Vehicle

A third antenna positioned strategically within the vehicle body addresses the issue of incorrect key detection in existing systems, ensuring accurate electronic key location determination through a control device that considers signals from all three antennas.

JP2025161084APending Publication Date: 2025-10-24TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024063983
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-04-11
Publication Date
2025-10-24

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing vehicle systems using two antennas may erroneously determine that an electronic key is not inside the vehicle due to the vehicle's size and shape, leading to incorrect key location detection.

Method used

Incorporating a third antenna positioned between the first and second antennas in the left-right direction and forward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, with a control device that determines the key's location based on signals from all three antennas to ensure accurate detection.

Benefits of technology

Prevents erroneous determination of the electronic key's absence within the vehicle, even when the key is actually present, by utilizing the third antenna to confirm its presence, enhancing detection accuracy.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To suppress the situation where even though an electronic key is in a vehicle room, it is erroneously determined that the electronic key is not located in the vehicle room.SOLUTION: When a first antenna receives a signal from an electronic key (S11: YES), and a second antenna receives a signal from the electronic key (S12: YES), an execution device determines, in step S13, that the electronic key is located in a vehicle room. When one of the first antenna and the second antenna has received the signal from the electronic key, the execution device determines that the electronic key is not located in the vehicle room in step S31. Even though one of the first antenna and the second antenna has received the signal from the electronic key, when a third antenna receives a signal from the electronic key, the execution device determines that the electronic key is located in the vehicle room.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 describes a vehicle equipped with a first antenna that receives a signal from an electronic key, a second antenna that receives a signal from the electronic key, and a control device having a determination unit that determines whether the electronic key is located inside the vehicle.

[0003] The first antenna is located on the right door. The second antenna is located on the left door. The determination unit determines that the electronic key is located inside the vehicle when both the first antenna and the second antenna receive a signal from the electronic key. The determination unit determines that the electronic key is not located inside the vehicle when either the first antenna or the second antenna receives a signal from the electronic key. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-084406 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a vehicle such as that described in Patent Document 1, depending on the size and shape of the vehicle, using only two antennas may cause the determination unit to determine that the electronic key is not located inside the vehicle even though the electronic key is actually located inside the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a vehicle including a control device having a first antenna that receives a signal from an electronic key, a second antenna that receives a signal from the electronic key, a third antenna that receives a signal from the electronic key, a determination unit that determines whether the electronic key is located inside the vehicle, a left door where the first antenna is located, and a right door where the second antenna is located, wherein the third antenna is located between the first antenna and the second antenna in the left-right direction of the vehicle body and is located forward of the first antenna and the second antenna in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body, and the determination unit performs determination control to determine that the electronic key is located inside the vehicle compartment when both the first antenna and the second antenna receive a signal from the electronic key, determine that the electronic key is not located inside the vehicle compartment when either the first antenna or the second antenna receives a signal from the electronic key, and determine that the electronic key is located inside the vehicle compartment when the third antenna receives a signal from the electronic key, even if either the first antenna or the second antenna receives a signal from the electronic key. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The vehicle can prevent the determination unit from erroneously determining that the electronic key is not located inside the vehicle, even though the electronic key is actually located inside the vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a top view showing the position of an antenna on the body of a vehicle. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the body of the vehicle. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a series of processes for determination control. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a series of processes for start-up control. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (One embodiment) An embodiment of a vehicle will be described below with reference to the drawings. <Vehicle Overview> As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 includes a vehicle body 11. The interior space of the vehicle body 11 has a dimension in the front-to-rear direction L that is approximately twice the dimension in the left-to-right direction W. The vehicle body 11 has a left door 12 and a right door 13. The left door 12 opens and closes an opening in a side wall on the left side of the vehicle body 11 in the left-to-right direction W of the vehicle body 11. When the left door 12 is in a closed state in which the opening is closed, it is located approximately in the center of the vehicle body 11 in the front-to-rear direction L.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 2 , the left door 12 includes a first left door 12A and a second left door 12B. The first left door 12A and the second left door 12B are aligned in the front-to-rear direction L of the vehicle body 11. The first left door 12A is located forward of the second left door 12B. The first left door 12A is slidable in the front-to-rear direction L of the vehicle body 11. The first left door 12A opens and closes the front half of an opening in the left side wall of the vehicle body 11. The second left door 12B is slidable in the front-to-rear direction L of the vehicle body 11. The second left door 12B opens and closes the rear half of an opening in the left side wall of the vehicle body 11. The first left door 12A and the second left door 12B each have two window panes 14 aligned in the up-down direction T of the vehicle body 11.

[0011] 1, the right door 13 opens and closes an opening in a side wall on the right side of the vehicle body 11 in the left-right direction W of the vehicle body 11. The right door 13 is positioned approximately in the center of the vehicle body 11 in the front-rear direction L when in a closed state in which the opening is closed.

[0012] The right door 13 includes a first right door 13A and a second right door 13B. The first right door 13A and the second right door 13B are aligned in the front-to-rear direction L of the vehicle body 11. The first right door 13A and the second right door 13B are aligned in the front-to-rear direction L of the vehicle body 11. The first right door 13A is positioned forward of the second right door 13B. The first right door 13A is slidable in the front-to-rear direction L of the vehicle body 11. The first right door 13A opens and closes the front half of an opening in the right side wall of the vehicle body 11. The second right door 13B is slidable in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body 11. The second right door 13B is slidable in the rear direction of the opening in the right side wall of the vehicle body 11. The first right door 13A and the second right door 13B each have two window panes 14 aligned in the up-down direction T of the vehicle body 11.

[0013] The vehicle 10 is equipped with a first antenna 21, a second antenna 22, and a third antenna 23. 3, the first antenna 21, the second antenna 22, and the third antenna 23 are each capable of receiving a signal from the electronic key 90 of the vehicle 10. Each antenna receives a signal from the electronic key 90 when the distance from the electronic key 90 is shorter than a specified distance. Each antenna also transmits a radio wave to the electronic key 90 requesting that a signal be transmitted.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1, the first antenna 21 is built into the second left door 12B. As shown in Fig. 2, the first antenna 21 is located between the two window panes 14 of the second left door 12B in the up-down direction T. The first antenna 21 receives signals from electronic keys 90 located in the rear half of the interior of the vehicle 10, part of the front half of the interior of the vehicle 10, and outside the vehicle 10 within a specified distance from the left door 12.

[0015] 1, the second antenna 22 is built into the second right door 13B. Although not shown, the second antenna 22 is located between the two window panes 14 of the second right door 13B in the up-down direction T. The second antenna 22 receives signals from electronic keys 90 located in the rear half of the interior of the vehicle 10, part of the front half of the interior of the vehicle 10, and outside the vehicle 10 within a specified distance from the right door 13.

[0016] The third antenna 23 is located between the first antenna 21 and the second antenna 22 in the left-right direction W of the vehicle body 11. Specifically, the third antenna 23 is located at the center in the left-right direction W of the vehicle body 11. The third antenna 23 is located forward of the first antenna 21 and the second antenna 22 in the front-rear direction L of the vehicle body 11. Specifically, the third antenna 23 is located forward of the center in the front-rear direction L of the vehicle body 11. The third antenna 23 receives a signal from an electronic key 90 located in the front half of the interior of the vehicle 10.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 3, the vehicle 10 is equipped with a left door switch 31 and a right door switch 32. The left door switch 31 is provided on the left door 12. When the left door switch 31 is operated while the left door 12 is in an open state, an actuator (not shown) causes the left door 12 to transition from an open state to a closed state. When the left door switch 31 is operated while the left door 12 is in a closed state, an actuator (not shown) causes the left door 12 to transition from a closed state to an open state.

[0018] The right door switch 32 is provided on the right door 13. When the right door switch 32 is operated while the right door 13 is in an open state, an actuator (not shown) causes the right door 13 to transition from the open state to the closed state. When the right door switch 32 is operated while the right door 13 is in a closed state, an actuator (not shown) causes the right door 13 to transition from the closed state to the open state.

[0019] The vehicle 10 includes a drive unit 41, a drive request switch 42, and a control device 50. The drive unit 41 drives the vehicle body 11 to enable it to travel. The drive unit 41 is, for example, an engine.

[0020] When the drive request switch 42 is operated, it outputs a request to start the drive unit 41 to the control device 50. The control device 50 determines whether the electronic key 90 is located inside the vehicle 10 and controls the drive unit 41. That is, in this embodiment, the control device 50 includes a determination unit and a control unit.

[0021] The control device 50 includes an execution device 51 (CPU), a peripheral circuit 52, a RAM 53, a storage device 54, and a bus 55. The bus 55 connects the execution device 51, the peripheral circuit 52, the RAM 53, and the storage device 54 so that they can communicate with one another. The execution device 51 performs information processing by executing various programs stored in the storage device 54. The peripheral circuit 52 includes a circuit that generates a clock signal that regulates internal operation, a power supply circuit, a reset circuit, etc. The RAM 53 stores data generated as the execution device 51 processes information. The storage device 54 stores a determination program PR1 that performs determination control to determine whether the electronic key 90 is located inside the vehicle 10 and a start program PR2 that performs start control of the drive device 41. The storage device 54 also stores information indicating a flag that indicates the location information of the electronic key 90.

[0022] The execution device 51 uses the first antenna 21 and the second antenna 22 to determine whether the electronic key 90 is located outside the vehicle 10. For example, the execution device 51 determines whether the electronic key 90 is located outside the vehicle 10 when the left door switch 31 or the right door switch 32 is operated. The execution device 51 determines that the electronic key 90 is located outside the vehicle 10 when only either the first antenna 21 or the second antenna 22 receives a signal from the electronic key 90.

[0023] <Determining whether the electronic key is located inside the vehicle> The execution device 51 starts executing the determination program PR1 when at least one of the left door 12 and the right door 13 changes from an open state to a closed state.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, when the execution device 51 starts executing the determination program PR1, the execution device 51 first performs the process of step S11. In step S11, the execution device 51 determines whether the electronic key 90 has been detected by the first antenna 21. Specifically, the execution device 51 determines that the electronic key 90 has been detected by the first antenna 21 if the first antenna 21 receives a signal from the electronic key 90 within a specified period of time. The execution device 51 determines that the electronic key 90 has not been detected by the first antenna 21 if the first antenna 21 does not receive a signal from the electronic key 90 within the specified period of time. The specified period is defined as the period during which the first antenna 21 can receive a signal from the electronic key 90 after emitting a radio wave requesting the electronic key 90 to transmit a signal. The specified period is defined as one second, for example. If the electronic key 90 has been detected by the first antenna 21 (S11: YES), the execution device 51 proceeds to step S12.

[0025] In step S12, the execution unit 51 determines whether the electronic key 90 has been detected by the second antenna 22. Specifically, the execution unit 51 determines that the electronic key 90 has been detected by the second antenna 22 when the second antenna 22 receives a signal from the electronic key 90 within a specified period of time. The execution unit 51 determines that the electronic key 90 has not been detected by the second antenna 22 when the second antenna 22 does not receive a signal from the electronic key 90 within the specified period of time. If the electronic key 90 has been detected by the second antenna 22 (S12: YES), the execution unit 51 proceeds to step S13.

[0026] In step S13, the execution unit 51 determines that the electronic key 90 is located inside the vehicle 10. The execution unit 51 then sets a flag in the storage device 54 that indicates the location information of the electronic key 90 to a state indicating that the electronic key 90 is located inside the vehicle. If the execution unit 51 makes a positive determination in both step S11 and step S12 and then performs step S13, both the first antenna 21 and the second antenna 22 have received a signal from the electronic key 90. In other words, the execution unit 51 determines that the electronic key 90 is located inside the vehicle 10 when both the first antenna 21 and the second antenna 22 have received a signal from the electronic key 90. The execution unit 51 then ends the series of processes for this determination control.

[0027] On the other hand, if the electronic key 90 is not detected by the first antenna 21 (S11: NO), the execution unit 51 proceeds to step S21. In step S21, similar to step S12, the execution unit 51 determines whether the electronic key 90 is detected by the second antenna 22. If the electronic key 90 is not detected by the second antenna 22 (S21: NO), the execution unit 51 proceeds to step S31.

[0028] In step S31, the execution unit 51 determines that the electronic key 90 is located outside the vehicle 10. That is, the execution unit 51 determines that the electronic key 90 is not located inside the vehicle 10. The execution unit 51 then sets a flag in the storage device 54 that indicates the location information of the electronic key 90 to a state indicating that the electronic key 90 is not located inside the vehicle 10. If the execution unit 51 makes a negative determination in both steps S11 and S21 and then performs step S31, neither the first antenna 21 nor the second antenna 22 has received a signal from the electronic key 90. That is, when neither the first antenna 21 nor the second antenna 22 has received a signal from the electronic key 90, the execution unit 51 determines that the electronic key 90 is not located inside the vehicle 10. The execution unit 51 then ends the series of processes for this determination control.

[0029] Incidentally, if the execution unit 51 does not detect the electronic key 90 by the second antenna 22 after making a positive determination in step S11 (S12: NO), the execution unit 51 proceeds to step S22. Alternatively, if the execution unit 51 detects the electronic key 90 by the second antenna 22 after making a negative determination in step S11 (S21: YES), the execution unit 51 proceeds to step S22.

[0030] In step S22, the execution unit 51 determines whether the electronic key 90 has been detected by the third antenna 23. Specifically, the execution unit 51 determines that the electronic key 90 has been detected by the third antenna 23 when the third antenna 23 receives a signal from the electronic key 90 within a specified period of time. The execution unit 51 determines that the electronic key 90 has not been detected by the third antenna 23 when the third antenna 23 does not receive a signal from the electronic key 90 within the specified period of time. If the electronic key 90 has been detected by the third antenna 23 (S22: YES), the execution unit 51 proceeds to step S13. When the execution unit 51 performs the processing of step S13 after passing step S22, even if either the first antenna 21 or the second antenna 22 has received a signal from the electronic key 90, the third antenna 23 has received a signal from the electronic key 90. That is, even if either the first antenna 21 or the second antenna 22 receives a signal from the electronic key 90, if the third antenna 23 receives a signal from the electronic key 90, the execution device 51 determines that the electronic key 90 is located inside the vehicle 10. The execution device 51 then ends the series of processes for this determination control.

[0031] On the other hand, if the electronic key 90 is not detected by the third antenna 23 (S22: NO), the execution device 51 proceeds to step S31. When the execution device 51 performs step S31 after step S22, the third antenna 23 does not receive a signal from the electronic key 90, and either the first antenna 21 or the second antenna 22 receives a signal from the electronic key 90. In other words, if the third antenna 23 does not receive a signal from the electronic key 90, and either the first antenna 21 or the second antenna 22 receives a signal from the electronic key 90, the execution device 51 determines that the electronic key 90 is not located inside the vehicle 10. The execution device 51 then ends the series of processes for this determination control. In this way, the execution device 51 executes the determination program PR1, thereby forming a determination unit in the control device 50.

[0032] <Vehicle start control> As shown in FIG. 3, when the execution unit 51 receives a request to start the drive unit 41 from the drive request switch 42, the execution unit 51 starts executing the start program PR2.

[0033] 5, when the execution unit 51 begins executing the start-up program PR2, it first performs the processing of step S41. In step S41, the execution unit 51 determines whether the electronic key 90 is located inside the vehicle 10. Specifically, the execution unit 51 references a flag that indicates the location information of the electronic key 90 stored in the storage device 54. If the flag indicates that the electronic key 90 is located inside the vehicle 10, the execution unit 51 determines that the electronic key 90 is located inside the vehicle 10. If the flag indicates that the electronic key 90 is not located inside the vehicle 10, the execution unit 51 determines that the electronic key 90 is not located inside the vehicle 10. If the electronic key 90 is located inside the vehicle 10 (S41: YES), the execution unit 51 proceeds to step S42.

[0034] In step S42, the execution unit 51 permits the start of the drive unit 41. Then, the execution unit 51 starts the start of the drive unit 41. After that, the execution unit 51 ends the series of processes for controlling the start of the drive unit 41 this time.

[0035] On the other hand, if the electronic key 90 is not located inside the vehicle 10 (S41: NO), the execution unit 51 proceeds to step S43. In step S43, the execution unit 51 does not permit the drive unit 41 to be started. Therefore, the execution unit 51 does not initiate the start of the drive unit 41. Thereafter, the execution unit 51 ends the current series of processes for controlling the start of the drive unit 41.

[0036] (Operation of the embodiment) For example, suppose a user holding an electronic key 90 gets into the vehicle 10 and starts driving the vehicle 10. In this case, the user operates the right door switch 32 to change, for example, the right door 13 of the vehicle 10 from a closed state to an open state. Next, after getting into the interior of the vehicle 10, the user changes the right door 13 from an open state to a closed state. At this time, the control device 50 performs determination control based on the right door 13 changing from an open state to a closed state. Because the user is holding the electronic key 90, the control device 50 determines that the electronic key 90 is located inside the interior of the vehicle 10 by detecting both the first antenna 21 and the second antenna 22 or by detecting the third antenna 23. Next, the user operates the drive request switch 42 to start the drive unit 41. At this time, the control device 50 performs start control of the drive unit 41 by obtaining a start request from the drive request switch 42.

[0037] For example, suppose a user holding the electronic key 90 gets out of the vehicle 10. In this case, the user operates the right door switch 32 to change the state of, for example, the right door 13 of the vehicle 10 from a closed state to an open state. Next, after getting out of the vehicle 10, the user changes the right door 13 from an open state to a closed state. At this time, the control device 50 performs determination control based on the right door 13 changing from an open state to a closed state. Because the user is holding the electronic key 90, the first antenna 21 does not detect the electronic key 90, but the second antenna 22 does, and the third antenna 23 does not detect the electronic key 90, and therefore the control device 50 determines that the electronic key 90 is not located inside the vehicle 10.

[0038] Here, let us assume that the electronic key 90 is located in the front half of the interior of the vehicle 10. In this case, of the first antenna 21 and the second antenna 22, only one of the first antenna 21 and the second antenna 22 may receive a signal from the electronic key 90. When the electronic key 90 is located in the front half of the interior of the vehicle 10, according to the above embodiment, the third antenna 23 receives a signal from the electronic key 90.

[0039] (Effects of the embodiment) (1) Even if either the first antenna 21 or the second antenna 22 receives a signal from the electronic key 90, the control device 50 determines that the electronic key 90 is located inside the vehicle 10 when the third antenna 23 receives a signal from the electronic key 90. Therefore, depending on the size and shape of the vehicle 10, there may be an area within the vehicle 10 where either the first antenna 21 or the second antenna 22 cannot receive a signal from the electronic key 90 located inside the vehicle 10. Even in this case, the third antenna 23 can receive a signal from the electronic key 90 located inside the vehicle 10 within that area. Therefore, the control device 50 of the above embodiment can prevent the electronic key 90 from being erroneously determined to be not located inside the vehicle 10 when it is actually located inside the vehicle 10.

[0040] (2) According to the above embodiment, the control device 50 performs determination control when at least one of the left door 12 and the right door 13 changes from an open state to a closed state. When at least one of the left door 12 and the right door 13 changes from an open state to a closed state, the positions of the user of the vehicle 10 and the electronic key 90 are likely to change. Therefore, the control device 50 can perform determination control at a timing when it is highly necessary to determine the position of the electronic key 90.

[0041] (3) According to the above embodiment, when the control device 50 determines that the electronic key 90 is located inside the vehicle and a start request is made by operating the drive request switch 42, the control device 50 permits the start of the drive device 41. That is, in this embodiment, the control device 50 uses the determination result of the determination control to determine whether or not to permit the start of the drive device 41. As a result, when the electronic key 90 is not located inside the vehicle, the control device 50 is able to not permit the start of the drive device 41.

[0042] (4) The first antenna 21 and the second antenna 22 are used to determine whether the electronic key 90 is located outside the vehicle 10 when the left door switch 31 is operated. The first antenna 21 and the second antenna 22 used in this manner are likely to be arranged to emit radio waves requesting the electronic key 90 to transmit a signal toward the outside of the vehicle 10. Therefore, when the first antenna 21 and the second antenna 22 are used to detect whether the electronic key 90 is located inside the vehicle 10, the radio waves from the first antenna 21 and the second antenna 22 are likely to be blocked by the vehicle body 11, making the detection range inside the vehicle 10 smaller than that outside the vehicle. Therefore, if the first antenna 21 and the second antenna 22 are arranged on a panel without a window glass 14 or a panel with only one window glass 14, the detection range inside the vehicle 10 will be smaller, making it difficult for the control device 50 to make a positive determination in both steps S11 and S12.

[0043] According to the above embodiment, the first antenna 21 is located between the two window panes 14 of the second left door 12B in the vertical direction T of the vehicle body 11. The second antenna 22 is located between the two window panes 14 of the second right door 13B in the vertical direction T of the vehicle body 11. Radio waves requesting a signal from each antenna to the electronic key 90 are less likely to be blocked by the window panes 14 of the vehicle body 11 than by, for example, metal parts. Therefore, the first antenna 21 can have a detection range that is appropriately wide within the interior of the vehicle 10. Therefore, by positioning the first antenna 21 and the second antenna 22 in a door having two window panes 14, determination control can be achieved.

[0044] (Other embodiments) This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0045] The left door 12 may omit the first left door 12A. The second left door 12B may not have two window panes 14. Even if the second left door 12B has one window pane 14, if the window pane 14 is sufficiently large, radio waves from the first antenna 21 may leak sufficiently into the interior of the vehicle 10. Furthermore, if the radio waves from the first antenna 21 leak sufficiently into the interior, and the detection range within the interior of the vehicle 10 is sufficiently large, the second left door 12B may not have a window pane 14. The same applies to the right door 13.

[0046] The control device 50 does not need to use the determination result from the determination control for the start-up control of the drive device 41. In other words, the control device 50 does not need to execute the start-up program PR2. In other words, the control device 50 does not need to have a control unit.

[0047] The control device 50 may use the determination result of the determination control to issue a warning to prevent the electronic key 90 from being left behind. For example, the user may leave the vehicle 10 when the left door 12 changes from an open state to a closed state. In this case, if the determination result of the determination control determines that the electronic key 90 is located inside the vehicle 10, the control device 50 may output a warning from a speaker or the like of the vehicle 10.

[0048] The timing at which the control device 50 performs the determination control does not have to be when at least one of the left door 12 and the right door 13 changes from an open state to a closed state. For example, when the vehicle 10 has other doors, the timing at which the control device 50 performs the determination control may be when the other door changes from an open state to a closed state. Also, for example, the timing at which the control device 50 performs the determination control may be when at least one of the left door 12 and the right door 13 changes from a closed state to an open state. Also, for example, the control device 50 may repeatedly perform the determination control at predetermined intervals, regardless of the state of the doors.

[0049] The electronic key 90 may be a digital key. In this case, the signal transmitted from the mobile terminal storing the digital key is the signal from the electronic key 90. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 10...Vehicle 11...Vehicle body 12...Left door 12A...First left door 12B...Second left door 13...Right door 13A...First right door 13B...Second right door 14...Window glass 21...First antenna 22...Second antenna 23...Third antenna 31...Left door switch 32...Right door switch 41...Drive unit 42...Drive request switch 50...Control unit 90...Electronic key

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising: a first antenna that receives a signal from an electronic key; a second antenna that receives a signal from the electronic key; a control device having a determination unit that determines whether the electronic key is located inside a vehicle; a left door on which the first antenna is located; and a right door on which the second antenna is located, the third antenna is located between the first antenna and the second antenna in the left-right direction of the vehicle body, and is located forward of the first antenna and the second antenna in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, The determination unit When both the first antenna and the second antenna receive a signal from the electronic key, it is determined that the electronic key is located inside the vehicle; When either the first antenna or the second antenna receives a signal from the electronic key, it is determined that the electronic key is not located inside the vehicle; When the third antenna receives a signal from the electronic key, a determination control is performed to determine that the electronic key is located inside the vehicle even if either the first antenna or the second antenna receives a signal from the electronic key. vehicle.

2. When the door of the vehicle changes from an open state to a closed state, The determination unit performs the determination control. The vehicle of claim 1 .

3. a drive request switch that, when operated, outputs a start request for a drive device of the vehicle to the control device; the control device further includes a control unit that controls the drive device, The control unit When the determination unit determines that the electronic key is not located inside the vehicle and the drive request switch is operated to request starting, the drive device is not permitted to start, When the determination unit determines that the electronic key is located inside the vehicle and the drive request switch is operated to request starting, the start of the drive device is permitted. The vehicle of claim 1 .

4. the right door has two window panes aligned in the vertical direction of the vehicle body, the first antenna is located between two window panes of the right door in the vertical direction, the left door has two window panes aligned in the vertical direction, The second antenna is located between the two window panes of the left door in the vertical direction. The vehicle of claim 1 .

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • System for remote control of vehicle-mounted equipment

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