Electronic key for vehicle

Abstract

To make it possible to determine an erroneous operation in the case where an operation of an operation button unintended by a user is performed, in a state where an electronic key for a vehicle is placed in a trouser pocket, a bag and the like, and make it possible to suppress door locking and door unlocking of a vehicle by the erroneous operation.SOLUTION: An electronic key for a vehicle includes: an operation button for performing door locking and door unlocking of the vehicle; an operation signal transmission part for transmitting an operation signal based on an operation of the operation button; a light emitting part for emitting light by the operation of the operation button; a light receiving part for receiving reflection light of the light emitted from the light emitting part; and a control part for not transmitting the operation signal based on the operation of the operation button to the operation signal transmission part, in the case where the light receiving part receives the reflection light.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic key for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a keyless entry system for a vehicle, a system is known that prevents vehicle door locking and door unlocking due to an erroneous operation of an operation button of an electronic key for the vehicle (see Patent Document 1 below).

[0003] According to the conventional technology, pressing the lock operation button and the unlock operation button of the vehicle electronic key simultaneously or approximately simultaneously switches to a transmission stop mode that stops the transmission of the operation signal for locking and unlocking the vehicle doors, thereby preventing erroneous operation of the operation buttons. The transmission stop mode can be released by pressing the lock operation button and the unlock operation button simultaneously or approximately simultaneously again. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP2003-64918 Public Relations Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in conventional technology, to switch to a mode that stops the transmission of operation signals, the user must press the lock operation button and the unlock operation button simultaneously or almost simultaneously each time, and the operation is also required to cancel the transmission stop mode, which is inconvenient for the user.

[0006] Furthermore, even if the transmission stop mode is set, if, for example, the vehicle electronic key is placed in a trouser pocket or bag and the user unintentionally presses both the lock operation button and the unlock operation button simultaneously due to some external force, the transmission stop mode may be cancelled, and if the transmission stop mode is cancelled, it is not possible to prevent unintentional erroneous operation by the user in that state.

[0007] The present invention has been proposed to address such circumstances, and aims to prevent vehicle door locking and unlocking due to erroneous operation by making it possible to determine that an operation button has been operated unintentionally by the user while the electronic key for a vehicle is in a trouser pocket, a bag, etc., and by not transmitting an operation signal when it is determined that the operation has been erroneous. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve these problems, the electronic key for a vehicle of the present invention includes an operation button for locking and unlocking the doors of a vehicle, an operation signal transmitting unit that transmits an operation signal based on operation of the operation button, a light emitting unit that emits light in response to operation of the operation button, a light receiving unit that receives reflected light of the light emitted from the light emitting unit, and a control unit that, when the light receiving unit receives the reflected light, does not cause the operation signal transmitting unit to transmit the operation signal based on the operation of the operation button. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The present invention makes it possible to determine that an unintended operation of an operating button by a user while the electronic key for a vehicle is in a trouser pocket, a bag, etc. is an erroneous operation, and makes it possible to prevent vehicle door locking and unlocking due to erroneous operation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic key for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the electronic key for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the electronic key for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the electronic key for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a control flow diagram of the electronic key for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 11 is a modified example of the vehicle electronic key according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals denote parts having the same functions, and duplicated descriptions in each drawing will be omitted as appropriate.

[0012] The electronic key for a vehicle 1 according to the present invention is an electronic key compatible with a keyless entry system that locks and unlocks the doors of a vehicle 2 by button operation, and has at least the configuration shown in FIG.

[0013] The electronic key 1 for a vehicle is provided with a control unit 10. The control unit 10 can be configured to include a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), an electric circuit, and a storage element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). The components constituting the electronic key 1 for a vehicle are provided so as to be able to transmit and receive signals and the like via a bus. An operation button 20, an operation signal transmission unit 30, a light-emitting unit 41, and a light-receiving unit 42, which will be described later, are controlled by the control unit 10.

[0014] The vehicle electronic key 1 is provided with an operation button 20 for locking and unlocking the doors of the vehicle 2, and the operation button 20 includes a locking operation button 21 and an unlocking operation button 22. A user operates the locking operation button 21 and the unlocking operation button 22 provided on the vehicle electronic key 1 to lock and unlock the doors of the vehicle 2. The control unit 10 detects the operation of the operation button 20 when a switch (not shown) built into the locking operation button 21 and the unlocking operation button 22 is operated. The switch is operated, for example, by the user pressing the operation button 20.

[0015] The vehicle electronic key 1 is provided with an operation signal transmission unit 30 that transmits an operation signal OS based on the operation of the operation button 20. By receiving the operation signal OS transmitted from the operation signal transmission unit 30, the vehicle 2 locks or unlocks the doors based on the received operation signal OS. The control unit 10 commands the operation signal transmission unit 30 to transmit an operation signal OS based on the detected operation of the operation button 20. For example, when the control unit 10 detects the operation of the unlock operation button 22, it causes the operation signal transmission unit 30 to transmit an operation signal OS based on the unlock operation.

[0016] The vehicle electronic key 1 is provided with a light-emitting unit 41 that emits light in response to operation of the operation button 20 and emits light. The light-emitting unit 41 has a light-emitting circuit (not shown) and emits light having signal information when the operation button 20 is operated. The signal information is, for example, a specific flashing pattern or light intensity, and is information that enables determination that light received by a light-receiving unit 42 (described below) is light emitted from the light-emitting unit 41. The light emitted from the light-emitting unit 41 is assumed to be, for example, infrared light, but is not limited to this, and may be any light that can be emitted while having signal information, or may be visible light.

[0017] The vehicle electronic key 1 is provided with a light receiving unit 42. The light receiving unit 42 includes a light receiving circuit (not shown). The light receiving circuit of the light receiving unit 42 corresponds to the light emitting circuit of the light emitting unit 41, and is capable of determining whether or not the received light is light emitted from the light emitting unit 41. When the light receiving unit 42 determines that it has received light emitted from the light emitting unit 41, it transmits a light receiving signal to the control unit 10. When it receives light other than light emitted from the light emitting unit 41, it does not transmit a light receiving signal to the control unit 10. The light receiving circuit here refers to a light detection circuit using a light receiving element, or the like.

[0018] A partition wall 50 is provided between the light-emitting unit 41 and the light-receiving unit 42 (see FIG. 2). The partition wall 50 is provided so that the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 41 does not directly enter the light-receiving unit 42. The light-emitting unit 41 and the light-receiving unit 42 are provided with the partition wall 50 in between, for example, near the tip of the vehicle electronic key 1, at a position where the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 41 is unlikely to be blocked by the user's hand when the user operates the operation button 20.

[0019] Next, the operation of the vehicle electronic key 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in Fig. 2, when the operation button 20 is operated, first the light-emitting unit 41 emits light and emits the emitted light α, and then the operation signal OS is transmitted from the operation signal transmission unit 30. After the operation button 20 is operated, the light-emitting unit 41 emits light and the operation signal OS is transmitted, and the operation signal OS is transmitted from the operation signal transmission unit 30 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the light-emitting unit 41 emitted light. The predetermined time is, for example, about 0.1 seconds. The emitted light α emitted at this time has signal information based on a specific blinking pattern and light intensity, as described above.

[0020] Fig. 3 shows an example in which the operation signal OS is not transmitted from the vehicle electronic key 1. Fig. 3 shows a state in which the vehicle electronic key 1 is in a closed space, such as in a bag or a trouser pocket, and in other words, a state in which the reflective surface RS that reflects the emission light α emitted from the light-emitting unit 41 is in the emission direction of the emission light α.

[0021] When the operation button 20 is operated, the light-emitting unit 41 emits light and emits outgoing light α, as in the case of Fig. 2. When the emitted outgoing light α hits the reflective surface RS in the closed space, it is reflected as reflected light β. Then, as shown in the figure, when the light-receiving unit 42 receives the reflected light β, the operation signal OS is not transmitted from the operation signal transmitting unit 30. At this time, the reflected light β has the same signal information as the outgoing light α. When the light-receiving unit 42 determines that it has received the reflected light β, it transmits a received light signal to the control unit 10, and when the control unit 10 receives the received light signal from the light-receiving unit 42, it does not command the operation signal transmitting unit 30 to transmit the operation signal OS.

[0022] 3, the time from when the emitted light α is emitted until the light receiving unit 42 receives the reflected light β is within a predetermined time (e.g., 0.1 seconds). In other words, the predetermined time from when the emitted light α is emitted until the light receiving unit 42 receives the reflected light β in a closed space is set as a sufficient time from when the emitted light α is emitted until the light receiving unit 42 receives the reflected light β in a closed space, and if the light receiving unit 42 receives the reflected light β within the predetermined time from when the emitted light α is emitted, the operation of the operation button 20 at that time is regarded as an erroneous operation other than an operation by a user in a closed space, and the operation signal OS is not transmitted.

[0023] When the control unit 10 does not receive a light reception signal from the light receiving unit 42, it commands the operation signal transmitting unit 30 to transmit the operation signal OS a predetermined time after the emitted light α is emitted. Therefore, when the light receiving unit 42 receives light other than the reflected light β, the operation signal OS is not not transmitted.

[0024] Next, an example of an erroneous operation of the vehicle electronic key 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a right side view of the vehicle electronic key 1 shown in Figs. 2 and 3, but for ease of explanation, the light-emitting unit 41 and the light-receiving unit 42 are illustrated.

[0025] Fig. 4 shows a state in which the electronic key for a vehicle 1 and an object A are placed together in a trouser pocket. As shown in Fig. 4, the electronic key for a vehicle 1 is sandwiched between the object A, which is placed together with the electronic key for a vehicle in the closed space, and the user's body B. In this state, if an external force P as shown by the arrow is applied, the external force P may push the object A into the operation button 20, causing the operation button 20 to be operated.

[0026] When the operation button 20 is operated by the object A, the light-emitting unit 41 emits light and emits emitted light α. When the emitted light α hits a reflective surface RS in the closed space (the inside of the trousers), it is reflected as reflected light β. Then, as shown in the figure, when the light-receiving unit 42 receives the reflected light β, the operation signal transmitting unit 30 does not transmit an operation signal OS. In this way, by not transmitting the operation signal OS when the operation button 20 is operated by someone other than the user in the closed space, unintended door locking and unlocking of the vehicle 2 due to erroneous operation is prevented.

[0027] In addition, even if only the vehicle electronic key 1 is placed in a trouser pocket, when an external force P operates the operation button 20 directly from outside the closed space without passing through object A, no operation signal OS is transmitted, so that unintended locking and unlocking of the door of the vehicle 2 due to erroneous operation by the user can be similarly prevented.

[0028] Next, a control flow of the vehicle electronic key 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 10 monitors the operation of the operation button 20 (step S01). The control unit 10 monitors the operation of the operation button 20 by detecting switch input of the lock operation button 21 and the unlock operation button 22. When the control unit 10 detects switch input of the lock operation button 21 or the unlock operation button 22, it determines that the operation button 20 has been operated. When the control unit 10 determines that the operation button 20 has been operated (step S01-YES), it transmits a light emission command to the light emitting unit 41, and the light emitting unit 41 emits light and emits emission light α having signal information (step S02). The control unit 10 continues to monitor the operation of the operation button 20 until it detects the operation of the operation button 20 (step S01-NO).

[0029] When the light-emitting unit 41 emits light, the control unit 10 judges whether the light-receiving unit 42 has received the reflected light β. That is, the control unit 10 waits for reception of a light-receiving signal from the light-receiving unit 42 (step S03). When the control unit 10 receives a light-receiving signal from the light-receiving unit 42, it judges that the light-receiving unit 42 has received the reflected light β (step S03-YES). When the control unit 10 judges that the light-receiving unit 42 has received the reflected light β, it ends the process without issuing an instruction to transmit the operation signal OS.

[0030] On the other hand, if the control unit 10 does not determine that the light receiving unit 42 has received the reflected light β (step S03-NO), it measures whether a predetermined time has passed without the light receiving unit 42 receiving the reflected light β (step S04). If the predetermined time has not passed (step S04-NO), the process returns to step S03. If the predetermined time has passed without the light receiving unit 42 receiving the reflected light β (step S04-YES), the control unit 10 commands the operation signal transmitting unit 30 to transmit an operation signal OS based on the operation of the operation button 20, and the operation signal transmitting unit 30 transmits the operation signal OS according to the command (step S05). When the operation signal transmitting unit 30 transmits the operation signal OS, the process ends. When the process ends, the control unit 10 starts the process again and monitors the operation of the operation button 20.

[0031] In this way, a predetermined time is set between the operation of the operation button 20 and the transmission of the operation signal OS, and by receiving the reflected light β by the light receiving unit 42, it is determined whether the operation of the operation button 20 is an operation in a closed space or not, thereby detecting erroneous operation of the operation button 20 and preventing the door locking and unlocking of the vehicle 2 unintended by the user due to erroneous operation.

[0032] In the explanation so far, the light-emitting unit 41 and the light-receiving unit 42 have been described as being provided at the tip of the vehicle electronic key 1, but the light-emitting unit 41 and the light-receiving unit 42 may be provided at a position other than the tip of the vehicle electronic key 1 as long as the hand holding the vehicle electronic key 1 is not positioned in the direction of emission of the emitted light α when the user operates the operation button 20.

[0033] The electronic key for vehicle 1A having a plurality of light-emitting units 41 and light-receiving units 42 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The electronic key for vehicle 1A has a light-emitting unit 41 and a light-receiving unit 42, which are provided on the surface on which the operation button 20 is provided, in addition to the tip of the electronic key for vehicle 1A. The light-emitting unit 41 and the light-receiving unit 42 are provided on the surface on which the operation button 20 is provided. The light-emitting unit 41 and the light-receiving unit 42 are provided on the surface on which the operation button 20 is provided. The light-emitting unit 41 and the light-receiving unit 42 are provided on the surface on which the operation button 20 is provided. The light-emitting unit 41 and the light-receiving unit 42 are provided on the surface on which the operation button 20 is provided. The light-emitting unit 41 and the light-receiving unit 42 are provided on the surface on which the operation button 20 is provided. The light-emitting unit 41 and the light-receiving unit 422 are provided on the surface on which the operation button 20 is provided. The light-emitting unit 41 and the light-receiving unit 422 are provided on the surface on which the operation button 20 is provided. The light-emitting unit 412 and the light-receiving unit 422 are provided on the surface on which the operation button 20 is provided. The light-emitting unit 41 ...

[0034] Figure 6 shows, for example, a state in which the vehicle electronic key 1A is placed in a bag with an opening for removing object A, that is, a state in which the vehicle electronic key 1A is placed in a closed space in which no reflective surface RS is provided.

[0035] In the closed space shown in the figure, there are multiple objects A around the vehicle electronic key 1A, and here, the object A that operates the operation button 20 of the vehicle electronic key 1A is referred to as object A1. When the operation button 20 is operated by the object A1, the first light-emitting portion 411 and the second light-emitting portion 412 emit light and emit a first outgoing light α1 and a second outgoing light α2.

[0036] When the first outgoing light α1 is emitted, it travels straight toward the opening of the bag as shown in the figure, and since there is no reflective surface RS in the emission direction of the first outgoing light α1, the first outgoing light α1 is not reflected. On the other hand, the second outgoing light α2 emitted from the second light-emitting unit 412 in a direction different from the first outgoing light α1 is reflected as reflected light β by hitting the reflective surface RS because an object A2 is provided in the emission direction and the outer surface of the object A2 serves as the reflective surface RS.

[0037] The reflected light β enters the second light receiving unit 422, which receives the reflected light β. When the second light receiving unit 422 receives the reflected light β, it transmits a light receiving signal to the control unit 10, and when the control unit 10 receives the light receiving signal, it does not issue a command to the operation signal transmitting unit 30 to transmit the operation signal OS.

[0038] In this way, the vehicle electronic key 1A is provided with multiple light-emitting units 41 and light-receiving units 42, each of which emits light α in a different direction, so that even if the operation button 20 is operated in a closed space that does not have a reflective surface RS in any part, as shown in Figure 6, it can detect an erroneous operation and prevent the door of the vehicle 2 from being unintentionally locked or unlocked by the user due to an erroneous operation.

[0039] In the explanation so far, the door locking and unlocking of the vehicle 2 due to an erroneous operation of the operation button 20 is prevented, but from the viewpoint of preparing for theft of the vehicle 2, it is also possible to prevent only an erroneous operation of the unlock operation button 22. From the viewpoint of preparing for theft, although it is dangerous for the doors of the vehicle 2 to be unlocked due to an erroneous operation, there is no problem if the doors are locked. For example, the light emitting unit 41 may not emit light when the lock operation button 21 is operated, and may emit light only when the unlock operation button 22 is operated. In this way, it is possible to prevent only the door unlocking due to an erroneous operation.

[0040] The above describes the embodiment of the present invention in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the described embodiment, and the present invention also includes design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1, 1A: vehicle electronic key, 2: vehicle, 10: control unit, 20: operation button, 21: lock operation button, 22: unlock operation button, 30: operation signal transmission unit, 41: light emitting unit, 42: light receiving unit, 50: partition wall, 411: first light emitting unit, 412: second light emitting unit, 421: first light receiving section, 422: second light receiving section, A, A1, A2: object, B: body, OS: operation signal, P: external force, RS: reflective surface, α: outgoing light, β: reflected light, α1: first outgoing light, α2: second outgoing light

Claims

1. An operation button for locking and unlocking the doors of a vehicle; an operation signal transmitting unit that transmits an operation signal based on an operation of the operation button; a light emitting unit that emits light in response to an operation of the operation button; a light receiving section that receives reflected light of the light emitted from the light emitting section; a control unit that, when the light receiving unit receives the reflected light, does not cause the operation signal transmitting unit to transmit the operation signal based on the operation of the operation button.

2. The light emitted from the light emitting unit has signal information, The light receiving unit is 2. The electronic key for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the light having the signal information is received, it is determined that reflected light of the light emitted by the light emitting portion has been received.

3. The light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are The electronic key for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the operation button is provided at a position where it is difficult for a user's hand to be positioned in a direction of light emitted from the light emitting portion when the user operates the operation button.

4. The electronic key for a vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein a plurality of the light emitters and a plurality of the light receivers are provided.

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