JP2008266980A - Entry system for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle entry system with improved user convenience is provided.
In a vehicle entry system that locks and unlocks a vehicle door using radio waves transmitted and received between a portable device carried by a user and an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle, the portable device includes: The vehicle-mounted device is configured to transmit a radio wave at any one of the predetermined plurality of frequencies, and the vehicle-mounted device is configured to receive the radio wave at any one of the predetermined plurality of frequencies, and the vehicle-mounted device Is used to detect the position of the host vehicle and use one frequency used to receive radio waves when the host vehicle enters an area where radio waves cannot be received. Change to another frequency among the predetermined plurality of frequencies. When the vehicle enters the area where radio waves cannot be received using any of the predetermined plurality of frequencies, a message recommending the use of the mechanical key is presented to the user.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention generally relates to a vehicle entry system that locks and unlocks a door of a vehicle using radio waves transmitted and received between a portable device carried by a user and an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle. The present invention relates to a vehicle entry system with improved user convenience.

  Conventionally, for example, a vehicle door is locked (locked) using radio waves transmitted and received between a portable device carried by a user and an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle, such as a smart entry system and a keyless entry system. A vehicle entry system for unlocking (unlocking) is known.

  A smart entry system known as a name such as a smart key system (registered trademark) is a method in which an ID code is collated between a portable key (portable device) possessed by a user and an in-vehicle device using radio waves. Detects that the user who has the mobile key has approached the vehicle and automatically unlocks (unlocks) the door, or conversely, detects that the user who has the mobile key has left the vehicle System that automatically locks the door.

  The keyless entry system is a door lock radio signal or a door unlock radio signal transmitted from the portable key when the user operates the portable key (wireless key) (for example, pressing a predetermined button). When these door lock / unlock radio signals are received on the vehicle side, the vehicle door is locked or unlocked.

  In such an entry system using radio waves, when the frequency (band) used causes interference with other peripheral devices / systems, or when a broadcasting station such as a television or radio is in the vicinity and the vehicle is in a strong electric field. If the vehicle is located in an area where the radio wave is illegally transmitted by someone, or the vehicle is located in an area where the radio wave condition is poor, proper transmission / reception of radio waves will be hindered and the system will operate properly. May not work.

In this regard, conventionally, a keyless entry device has been proposed that eliminates interference by preparing multiple communication frequencies between a portable device and an in-vehicle device and switching to another frequency when it does not operate normally at a certain frequency. (See Patent Document 1).
JP-A-2005-299305

  According to the conventional apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the process of finding a usable frequency from a plurality of prepared frequencies is started only when communication for door lock / unlock is attempted. Therefore, it may take time until the door lock / unlock is completed.

  Further, the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 does not disclose what kind of processing is performed when appropriate communication cannot be performed at any of a plurality of prepared frequencies.

  The radio wave condition is not visible and is difficult to estimate empirically. It can be said that it is usually very difficult for a general vehicle user to recognize how the radio wave condition is in a certain place.

  Therefore, even when the smart key system or the keyless entry system does not operate properly due to the radio wave condition, the user mistakenly recognizes that the remaining capacity of the battery (battery) of the mobile key is exhausted and replaces the battery. There is a possibility that the vehicle may be misunderstood or a vehicle such as a malfunction of the in-vehicle device has occurred and the vehicle is brought to a repair shop such as a dealer.

  In addition, on the side of a repair factory such as a store where a vehicle is brought in, inspection and repair requests due to such circumstances are not reproducible in the factory, and it is difficult to find and identify the cause.

  As described above, according to the conventional device described in Patent Document 1, when proper communication cannot be performed at any of the prepared plurality of frequencies, no information is provided to the user, which is troublesome for the user. There is a risk of multiplying.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and its main object is to provide a vehicle entry system with improved user convenience.

  In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the present invention is to lock and unlock a vehicle door using a radio wave transmitted and received between a portable device carried by a user and an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle. An entry system for a vehicle, wherein the portable device is configured to transmit the wireless radio wave at any one of a plurality of predetermined frequencies, and the in-vehicle device is one of the predetermined plurality of frequencies. The vehicle-mounted device is configured to receive the radio wave at one frequency, and the in-vehicle device detects the position of the own vehicle, and uses the one frequency used to receive the radio wave according to the detected position of the own vehicle. The vehicle entry system changes to another frequency among the predetermined plurality of frequencies.

  In the above aspect, for example, the in-vehicle device receives the radio wave when the vehicle enters the area where the radio wave cannot be received using the one frequency used to receive the radio wave. The one frequency used for is changed.

  According to the above aspect, in a vehicle entry system such as a smart entry system or a keyless entry system, a radio wave that cannot properly receive radio waves for locking / unlocking a vehicle door transmitted from a portable device by a vehicle-mounted device. When the vehicle is located in the situation area, the frequency at which the radio wave is received from the portable device is automatically switched to another frequency, so the user can select and set an appropriate frequency at the time of door locking / unlocking. There is no need to wait for it.

  In the above aspect, when the vehicle enters the area where the radio wave cannot be received using any of the predetermined frequencies, the entry system cannot use the radio wave. Presenting a predetermined message (for example, “Please use the mechanical key”) to the user in order to inform the user that it is a problem in the situation and not the battery of the portable device or the failure of the vehicle-mounted device. preferable.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle entry system with improved user convenience.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Basic concept of vehicle entry system that locks and unlocks vehicle doors using radio waves such as smart entry system and keyless entry system, main hardware configuration, operating principle, basic control method, etc. Since this is known to those skilled in the art, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  A vehicle entry system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle entry system 100 according to the present embodiment. The vehicle entry system 100 includes an in-vehicle device 101 mounted on a vehicle and a portable key 102 carried by a user.

  The portable key 102 may have any shape, configuration, and structure as long as it is designed to transmit radio waves for door lock / unlock at a plurality of frequencies. Further, the device is not limited to a single device, and may be incorporated in another wireless communication terminal such as a mobile phone.

  The in-vehicle device 101 includes a key signal receiving unit 103 that receives a radio wave for door lock / unlock transmitted from the portable key 102. Here, it is assumed that the key signal receiving unit 103 is configured to be able to receive any frequency at which the portable key 102 can transmit a radio wave by tuner adjustment.

  Here, in the case of the smart entry system, the key signal receiving unit 103 collates the ID code with the portable key 102. When the collation is obtained, the vehicle door is unlocked, and when the collation cannot be obtained. The operation / control unit 108 is instructed to lock the vehicle door.

  On the other hand, in the case of the keyless entry system, the key signal receiving unit 103 unlocks the vehicle door when a door unlock radio signal is received from the portable key 102, and when the door lock radio signal is received, Each lock is instructed to the calculation / control unit 108.

  The in-vehicle device 101 further includes a host vehicle position detection unit 104 that detects the position of the host vehicle using, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System). The detection accuracy (resolution) of the own vehicle position detection unit 104 is preferably as high as possible (fine). For example, it is preferable to use high-accuracy GPS such as RTK (Real Time Kinematic) -GPS.

  The in-vehicle device 101 further includes a storage unit 105 that stores and holds an electric field level map (described later). The storage unit 105 may be a storage medium of any type / standard. The electric field level map stored and held in the storage unit 105 is preferably updated to the latest version / content as appropriate using, for example, wireless communication.

  Here, the electric field level map stored and held by the storage unit 105 is map information indicating the strength of the electric field level for each area. In particular, the radio signal status is transmitted from the portable key 102 by the key signal receiving unit 103. Information on an area considered to be at a strong electric field level at which radio waves cannot be properly received is included.

  The electric field level at each point is determined by factors such as the distance from a broadcasting station such as a television or radio, the position of a relay station, the frequency band used and the output level thereof. An electric field level map is prepared by estimating the electric field level at each point from these pieces of information and creating map information in advance.

  The in-vehicle device 101 further drives and controls a door lock mechanism (not shown) based on an instruction from the calculation / control unit 108 described later, and locks or unlocks the closed vehicle door. A mechanism drive control unit 106 is included.

  The in-vehicle device 101 further visually and / or audibly notifies the user that the vehicle is located in a strong electric field area where the entry system is unlikely to be used at a predetermined timing such as when the ignition switch is turned off. An information providing unit 107 for transmitting is provided.

  The information providing unit 107 includes, for example, a display device that visually displays character / symbol information and / or a speaker that outputs a voice message.

  When the information providing unit 107 includes a display device, it may be any type of display device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). Moreover, it may be shared with the display apparatus of other vehicle-mounted systems (for example, multimedia system etc.).

  When the information providing unit 107 includes a speaker, it may be an arbitrary speaker provided in the vehicle interior, and may also be used as a speaker of another in-vehicle system (for example, an audio visual system).

  The in-vehicle device 101 further includes a calculation / control unit 108 that performs various calculations as described later and controls the components of the in-vehicle device 101 in an integrated manner. In the present embodiment, the calculation / control unit 108 is, for example, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). In this embodiment, it is assumed that the on / off information of the ignition switch (IG) is transmitted to the calculation / control unit 108.

  In the vehicle-mounted device 101 having such a configuration, the calculation / control unit 108 has a basic function when the key signal receiving unit 103 receives a door lock / unlock radio signal from the portable key 102 (keyless entry system). ), Or when the ID code collation with the portable key 102 is taken / cannot be taken (in the case of a smart key system), the door lock mechanism drive control unit 106 is instructed as before and the vehicle door Lock or unlock.

  Next, the flow of processing by the in-vehicle device 101 of the vehicle entry system 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the calculation / control unit 108 checks that the current position of the host vehicle detected by the host vehicle position detection unit 104 is in the strong electric field area in light of the electric field level map stored in the storage unit 105. It is determined whether or not (S201).

  If it is determined that the host vehicle is not located in the strong electric field area (“NO” in S201), the entry system using radio waves is considered to operate normally, and no special processing is performed.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the host vehicle is located in the strong electric field area (“YES” in S201), the calculation / control unit 108 then prepares based on the overlapping state of the used frequency bands. Whether or not there is a frequency that can be used without interference even in the strong electric field area is determined (S202).

  When there is a frequency determined to be usable in the strong electric field area among a plurality of frequencies corresponding to the portable key 102 and the key signal receiving unit 103 (“YES” in S202), the calculation / control unit 108 instructs the key signal receiving unit 103 to adjust the tuner, and changes the frequency at the time of receiving radio waves from the portable key 102 to the frequency determined to be usable (S205).

  As a result, even in a strong electric field area, no special user operation is required, and a user normally uses an entry system using radio waves without waiting time in actual door lock / unlock situations. Will be available on the street.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that none of the plurality of frequencies corresponding to the portable key 102 and the key signal receiving unit 103 can be used in the strong electric field area (“NO” in S202), then calculation / control In order to prevent the user from erroneously recognizing that the entry system using wireless radio waves cannot be used due to the battery running out of the portable key 102 or the failure of the vehicle-mounted device 101, To provide information to the user that the entry system is temporarily unavailable.

  Specifically, first, the calculation / control unit 108 determines the possibility that the user will use the entry system at the current position of the own vehicle where none of the prepared frequencies can be used. Whether or not the vehicle gets off the vehicle is determined based on whether or not the ignition switch is turned off (S203).

  When the ignition switch is not turned off (“NO” in S203), the calculation / control unit 108 determines that the user does not intend to get off at the point and is still moving by the vehicle. Without performing the processing, monitoring is continued as to whether or not the vehicle position is within the strong electric field area (return to S201).

  On the other hand, when the ignition switch is turned off (“YES” in S203), the calculation / control unit 108 determines that the user gets off at the point and the entry system is used at the point, and the information The providing unit 107 informs the user that the entry system is temporarily unavailable at the point due to radio wave conditions (S204).

  For example, if the mobile key 102 is equipped with an emergency mechanical key, the information providing unit 107 may say, “The entry system cannot be used because the radio wave condition is bad and the vehicle cannot correctly receive the radio wave of the mobile key. Use the mechanical key attached to the mobile key to lock / unlock the door. ”Display a text message to the effect such as“ On the display device and / or output a voice message with the same meaning from the speaker. To do.

  By providing such information, the user grasps the radio wave condition at the point that is difficult to recognize with his / her senses, and the entry system is temporarily unavailable, not the failure of the system itself. I can recognize that.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the frequency used in the entry system is automatically set according to the radio wave situation of what frequency band of the radio wave is used at the current position of the host vehicle. Therefore, when the user tries to use the entry system, the waiting time does not occur and the user convenience is improved.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when it is determined that the entry system does not operate at any of a plurality of prepared frequencies at the current position of the host vehicle, it is temporarily unavailable due to radio wave conditions. Is provided to the user, and the situation where the user misrecognizes that it is a malfunction or the like is avoided, so that the user convenience is improved.

  In the above embodiment, as an example, the in-vehicle device 101 includes the own vehicle position detection unit 102 including the GPS, the storage unit 105 that stores the electric field level map, and the information providing unit 107. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments.

  For example, when the navigation system is mounted on the vehicle, the host vehicle position detection unit 102, the storage unit 105, and the information providing unit 107 may be used also as the navigation system.

  In other words, the map information held by the navigation system includes electric field level information, and the in-vehicle device 101 is configured to acquire information on whether or not the host vehicle is located in the strong electric field area from the navigation system. May be.

  In the above embodiment, as an example, when it is determined that the entry system does not operate at any of a plurality of prepared frequencies, information is provided when the ignition switch is turned off. However, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. As long as information is provided to the user before the use of the entry system is started, the specific details thereof are not limited. The timing may be arbitrary.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a vehicle entry system that locks and unlocks a vehicle door using radio waves such as a smart entry system and a keyless entry system. The power source type, fuel type, appearance design, weight, size, running performance, etc. of the target vehicle are all unquestioned.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle entry system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process by the vehicle equipment of the vehicle entry system which concerns on one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Entry system for vehicles 101 Car equipment 102 Portable key 103 Key signal receiving part 104 Own vehicle position detection part 105 Storage part 106 Door lock mechanism drive control part 107 Information provision part 108 Calculation / control part

Claims (3)

A vehicle entry system that locks and unlocks a vehicle door using radio waves transmitted and received between a portable device carried by a user and an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle,
The portable device is configured to transmit the radio wave at any one of a plurality of predetermined frequencies,
The in-vehicle device is configured to receive the wireless radio wave at any one of the predetermined frequencies,
The in-vehicle device detects a position of the own vehicle, and changes the one frequency used for receiving the radio wave to another frequency of the predetermined plurality of frequencies according to the detected position of the own vehicle. An entry system for a vehicle characterized by that. The vehicle entry system according to claim 1,
The in-vehicle device changes the one frequency used to receive the radio wave when the vehicle enters the area where the radio wave cannot be received using the one frequency used to receive the radio wave. An entry system for a vehicle characterized by that. The vehicle entry system according to claim 1 or 2,
The vehicle-mounted device presents a predetermined message to a user when the vehicle enters the area where the radio wave cannot be received using any of the predetermined plurality of frequencies. system.

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