Remote Starter

Abstract

To quit remotely starting an engine when the remote starting is improper.SOLUTION: A remote starting device includes: a control part 20 which controls starting of an engine 12; a clearance sensor 44 which detects clearance information on a distance between a vehicle 10 and a peripheral object; and a storage part 22 which stores off-time clearance information detected when a power supply is turned off. The control part 20 is configured to: acquire current clearance information by the clearance sensor 44 when the starting of the engine is requested through remote operation; compare the current clearance information with the off-time clearance information stored in the storage part 22; and, when the clearance has reduced, output information on disallowance of the starting of the engine 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a remote starting device for starting a vehicle engine by remote control. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a demand for starting an engine in advance before getting into a vehicle, to warm up the engine, or to adjust the temperature inside the vehicle cabin in advance using an air conditioning system. For this purpose, a remote engine starting device that starts the engine by remote control is known.

[0003] In Patent Document 1, when starting the engine by remote control, it is judged whether starting the engine is appropriate based on the vehicle's position information, and if it is judged to be inappropriate, this fact is notified and, if necessary, engine starting is prohibited. For example, when the vehicle is parked in a garage, it is considered that there may be people nearby, and it is judged that sudden starting is not desirable. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-163702 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, there may be cases where location information alone is not enough to determine when starting is inappropriate. For example, if there is snow on the ground, the muffler may be blocked by snow, preventing exhaust gases from being exhausted sufficiently, causing exhaust gases to flow back into the vehicle cabin and making the air inside the cabin poor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a remote starting device that is mounted on a vehicle and capable of starting an engine by remote control, the remote starting device including: a control unit that controls the starting of the engine; a clearance sensor that detects clearance information regarding a distance between the vehicle and a surrounding object; and a storage unit that stores off-time clearance information detected when the vehicle is turned off. A weather information acquisition unit that acquires weather information; and when the engine start is requested by the remote operation, the control unit acquires current clearance information by the clearance sensor, compares the current clearance information with the off-time clearance information stored in the storage unit, and outputs information not permitting the start of the engine if the clearance is small. At the same time, when the engine start is requested, it is determined whether or not there is snow on the ground based on the acquired weather information, and if it is determined that there is snow on the ground, information not permitting the start of the engine is output. .

[0008] The present invention also provides a remote starting device that is mounted on a vehicle and capable of starting an engine by remote control, the remote starting device having a control unit that controls the starting of the engine, a clearance sensor that detects clearance information regarding a distance between the vehicle and a surrounding object, and a memory unit that stores off-time clearance information detected when the vehicle is powered off, and when engine start is requested by the remote control, the control unit obtains current clearance information by the clearance sensor, compares the current clearance information with the off-time clearance information stored in the memory unit, and if the clearance is small, outputs information not permitting the starting of the engine, and When the off-time clearance information indicates a predetermined value or more and the current clearance information indicates the predetermined value or less, information not permitting starting of the engine is output. do. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, if it is determined that engine starting is inappropriate, remote starting can be stopped. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an entire system including a vehicle equipped with a remote starter device. [Diagram 2] 4 is a diagram showing the mounting position of a clearance sensor 44. FIG. [Diagram 3] 5 is a flowchart showing the process of the control unit 20 when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned off. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing the process performed by the control unit 20 during remote start. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein.

[0012] System Configuration FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the entire system including a vehicle equipped with a remote starter.

[0013] The vehicle 10 is equipped with an engine 12 as a power source. The engine 12 is an internal combustion engine that generates driving force by burning fuel such as gasoline. The generated driving force is transmitted to wheels to run the vehicle 10. A muffler 14 is connected to the engine 12, and exhaust gas from the engine 12 is discharged to the outside through the muffler 14.

[0014] The vehicle 10 is also equipped with an air conditioner 16. The air conditioner 16 cools and heats the interior of the vehicle and typically includes a heat pump. Heating can be achieved by using heat generated by the engine or heat from a heater.

[0015] The engine 12 and the air conditioner 16 are connected to a control unit 20, which controls the operation of the engine 12 and the air conditioner 16, including starting them. The control unit 20 is a computer that performs various data processing, and has a CPU, ROM, RAM, an external storage device, etc., and processes input data and stored data by executing various programs, and outputs various control signals. The control unit 20 can be configured as a single computer, but is usually configured to include multiple ECUs, such as an ECU (electronic control unit) for engine control and an ECU for air conditioner control.

[0016] A memory unit 22 is connected to the control unit 20, and necessary data is stored therein. A communication unit 24 is also connected to the control unit 20, and communication with the outside is possible. The communication unit 24 communicates with the outside by wireless communication, and is connected to an external computer via a communication network 30 such as a telephone line or the Internet. In this example, it is connected to a mobile terminal 32 carried by a user and a weather information site 34 that provides weather information. The communication unit 24 can also directly communicate with the mobile terminal 32 by wireless communication means such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). The mobile terminal 32 can be a smartphone or the like, and has a display unit 32a as a notification means, on which various information can be displayed. The mobile terminal 32 also has notification means such as normal voice and vibration.

[0017] A thermometer 42 and a clearance sensor 44 are connected to the control unit 20. The thermometer 42 is preferably one that measures the outside air temperature, but may also be one that measures the temperature inside the vehicle cabin, or one that measures temperatures at a plurality of locations. The clearance sensor 44 is adapted to detect the distance to obstacles in the front, rear, and sides, but in this embodiment, it detects an obstacle at the rear. That is, it detects the distance between the exhaust gas outlet of the muffler 14 and an obstacle facing it. If the exhaust gas outlet of the muffler 14 is on the side, it is preferable that the side clearance sensor 44 detects an obstacle on the side.

[0018] The clearance sensor 44 may be of various types, such as ultrasonic or laser type, but it is preferable to use an ultrasonic type called clearance sonar, which operates at a relatively short distance.

[0019] In addition to information on whether the vehicle's ignition switch is on, vehicle information such as whether the vehicle is stopped and the operating conditions of the engine 12 and the air conditioner 16 are supplied to the control unit 20 .

[0020] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the mounting position of the clearance sensor 44. Two clearance sensors 44 (called back sensors) are mounted on the rear bumper of the vehicle 10, and their detection range 46 is several meters to the rear. The muffler 14 is disposed below the floor panel of the vehicle 10, and opens below the rear bumper, which serves as the exhaust gas outlet. The clearance sensor 44 can detect the distance between an obstacle facing the exhaust gas outlet of the muffler 14. The clearance sensor 44 may be one or two or more.

[0021] Here, it is preferable that the clearance sensor 44 can output a signal indicating whether the distance to the obstacle is greater than or smaller than a predetermined short distance (for example, about 50 cm). Alternatively, the clearance sensor 44 may simply output the distance and the control unit 20 may determine the distance.

[0022] "Processing when power is turned off" 3 is a flowchart showing the processing of the control unit 20 when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned off. When the vehicle has finished traveling, it is parked in a parking lot or the like and the ignition switch is turned off. This stops the engine 12 and also turns off the power to many other in-vehicle devices. Here, in this embodiment, the control unit 20 performs the following processing. Note that some functions of the control unit 20 are maintained even after parking in order to process signals for locking and unlocking the vehicle doors and receiving various wake-up signals.

[0023] First, it is determined whether a power-off command has been issued, such as by turning off the ignition switch (S11). If the determination in S11 is YES, a signal is acquired from the clearance sensor 44 (S12). The signal may be the distance to an obstacle, which is a surrounding object behind the vehicle, or information on whether the distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance.

[0024] Next, the obtained clearance information (referred to as "off-time clearance information") is stored in the storage unit 22 (S13). Then, the power supply to the clearance sensor 44 is turned off (S14). It is advisable to also turn off all functions of the control unit 20 except for those that are necessary.

[0025] "Remote Startup Processing" FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the process performed by the control unit 20 during remote start.

[0026] When the user wishes to start the engine 12 and the air conditioner 16 before getting into the vehicle 10, the user operates the mobile terminal 32 to transmit a remote start signal to the vehicle 10. That is, the remote start signal is transmitted by remote operation. The remote start signal may be issued from a PC or the like.

[0027] The control unit 20 detects the remote start signal from time to time even when the power is off, and determines whether the remote start signal has been detected (S21). The remote start signal is supplied to the control unit 20 via the communication unit 24.

[0028] If the determination in S21 is YES, at least the power of the clearance sensor 44 is turned on (S22). Then, data on the detection result by the clearance sensor 44 (referred to as current clearance information) is obtained (S23). Next, the off-time clearance information (data stored in S12 of FIG. 3) stored in the memory unit 22 is read out (S24).

[0029] In this way, when the current clearance information and the OFF clearance information are obtained, it is determined whether the distance based on the current clearance information is smaller than a predetermined value (S25), and whether the distance based on the OFF clearance information is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (S26).

[0030] If the determinations at both S25 and S26 are YES, the weather information site 34 is accessed via the communication unit 24 to obtain weather data relating to the period from when the vehicle was parked to the present (S27).

[0031] Then, based on the obtained weather data, the control unit 20 determines whether or not snow accumulation is interfering with exhaust from the muffler 14 (S28). Note that acquisition of weather data by the control unit 20 corresponds to a weather information acquisition unit.

[0032] If the determination in S28 is YES, engine start is not permitted and a non-permission signal is output (S29).

[0033] On the other hand, if any of the determinations in S25, S26, and S28 is NO, an enabling signal that enables engine starting is output (S30), and the engine 12 is started (S31).

[0034] In this manner, in this embodiment, if the determinations in S25, S26, and S28 are all YES, it is determined that the exhaust gas outlet of the muffler 14 may be blocked by accumulated snow, and starting of the engine is not permitted.

[0035] The conditions are as follows: (i) In the off-state clearance information, the rear distance was equal to or greater than a predetermined value (for example, 50 cm), but in the current clearance information, the rear distance is within the predetermined value (for example, 50 cm). (ii) Weather data indicates that there is a high probability of snow accumulation where the vehicle is parked.

[0036] In this way, whether or not there is an issue with exhaust is judged based on two conditions: change in distance and weather.

[0037] The start disallowance signal is transmitted from the communication unit 24 to the mobile terminal 32, and the mobile terminal 32 displays on the display unit 32a that remote start is not allowed.

[0038] This allows the user to know that remote start is not permitted and the engine 12 will not be started. Note that if the user determines that remote start is appropriate based on the surrounding conditions, etc., remote start may be allowed. For example, when the display indicates that remote start is not permitted, an instruction method for forced remote start may be clearly displayed, and when a signal for forced remote start is sent to the vehicle 10, the control unit 20 may permit engine start.

[0039] On the other hand, if remote start is permitted, the control unit 20 outputs a signal indicating that it is permitted, and starts the engine 12 and the air conditioner 16. Then, when start-up is complete, a signal indicating that start-up is complete is transmitted to the mobile terminal 32, and the mobile terminal 32 displays the completion of start-up on the display unit 32a. The mobile terminal 32 may notify the permission or denial of remote start by voice or the like.

[0040] In many cases, a user request is to start the air conditioner 16. In this case, the capacity (fan strength) of the air conditioner 16 may be automatically controlled according to the difference between the temperature inside the vehicle cabin and a normal comfortable temperature.

[0041] "Effects of the embodiment" In this way, according to this embodiment, when there is a high possibility that the exhaust gas outlet of the muffler 14 is blocked by snow, engine starting can be stopped. Therefore, it is possible to prevent exhaust gas from flowing back into the vehicle interior by remote starting.

[0042] "Other Configurations" Even if there is no snow accumulation, an object may be placed near the exhaust gas outlet of the muffler 14 or may be moved by the wind. If engine start is to be canceled in such a case or other cases, remote start may be canceled based on the approach of an obstacle based only on clearance information without referring to weather data.

[0043] In addition, if the detection range 46 of the clearance sensor 44 is limited to a predetermined short distance, steps S25 and S26 may be replaced by the fact that the distance in the current clearance information is closer than the distance in the off clearance sensor information. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 10: vehicle, 12: engine, 14: muffler, 16: air conditioner, 20: control unit, 22: memory unit, 24: communication unit, 30: communication network, 32: mobile terminal, 32a: display unit, 34: weather information site, 42: thermometer, 44: clearance sensor, 46: detection range.

Claims

1. A remote starting device that is mounted on a vehicle and can start an engine by remote control, A control unit that controls the start of the engine; a clearance sensor that detects clearance information regarding a distance between the vehicle and a surrounding object; a storage unit that stores off-time clearance information detected when the vehicle is turned off; A weather information acquisition unit that acquires weather information; having The control unit is When the engine start is requested by the remote operation, current clearance information is obtained by the clearance sensor, and the current clearance information is compared with the off-time clearance information stored in the storage unit. If the clearance is small, information not permitting the start of the engine is output, and when the engine start is requested, determining whether or not there is snow on the ground based on the acquired weather information, and if it is determined that there is snow on the ground, outputting information not permitting the engine start; Remote starting device.

2. A remote starting device that is mounted on a vehicle and can start the engine remotely, A control unit that controls the start of the engine; a clearance sensor that detects clearance information regarding a distance between the vehicle and a surrounding object; a storage unit that stores off-time clearance information detected when the vehicle is turned off; having The control unit is When the engine start is requested by the remote operation, current clearance information is obtained by the clearance sensor, and the current clearance information is compared with the off-time clearance information stored in the storage unit. If the clearance is small, information not permitting the start of the engine is output, and outputting information not permitting starting of the engine when the off-state clearance information indicates a predetermined value or more and the current clearance information indicates a predetermined value or less; Remote starting device.

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