JP2016211334A - Smart entry system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a smart entry system capable of preventing repeating auto locking and auto unlocking against a user's intention.SOLUTION: An on-vehicle device (2) mounted on a vehicle (10) transmits a request signal to a portable apparatus (3) held by a user; receives a response signal in response to the request signal from the portable apparatus, the response signal including a measurement value of reception signal strength of the request signal; and estimates the portable apparatus's position from the measurement value. The on-vehicle device outputs a control instruction that makes a lock mechanism (50) of a door of the vehicle be into an unlocked state when the portable apparatus exists in unlockable area formed around the vehicle, and makes the lock mechanism be into a locked state when it has been estimated that the portable apparatus exists outside the unlockable area and is moving in a direction away from the vehicle. The portable apparatus measures the reception signal strength of the request signal from the on-vehicle device; and inserts the measurement value into the response signal before transmitting the response signal to the on-vehicle device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a smart entry system used for a vehicle.

  Two-way communication is performed between the portable device owned by the user and the in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle. The in-vehicle device authenticates the portable device, and based on the result, unlocks / locks the door and starts the engine. Smart entry systems that control the operation of vehicle functions, such as, have become widespread.

  In addition to the above-described functions, some smart entry systems include an auto-lock function that automatically locks the door when the user leaves the vehicle after getting off (see Patent Document 1). In this configuration, when the door is unlocked and the response signal from the portable device that responds to the request signal transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device is not received, the user determines that the user has left the vehicle and locks the door. .

JP 2008-50856 A

  In the method of Patent Document 1, even when there is a user who has a portable device around the vehicle, when the search signal from the vehicle cannot be received due to the influence of noise or the like (the electronic key does not respond), the auto lock is activated. . For example, when the vehicle electronic key system has an auto-unlock function that automatically unlocks the door when entering the unlockable area where the portable device is collated, the auto-lock is activated after the auto-unlock is activated. The user may feel annoying. In addition, when the user wants to take out the luggage in the trunk while moving around the vehicle after getting off the vehicle, there is a problem in that the user repeatedly feels uncomfortable by repeating auto-lock and auto-unlock.

  Against the background of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a smart entry system that can suppress repeated automatic locking and automatic unlocking against the user's intention.

  A smart entry system for solving the above problem includes an in-vehicle device (2) mounted on a vehicle (10) and a portable device (3) possessed by a user, and the in-vehicle device makes a request to the portable device. An in-vehicle device transmission unit (23, 24) for transmitting a signal, and an in-vehicle device reception unit (25) for receiving a response signal including a measurement value of the received signal strength of the request signal in response to a request signal from the portable device; The estimation unit (21) for estimating the position of the portable device from the measured value, and the estimation unit, when the portable device is in an unlockable area formed around the vehicle, 50), when the estimation unit estimates that the portable device is outside the unlockable area and the portable device is moving away from the vehicle, Door lock An output unit (26) for outputting a control command to lock the structure, and the portable device includes a portable device receiver (33) that receives a request signal from the in-vehicle device, and a received signal strength of the request signal. A measurement unit (34) for measuring the response and a portable device transmission unit (35) for transmitting a response signal to the in-vehicle device.

  In the above configuration, when the user (portable device) approaches the vehicle and enters the unlockable area, the device is automatically unlocked. Also, when the user exits the unlockable area and immediately returns to the unlockable area, the auto-lock → auto-unlock operation is not performed. Thereby, it can suppress repeating auto-lock and auto-unlocking against a user's intention.

  In addition, the received signal strength of the request signal is measured with the portable device, and the portable device can be unlocked after confirming that the communication between the in-vehicle device and the portable device is normally performed based on the measured value. It is determined whether or not the user is in the area and whether or not the portable device has left the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to suppress auto-locking or auto-unlocking at a timing that is not intended by the user, such as when communication between the in-vehicle device and the portable device is not normally performed temporarily due to noise or the like. .

The figure which shows the structure of a smart entry system. The figure which shows the example of a setting of an unlockable area and a vehicle surrounding area. The data table which shows the position of the portable machine with respect to RSSI. The figure which shows the structural example of the communication data with a vehicle-mounted apparatus and a portable device. The flowchart explaining the communication processing of a portable machine. The flowchart explaining the lock control processing of a vehicle-mounted apparatus. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining lock control processing following FIG. 6. The figure which shows the state of the portable device in a lock control process.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the smart entry system 1 includes an in-vehicle device 2 mounted on a vehicle 10 (see FIG. 2) and a portable device 3 possessed by a user.

  The in-vehicle device 2 includes an ECU 20, an outside vehicle interior transmission unit 23 (in-vehicle device transmission unit of the present invention), a vehicle interior transmission unit 24 (in-vehicle device transmission unit of the present invention), and a reception unit 25 (invention of the present invention) connected to the ECU 20. In-vehicle device receiver).

  The ECU 20 includes a well-known CPU 21 (estimation unit and collation unit of the present invention), a memory 22 configured by a non-volatile storage medium that stores various information such as an in-vehicle device control program and a collation master code, and signal input / output. The circuit includes an I / O 26 (an output unit of the present invention). Various functions of the vehicle-mounted device 2 are realized by the CPU 21 executing the vehicle-mounted device control program.

  The vehicle interior transmission unit 23 includes an antenna, and is attached to the center pillar of the vehicle 10 like 23a and 23b as shown in FIG. 2 and inside the trunk like 23c. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle interior transmission unit 24 is attached to the vehicle interior such as the center console. These transmission units transmit a request signal and a measurement signal (details will be described later) using the LF (long wave) band radio wave (for example, 125 KHz) outside or inside the vehicle compartment.

  The receiving unit 25 includes an antenna and is attached to a vehicle interior, for example, and receives a response signal transmitted from the portable device 3 using an RF (high frequency) band radio wave (for example, 315 MHz) from the outside of the vehicle or the vehicle interior. . By using radio waves in the RF band, even if the signal strength of the response signal is relatively weak, a corresponding communication distance (for example, 30 to 100 m) can be obtained, and the response signal can be received more reliably.

  The vehicle interior transmission unit 23 and the vehicle interior transmission unit 24 transmit request signals in the order of 23 (23a, 23b, 23c), 24, for example, based on the transmission instruction signal from the ECU 20. The receiving unit 25 is ready to receive a response signal from the portable device 3 in synchronization with the output timing of the transmission instruction signal to each transmitting unit. As a result, it is possible to determine from which transmitting unit the response signal is a response to the request signal transmitted.

  FIG. 2 shows a request signal transmission area. R23a, R23b, R23c, and R24 indicate the outer edges of the transmission area of the request signal of the transmitter (generic name for the transmitters 23a, 23b, 23c, and 24, the same applies hereinafter), respectively. The transmission area formed in a substantially elliptical shape partially overlaps with other transmission areas.

  First, in the transmission area R23a of the transmission unit 23a, a range within a predetermined distance (for example, 1.5 m) from the transmission unit 23a is set as the unlockable area R1a. Similarly, in the transmission area R23b of the transmission unit 23b, a range within a predetermined distance from the transmission unit 23b is set as an unlockable area R1b. In addition, among the areas where the three transmission areas R23a, R23b, and R24 overlap, an area that does not overlap with the unlockable area R1 (general name of R1a and R1b, hereinafter the same) is designated as a vehicle surrounding area R2 (generic name of R2a and R2b, The same shall apply hereinafter. Of course, the transmission area R23c may be used for setting the vehicle surrounding area R2. In this case, an area R2c obtained by removing the vehicle surrounding area R2 from the transmission area R23c is included in the vehicle surrounding area R2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the memory 22 stores a data table in which the portable device 3 receives the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) of the request signal from the transmission unit and the position of the portable device 3. To do. As the portable device 3 receives a request signal at a position closer to each transmission unit, the RSSI increases. For example, as the RSSI of the transmission unit 23a is larger, the portable device 3 is located closer to the transmission unit 23a.

  Returning to FIG. 2, if at least three of the RSSIs of the transmission unit can be acquired, the position of the portable device 3 can be obtained by the principle of triangulation. Therefore, the vehicle surrounding area R2 in FIG. 2 is set so that at least three RSSIs can be acquired. If the RSSIs of all the transmission units can be acquired, the position of the portable device 3 can be obtained more accurately. From the above, in FIG. 3, the position of the portable device 3 is determined only when at least three of the RSSIs of the transmission unit can be acquired.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the door unit 5 is connected to the in-vehicle device 2 via a communication line 6 such as a LAN. The door unit 5 includes a lock mechanism 50, a touch sensor 51, and a switch 52. The door is locked or unlocked by the lock mechanism 50. The touch sensor 51 is mounted on a door handle, for example, and detects that the user has gripped the door handle. The switch 52 is provided near the door handle, for example, and detects that the user has pressed it.

  The door unit 5 is an example of one of a plurality of doors of the vehicle 10 (driver side door, passenger side door, rear seat right door, rear seat left door, trunk, back door, etc.). is there.

  The portable device 3 includes a control unit 31, a memory 32 connected to the control unit 31, a reception unit 33 (the portable device reception unit of the present invention), a measurement unit 34, and a transmission unit 35 (the portable device transmission unit of the present invention). The operation unit 36 is provided. The control unit 31 is configured as a computer including a well-known CPU or the like (not shown). Various functions of the portable device 3 are realized by the CPU executing the portable device control program stored in the memory 32. The memory 32 is composed of a nonvolatile storage medium such as a flash memory, for example, and stores data necessary for the operation of the portable device 3 such as a portable device control program and an ID code for identifying the portable device 3.

  The receiving unit 33 includes an antenna and receives a request signal from the transmitting unit of the in-vehicle device 2. When the measurement unit 34 receives an RSSI measurement signal (details will be described later), the measurement unit 34 measures the RSSI of the measurement signal based on, for example, a voltage induced in the antenna of the reception unit 33.

  The transmission unit 35 includes an antenna. When the reception unit 33 receives a request signal, the transmission unit 35 transmits a response signal including an ID code and an RSSI measurement value (details will be described later) by using radio waves in the RF band.

  The operation unit 36 includes a switch used for executing a known remote keyless entry function. When the user operates the operation unit 36 within the communication range outside the passenger compartment of the vehicle 10, for example, the locking mechanism 50 can be unlocked / locked, and the trunk or the back door (none of which is shown) can be unlocked.

  With the configuration of FIG. 1, in the smart entry system 1, when the touch sensor 51 detects an operation of gripping the door handle by the user, a request signal is transmitted from the vehicle interior transmission unit 23 to the portable device 3. When the portable device 3 receives the request signal, the portable device 3 transmits a response signal from the transmission unit 35. The ECU 20 collates the ID code included in the received response signal with the master code. When the collation is normally performed, the ECU 20 outputs a control command via the I / O 26 so that the lock mechanism 50 is in the unlocked state or the unlocking permitted state. When the user presses the switch 52, when the collation with the portable device 3 outside the passenger compartment is successful, the ECU 20 outputs a control command to put the lock mechanism 50 in the locked state.

  In FIG. 4, the structural example of the communication data of the vehicle-mounted apparatus 2 and the portable device 3 is shown. When the in-vehicle device 2 does not receive the response signal from the portable device 3, the in-vehicle device 2 sequentially transmits the request signal (Q1) at a predetermined cycle from the transmission unit. When the response signal (A1) from the portable device 3 is received, it is determined which transmitting unit has transmitted the request signal, and thereafter, the request signal is transmitted only from the determined transmitting unit.

  At this time, the measurement signal (Sa, Sb, Sc, Sd) is transmitted from each of the transmission units (23a, 23b, 23c, 24) following the request signal or included in the request signal (Q2). . The measurement signal may be a non-modulated continuous wave (CW) for a predetermined time (for example, 10 msec) or an amplitude-modulated wave with a constant modulation degree. Each measurement signal is transmitted at an interval of 10 msec, for example. In the portable device 3, the signal received after the reception of the request signal is regarded as a measurement signal. The measurement signal may include data from which a transmission unit can be identified.

  The above-described configuration is “the in-vehicle device transmission unit transmits a measurement signal for the portable device to measure the received signal strength following the request signal or includes the request signal in the request signal”. For example, when a request signal is transmitted as an ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) modulation type radio wave, the amplitude changes depending on the content of the transmission data, so it is difficult to measure the exact received signal strength. With this configuration, for example, the intensity of a received signal can be measured more accurately by transmitting an unmodulated continuous wave or an amplitude-modulated wave having a constant modulation degree as a measurement signal.

  When the portable device 3 receives the measurement signal, the portable device 3 measures the RSSI for each of the measurement signals, and transmits the measurement value included in the response signal (A2).

  In FIG. 4, the measurement signal may be transmitted continuously following the request signal. Alternatively, the request signal may also serve as a measurement signal. Alternatively, the request signal and the measurement signal include an identification code for identifying the in-vehicle device 2, and the portable device 3 transmits a response signal only to the request signal and the measurement signal including the identification code registered in advance. Also good.

  FIG. 5 shows communication processing of the portable device 3 included in the portable device control program. When the portable device 3 does not receive a request signal from the in-vehicle device 2 or when there is no user operation on the operation unit 36 for a predetermined time, the portable device 3 is in a sleep state with less power consumption than the normal operation state (S11).

  When the request signal is received in the sleep state (S12: Yes), the portable device 3 shifts to a normal operation state (S13). Next, it is determined whether or not a measurement signal for measuring RSSI has been received.

  When the measurement signal is not received within a predetermined time after receiving the request signal (S14: No), the process shifts to the sleep state (S17), and this process ends. On the other hand, when the measurement signal is received (S14: Yes), the measurement unit 34 measures the RSSI of each measurement signal (Sa, Sb, Sc, Sd) (S15).

  Next, a response signal and a measured value of RSSI are transmitted (S16). The measurement value may be transmitted following the response signal, or may be transmitted by being included in the response signal. Thereafter, the process shifts to the sleep state (S17), and this process is terminated.

  6 and 7 show a lock control process included in the in-vehicle device control program. First, when a predetermined transmission timing arrives (S31), request signals are sequentially transmitted from the transmission unit as described above (S32). Thereafter, a response signal from the portable device 3 is waited.

  When a response signal is received from the portable device 3 (S33: Yes), the ID code and the master code are collated as described above (S34). When collation is not performed normally (S35: No), it returns to step S31 and waits until the transmission timing of the next request signal comes. This process may be terminated. On the other hand, when collation is normally performed (S35: Yes), it progresses to step S36 of FIG.

  The processes from step S31 to S35 are the same as the verification process of a general smart entry system.

  Turning to FIG. 7, when a predetermined transmission timing has arrived (S36), it is determined which transmission unit the response signal received from the portable device 3 responds to the request signal transmitted from step S33. Then, a request signal is transmitted from the determined transmission unit. Subsequently, measurement signals are sequentially transmitted from the transmission unit (S37). Thereafter, a response signal from the portable device 3 is waited.

  The above-described configuration is as follows: “The response signal includes an ID code for identifying a portable device, the in-vehicle device includes a collation unit (21) that collates the ID code with a master code stored in advance, When the operation is normally performed, a measurement signal is transmitted. With this configuration, since it does not react to a response signal transmitted from a portable device of another vehicle having the same type of smart entry system, it is possible to prevent auto-locking at a timing not intended by the user.

  When a response signal is received from the portable device 3 (S38: Yes), the ID code and the master code are collated (S39). When collation is not performed normally (S40: No), it returns to step S36 and waits until the transmission timing of the next request signal comes. Or you may return to step S33 and you may complete | finish this process. On the other hand, when collation is normally performed (S40: Yes), the RSSI measurement value included in the received response signal or received following the response signal is acquired (S41).

  Next, based on the acquired measurement value, the position of the portable device 3 is estimated by referring to the data table of FIG. 3 (S42), and it is determined whether or not the portable device 3 is in the unlockable area R1. When the portable device 3 is in the unlockable area R1 (S43: Yes), the ECU 20 outputs a control command (unlock instruction) to the door unit 5 so that the lock mechanism 50 is unlocked (S44). ). Then, this process is complete | finished.

  The above-described configuration is “the estimation unit outputs a control command to unlock the door locking mechanism (50) of the vehicle when the portable device is in an unlockable area formed around the vehicle.” Is. With this configuration, auto-unlocking can be performed with a configuration in which the received signal strength of the request signal is measured by the portable device and the position of the portable device is estimated based on the measured value.

  On the other hand, when the portable device 3 is not in the unlockable area R1 (S43: No), it is determined whether or not the portable device 3 is in the vehicle surrounding area R2. When the portable device 3 is in the vehicle surrounding area R2 (S45: Yes), the process returns to step S36 and waits until the transmission timing of the next request signal arrives. Alternatively, this process may be terminated.

  When the above-mentioned configuration is “the estimation unit estimates that the portable device is located in a vehicle surrounding area different from the unlockable area formed around the vehicle, the output unit locks the door of the vehicle. Maintain the state of the mechanism. " For example, in the case of exiting an unlockable area set in the vicinity of the driver's seat door and taking in / out the luggage in the trunk, conventionally, since it is once away from the unlockable area, it is automatically locked. Thereafter, when the vehicle approaches the vicinity of the driver's seat door, it is automatically unlocked. However, with this configuration, if the vehicle is moved within the vehicle surrounding area, the unlocked state is maintained and the automatic locking / unlocking is not performed, so that the user's troublesomeness can be reduced.

  On the other hand, when the portable device 3 is not in the vehicle surrounding area R2 (S45: No), the moving direction of the portable device 3 is estimated (S46). The position of the portable device 3 is stored in the memory 22 retroactively for a predetermined period. From this change in position, the moving direction of the portable device 3 can be estimated.

  You may estimate the moving direction of the portable device 3 based on the measured value of RSSI. For example, when the RSSI measurement values of all the transmission units tend to decrease, it is estimated that the portable device 3 is moving away from the vehicle. On the other hand, in other cases, it is estimated that the vehicle has not moved away (that is, the vehicle is circling).

  When the portable device 3 is outside the vehicle surrounding area R2 and is moving away from the vehicle 10 (S47: Yes), the ECU 20 controls the door unit 5 to lock the lock mechanism 50 with a control command ( Lock instruction) is output (S48). Then, this process is complete | finished.

  The above-mentioned configuration is “when the estimation unit estimates that the portable device is outside the unlockable area and the portable device is moving away from the vehicle, the output unit locks the door of the vehicle. A control command to put the mechanism in a locked state is output. With this configuration, auto-locking is performed after confirming that the user is moving away from the vehicle, so that when the user stays outside the unlockable area, there is a re-entry into the unlockable area. Therefore, the user's troublesomeness can be reduced.

  On the other hand, when the portable device 3 is outside the vehicle surrounding area R2, but is not moving away from the vehicle 10 (S47: No), at least one of the following is executed (it is not necessary to execute): ), The process returns to step S36 and waits until the transmission timing of the next request signal arrives. Alternatively, this process may be terminated.

Change the request signal transmission timing (S49). For example, the request signal transmission cycle is made shorter than normal.
The above configuration is “when the estimation unit estimates that the portable device is outside the vehicle surrounding area, the in-vehicle device transmission unit indicates the transmission timing of the request signal, and the portable device is within the vehicle surrounding area. It is assumed that the transmission timing is different from the transmission timing when estimated. For example, when it is estimated that the portable device is outside the vehicle surrounding area, it is possible to prevent the response signal from being suddenly received when the user leaves the vehicle by shortening the transmission cycle of the request signal.

Change the transmission output of the request signal (S50). For example, the transmission output of the request signal is increased. The transmission unit is configured to change a transmission output (for example, an applied current to the antenna) based on a control command from the ECU 20.
The above-described configuration is “when the estimation unit estimates that the portable device is outside the vehicle surrounding area, the in-vehicle device transmission unit outputs the request signal transmission output, and the portable device is within the vehicle surrounding area. Is different from the transmission output at the time of estimation. For example, when the response signal cannot be received due to the influence of noise or the like, the transmission output of the request signal is increased to reduce the influence of the noise. Thereby, the portable device 3 can receive the request signal more reliably.

  6 and 7, steps S31 to S35 are not executed when the measurement signal is always transmitted following the request signal.

The state of the portable device 3 and the control contents in the above-described lock control process will be described with reference to FIG.
When the portable device 3 approaches the vehicle and enters the unlockable area R1a (P1), the ECU 20 outputs an unlock instruction.
When the portable device 3 moves out of the unlockable area R1a or the vehicle surrounding area R2b and moves away from the vehicle 10 (P2), a lock instruction is output from the ECU 20.
In the state (P3) in which the portable device 3 has moved from the unlockable area R1a to the vehicle surrounding area R2b, the unlocked state is maintained.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the knowledge of those skilled in the art can be used without departing from the spirit of the claims. Various modifications based on this are possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Smart entry system 10 Vehicle 2 In-vehicle apparatus 20 ECU
21 CPU (estimator, collator)
23 (23a, 23b, 23c) Vehicle interior transmission unit (vehicle device transmission unit)
24 Vehicle interior transmitter (on-vehicle device transmitter)
25 Receiver (In-vehicle device receiver)
26 I / O (output unit)
3 portable device 31 control unit 33 receiving unit (portable device receiving unit)
34 Measuring unit 35 Transmitting unit (portable device transmitting unit)
50 Locking mechanism R1 (R1a, R1b) Unlockable area R2 (R2a, R2b) Vehicle surrounding area

Claims (4)

An in-vehicle device (2) mounted on the vehicle (10), and a portable device (3) possessed by the user,
The in-vehicle device is
An in-vehicle device transmission unit (23, 24) for transmitting a request signal to the portable device;
An in-vehicle device receiver (25) that receives a response signal including a measurement value of the received signal strength of the request signal in response to the request signal from the portable device;
An estimation unit (21) for estimating the position of the portable device from the measurement value;
When the estimation unit is in an unlockable area formed around the vehicle, the estimation unit outputs a control command to unlock the door locking mechanism (50) of the vehicle,
When the estimating unit estimates that the portable device is outside the unlockable area and the portable device is moving in a direction away from the vehicle, the door locking mechanism of the vehicle is locked. An output unit (26) for outputting a control command to
With
The portable device is
A portable receiver (33) for receiving the request signal from the in-vehicle device;
A measurement unit (34) for measuring the received signal strength of the request signal;
A portable device transmitter (35) for transmitting the response signal to the in-vehicle device;
A smart entry system characterized by comprising When the estimation unit estimates that the portable device is located in a vehicle surrounding area different from the unlockable area formed around the vehicle,
The smart entry system according to claim 1, wherein the output unit maintains a state of a lock mechanism of the door of the vehicle.   The in-vehicle device transmission unit transmits a measurement signal for the portable device to measure the received signal intensity following the request signal, or includes the request signal and transmits the measurement signal. The smart entry system described. The response signal includes an ID code that identifies the portable device;
The in-vehicle device is
A collation unit (21) for collating the ID code with a master code stored in advance;
The smart entry system according to claim 3, wherein the in-vehicle device transmission unit transmits the measurement signal when the collation is normally performed.

Images