JP5332678B2 - Device for preventing confinement of portable device for vehicle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for preventing confinement of a portable device (corresponding to a key of a vehicle) in a smart key system of a vehicle (for example, an automobile). Note that the “confinement prevention device” in the present specification prevents the user from getting off the mobile device while leaving the mobile device in the vehicle and confining the mobile device, and confined the mobile device in the vehicle for some reason. But it is a device that can unlock the door.

  Recently, an increasing number of vehicles are equipped with a system called “smart key system”. The “smart key system” is a wireless communication between a portable device carried by a user and an in-vehicle device, and the in-vehicle device checks whether a portable device exists within a predetermined distance from the vehicle. The door is locked or unlocked based on the collation result. In a vehicle equipped with this system, a user carrying a portable device approaches the vehicle and locks the door only by performing a predetermined operation (for example, touching a switch attached to the door handle), for example. Or unlock it.

  If the user gets off without carrying the portable device (for example, puts the bag in the bag and leaves the bag in the passenger compartment) and performs a switch operation on the door handle, the door may be locked. is there. As a result, the portable device is confined in the vehicle.

  In order to prevent the above-described problems, in the smart key system, when the portable device is present in the vehicle interior when the door is locked, the confinement prevention function works and the door cannot be locked (see Patent Document 1). This confinement prevention function is to detect a portable device in the vehicle by transmitting a radio wave from an antenna provided in the vehicle and receiving the radio wave returned from the portable device that has received the radio wave.

  At this time, it is desirable that the radio wave transmitted from the antenna has a low radio wave output level to minimize leakage outside the vehicle. This is because if the radio wave leaks outside the vehicle, the mobile device held by the user immediately after getting off is detected, and the user may not be able to lock the door. However, if the radio wave output level is lowered, it becomes difficult to detect the portable device even if the portable device exists in the vehicle. In particular, when the portable device is accommodated in a container such as a bag and an obstacle exists between the antenna and the portable device, this problem is likely to occur. As a result, it is difficult to sufficiently prevent the mobile device from being confined by the confinement prevention function in the conventional smart key system.

JP 2007-217968 A

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to reliably prevent a portable device in a smart key system for a vehicle from being confined in the vehicle.

The present invention for solving the above problems is as follows.
The device for preventing confinement of a portable device in a smart key system for a vehicle that performs wireless communication of a signal between a portable device and an in-vehicle device, and locks or unlocks a door based on the comparison result,
A portable device carried by a vehicle user and capable of transmitting and receiving signals;
Door control means for locking or unlocking the door of the vehicle;
Whether or not the portable device is present in the transmission area is transmitted to either the first verification signal or the second verification signal having a higher output level than the first verification signal. A verification signal transmitting means for requesting verification;
Response signal receiving means for receiving a response signal from the portable device with respect to the first and second verification signals;
The first collation signal and the response signal are collated to determine the presence or absence of a portable device in the vehicle, and the door is locked by the intention of the user who gets off the vehicle, and it is determined by the verification that there is no portable device in the vehicle. When the vehicle is instructed to retransmit the second verification signal to the verification signal transmission unit under a predetermined condition, and the presence of the portable device in the vehicle is confirmed by the re-verification at that time, the door control unit Verification means to order the door to be unlocked,
It is characterized by having.

  The confinement prevention device for a portable device for a vehicle according to the present invention is configured as described above, and the output level of the collation signal (second collation signal) of the portable device detection means is changed to a normal collation signal under a predetermined condition. It is made higher than the output level of (first verification signal). Thereby, since it is possible to detect the portable device that could not be detected by the normal output level collation signal in the portable device detection means, it is effectively prevented that the portable device is confined in the vehicle. In addition, since the output level of the collation signal of the portable device detection means is increased only under a predetermined condition, there is little possibility of erroneously detecting the portable device possessed by the user who has carried the portable device and got off the vehicle. .

  The predetermined condition is that a predetermined time has elapsed since the door was locked by the user's intention to get off.

  By transmitting the second verification signal with a higher output level, the transmission area may extend outside the vehicle. Thereby, there exists a possibility of misdetecting the portable device which the user who got off possesses. Therefore, the time required for the user who gets off with the portable device to leave the transmission area of the second verification signal (the verification signal with a higher output level) is set. As a result, the possibility of erroneous detection of the portable device possessed by the user who gets off the vehicle is reduced.

  And it is desirable to provide the alerting | reporting means to alert | report to a user that the door was unlocked by the detection of the said portable machine by the said re-collation.

  Thereby, the user who got off can recognize that the portable device was left in the vehicle.

Similarly, the present invention for solving the above-described problems is
A device for preventing confinement of a portable device in a smart key system for a vehicle that performs wireless communication of a signal between a portable device and an in-vehicle device, and locks or unlocks a door based on a result of the comparison,
A portable device carried by a vehicle user and capable of transmitting and receiving signals;
Door control means for locking or unlocking the door of the vehicle;
Whether the portable device exists in the vehicle when the user who gets the portable device gets off the vehicle and locks the door with respect to the vehicle which is attached to the vehicle and the portable device is confined in the vehicle and the door is locked. Verification signal transmission means for transmitting a second verification signal having a higher output level than the first verification signal transmitted to detect whether or not to the vehicle under a predetermined condition;
Response signal receiving means for receiving a response signal from the portable device with respect to the first and second verification signals;
The second collation signal and the response signal are collated to determine the presence of a portable device in the vehicle, and when the presence of the portable device in the vehicle is confirmed by the collation, the door control means unlocks the door. Collation means to order,
It is characterized by having.

  In the confinement prevention device for a portable device for a vehicle according to the present invention, when the portable device is confined in the vehicle for some reason, a second verification signal having a higher output level than the first verification signal is obtained under a predetermined condition. Send it in the car. Thereby, when it is detected that the portable device is left in the vehicle, the door of the vehicle is unlocked. For this reason, when the user gets off without carrying the portable device, the vehicle door can be unlocked even if the portable device in the vehicle is trapped without being detected by the first verification signal. it can.

  The “predetermined condition” at this time is, for example, a switch that is operated by the user to operate the door control means on the outer surface of the door of the vehicle, and the user operates the switch for a predetermined time. It can be done. In addition, a door handle that is raised by the user toward the front side to open the door is provided on the outer side surface of the vehicle door, and the user can raise the door handle a predetermined number of times. .

It is a block diagram of the confinement prevention apparatus 101 of 1st Example. It is a top view of the vehicle 1 by which the confinement prevention apparatus 101 is mounted. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the confinement prevention device 101. It is a flowchart which shows the effect | action of the confinement prevention apparatus 102 of 2nd Example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

  In the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a confinement prevention device 101 of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of a vehicle 1 on which the confinement prevention device 101 is mounted.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle 1 is equipped with a confinement prevention device 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The confinement prevention device 101 includes a verification ECU 2 (verification means) mounted on the vehicle 1 and a portable device 3 carried by the user. The verification ECU 2 includes an antenna 4 (a verification signal transmission unit) that instructs the portable device 3 on which the unique ID code of the vehicle 1 is recorded to transmit a radio wave (LF) of a predetermined frequency. A tuner 5 (response signal receiving means) that receives a radio wave (RF) of a predetermined frequency, converts it into a digitally modulated signal and sends it to the verification ECU 2, and a door 6 of the vehicle 1 based on the verification result in the verification ECU 2. A body ECU 8 (door control means) for instructing locking or unlocking of the door 6 is connected to the door lock motor 7 provided in the interior. Hereinafter, each of them will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the antenna 4 is attached to, for example, a ceiling portion (room lamp portion) in the vehicle 1. And based on the instruction | command from collation ECU2, a radio wave is transmitted periodically, the radio wave and the radio wave which returned from the portable device 3 are collated, and the detection of whether the portable device 3 exists in a vehicle is detected. Do. A transmission area 9 (detection area of the portable device 3) of radio waves from the antenna 4 in a normal case is shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. It is desirable that the transmission area 9 covers the entire area inside the vehicle 1 and not outside the vehicle. As described above, the antenna 4 has a function of detecting means of the portable device 3 for determining the presence or absence of the portable device 3 in the vehicle. As will be described later, the antenna 4 of this embodiment can increase the output level of radio waves.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the tuner 5 is installed in a pillar (pillar) portion on the driver's seat side of the vehicle 1, for example. And the radio wave transmitted from the portable device 3 existing outside the vehicle is received, and the signal is sent to the verification ECU 2. Upon receipt of this signal, the verification ECU 2 compares the ID code included in the signal with the ID code recorded in the vehicle 1 and determines whether or not they are the same. If they are the same, a signal is sent to the body ECU 8 to instruct the door lock motor 7 to perform a predetermined operation. For example, if the door 6 is in the locked state, the door lock motor 7 is instructed to unlock the door 6, and if the door 6 is in the unlocked state, the door lock motor 7 is instructed to lock the door 6. In some cases, the tuner 5 may be attached to a portion of the vehicle 1 other than the driver's seat support column.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a door handle 10 is attached to the door 6 of the vehicle 1. The door handle 10 opens the door 6 when operated by a user (for example, causing it to the front side). The door handle 10 has a switch (first switch) for confirming the user's intention to get on (the intention to unlock the locked door 6 to get on) or the lock intention (will to get off and lock the door 6). 1 switch 11) is attached. The first switch 11 of the door handle 10 of the present embodiment is, for example, a push button attached to an end of the door handle 10 in the longitudinal direction, and a user who puts his hand on the door handle 10 to get on the first switch 11 After operating the switch 11, it is easy to raise the door handle 10 as it is. The first switch 11 is connected to the verification ECU 2, and a signal that the first switch 11 has been operated is sent to the door lock motor 7 via the body ECU 8.

  In addition to the first switch 11 described above, a second switch 12 is attached to the door handle 10. This 2nd switch 12 detects the frequency | count that the door handle was raised by the user within fixed time.

  In addition, a predetermined part of the vehicle 1 is provided with a notification unit 13 that notifies the user when the door 6 is locked or unlocked. The notification means 13 may use a lamp, a horn or the like already provided in the vehicle 1.

  As described above, in the antenna 4 of this embodiment, the output level of radio waves can be increased. The output level is adjusted by adjusting the current flowing through the antenna 4. This current adjustment is performed by a command from the verification ECU 2.

  Next, the operation of the confinement prevention device 101 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this flowchart, the user gets off without carrying the portable device 3 (in other words, leaving the portable device 3 in the vehicle), and operates the first switch 11 of the door handle 10 to lock the door 6. It is. When the user gets off without carrying the portable device 3 (step S1), the state of the door 6 is determined (step S2). Here, if the door 6 is in the open state (“No” in step S2), the mobile device 3 is not confined, and therefore nothing is done. If the door 6 is in the closed state (“Yes” in step S2), next, the user's intention to lock is confirmed (step S3). “Confirmation of the user's intention to lock” is a determination as to whether or not the user who got off has operated the first switch 11 to lock the door 6. If the user does not operate the first switch 11 (“No” in Step S3), the door 6 is not locked, so that the mobile device 3 is not confined. If the user operates the first switch 11 (“Yes” in step S3), the door 6 is locked (step S4).

  At this time (when the user operates the first switch 11), in order to prevent the portable device 3 from being confined, a radio wave (first verification signal) is transmitted from the antenna 4 at a normal output level into the vehicle. The presence or absence of the machine 3 is detected (step S5). Hereinafter, detection of the presence or absence of the portable device 3 in the vehicle is referred to as “in-vehicle verification”. If the in-vehicle collation result at this time is “OK”, it is determined that the portable device 3 exists in the vehicle (in other words, the user got off without carrying the portable device 3), and unlocks the door 6 ( Step S6). Then, the notification means 13 notifies the user to that effect (step S7).

  The above-described determination of the presence / absence of the portable device 3 (steps S5 to S7) is also performed in a conventional smart key system for vehicles. However, for example, the portable device 3 exists in a part of the vehicle beyond the transmission area 9 of the radio wave from the antenna 4 (detection area of the portable device 3) or in a container (such as a bag) where the radio wave is difficult to reach. If it is, even if the portable device 3 is in the vehicle, it is determined that “the portable device 3 does not exist” (“OK” in step S5). As a result, the portable device 3 may be confined.

  However, in the confinement prevention apparatus 101 of the first embodiment, if the in-vehicle collation result (step S5) is “NG”, it is set higher than the normal output level from the antenna 4 under a predetermined condition (step S8). A radio wave (second verification signal) is output, and the presence / absence of the portable device 3 in the vehicle is detected again (step S9). Here, the “predetermined condition” is an elapse of a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) after the first in-vehicle collation. This predetermined time is a time for the user who gets off to leave the vehicle 1 by a certain distance. This is because the radio wave transmission area 14 is widened by increasing the radio wave output level at the antenna 4. The transmission area 14 at this time is indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Thereby, the presence of the portable device 3 in the vehicle is easily detected, and the portable device 3 is prevented from being confined. However, at the same time, there is a risk that the portable device 3 carried by the user in the vicinity of the vehicle 1 (within the transmission area 14 of the radio wave from the antenna 4) is erroneously detected by carrying the portable device 3 and getting off. Therefore, for example, a time of 10 seconds is set as a time for the user to leave the vehicle 1 by a certain distance (a time until the user reaches the area where the second verification signal does not reach).

  If the collation result of the re-detection in step S9 is “OK”, the collation unit 2 determines that the portable device 3 exists in the vehicle (in other words, the user got off without carrying the portable device 3). The door 6 is unlocked (step S10). Then, the notification means 13 notifies the user to that effect (step S11). If the collation result is “NG”, it is determined that the portable device 3 does not exist in the vehicle (in other words, the user has got off the portable device 3), and the door 6 is locked (step S4). maintain. In the flowchart of FIG. 3, a portion surrounded by a broken line is a main operation portion of the confinement prevention device 101 of the first embodiment.

  As described above, in the confinement prevention apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment, even when the user gets off the vehicle 3 without carrying it and locks the door 6, the radio wave having a higher output level is transmitted from the antenna 4. Therefore, the portable device 3 left in the vehicle is easily detected. Thereby, prevention of confinement of the portable device 3 is achieved.

  Next, another effect | action of the confinement prevention apparatus 101 of 1st Example is demonstrated. In a certain type of vehicle 1, a user operates a door lock button (none of which is shown) provided on an inner handle portion of the door 6 to cause the door handle 10 (outer door handle) to move the door 6. It is possible to lock the door 6 by closing. Even in this type of vehicle 1, the confinement prevention device 101 of the first embodiment can prevent the portable device 3 from being confined. Since the flowchart showing the operation at this time is the same as steps S4 to S11 in the flowchart of FIG. 3, illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  Next, the confinement prevention device 102 of the second embodiment will be described. Since the configuration of the confinement prevention device 102 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the confinement prevention device 101 of the first embodiment, the description of the configuration is omitted and only the operation will be described. The confinement prevention device 102 of the second embodiment unlocks the door 6 of the vehicle 1 in which the portable device 3 is confined for some reason.

  The operation at this time starts from a state where the door 6 of the vehicle 1 is locked (step S1) as shown in the flowchart of FIG. When the user approaches the vehicle 1, it is determined whether or not the user has the portable device 3 (external vehicle verification) (step S2). If the out-of-vehicle collation result at this time is “OK” (that is, the user possesses the portable device 3), the user's intention to board 1 is confirmed (step S3). “User's boarding intention 1” is, for example, that the user has pressed the first switch 11 of the door handle 10 in order to unlock the door 6. In addition, in order to distinguish from “boarding intention 2” described later, “boarding intention 1” is described. If the user has a boarding intention 1 (“Yes” in step S3), the collating means 2 operates the door lock motor 7 to unlock the door 6 (step S4). If the user does not have the boarding intention 1 (“No” in step S4), the process ends without doing anything.

  When the user does not have the portable device 3 (“NG” in step S2), the user's intention to board 2 is confirmed (step S5). “User's boarding intention 2” means, for example, that the user tries to unlock the door 6 and keeps pressing the first switch 11 of the door handle 10 for a predetermined time or causes the door handle 10 to be driven a predetermined number of times. It is to do. The number of times that the door handle 10 is caused is detected by a second switch 12 attached to the door handle 10. Then, a radio wave (second verification signal) having an output level higher than that of a normal radio wave is transmitted from the antenna 4 into the vehicle to perform in-vehicle verification (step S6). Thereby, when the portable device 3 is detected in the vehicle (“OK” in step S6), the collating means 2 determines that the portable device 3 is confined (step S7), and unlocks the door 6 (step S7). S4). If the portable device 3 is not detected in the vehicle (“NG” in step S6), the collating unit 2 determines that the portable device 3 does not exist in the vehicle and does nothing. In addition, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the part enclosed with the broken line is the main action part of the confinement prevention apparatus 102 of 2nd Example.

  With the above-described action, the door 6 can be unlocked even when the portable device 3 is actually confined. For example, in a vehicle equipped with a conventional confinement prevention device, the confinement prevention device 102 of the second embodiment has confined the portable device 3 without being able to detect the portable device 3 in the vehicle due to a normal output level of radio waves. Applicable to the case. In addition, it is possible to prevent the door 6 from being opened by a third party other than the authorized user by storing in advance the time during which the first switch 11 is continuously pressed and the number of times that the door handle 10 is caused.

  The present invention can be used for a smart key system in a vehicle (for example, an automobile).

101, 102 Confinement prevention device 1 Vehicle 2 Verification ECU (Verification means)
3 Mobile device 4 Antenna (reference signal transmission means)
5 Tuner (Response signal receiving means)
6 Door 8 Body ECU (door control means)
9, 14 Transmission area 10 Door handle 11 First switch (switch)
12 First switch (switch)
13 Notification means

Claims (6)

The device for preventing confinement of a portable device in a smart key system for a vehicle that performs wireless communication of a signal between a portable device and an in-vehicle device, and locks or unlocks a door based on the comparison result,
A portable device carried by a vehicle user and capable of transmitting and receiving signals;
Door control means for locking or unlocking the door of the vehicle;
Whether or not the portable device is present in the transmission area is transmitted to either the first verification signal or the second verification signal having a higher output level than the first verification signal. A verification signal transmitting means for requesting verification;
Response signal receiving means for receiving a response signal from the portable device with respect to the first and second verification signals;
The first collation signal and the response signal are collated to determine the presence or absence of a portable device in the vehicle, and the door is locked by the intention of the user who gets off the vehicle, and it is determined by the verification that there is no portable device in the vehicle. When the vehicle is instructed to retransmit the second verification signal to the verification signal transmission unit under a predetermined condition, and the presence of the portable device in the vehicle is confirmed by the re-verification at that time, the door control unit Verification means to order the door to be unlocked,
A device for preventing confinement of a portable device for vehicles.   The device for preventing confinement of a portable device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is that a predetermined time has elapsed since the door was locked by the user's intention to get off.   The device for preventing confinement of a portable device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a user that the door is unlocked by detection of the portable device by the re-collation. A device for preventing confinement of a portable device in a smart key system for a vehicle that performs wireless communication of a signal between a portable device and an in-vehicle device, and locks or unlocks a door based on a result of the comparison,
A portable device carried by a vehicle user and capable of transmitting and receiving signals;
Door control means for locking or unlocking the door of the vehicle;
Whether the portable device exists in the vehicle when the user who gets the portable device gets off the vehicle and locks the door with respect to the vehicle which is attached to the vehicle and the portable device is confined in the vehicle and the door is locked. Verification signal transmission means for transmitting a second verification signal having a higher output level than the first verification signal transmitted to detect whether or not to the vehicle under a predetermined condition;
Response signal receiving means for receiving a response signal from the portable device with respect to the first and second verification signals;
The second collation signal and the response signal are collated to determine the presence of a portable device in the vehicle, and when the presence of the portable device in the vehicle is confirmed by the collation, the door control means unlocks the door. Collation means to order,
A device for preventing confinement of a portable device for vehicles. A switch operated by a user to operate the door control means is provided on the outer surface of the door of the vehicle,
5. The device for preventing confinement of a portable device for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined condition is that a user operates the switch for a predetermined time. A door handle is provided on the outer surface of the vehicle door, which is triggered by the user to open the door.
5. The apparatus for preventing confinement of a portable device for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined condition is that the user has caused the door handle to occur a predetermined number of times.

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