat, and install the relay unit and sensor unit inside the instrument panel or column cover. Lead wires are used to connect the two.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, it is possible for a third party to operate the engine starting relay if a third party cuts the lead wire connecting the transmission / reception unit and the control unit to flow current. Therefore, there is a problem that the safety against car theft is low.

Further, in the conventional configuration, the number of lead wires connecting the transmission / reception unit and the control unit increases in accordance with the number of relays and sensors in the control unit, so there is space for routing the lead wires. There is a problem that it grows inevitably, and crosstalk noise due to stray coupling is likely to be superimposed on the lead wire, which may cause malfunction.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to enhance the safety against vehicle theft and to reduce the space for arranging lead wires connecting a transmission / reception unit and a control unit. It is to provide a remote control device for a vehicle capable of preventing malfunction.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a portable transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving radio signals, an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio signals to and from the portable transceiver on the vehicle side, and the portable device. When the operation command signal transmitted from the type transmitter is received, a transmission / reception unit integrally provided with a signal conversion circuit that converts the operation command signal into a serial signal and outputs the operation command signal is provided. When a serial operation command signal is output, a vehicle engine is started by the starter circuit of the engine, and after that, a control unit is installed to feed back a start completion signal to the portable transceiver through the transceiver unit. It is configured to do so.

[0010]

[Action]

 When the operation command signal is transmitted from the portable transceiver, in the transmission / reception unit on the vehicle side, the signal conversion circuit that receives the operation command signal via the antenna converts the operation command signal into a serial signal and outputs it. Like Then, the control unit installed on the vehicle side starts the engine for the vehicle by the starter circuit and at the same time, after the start, sends the start completion signal back to the portable transceiver through the transceiver unit. The carrier of the type transceiver can know from the feedback signal that the engine of the automobile has been started.

In this case, since the operation command signal given from the transmission / reception unit to the control unit is a serial signal, it is possible to reduce the number of lead wires connecting them, and at the same time disconnect the lead wires. Even if a current signal is applied, it is difficult to apply a signal equivalent to the above serial signal.Because the control unit is installed in an appropriately hidden area in the vehicle, the starter circuit is generally used for the vehicle. It is possible to effectively prevent the engine from being illegally started and improve the safety against vehicle theft.

[0012]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows an electric configuration of a remote control device for a motor vehicle only for a portion related to the gist of the present invention.

That is, in FIG. 1, a portable transceiver 1 of a specific low power type standard is carried by a driver of an automobile, and an operation command of a predetermined code for instructing to start an engine in accordance with the operation thereof. It has a function of transmitting the signal Sc as a radio signal through the antenna 1a and displaying the content received through the antenna 1a by a display device (not shown). Actually, the portable transceiver 1 is also configured to transmit an operation command signal for instructing unlocking and locking of the door lock mechanism of the automobile, an operation command signal for instructing driving of the air conditioner, and the like. However, it is omitted here to simplify the explanation.

A specific low power type transmission / reception unit 2 paired with the portable transmission / reception device 1 integrally has an antenna 2a, and has an electromagnetic shield such as a rear tray in the passenger compartment of an automobile. It is installed in a place with good visibility (a place with good reception of radio waves) that does not obscure the shadow.

In the transmission / reception unit 2, the transmission / reception circuit 3 is configured to exchange a radio signal with the portable transceiver 1 via the antenna 2a, and the CPU 4 as a signal conversion circuit is , A function of converting the operation command signal Sc received by the transmission / reception circuit 3 into a serial signal while referring to the data previously stored in the storage circuit 5, and outputting the serial operation command signal Sc through the input / output circuit 6, It has a function of feeding back a start completion signal Sk, which will be described later, given through the output circuit 6 to the portable transmitter / receiver 1 through the transmitter / receiver circuit 3.

The transmitting / receiving unit 2 is configured to receive its power supply from the power supply circuit 8 in the control unit 7 through the two power supply lead wires 9a and 9b, and the input / output circuit. 6 constitutes a serial bus line for bidirectional communication of a data signal (including the operation command signal Sc converted into the serial signal) to the input / output circuit 10 provided on the control unit 7 side. It is connected by a lead wire 9c for connecting with a lead wire 9d and a lead wire 9d forming a serial bus line for transmitting and receiving a start signal and a clock signal.

Now, hereinafter, the control unit 7 will be described together with the configuration of relevant parts. That is, the control unit 7 is installed in a concealed portion that is difficult to be worked from the outside, such as a column cover or an instrument panel in a vehicle compartment of an automobile, and the power supply circuit 8 is not shown. Power is supplied from an on-vehicle battery to generate power source outputs for the transmission / reception unit 2 and the control unit 7. The input / output circuit 10 is an interface circuit between the CPU 11 and the transmission / reception unit 2. Is provided as.

The battery voltage monitoring circuit 12 monitors the output voltage of the vehicle-mounted battery through the power supply circuit 8, and the monitoring voltage becomes lower than a predetermined lower limit voltage (voltage at which the starter circuit of the automobile engine can be normally operated). At times, an undervoltage signal Sf is generated and given to the CPU 11.

The engine start detection circuit 13 detects whether or not the engine is normally started based on the engine speed, the state of the ignition device, and the like. When the normal start state is detected, the start signal Sa is output. Is generated and given to the CPU 11.

The ACC relay 14 forms the ACC circuit of the vehicle in the operating state, the IG relay 15 forms the ignition circuit of the vehicle in the operating state, and the starter relay 16 forms the starter circuit of the engine in the operating state. Each of the relays 14, 15, 16 is configured to be operated by the CPU 11 via the drivers 14a, 15a, 16a. Actually, two sets of IG relays 15 are provided for the ignition circuit and another load such as an air conditioner, and two sets of starter relays 16 are also provided for taking out a signal with less noise for data processing. However, it is not shown here.

Signals from a parking brake switch 17, a shift position switch 18, a bonnet switch 19, and a door lock detection switch 20 provided outside the control unit 7 are sent to the CPU 11 via input circuits 17a to 20a. It is configured to be input.

In this case, the parking brake switch 17 generates the brake operation signal S1 in a state where the parking brake of the vehicle is in the operating position, and the shift position switch 18 sets the shift position of the vehicle in the parking position (however, the automatic transmission In the case of the manual transmission, the parking signal S2 is generated when the vehicle is in the neutral position), the bonnet switch 19 generates the bonnet closing signal S3 when the hood of the vehicle is closed, and the door lock detection switch 20 Generates a door lock signal S4 when the door lock mechanism of the vehicle is all locked.

The control contents of the CPU 11 are as follows. That is, when the operation command signal Sc converted into a serial signal is given from the transmission / reception unit 2, the CPU 11 determines that the undervoltage signal Sf and the start signal Sa have not been input, the brake operation signal S1, the parking signal S2, The IG relay 15 and the starter relay 16 are operated on condition that the bonnet closing signal S3 and the door lock signal S4 are all input, thereby starting the engine.

That is, when the operation command signal Sc is transmitted from the portable transceiver 1, the output voltage of the vehicle-mounted battery is in a state sufficient to start the engine, the engine has not started, and the parking brake. The engine is started on condition that the vehicle is operating, the shift position of the vehicle is in the parking position, the hood of the vehicle is closed, and the door lock mechanism of the vehicle is all locked. Like

Further, the CPU 11 performs the engine start control as described above, and then inputs the output circuit when the start signal Sa is input from the engine start detection circuit 13 (when the engine is normally started). A start completion signal Sk is transmitted to the transmission / reception unit 2 through 10. Then, the transmission / reception unit 2 feeds back the start completion signal Sk to the portable transceiver 1 through the transmission / reception circuit 3, and in the portable transceiver 1, the received contents are displayed on an unillustrated display. Become. If the operator of the portable transceiver 1 does not display that the engine has started even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the operation command signal Sc was transmitted, the operator transmits the operation command signal Sc. Repeat the operation.

According to the configuration of this embodiment described above, since the operation command signal Sc given from the transmission / reception unit 2 to the control unit 7 is a serial signal, the number of lead wires connecting them can be reduced. .. That is, in the case of the present embodiment, it is only necessary to provide the four lead wires 9a to 9d. Therefore, there is no fear that the space for arranging the lead wires 9a to 9d will unnecessarily increase, and at the same time, for data transmission. Crosstalk noise due to floating coupling is less likely to be superposed on the lead wires 9c and 9d, and malfunction due to the noise can be prevented.

Further, since the operation command signal Sc is a serial signal, even if the operation of passing the current signal by cutting the lead wire (particularly the lead wire 9c) is performed, the operation command signal Sc converted into the serial signal is performed. It is difficult to send a signal equivalent to the above, and since the control unit 7 is installed in a concealed part that is hard to be worked from the outside of the automobile, the engine is improperly started by the starter circuit. The situation can be effectively prevented.

[0028]

[Effect of the device]

 According to the present invention, as is apparent from the above description, the vehicle side is provided with the transmission / reception unit that serializes and outputs the operation command signal when the operation command signal transmitted from the portable transceiver is received. At the same time, when the serial operation command signal is output from the transmission / reception unit to an appropriate concealed portion of the vehicle, the vehicle engine is started, and after the start, a start completion signal is transmitted through the transmission / reception unit to the portable transmission / reception unit. Since the control unit that feeds back to the machine is installed, it is possible to enhance the safety against theft of the vehicle, reduce the space for leading the lead wire connecting the transceiver unit and the control unit, and prevent malfunctions. It is effective.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the figure, 1 is a portable transceiver, 1a is an antenna, 2 is a transmission / reception unit, 2a is an antenna, 4 is a CPU (signal conversion circuit), 7 is a control unit, 9a to 9d are lead wires, 11
Indicates a CPU.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A portable transmitter / receiver capable of transmitting and receiving a radio wave signal, an antenna provided on a vehicle side for transmitting and receiving a radio wave signal to and from the portable transmitter / receiver, and transmitted from the portable transmitter. And a transmission / reception unit integrally having a signal conversion circuit for converting the operation instruction signal into a serial signal when the operation instruction signal is received, and a serial operation instruction signal output from the transmission / reception unit installed at an appropriately hidden portion of the vehicle. And a control unit for starting a vehicle engine by a starter circuit of the engine and feeding back a start completion signal to the portable transceiver through the transceiver unit after the start. Control device.