Smart key

Abstract

This technology helps to suppress fraudulent alcohol detection, such as impersonation, in smart keys equipped with alcohol detection functions. [Solution] The smart key of this disclosure comprises a communication unit that communicates with the vehicle body, a communication control unit that controls the operation of the communication unit, an alcohol detection unit that performs alcohol detection, and a detection control unit that controls the operation of the alcohol detection unit. The detection control unit causes the alcohol detection unit to perform alcohol detection when the communication unit enters the communication range of the vehicle body, and the communication control unit causes the communication unit to transmit the result of the alcohol detection by the alcohol detection unit to the vehicle body.

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to smart keys for vehicles. [[Background Art]]

[0002] Conventionally, smart keys that enable controlling unlocking and starting of a vehicle simply by being carried by a driver have been known. In recent years, it has also been proposed that a smart key be provided with an alcohol detection function, and that unlocking and starting of the vehicle can be controlled based on an alcohol detection result transmitted to the vehicle side (see Patent Document 1). With this configuration, alcohol detection can be performed before the driver gets into the vehicle, so driving can be started quickly after the vehicle is unlocked and started based on the detection result. [[Prior Art Literature]] [[Patent Literature]]

[0003] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-155848 [[Summary of the Invention]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0004] However, because the above configuration enables alcohol detection to be performed before the driver gets into the vehicle, it has a high degree of freedom regarding the timing of performing alcohol detection, and thus there is a concern that fraudulent detection such as impersonation may be encouraged.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to suppress fraudulent alcohol detection such as impersonation in a smart key provided with an alcohol detection function. [[Means for Solving the Problem]]

[0006] The smart key of this disclosure comprises a communication unit for communicating with the vehicle body, a communication control unit for controlling the operation of the communication unit, an alcohol detection unit for detecting alcohol, and a detection control unit for controlling the operation of the alcohol detection unit. The detection control unit causes the alcohol detection unit to perform alcohol detection when the communication unit enters the communication range of the vehicle body, and the communication control unit causes the communication unit to transmit the result of the alcohol detection by the alcohol detection unit to the vehicle body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] In this configuration, the smart key performs an alcohol test when it enters the vehicle's communication range and transmits the result to the vehicle, allowing the vehicle to be unlocked and started based on this result. At this time, the driver possessing the smart key can quickly start driving after the smart key performs an alcohol test when it approaches the vehicle and becomes able to communicate with the vehicle, and the vehicle is unlocked and started based on the result.

[0008] Thus, with the smart key described above, alcohol detection can be performed as part of the process of getting into the vehicle and starting to drive, and since the operation during this process is not significantly hindered, fraudulent alcohol detection, such as impersonation, can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Block diagram showing the configuration of a smart key according to the embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 2] A flowchart illustrating the procedure for an alcohol detection process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0011] (1) Overall structure As shown in Figure 1, the smart key 1 comprises a communication unit 10 for communicating with the vehicle body, an alcohol detection unit 20 for detecting alcohol, a user interface (UI) 30 for accepting operations from the owner of the smart key 1 (mainly the driver; hereinafter referred to as "driver, etc."), a memory 40, and a control unit 50 for controlling the overall operation of the smart key 1.

[0012] The communication unit 10 is a communication module that enables communication with the vehicle body in accordance with a predetermined communication standard.

[0013] The alcohol detection unit 20 is a sensor that detects the concentration of alcohol in the breath of the driver or other person, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 50.

[0014] The UI30 includes a display unit 31 for prompting the driver or other person to perform alcohol detection using the alcohol detection unit 20, and an instruction unit 33 for instructing the alcohol detection unit 20 to start alcohol detection. In this embodiment, the display unit 31 is an LED, and the instruction unit 33 is a switch.

[0015] (2) Processing procedure for alcohol detection by the control unit 50 Next, the processing procedure (s110~s200) for alcohol detection by the control unit 50 will be explained based on the flowchart in Figure 2. This alcohol detection process is performed repeatedly after the control unit 50 is activated.

[0016] First, in S110, the control unit 50 determines whether the communication unit 10 has entered the communication range of the vehicle body. Here, it is determined that the communication unit 10 has entered the communication range when it has changed from a state where it could not communicate with the vehicle body to a state where it could communicate. In other words, if there is no change in state, it is not determined that the communication unit has entered the communication range.

[0017] The control unit 50 remains in a standby state until it determines in S110 that the communication unit 10 has entered the communication range of the vehicle body (S110: NO). When it determines that the communication unit 10 has entered the communication range (S110: YES), in S120, the control unit 50 causes the display unit 31 to display information indicating that alcohol detection should be performed.

[0018] Here, by instructing the display unit 31 to display the above information, the information indicating that alcohol detection should be performed is displayed on the display unit 31. In the present embodiment, as the display of said information, the display unit 31, which is an LED, is turned on.

[0019] Next, in S130, the control unit 50 causes the alcohol detection unit 20 to perform alcohol detection. Here, after the display in S120, the alcohol concentration detected by the alcohol detection unit 20 (e.g., maximum value, average value, transition, etc.) before a predetermined detection time elapses is acquired as an alcohol detection result.

[0020] Next, in S140, the control unit 50 causes the alcohol detection result obtained in S130 to be stored in a predetermined storage area in the memory 40.

[0021] Next, in S150, the control unit 50 causes the display unit 31 to erase the display performed in S120. Here, by instructing the display unit 31 to erase the display, the display indicating that alcohol detection should be performed is erased. In the present embodiment, the display unit 31, which is an LED, is turned off.

[0022] Next, in S160, the control unit 50 causes the communication unit 10 to transmit the alcohol detection result stored in the storage area of the memory 40 to the vehicle side.

[0023] In the present embodiment, the vehicle that receives this alcohol detection result controls unlocking and starting of the vehicle in accordance with the result, and is configured to return a control notification for notifying that the vehicle has been started (IG-ON). Therefore, after transmitting the alcohol detection result, the control unit 50 waits for the control notification from the vehicle side.

[0024] Thus, after the alcohol detection result is transmitted in S160, in S170, the control unit 50 determines whether or not it has received a control notification from the vehicle.

[0025] If the control unit 50 determines in S170 that it has received a control notification (S170: YES), in S180, the control unit 50 resets the alcohol detection result stored in the storage area of ​​the memory 40, and then returns the process to S110. S180 returns the storage area to a state where no alcohol detection result is stored. In S180, this is reset by erasing the alcohol detection result in the storage area.

[0026] Furthermore, if it is determined in S170 that no control notification has been received (S170: NO), in S190 the control unit 50 determines whether the communication unit 10 has left the communication range of the vehicle body. Here, it is determined that the communication unit 10 has left the communication range when it transitions from a state where it can communicate with the vehicle body to a state where it cannot communicate.

[0027] If S190 determines that the device has left the communication range (S190: YES), the control unit 50 moves the process to S180, resets the alcohol detection result in the storage area, and then returns the process to S110.

[0028] On the other hand, if it is determined in S190 that the device has not left the communication range (S190: NO), in S200 the control unit 50 determines whether the elapsed time since the alcohol detection result was transmitted in S160 has exceeded a predetermined upper limit, that is, whether a timeout has occurred.

[0029] In this embodiment, an upper limit is set for the time allowed between the transmission of the alcohol detection result and the vehicle sending back a control notification. Based on this upper limit, it is determined whether or not a timeout has occurred.

[0030] If a timeout is determined in S200 (S200:YES), the control unit 50 moves the process to S180, resets the alcohol detection result in the storage area, and then returns the process to S110.

[0031] On the other hand, if it is determined in S200 that there is no timeout (S200: NO), the control unit 50 returns the process to S170 and repeats the subsequent processing.

[0032] Of the alcohol detection processes, the control unit 50 that performs S110 to S140 is the detection control unit in this disclosure, the control unit 50 that performs S160 is the communication control unit in this disclosure, and the control units 50 that perform S170 to S200 are the first reset unit, the second reset unit, and the third reset unit in this disclosure.

[0033] (3) Action, effect In the above embodiment, the smart key 1 performs an alcohol test when it enters the communication range of the vehicle and transmits the result to the vehicle, allowing the vehicle to be unlocked and started based on this result. At this time, the driver possessing the smart key 1 can quickly start driving after the vehicle is unlocked and started based on the result of the alcohol test performed when the smart key 1 approaches the vehicle and becomes able to communicate with it.

[0034] Thus, with the smart key 1 described above, alcohol detection can be performed as part of the process of getting into the vehicle and starting to drive, and since the operation during this process is not significantly hindered, fraudulent alcohol detection, such as impersonation, can be suppressed.

[0035] Furthermore, the smart key 1 of the above embodiment can perform alcohol detection when it enters the communication range of the vehicle body, store the result in a storage area, and transmit it to the vehicle body.

[0036] Furthermore, the smart key 1 in the above embodiment resets the alcohol detection result in the storage area when it is notified that the vehicle has started. This allows the communication unit 10 to store the latest alcohol detection result in the storage area the next time it enters the communication range of the vehicle body, and transmit this result to the vehicle.

[0037] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the smart key 1 resets the alcohol detection result in the storage area when it goes out of the vehicle's communication range. This allows the latest alcohol detection result, obtained when the communication unit 10 re-enters the vehicle's communication range, to be stored in the storage area and transmitted to the vehicle.

[0038] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the smart key 1 resets the alcohol detection result in the storage area after a predetermined time (upper limit) has elapsed without notification of starting from the vehicle side after the transmission of the alcohol detection result. This allows the latest alcohol detection result, which has been performed again after the predetermined time has elapsed, to be stored in the storage area and transmitted to the vehicle side.

[0039] If a long period of time elapses after the transmission of the alcohol test result without notification of the vehicle starting, it can be assumed that the driver has deviated from the normal process of getting into the vehicle and starting to drive. In the above configuration, since such a time is set as a predetermined time (upper limit), by requiring a second alcohol test for drivers who are suspected of deviating from the normal process, fraudulent alcohol detection, such as impersonation, can be more effectively suppressed.

[0040] (4) Variations Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. In particular, the various modifications described herein can be combined as needed.

[0041] For example, in the above embodiment, the alcohol detection unit 20 is a sensor that detects alcohol concentration, and it is shown as a configuration that outputs the detection result to the control unit 50. However, the alcohol detection unit 20 may also be configured to not only use a sensor, but also to determine whether or not the alcohol concentration exceeds a standard value based on the detection result of the sensor, and to output this determination result to the control unit 50. The configuration of the alcohol detection unit 20 should be determined according to the specifications of the vehicle.

[0042] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which alcohol detection is performed after a display is shown on the display unit 31 when the vehicle enters the communication range of the vehicle body. However, alcohol detection may also be performed after the display is shown on the display unit 31, while waiting for an instruction to be given to the instruction unit 33. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1...Smart key, 10...Communication unit, 20...Alcohol detection unit, 31...Display unit, 33...Instruction unit, 40...Memory, 50...Control unit.

Claims

1. A communication unit that communicates with the vehicle body, A communication control unit that controls the operation of the communication unit, An alcohol detection unit that performs alcohol detection, The system includes a detection control unit that controls the operation of the alcohol detection unit, The detection control unit, when the communication unit enters the communication range of the vehicle body, causes the alcohol detection unit to perform alcohol detection. The communication control unit causes the communication unit to transmit the result of alcohol detection by the alcohol detection unit to the vehicle body. Smart key.

2. The detection control unit, when the communication unit enters the communication range of the vehicle body, causes the alcohol detection unit to perform alcohol detection and stores the detection result in a predetermined holding area. The communication control unit causes the communication unit to transmit the alcohol detection result held in the holding area to the vehicle body. The smart key according to claim 1.

3. The system further includes a first reset unit that resets the alcohol detection result held in the holding area when the vehicle body notifies the system that the vehicle has started. The smart key according to claim 2.

4. The system further includes a second reset unit that resets the alcohol detection result held in the holding area if the communication unit goes out of range of the vehicle after transmitting the alcohol detection result to the vehicle body. The smart key according to claim 2 or claim 3.

5. The system further includes a third reset unit that resets the alcohol detection result held in the holding area if a predetermined time has elapsed since the communication unit transmitted the alcohol detection result to the vehicle body without notification of vehicle startup from the vehicle body. The smart key according to claim 2 or claim 3.

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