JP2002004663A - Door lock control system of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a convenient door lock control system of an automobile capable of differing a spot for unlocking a door lock and a spot for locking a door lock. SOLUTION: This system is provided with a portable device 10 for transmitting an output signal at designated interval and a parent device 20 for outputting an operation command signal to a door lock mechanism of an automobile according to the output signal transmitted from the portable device. The portable device alternately transmits an individual code (preamble + control code + ID code) with a narrow receivable area and an identification code (preamble + control code) with a wide receivable area. The parent device determines which code is received by a code determining part 23, and determines whether the signal intensity of the received signal is higher than fixed value or not by a signal intensity determining part. When the individual code having a signal intensity equal to or higher than a threshold is received, an unlock instruction is given, and when the identification code is not received, a locking instruction is given.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable device for transmitting a signal at a predetermined interval, and outputs an operation command signal to a door lock mechanism of an automobile based on the signal transmitted from the portable device. The present invention relates to a door lock control system for a vehicle having a parent device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Locking and unlocking of a door of an automobile (vehicle) depends on whether or not an output signal periodically output from a portable device at hand of a user can be received by a master unit connected to a door lock mechanism of the automobile. There is a door lock control system (also referred to as a “keyless entry”) that controls the vehicle.

In general, a portable device used in such a system emits weak radio waves modulated by an ID code at regular intervals. In the master unit, the ID code received by the receiving circuit is detected and collated by the decoder, and based on the output of the decoder, the door lock mechanism of the vehicle is controlled (locking / unlocking the door) by the controller. Therefore, a manual lock is inserted into the keyhole of the door, and the user does not need to directly rotate / unlock the door to carry the portable device, but the door is automatically unlocked when approaching the car. It is convenient because it is automatically locked when you leave the car.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional system has the following problems.
That is, the portable device outputs a preamble and a control code for synchronization and an individual code including an ID code for specifying the portable device. Then, by demodulating the received signal and confirming the ID code, the parent device can recognize that the received signal is a signal from the corresponding portable device.

Since the same signal is always transmitted from the portable device at the same output level, the distance over which the output signal from the portable device can be received by the parent device is constant. That is,
The point at which reception starts when the portable device approaches the car and the point at which reception becomes impossible when the portable device moves away from the car have the same separation distance based on the location of the car.

On the other hand, in consideration of the usability of such a door lock control system, the door lock is unlocked (unlocked) when the user actually approaches the door of the automobile and immediately before opening the door. Good, and if unlocked from too far away, it's rather useless.

On the other hand, in the case of locking after unlocking, it is better to lock the lock after a certain distance to allow a plurality of people to enter and leave, and to load and unload luggage.

However, since the unlocking position and the locking position are equidistant as described above, if the distance is adjusted to one distance, the other distance is not sufficient, and it is not possible to set an optimum position for both distances. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem and to make a point where a door lock is unlocked and a point where a door lock is locked different. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle door lock control system which can be used and is easy to use. Further, it is a secondary object to increase the power saving effect.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in a vehicle door lock control system according to the present invention, a portable device for transmitting an output signal at predetermined intervals, and a portable device for transmitting an output signal at a predetermined interval. A master unit for outputting an operation command signal to a door lock mechanism of the vehicle based on the output signal; The portable device includes a code generator for selectively generating a first code having a longer data length and a second code having a shorter data length, and the first or second code generated by the code generator. Transmitting means for modulating a code and transmitting the output signal as the output signal. Further, the operation command command issued by the master unit includes a command for unlocking the door, which is generated based on reception of an output signal based on the first code, and the output signal from the portable device. After the reception, an instruction for locking the door of the automobile, which is generated when the output signal based on the second code is not received, is included.

[0011] The instruction for unlocking the door, which is generated based on the reception of the output signal based on the first code, may be generated immediately after the reception of the output signal. It may occur after a certain period of time, or may occur only when certain conditions are satisfied thereafter, and various timings can be set.

A code having a longer data length has a higher probability that a signal based on the code cannot be received (recognized). Therefore, the distance at which the master unit can reliably receive the output signal based on the first code having the long data length is the second distance having the short data length.
Is shorter than the distance at which the master unit can reliably receive the output signal based on the above code.

In other words, when approaching an automobile with a portable device (outputting the output signals based on the first and second codes in a predetermined order), first, the second code is output. And an output signal based on the first code is received when approaching a certain distance therefrom. On the other hand, when the user leaves the car while holding the portable device, the mobile terminal initially receives both output signals based on the first and second codes. Then, first, the output signal based on the first code cannot be received, and furthermore, when a certain distance away from the output signal, the output signal based on the second code cannot be received.

Accordingly, the door lock is unlocked based on the reception of the output signal based on the first code, and the door lock is locked based on the inability to receive the output signal based on the second code. The locking position and the locking position can be different. That is, unlocking can be performed at a position relatively close to the vehicle, and locking can be performed at a position relatively far from the vehicle. Then, the greater the difference between the data lengths of the first code and the second code, the greater the difference between the unlocked position and the locked position. In addition, the longer the data length of each code, the more the code is unlocked / locked at a position closer to the car (master).

Therefore, the door lock is unlocked.
By bringing the position closer to the car, the time difference from unlocking until the user actually gets into the car becomes shorter,
Increases safety. Further, in the case of locking after unlocking once, since locking is performed after moving away to some extent, it is convenient for, for example, a plurality of people to enter and leave, and to load and unload luggage and the like.

Further, by transmitting the output signal based on the second code having a short data length, the transmission time is shortened as compared with the case where only the output signal based on the first code is generated, and the internal battery of the portable device is reduced. Power consumption can be reduced and longer life and power saving can be achieved.

The first and second codes can use arbitrary data. For example, the first code may include an ID code for identifying a portable device, and the second code may not include the ID code. By including the ID code, it is possible to confirm that the signal is from a portable device paired with the parent device.

Further, the command for unlocking the door is as follows:
After receiving the output signal based on the first code, the signal may be emitted when the output signal that meets a certain condition is further received. As described above, if an output signal based on the first code is received, the lock is not unlocked immediately but is unlocked when a certain condition is satisfied. To increase safety.

Various conditions can be applied to the certain condition. For example, the received signal strength of the output signal based on the first code may be equal to or higher than a threshold value. Further, the reception sensitivity may be reduced after receiving the output signal based on the first code, and the output signal based on the first code may be received in a state of the reduced reception sensitivity. Further, they may be combined or set under different conditions.

Further, even after receiving the output signal based on the second code for at least a certain period of time after receiving the output signal based on the first code, it is considered that the first code has been received. It is preferable to determine whether a certain condition is appropriate. That is, the first code and the second code
Are transmitted in a predetermined order, an output signal based on the first code is transmitted, and after an output signal based on the second code is transmitted a predetermined number of times, the first code is received next. Until they can be unlocked. In other words, for example, a person with a portable device runs and moves,
An output signal based on the first code may not be recognized due to a communication error, or the first code that meets certain conditions may not be received even before the door of the vehicle due to other unexpected reasons. . In that case, wait for the next output signal based on the first code to be transmitted, or
If there is a function for issuing a compulsory unlocking command based on a manual operation, the function is operated or the key is operated for unlocking, so that there is no merit of automatic unlocking.

Therefore, when a signal based on the second code is received after receiving the first code, it can be estimated that there are many signals from the corresponding portable device. Moreover, because they usually move closer to the car,
When an output signal based on the second code is received since the first code has already been received, if an output signal based on the first code is output at that position, the master unit can receive the output signal. Can be estimated. Therefore, by making such an estimation and determining whether or not a certain condition is met,
There is no delay in unlocking by issuing an output signal based on the second code.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a vehicle door lock control system according to the present invention will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, the system includes a portable device 10 for transmitting a predetermined output signal, and a portable device 10 which is installed at a predetermined position in a vehicle and which receives an output signal to control an electric lock of a door lock device of the vehicle. And a master device 20 for sending a control command for unlocking / locking.

The portable device 10 includes a code generator 11 for selectively generating an individual code as a first code and an identification code as a second code, and modulates a predetermined code generated by the code generator 11. Antenna 13 as an output signal
And a transmission control unit 14 for controlling the operations of the transmitter 12 and the code generator 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the individual code is a code obtained by combining a preamble for synchronization, a code group A including a control code, and a code group B including an ID code for identifying the portable device 10. It is. The identification code is a code consisting of only the code group A.

That is, the code group A is a common code in the control system to which the present invention is applied, and the output signal based on the code group A transmitted from the portable device 10 is transmitted to the other parent device 20 which is not paired. The signal is received and recognized as a normal signal. The code group B is unique information held by the paired portable device 10 and parent device 20 and the code group B transmitted from a certain portable device 10, that is, the output signal based on the individual code is: , Is processed as a normal signal only in the parent device 20 of the pair.

The individual code can also be said to be an identification code with an ID code (code group B) added. Therefore, as is clear from FIG. 2, the data length (pulse width) of the output signal is longer for the individual code, and the difference becomes more significant as the ID code is longer.

Further, the transmission control unit 14 intermittently transmits the output signal and alternately transmits the individual code and the identification code as shown in FIG. 3 (the code generator 11 alternately transmits each code). Control).

As described above, by intermittently transmitting the output signal, the power consumption of the battery built in the portable device 10 is suppressed, and power saving is achieved. In addition, the conventional output signal from this type of portable device outputs an individual code every time. However, in this embodiment, the actual transmission time is reduced by transmitting an identification code having a short data length in between. The power consumption can be reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced. In the illustrated example, the output signal based on the individual code and the identification code is transmitted alternately. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be transmitted in an arbitrary order.

Although not shown, in this embodiment,
Forced door lock based on manual operation (locking)
/ Unlock (unlock) function. Specifically, a manual operation button is provided on the surface of the portable device 10, and an unlocking command signal or a locking command signal is output when the button is pressed. This command signal is distinguished using, for example, a control code. That is, for example, a control code of 2 bytes is secured, and the signal transmitted at the above-mentioned predetermined interval (auto mode) is "00", a release command (manual mode) is "01", and a lock command ( (Manual mode) can be handled by setting "10".

As shown in FIG. 1, master unit 20 converts a signal received by antenna 21 into a signal demodulated by receiver 22 (an output signal from portable device 10) by code determining unit 23 and signal strength determining unit 24. Give to. If the code determination unit 23 determines that the received signal has received the individual code (ID code) of the portable device 10 that is paired with itself, the code determination unit 23 stores the received ID in the ID storage unit 26 for a certain period of time. Is transmitted to the door control unit 27. When it is determined that the identification code has been received, the fact that the identification code has been received is given to the door control unit 27 (not stored in the ID storage unit 26).

The signal strength determination section 24 determines the received signal strength, and if the signal strength is equal to or larger than the threshold value, sends a detection signal to the door control section 27. Therefore, since only the signal strength is used, the signal responds to both the output signal based on the individual code and the output signal based on the identification code.

The door control unit 27 makes a pair of portable units based on the judgment result (received signal strength) given from the signal strength judgment unit 24 and the judgment result (ID code: individual code reception) given from the code judgment unit 23. When it is determined that the received signal strength of the output signal from the device 10 has exceeded a certain value, an unlock command is issued. Furthermore, in this embodiment, once the ID code is recognized, the ID
The ID code is stored in the storage unit 26. If the identification code is received while the ID code is stored, the ID code is regarded as recognized. That is, when a signal indicating that the identification code has been received from the code determination unit 23 is given to the signal door control unit 27 and the ID code is stored in the ID code storage unit 26, the reception of the individual code is performed. When the ID code is not stored, it is recognized that the identification code has been received.

Thus, even when an output signal based on an identification code (no ID code) received between individual codes is received, if the received signal strength is above a certain level, the unlock condition is set. It determines that they match and issues an unlock command. That is, once a regular ID code (individual code) is received, it is highly probable that the next received output signal is also output from the same portable device 10. In addition, the detection delay caused by sending the identification code is eliminated.

On the other hand, the locking command is output when an identification code having a received signal strength exceeding a certain level cannot be received. That is, when the code determination unit 23 cannot recognize the identification code continuously for a certain period or more, the door control unit 27 determines that the locking condition is met, and outputs the locking command. In other words, during the ride and immediately after dismounting, the individual code is also received at a predetermined interval, so that the user may move away from the car, fall outside the reception range of the individual code, and receive only the identification code. It is highly probable that the identification code is an output signal from the portable device 10 to be paired. Therefore, when the identification code cannot be received, the user holding the portable device 10 can determine that the user has left the vehicle by a desired distance, and locks the vehicle.

In this way, as shown in FIG. 4, if the reception range of the output signal from the portable device is within the range of radius c (for example, 5 m) centering on the automobile (parent device), the range is identified. Since the code is within the detection range of the code, a locking command is issued when the portable device comes out of the area. The range in which the individual code (ID code) can be reliably demodulated is narrower than the above-described reception range and is within a range of a radius b (for example, 3 m) centering on the automobile (parent device).

Accordingly, if the unlocking is performed based on the reception of the individual code and the locking is performed on condition that the identification code is not received, the distance between the unlocking point and the locking point differs from the vehicle (the unlocking distance differs). The lock can be made closer). Further, as in the present embodiment, when an individual code is received and unlocking is performed by receiving a signal equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value, the area satisfying the unlocking condition is within the range of the radius a. Can be shortened. Then, by adjusting the setting of the threshold value, it is possible to unlock when approaching, for example, within 1 m (position immediately before the door of the automobile).

In the present invention, the determination based on the signal strength as described above does not always have to be performed. That is, in a state where the signal strength determination unit 24 and the ID storage unit 26 shown in FIG. 1 are not provided and the signal is not received or only the output signal based on the identification code is received, the output signal based on the individual code is output. When it is received, an unlock command may be issued.

Further, even when the determination is made based on the signal strength, it is not always necessary to provide the ID storage unit 26. That is, for example, when the individual code is recognized,
Instead of storing the code, a timer is provided. For a certain period of time after the individual code is recognized (for example, a period until the next individual code is received), even if an output signal based on the identification code is received, the individual code is not stored. Various processes may be performed assuming that is received. In order to realize this, for example, the determination result itself of the code determination unit 23 may be output as “Receive individual code”, or the door control unit 2
In the determination algorithm of the seventh side, whether or not the individual code is received may be determined as to whether or not the cancellation condition is appropriate, even if the identification code is received for a certain period of time.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the vehicle door lock control system according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the configuration of parent device 20 is partially different from that of the above-described first embodiment. That is, the sensitivity control unit 25 is provided instead of the signal strength determination unit 24, and the reception sensitivity of the receiver 22 can be changed.

That is, the sensitivity control unit 25 can switch the reception sensitivity of the receiver 22 between two levels of a normal sensitivity mode and a low sensitivity mode. It operates to switch to the low sensitivity mode for a period. The sensitivity control unit 25 also has a function of notifying the door control unit 27 of the current mode of the reception sensitivity of the receiver 22.

Then, the door control unit 27 controls to output an unlock command when the code determination unit 23 determines that the individual code has been received in the low sensitivity mode. Further, the present embodiment also includes an ID storage unit 26, and the door control unit 27 outputs an unlocking command even when an identification code is received while the ID code is stored in the ID storage unit 26. .

On the other hand, the lock command is issued when the output signal based on the identification code cannot be received as in the first embodiment. In this case, preferably, after the unlock command is issued, the sensitivity switching is not performed until the locking command is issued.

Since the other constructions and functions and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment and its modifications, the same reference numerals are given and the detailed explanation is omitted. Although not specifically illustrated, the first embodiment and the second embodiment may be combined with each other. In other words, both functions of sensitivity switching and determination based on signal strength may be provided.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the individual code with the ID code and the identification code without the ID code are used. However, if the codes have different data lengths, the codes are not limited to the combination. Both codes may have no ID code, or both may have ID codes.

[0045]

As described above, in the vehicle door lock control system according to the present invention, each output signal based on the first and second codes having different data lengths is transmitted from the portable device in a predetermined order. The master unit issues an unlocking command based on the reception of the output signal (the receivable area is narrow) based on the first code having a long data length, and outputs the unlock signal based on the second code having a short data length (receivable). Since the lock command is issued based on the fact that reception of the (large area) cannot be performed, the unlock command is issued relatively close to the car (master), and the lock command is compared from the car (master). You will be able to emit after you get far away. Therefore, the point at which the door lock is unlocked and the point at which the door lock is locked can be made different, and an easy-to-use automobile door lock control system can be configured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a vehicle door lock control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an individual code and an identification code.

FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram showing an example of an output signal emitted from a portable device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the vehicle door lock control system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Portable device 11 Code generator 12 Transmitter 13 Antenna 14 Transmission control unit 20 Parent device 21 Antenna 22 Receiver 23 Code judgment unit 24 Signal strength judgment unit 25 Sensitivity control unit 26 ID storage unit 27 Door control unit

Continued on front page F term (reference) 2E250 AA21 BB08 BB35 CC11 CC19 DD02 EE03 EE11 FF23 FF24 FF36 HH01 JJ01 JJ03 KK03 LL01 TT03

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A portable device for transmitting an output signal at a predetermined interval, and a master device for outputting an operation command signal to a door lock mechanism of a vehicle based on the output signal transmitted from the portable device, The portable device selectively generates a first code having a long data length and a second code having a short data length, and outputs the first or second code generated by the code generating unit. Transmitting means for transmitting the modulated signal as the output signal, wherein the operation command command issued by the master unit unlocks the door generated based on the reception of the output signal based on the first code. And an instruction for locking the door of the automobile, which is generated when the output signal based on the second code is not received after receiving the output signal from the portable device. And automatic Door lock control system. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first code includes an ID code for identifying a portable device, and the second code includes the ID code.
The code is not included.
3. The vehicle door lock control system according to claim 1. 3. An instruction for unlocking the door is issued when an output signal based on the first code is received and the output signal matching a predetermined condition is further received. The vehicle door lock control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. The vehicle door lock control system according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined condition is that a received signal strength of an output signal based on said first code is equal to or higher than a threshold value. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the output signal based on the first code reduces reception sensitivity after receiving the output signal based on the first code, and receiving the output signal based on the first code in the reduced reception sensitivity state. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein
3. The vehicle door lock control system according to claim 1. 6. Even if an output signal based on the second code is received for at least a certain period after receiving an output signal based on the first code, the output signal based on the first code is regarded as being received. The vehicle door lock control system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein it is determined whether or not the following condition is satisfied.