JP5940993B2 - Electronic key system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic key system.

  Conventionally, in a state where wireless communication between a control object such as a vehicle and a house and an electronic key possessed by a user is established, control of locking and unlocking of a door and opening of a sliding door, etc., triggered by a switch operation by the user Electronic key systems that allow control of objects are known.

  In this electronic key system, for example, when a slide door (open / close target) is opened, it is conceivable that the user's hand is blocked by luggage or the like. In this case, it is difficult to operate the switch for opening the slide door.

  In this regard, for example, in the electronic key system described in Patent Document 1, the slide door is opened when it is detected that the user holding the electronic key has stopped. For this reason, a slide door can be opened without operating a switch around the vehicle.

JP 2006-328932 A

  In the electronic key system described in Patent Document 1, when the user stops around the vehicle without intention of opening the slide door, the slide door opens. As described above, there is a possibility that the opening of the slide door does not conform to the user's intention.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic key system that enables the opening / closing object to be opened more in line with the user's intention.

Hereinafter, means for achieving the above-described object and its operation and effects will be described.
In order to solve the above problem, an electronic key that wirelessly transmits a response signal including its own identification code upon receiving a request signal, and a predetermined period within a communication area formed around the request signal And a control device that executes verification of the identification code included in the response signal when the response signal is received, and the control device, after the verification is established, Is not established, and when it is further determined that the verification is established, the opening / closing object is released.

  According to this configuration, when the user holding the electronic key enters the communication area, the control device is in a state where the verification of the identification code is established. From this state, when the user falls outside the communication area, the control device switches to a state in which the identification code is not verified. When the user further enters the communication area from this state, the control device again enters the state where the verification of the identification code is established. In this way, it is possible to open and close the opening / closing object simply by switching the collation result in the control device through entering and exiting the communication area of the user. For this reason, for example, even when the user's hands are blocked by luggage, the object to be opened / closed can be opened without performing a switch operation. Therefore, convenience is high.

In general, the user rarely enters and exits the communication area as described above. Therefore, the opening / closing object can be opened more in line with the user's intention.
For the electronic key system, the received signal strength detection unit that detects the received signal strength of the response signal or the request signal and the detection result of the received signal strength detection unit after the verification is first established in the control device. And an output control unit that determines the position of the electronic key on the basis of the request and reduces the output of the request signal to reduce the communication area while maintaining the state including the position of the electronic key.

  According to this configuration, when the user holding the electronic key enters the communication area, the control device is in a state where the verification of the identification code is established. Then, the output control unit determines the position of the electronic key based on the detection result of the received signal strength detection unit, and reduces the communication area while maintaining the state including the position. Therefore, the user can enter and exit the communication area with a small movement distance. Therefore, the opening / closing object can be opened more easily.

  The electronic key system may further include an answer back unit that notifies the user that the opening / closing object can be opened through the entry / exit of the electronic key when the collation is first established. preferable.

  According to this configuration, when the user who possesses the electronic key enters the communication area, the control device is first verified, and through the answer back unit, the communication area of the user who possesses the electronic key thereafter. The user is notified that the opening / closing object can be opened through the entry / exit. Therefore, the user can smoothly open and close the opening / closing object according to the notification.

  With respect to the electronic key system, the control device determines that the collation is not established after the collation is established for a certain period of time when the user is expected to stop, and the collation is further established thereafter. When judged, it is preferable to open the opening / closing object.

  According to this configuration, the collation is not established after the collation is established for a certain time when the user is expected to stop, and the opening / closing object is released when the collation is further established. By adding the condition “matching is established for a certain period of time”, the opening / closing object is prevented from being opened / closed when the user enters / exits the communication area without intention. Therefore, the opening / closing object can be opened more in line with the user's intention.

  According to the present invention, in the electronic key system, it is possible to open an object to be opened and closed more in line with the user's intention.

The block diagram of the electronic key system in one Embodiment of this invention. The top view of the vehicle in one embodiment of the present invention. The top view of the vehicle in one embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which showed the process sequence of the vehicle-mounted control part in one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an electronic key system will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle has an electronic key system that enables control of the vehicle through automatic two-way wireless communication between an electronic key 10 possessed by a user and an in-vehicle device 20 mounted on the vehicle. Is installed. Hereinafter, the configuration of the electronic key 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 will be described.

<Electronic key 10>
As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic key 10 includes an electronic key control unit 11, an LF reception unit 12, a UHF transmission unit 13, a lock switch 17, and an unlock switch 16.

  The electronic key control unit 11 is configured by a computer unit and includes a nonvolatile memory 11a. An ID code (identification code) unique to the electronic key 10 is stored in the memory 11a.

  When the LF receiver 12 receives a request signal Sreq, which is a radio signal in the LF (Low Frequency) band wirelessly transmitted from the in-vehicle device 20, the LF receiver 12 demodulates the signal and outputs it to the electronic key controller 11. When the electronic key control unit 11 recognizes the request signal Sreq from the LF receiving unit 12, the electronic key control unit 11 generates a response signal Sres including an ID code stored in the memory 11a, and outputs the generated response signal Sres to the UHF transmission unit 13. To do. The UHF transmitter 13 modulates the response signal Sres from the electronic key controller 11 into a UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band, and wirelessly transmits the modulated response signal Sres.

  The unlock switch 16 and the lock switch 17 are provided on the surface of the electronic key 10 so as to be pressed. When the unlock switch 16 and the lock switch 17 are pressed, an operation signal indicating that is output to the electronic key control unit 11.

  When the electronic key control unit 11 recognizes that the unlock switch 16 has been operated through the input of an operation signal, the electronic key control unit 11 generates an unlock request signal Sul including an ID code stored in the memory 11a, and the unlock request signal Sul is wirelessly transmitted through the UHF transmitter 13.

  Even when the lock switch 17 is operated, the electronic key control unit 11 wirelessly transmits the locking request signal Slo including the ID code stored in the memory 11 a through the UHF transmission unit 13.

  The LF receiver 12 includes an RSSI detector 12a. The RSSI detector 12a is an example of a received signal strength detector. The electronic key control unit 11 recognizes the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) of the request signal Sreq through the RSSI detection unit 12a and wirelessly transmits the recognized RSSI as information in the response signal Sres. The RSSI increases as the distance between the electronic key 10 and the in-vehicle device 20 decreases.

<In-vehicle device 20>
As shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle device 20 includes an in-vehicle control unit 21, an LF transmission unit 23, and a UHF reception unit 22. In addition, a door switch 32, a door control device 33, a slide door device 34, and a hazard lamp 36 are electrically connected to the in-vehicle control unit 21.

  The in-vehicle control unit 21 is configured by a computer unit and includes a nonvolatile memory 21a. The memory 21a stores the ID code of the electronic key 10 registered in the vehicle.

  The in-vehicle control unit 21 generates a request signal Sreq at every predetermined period and outputs the signal to the LF transmission unit 23. The LF transmitter 23 modulates the request signal Sreq from the in-vehicle controller 21 into the LF band, and wirelessly transmits the modulated request signal Sreq. The LF transmission unit 23 includes an output switching unit 23a. The output switching unit 23a is an example of an output control unit. The in-vehicle control unit 21 switches the output of the request signal Sreq transmitted from the LF transmission unit 23 through the output switching unit 23a.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle-mounted control unit 21 can transmit the request signal Sreq to the first communication area 50a by setting the output to the maximum through the output switching unit 23a.
The door switch 32 is provided on the outside door handle of the vehicle door. When the door switch 32 is pushed, an operation signal to that effect is output to the in-vehicle control unit 21. The request signal Sreq is transmitted in the semicircular communication areas 50a and 50b formed on the side of the vehicle with the LF transmitter 23 as a center.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when receiving the response signal Sres, the unlock request signal Sul, the lock request signal Slo, or the door open request signal Sop wirelessly transmitted from the electronic key 10, the UHF receiver 22 demodulates the received signal. Then, the data is output to the in-vehicle control unit 21.

  When receiving the response signal Sres, the unlock request signal Sul, the lock request signal Slo or the door open request signal Sop from the UHF receiver 22, the in-vehicle controller 21 stores the ID code included in the signal and the memory 21a. The ID code is checked.

  The vehicle-mounted control unit 21 unlocks the vehicle door through the door control device 33 when the ID verification related to the unlock request signal Sul is established. Moreover, the vehicle-mounted control part 21 locks a vehicle door through the door control apparatus 33, if ID collation which concerns on the locking request signal Slo is materialized.

  The in-vehicle control unit 21 switches the lock / unlock state of the vehicle door through the door control device 33 when determining that the door switch 32 has been pushed in a state where the ID verification (external vehicle verification) related to the response signal Sres is established. This outside-vehicle verification is performed at regular intervals during a period in which the electronic key 10 is present in the communication areas 50a and 50b.

  Moreover, the vehicle-mounted control part 21 will open the sliding door 34a via the sliding door apparatus 34, after unlocking a vehicle door through the door control apparatus 33, if ID collation concerning the door opening request signal Sop is materialized.

  The in-vehicle control unit 21 causes the hazard lamp 36 to blink a plurality of times as an answer back when the state where the vehicle outside verification is established for a certain time Tth continues. This hazard lamp 36 corresponds to an answerback section. This fixed time Tth is set to be longer than the time required for the user to stop in the communication area 50a, that is, the time required for the user to get on after getting into the communication area 50a.

  Moreover, the vehicle-mounted control part 21 recognizes RSSI contained in the response signal Sres received through the LF receiving part 12, and determines the 2nd communication area 50b based on the recognized RSSI.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the second communication area 50b is smaller than the first communication area 50a to the extent that the user holding the electronic key 10 falls back one step and is outside the second communication area 50b. It is formed. The in-vehicle control unit 21 wirelessly transmits the request signal Sreq to the determined second communication area 50b at a constant cycle by reducing the output of the request signal Sreq through the output switching unit 23a. The in-vehicle control unit 21 performs the above-described external verification every time the response signal Sres is received for the transmission of the request signal Sreq at regular intervals, and determines that the verification result has been switched in the order of establishment, non-establishment, and establishment. After unlocking the vehicle door through the device 33, the slide door 34 a is opened through the slide door device 34. The situation in which the collation result is established, non-established, and established is established when the user holding the electronic key 10 falls back one step in the direction away from the vehicle from the second communication area 50b. This occurs when the user again moves into the second communication area 50b by moving forward one step in the direction of approaching the car.

  Next, according to the flowchart of FIG. 4, the processing of the in-vehicle control unit 21 related to the opening of the slide door 34 a that does not depend on the switch operation of the electronic key 10 will be described. The in-vehicle control unit 21 repeatedly executes the flowchart.

  The in-vehicle control unit 21 waits for a state in which the vehicle outside verification is established for a certain time Tth (NO in S101). When the vehicle-mounted control unit 21 determines that the state in which the vehicle exterior verification is established for a certain time Tth by continuously establishing the vehicle exterior verification multiple times (YES in S101), the hazard lamp 36 is displayed multiple times. Answer-back is performed by blinking (S102).

  And the vehicle-mounted control part 21 recognizes RSSI contained in the received response signal Sres, and reduces the output of the request signal Sreq through the output switching part 23a according to the RSSI (S103). As a result, the request signal Sreq is transmitted to the second communication area 50b.

  The in-vehicle control unit 21 performs the above-described external verification every time the response signal Sres is received with respect to the transmission of the periodic request signal Sreq, and determines that the verification result is switched in the order of verification establishment, verification non-establishment, and verification establishment. Whether or not (S104). Note that the first verification is established in step S101.

  When the in-vehicle control unit 21 determines that the collation result has been switched in the order of collation establishment, collation non-establishment, and collation establishment by one step backward and one step forward by the user (YES in S104), the vehicle-mounted control unit 21 slides after unlocking the vehicle door. The door 34a is opened (S105). The vehicle-mounted control part 21 complete | finishes the process which concerns on a flowchart above.

  If the in-vehicle control unit 21 determines that the collation result is not switched in the order of collation establishment, collation non- establishment, and collation establishment (NO in S104), the vehicle-mounted control unit 21 performs the flowchart without unlocking the vehicle door and opening the slide door 34a. The process related to is terminated.

As described above, according to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the user who possesses the electronic key 10 enters the first communication area 50a, the in-vehicle control unit 21 is in a state where ID code verification is established. And if the vehicle-mounted control part 21 judges that this collation establishment state continued over fixed time Tth, it will judge the position of the electronic key 10 based on RSSI of the request signal Sreq contained in the received response signal Sres, and the position The request signal Sreq is transmitted to the second communication area 50b smaller than the first communication area 50a while maintaining the state including When the user falls out of the second communication area 50b from this state, the in-vehicle control unit 21 switches to a state where ID code verification is not established. When the user again enters the second communication area 50b from this state, the in-vehicle control unit 21 is in a state where ID code verification is established. The vehicle-mounted control unit 21 opens the slide door 34a when recognizing such switching of the collation result.

  Therefore, the user can open the slide door 34a only by switching the comparison result in the in-vehicle control unit 21 through entering and exiting the second communication area 50b. For this reason, for example, even when the user's hands are blocked by luggage or the like, the slide door 34a can be opened without performing a switch operation. Therefore, convenience is high.

In general, the user rarely enters or exits the second communication area 50b as described above. Therefore, the slide door 34a can be opened more in line with the user's intention.
(2) By switching from the first communication area 50a to the second communication area 50b smaller than the communication area 50a, the user can enter and leave the second communication area 50b with a small movement distance. Therefore, the slide door 34a can be opened more easily.

  (3) When the user who possesses the electronic key 10 enters the first communication area 50a, the in-vehicle control unit 21 is first verified, and the hazard lamp 36 blinks thereafter. The user is informed that the slide door 34a can be opened through the communication area. Therefore, the user can smoothly open the slide door 34a according to the notification.

  (4) The collation is not established after the collation is established for a certain time Tth where the user is expected to be stopped, and then the slide door 34a is opened when the collation is established. By adding the condition that “the collation is established for a certain period of time”, it is possible to prevent the sliding door 34a from being opened and closed when the user enters and leaves the second communication area 50b without intention. Therefore, the slide door 34a can be opened more in line with the user's intention.

  (5) The user's operation can be recognized based on the collation result in the in-vehicle control unit 21. Therefore, the effects (1) to (4) can be achieved with a simple configuration without providing a sensor or the like for detecting the movement of the user.

In addition, the said embodiment can be implemented with the following forms which changed this suitably.
In the above embodiment, when the in-vehicle control unit 21 determines that the outside-vehicle verification is established for a certain period of time Tth (YES in S101), the answer-back is performed (S102). However, the in-vehicle control unit 21 may perform an answerback when the outside verification is first established without waiting for the elapse of the predetermined time Tth.

  The answer back method is not limited to the blinking of the hazard lamp 36. For example, a new indicator may be provided, or the answer back may be performed through sound from the vehicle. Moreover, you may perform an answerback by both a display and an audio | voice.

  Further, answer back may be performed on the electronic key 10 side. In this case, the user may answer back through display on the electronic key 10, sound from the speaker, and vibration of the vibrator. Display, sound, and vibration may be combined as appropriate.

Further, answer back may be performed by both the electronic key 10 and the in-vehicle device 20. Thereby, a user can be notified more reliably.
In the above embodiment, the electronic key 10 may be further provided with a slide door opening switch. When the electronic key control unit 11 recognizes that the slide door opening switch has been pressed for a long time by inputting an operation signal, the electronic key control unit 11 wirelessly transmits the door opening request signal Sop including the ID code stored in the memory 11a through the UHF transmission unit 13. To do. In this case, the sliding door 34a can be opened through either the operation of the sliding door opening switch or the entry / exit of the communication area 50a, 50b of the user who possesses the electronic key 10. Furthermore, the vehicle-mounted control unit 21 may open the slide door 34a when the outside door handle of the slide door 34a is pulled in a state in which the vehicle exterior verification is established.

  Further, even when the electronic key 10 has no sliding door opening switch, the electronic key control unit 11 wirelessly transmits the door opening request signal Sop when the lock switch 17 and the unlock switch 16 are simultaneously pressed. It may be.

  In the above embodiment, the RSSI detection unit 12a is mounted on the electronic key 10, but may be mounted on the in-vehicle device 20. For example, the UHF receiver 22 is provided with an RSSI detector. The in-vehicle control unit 21 recognizes the RSSI of the response signal Sres through the RSSI detection unit, and determines the position of the electronic key 10 based on the RSSI. Thus, by providing the RSSI detector in the in-vehicle device 20, the electronic key 10 that is required to have higher portability can be configured more compactly.

  -In the electronic key system in the said embodiment, although it was comprised so that locking and unlocking of a vehicle door and opening of a sliding door were possible, the content of control is not restricted to this, It is to the communication area 50a, 50b of the user who possesses the electronic key 10 It may be possible to open and close the trunk through the trunk opening and closing device of the vehicle through the doorway or unlock and open the door through the door device for a house.

-You may replace the door switch 32 in the said embodiment with a touch sensor. Thereby, the user can unlock the vehicle door only by touching the outside door handle.
-In above-mentioned embodiment, although the vehicle-mounted control part 21 judged the position of the electronic key 10 based on RSSI contained in the response signal Sres, even if it judges the position of the electronic key 10 using another method Good.

  For example, the vehicle-mounted control unit 21 gradually reduces the communication area for transmitting the request signal Sreq through the output switching unit 23a. And the vehicle-mounted control part 21 judges the position of the electronic key 10 based on the presence or absence of the response signal Sres from the electronic key 10. For example, the vehicle-mounted control unit 21 returns a response signal Sres from the electronic key 10 in one communication area, and does not return a response signal Sres from the electronic key 10 in another communication area smaller than the one communication area. Determines that the electronic key 10 is located on the outer peripheral side of one communication area.

  In the above-described embodiment, the second communication area 50b is smaller than the first communication area 50a to the extent that the user holding the electronic key 10 falls out of the second communication area 50b when going back one step. However, the second communication area 50b may be formed by taking these one step as two or more steps.

Next, the technical idea that can be grasped from the embodiment will be described together with the effects.
(A) The control device is mounted on a vehicle, and the object to be opened and closed is a sliding door.

  According to this configuration, the user can open the slide door by entering and exiting a communication area formed around the vehicle. Therefore, even if the user's hands are covered with luggage, the user can get on smoothly.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electronic key, 11 ... Electronic key control part, 16 ... Unlock switch, 17 ... Lock switch, 20 ... In-vehicle apparatus, 21 ... In-vehicle control part, 32 ... Door switch, 33 ... Door control apparatus, 34 ... Sliding door apparatus , 34a ... slide door, 36 ... hazard lamp.

Claims (4)

An electronic key that wirelessly transmits a response signal including its own identification code when receiving a request signal,
A control device that transmits the request signal in a predetermined period in a communication area formed around the opening and closing target, and executes verification of an identification code included in the response signal when the response signal is received. In the electronic key system,
The electronic key system is characterized in that the control device releases the opening / closing object when it is determined that the collation is not established after the collation is established and the collation is further established. The electronic key system according to claim 1.
A received signal strength detection unit for detecting the received signal strength of the response signal or the request signal;
After the collation is first established in the control device, the position of the electronic key is determined based on the detection result of the received signal strength detection unit, and the output of the request signal is reduced so that the communication area is defined as the electronic key. An electronic key system comprising: an output control unit that reduces the size while maintaining a state including the position of the electronic key. The electronic key system according to claim 1 or 2,
An electronic key comprising: an answer back unit for notifying a user that the opening / closing object can be opened through entering and exiting the communication area of the electronic key when the verification is first established; system. The electronic key system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The control device determines that the collation is not established after the collation is established for a certain time when the user is expected to stop, and further determines that the collation is established. An electronic key system characterized by opening.