Vehicular control device

Abstract

To provide a vehicular control device which can perform more stable wireless communication.SOLUTION: A vehicular control device 10 comprises: an internal antenna 14 which transmits and receives wireless signals related to wireless communication; an external antenna 15 which transmits and receives wireless signals related to wireless communication; an antenna switching switch unit 16 which switches between a state of being connected to the internal antenna 14 and a state of being connected to the external antenna 15; a communication module 12 which transmits and receives wireless signals via the internal antenna 14 or the external antenna 15 connected to the antenna switching switch unit 16; a control unit 13 which controls an on-vehicle device 25 mounted on a vehicle, switches a selected antenna connected to the communication module 12 via the antenna switching switch unit 16 between the internal antenna 14 and the external antenna 15, and performs wireless communication via the communication module 12 and the selected antenna; and a metal case 18 which houses the internal antenna 14 and the control unit 13. The external antenna 15 is installed outside the metal case 18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle control device. [Background technology]

[0002] The vehicle display device described in Patent Document 1 includes a display unit that displays vehicle information and a control unit that controls the display unit. The control unit has a built-in wireless circuit that includes an antenna that performs wireless communication using a standard such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) (see paragraph 0025 of Patent Document 1, etc.). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7067051 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the control device is configured to be covered with a metal case, and the presence of this metal case leaves room for improvement in the stability of wireless communication.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle control device that can perform more stable wireless communication. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle control device according to the present disclosure includes: A vehicle control device that wirelessly communicates with an external device, a first antenna for transmitting and receiving a radio signal related to the wireless communication; a second antenna for transmitting and receiving a radio signal related to the wireless communication; an antenna changeover switch unit that switches between a state connected to the first antenna and a state connected to the second antenna; a communication module that transmits and receives the wireless signal via the first antenna or the second antenna connected to the antenna changeover switch unit; a control unit that controls an on-board device mounted on the vehicle, switches a selected antenna connected to the communication module between the first antenna and the second antenna via the antenna changeover switch unit, and performs the wireless communication via the communication module and the selected antenna; a metal case that houses the first antenna and the control unit, The second antenna is disposed outside the metal case. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, more stable wireless communication can be performed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of an in-vehicle system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 10 is a flowchart of a special operation antenna switching process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart of an update antenna switching process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle equipped with an internal antenna and an external antenna according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. 1, the in-vehicle system 1 includes a vehicle control device 10, an in-vehicle device 25, and an operation unit 7. The in-vehicle device 25 includes a vehicle display device 20 and an electrical component 30 that is another in-vehicle device 25 other than the vehicle display device 20.

[0010] The vehicle display device 20 displays vehicle information such as vehicle speed under the control of the vehicle control device 10. The vehicle display device 20 includes a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) liquid crystal display panel 20a and a backlight 20b that illuminates the liquid crystal display panel 20a. The vehicle display device 20 is not limited to a type including a liquid crystal display panel 20a and a backlight 20b, but may be a type including an organic electroluminescence display (OLED) or a digital mirror device (DMD).

[0011] The electrical equipment 30 operates under the control of the vehicle control device 10. The electrical equipment 30 may be any electrical equipment installed in a vehicle, such as a car navigation system, an air conditioner, or a head-up display device.

[0012] The operation unit 7 is configured to be operable by the user, and outputs an operation signal related to this operation to the vehicle control device 10. The operation unit 7 may be any operation switch mounted on the vehicle, and may be, for example, any one or a combination of operation switches such as a push start switch, a lever combination switch, a power window switch, a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal, a shift lever, a steering switch, and a car navigation switch.

[0013] The vehicle control device 10 controls the vehicle display device 20 and the electrical equipment 30, and also performs wireless communication with the mobile communication terminal 50 and the dealer terminal 40. The vehicle control device 10 includes a communication module 12, a control unit 13, an antenna changeover switch unit 16, an internal antenna 14, an external antenna 15, and a metal case 18.

[0014] Under the control of the control unit 13, the communication module 12 performs wireless communication with external communication devices such as a mobile communication terminal 50 and a dealer terminal 40 via a selected antenna selected by an antenna selector switch unit 16 from an internal antenna 14 and an external antenna 15. The mobile communication terminal 50 is, for example, a smartphone. The dealer terminal 40 is, for example, a personal computer owned by the vehicle dealer. The communication module 12 modulates the information signal from the control unit 13 and outputs the modulated information signal to the selected antenna, thereby transmitting the information signal as a wireless signal. Furthermore, when the communication module 12 receives a wireless signal as an information signal via the selected antenna, it demodulates the received information signal and outputs the demodulated information signal to the control unit 13. A selected antenna from the internal antenna 14 and the external antenna 15 transmits and receives radio signals related to this wireless communication. In this example, the standard for this wireless communication is Wi-Fi (registered trademark), but is not limited to this and any standard may be used, such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), UWB (Ultra Wide Band), Z-Wave (registered trademark), or ZigBee (registered trademark).

[0015] The antenna changeover switch unit 16 is configured to be able to switch the selected antenna connected to the communication module 12 between the internal antenna 14 and the external antenna 15 under the control of the control unit 13. This makes it possible to switch the selected antenna used for wireless communication between the internal antenna 14 and the external antenna 15.

[0016] The metal case 18 is formed as a metal housing. The internal space of the metal case 18 accommodates the components of the vehicle control device 10 other than the external antenna 15, namely, the communication module 12, the control unit 13, the antenna changeover switch unit 16, and the internal antenna 14. The metal case 18 is adopted from the viewpoints of heat dissipation, noise resistance, and strength.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 4, in vehicle 100, internal antenna 14 is disposed inside metal case 18, and external antenna 15 is disposed outside metal case 18. Therefore, communication by external antenna 15 does not involve metal case 18, which can cause communication interference. Therefore, communication area A1 for wireless communication by external antenna 15 is wider than communication area A2 for wireless communication by internal antenna 14. For example, communication area A2 is set within vehicle interior 101, but does not extend outside the vehicle. Communication area A1 is set to extend outside the vehicle. Therefore, the possibility of communication interruption is lower in wireless communication using the outer antenna 15 than in wireless communication using the inner antenna 14, but the security of communication is reduced because the communication area A1 is wider. The internal antenna 14 and the external antenna 15 are installed inside the vehicle interior 101. The external antenna 15 is installed on the instrument panel 102. The external antenna 15 is not limited to being installed inside the vehicle interior 101, but may also be installed outside the vehicle interior. Furthermore, although the vehicle 100 is shown as a four-wheeled automobile in FIG. 4, it is not limited to this and may be a saddle-type vehicle such as a motorcycle.

[0018] The control unit 13 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GDC (Graphics Display Controller), etc., and controls the vehicle display device 20 and the electrical equipment 30 by outputting command signals to the vehicle display device 20 and the electrical equipment 30. Specifically, the control unit 13 acquires vehicle information such as vehicle speed, and outputs image data to the vehicle display device 20, thereby displaying an image including the vehicle information on the vehicle display device 20.

[0019] In addition, the control unit 13 selects the selected antenna to be used for wireless communication between the internal antenna 14 and the external antenna 15 via the antenna switching switch unit 16, and performs wireless communication between the communication module 12 and the mobile communication terminal 50 or the dealer terminal 40 via the selected antenna. The control unit 13 can acquire information from the mobile communication terminal 50 through wireless communication with the mobile communication terminal 50 and display the acquired information on the vehicle display device 20. When power is supplied to the vehicle control device 10 (for example, when the vehicle engine is started), the control unit 13 selects the internal antenna 14 as the selected antenna and performs wireless communication via the internal antenna 14.

[0020] The control unit 13 includes a memory unit 17. The memory unit 17 is composed of a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and stores the operation program of the control unit 13, display image data, special operation data D, etc. The special operation data D is data indicating the content of a special operation required to switch the selected antenna from the inner antenna 14 to the outer antenna 15. The memory unit 17 stores multiple patterns of special operation data D. The control unit 13 validates any one of the multiple patterns of special operation data D. This special operation is an operation that is not normally performed, such as simultaneously pressing multiple operation switches that make up the operation unit 7, or operating one or multiple operation switches multiple times within a time limit (several seconds). The time limit or the number of operations varies for each pattern of the special operation data D.

[0021] Next, the special operation antenna switching process executed by the control unit 13 will be described with reference to the flowchart in Figure 2. This process is repeatedly executed during operation of the vehicle control device 10. At the start of this process, the internal antenna 14 is set as the selected antenna.

[0022] The control unit 13 determines whether or not there is a special operation that matches the valid special operation data D based on the operation signal from the operation unit 7 (step S101). If the control unit 13 determines that there is no special operation (step S101; NO), it ends the special operation antenna switching process. When the control unit 13 determines that a special operation has been performed (step S101; YES), it shifts to a special operation mode and switches the selected antenna from the inner antenna 14 to the outer antenna 15 (step S102). Then, based on the operation signal from the operation unit 7, the control unit 13 determines whether or not there is a cancellation operation to cancel the special operation mode (step S103), and maintains the selected antenna as the external antenna 15 until there is a cancellation operation (step S103; NO). When the control unit 13 determines that a cancellation operation has been performed (step S103; YES), it returns the selected antenna from the outer antenna 15 to the inner antenna 14 (step S104), and ends the special operation antenna switching process. This concludes the description of the special operation antenna switching process.

[0023] Next, the update antenna switching process executed by the control unit 13 will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 3. This process is repeatedly executed in parallel with the special operation antenna switching process described above while the vehicle control device 10 is in operation. At the start of this process, the internal antenna 14 is set as the selected antenna. The control unit 13 determines whether or not there is a software update (step S201). This software is, for example, an operation program of the control unit 13 or the in-vehicle device 25, and the update is, for example, a version upgrade. When the control unit 13 determines that there is no software update (step S201; NO), the control unit 13 ends the update antenna switching process. When the control unit 13 determines that there is a software update (step S201; YES), it transitions to update mode, switches the selected antenna from the internal antenna 14 to the external antenna 15 (step S202), and acquires information required for the update via the external antenna 15.

[0024] Next, the control unit 13 determines whether the update is completed or not (step S203), and maintains the selected antenna as the outer antenna 15 until the update is completed (step S203; NO). When the control unit 13 determines that the update is completed (step S203; YES), it returns the selected antenna from the outer antenna 15 to the inner antenna 14 (step S204), and ends the update antenna switching process. This concludes the description of the update antenna switching process.

[0025] In the special operation mode, the control unit 13 changes the pattern of the special operation data D, i.e., the content of the special operation, based on the operation signal from the operation unit 7. Thus, the effective special operation data D is changed from among the multiple patterns of special operation data D stored in the storage unit 17. This makes it possible to change the content of the special operation, for example, the time limit or the number of operations. In this example, a special operation is required to switch the special operation data D, but an operation other than the special operation may be required. For example, the special operation data D may be changed using a dealer-dedicated terminal owned by the dealer. Furthermore, without being limited to this example, the control unit 13 may automatically change the content of the special operation every time a predetermined period elapses.

[0026] (effect) According to the embodiment described above, the following effects are achieved. (1) A vehicle control device 10 that performs wireless communication with a mobile communication terminal 50 and a dealer terminal 40, which are examples of external devices, includes an inner antenna 14, which is an example of a first antenna that transmits and receives wireless signals related to the wireless communication, an outer antenna 15, which is an example of a second antenna that transmits and receives wireless signals related to the wireless communication, an antenna changeover switch unit 16 that switches between a state connected to the inner antenna 14 and a state connected to the outer antenna 15, a communication module 12 that transmits and receives wireless signals via the inner antenna 14 or the outer antenna 15 connected to the antenna changeover switch unit 16, a control unit 13 that controls an in-vehicle device 25 mounted on the vehicle, switches a selected antenna connected to the communication module 12 between the inner antenna 14 and the outer antenna 15 via the antenna changeover switch unit 16, and performs wireless communication via the communication module 12 and the selected antenna, and a metal case 18 that houses the inner antenna 14 and the control unit 13 in its internal space. The outer antenna 15 is installed outside the metal case 18. According to this configuration, two antennas (internal antenna 14 and external antenna 15) are prepared, and the selected antenna to be used can be switched between the internal antenna 14 and the external antenna 15. Therefore, more stable wireless communication can be achieved by performing wireless communication via the external antenna 15 as necessary (when communication interruption needs to be avoided or when there is a lot of radio noise). Furthermore, since the communication module 12 is shared between the two antennas (the inner antenna 14 and the outer antenna 15), there is no need to prepare two communication modules 12, and a simple configuration can be achieved.

[0027] (2) When software of the in-vehicle device 25 or the control unit 13 is updated, the control unit 13 controls the antenna changeover switch unit 16 to connect to the external antenna 15. According to this configuration, wireless communication related to software update is performed via the external antenna 15, so that communication is prevented from being interrupted during software update.

[0028] (3) The control unit 13 inputs an operation signal from the operation unit 7, and when it determines that a pre-set special operation has been performed based on the input operation signal, it controls the antenna changeover switch unit 16 to connect to the external antenna 15. According to this configuration, wireless communication is performed by the external antenna 15 only when a special operation is performed. This prevents wireless communication from being performed inadvertently by the external antenna 15, thereby reducing the risk of wireless communication being intercepted. Furthermore, except during special operations or software updates, wireless communication is performed using the internal antenna 14, so the communication area is narrow and the risk of wireless communication being intercepted can be reduced.

[0029] (4) The control unit 13 includes a storage unit 17 in which the contents of special operations are stored as special operation data D in a changeable manner. According to this configuration, by changing the content of the special operation, it is possible to prevent wireless communication from being carried out carelessly via the external antenna 15, thereby improving the security of communication.

[0030] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and drawings. Modifications (including deletion of components) may be made as appropriate within the scope of the present disclosure. An example of such a modification is described below.

[0031] (Variation) In the above embodiment, either the special operation antenna switching process (see FIG. 2) or the update antenna switching process (see FIG. 3) may be omitted. In the above embodiment, the content of the special operation may be configured to be unchangeable. In the above embodiment, the timing for switching the selected antenna from the internal antenna 14 to the external antenna 15 is not limited to when a software update or a special operation is performed, and may be any timing. For example, the control unit 13 may switch the selected antenna from the internal antenna 14 to the external antenna 15 when the received signal strength of the wireless signal at the internal antenna 14 is below a threshold, or may switch the selected antenna from the internal antenna 14 to the external antenna 15 when the amount of data related to wireless communication is equal to or greater than a threshold. In the above embodiment, multiple patterns of special operation data D were stored in the memory unit 17, but multiple patterns may not be stored, and the content of the special operation may be changed by rewriting the special operation data D stored in the memory unit 17 by the control unit 13 or the dealer's dedicated terminal. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1...In-vehicle system, 7...Operation unit, 10...Vehicle control device, 12...Communication module, 13...Control unit, 14...Internal antenna, 15...External antenna, 16...Antenna changeover switch unit, 17...Memory unit, 18...Metal case, 20...Vehicle display device, 20a...Liquid crystal display panel, 20b...Backlight, 25...In-vehicle device, 30...Electrical equipment, 40...Dealer terminal, 50...Mobile communication terminal, 100...Vehicle, 101...Interior of vehicle, 102...Instrument panel, A1, A2...Communication area, D...Special operation data

Claims

1. A vehicle control device that wirelessly communicates with an external device, a first antenna for transmitting and receiving a radio signal related to the wireless communication; a second antenna for transmitting and receiving a radio signal related to the wireless communication; an antenna changeover switch unit that switches between a state connected to the first antenna and a state connected to the second antenna; a communication module configured to transmit and receive the wireless signal via the first antenna or the second antenna connected to the antenna changeover switch; a control unit that controls an on-board device mounted on the vehicle, switches a selected antenna connected to the communication module between the first antenna and the second antenna via the antenna changeover switch unit, and performs the wireless communication via the communication module and the selected antenna; a metal case that houses the first antenna and the control unit, The second antenna is installed outside the metal case. Vehicle control device.

2. the control unit controls the antenna changeover switch unit to connect to the second antenna when updating software of the in-vehicle device or the control unit. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 .

3. the control unit receives an operation signal from an operation unit operated by a user, and controls the antenna changeover switch unit to connect to the second antenna when it determines that a preset special operation has been performed by the received operation signal. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The control unit includes a storage unit in which the content of the special operation is stored in a changeable manner. The vehicle control device according to claim 3 .

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