WO2015098480A1 - In-vehicle wireless communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

　Provided is an in-vehicle wireless communication device enabling a reduction of dark current in a vehicle provided with a function for unlocking doors with a communication apparatus. An in-vehicle wireless communication device (10) is provided with: a wireless communication unit (13) for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal with a portable wireless key (5); and a control unit (11) for determining whether or not the wireless key (5) is present in a first communication region outside of the vehicle in response to a wireless signal transmitted and received by the wireless communication unit (13). While the vehicle is parked, the control unit (11) causes the wireless communication unit (13) to form only the first communication region until it is determined that the wireless key (5) is present in the first communication region.

Description

In-vehicle wireless communication device

The present invention relates to an in-vehicle wireless communication device used for a vehicle capable of unlocking a door by a portable communication device.

Conventionally, a so-called smart entry (registered trademark) system in which a user has a portable communication device and automatically locks / unlocks a vehicle door according to a user's contact operation with respect to a specific location of the vehicle. Is popular.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes a smart entry system. The smart entry system is attached to a vehicle and intermittently transmits a request signal for communication device search (hereinafter referred to as “polling”), and a signal including an ID by receiving the request signal. The door is unlocked when it is determined on the transceiver side that the ID transmitted from the communication device matches the specific ID.

In recent years, in a vehicle equipped with such a smart entry system, when a user who has a communication device approaches the vehicle and the vehicle-side transceiver receives a response signal from the communication device, the welcome light is turned on, and Prepare to unlock doors.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-156651

However, in vehicles equipped with the smart entry system, transmission of request signals by the transceiver is continued for a long period of time, so that the dark current increases and the capacity of the in-vehicle battery may be reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle wireless communication device capable of reducing dark current.

The in-vehicle wireless communication device according to the present invention includes a wireless communication unit that forms a plurality of communication regions outside a vehicle, and that can transmit and receive wireless signals to and from a portable communication device within each communication region; In the in-vehicle wireless communication device comprising: determination means for determining whether or not the communication device exists in the communication area in accordance with a wireless signal transmitted / received by the wireless communication means, the determination is performed while the vehicle is parked. Control means for causing the wireless communication means to form only the specific part of the communication area until it is determined by the means that the communication device is present in the specific part of the plurality of communication areas. It is characterized by that.

The in-vehicle wireless communication device according to the present invention is characterized in that the specific communication area includes at least a communication area formed around a door of a driver's seat of the vehicle.

In the in-vehicle wireless communication device according to the present invention, when the determination unit determines that the communication device exists in the specific part of the communication area, the control unit transmits the plurality of communication areas to the wireless communication unit. Is formed.

In the in-vehicle wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention, the plurality of communication areas include at least a communication area formed around a trunk of the vehicle.

In the present invention, while the vehicle is parked, the control means tells the radio communication means the specific communication until it is determined by the determination means that the communication device exists in a specific part of the communication areas. Only some communication areas are formed. Thereby, the number of antennas to be driven can be reduced when polling is performed.

In the present invention, the specific part of the communication area includes at least a communication area formed around the door of the driver's seat of the vehicle. Thereby, when performing polling, a communication area | region can be formed in the driver's seat vicinity with the highest use probability.

In the present invention, when it is determined by the determination means that the communication device exists in a specific part of the communication area, the control means causes the wireless communication means to form a plurality of communication areas. Thereby, not only a driver's seat but also a case where it is going to open the door of other seats of a vehicle, pre-authentication can be performed.

In the present invention, the plurality of communication areas include at least communication areas formed around the trunk of the vehicle. Thereby, when polling is performed, a communication area can be formed in the vicinity of a trunk having a high use probability.

According to the present invention, the in-vehicle wireless communication device forms only a specific part of the communication area by the wireless communication means until the communication device exists in the specific part of the communication area among the plurality of communication areas. Thus, the number of antennas to be driven can be reduced when polling is performed. Therefore, the dark current can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows the example of the communication area | region formed outside the vehicle. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle-mounted radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a wireless key. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which a control part performs in 1st polling mode. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which a control part performs in 2nd polling mode. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which a control part performs in trigger mode.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a communication area formed outside the vehicle 1, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle wireless communication device 10 according to the present invention. The in-vehicle wireless communication device 10 is mounted on the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 includes a first communication area 1 </ b> A on the driver's seat side, a second communication area 1 </ b> B on the passenger seat side, and a third communication area 1 </ b> C on the trunk side. Can be formed. The in-vehicle wireless communication device 10 can transmit / receive a wireless signal to / from a portable wireless key (communication device) 5 possessed by the user in each communication area, and according to the transmitted / received wireless signal. In which communication area the wireless key 5 exists is determined.

The in-vehicle wireless communication device 10 is connected to an ignition switch (IG switch) 31 of the vehicle 1 and request switches 33 to 37 provided at each door of the vehicle 1. The IG switch 31 outputs a binary signal. The IG switch 31 outputs a signal indicating an on state when the engine of the vehicle 1 is operating, and outputs a signal indicating an off state when the engine of the vehicle 1 is stopped. Each of the request switches 33 to 37 is provided, for example, on each door knob on the outside of the vehicle 1 for opening and closing the driver's seat door, the driver's side rear seat door, the passenger's seat door, the passenger seat's rear seat door, and the trunk door. It is a touch sensor or a push button switch provided. When each of the request switches 33 to 37 is operated by the user, the request switches 33 to 37 output a detection signal representing the operation to the in-vehicle wireless communication device 10. The in-vehicle wireless communication device 10 performs processing related to the door unlocking instruction based on these signals.

The in-vehicle wireless communication device 10 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a wireless communication unit 13, and the like. Specifically, the control unit 11 is composed of an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), and includes a timer (not shown) and is a program stored in the storage unit 12 in advance. And by reading out and executing the data, control processing of various parts in the in-vehicle wireless communication device 10 and various arithmetic processes are performed. The control unit 11 is connected to the locking / unlocking control unit 15 and the lighting control unit 16, and transmits a control signal to the locking / unlocking control unit 15 and the lighting control unit 16.

The storage unit 12 stores programs, data, and the like necessary for the operation of the control unit 11 in advance, and stores data generated by the processing of the control unit 11. The storage unit 12 may be composed of an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or a non-volatile rewritable memory element such as a flash memory, or a mask ROM or an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). In other words, a nonvolatile memory element that cannot rewrite data and a volatile memory element such as SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) may be provided separately. The storage unit 12 includes identification codes of a first transmission unit 131, a second transmission unit 132, and a third transmission unit 133, which will be described later, which are necessary for wireless communication performed with the wireless key 5, and are necessary for authentication processing. Authentication information such as the ID of the wireless key 5 is stored. In addition, the storage unit 12 stores a table indicating correspondence relationships between doors of the vehicle 1 described later and the first communication area 1A, the second communication area 1B, and the third communication area 1C.

The wireless communication unit 13 performs wireless communication with the wireless key 5 and includes a first transmission unit 131, a second transmission unit 132, a third transmission unit 133, and a reception unit 134. The first transmission unit 131 includes a transmission antenna 13A provided between the driver's seat door and the rear seat door on the driver's seat. The first transmission unit 131 drives the transmission antenna 13A based on the control of the control unit 11, for example, an LF wave. A wireless signal is transmitted in the first communication area 1A at (125 KHz). The second transmission unit 132 includes a transmission antenna 13B provided between the passenger seat door and the rear seat door on the passenger seat side. The second transmission unit 132 drives the transmission antenna 13B based on the control of the control unit 11, for example, an LF wave. The radio signal is transmitted in the second communication area 1B. The third transmission unit 133 includes a transmission antenna 13C provided at a trunk door, and drives the transmission antenna 13C based on the control of the control unit 11 to transmit a radio signal, for example, with an LF wave in the third communication region 1C. Send with. Hereinafter, the radio signal transmitted by each of the first transmission unit 131, the second transmission unit 132, and the third transmission unit 133 is referred to as a “request signal”. The request signal includes a unique identification code of the transmitting unit to be transmitted.

The receiving unit 134 receives and receives a radio signal (hereinafter referred to as a response signal) transmitted from the radio key 5 as a response to the request signal via a receiving antenna (not shown) provided at an appropriate position of the vehicle 1. Data included in the response signal is given to the control unit 11.

The response signal transmitted from the wireless key 5 includes an identification code of the transmitted transmitter, identification information such as an encrypted ID, and information for decryption. The control unit 11 determines in which communication area the wireless key 5 exists based on the identification code obtained by wireless communication with the wireless communication unit 13, and the ID of the wireless key 5 is stored in the storage unit 12. When authentication processing is performed to determine whether the ID matches a pre-stored ID and the authentication processing is successful, for example, a signal related to the door unlocking instruction corresponding to the determined communication area is locked / unlocked Output to the control unit 15.

In the present embodiment, the door corresponding to the first communication area 1A is each door on the driver's seat side, that is, the driver's seat door and the rear door on the driver's seat side, and the door corresponding to the second communication area 1B is the passenger's seat side. The doors corresponding to the third communication area 1C are trunk doors. A table indicating the correspondence between each of the first communication area 1 </ b> A, the second communication area 1 </ b> B, and the third communication area 1 </ b> C and each door of the vehicle 1 is stored in the storage unit 12.

The locking / unlocking control unit 15 controls the locking / unlocking of each door of the vehicle 1 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 11. Each door of the vehicle 1 is provided with a locking mechanism (not shown) having a mechanical mechanism for locking / unlocking and an actuator for operating the locking / unlocking mechanism. Control signals for instructing locking / unlocking for the locking mechanism are individually output.

In response to an instruction from the control unit 11, the lighting control unit 16 lights a welcome light provided on a retractable side mirror or the like to illuminate a step near the door of the vehicle 1, for example, and welcomes the user to the vehicle 1. . Thereby, the user who possesses the wireless key 5 can check his / her feet from a position away from the vehicle 1 to some extent even in a dark environment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the wireless key 5. The wireless key 5 is a portable type such as a card type or a key holder type, and includes a wireless communication unit 51, a control unit 52, a storage unit 53, and the like. The storage unit 53 is configured using a non-volatile rewritable memory element such as an EEPROM. In the storage unit 53, its own ID and the ID of the vehicle 1 as a communication partner are stored in advance as identification information 54.

The wireless communication unit 51 performs wireless communication with the wireless communication unit 13 of the in-vehicle wireless communication device 10 mounted on the vehicle 1. The wireless communication unit 51 receives a request signal from the vehicle 1 via a built-in antenna (not shown), and provides the control unit 52 with data included in the received request signal. The wireless communication unit 51 transmits the data given from the control unit 52 to the vehicle 1 as a response signal.

The control unit 52 performs control processing of various units in the wireless key 5 and various arithmetic processes. When receiving data from the vehicle 1 is given from the wireless communication unit 51, the control unit 52 determines whether the ID of the vehicle 1 included in this data matches the ID of the vehicle 1 stored in the storage unit 53 in advance. When the ID of the vehicle 1 matches, a response to the vehicle 1 is performed by wireless communication. When responding to the vehicle 1, the control unit 52 reads its own ID stored in advance in the storage unit 53, and includes the ID in the response signal together with the identification code included in the request signal.

The on-vehicle wireless communication device 10 enters the first polling mode when the engine of the vehicle 1 is stopped and each door is locked in a locked state. In the first polling mode, the control unit 11 outputs a signal related to a transmission instruction to the first transmission unit 131 every predetermined time, and determines whether or not the wireless key 5 exists in the first communication area 1A. Here, the predetermined time is 1 second. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the predetermined time may be appropriately set as necessary.

When the wireless key 5 exists in the first communication area 1A and wireless communication with the wireless key 5 is established, the control unit 11 outputs a signal related to the lighting instruction to the lighting control unit 16 and turns on the welcome light. In addition, each door corresponding to the first communication area 1A is set to the unlocking preparation state. The unlocking preparation state is a state where unlocking is possible by a user operation from outside the vehicle 1. For example, when a user operates a request switch provided on a door set in the unlocking preparation state, the control unit 11 outputs a signal related to the unlocking instruction of the door to the locking / unlocking control unit 15. The door is unlocked without authenticating with the wireless key 5.

In the first polling mode, it is preferable to expand the first communication area 1A by expanding the LF output of the first transmitter 131 or improving the reception sensitivity of the wireless key 5. By expanding the first communication area 1A, the hospitality by the welcome light can be improved, and the failure of the pre-authentication can be prevented.

Next, the in-vehicle wireless communication device 10 enters the second polling mode. In the second polling mode, the control unit 11 outputs a signal related to a transmission instruction to the first transmission unit 131, the second transmission unit 132, and the third transmission unit 133 for a predetermined time. Here, the predetermined time is, for example, 20 seconds. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the predetermined time may be appropriately set as necessary. When the wireless key 5 exists in the second communication area 1B or the third communication area 1C and wireless communication with the wireless key 5 is established, the door corresponding to the second communication area 1B or the third communication area 1C is opened. Set to the lock ready state.

When the detection signal from any of the request switches 33 to 37 is input in the state of the first polling mode, the in-vehicle wireless communication device 10 enters the trigger mode, and trigger type polling by the request switch is performed. Do. In the trigger mode, the control unit 11 identifies the door provided with the operated request switch, and sends a signal related to the transmission instruction to the transmission unit capable of forming a communication area corresponding to the identified door. Output. When the wireless key 5 exists in the communication area and wireless communication with the wireless key 5 is established, the control unit 11 outputs a signal related to the specified door unlocking instruction to the locking / unlocking control unit 15. Then, the specified door is unlocked.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the control unit 11 in the first polling mode. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is executed when the engine of the vehicle 1 is stopped and each door is parked in a locked state.

The control unit 11 starts a timer (step S1), outputs a signal related to a transmission instruction to the first transmission unit 131, and transmits a request signal from the first transmission unit 131 (step S2). And the control part 11 determines whether the response signal from the wireless key 5 responding to the said request signal was received (step S3).

When it is determined that the response signal from the wireless key 5 has been received (step S3: YES), the control unit 11 performs an authentication process based on the authentication information obtained by wireless communication with the wireless key 5 (step S4). Then, it is determined whether or not the authentication process is successful (step S5).

If the authentication process is successful (step S5: YES), the control unit 11 outputs a signal related to the lighting instruction to the lighting control unit 16 to turn on the welcome light (step S6). And the control part 11 sets the door by the side of a driver's seat to an unlocking preparation state (step S7). Here, the processing order of step S6 and step S7 may be switched.

Next, the control unit 11 calls the process in the second polling mode (step S8), and ends this process.

Further, when the response signal from the wireless key 5 is not received (step S3: NO) and when the authentication process is not successful (step S5: NO), the control unit 11 determines whether or not the timer has reached 1 second. Is determined (step S9). Here, the set value of the timer is not limited to 1 second, and may be set appropriately as necessary.

When the timer is not 1 second (step S9: NO), the control unit 11 repeats the process of step S9 until the timer is 1 second. When the timer is 1 second (step S9: YES), The timer is reset (step S10), and the process returns to step S1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the control unit 11 in the second polling mode. The control unit 11 starts a timer (step S21), outputs a signal related to the transmission instruction to the first transmission unit 131, the second transmission unit 132, and the third transmission unit 133, and the first transmission unit 131, the first transmission unit 131, Request signals are transmitted from the second transmission unit 132 and the third transmission unit 133 (step S22).

Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not a response signal from the wireless key 5 has been received (step S23). When the response signal from the wireless key 5 is received (step S23: YES), the control unit 11 determines the communication area where the wireless key 5 exists based on the identification code included in the response signal, and stores it. Based on the table stored in the unit 12, the door corresponding to the communication area is specified (step S24).

Next, the control unit 11 performs an authentication process based on authentication information obtained by wireless communication with the wireless key 5 (step S25), and determines whether the authentication process is successful (step S26).

If the authentication process is successful (step S26: YES), the control unit 11 sets the identified door in the unlocking preparation state (step S27).

Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the timer has reached 20 seconds (step S28). If the timer has not reached 20 seconds (step S28: NO), the process returns to step S22, and the timer is 20 If it is the second (step S28: YES), the process is terminated. Here, the set value of the timer is not limited to 20 seconds, and may be set appropriately as necessary.

Further, when the response signal from the wireless key 5 is not received (step S23: NO), and when the authentication process is not successful (step S26: NO), the control unit 11 shifts the process to step S28.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the control unit 11 in the trigger mode.

The control unit 11 identifies the door provided with the operated request switch based on the detection signal (step S41).

The control unit 11 outputs a signal related to the transmission instruction to the transmission unit capable of forming a communication area corresponding to the identified door (step S42).

And the control part 11 determines whether the response signal from the wireless key 5 was received (step S43). When the response signal is received (step S43: YES), an authentication process is performed based on the authentication information obtained by wireless communication with the wireless key 5 (step S44), and it is determined whether the authentication process is successful (step S44). Step S45).

When the authentication process is successful (step S45: YES), the control unit 11 outputs a signal related to the specified door unlocking instruction to the locking / unlocking control unit 15 to unlock the specified door. (Step S46), the process ends.

When the response signal is not received (step S43: NO), and when the authentication process is not successful (step S45: NO), the control unit 11 calls the process in the second polling mode (step S47), This process ends.

In the in-vehicle wireless communication device 10 having the above configuration, when the vehicle 1 is parked, a signal related to a transmission instruction is first output only to the first transmission unit 131 to form only the first communication region 1A. As a result, the number of antennas to be driven when polling can be reduced. Since current consumed by the antenna can be reduced, dark current can be reduced. Further, when performing polling, the door can be efficiently unlocked by forming a communication area near the driver's seat with the highest use probability.

Further, when the wireless key 5 is present in the first communication area 1A, a signal related to a transmission instruction is output to the first transmission section 131, the second transmission section 132, and the third transmission section 133, and the first communication area 1A, the second communication area 1B, and the third communication area 1C are formed. Thereby, even when it is going to open not only a driver's seat side door but another door, pre-authentication can be performed. Therefore, the responsiveness of locking / unlocking the door can be enhanced.

In the above-described embodiment, the in-vehicle wireless communication apparatus 10 that includes three transmission units and forms three communication regions has been described. However, the vehicle-mounted wireless communication device 10 includes four or more transmission units and forms four or more communication regions. It may be configured as follows. For example, a communication area may be formed for each door of the vehicle 1.

In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the signal related to the transmission instruction is output only to the first transmission unit 131 in the first polling mode has been described. However, the first transmission unit 131 is included among the plurality of transmission units. You may comprise so that the signal which concerns on a transmission instruction may be output to some transmission parts.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the signal related to the transmission instruction is output to all the transmission units in the second polling mode has been described, but the signal related to the transmission instruction is output only to the third transmission unit 133. It may be configured such that a signal related to a transmission instruction is output to each transmission unit other than the first transmission unit 131.

In the above-described embodiment, a request signal including a unique identification code is transmitted from each of the first transmission unit 131, the second transmission unit 132, and the third transmission unit 133, and the wireless key 5 uses the identification code. The response signal is configured to be returned, but the request signal may not include the identification code. For example, the control unit 11 instructs the first transmission unit 131, the second transmission unit 132, and the third transmission unit 133 to sequentially transmit the request signals at timings shifted in time. Thereby, the control part 11 can identify which wireless key 5 responded to the request signal from which transmission part.

It should be considered that the embodiment disclosed this time is illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the meanings described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

1 vehicle 10 in-vehicle wireless communication device 11 control unit (determination means, control means)
12 storage unit 13 wireless communication unit (wireless communication means)
5 Wireless key (communication device)
51 Wireless Communication Unit 52 Control Unit 53 Storage Unit

Claims (4)

A plurality of communication areas are formed outside the vehicle, wireless communication means capable of transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from portable communication devices within each communication area, and wireless signals transmitted and received by the wireless communication means In response, in-vehicle wireless communication apparatus comprising a determination unit that determines whether or not the communication device is present in the communication area,
While the vehicle is parked, the wireless communication means communicates the specific part of the communication until the determination means determines that the communication device is present in a specific part of the plurality of communication areas. An in-vehicle wireless communication device comprising control means for forming only a region. The in-vehicle wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the specific part of the communication area includes at least a communication area formed around a door of a driver's seat of the vehicle. When it is determined by the determination means that the communication device is present in the specific part of the communication area, the control means causes the wireless communication means to form the plurality of communication areas. The in-vehicle wireless communication device according to claim 1 or 2. The in-vehicle wireless communication device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of communication areas include at least a communication area formed around a trunk of the vehicle.

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