JP3978863B2 - Automatic engine start system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an engine automatic start system that automatically starts an engine in response to an engine start instruction from outside the vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Various proposals have been made in which a vehicle engine is automatically started by remote control using a dedicated remote controller or telephone (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 6-307316 and 8-247909). .
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the devices disclosed therein, the engine is started by a button operation by one-way communication from a remote controller or a telephone to a car. For this reason, the situation around the vehicle may change between when the driver stops the engine and when the engine is automatically started. For example, there may be a child near the muffler, the surroundings of the vehicle being surrounded, or an alarm system being activated due to theft of the vehicle.
[0004]
In such a case, if the engine is started by a remote operation, the exhaust gas from the muffler remains in the former two cases and fills in the worst case. In the latter case, it will help theft.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable the engine to be appropriately started according to the surrounding conditions of the vehicle when the engine is started.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the display unit (12) and an operation button (11) for starting the engine are provided, and an instruction to start the engine when the operation button is operated. A communication device (10) outside the vehicle for transmitting the communication, communication means (21, 22) for communicating with the communication device, and starting the engine when the communication means receives an instruction to start the engine from the communication device. In the engine automatic starting system comprising an engine automatic starting device provided with starting means (25, 26, 29, 30, 205) to be operated, the engine automatic starting device monitors the periphery and / or the interior of the vehicle. Before the start of the engine by means (27, 28) and the start means, based on the monitoring results by the monitoring means and / or A means (207) for transmitting the abnormality from the communication means to the communication device when it is determined that there is an abnormality inside, and the communication device receives the abnormality transmitted from the communication means and receives the abnormality On the display unit, and means for transmitting an instruction to start the engine again when it is determined that the operation button has been operated after the abnormality is displayed on the display unit (106). 108), and when the communication means receives an instruction to start the engine from the communication device after transmitting the abnormality to the communication device, the engine automatic start device is a monitoring result by the monitoring device. A means (209) for starting the engine irrespective of the above is provided .
[0006]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operator of the communication device can know that there is an abnormality around and / or inside the vehicle before starting the engine, and even if there is an abnormality, the operator's engine it is possible to make the automatic start-up according to the judgment. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the engine automatic starter includes a vehicle periphery monitoring means (27) for monitoring the periphery of the vehicle and a monitoring result by the vehicle periphery monitoring means when the engine of the vehicle is turned off. Before the engine is started by the starting means, and there is an abnormality around the vehicle based on the monitoring result by the vehicle periphery monitoring means and the monitoring result stored in the storage means. Means (207) for transmitting the abnormality from the communication means to the communication device, and the communication device receives the abnormality transmitted from the communication means and displays the abnormality on the display unit. And an instruction to start the engine again when it is determined that the operation button has been operated after the abnormality is displayed on the display unit. The automatic engine starter transmits the abnormality to the communication device, and then receives the instruction to start the engine from the communication device when the communication device receives the monitoring. A means (209) for starting the engine regardless of the monitoring result by the means is provided .
[0007]
According to the invention described in claim 2, the operator of the communication device can know that there is an abnormality around the vehicle before starting the engine, and even if there is an abnormality, the engine is automatically operated according to the judgment of the operator. it is possible to make to start.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments shown in the drawings will be described below. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an engine automatic start system showing an embodiment of the present invention.
A telephone 10 as a communication device is capable of two-way communication with a vehicle. In addition to an engine start button 11 for automatically starting the engine, various kinds of functions such as engine stop, door lock, door unlock, air conditioner control, etc. Has operation buttons. Moreover, it has the display board (display part) 12 which displays the reply from the vehicle with respect to operation of the operation button.
[0009]
Reference numeral 20 denotes an engine automatic starter mounted on a vehicle. As communication means for communicating with the telephone 10, an antenna 21, a communication circuit 22, a control circuit 23, an ACC (accessory) relay 24, an IG (ignition) relay 25, ST ( A starter relay 26 and the like.
When the control circuit 23 receives the engine start code (engine start instruction) transmitted from the telephone 10 via the communication circuit 22, the vehicle periphery monitoring device 27 for monitoring the vehicle periphery and the vehicle interior monitoring device 28 for monitoring the vehicle interior. Based on the data from the vehicle, it is determined whether or not there is an abnormality in the vicinity of the vehicle and in the passenger compartment. Ask the operator whether to start the engine. Thereafter, when an engine start code is transmitted from the telephone 10, the engine is started. In this case, the control circuit 23 determines that the engine has started based on the NE pulse (rotation pulse) from the engine ECU 29 or the L terminal voltage from the alternator 30. Further, the control circuit 23 stores the data from the vehicle periphery monitoring device 27 when the engine is stopped (when the IG is off), that is, the data indicating the situation around the vehicle in the storage device 31, and when the engine is automatically started, It is determined whether or not there is a change in the situation around the vehicle and the situation around the vehicle when the IG is off, and when there is a change in the situation around the vehicle, the telephone 10 is notified via the communication circuit 22 to Asks the operator whether to start.
[0010]
The vehicle periphery monitoring sensor 27 is a device that detects an object around the vehicle using ultrasonic waves, radio waves, and infrared rays. For example, a rear obstacle detection device or a corner obstacle detection device mounted on the vehicle may be used. it can. The vehicle interior monitoring device 28 is an alarm system such as an anti-theft device, and has an intrusion sensor, a glass break sensor, a tilt sensor, and the like.
[0011]
The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG. 2 shows processing in the telephone 10, and FIGS. 3 to 5 show processing in the control circuit 23.
First, when the engine start button 11 is turned on in the telephone 10 (step 101), an engine start code is transmitted to the vehicle (step 102). The control circuit 23 has been in the sleep state until then, and when the communication circuit 22 receives the engine start code from the telephone 10, it wakes up and executes the processing shown in FIG.
[0012]
First, the vehicle periphery monitoring device 27 is operated to capture data indicating the situation around the vehicle (step 201). Based on the data, there is a nearby object in the vicinity of the vehicle, or the situation around the vehicle is changed by data from the vehicle periphery monitoring device 27 when IG is turned off (data stored in the storage device 31) described later. It is determined whether or not there is an abnormality depending on whether or not there is (step 202). Note that whether or not there has been a change in the situation around the vehicle can be determined, for example, by whether or not there has been a change in the distance to an object around the vehicle.
[0013]
Then, when there is no abnormality around the vehicle, the vehicle interior monitoring device 28 is operated next, and it is determined whether there is an abnormality in the vehicle interior based on the data from the vehicle interior monitoring device 28 (step 204). . If there is no abnormality in the passenger compartment, a process for starting the engine is performed (step 205). FIG. 4 shows the processing. First, the IG relay 25 is turned on (step 301), and then the ST relay 26 is turned on (step 302). Thereafter, the NE pulse from the engine ECU 29 or the L terminal voltage from the alternator 30 is captured and based on these signals. It is then determined whether or not the engine has been started (step 304). Specifically, it is determined whether or not those signals indicate the number of revolutions of 600 rpm during idling. When it is determined that the rotational speed has reached 600 rpm, the ST relay is turned off (step 305), and the ACC relay 24 is turned off (step 306).
[0014]
After starting the engine in this way, the communication circuit 22 transmits to the telephone 10 that the engine has been started (step 206). When the telephone 10 receives the transmitted code (step 103) and determines that the engine has started without any abnormality in the vicinity of the vehicle (step 104), the display board 12 displays "engine started". (Step 105).
[0015]
In addition, when there is an abnormality such as an object in the vicinity of the vehicle, the situation around the vehicle has changed since the IG was turned off, or there is an abnormality in the passenger compartment, the control circuit 23 communicates the abnormality. It is transmitted from the circuit 22 to the telephone 10 (step 207). At this time, the telephone 10 receives the transmitted code (step 103), determines that there is an abnormality (step 104), and displays an abnormal state on the display board 12 (step 106).
[0016]
Thereafter, when the operator performs an operation to start the engine while viewing the abnormal state (turns on the engine start button 11), the telephone 10 determines the operation (step 107) and transmits an engine start code (step 107). Step 108). In the control circuit 23, when the communication circuit 22 receives the engine start code (step 208), the engine start control is performed (step 209), and then the communication circuit 22 notifies the telephone 10 that the engine start is completed. Transmit (step 210). The telephone 10 receives the transmitted code (step 109) and displays “Engine started” on the display board 12 (step 110).
[0017]
Further, when the driving of the vehicle is finished and the vehicle is stopped and the IG switch is turned off, the control circuit 23 executes the processing at the time of IG off shown in FIG. That is, the vehicle periphery monitoring device 27 is actuated (step 401), data indicating the situation around the vehicle when the IG is off is fetched from the vehicle periphery monitoring device 27 (step 402), and the data is stored in the storage device 31 (step). 403). Based on the stored data, it is determined in step 203 whether or not the situation around the vehicle has changed when the engine is automatically started next time.
[0018]
Therefore, by performing the above-described control, the engine can be automatically started when there is no abnormality around the vehicle and the engine is automatically started according to the judgment of the operator even if there is an abnormality. be able to.
In the above-described embodiment, the monitoring results such as the vicinity of the vehicle are notified to the operator only when there is an abnormality. However, even if there is no abnormality, the monitoring result is notified to the operator before starting the engine. You may do it.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an engine automatic start system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing at the telephone 10 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an engine automatic start process in a control circuit 23 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing specific processing of engine start control in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing after IG OFF in the control circuit 23 in FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Telephone, 11 ... Engine start button, 12 ... Display board,
21 ... Antenna, 22 ... Communication circuit, 23 ... Control circuit,
27 ... Vehicle periphery monitoring device, 28 ... Vehicle interior monitoring device.

Claims (2)

A communication unit (10) outside the vehicle that includes a display unit (12) and an operation button (11) for starting the engine, and that transmits an instruction to start the engine when the operation button is operated;
Wherein the communication device and the communication means for communicating (21, 22), starting means the communication means an instruction for starting the engine from the communication unit is to start the engine when it receives (25,26,29,30, 205), and an automatic engine starter system .
The engine automatic starter includes: monitoring means (27, 28) for monitoring the periphery and / or the interior of the vehicle; and before starting the engine by the starting means , based on the monitoring result by the monitoring means. comprising a to the means for transmitting the abnormality from the communication unit to the communication device and (207) determines that there is an abnormality around and / or inside of,
The communication device receives the abnormality transmitted from the communication means and displays the abnormality on the display unit (106). After the abnormality is displayed on the display unit, the operation button is operated. A means (108) for transmitting an instruction to start the engine again when it is determined that
When the communication means receives an instruction to start the engine from the communication device after transmitting the abnormality to the communication device, the engine automatic starter turns off the engine regardless of the monitoring result by the monitoring device. An automatic engine starting system comprising means (209) for starting. A communication unit (10) outside the vehicle that includes a display unit (12) and an operation button (11) for starting the engine, and that transmits an instruction to start the engine when the operation button is operated;
Wherein the communication device and the communication means for communicating (21, 22), starting means the communication means an instruction for starting the engine from the communication unit is to start the engine when it receives (25,26,29,30, 205), and an automatic engine starter system .
The engine automatic starter includes vehicle periphery monitoring means (27) for monitoring the periphery of the vehicle, storage means (31) for storing a monitoring result by the vehicle periphery monitoring means when the engine of the vehicle is turned off, If it is determined that there is an abnormality around the vehicle based on the monitoring result by the vehicle periphery monitoring unit and the monitoring result stored in the storage unit before the engine is started by the starting unit, the abnormality is detected from the communication unit. Means (207) for transmitting to the communication device,
The communication device receives the abnormality transmitted from the communication means and displays the abnormality on the display unit (106). After the abnormality is displayed on the display unit, the operation button is operated. A means (108) for transmitting an instruction to start the engine again when it is determined that
When the communication means receives an instruction to start the engine from the communication device after transmitting the abnormality to the communication device, the engine automatic starter turns off the engine regardless of the monitoring result by the monitoring device. An automatic engine starting system comprising means (209) for starting.

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