JP2014190047A - Vehicle operation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle operation system in which user-friendliness in starting a vehicle can be improved by an electronic key charged with power enough for temporary operation.SOLUTION: When a primary battery 7 of an electronic key 2 is out of charge, holding the electronic key 2 over a smartphone 8 makes the smartphone 8 transmit a charging radio wave Svc via short-distance radio communication to charge a capacitor 16 of the electronic key 2 with power required for minimum operation. When charging is completed, the electronic key 2 automatically transmits a lock/unlock reversing signal Sto to a vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 reverses the lock/unlock state of a vehicle door from the current state to the other state when the electronic key 2 receives the lock/unlock reversing signal Sto.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle operation system in which electric power is charged wirelessly to an electronic key that has run out of battery and the vehicle can be operated using the electronic key.

  As is well known in the art, many current vehicles are equipped with an electronic key system that performs ID verification wirelessly using an electronic key. In this type of electronic key system, there is a key operation-free system in which the vehicle and the electronic key perform ID collation by narrow-band wireless (two-way communication with a communication distance of several meters) (see Patent Document 1). The electronic key of the key operation free system performs a communication operation using a primary battery housed in a key housing as a power source.

JP 2005-262915 A

  By the way, the electronic key cannot operate when the battery runs out. As a countermeasure at this time, for example, it has been considered to provide a function of transmitting a radio wave for charging from a terminal such as a high-function mobile phone that is always held and charging the electronic key with this radio wave. However, in this technique, since it is not known when the charging is completed, there is a high possibility that it will be inconvenient, which may cause confusion for the user.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle operation system capable of improving the convenience of operation when operating a vehicle with an electronic key charged with temporarily operable electric power.

  The vehicle operation system that solves the above problem enables the electronic key to be operated by charging the electronic key by short-range wireless communication with a terminal when the battery of the electronic key is exhausted. In a configuration that enables vehicle operation, a charging completion determination unit that determines whether or not the charging is completed when charging the electronic key with power necessary for a minimum operation using the terminal, and the charging And a signal transmission unit for automatically transmitting the operation request signal for switching the current state of the vehicle to the vehicle automatically from the electronic key or the terminal.

  According to this configuration, the electric power required for the minimum operation is charged in the electronic key by the radio wave transmitted from the terminal through the short-range wireless communication. When this charging is completed, an operation request signal for switching the current state of the vehicle is automatically transmitted from the electronic key or the terminal to the vehicle, and the vehicle is operated. For this reason, when charging of the electronic key is completed, the vehicle is operated by transmitting an operation request signal from the electronic key or the terminal. Therefore, when the electric key that can be temporarily operated is charged in the electronic key and the vehicle is operated with the electronic key, the convenience of the operation is improved for the user.

  In the vehicle operation system, it is preferable that the operation request signal is a state inversion signal for inverting the current state of the vehicle. According to this configuration, it is possible to perform a simple process of reversing the current state of the vehicle by means of the state reversal signal, for the operation of the vehicle with the electronic key that has been charged.

  In the vehicle operation system, the operation request signal is preferably a lock state inversion signal that inverts locking / unlocking of the vehicle door from a current state. According to this configuration, it is possible to alternately switch the locking and unlocking of the vehicle door by the lock state inversion signal transmitted from the electronic key or the terminal when the charging is completed.

  In the vehicle operation system, it is preferable that the electronic key wirelessly transmits the operation request signal to the vehicle when it is determined that the charging is completed. According to this configuration, since the operation request signal is transmitted from the electronic key, it is possible to transmit the operation request signal using a conventional system for the electronic key.

  In the vehicle operation system, when charging of the electronic key is completed, a signal transmission requesting unit that causes the electronic key to transmit a signal transmission request to the electronic key to request transmission of the operation request signal is provided, When the electronic key receives the signal transmission request from the terminal, the electronic key preferably transmits the operation request signal to the vehicle. According to this configuration, the transmission start of the operation request signal in the electronic key is instructed from the terminal, so that the operation request signal transmission timing can be set in the terminal.

  In the vehicle operation system, the power control unit includes: a power determination unit that determines which of the power of the main power source of the electronic key or the power obtained by the short-range wireless charging is used to operate the electronic key; The transmission unit preferably transmits the operation request signal on condition that the electronic key operates with power obtained by the short-range wireless charging. According to this configuration, for example, when the battery of the electronic key is replaced, an operation request signal is prevented from being transmitted from the electronic key or the terminal.

  In the vehicle operation system, the vehicle operation system includes a holding state determination unit that determines whether or not the electronic key is released from a state of being held over the terminal for the charging, and the signal transmission unit includes the electronic key connected to the terminal. It is preferable that the operation request signal is transmitted when the user moves away from the holding state. According to this configuration, the operation of releasing the electronic key from the terminal can be used as a trigger for executing the transmission of the operation request signal, so that the user can easily understand the start of transmission of the operation request signal.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the convenience of operation when operating a vehicle with the electronic key with which the electric power which can be operated temporarily was charged can be improved.

The block diagram of the vehicle operation system of one Embodiment. The timing chart until charge of an electronic key is started and vehicle operation is performed by the electronic key. A screen view of a high-performance mobile phone while charging an electronic key. The conceptual diagram which shows the outline | summary of the vehicle operation system of another example. The conceptual diagram which shows the outline | summary of the vehicle operation system of another example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle operation system will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 is equipped with an electronic key system 3 that performs ID verification (key verification) wirelessly with the electronic key 2. The electronic key system 3 has a key operation free system that performs ID collation (smart collation) by narrow-band radio (communication distance: several meters) triggered by communication from the vehicle 1, and narrowed by communication from the electronic key 2. There is a wireless key system that remotely controls a vehicle device by performing ID verification (wireless verification) by local radio.

  The electronic key 2 is provided with a key control unit 4 that controls the operation of the electronic key 2. An electronic key ID is written and stored in a memory (not shown) of the key control unit 4 as an ID unique to the key. The key control unit 4 is connected to a reception antenna 5 capable of receiving radio waves in the LF (Low Frequency) band and a transmission antenna 6 capable of transmitting radio waves in the UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band. The electronic key 2 is provided with a primary battery 7 as a power source for the electronic key 2. The primary battery 7 is an example of a main power source.

  For example, when the electronic key 2 receives a request signal Srq transmitted from the vehicle 1 by LF, the electronic key 2 performs UHF transmission of the smart signal Sid including the electronic key ID to the vehicle 1 to execute ID verification (smart verification). Further, for example, when various buttons (not shown) arranged on the electronic key 2 are operated, the wireless signal Swl including the electronic key ID is transmitted by UHF, and ID verification (wireless verification) is executed. When the vehicle 1 receives the smart signal Sid or the wireless signal Swl from the electronic key 2, the vehicle 1 collates the electronic key IDs included therein, and if the ID collation is established, for example, locking / unlocking of the vehicle door or power transition operation of the vehicle 1 is performed. Allow or execute

  The electronic key 2 is provided with a short-range wireless communication function capable of communicating with, for example, the high-function mobile phone 8 by short-range wireless (communication distance: several to several tens cm). In this case, the key control unit 4 is connected to a communication antenna 9 for short-range wireless communication. As near field communication, for example, NFC (Near Field Communication) is used as a kind of RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification). The electronic key 2 returns a response to the high function mobile phone 8 by load modulation. The high function mobile phone 8 is an example of a terminal.

  The high-function mobile phone 8 includes a mobile phone control unit 10 that controls the operation of the high-function mobile phone 8, a communication antenna 11 for short-range wireless communication, a touch panel 12 that is a touch-operable screen, and various switches. Class 13 is provided. When the electronic key 2 and the high-function mobile phone 8 are brought close to each other in proximity to each other and the communication antennas 9 and 11 are held over, short-range wireless communication is established and bidirectional wireless communication is executed. The electronic key 2 operates by electromagnetic induction during short-range wireless communication with the high-function mobile phone 8, and thus performs communication operation without a power source.

  When the primary battery 7 of the electronic key 2 runs out of battery between the electronic key 2 and the high function mobile phone 8, the charge radio wave Svc is transferred from the high function mobile phone 8 to the electronic key 2 by short-range wireless communication. A vehicle operation system 14 is provided that transmits electric power necessary for a minimum operation to the electronic key 2 by transmitting and allows the vehicle 1 to be operated by the electronic key 2 after charging. The vehicle operation system 14 of this example switches the locking / unlocking state of the vehicle door of the vehicle 1 by automatically transmitting the lock state inversion signal Sto from the electronic key 2 to the vehicle 1 after completion of charging. The lock state inversion signal Sto is a signal for requesting to reverse the current locking / unlocking state of the vehicle door. Therefore, when the lock state inversion signal Sto is received when the vehicle door is locked, the vehicle door is switched to unlocking, and when the lock state inversion signal Sto is received when the vehicle door is unlocked, the vehicle door is switched to unlocking. . The lock state inversion signal Sto is an example of the operation request signal and the state inversion signal.

  In this case, the electronic key 2 is charged with a charging circuit unit 15 that converts a carrier wave received from the high-function mobile phone 8 by short-range wireless communication into a charging signal, and a minimum power required for the operation of the electronic key 2. A possible capacitor 16 and a diode 17 for preventing a backflow of current are provided. The operation of the charging circuit unit 15 is controlled by the key control unit 4. The minimum power required for the operation of the electronic key 2 is, for example, power that can execute transmission of UHF radio waves of the electronic key 2 several times.

  The key control unit 4 includes a charge execution unit 18 that controls the charging operation of the capacitor 16 based on a carrier wave received from the high-function mobile phone 8 through short-range wireless communication, and the current operation is any of the primary battery 7 and the capacitor 16. And a power source discriminating unit 19 for discriminating whether the operation is performed using the power source. The power source discriminating unit 19 of the present example is used only when the electronic key 2 operates with only the capacitor 16 as a power source, that is, only when the voltage Vbat of the primary battery 7 is “Lo level” and the electronic key 2 operates. The transmission of the lock state inversion signal Sto is permitted. The charging execution unit 18 is an example of a charging completion determination unit.

  The mobile phone control unit 10 transmits to the electronic key 2 a charge completion confirmation unit 20 that confirms whether or not the charging of the capacitor 16 by the high function mobile phone 8 is completed, and transmits a lock state inversion signal Sto after the completion of the charge. A state inversion signal transmission request unit 21 for transmitting to the electronic key 2 a state inversion signal transmission request Ddm for requesting the electronic key 2 is provided. The key control unit 4 is provided with a state inversion signal transmission unit 22 that transmits the lock state inversion signal Sto by UHF based on the state inversion signal transmission request Ddm received from the high function mobile phone 8. When the state reversal signal transmission unit 22 receives the state reversal signal transmission request Ddm from the high-function mobile phone 8 in a situation where it is determined that the electronic key 2 is operating with the capacitor 16 as a power source, the lock state reversal signal Sto is transmitted to the vehicle 1 by UHF. The charging completion confirmation unit 20 is an example of a charging completion determination unit, and the state inversion signal transmission request unit 21 is an example of a signal transmission request unit.

Next, operation | movement of the vehicle operation system 14 is demonstrated using FIG.2 and FIG.3.
As shown in FIG. 2, the high-function mobile phone 8 repeatedly transmits a wake signal Swk at a predetermined interval by short-range wireless communication in order to monitor whether or not the electronic key 2 is held over itself, so-called Polling is being performed. To make the electronic key 2 usable again when the primary battery 7 of the electronic key 2 has run out, the short-distance wireless communication is performed on the capacitor 16 built in the electronic key 2 with the minimum power required for operation. In order to charge by the above, an operation of holding the electronic key 2 over the high function mobile phone 8 is performed.

  When the electronic key 2 is held over the high function mobile phone 8, the electronic key 2 receives the wake signal Swk through the short-range wireless communication. The electronic key 2 that has received the wake signal Swk returns an ack signal Sack as a response. The high-function mobile phone 8 that has received the ACK signal Sack authenticates the electronic key 2 through short-range wireless communication. When the high function mobile phone 8 confirms that the authentication with the electronic key 2 is established, the high function mobile phone 8 starts to transmit the charging radio wave Svc through the short-range wireless communication, thereby charging the capacitor 16 in the electronic key 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, while the electronic key 2 is being charged, a message “charging” is displayed on the touch panel 12 of the high-function mobile phone 8. Examples of the message “charging” include “keep holding the electronic key while charging”. The charging operation of the capacitor 16 in the electronic key 2 is managed by the charging execution unit 18 controlling the charging circuit unit 15. Based on the voltage between the terminals of the capacitor 16, the charging execution unit 18 sequentially monitors whether or not the power necessary for the electronic key 2 to operate at a minimum is stored in the capacitor 16.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the charge completion confirmation unit 20 periodically transmits a charge completion confirmation notification Dcn to the electronic key 2 to ask the electronic key 2 whether or not the charging is completed, and the charging is completed. The electronic key 2 is inquired whether or not. When receiving the charge completion confirmation notification Dcn, the charging execution unit 18 notifies the high-function mobile phone 8 of the current charging state. For example, if charging is not yet completed, a charging incomplete notification D1 is transmitted to the high function mobile phone 8, and if charging is complete, a charging completion notification D2 is transmitted to the high function mobile phone 8. When the charging completion confirmation unit 20 receives the charging completion notification D2 from the electronic key 2, the charging completion confirmation unit 20 stops the transmission of the charging radio wave Svc and ends the charging operation. As a result, the electronic key 2 is charged with a minimum power necessary for operation, and can be operated even temporarily.

  When the charging completion notification D2 is received from the electronic key 2, the state inversion signal transmission request unit 21 sends the state inversion signal transmission request Ddm instructing switching of the locking / unlocking state of the vehicle door to the electronic key through the short-range wireless communication. 2 to send. When the state inversion signal transmission unit 22 receives the state inversion signal transmission request Ddm from the high-function mobile phone 8, the state inversion signal transmission unit 22 automatically generates the lock state inversion signal Sto on the condition that the electronic key 2 is operated with only the capacitor 16 as a power source. Then, UHF is transmitted to the vehicle 1. The lock state inversion signal Sto is a signal including, for example, a command for switching the locking / unlocking of the vehicle door in addition to the electronic key ID of the electronic key 2.

  When the vehicle 1 receives the lock state inversion signal Sto transmitted from the electronic key 2, the vehicle 1 performs ID verification (wireless verification) by verifying the ID code in the wireless signal Swl with the ID code registered in itself. . And if ID collation is materialized, the locking / unlocking state of a vehicle door will be switched based on the command in the same wireless signal Swl. For example, if the lock state inversion signal Sto is received when the vehicle door is locked, the vehicle door is unlocked. If the lock state inversion signal Sto is received when the vehicle door is unlocked, the vehicle door is locked. Is done.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the primary battery 7 of the electronic key 2 runs out of battery, the electronic key 2 is held over the high function mobile phone 8, so that the charge radio wave Svc transmitted from the high function mobile phone 8 through short-range wireless communication The capacitor 16 of the electronic key 2 is charged with the electric power necessary for the minimum operation. When the charging is completed, the electronic key 2 automatically transmits a lock state inversion signal Sto to the vehicle 1. When the vehicle 1 receives the lock state inversion signal Sto from the electronic key 2, the vehicle 1 reverses the locking / unlocking of the vehicle door from the current state. For this reason, since the lock state inversion signal Sto is automatically transmitted from the electronic key 2 when the charging of the electronic key 2 is completed, when the charging of the electronic key 2 is completed, the locking / unlocking of the vehicle door is switched at that time. Completed. Therefore, when the electronic key 2 is charged with temporarily operable power and the vehicle 1 is operated by the electronic key 2, the convenience of operation is improved for the user. That is, when the charging of the electronic key 2 is completed, the locking / unlocking of the vehicle door can be switched without user operation.

  (2) When charging of the electronic key 2 is completed, the lock state inversion signal Sto is automatically transmitted to the vehicle 1. Therefore, the vehicle 1 can be operated by reliably using the power necessary for the minimum operation charged in the electronic key 2 for the operation intended by the user.

  (3) The signal transmitted from the electronic key 2 when the charging of the electronic key 2 is completed is a lock state inversion signal Sto for inverting the current state of the vehicle door. Therefore, the vehicle operation by the electronic key 2 that has been charged can be a simple process of reversing the current state of the vehicle door by the lock state reversal signal Sto.

  (4) When the locked state inversion signal Sto is transmitted from the electronic key 2 when the vehicle door is locked, the locked door inversion signal Sto is transmitted from the electronic key 2 when the vehicle door is unlocked. Then, the vehicle door is locked. Therefore, every time the lock state inversion signal Sto is transmitted from the electronic key 2, the locking / unlocking of the vehicle door can be switched alternately.

(5) Since the lock state inversion signal Sto is transmitted from the electronic key 2, the lock state inversion signal Sto can be transmitted using an existing system existing in the electronic key 2.
(6) Upon receiving the charging completion notification D2 as a response of the electronic key 2 to the charging completion confirmation notification Dcn, the high function mobile phone 8 transmits a state inversion signal transmission request Ddm to the electronic key 2 and locks it to the electronic key 2 Transmission of the state inversion signal Sto is executed. Therefore, since the high function mobile phone 8 instructs the electronic key 2 to start transmitting the lock state inversion signal Sto, the transmission timing of the lock state inversion signal Sto can be set in the high function mobile phone 8.

  (7) It is determined whether the electronic key 2 is operating with the primary battery 7 or the capacitor 16 as a power source. When the electronic key 2 is operating with the capacitor 16 as a power source, transmission of the lock state inversion signal Sto is permitted. Therefore, for example, when the primary battery 7 is replaced with a new one, it is possible to prevent the lock state inversion signal Sto from being transmitted from the electronic key 2.

Note that the embodiment is not limited to the configuration described so far, and may be modified as follows.
As shown in FIG. 4, after the charging of the electronic key 2 is completed, the lock state inversion signal Sto may be automatically transmitted from the high function mobile phone 8.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the lock state inversion signal Sto may be transmitted from the electronic key 2 triggered by the release of the electronic key 2 from the state of being held over the high-function mobile phone 8. In this case, a holding state determination unit 31 for determining whether or not the holding state is released is provided in the electronic key 2, and when the holding state is detected by the holding state determination unit 31, the lock state is reversed from the electronic key 2. A signal Sto is transmitted. Therefore, since the operation of releasing the electronic key 2 from the high-function mobile phone 8 can be used as a trigger for transmitting the lock state inversion signal Sto, it is easy for the user to know the start of transmission of the lock state inversion signal Sto. Become. The holding state determination unit 31 may be provided in the high-function mobile phone 8.

When the electronic key 2 recognizes the completion of charging, the charging operation of the high function mobile phone 8 may be stopped by transmitting a charge completion notification from the electronic key 2 to the high function mobile phone 8.
When the electronic key 2 recognizes that the charging is completed, the electronic key 2 may transmit the lock state inversion signal Sto at that time.

The main power source of the electronic key 2 is not limited to the primary battery 7 and can be changed to another battery.
The charging in the electronic key 2 is not limited to being performed by the capacitor 16 and may be changed to another element.

The power source of the electronic key 2 may be changed from the primary battery 7 to a secondary battery, and the secondary battery may be charged with power by short-range radio.
The short-range wireless communication used to charge the electronic key 2 is not limited to communication using RFID, but can be changed to other types of communication.

・ Various communication such as WPC standard communication can be adopted for charging communication.
The terminal is not limited to the high-function mobile phone 8, but can be changed to another device or device such as a normal mobile phone or a tablet terminal.

The electric power necessary for the minimum operation can be changed as appropriate according to the content to operate the electronic key 2.
The configuration of the charging circuit of the electronic key 2 can be separately changed to a configuration other than the embodiment.

The frequency of the radio wave used in the electronic key system 3 is not limited to LF or UHF, and may be changed to another frequency.
The charging completion determination unit is not limited to a function unit generated by the cooperation of the electronic key 2 and the high-function mobile phone 8, and may be a function unit generated only for the electronic key 2, for example.

-After completion of charging, a message to that effect may be displayed on the touch panel 12 of the high-function mobile phone 8.
The operation request signal may be a lock request signal for requesting lock or an unlock request signal for requesting unlock.

  The operation request signal may be a signal for notifying the vehicle 1 that the charging of the electronic key 2 has been completed. In this case, when the vehicle 1 receives the charge completion notification from the electronic key 2, the vehicle 1 operates the vehicle device using this as a trigger.

  The operation request signal is not limited to a signal for requesting switching of locking / unlocking of the vehicle door, and may be a signal for operating other in-vehicle devices such as switching of engine start / stop.

  The system used when the electronic key 2 transmits a radio wave to the vehicle 1 after completion of charging is not limited to the wireless key system, and can be changed to another system such as a key operation free system.

Next, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above-described embodiment and other examples will be described below together with their effects.
(A) In the vehicle operation system, the operation request signal is a locking / unlocking switching signal for switching locking / unlocking of the vehicle door. According to this configuration, after the charging of the electronic key is completed, it is possible to switch the locking / unlocking state of the vehicle door without any user operation.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle, 2 ... Electronic key, 7 ... Primary battery as main power supply, 8 ... High functional mobile phone as terminal, 14 ... Vehicle operation system, 18 ... Charge execution part which comprises charge completion determination part, 19 ... Power supply Determining unit, 20 ... Charging completion confirmation unit constituting the charging completion determining unit, 21 ... State inversion signal transmission request unit as a signal transmission request unit, 31 ... Holding state determination unit, Sto ... Operation request signal and state inversion signal Lock state inversion signal, Ddm... Signal transmission request (state inversion signal transmission request).

Claims (7)

In the vehicle operation system that enables operation of the electronic key by charging the electronic key by short-range wireless communication with a terminal when the battery is out of battery, and enables vehicle operation with the electronic key.
A charging completion determination unit that determines whether or not the charging is completed when the electronic key is charged with electric power necessary for a minimum operation using the terminal;
When it is determined that the charging has been completed, an operation request signal for switching the current state of the vehicle is automatically transmitted from the electronic key or the terminal to the vehicle. Vehicle operation system. The vehicle operation system according to claim 1, wherein the operation request signal is a state inversion signal for inverting the current state of the vehicle. The vehicle operation system according to claim 1, wherein the operation request signal is a lock state inversion signal that inverts locking / unlocking of the vehicle door from a current state. The vehicle operation system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic key wirelessly transmits the operation request signal to the vehicle when it is determined that the charging is completed. . When charging of the electronic key is completed, a signal transmission requesting unit that causes the electronic key to transmit a signal transmission request for requesting the electronic key to transmit the operation request signal is provided,
The vehicle operation system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic key transmits the operation request signal to the vehicle when receiving the signal transmission request from the terminal. A power discriminating unit for discriminating which of the electric power of the main power source of the electronic key or the electric power obtained by charging of the short-range wireless power is used as the power source
The said signal transmission part transmits the said operation request signal on condition that the said electronic key operate | moves with the electric power obtained by the charge of the said short-distance radio | wireless, The any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned. The vehicle operation system described in 1. A holding state determination unit for determining whether or not the electronic key is released from a state of being held over the terminal for the charging;
The vehicle operation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the signal transmission unit transmits the operation request signal when the electronic key is released from a state of being held over the terminal. system.