JP2008174961A - Keyless system for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyless system for a vehicle, which enables communication between an in-vehicle machine 1 and a portable machine 2 to be stably performed without being obstructed by noises. <P>SOLUTION: This keyless system comprises: communication-timing detecting means 41 and 42 for detecting the timing of communication between the in-vehicle machine 1 and the portable machine 2; and a switching-operation stop means 33 for stopping a switching operation of an in-vehicle electric component 3, including a switching power source 31, for a predetermined period of time, when the communication timing is detected by the means 41 and 42. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle keyless system.

Conventionally, an in-vehicle device that transmits a request signal and a portable device that transmits a reception confirmation signal when the request signal is received. When the on-vehicle device receives the reception confirmation signal, the portable device is authenticated. There is known a keyless system that permits operation of a predetermined on-vehicle device, for example, locking / unlocking a door, turning on / off an ignition, etc. according to the authentication result (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a keyless system, for example, in order to warn when the portable device is taken out of the vehicle when the ignition is on, for example, communication is performed between the in-vehicle device and the portable device when the door is open. It is determined whether or not it exists in the room.
JP 2006-28956 A

  However, particularly in the vehicle interior, noise due to switching operations of various in-vehicle electrical components such as hands-free devices equipped with a switching power supply, navigation devices, audio amplifiers, and the like is generated between the in-vehicle devices and the portable devices. There is an inconvenience that communication is disturbed. Due to such communication interference, it can not be confirmed that the portable device is present in the passenger compartment, and there is a possibility that the engine cannot be started, for example, or the portable device take-out alarm malfunctions.

  The present invention has been made in view of such points, and an object of the present invention is to stabilize communication between an in-vehicle device and a portable device without being disturbed by noise in a vehicle keyless system. To be able to do it.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a keyless system for a vehicle includes: an in-vehicle device that transmits a request signal; and a portable device that transmits a reception confirmation signal when the request signal is received. A communication timing detection means for detecting a timing at which communication is performed between the in-vehicle device and the portable device, and a communication timing detection unit, wherein the operation of a predetermined on-vehicle device is permitted when a reception confirmation signal is received; And a switching operation stopping means for stopping the switching operation of the in-vehicle electrical component including the switching power supply for a predetermined time when the communication timing is detected by the detecting means.

  According to this configuration, when it is time to communicate between the in-vehicle device and the portable device, this is detected by the communication timing detection means. Then, when the communication timing is detected, the switching operation of the in-vehicle electrical component including the switching power supply is stopped for a predetermined time by the switching operation stopping means. Thereby, when the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device communicate with each other, the switching operation is stopped, so that no noise is generated, and communication between the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device is favorably performed. As a result, malfunction of the keyless system due to poor communication between the in-vehicle device and the portable device is prevented.

  The communication timing detection means may detect the communication timing between the in-vehicle device and the portable device based on at least one of opening / closing of a vehicle door and an operation of an ignition switch.

  That is, when the door of the vehicle is opened or the ignition switch is operated, it is a timing for determining whether or not the portable device is present in the vehicle interior, and communication is performed between the in-vehicle device and the portable device. Because of the timing, the communication timing can be accurately detected based on these operations.

  The in-vehicle electrical component may receive a detection signal from the communication timing detection unit via the in-vehicle unit, and the switching operation stop unit may stop the switching operation. The switching operation may be stopped by the switching operation stop unit by directly receiving a detection signal from the communication timing detection unit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, at the timing when the in-vehicle device and the portable device communicate with each other, the switching operation of the in-vehicle electrical component including the switching power supply is stopped for a predetermined time, so that the noise accompanying the switching operation is reduced. Since it does not occur, communication between the in-vehicle device and the portable device can be performed satisfactorily without being affected by noise, and malfunction of the keyless system can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following description of the preferred embodiment is merely illustrative in nature, and is not intended to limit the present invention, its application, or its use.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a keyless system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system includes a keyless control unit (on-vehicle device) 1 that controls the entire keyless system, and a portable device 2 carried by a passenger.

  Each of the keyless control unit 1 and the portable device 2 includes a transceiver (not shown), so that the keyless control unit 1 and the portable device 2 perform wireless bidirectional communication. Specifically, the keyless control unit 1 transmits a request signal (LF signal) to the portable device 2 at a predetermined timing, whereas the portable device 2 that has received the request signal sends a reception confirmation signal (UHF signal), Sent to the keyless control unit 1. Here, an authentication code is stored in the portable device 2, and the portable device 2 transmits the authentication code to the keyless control unit 1 together with the reception confirmation signal. The keyless control unit 1 that has received the reception confirmation signal and the authentication code determines whether or not the portable device 2 is authorized by authenticating the authentication code. Permit operation of the equipment, that is, lock / unlock the door, start the engine, etc.

  The keyless control unit 1 is also connected with at least a door switch 41 that is a switch that detects the opening and closing of the door and a key switch 42 that is a switch that detects the operation of the ignition. The detection signal is input to the keyless control unit 1 at each ON operation.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3 denotes an electrical component 3 including a switching power supply circuit 31 mounted on a vehicle. Examples of the on-vehicle electrical component 3 include a hands-free device, a navigation device, and an audio amplifier. It is done.

  The in-vehicle electrical component 3 further includes a control circuit 32 that controls the entire electrical component, and a switching power supply operation control circuit 33 that controls the operation of the switching power supply circuit 31 based on a control signal from the control circuit 32. Contains. Here, the control circuit 32 is connected to the keyless control unit 1, whereby the detection signals of the door switch 41 and the key switch 42 are used to control the in-vehicle electrical component 3 via the keyless control unit 1. The circuit 32 is configured to be input.

  Next, a basic operation in the keyless system having the above configuration will be briefly described. First, when an occupant carrying the portable device 2 operates a request switch (not shown) attached to a vehicle door, the keyless control unit 1 receives a signal from the request switch and transmits a request signal. . The portable device 2 receives the request signal and transmits a reception confirmation signal and the stored authentication code. The reception confirmation signal and the authentication code are received by the keyless control unit 1. Then, the keyless control unit 1 determines whether or not the portable device 2 is authorized by authenticating the authentication code, and when it is authorized, the door is unlocked (or locked).

  Next, when an occupant carrying the portable device 2 operates an ignition switch (not shown) provided in the passenger compartment, the keyless control unit 1 receives a signal from the key switch 42 and transmits a request signal. . The portable device 2 receives the request signal and transmits a reception confirmation signal and the stored authentication code. The reception confirmation signal and the authentication code are received by the keyless control unit 1, and the keyless control unit 1 determines whether the portable device 2 is legitimate by authenticating the authentication code. When it is normal, the engine is started.

  When the door is open with the ignition turned on, the keyless control unit 1 receives a signal from the door switch 41 and transmits a request signal at a predetermined time interval. Thereby, it is determined whether or not the portable device 2 is present in the vehicle interior. That is, when the portable device 2 receives the request signal and transmits the reception confirmation signal and the stored authentication code, the keyless control unit 1 receives the reception confirmation signal from the portable device 2. When the keyless control unit 1 cannot receive the reception confirmation signal from the portable device 2, the portable device 2 is not present in the vehicle interior (the occupant is in the portable device 2). Is taken out of the vehicle), a warning is given to the occupant (portable device take-out alarm).

  In the above basic operation, when the in-vehicle electrical component 3 is operating, the portable device 2 cannot receive the request signal from the keyless control unit 1 due to noise accompanying the switching operation of the switching power supply circuit 31. There is. In that case, even if the portable device 2 is present in the vehicle interior, it is erroneously determined that the portable device 2 is not present in the vehicle interior, and for example, the engine cannot be started, or an out-of-vehicle alarm is erroneously activated.

  In order to avoid this, in this system, at the timing when communication between the keyless control unit 1 and the portable device 2 is performed, the switching operation in the in-vehicle electrical component 3 is stopped. The noise is not generated from the product 3.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart executed by the in-vehicle electrical component 3 in connection with the stop control of the switching operation. In step S1 after the start, the detection signal of the door switch 41 or the detection signal of the key switch 42 is sent to the keyless control unit 1. Is received, and it is determined whether or not it is time to communicate between the keyless control unit 1 and the portable device 2. When the communication timing is YES, the process proceeds to step S2. On the other hand, when the communication timing is NO, the process returns.

  In step S2, the switching power supply operation control circuit 32 stops the switching operation of the switching power supply circuit 31, and it is determined in step S3 whether a predetermined time has elapsed. When the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process repeats step S3, while when the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S4. In addition, what is necessary is just to set the predetermined time here suitably according to the time which communicates between the keyless control unit 1 and the portable device 2, for example, may be several tens msec.

  When a predetermined time has elapsed after stopping the switching operation, in step S4, the switching power supply operation control circuit 32 cancels the switching operation stop of the switching power supply circuit 31 (that is, restarts the switching operation) and returns.

  As described above, according to the keyless system, when the keyless control unit 1 and the portable device 2 communicate with each other, the switching operation of the in-vehicle electrical component 3 is stopped for a predetermined time. Therefore, the keyless control unit 1 and the portable device are stopped. During communication with 2, no noise is generated due to the switching operation. Therefore, communication between the keyless control unit 1 and the portable device 2 can be performed satisfactorily. As a result, malfunction of the keyless system can be prevented. As described above, the switching operation stop time corresponds to the time required for communication between the keyless control unit 1 and the portable device 2 and is relatively short, which adversely affects the operation of the in-vehicle electrical component 3. Will not affect.

  In the above-described embodiment, the on-vehicle electrical component 3 is configured to receive the detection signals from the door switch 41 and the key switch 42 via the keyless control unit 1, but for example, as shown in FIG. The in-vehicle electrical component 3 may be configured to directly receive the detection signals from the door switch 41 and the key switch 42 without using the keyless control unit 1.

  As described above, the present invention can stably perform communication between the in-vehicle device and the portable device without being disturbed by noise, thereby preventing malfunction of the keyless system. This is useful as a keyless system for vehicles.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the keyless system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which concerns on stop control of switching operation | movement. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the keyless system which concerns on other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Keyless control unit (vehicle equipment)
2 Portable device 3 On-vehicle electrical component 31 Switching power supply circuit 32 Switching power supply operation control circuit (switching operation stop means)
41 Door switch (communication timing detection means)
42 Key switch (communication timing detection means)

Claims (4)

An in-vehicle device that transmits a request signal;
A portable device that transmits a reception confirmation signal when the request signal is received,
When the in-vehicle device receives the reception confirmation signal, a vehicle keyless system is permitted to operate a predetermined in-vehicle device,
Communication timing detection means for detecting the timing of communication between the in-vehicle device and the portable device;
A keyless system further comprising switching operation stopping means for stopping a switching operation of the on-vehicle electrical component including the switching power source for a predetermined time when the communication timing is detected by the communication timing detecting means. The keyless system according to claim 1,
The communication timing detection means is a keyless system that detects a communication timing between the in-vehicle device and the portable device based on at least one of opening / closing of a door of a vehicle and operation of an ignition switch. The keyless system according to claim 1 or 2,
The vehicle-mounted electrical component is a keyless system that receives a detection signal from the communication timing detection means via the vehicle-mounted device and stops the switching operation by the switching operation stop means. The keyless system according to claim 1 or 2,
The on-vehicle electrical component is a keyless system that directly receives a detection signal from the communication timing detection unit and stops the switching operation by the switching operation stop unit.

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