PORTABLE DEVICE AND MODUS CONTROL METHOD

Abstract

A portable device (9) has two operating modes: a normal mode and a power-saving mode. When the portable device (9) is in normal mode, a controller (943) is activated based on the detection of vibration by an accelerometer (91) and measures the output voltage of a battery (93). If the output voltage exceeds a predetermined stop voltage, which is higher than the discharge cut-off voltage, the controller (943) initiates communication in cooperation with an RF core (942). If the output voltage is less than or equal to the stop voltage, the controller (943) performs processing to switch to power-saving mode and ceases operation. Power-saving mode can be an operating mode in which the short-range communication function is disabled, for example, the accelerometer (91) is deactivated.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED REGISTRATIONS

[0001] The present application is based on the Japanese patent application number 2023-125811, filed on August 1, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL AREA

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a portable device that functions as a wireless key for a door. STATE OF THE ART

[0003] Patent document 1 discloses a configuration in which a vehicle and a portable device initiate wireless communication for location determination in response to the vehicle establishing a communication link with the portable device via Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (hereinafter referred to as Bluetooth LE). In patent document 1, the location of the portable device relative to the vehicle is determined by distance-measuring communication using UWB (ultra-wideband) communication between a plurality of sensors mounted on the vehicle and the portable device. Patent document 2 also discloses a portable device powered by a secondary battery, such as a lithium-ion battery. LITERATURE ON THE STATE OF TECHNOLOGY PATENT LITERATURE Patent document 1: JP7085526B Patent Document 2: JP2019-131967A OVERVIEW OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Compared to portable devices powered by primary batteries, those powered by secondary batteries have the advantage of eliminating the need for battery replacement. However, secondary batteries cannot be recharged if they are over-discharged. To extend the lifespan of the secondary battery, it may be desirable to prevent the remaining battery level from dropping to a discharge cutoff voltage.

[0005] The present disclosure is based on the circumstances described above and one of its objectives is to provide a technology for suppressing deterioration of a secondary battery in a portable device powered by the secondary battery.

[0006] A portable device is disclosed that functions as a wireless key for a door and is powered by a secondary battery, comprising: a wireless communication device for performing wireless communication with a system that controls a locking state of the door; and a controller that controls the wireless communication device, wherein the controller is configured to: transmit an advertise signal, which is a wireless signal for establishing a communication link with the system, using the wireless communication device; obtain data indicating a remaining charge level of the secondary battery; and change an operating mode of the portable device based on the remaining charge level, wherein the operating mode relates to the transmission of the advertise signal.

[0007] According to the above configuration, an advertise signal transmission mode (e.g., frequency and transmission power) is changed according to the remaining state of charge of the secondary battery. Therefore, the possibility of the secondary battery reaching an over-discharge state can be reduced, and secondary battery aging can be suppressed.

[0008] A mode control method included in the present disclosure is a mode control method performed by a portable device powered by a secondary battery and configured to function as a wireless key for a door, comprising: using the wireless communication device, transmitting an advertise signal, which is a wireless signal for establishing a communication link with a system that controls a locking state of the door; obtaining data indicating a remaining charge level of the secondary battery; and changing an operating mode of the portable device based on the remaining charge level, wherein the operating mode relates to the transmission of the advertise signal.

[0009] According to the aforementioned mode control method, an advertise signal transmission mode is changed according to the remaining charge level of the secondary battery, and therefore it is possible to suppress aging of the secondary battery.

[0010] The reference numerals in parentheses in the claims correspond to relationships with specific means that are described as one aspect in embodiments described below and do not limit the technical scope of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an electronic key system for a vehicle. Fig. Figure 2 is a block diagram of an in-vehicle system. Fig. Figure 3 is a block diagram of a portable device. Fig. Figure 4 is a block diagram of a wireless power receiver. Fig. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a controller operation associated with the start of wireless charging. Fig. Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of a user operation for a forced transition to a power-saving mode. Fig. Figure 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of communications between the vehicle and the portable device. Fig. Figure 8 is a flowchart to illustrate controller operation when a portable device vibrates. Fig. Figure 9 is a flowchart that shows another example of controller operation. Fig. Figure 10 is a flowchart that shows another example of controller operation. EXECUTIONAL FORMS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

[0011] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. The configurations disclosed below can be implemented with various modifications to the extent that they do not deviate from the spirit and scope. Various variations can be implemented in suitable combinations to the extent that no technical contradictions arise. The present disclosure also includes configurations not explicitly stated that combine several variations. In the following description, parts with the same functions may be designated with the same reference numerals, and their specific description may be omitted. If only one part of the configuration is mentioned, the description elsewhere may be applied to the other parts. <About overall configuration>

[0012] An electronic key system for a vehicle of the present embodiment comprises an in-vehicle system 10 and a portable device 9, as shown in Fig. 1 shown. The vehicle-integrated system 10 is a system installed in a vehicle Hv. The vehicle-integrated system 10 includes a positioning device 1 and several anchors 2, as shown in Fig. Figure 2 is shown. In the following description, the vehicle's internal system 10 and the vehicle Hv can be read interchangeably. The vehicle's internal system 10 corresponds to a system that controls the locking state of a door of the vehicle Hv.

[0013] The portable device 9 is a wireless communication terminal worn by the user. The portable device 9 is associated with the tracking device 1. In other words, device information from the portable device 9 is registered in the tracking device 1. The device information includes a device identification number (hereinafter referred to as the device ID). The device ID can be a device address or a UUID (Universally Unique Identifier), etc. Multiple portable devices 9 can be associated with the tracking device 1.

[0014] The positioning device 1 is a device that determines the location of the portable device 9 relative to the vehicle Hv. The positioning device 1 and the portable device 9 each include a short-range communication module. The short-range communication module is a communication module for performing short-range communication. Short-range communication, as defined here, refers to communication that conforms to a specified wireless communication standard, with an effective communication range of 5 m to 50 m, with a maximum of approximately 100 m. Short-range communication can be Bluetooth Low Energy (hereinafter Bluetooth LE), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), etc. In the following description and drawings, short-range communication is also referred to as SRWC (Short Range Wireless Communication).In the present disclosure, signals that are sent and received in short-range communication can be described as short-range communication signals or SRWC signals.

[0015] The operation of each component is described below using examples of cases where short-range communication (SRWC) is Bluetooth LE. Furthermore, the portable device 9 is configured below to operate as a Bluetooth LE peripheral, and the location device 1 is configured to act as a central unit. The roles of the portable device 9 and the location device 1 are interchangeable.

[0016] An anchor 2 is a wireless communication module for implementing distance measurement communication with the portable device 9. The distance measurement communication in the present disclosure relates to wireless communication for measuring distances between communication devices. The plurality of anchors 2 and the portable device 9 in the present embodiment are all configured to be able to implement the distance measurement communication via UWB communication. The UWB communication is a wireless UWB-IR (Ultra Wide Band Pulse Radio) communication.

[0017] The anchor 2 and the portable device 9 are configured to transmit and receive pulsed radio waves used in UWB communications (hereinafter referred to as pulse signals). A pulse signal used in UWB communications can be a signal with an extremely short pulse width (for example, 2 ns) and a bandwidth of 500 MHz (strictly speaking, 499.2 MHz) or more (that is, ultrawide bandwidth). UWB signals can be understood hereafter as signals exchanged in UWB communications.

[0018] Additionally, the vehicle's internal system 10 and the portable device 9 are configured to implement near-field communication (NFC). NFC refers to communication with a communication range extending from a few centimeters to several tens of centimeters. NFC is also known as near-field communication, contactless communication, or touch communication. NFC is a communication method with a significantly smaller communication range than SRWC. NFC can have a communication range of less than one-tenth that of SRWC. Specific NFC standards can be ISO / IEC 18092 (NFCIP-1), ISO / IEC 21481 (NFCIP-2), ISO / IEC 14443, or ISO / IEC 18092. The portable device 9 is configured to operate as a passive device (a so-called tag), that is, an end device that sends data back to the vehicle Hv in NFC communication based on a request from the vehicle Hv.The roles of the vehicle's in-vehicle system 10 and the portable device 9 in NFC communication can be interchanged. <Fahrzeuginternes System>

[0019] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the vehicle's internal system 10 includes, in addition to the positioning device 1 and several anchors 2, other devices such as a body ECU 3, an NFC reader 4, and a display 5. The positioning device 1 is connected to each of the several anchors 2 via a dedicated communication cable. The positioning device 1 is connected to the body ECU 3 via an internal network. The internal network is a communication network established within the vehicle Hv. The standard for the internal network can be any standard, such as a Controller Area Network (CAN is a registered trademark), Ethernet (registered trademark), or FlexRay (registered trademark). The form of connection between devices can be modified as needed.

[0020] The positioning device 1 is an ECU that determines a device location in cooperation with the anchor 2. The device location in this disclosure refers to a location of the portable device 9 relative to the vehicle Hv. Determining the device location is equivalent to determining a user location. The device location can be interpreted as the user location. The positioning device 1 controls the operation of the anchor 2.

[0021] The positioning device 1 includes a processor 11, a working memory 12, a storage device 13, a wireless communication circuit 14, and an in-vehicle communication device 15. The processor 11 can be a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The working memory 12 can be a volatile storage medium such as RAM (Random Access Memory). The storage device 13 is a configuration that includes a non-volatile storage medium such as flash memory. The storage device 13 can store the device ID and anchor data of the portable device 9 and authentication data. The anchor data is data that specifies the mounting locations of the plurality of anchors 2 in the vehicle Hv. The authentication data can be data (for example, a key code) for authenticating the portable device 9.

[0022] The wireless communication circuit 14 is a short-range communication module integrated into the positioning device 1. The wireless communication circuit 14 includes a short-range communication antenna, a transceiver circuit, and an SRWC controller. The transceiver circuit performs signal processing with respect to modulation and demodulation. The SRWC controller is a microcomputer that performs data processing related to short-range communication.

[0023] The wireless communication circuit 14 is also powered by an onboard battery even when the onboard power supply is switched off. The wireless communication circuit 14 periodically samples and attempts to connect to the portable device 9 using the power supplied by the onboard battery. This sampling indicates readiness to receive the SRWC signal. Upon receiving an advertise signal from the portable device 9, the wireless communication circuit 14 transmits a connection request to the portable device 9 and establishes a communication link with it.

[0024] The vehicle-internal communication device 15 is a circuit for the processor 11 to communicate with each of the multiple anchors 2. The vehicle-internal communication device 15 may include a circuit for the processor 11 to communicate with other vehicle-internal devices via the vehicle-internal network. The vehicle-internal communication device 15 may include a PHY chip or other components that comply with the communication standards of the vehicle-internal network.

[0025] In response to the establishment of a communication link with the portable device 9, the positioning device 1 performs authentication processing by the SRWC. This authentication processing can be performed using a challenge-response procedure or other means. Additionally, the positioning device 1 causes each anchor 2 to perform distance measurement communication with the portable device 9 upon establishing the communication link. The positioning device 1 obtains data indicating the result of the distance measurement communication from each of the plurality of anchors 2 (hereinafter referred to as distance measurement result data). The distance measurement result data includes the ID of the portable device 9 that performed the distance measurement and data indicating the distance from the anchor 2 to the portable device 9.A value that indicates the distance from the anchor 2 to the portable device 9, which is determined by the distance measurement communication, is also referred to as a distance measurement value.

[0026] The positioning device 1 specifies the distance from the vehicle Hv to the portable device 9 (hereinafter also referred to as the device distance) based on the distance measurement results provided by each anchor 2. The positioning device 1 can determine the device distance by combining / integrating the distance measurements observed by the multiple anchors 2. The device distance can be the minimum of the distance measurements observed by the multiple anchors 2.

[0027] The positioning device 1 can determine, based on the distance measurement data provided by each anchor 2, whether the portable device 9 is located inside the vehicle, in the surrounding area, or in another area. The surrounding area is the area outside the vehicle and is within a predefined operating distance from the vehicle Hv. The operating distance can be set to 1.0 m, 1.5 m, 2.0 m, etc. The positioning device 1 can determine whether the portable device 9 is located in the surrounding area by comparing the device distance with the operating distance. The positioning device 1 provides the specified location information of the portable device 9 to the body ECU 3.

[0028] The anchor 2, as mentioned above, is a device used to implement distance measurement communication with the portable device 9. The anchor 2 is configured to implement UWB communication. The vehicle's in-vehicle system 10 can include multiple anchors 2. The anchors 2 can be located at the left and right ends of the front bumper and at the left and right ends of the rear bumper. The anchor 2 can be located near the driver's seat, on the vehicle's ceiling, in the trunk, etc. The anchors 2 can be substantially identical in terms of configuration and performance.

[0029] The anchor 2 includes an antenna for UWB communications, a transceiver circuit, and a UWB controller. The UWB controller is a microcomputer that performs processing related to the distance measurement communications. The UWB controller generates distance measurement result data by conducting distance measurement communications with the portable device 9 and transmits (reports) the distance measurement result data to the positioning device 1. An overview of the distance measurement communications is described later.

[0030] The body ECU3 is an electronic control unit (ECU) that controls body system equipment, such as headlights, door lock motors, and window regulator motors. The body ECU3 controls door unlocking / locking based on (i) the portable device 9 being within range, (ii) the portable device 9 having been authenticated, and (iii) a predefined user action having been performed.

[0031] Whether the portable device 9 is present in the surrounding area can be determined by referring to the determination result of the location tracking device 1. Authentication of the portable device 9 is also performed by the location tracking device 1. A user action to lock / unlock can be the act of touching a door handle or the act of placing a foot over a detection area formed under the door. Controlling a door's unlocking / locking corresponds to controlling the locking state of the vehicle Hv. The body ECU 3 can be understood as an ECU that provides a so-called passive entry function in cooperation with the location tracking device 1. The passive entry function locks / unlocks the vehicle Hv in response to a predefined user action on the vehicle Hv.

[0032] Thus, the vehicle's internal system 10 functions as a system that controls the locking state of the vehicle Hv through the cooperation of the body ECU 3 and the positioning device 1. The body ECU 3 can be replaced by an integrated ECU, a zone ECU, or a domain ECU. The body ECU 3 and the positioning device 1 can be integrated. The functional arrangement within the vehicle's internal system 10 can be modified as required.

[0033] The NFC reader 4 is a module for implementing NFC. The NFC reader 4 attempts to establish a communication link with the portable device 9 by periodically transmitting polling commands when certain events occur. The polling command is used to check whether the portable device 9 is present in a location where the NFC reader 4 can communicate. The NFC reader 4 can be located on a driver's side exterior door handle, a side mirror, a rear window, a pillar, etc. The operating state of the NFC reader 4 can be controlled by the location tracking device 1.

[0034] Display 5 is a display located in the vehicle. Display 5 shows an image according to an instruction signal input from the positioning device 1. Display 5 can show the image described below to indicate the remaining charge level based on the instruction from the positioning device 1. Display 5 can be an LCD, an OLED, or a field-of-view display. Display 5 can be configured to display multiple colors. <Tragbare Vorrichtung 9> .

[0035] The portable device 9 is a dedicated device that functions as a wireless key for the vehicle Hv. The portable device 9 can be a device that is transferred to the owner along with the vehicle Hv upon purchase. The portable device 9 can be considered one of the vehicle Hv's accessories. The portable device 9 can have any shape, such as a flat rectangular shape, a flat oval shape (so-called fob type), a card shape, etc. The portable device 9 can be referred to as a smart key, a key fob, a key card, an access key, etc. The portable device 9 functions as a key for the vehicle Hv by performing wireless authentication with the location tracking device 1 using the SRWC.

[0036] The portable device 9 can be a general-purpose information processing terminal that has an SRWC function. The portable device 9 can be a smartphone or a handheld device. The portable device 9 can be paraphrased as a portable device, a user device, or a key device, etc. The portable devices may not even have a single user-pressable button (that is, a push button).

[0037] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the portable device 9 includes an accelerometer 91, a wireless power receiver 92, a battery 93, an SRWC module 94, a UWB module 95, an NFC module 96, and a display unit 97. As mentioned earlier, the portable device 9 performs SRWC communication with the vehicle Hv's positioning device 1 and also performs UWB communication with the anchor 2. The vehicle Hv in SRWC can be referred to below as the positioning device 1 or the vehicle's internal system 10. The vehicle Hv in UWB communication (distance measurement communication) can be referred to as the anchor 2 or the vehicle's internal system 10.

[0038] The accelerometer 91 is a sensor that detects acceleration acting on the portable device 9. The accelerometer 91 can include multiple detection axes. The accelerometer 91 can be a 3-axis accelerometer. The accelerometer 91 detects acceleration at a predetermined interval, such as every 100 milliseconds (10 Hz), and outputs data indicating a result of the detection (hereinafter referred to as acceleration data) to the SRWC module 94 and the controller 943. The acceleration data can include a detected acceleration value for each axis direction. The acceleration detected by the accelerometer 91 represents the magnitude of the vibration acting on the portable device 9, in other words, the intensity of the user's movement. Acceleration can be replaced by vibration or movement. The accelerometer 91 is equivalent to a vibration sensor.

[0039] In another embodiment, the accelerometer 91 can be a uniaxial or biaxial accelerometer. The portable device 9 can include a gyroscope sensor instead of / along with the accelerometer 91 as a sensor for detecting vibrations. The acceleration described below can be interpreted as the maximum absolute value of the acceleration for each detected axis. The accelerometer 91 can be configured to output an activation signal to the controller 943 when it detects that the acceleration exceeds a predetermined activation threshold. The activation signal can be a signal with a predetermined bit pattern or a signal indicating that the detected acceleration value is above a predetermined value (in other words, acceleration data).

[0040] The wireless power receiver 92 is a configuration that receives electrical power transmitted by a wireless charger 6 and charges the battery 93, as shown in Fig. Figure 4 shows that the wireless charger 6 is a device for charging independently of the portable device 9. The wireless charger 6 is equivalent to a wireless charging device. The wireless charger 6 includes a power transmission coil 61, a driver circuit 62, and a power supply circuit 63. The power transmission coil 61 is a coil for supplying electrical power to the portable device 9 by electromagnetic coupling with a power receiving coil 921 of the portable device 9. The power transmission coil 61 is also referred to as the primary coil, and the power receiving coil 921 is also referred to as the secondary coil. The driver circuit 62 is a circuit that generates an alternating current at a predetermined frequency based on the power supplied by the power supply circuit 63 and supplies it to the power transmission coil 61.The power supply circuit 63 is a circuit that adjusts the voltage supplied by the external power source 64 to a voltage suitable for the operation of the driver circuit 62. The external power source 64 can be a household wall socket, a portable battery, or a car battery.

[0041] The frequency of the electromagnetic waves used for wireless charging (hereinafter referred to as the charging frequency) can be any frequency. The charging frequency can be a frequency within the bandwidth of 110 kHz to 205 kHz used in the Qi standard. The portable device 9 in the present embodiment is compatible with the Qi standard. Of course, the portable device 9 can also be configured to be wirelessly recharged using the air-fuel induction / resonance method.

[0042] The wireless power receiver 92 comprises a power receiving coil 921, a rectifier circuit 922, and a charging controller 923. The power receiving coil 921 is a coil for receiving power that is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless charging device 6 to the power transmission coil 61 via electromagnetic coupling. The rectifier circuit 922 converts the power received by the receiving coil 921 into direct current (DC). The output voltage of the rectifier circuit 922 is fed into the charging controller 923 and the controller 943. The charging controller 923 uses the power fed in by the rectifier circuit 922 to charge the battery 93.

[0043] Battery 93 is a battery that stores the energy provided for the operation of the portable device 9. Battery 93 is rechargeable and dischargeable (that is, a secondary battery or accumulator). Battery 93 can be a lithium-ion secondary battery. Of course, Battery 93 can also be a rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, or a nickel-metal hydride secondary battery. A discharge cut-off voltage is set for Battery 93. The discharge cut-off voltage is the lowest voltage at which discharge can be safely carried out. A voltage below the discharge cut-off voltage is called over-discharge. The controller 943, described below, monitors the output voltage of Battery 93 and controls the operation of the portable device 9 to prevent an over-discharge condition from occurring.

[0044] The SRWC module 94 is a short-range communication module of the portable device 9. The SRWC module 94 is equivalent to a wireless communication device and a first communication device. The SRWC module 94 is equivalent to a wireless communication device. The SRWC module 94 includes an antenna 941, a radio frequency (RF) core 942, and a controller 943. The SRWC module 94 also includes a clock oscillator that generates a clock signal for the operation of the controller 943. The controller 943 is equivalent to a controller.

[0045] Antenna 941 is an antenna element for transmitting and receiving radio waves in a frequency band used for SRWC (in this case, the 2.4 GHz band). RF Core 942 is a circuit module that performs processing related to transmitting and receiving wireless signals. RF Core 942 may include a modulation circuit, a demodulation circuit, a frequency conversion circuit, an amplification circuit, and a local oscillator. RF Core 942 is connected to Antenna 941 and Controller 943. RF Core 942 demodulates the signal received from Antenna 21 and provides it to Controller 943. RF Core 942 modulates the transmission data input by Controller 943 and transmits it as radio waves from Antenna 21. The RF core 942 can be provided as an IC chip (that is, a transmitter / receiver IC).

[0046] The Controller 943 is a microcomputer that controls the operation of the SRWC Module 94 and, consequently, the portable device 9 as a whole. The Controller 943 includes a Processor E1, a Random Access Memory E2, a Memory E3, and a Communication Interface E4. The Processor E1 can be a CPU. The Random Access Memory E2 is a volatile memory medium such as RAM. The Memory E3 is a storage device that includes a non-volatile memory medium such as flash memory. The Memory E3 can include several types of memory media, such as ROM (Read-Only Memory) and flash memory. The Communication Interface E4 is a circuit module that allows the Processor E1 to communicate with other components, such as the UWB Module 95 and the NFC Module 96.

[0047] A device control program is stored in memory E3. The device control program is a program that contains instructions for controlling an operating mode. The device control program can be interpreted as a program corresponding to a mode control procedure.

[0048] Additionally, communication data is stored in memory E3. This communication data is used to implement wireless communication with the vehicle Hv. The communication data may include a parameter received by the positioning device 1 through pairing, such as the device ID of the positioning device 1. The communication data may also include the vehicle Hv's identification number (hereinafter referred to as the vehicle ID). The vehicle ID is an identification identifier for the vehicle / vehicle-mounted system that is a communication target. The vehicle ID can be paraphrased as the system ID. The vehicle ID may be a vehicle identification number (VIN). The communication data may also include a key code used for wireless authentication with the vehicle Hv.

[0049] The SRWC Module 94 is configured to enable the implementation of an Advertise. An Advertise is a process for transmitting an Advertise signal using a predefined channel. The Advertise signal is a wireless signal that notifies another device of the presence of the incoming device. An Advertise can be a process for transmitting the Advertise signal once in each of the three channels (37Ch (2402 MHz), 38Ch (2426 MHz), and 39Ch (2480 MHz)) among the 40 channels (0Ch to 39Ch) available in Bluetooth LE. The Advertise can be reworded as Advertising or Advertisement. When the SRWC Module 94 receives a connection request from the vehicle Hv in response to the Advertise, the SRWC Module 94 establishes the communication link with the vehicle Hv.The SRWC module 94 can be understood as a module that enables the portable device 9 to implement data communication with the vehicle Hv. The controller 943 can perform the authentication processing (i.e., wireless authentication) by SRWC starting from the establishment of the communication link with the vehicle Hv. Details of the SRWC module 94 and the controller 943 will be described separately later.

[0050] The UWB module 95 is a communication module for implementing UWB communication. The UWB module 95 functions as a second communication device. It outputs the received data to the controller 943. The UWB module 95 also transmits a UWB signal according to the transmission data input from the controller 943. The UWB module 95 is configured to become active, perform distance measurement communication, and stop operation based on instructions from the controller 943.

[0051] Distance measurement communication is used to measure the propagation time (in other words, the time of flight) of radio waves from the anchor 2 to the portable device 9. Distance measurement communication can include a step in which the portable device 9 sends a poll signal and a step in which the anchor 2 transmits a response signal in response to receiving the poll signal. Distance measurement communication can also include a step in which the portable device 9 transmits an end signal in response to receiving the response signal. The poll signal, or query signal, is a signal that requires a responder to transmit a reply. The response signal can be paraphrased as a reply signal.

[0052] In distance measurement communications, the portable device 9 measures a round-trip time (RTT), which is the elapsed time from the transmission of the poll signal to vehicle Hv until the receipt of the response signal from vehicle Hv. RTT is an abbreviation for round-trip time. The portable device 9 can calculate the distance measurement from the RTT measured by executing the distance measurement communication and transmit it via the SRWC to the positioning device 1. The anchor 2 can calculate the distance measurement based on the elapsed time from the transmission of the response signal until the receipt of the final signal from the portable device 9 and report it to the positioning device 1.

[0053] In the distance measurement communication of the present embodiment, the portable device 9 operates as an initiator and the vehicle Hv (actually each anchor 2) operates as a responder. The initiator is a device that plays a leading role in the distance measurement communication. The division of roles in the distance measurement communication can be modified as needed. Several anchors 2 can individually initiate and conduct the distance measurement communication with the portable device 9. The distance measurement communication can include a step in which the initiator transmits a pre-poll signal to notify the start of the distance measurement before transmitting the poll signal. The distance measurement communication can also include a step in which, after transmitting the end signal, the initiator transmits an end data signal, which is a UWB signal indicating that the distance measurement has been successfully completed.

[0054] The NFC module 96 is a module for implementing NFC communication. The NFC module 96 is configured as a passive device that sends back a signal according to the content of data received by the NFC reader 4. The NFC module 96 is driven by the receiving power of the signal transmitted by the NFC reader 4 to generate and send back a response signal. In a preferred example, the controller 943 of the present embodiment is configured to be capable of performing NFC authentication processing, which is user authentication using NFC. The NFC authentication processing corresponds to a backup (that is, an alternative authentication method) in the event of SRWC failure. The controller 943 can be configured to be activated even during the power-saving mode described below when the NFC module 96 receives a signal from the vehicle Hv.The NFC module 96 is an optional element and can be omitted.

[0055] The indicator device 97 is a light-emitting component used to inform the user of the remaining state of charge of the battery 93. The remaining state of charge is also referred to as the SOC (State of Charge). The remaining state of charge (in other words, the SOC) is the ratio of the actual remaining charge level to a fully charged level. The indicator device (97) is designed to illuminate in several colors, for example, red, yellow, and green. The indicator device 97 illuminates based on instructions from the controller 943. The controller 943 can cause the indicator device 97 to illuminate for a specific period of time (for example, 5 seconds) in a manner corresponding to the remaining state of charge in response to the SRWC connection between the portable device 9 and the vehicle Hv.The controller 943 can illuminate the indicator 97 in red when the remaining charge level is less than 30%. The indicator 97 is an optional element and can be omitted. <Betriebsmodus der tragbaren Vorrichtung> .

[0056] The portable device 9 has two operating modes: a normal mode and an energy-saving mode. In normal mode, the controller 943 becomes active based on the output of the activation signal from the accelerometer 91 and attempts to establish a wireless connection with the vehicle Hv. Normal mode can be understood as the operating mode used in everyday applications.

[0057] In contrast, the power-saving mode is a mode in which the controller 943 does not become active, even if vibrations corresponding to acceleration above the activation threshold act on the portable device 9. This power-saving mode can be interpreted as a mode in which the vibration acting on the portable device 9 does not cause the advert to be initiated. In the power-saving mode, even if vibration acts on the portable device 9, the SRWC module 94 and the UWB module 95 remain stopped. The power-saving mode can be achieved by disabling the accelerometer 91. In another embodiment, the power-saving mode can be a state in which the accelerometer 91 is operational, but its output signal in the controller 943 is canceled.The energy saving mode can be a mode in which the controller 943 does not initiate the Advertise, even if the accelerometer 91 inputs the activation signal into the controller 943.

[0058] During normal mode, the portable device 9 transitions between four states: a first advertising state, a second advertising state, a connected state, and a sleep state. Triggers for state transitions can include vibration detection, communication connection to / disconnection from the vehicle, etc.

[0059] The first advertising state is a state in which the SRWC module 94 executes the advertisement at the specified first interval. The first interval is set to 30, 50, or 60 milliseconds. The first interval can be set to a value in the range of a few tens of milliseconds to a few hundred milliseconds. The first advertising state is a state in which advertising is performed at a relatively high frequency. Performing advertising at the first intervals is also referred to in this disclosure as rapid advertising.

[0060] The second advertising state is a state in which advertising is performed periodically in a manner that consumes less power per unit of time than the first advertising state. The second advertising state can be a state in which advertising is performed in a second interval, the first interval being longer than the first. The second interval can be set to 400 ms, 600 ms, 1 second, 2 seconds, or 3 seconds. The longer the advertising interval, the lower the energy consumption during the standby state. Performing advertising in the second interval is also referred to in this disclosure as slow advertising.

[0061] In the first advertising state, advertising is performed frequently, making it easier for the vehicle Hv to detect the portable device 9 (in other words, the user), although energy consumption is high. In the second advertising state, energy consumption is reduced, but it is difficult for the vehicle Hv to detect the portable device 9 (in other words, the user).

[0062] In the present disclosure, the first and second advertising states are also collectively described as vehicle search states. The vehicle search state corresponds to a periodic transmission mode. The vehicle search state can be interpreted as a state in which the SRWC module 94 is active and searching for the vehicle Hv. While the portable device 9 is in the first or second advertising state, the controller 943 can put the UWB module 95 into sleep mode. The sleep state of the UWB module 95 can be a state in which some or all of the functions of the UWB module 95 are stopped to reduce power consumption.

[0063] The connected state is the state in which the portable device 9 and the vehicle Hv have a communication link via SRWC. The portable device 9 enters the connected state upon receiving an advertising-related response (e.g., a connection request) from the vehicle Hv. While in the connected state, the portable device 9 periodically performs data communication with the vehicle Hv. The controller 943 can bring the UWB module 95 into a state in which the UWB signal is transmittable and receivable, originating from the SRWC link between the SRWC module 94 and the vehicle Hv. While in the connected state, the UWB module 95 performs distance measurement communications at a predetermined interval, provided that the remaining battery charge is above a predetermined value.The connection state can include a distance measurement state, in which the UWB module 95 periodically performs distance measurement communications, and a distance non-measurement state, in which periodic distance measurement communication is not performed.

[0064] Sleep mode is a state in which the SRWC module 94 does not transmit the SRWC signal. Sleep mode can also include a state in which the accelerometer 91 continues to operate while the SRWC module 94 and the UWB module 95 are stopped. Even in sleep mode, the wireless power receiver 92 and the NFC module 96 can be powered by externally received electrical power. The charging controller 923 can be configured to become active and charge the battery 93 based on an input voltage above a predefined value from the rectifier circuit 922, even in sleep mode. In sleep mode, the portable device 9 is unable to communicate with the vehicle Hv, but power consumption can be reduced to a minimum.

[0065] The portable device 9 is configured to transition to the first advertising state in response to the detection of an acceleration above a predetermined activation threshold while in sleep mode. The controller 943 is configured to become active and initiate rapid advertising upon receiving a start signal from the accelerometer 91. In this disclosure, the transition of the portable device 9 from sleep mode to the first advertising state is also referred to as waking up (activation). Activation of the portable device 9 corresponds to activation of the controller 943. Activation of the portable device 9 can be interpreted as the start of the clock supply for processor E1, provided by the controller 943. Paradoxically, the sleep state can be interpreted as a state in which the clock supply for processor E1 is stopped.

[0066] The portable device 9 automatically switches to the second advertising state when the elapsed time since the transition to the first advertising state equals or exceeds the predefined switchover time. In other words, after waking up without receiving a connection request from the vehicle (Hv), the portable device 9 automatically switches to the second advertising state after the switchover time has elapsed. This reduces the advertising interval from the first to the second interval and thus reduces energy consumption. The switchover time can be set to 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 60 seconds, etc.

[0067] The active wearable device 9 enters a sleep state when the duration of a specific state reaches a stop time, where the specific state is a state in which no acceleration above the sleep threshold is detected. The sleep threshold can be the same value as the activation threshold or it can be less than the activation threshold. The sleep threshold can be a value equal to 50% or 25% of the activation threshold. Hereinafter, the state in which acceleration above the sleep threshold is not detected by the accelerometer 91 is also referred to as the motionless state. The stop time can be set to 60, 90, 120, 180, etc. seconds. In the present embodiment, the stop time is set to be longer than the switch time. In another embodiment, the stop time can be equal to or shorter than the switch time.The switching time and the stop time can be paraphrased as the first and second switching times, respectively. After entering the connection state, the portable device 9 transitions from the connection state to the sleep state when the duration of a specific state reaches a predetermined time or when a disconnection request signal is received requesting disconnection from the vehicle Hv, where the specific state is a state in which the SRWC signal is not received by the vehicle Hv.

[0068] The portable device 9 is configured to transition from normal mode to power-saving mode when the remaining charge level of the battery 93 falls below a predetermined stop charge level. Specifically, when the controller 943 becomes active, it obtains the output voltage of the battery 93. If the output voltage is less than or equal to a predetermined stop voltage, the controller 943 puts the portable device 9 into power-saving mode and stops operation. The process for transitioning to power-saving mode may involve disabling the accelerometer 91.

[0069] The process for entering power-saving mode may involve writing a code specifying the power-saving mode to the non-volatile memory that holds the operating setting (or activation condition) of the controller 943 (hereinafter referred to as the "settings memory"). The settings memory may be provided using a memory area of ​​memory E3 or may be a semiconductor memory located on a printed circuit board and separate from memory E3. The portable device 9 may be configured to operate in normal mode when the value of the mode setting of the portable device 9 in the settings memory is 0, and to operate in power-saving mode when the value is 1. While the value of the mode setting is 1, the portable device 9 remains in sleep mode regardless of the output of the accelerometer 91.

[0070] The stop voltage is designed based on the discharge characteristics of the 93 battery. The stop voltage can be 3.4 V, 3.6 V, 3.8 V, etc. The stop voltage can be set to a value higher than the discharge cut-off voltage. If the stop state of charge (SOC) is set to 20%, the stop voltage can be set to a value corresponding to SOC = 20%. The stop voltage can be interpreted as a parameter that expresses the remaining state of charge required to enter energy-saving mode as a voltage value. Of course, the stop voltage can also be a voltage value corresponding to an SOC of 10% or 25%. The stop voltage can be set to a value corresponding to a state where the SOC is between 5% and 30%.

[0071] Since the output voltage of battery 93 corresponds to the remaining state of charge of battery 93, reaching the output voltage corresponds to reaching the remaining state of charge. The expression "when the output voltage becomes less than or equal to the stop voltage" can be read below as "when the remaining state of charge becomes less than the stop charge." In other words, the remaining state of charge and the output voltage can be read interchangeably. The stop charge is a value of the state of charge corresponding to the stop voltage. The stop charge is set to a value in a range between 5% and 30%, for example, 10%, 20%, 25%, etc. The stop voltage and the stop charge correspond to a stop threshold.The stop voltage described above is a parameter that represents the stop threshold in the form of voltage, and the stop charge state can be interpreted as a parameter that represents the stop threshold in the form of remaining charge state (percentage).

[0072] The time at which the controller 943 obtains the output voltage can be changed as needed. The controller 943 can obtain the output voltage of the battery 93 when it is connected to the vehicle Hv via SRWC. While active, the controller 943 can also obtain the output voltage periodically (for example, every 5 minutes). The controller 943 can obtain the output voltage in response to a request from the vehicle Hv to initiate distance measurement communication. The controller 943 can implement processing to put the portable device 9 into power-saving mode following the detection that the output voltage is below the stop voltage.

[0073] The portable device 9 can be configured to remove power-saving mode and return to normal mode in response to the start of wireless charging, as described in Fig. Figure 5 shows that the controller 943 can be configured to become active (S01) based on the input of a high-level voltage signal from the rectifier circuit 922 and to perform processing to return to normal mode (S02). In this disclosure, the high-level voltage signal output by the rectifier circuit 922 is also referred to as the charging signal. The processing to return to normal mode can include activating the accelerometer 91. The processing to return to normal mode can also include rewriting the value of the mode setting in the settings memory from a value corresponding to the power-saving mode (for example, 1) to a value corresponding to the normal mode (0).

[0074] The high-level voltage signal can be interpreted as a voltage signal with a magnitude greater than or equal to a predefined value. In power-saving mode, the controller 943 can be configured to become active in response to the input voltage from the rectifier circuit 922 rising from a low level to a high level. An output terminal of the rectifier circuit 922 can be connected to a reset terminal of the controller 943 (for example, the MCLR terminal) via a high / low-level inverting circuit.

[0075] The controller 943 can be configured to perform processing to put the portable device 9 into power-saving mode when the output signal of the rectifier circuit 922 fluctuates in a predefined pattern, in addition to when the remaining charge level falls below a predefined value. The controller 943 can be configured to put the portable device 9 into power-saving mode when the number of times the output signal of the rectifier circuit 922 rises or falls within a specific time period reaches a predefined value. The controller 943 can be configured to put the portable device 9 into power-saving mode when the output signal of the rectifier circuit 922 rises three times within 10 seconds, as shown in Fig. Figure 6 shows that, according to this configuration, a user / administrator can force the portable device 9 into power-saving mode by repeatedly placing the portable device 9 on the wireless charging device 6 the specified number of times. The administrator can use the procedure described above to force the portable device 9 into power-saving mode during transport from a production facility to a sales office. This further reduces the consumption of remaining charge during transport. The administrator can be understood here as a person who manufactures or sells the portable device 9. <Ablauf der Kommunikation>

[0076] Fig. Figure 7 is a diagram that schematically illustrates a flow of communications between the portable device 9 and the vehicle Hv. At the time of the start of the in Fig. In the sequence shown in Figure 7, the portable device 9 is far enough away from the vehicle Hv and has no communication link with the vehicle Hv. The portable device 9 is in normal mode.

[0077] In normal mode, the portable device 9, which is a peripheral device, periodically transmits an advertiser signal (S11) in response to the accelerometer 91 detecting a vibration. For a brief period immediately following the transmission of the advertiser signal, the portable device 9 is in a receive-ready state. As the user moves, the vehicle Hv can receive the advertiser signal from the portable device 9 when the portable device 9 enters the SRWC range of the vehicle Hv. In response to receiving the advertiser signal from the portable device 9, the vehicle Hv transmits a connection request signal (S12) to the portable device 9. This causes the portable device 9 and the vehicle Hv to enter a communication-linked state. The communication-linked state can be understood as a state in which the SRWC connection has been established.The connection request signal is a signal that requests a communication connection. In the present disclosure, the connection request signal can also be abbreviated as a connection request. In the communication-connected state, the vehicle Hv and the portable device 9 transmit and receive a wireless signal for connectivity testing at a predetermined interval and perform encrypted data communication.

[0078] After SRWC establishes a communication link with the vehicle Hv, the controller 943 transmits data indicating the remaining state of charge to the vehicle Hv via SRWC (S13). When the SRWC module 94 closes the communication link with the vehicle Hv, the controller 943 exchanges a distance measurement communication parameter (hereinafter referred to as the distance measurement setting) with the vehicle Hv via SRWC as preparatory processing for the distance measurement communication. The distance measurement setting data is a data set containing a distance measurement parameter, which is a parameter for the distance measurement communication. The distance measurement setting data includes the execution interval of the distance measurement communication.

[0079] The exchange of the distance measurement setting can include a step in which the positioning device 1 transmits data specifying the desired distance measurement setting (S14), and the portable device 9 approves the distance measurement setting proposed by the positioning device 1 (S15). In the present embodiment, the positioning device 1 determines, but is not limited to, the values ​​of various distance measurement parameters. Some or all of the distance measurement parameters can be determined or proposed by the portable device 9. Step S15 can be a step in which the portable device 9 transmits or proposes the distance measurement setting to the positioning device 1.

[0080] Once the exchange of the distance measurement setting, or in other words, the agreement of the distance measurement setting, is complete, the portable device 9 periodically performs distance measurement communication with the vehicle Hv (S16). A single distance measurement communication involves the portable device 9 and each anchor 2 sending and receiving a UWB distance measurement signal. The distance measurement UWB signal includes the pre-poll signal, the poll signal, the response signal, the end signal, and the end data signal described above. The controller 943 instructs the UWB module 95 to perform the distance measurement communications with each of the multiple anchors 2 in the manner that follows the distance measurement setting.

[0081] The 943 controller also performs data communication with the vehicle Hv for connectivity testing at a predefined connection interval (S17). This data communication for the connectivity test is carried out by SRWC. The connection interval is the interval of data communication. The connection interval can be determined at the time of the communication connection or pairing.

[0082] After the distance measurement communication begins, the portable device 9 and the vehicle Hv repeat steps S16-S17 until a predefined end condition is met. When the end condition is met, the portable device 9 terminates repeated distance measurement communication with the vehicle Hv and enters sleep mode. The end condition can be the disconnection of the communication link between the positioning device 1 and the portable device 9. The controller 943 can remove (i.e., disconnect) the link with the vehicle Hv when a predefined time (for example, supervision time) is reached during a state without receiving the SRWC signal from the vehicle Hv. The controller 943 can also determine that the end condition is met when the end request signal from the vehicle Hv is received by SRWC.The 943 controller can determine that the end condition is met when the duration of the motionless state reaches the stop time. Alternatively, the 943 controller can determine that the end condition is met when the remaining charge level becomes equal to or less than the stop voltage. When the remaining charge level becomes equal to or less than the stop voltage, the 943 controller terminates the distance measurement communication and then executes the processing to transition to power-saving mode. <Beispiel für den Betrieb der tragbaren Vorrichtung> .

[0083] Now, the operation of the portable device 9 is described with regard to a mode switch using the in Fig. The flowchart shown in section 8 describes a series of processes. Fig. The process shown in section 8 can be described as mode control processing. Mode control processing may include steps S101-S111, as shown in Fig. Figure 8 shows that the following processing by the controller 933 in the description can be replaced by that by the processor E1, the SRWC module 94 or the portable device 9.

[0084] The in Fig. The sequence shown in Figure 8 can be started when the controller 943 receives an activation signal from the accelerometer 91, in other words, in response to the accelerometer 91 detecting an acceleration above the activation threshold. As preparatory processing for step S101, the mode control processing can include a step in which the controller 943 determines, based on the output signal of the accelerometer 91, whether an acceleration above the activation threshold is detected. This preparatory processing can be performed periodically during sleep mode.

[0085] Step S101 is a step in which the controller 943 performs the activation processing. The activation processing is a process for transitioning from sleep mode to a state where the advertiser can be transmitted. The activation processing may include: starting the clock signal to processor E1; and processor E1 reading the program and / or communication data stored in memory E3 and storing it in RAM 872. The activation processing may also include starting the power supply to RF core 942. After step S101 is complete, processing continues with step S102.

[0086] Step S102 is the step in which the controller 943 obtains the output voltage of the battery 93. Vo in the drawings represents the output voltage of the battery 93. After completion of step S102, processing continues with step S103.

[0087] Step S103 is a step in which the controller 943 determines whether the output voltage of battery 93 is greater than the stop voltage. Vstp in the drawings represents the stop voltage. If the output voltage is greater than the stop voltage (S103 YES), processing continues with step S105. If the output voltage is less than or equal to the stop voltage (S103 NO), processing continues with step S104.

[0088] Step S104 is the step in which the controller 943 performs processing to put the portable device 9 into power-saving mode. This processing can involve disabling the accelerometer 91 or rewriting the mode setting value in the settings memory, as described above. When step S104 is complete, this process ends.

[0089] Step S105 is a step in which the controller 943 starts advertising in the first advertising state. This causes the SRWC module 94 to begin periodically transmitting the advertise signal in the first intervals. When the duration of the first advertising state becomes greater than or equal to the switching time, the controller 943 switches the operating mode of the portable device 9 from the first advertising state to the second advertising state. In other words, the advertising interval changes from the first interval to the second interval. After step S105, the controller 943 continues advertising in either the first or second interval until the sleep condition is met or a communication link with the vehicle Hv is established. The sleep condition is a condition for the portable device 9 to enter sleep mode.The sleep condition can be that a duration of a state in which no acceleration greater than or equal to the sleep threshold is detected by accelerometer 91 reaches a stop time.

[0090] Controller 943 performs a determination process in step S106 each time it executes the advertising process. Step S106 determines whether or not SRWC has established a communication link with the vehicle Hv. If the communication link with the vehicle Hv has been established, processing continues with step S108. If the communication link with the vehicle Hv has not been established, processing continues with step S107. The case where no communication link with the vehicle Hv exists is a case where the connection request for advertising is not received from the vehicle Hv.

[0091] Step S107 is a step of determining whether the sleep condition is met or not. If the sleep condition is not met, that is, if the duration of the motionless state has not reached the stop time, the controller 943 performs advertising after a predetermined time and performs the connection determination in step S106. In the present disclosure, the advertising and the associated steps S106-S107 are collectively referred to as a vehicle search process. The vehicle search process can be executed repeatedly until the communication link with the vehicle Hv is established or until the sleep condition is met.

[0092] When the sleep condition is met at step S107, that is, when the duration of the motionless state has reached the stop time, the controller 943 performs the processing to enter sleep mode (S111). This sleep processing can involve stopping the operation of the SRWC module 94 or stopping the clock oscillator.

[0093] Step S108 is a step in which the controller 943 exchanges the distance measurement setting with the vehicle Hv via SRWC. Step S108 is equivalent to the preceding steps S14-S15. Once the exchange of the distance measurement setting is complete, processing continues with step S109. Step S109 is the step of initiating periodic distance measurement communications. Periodic distance measurement communication can be understood as the periodic (repeated) execution of distance measurement communication according to the exchanged distance measurement setting. The steps following step S109 determine whether the end condition is met. If the end condition is met, the portable device 9 enters sleep mode (S111). Until the end condition is met, the controller 943 repeatedly executes distance measurement communication (S16) and data communication for connectivity testing (S17), as described in Fig. 7 described.

[0094] The above control can be implemented using the remaining state of charge (SOC) instead of the output voltage. Step S103 can be the step of determining whether the remaining state of charge exceeds the stop state of charge. In another example, the controller 943, while operating, can periodically measure the output voltage of the battery 93. If the controller 943 detects that the measured output voltage is less than or equal to the stop voltage, the controller 943 can immediately perform the processing (S104) to transition to power-saving mode. Each time the controller 943 measures the output voltage, it can transmit data indicating the remaining state of charge to the vehicle Hv via SRWC. <wirkung>

[0095] The portable device 9 mentioned above automatically switches its operating mode from normal mode to energy-saving mode based on the fact that the remaining charge level in the battery 93 falls below a predetermined value. Energy-saving mode is a mode in which the portable device 9 does not become active, even if vibrations occur within the portable device 9. The process described above can reduce the possibility of the battery 93 entering an over-discharge state. The process described above can extend the service life of the battery 93.

[0096] Furthermore, the portable device 9 returns from power-saving mode to normal mode in response to the start of charging using the wireless charging device 6. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to press a button on the portable device 9 to return it to normal mode. The administrator can also return the portable device 9 to normal mode in the event of an unintentional transition to power-saving mode due to energy consumption during transport, etc.

[0097] Based on the state of wireless charging, in particular fluctuations in the output signal of rectifier circuit 922 in a predetermined pattern, the aforementioned portable device 9 enters power-saving mode, even if the remaining charge level is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. Thus, the administrator can intentionally put the portable device 9 into power-saving mode in cases where it is not used for a long period of time, such as during transport. Furthermore, the button is not used to enter power-saving mode. Therefore, the portable device 9 does not need to include any buttons. Since the portable device 9 of this embodiment does not need to have any buttons, it can be made smaller compared to a portable device that does have a button. <Modifiziertes Beispiel>

[0098] The portable device 9 can be configured to remove the power-saving mode not only when wireless charging is initiated, but also when the remaining charge level becomes greater than or equal to a predefined return charge level. The return charge level can be set to a value greater than the stop charge level by a predefined amount. The predefined amount can be 5 percentage points (hereinafter pp), etc. The controller 943 can periodically measure the remaining charge level while wireless charging is initiated. The controller 943 can then perform the processing to return to normal mode when it detects that the remaining charge level is greater than or equal to a return charge level due to wireless charging. The return charge level and the stop charge level in the preceding description can be paraphrased as a return voltage and a stop voltage, respectively.

[0099] If the tracking device 1 has a communication link with the portable device 9 via SRWC, the tracking device 1 can obtain data indicating the remaining state of charge from the portable device 9 via SRWC. In this case, the tracking device 1 can display an image to indicate the remaining state of charge on the display 5. In other words, if the portable device 9 has a communication link with the vehicle Hv via SRWC, the portable device 9 can transmit data indicating the remaining state of charge to the vehicle Hv via SRWC and cause the image indicating the remaining state of charge to be displayed on the display 5. The notification image indicating the remaining state of charge is an image that shows the remaining state of charge of battery 93.The data indicating the remaining state of charge can be the state of charge (SOC) value or the output voltage value of battery 93. With this configuration, the user can easily identify the remaining state of charge of the portable device 9. The display indicating the remaining state of charge can be modified according to the remaining charge level. As the remaining state of charge decreases, the tracking device 1 can change the display in this order: "high," "medium," "low," and "critical." The tracking device 1 can display the remaining state of charge indicator in a flashing manner when the remaining state of charge falls below an emergency threshold. The emergency threshold can be the stop charge level plus a predefined value (for example, 10 percentage points). If the stop charge level is 20%, the emergency threshold can be set to 30%, and so on.

[0100] The positioning device 1 can change the interval at which the UWB performs distance measurement communication according to the remaining charge level of the battery 93. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, if the remaining charge level is greater than the specified first charge level (S201 YES), the positioning device 1 sets the distance measurement interval to a first distance measurement interval (S202). If the output charge level is less than or equal to a first charge level and greater than a second charge level (S203 YES), the positioning device 1 sets the distance measurement interval to a second distance measurement interval (S204). If the output charge level is less than or equal to the second charge level (S203 NO), the positioning device 1 may prevent distance measurement communications (S205).

[0101] In Fig. In column 9, “RP” represents the remaining charge level, “P1” represents the first charge level, and “P2” represents the second charge level. “RI” represents the actual distance measurement interval used, with “Tr1” representing the first distance measurement interval and “Tr2” representing the second distance measurement interval. The first and second charge levels are threshold values ​​for the remaining charge level.

[0102] The first charge level can be set to a value corresponding to a sufficiently high remaining charge. The first charge level can be set to 40% or 50%. The second charge level is a threshold used to protect the battery by stopping distance measurement communication. The second charge level can be set to the same as the stop charge level. The second charge level can be 5 percentage points or 10 percentage points higher than the stop charge level. The remaining charge level for stopping advertising and the remaining charge level for stopping UWB distance measurement can be different values.

[0103] The first distance measurement interval can be 100 ms, 150 ms, or 200 ms, etc. The second distance measurement interval can be set to a value that is relatively larger than the first distance measurement interval, such as 500 milliseconds, 1 second, or 2 seconds.

[0104] By extending the distance measurement interval as the remaining charge decreases, the energy consumption of the portable device 9 can be reduced. Setting the distance measurement interval to a relatively short value when a sufficient charge remains can improve the system's responsiveness to the user's approach to the vehicle Hv and enhance user-friendliness. Furthermore, stopping distance measurement communication when the remaining charge is extremely low can reduce the risk of the battery 93 reaching an over-discharge state. The positioning device 1 determines the distance measurement interval above. Alternatively, the portable device 9 can adjust the distance measurement interval according to the remaining charge.

[0105] Additionally, the portable device 9 can change a rule for executing advertising according to the remaining charge level, as shown in Fig. Figure 10 shows that, in particular, if the remaining state of charge is greater than a predefined normal operating state of charge (Pn) (S301 JA), the controller 943 performs the advertising in a manner according to the predefined first rule (S302). Pn in the drawings represents the normal operating state of charge. The normal operating state of charge is a threshold for the remaining state of charge.

[0106] The first rule can, for example, be such that advertising is carried out in the first interval until a predetermined initial switchover time has elapsed, and then advertising is carried out in the second interval. The first rule can operate for the first switchover time after activation in the first advertising state and then operate in the second advertising state. Naturally, the portable device 9 enters sleep mode over time when the sleep condition is met. The portable device 9 can also enter the connected state upon receiving a connection request from the vehicle Hv. The initial switchover time is a parameter corresponding to the aforementioned switchover time. The initial switchover time corresponds to a first period.

[0107] The normal operating state of charge can be set to 25%, 30%, 35%, etc. The normal operating state of charge is set to a value that is lower than the initial state of charge by a predetermined amount (5 or 10 percentage points). In a configuration where the initial state of charge is set to 35%, the normal operating state of charge can be set to either 30% or 25%. In another embodiment, the normal operating state of charge can be the same as the initial state of charge.

[0108] If the output charge level is less than or equal to the normal operating charge level and greater than the stop charge level (S303 JA), the positioning device 1 performs the advertising in a manner according to a predefined second rule (S304). “Pstp” in FIG. represents the stop charge level.

[0109] The second rule is configured to use less energy than the first. For example, after activation, the second rule can cause the system to operate in the second advertising state for a second transition period and then operate in the first advertising state. The second transition period is set to be shorter than the first. If the first transition period is 30 seconds, the second transition period can be set to 15 seconds. The second rule can also be configured so that the duration of the first advertising state is shorter compared to the first rule. The second transition period corresponds to the second period. When the second rule is applied, the controller 943 can execute the fast advertising until the second transition period expires and then execute the slow advertising.If the output charge level is less than or equal to the stop charge level (S303 NO), the portable device 9 switches from normal mode to power saving mode (S305).

[0110] The second rule can cause slow advertising to be carried out immediately after activation, without using the first advertising state. The second rule can also cause operation to occur in a third advertising state after activation. This third advertising state can be a state in which advertising is executed periodically in such a way that energy consumption per unit of time is reduced compared to the second advertising state.

[0111] The third advertising state can be a state in which the advertising is carried out in a third interval that is longer than the second interval. The third interval can be 4, 6, or 10 seconds, etc. In the present disclosure, carrying out the advertising in the third interval is also referred to as very slow advertising.

[0112] According to the configuration described above, communication connectivity is enhanced by performing high-frequency advertising when sufficient battery charge remains. Communication connectivity can be understood here as a metric relating to the ability to establish a communication link. If the remaining battery charge is insufficient, the frequency of advertising is reduced, thus mitigating the decrease in remaining battery charge. Furthermore, if the remaining battery charge is extremely low, the system enters energy-saving mode to prevent advertising and thus protect the battery. According to the configuration described above, the system's responsiveness to the user's approach to the vehicle decreases as the remaining battery charge diminishes.The reduced responsiveness makes it easier for the user to notice the decrease in the remaining charge level.

[0113] The various controls described above can be implemented using the output voltage instead of the remaining state of charge (specifically, SOC). Steps S201, S203, S301, and S303 can include comparing the output voltage to a predefined threshold. The 943 controller can be configured to implement a combination of several controls, such as changing the distance measurement interval according to the remaining state of charge and modifying the rule for executing the advertising.

[0114] The second advertising state is not limited to a state in which the advertising interval is longer compared to the first advertising state. Energy consumption can be reduced by reducing the transmission power of the advertise signal. The second advertising state can be a state in which the transmission power of the advertise signal is reduced by a predetermined amount compared to the first advertising state. In this case, the advertising intervals in the first and second advertising states can be the same. This setting provides the same effect as the embodiment described above.

[0115] The third advertising state can be a mode in which the transmission power is reduced by a predetermined amount compared to the second advertising state. If the second advertising state is a state in which the advertise signal is transmitted periodically with the first transmission power and the second interval, the third advertising state can be a state in which the advertise signal is transmitted periodically with the second transmission power and the second interval. The first transmission power is the transmission power in the first advertising state. The second transmission power can be set to a value that is lower than the first transmission power.

[0116] In the present disclosure, the operating mode in which the first rule is applied after the controller 943 becomes active is referred to as a standard mode, and the operating mode in which the second rule is applied is also referred to as a restricted mode. In other words, the operating mode of the portable device 9 can include the standard mode, the restricted mode, and the power-saving mode. The standard mode corresponds to the first mode, and the restricted mode corresponds to the second mode. The power-saving mode corresponds to the third mode. The standard mode and the restricted mode can be understood as operating modes that are subdivisions of the normal mode.If the remaining charge level is greater than the normal operating charge level, the portable device 9 can operate in standard mode. If the remaining charge level is less than or equal to the normal operating charge level and greater than or equal to the stop charge level, the portable device 9 can operate in restricted mode. The threshold for returning from restricted mode to standard mode can be set to a value that is a predefined amount greater than the threshold for transitioning from standard mode to restricted mode. In a configuration where the portable device 9 is in restricted mode, the controller 943 can be configured to transition from power-saving mode to restricted mode when wireless charging is initiated or when the remaining charge level becomes greater than or equal to a predefined return charge level.

[0117] The controller 943 can estimate the remaining state of charge (SOC) based on the output voltage of the battery 93. The estimation method for the SOC is not limited to the open-circuit voltage method. The controller 943 can estimate the SOC using a current integration method (Coulomb counting method) or an impedance tracking method. The controller 943 can estimate the SOC using any estimation method. The controller 943 can put the portable device 9 into power-saving mode based on the estimated SOC value being less than a predefined value.

[0118] Some of the functions of the controller 943 can be provided by an IC / processor located outside the SRWC module 94. The controller 943 itself can be located outside the SRWC module 94. The arrangement of functions within the portable device 9 can be modified as needed. In another embodiment, the portable device 9 can include one or more pressure switches.

[0119] A method of data communication between the portable device 9 and the location tracking device 1 is not limited to Bluetooth LE, but may be Bluetooth Classic, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), EnOcean (registered trademark), Zigbee (registered trademark), etc. The wireless protocol used for data communication (communication link) may be paraphrased as the first wireless protocol, and the wireless protocol used for distance measurement communication may be paraphrased as the second wireless protocol.

[0120] Distance measurement communication is not limited to UWB-IR but can be performed using Bluetooth LE, Wi-Fi, etc. For example, the distance measurement method using Bluetooth LE can be channel sounding (CS). CS distance measurement is a method for measuring distance based on the difference in received phases for each channel, obtained by transmitting and receiving continuous wave (CW) signals on multiple channels. CS distance measurement is sometimes referred to as high-accuracy distance measurement (HADM) or phase difference distance measurement. < Appendix (1)>

[0121] The present disclosure also includes the following technical ideas and configurations. The present disclosure also includes a mode control method, a computer program, and a storage medium for storing the computer program, according to the following technical ideas.

[0122] (Technical Idea 1). A portable device functioning as a wireless key for a door and powered by a secondary battery (93) includes: a wireless communication device (94) for conducting wireless communication with a system that controls a locking state of the door; and a controller (943) that controls the wireless communication device, where the controller is configured to: using the wireless communication device to transmit an advertise signal, which is a wireless signal for establishing a communication link with the system; to obtain data indicating the remaining charge level of the secondary battery; and to change the operating mode of the portable device based on the remaining charge level, whereby the operating mode concerns the transmission of the advertise signal.

[0123] (Technical Idea 2). The portable device according to Technical Idea 1 further includes: a wireless power receiver (92) that charges the secondary battery using power wirelessly transmitted from an external wireless charging device; and a vibration sensor (91) that detects vibration, the operating mode includes, a normal mode in which the wireless communication device transmits the Advertise signal based on the vibration being detected by the vibration sensor, and an energy-saving mode in which the wireless communication device does not transmit the Advertise signal even when the portable device vibrates, where the controller is configured to: to put the portable device into power-saving mode in response to the remaining charge level falling below a stop threshold; and to remove the energy saving mode based on the power received from the wireless charger.

[0124] (Technical Idea 3). In the portable device according to Technical Idea 2, the portable device does not have a pressure switch, The wireless power receiver includes a rectifier circuit (922) that generates a direct current based on the power received from the wireless charging device, and The controller is configured to put the portable device into power-saving mode based on the fact that an output level of the rectifier circuit has fluctuated in a predefined pattern.

[0125] (Technical Idea 4). In the portable device according to one of Technical Ideas 1-3 The controller is configured to change whether or not to transmit the Advertise signal based on the remaining charge level.

[0126] (Technical Idea 5). In the portable device according to one of Technical Ideas 1 to 4 The operating mode includes a periodic transmission mode in which the wireless communication device periodically transmits the advertise signal, and Is the controller configured to: to change the transmission interval of the Advertise signal in the periodic transmission mode based on the remaining charge level.

[0127] (Technical Idea 6). The portable device according to one of Technical Ideas 1-5 further comprises: a vibration sensor that detects vibration, the operating mode includes: a first mode in which the wireless communication device repeatedly transmits the Advertise signal according to a predefined rule in response to the vibration sensor detecting the vibration; a second mode in which the wireless communication device repeatedly transmits the Advertise signal according to a rule that can suppress energy consumption more effectively than the first mode, in response to the vibration sensor detecting vibration; and a third mode in which the wireless communication device does not transmit the Advertise signal even when the portable device vibrates, the controller is configured to select the operating mode from the first mode, the second mode and the third mode according to the remaining charge level.

[0128] The third mode described above can be a mode in which the wireless communication device does not transmit the advertise signal regardless of any output from the vibration sensor, or in which the vibration sensor is deactivated. This third mode corresponds to the power-saving mode described above.

[0129] (Technical Idea 7). In the portable device according to Technical Idea 6: In the first mode, the wireless communication device starts repeatedly transmitting the advertise signal at a predetermined initial interval in response to the vibration sensor detecting the vibration; and In the second mode, the wireless communication device starts repeatedly transmitting the Advertise signal in a second interval that is longer than the first interval, in response to the vibration sensor detecting the vibration.

[0130] (Technical Idea 8). In the portable device according to Technical Idea 6: In the first mode, the wireless communication device performs an operation including repeatedly transmitting the advertise signal at a predetermined first interval for a predetermined first period after the vibration sensor detects the vibration, and then changing the transmission interval of the advertise signal to a second interval that is longer than the first interval; and In the second mode, the wireless communication device performs an operation including repeated transmission of the Advertise signal in the first interval for a second period that is shorter than the first period, after detection of vibration by the vibration sensor and then changing the transmission interval of the Advertise signal to the second interval.

[0131] (Technical Idea 9). In the portable device according to one of Technical Ideas 6 to 8: In the third mode, the vibration sensor is deactivated.

[0132] (Technical Idea 10). In the portable device according to one of Technical Ideas 1 to 9 The wireless communication device is a first communication device that performs data communication with the system through a predefined first wireless protocol. The portable device also includes: a second communication device (95) configured to perform distance measurement communication with the system via a second wireless protocol that differs from the first wireless protocol, wherein the controller is configured to: determine, based on the remaining charge level, whether or not to instruct the second communication device to perform the distance measurement communication; or to determine an execution interval for the distance measurement communication based on the remaining charge level.

[0133] (Technical Idea 11). In the portable device according to Technical Idea 10: The first wireless protocol is Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy; and The second wireless protocol is Ultra Wide Band Impulse Radio.

[0134] (Technical Idea 12). The portable device according to one of Technical Ideas 1-11 further comprises: a vibration sensor that detects vibration, where the controller is configured to: in response to the vibration sensor detecting vibration; and to specify the remaining charge level based on the output voltage of the secondary battery.

[0135] (Technical Idea 12A). In the portable device according to one of Technical Ideas 1 to 12 The controller is configured to transmit data indicating the remaining charge level to the system using the wireless communication device, based on the establishment of a communication link with the system.

[0136] (Technical Idea 12B). In the portable device according to one of Technical Ideas 1 to 12 The controller is configured to transmit a wireless signal to the system using the wireless communication device to display the remaining charge level on a display based on the establishment of a communication link with the system. < Annex (2)>

[0137] The various flowcharts shown in this disclosure are all examples, and the number of steps comprising the flowchart and the order in which the processing is carried out can be modified as needed. The controls shown in the respective flowcharts can be executed in combination / in parallel to the extent that no contradiction occurs. The terms acquisition, determination, acquisition, generation, and calculation can be used interchangeably. The acquisition of data by a device involves the generation of such data by the device based on a signal input from another device / sensor. This disclosure is applicable not only to systems that control the locking / unlocking of vehicles but also to systems that control the locking states of building doors.The portable device 9 can be a wireless key for a building door or a wireless key for a locker or other door.

[0138] The device, system, and method described in this disclosure can be implemented by a dedicated computer comprising a processor programmed to perform one or more functions embodied by a computer program. The device and method described in this disclosure can be implemented using a dedicated hardware logic circuit. The device and method described in this disclosure can be implemented by one or more dedicated computers comprising a combination of a processor executing a computer program and one or more hardware logic circuits. The processor can be any computing core, such as a CPU, an MPU, a GPU, or a DFP (Data Flow Processor).Some or all of the functions provided by the Controller 943 can be implemented in hardware. Some or all of the functions provided by the Controller 943 can be implemented using any system-on-a-chip (SoC), integrated circuit (IC), or field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The same applies to the functions provided by the Locator 1.

[0139] A computer program contains instructions that are executed by a computer. The computer program can be stored on a computer-readable, non-volatile, tangible storage medium. The storage medium for the computer program can be a variety of media, including hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), and flash memory. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2023-125811

[0001] JP 7085526B

[0003] JP 2019-131967A

[0003] Cited non-patent literature

[0000] ISO / IEC 18092 (NFCIP-1), ISO / IEC 21481 (NFCIP-2), ISO / IEC 14443 or ISO / IEC 18092

[0018] < / wirkung>

Claims

[1] Portable device functioning as a wireless key for a door and powered by a secondary battery (93), comprising: a wireless communication device (94) for conducting wireless communication with a system that controls a locking state of the door; and a controller (943) that controls the wireless communication device, where the controller is configured to: using the wireless communication device to transmit an advertise signal, which is a wireless signal for establishing a communication link with the system; to obtain data indicating the remaining charge level of the secondary battery; and Changing the operating mode of the portable device based on the remaining charge level, where the operating mode concerns the transmission of the Advertise signal. [2] Portable device according to claim 1, further comprising: a wireless power receiver (92) that charges the secondary battery using power wirelessly transmitted from an external wireless charging device; and a vibration sensor (91) that detects vibration, the operating mode includes, a normal mode in which the wireless communication device transmits the Advertise signal based on the fact that the vibration was detected by the vibration sensor, and an energy-saving mode in which the wireless communication device does not transmit the Advertise signal even when the portable device vibrates, where the controller is configured to: to put the portable device into power-saving mode in response to the remaining charge level falling below a stop threshold; and to remove the energy saving mode based on the power received from the wireless charger. [3] Portable device according to claim 2, wherein the portable device does not have a pressure switch The wireless power receiver includes a rectifier circuit (922) that generates a direct current based on the power received from the wireless charging device, and The controller is configured to put the portable device into power-saving mode based on the fact that an output level of the rectifier circuit has fluctuated in a predefined pattern. [4] Portable device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to change whether or not to transmit the Advertise signal based on the remaining charge level. [5] Portable device according to claim 1, wherein The operating mode includes a periodic transmission mode in which the wireless communication device periodically transmits the advertise signal, and the controller is configured to: to change the transmission interval of the Advertise signal in the periodic transmission mode based on the remaining charge level. [6] Portable device according to claim 1, further comprising: a vibration sensor that detects vibration, the operating mode includes: a first mode in which the wireless communication device repeatedly transmits the Advertise signal according to a predefined rule in response to the vibration sensor detecting the vibration; a second mode in which the wireless communication device repeatedly transmits the Advertise signal according to a rule that can suppress energy consumption more effectively than the first mode, in response to the vibration sensor detecting vibration; and a third mode in which the wireless communication device does not transmit the Advertise signal even when the portable device vibrates, the controller is configured to select the operating mode from the first mode, the second mode and the third mode according to the remaining charge level. [7] Portable device according to claim 6, wherein: In the first mode, the wireless communication device repeatedly transmits the advertise signal at a predetermined initial interval in response to the vibration sensor detecting the vibration; and In the second mode, the wireless communication device starts repeatedly transmitting the Advertise signal in a second interval that is longer than the first interval, in response to the vibration sensor detecting the vibration. [8] Portable device according to claim 6, wherein: In the first mode, the wireless communication device performs an operation including repeatedly transmitting the advertise signal at a predetermined first interval for a predetermined first period after the vibration sensor detects the vibration, and then changing the transmission interval of the advertise signal to a second interval that is longer than the first interval; and In the second mode, the wireless communication device performs an operation including repeated transmission of the Advertise signal in the first interval for a second period that is shorter than the first period, after detection of vibration by the vibration sensor and then changing the transmission interval of the Advertise signal to the second interval. [9] Portable device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein in the third mode the vibration sensor is deactivated. [10] Portable device according to claim 1, wherein The wireless communication device is a first communication device that performs data communication with the system through a predefined first wireless protocol. the portable device further comprises: a second communication device (95) configured to perform distance measurement communication with the system via a second wireless protocol that differs from the first wireless protocol, where the controller is configured to: determine, based on the remaining charge level, whether or not to instruct the second communication device to perform the distance measurement communication; or to determine an execution interval for the distance measurement communication based on the remaining charge level. [11] Portable device according to claim 10, wherein: The first wireless protocol is Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy; and The second wireless protocol is Ultra Wide Band Impulse Radio. [12] Portable device according to claim 1, further comprising: a vibration sensor that detects vibration, where the controller is configured to: in response to the vibration sensor detecting vibration; and to specify the remaining charge level based on the output voltage of the secondary battery. [13] Mode control method performed by a portable device powered by a secondary battery (93) and configured to function as a wireless key for a door, comprising: using a wireless communication device, transmitting an advertise signal, which is a wireless signal for establishing a communication link with a system that controls a locking state of the door; Obtaining data indicating the remaining charge level of the secondary battery; and Changing the operating mode of the portable device based on the remaining charge level, where the operating mode concerns the transmission of the Advertise signal.

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