vehicle-mounted device

Abstract

This vehicle-mounted apparatus (10) for accommodating an electronic key (70) for a vehicle (5) comprises: a speaker (26); light emitting parts (illumination LED (22), guide light (24)); a speech control unit (313) which performs control of emitting, from the speaker (26), given speech guidance relating to the procedure for handling of the vehicle-mounted apparatus (10) to be used to use the vehicle (5); and a lighting control unit (315) which controls lighting of the light emitting parts in association with the control of emitting the speech guidance by the speech control unit (313).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an in-vehicle device for accommodating an electronic key of a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] As a vehicle usage form, there is a form in which a plurality of people share one or more vehicles. Car sharing and car rental fall under this. Hereinafter, such usage forms will be collectively referred to as "sharing".

[0003] In sharing, the handling of keys for using the vehicles to be shared is important. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology of an in-vehicle device for accommodating an electronic key that can be used in sharing or the like.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] It is desirable that the in-vehicle device can be smoothly used by various users who use the vehicle in sharing in various situations and environments. For example, when the in-vehicle device is installed in the glove box of the vehicle, depending on the installed position, there may be a possibility that the brightness (ambient light) required for the user to take out or return the key cannot be ensured. In a situation where the vehicle is parked at night or in the dark, it becomes even more difficult to ensure the brightness.

[0006] Users who are using vehicle sharing with an in-vehicle device for the first time can prepare in advance by reviewing leaflets and websites to learn how and when to operate the in-vehicle device, from service in (start of vehicle use, start of sharing) to service out (return of vehicle, end of sharing). However, not all users will necessarily remember all the procedures for using the in-vehicle device when using a vehicle. In fact, it would be ideal if such preparation were unnecessary.

[0007] One example of the object of the present invention is to improve the usability of an in-vehicle device that houses an electronic key. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An aspect of the present invention is an in-vehicle device for housing an electronic key for a vehicle, comprising: a speaker; a light-emitting unit; an audio control unit that controls the speaker to emit a given voice guidance relating to the procedure for using the in-vehicle device when using the vehicle; and a lighting control unit that controls the illumination of the light-emitting unit in conjunction with the voice control unit's control of emitting the voice guidance.

[0009] According to this embodiment, the in-vehicle unit can emit voice guidance regarding the operation procedure of the in-vehicle unit when using the vehicle, and can control the illumination of the light-emitting part in conjunction with the voice guidance. The user can be accurately informed of the location to be operated at the appropriate time. The illumination of the light-emitting part can be used as the illumination necessary for the operation of taking out / returning the electronic key (the operation of storing the electronic key). According to this embodiment, the usability of the in-vehicle unit that stores the electronic key can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] A diagram showing an example of a sharing system configuration. [Figure 2A] A diagram illustrating an example of the state transition process of an in-vehicle device when using a sharing system service. [Figure 2B]A diagram illustrating an example of the state transition process of an in-vehicle device when using a sharing system service. [Figure 2C] A diagram illustrating an example of the state transition process of an in-vehicle device when using a sharing system service. [Figure 3] A diagram showing an example of the internal structure of an in-vehicle device, viewed from the positive Z-axis direction. [Figure 4] A diagram (part 1) showing an example of the internal structure of an in-vehicle device, viewed from the positive Y-axis direction. [Figure 5] A diagram (part 2) showing an example of the internal structure of an in-vehicle device, viewed from the positive Y-axis direction. [Figure 6] A diagram showing an example of an intermediate member, viewed from the negative X-axis direction. [Figure 7] An exploded perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the storage compartment. [Figure 8] A functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an in-vehicle device. [Figure 9] A flowchart illustrating the processing flow in an in-vehicle device. [Figure 10] A flowchart illustrating the processing flow of the in-vehicle device and the user terminal related to the service initiation process. [Figure 11] Flowchart continuing from Figure 10. [Figure 12] A flowchart illustrating the processing flow of the in-vehicle device and the user terminal related to service out processing. [Figure 13] Flowchart continuing from Figure 12. [Figure 14] Figure (1) shows an example of a guidance display for opening the service. [Figure 15] Figure (2) shows an example of a guidance display for opening the service. [Figure 16] Figure (1) showing an example of an retrieval guidance display. [Figure 17] Figure (2) showing an example of an retrieval guidance display. [Figure 18] Figure (1) showing an example of a warning guidance display. [Figure 19] Figure (2) showing an example of a warning guidance display. [Figure 20] Figure showing an example of opening operation guidance display for service out (Part 1). [Figure 21] Figure showing an example of opening operation guidance display for service out (Part 2). [Figure 22] Figure showing an example of alighting guidance display. [Figure 23] View of a modified example of the internal structure of an in-vehicle unit as seen from the +Y-axis side.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described, but the forms to which the present invention is applicable are not limited to the following aspects. FIG. 1 shows a right-handed orthogonal three-axis (Xc, Yc, Zc) indicating directions for explaining a vehicle. FIGS. 2 to 7 show a right-handed orthogonal three-axis (X, Y, Z) indicating directions for explaining an in-vehicle unit. It will be described that the Xc-axis direction and the X-axis direction are parallel, the Yc-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are parallel, and the Zc-axis direction and the Z-axis direction are parallel. It will be described that the +Zc, +Z-axis directions are upward, the -Zc, -Z-axis directions are downward, the +Xc, +X-axis directions are forward, the -Xc, -X-axis directions are backward, the +Yc, +Y-axis directions are left, and the -Yc, -Y-axis directions are right. However, the X-axis direction may be any direction along the Xc-axis direction and does not necessarily have to be parallel. Similarly, the Y-axis direction may be any direction along the Yc-axis direction and does not necessarily have to be parallel. The Z-axis direction may be any direction along the Zc-axis direction and does not necessarily have to be parallel.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration of a sharing system. The sharing system 3 comprises an in-vehicle unit 10, a server system 1100, and a user terminal 1500. The in-vehicle unit 10 houses the electronic key 70 of the vehicle 5 to be shared. The server system 1100 communicates with the in-vehicle unit 10 via the network 9. The user terminal 1500 communicates with the in-vehicle unit 10 and the server system 1100 via the network 9. In this specification, "user" refers to a person who uses the vehicle 5, i.e., an end user. The system user who operates the sharing system 3 is referred to as the "administrator."

[0013] Network 9 refers to a communication channel capable of data communication. Network 9 includes not only LANs (Local Area Networks) using dedicated lines (dedicated cables) or Ethernet (registered trademark) for direct connections, but also communication networks such as telephone networks, cable networks, the Internet, and short-range wireless networks, and does not distinguish between wired and wireless communication methods.

[0014] The server system 1100 performs user registration for the sharing system 3, reservation management, and provides reservation information to the user terminal 1500 and the in-vehicle device 10. Specifically, the server system 1100 stores a management program 501 and executes the stored management program 501 to realize (1) a user registration function, (2) a reservation setting function for the vehicle 5, (3) a function to generate reservation information 700 (for example, including a unique reservation ID, reserved vehicle ID, reservation period, password, etc.), (4) a function to provide a copy of the reservation information 700 (user copy reservation information 700t) to the user terminal 1500, and (5) a function to provide a copy of the reservation information 700 (in-vehicle device reservation information 700c) to the in-vehicle device 10.

[0015] The user terminal 1500 is a terminal capable of communicating with the network 9 and is a computer system used by users who wish to share the vehicle 5. For example, the user terminal 1500 can be implemented using a smartphone, tablet computer, laptop computer, wearable computer, etc.

[0016] The user terminal 1500 can store application programs and execute the stored application programs. The user terminal 1500 stores terminal program 502 as an application program. By executing terminal program 502, the user terminal 1500 realizes the following: (1) a function to access the server system 1100 to perform the vehicle reservation procedure and acquire and store user reservation information 700t; (2) a function to communicate data with the in-vehicle unit 10; (3) a function to provide user reservation information 700t and receive authentication when communication with the in-vehicle unit 10 is possible; (4) a function to make a predetermined unlock request to the in-vehicle unit 10 in response to the user's unlock operation on the user terminal 1500 after authentication and have it unlocked; and (5) a function to make a predetermined lock request to the in-vehicle unit 10 in response to the user's lock operation on the user terminal 1500 after authentication and have it locked.

[0017] Vehicle 5, which is subject to sharing, is equipped with an in-vehicle device 10. The in-vehicle device 10 is installed inside the vehicle (for example, in the glove compartment, on the dashboard, in the console box, at the feet of the driver or passenger, in the trunk, etc.).

[0018] Figures 2A to 2C show examples of the state transitions of the in-vehicle device 10 when using the service of the sharing system 3. The in-vehicle unit 10 has a main case 11 and a storage section 60 which is a lid that swings open and closed relative to the main case 11. When the user operates the opening / closing operation section 12 provided on the upper part of the main case 11, the connection between the main case 11 and the storage section 60 is released. The storage section 60 then becomes swingable and moves from the closed state shown in Figure 2A to the open state shown in Figure 2B. In the open state, the storage section 60 opens to a position where the stored electronic key 70 is exposed facing upwards (in the positive Z-axis direction).

[0019] A speaker 26 is provided on one side of the main case 11. As will be described in more detail later, this speaker 26 emits sound to the outside of the in-vehicle unit 10.

[0020] When the in-vehicle unit 10 is in the open state, the buffer member 54 provided on the intermediate member 50 is exposed, as shown in Figure 2B. When it is in the closed state, the buffer member 54 protrudes toward the electronic key 70 side and presses the unlock button 71 and the lock button 72. In other words, although the buffer member 54 is exposed in the open state, it is controlled so that it does not protrude toward the housing 60 side.

[0021] A storage recess 62 is formed inside the storage section 60. The storage recess 62 can accommodate the electronic key 70. The correct orientation for storing the electronic key 70 in the storage recess 62 is with the operating surface, which has the unlock button 71 and lock button 72, facing upwards, and the dedicated extension part 74 attached to the key ring hole 73 facing in a predetermined direction (positive Y-axis direction).

[0022] The extension part 74 is an accessory part for extending a replacement for the key ring hole 73, which is hidden inside the on-board unit 10 when it is closed, to the outside of the on-board unit 10. The extension part 74 includes, for example, a first ring 75 that passes through the key ring hole 73, a second ring 76 that extends outside the on-board unit 10, and a rod 77 that connects these two rings.

[0023] By setting the storage compartment 60 to the open state shown in Figure 2B, the user can remove the stored electronic key 70 from the storage compartment 60 as shown in Figure 2C, or insert the removed electronic key 70 into the storage recess 62 and store it in the storage compartment 60. When the user swings the open storage compartment 60 to the closed state shown in Figure 2A and lightly presses it against the main case 11, the main case 11 and the storage compartment 60 reconnect, returning to the closed state shown in Figure 2A, and the closed state is maintained.

[0024] Figure 3 is a view from the Z-axis positive direction (above) showing an example of the internal structure of the in-vehicle unit 10. Figures 4 and 5 are views from the Y-axis positive direction (left) showing an example of the internal structure of the in-vehicle unit 10, corresponding to the IV-IV cross-sectional view (XZ cross-sectional view) in Figure 3. Figure 4 shows the closed state, and Figure 5 shows the open state.

[0025] The main case section 11 includes an upper case 11a, a lower case 11b, an opening / closing operation section 12, a back cover 14, an opening / closing detection section 15, a housing detection section 16, lighting 20, an emergency light 24, a speaker 26, a control board 30, a first actuator 41, a second actuator 42, and an intermediate member 50. The power required by the on-board unit 10 is supplied from the vehicle side by connecting a portion of the cable 6 to the vehicle's electrical line. If the on-board unit 10 has a built-in battery, the built-in battery may be housed in the main case section 11.

[0026] The main case section 11 forms an internal space by screwing together the upper case 11a and the lower case 11b. The upper case 11a has an opening / closing operation section 12 at its top. The side of the upper case 11a in the negative X-axis direction functions as a partition wall between the main case section 11 and the housing section 60, but a communication hole 13 is provided near the center of this side, allowing the inside of the housing section 60 to communicate with the internal space of the main case section 11. Specifically, the area near the center of this side includes the portion facing the unlock button 71 and lock button 72 of the electronic key 70 housed in the closed state. The lower case 11b has a removable back cover 14 located below the intermediate member 50.

[0027] The location of the opening / closing operation unit 12 can be set as appropriate. For example, assuming that the in-vehicle device 10 is mainly installed inside the glove box, the opening / closing operation unit 12 may be provided on the side of the upper case 11a in the negative Y-axis direction or the positive Y-axis direction. In this case, even if the vehicle registration certificate or other documents are placed inside the glove box together, the opening / closing operation unit 12 will not be covered by the vehicle registration certificate or other documents, thus ensuring usability, which is preferable.

[0028] The open / close detection unit 15 detects the open / closed state of the housing 60 and outputs a detection signal to the control board 30. The open / close detection unit 15 is implemented, for example, by a push switch provided on the outer surface of the upper case 11a in the negative X-axis direction, and turns ON when the housing 60 is closed.

[0029] The storage detection unit 16 detects that the electronic key 70 is housed in the closed storage unit 60 and outputs a detection signal to the control board 30. The storage detection unit 16 is implemented, for example, by a push switch provided on the outer surface of the upper case 11a in the negative X-axis direction, and turns ON when pressed by the body portion of the electronic key 70 housed in the closed state.

[0030] The illumination 20 is a first light-emitting unit 8A provided for the housing unit 60. The lighting 20 includes an LED 21 for illumination and a light guide plate 22. The LED 21 for illumination is connected to a control board 30 and its illumination is controlled by the control board 30. The light guide plate 22 forms part of the side surface of the main case portion 11 in the negative X-axis direction and is a component whose surface emits light based on the light emitted by the LED 21 for illumination.

[0031] The guide light 24 is a second light-emitting unit 8B provided for the opening / closing operation unit 12, and is implemented, for example, by an LED. The guide light 24 is connected to the control board 30 and its illumination is controlled by the control board 30. The light from the guide light 24 is emitted outward from the gap between the main case 11 and the opening / closing operation unit 12. The opening / closing operation unit 12 itself may be made of a material that has light-transmitting and light-diffusing properties, and configured so that the opening / closing operation unit 12 itself appears to be lit by the light emitted by the guide light 24.

[0032] The speaker 26 is connected to the control board 30 and emits sound corresponding to the audio signal output from the control board 30.

[0033] The control board 30 includes electronic components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), IC memory, a first wireless communication module, a second wireless communication module, a power control circuit, an interface IC, and an in-vehicle network communication IC, as well as various circuits (for example, a circuit that serves as a memory unit for emitting sound from the speaker 26).

[0034] The control board 30 comprehensively controls the operation of the in-vehicle device 10 by executing a program stored in the IC memory using the CPU.

[0035] The first wireless communication module is an example of the first communication unit 351 (see Figure 8) and connects to the network 9 (see Figure 1: specifically, a wireless communication network such as a mobile phone network or wireless LAN) to communicate with the server system 1100. The second wireless communication module is an example of the second communication unit 352 (see Figure 8) and realizes short-range wireless communication to communicate with a user terminal 1500 that has entered a predetermined communication range. The power control circuit controls the power supply to the first actuator 41 and the second actuator 42. The interface IC controls the input and output of signals between the CPU and electronic components such as the open / close detection unit 15, the occupancy detection unit 16, the LED 21 for lighting 20, the guide light 24, and the speaker 26.

[0036] The in-vehicle network communication IC is an example of the in-vehicle network communication unit 360 (see Figure 8), and connects to the vehicle's in-vehicle network. It communicates with the in-vehicle computer to obtain the latest vehicle status information for the vehicle 5. For example, the in-vehicle network communication IC communicates with the powertrain system MCU (Micro Computer Unit) to obtain information on whether the engine is running or stopped, or communicates with the body system MCU to obtain information on the door lock status. The corresponding communication standard can be set as appropriate according to the specifications of the vehicle 5. For example, support for CAN (Controller Area Network) is preferable.

[0037] The first actuator 41 and the second actuator 42 are drive units that operate by drive current control by the control board 30 and perform a push-button operation on the electronic key 70 housed in the housing 60. Specifically, the first actuator 41 and the second actuator 42 are implemented as push-type linear solenoids, and when the drive current is supplied, they push out the movable part 43 (a push rod connected to a movable iron core) by electromagnetic force.

[0038] The first actuator 41 is fixed to the main case 11 with the tip of its movable part 43 facing the unlock button 71 of the electronic key 70 housed in the housing 60. The second actuator 42 is fixed to the main case 11 with the tip of its movable part 43 facing the lock button 72 of the electronic key 70 housed in the housing 60.

[0039] The intermediate member 50 is positioned between the electronic key 70 housed in the housing 60 and the first actuator 41 and the second actuator 42. The intermediate member 50 transmits the force of the push-button operation of the movable part 43 by these actuators to the push buttons (unlock button 71, lock button 72) of the electronic key 70. The in-vehicle unit 10 is provided with multiple types of intermediate members 50 corresponding to the expected types of electronic keys 70. Details of the intermediate member 50 will be described later with reference to Figure 6.

[0040] The housing section 60 comprises a sub-case section 61, a first member 63, a second member 64, and a third member 65. The sub-case section 61 is a tray-shaped component and forms the outer shell of the housing section 60. The sub-case section 61 has a claw-shaped shaft gripping section 67. The shaft gripping section 67 grips the pivot shaft 17, thereby pivoting the sub-case section 61 to the main case section 11 in a direction parallel to the XZ plane. The pivot shaft 17 is an axis provided in the Y-axis direction at the lower end of the lower case 11b in the negative X-axis direction. In the closed state (see Figure 4), the sub-case section 61 faces the main case section 11 with the housing recess 62 facing in the positive X-axis direction. In the open state (see Figure 5), the sub-case section 61 faces upward with the housing recess 62 facing upward. Details of the housing section 60 will be described later with reference to Figure 7.

[0041] Figure 6 is a view from the negative X-axis direction showing an example of the intermediate member 50. In Figure 6, the positional relationship when the electronic key 70 is housed in the housing 60 and the in-vehicle unit 10 is in the closed state is shown to indicate the corresponding positional relationship with respect to the intermediate member 50, but for convenience, the front view (operating surface) of the electronic key 70 as seen from the positive X-axis direction is shown.

[0042] The intermediate member 50 is an elastic plate-shaped member such as a metal plate or a synthetic resin plate, and has a peripheral portion 51, a cantilever spring portion 52, and a gap portion 53. By providing the gap portion 53 in the plate-shaped member by cutting or die-cutting, the peripheral portion 51 and the cantilever spring portion 52 are formed into a single plate shape.

[0043] The intermediate member 50 is fixed by fitting its edge portion 51 into grooves in the first mounting portion 18a and the second mounting portion 18b of the main case portion 11 (see Figures 3 and 4). The Z-axis positive side of the edge portion 51 is fixed by fitting it into a groove in the Y-axis direction of the first mounting portion 18a, which is erected on the inner surface downward of the upper case 11a. The Z-axis negative side of the edge portion 51 is fixed by fitting it into a groove in the second mounting portion 18b, which is erected on the inner surface of the back cover 14. The fit between the edge portion 51 and the first mounting portion 18a and the second mounting portion 18b is such that it will not come loose or shift due to vibrations of the vehicle 5, but the intermediate member 50 is fitted into the grooves of the mounting portion 18 with sufficient strength to be pulled out by hand. Inserting and removing the intermediate member 50 is done by removing the back cover 14. The back cover 14 and the second mounting portion 18b function as a retaining portion 19 that holds the intermediate member 50 in a replaceable manner.

[0044] The cantilever spring section 52 functions as a "cantilevered beam-shaped leaf spring" by receiving pressure from the movable section 43 in conjunction with the operation of the first actuator 41 and the second actuator 42. Specifically, the cantilever spring section 52 consists of two parts: a first cantilever spring section 52a that is pushed by the first actuator 41, and a second cantilever spring section 52b that is pushed by the second actuator 42.

[0045] The cantilever spring portion 52 (52a, 52b) has a point of force application P1 on one side (the side of the first actuator 41 and the second actuator 42; in the positive X-axis direction) that is in contact with the movable part 43 of the actuator. On the other side (the side of the housing portion 60; in the negative X-axis direction) there is a point of application P2 that applies force to the push buttons (unlock button 71, lock button 72) of the electronic key 70 housed in the housing portion 60.

[0046] A buffer member 54 is provided protruding from the point of action P2 toward the push button (see Figures 3 and 4). When the first actuator 41 or the second actuator 42 is operated, the buffer member 54 passes through the communication hole 13 and contacts the push buttons (unlock button 71, lock button 72) of the electronic key 70 housed within it. The impact force generated when the movable part 43 collides with the intermediate member 50 is transmitted to the push buttons of the electronic key 70 by the intermediate member 50, but the buffer member 54 reduces this impact force. The buffer member 54 can be made of, for example, silicone, butyl rubber, or a spring.

[0047] The material of the intermediate member 50, the width and thickness of the fulcrum portion 55 of the cantilever spring portion 52, the distance L1 from the fulcrum portion 55 to the point of force application P1, and the distance L2 from the fulcrum portion 55 to the point of application P2 are selected and set to satisfy the following (1) to (3). (1) The cantilever spring portion 52 bends due to the load received from the movable portion 43 when the first actuator 41 and the second actuator 42 are operated. (2) The deflection in (1) causes the tip of the cushioning member 54 to contact the push buttons (unlock button 71, lock button 72) of the electronic key 70 housed in the housing 60, and the deflection provides a stroke sufficient to operate the push buttons. (3) The restoring force of the deflection of the cantilever spring portion 52 provides sufficient biasing force to return the movable portions 43 of the first actuator 41 and the second actuator 42, which are in a non-operating state, to their positions before operation.

[0048] If the first actuator 41 and the second actuator 42 have built-in springs that return the movable part 43 to its position before operation, (3) can be omitted. The restoring force of (3) may be strengthened by adding an elastic member such as a spring material that is compressed and fitted between the intermediate member 50 and the upper case 11a.

[0049] When the first actuator 41 and the second actuator 42 are not operating, the cantilever spring portion 52 is in a state of no deflection or almost no deflection. When the first actuator 41 or the second actuator 42 are operating, the deflection of the cantilever spring portion 52 and the cushioning member 54 moderately reduce the force transmitted to the push buttons (unlock button 71, lock button 72), protecting the push buttons of the electronic key 70 from impact forces.

[0050] By employing the intermediate member 50 and the buffer member 54 and appropriately setting their specifications, the in-vehicle unit 10 can accommodate various types of electronic keys 70 with different arrangements of push buttons (unlock button 71, lock button 72) and different operating loads for the push buttons. For example, different types of intermediate members 50 can be created by making the relative positions of the two points of action P2 different, specifically by making the distance Lp (button pitch; point of action pitch) between the center of the unlock button 71 and the center of the lock button 72 different.

[0051] Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the housing section 60 in its open state, showing an example of its configuration. The housing section 60 includes a sub-case section 61, a first member 63, a second member 64, and a third member 65.

[0052] The sub-case section 61 is a tray-shaped component and forms the outer shell of the storage section 60. In the open state (see Figure 4), if the sub-case portion 61 is pulled strongly upward from the main case portion 11, the shaft gripping portion 67 elastically deforms to the point where the pivot shaft 17 comes loose, and eventually the sub-case portion 61 separates from the main case portion 11. Conversely, if the shaft gripping portion 67 is placed against the pivot shaft 17 and the sub-case portion 61 is pushed downward, the shaft gripping portion 67 expands again to accept and grip the pivot shaft 17, and the sub-case portion 61 reconnects to the main case portion 11. Since the sub-case portion 61 is separable from the main case portion 11, the housing portion 60 can be removed from the main case portion 11 during setup work related to the housing portion 60, resulting in excellent workability.

[0053] The housing recess 62 is a bottomed recess formed inside the sub-case portion 61 for housing the electronic key 70. The housing recess 62 is formed by a first member 63, a second member 64, and a third member 65.

[0054] The first member 63 is a thin, flat plate-shaped member molded from a cushioning material such as hard sponge, and is fitted to the bottom side (in the negative Z-axis direction) of the open sub-case portion 61. The first member 63 becomes the bottom surface of the housing recess 62 that contacts the back surface of the housed electronic key 70. Multiple types of the first member 63 with different thicknesses (63a, 63b, 63c, ...) are available. By selecting the first member 63 to use, the housing height of the electronic key 70 (the distance of the electronic key 70 from the bottom of the sub-case portion 61 when housed in the housing portion 60) can be changed.

[0055] The second member 64 is a thick, flat plate-shaped member molded from a cushioning material such as hard sponge. The second member 64 has a cutout portion 68 that is cut out in the shape of the contour of the electronic key 70 when viewed from the fitting direction (Z-axis positive direction in the open state). Multiple types of the second member 64 (64a, 64b, 64c, ...) are available with different shapes of the cutout portion 68. The shape of the cutout portion 68 is set to correspond to the expected types of electronic key 70 (70a, 70b, 70c, ...). In the open state, the second member 64 is inserted into the sub-case portion 61 from the Z-axis positive direction after the first member 63 has been fitted.

[0056] The second member 64 forms the inner circumferential surface of the housing recess 62 and contacts the outer circumferential surface of the housing electronic key 70, thereby providing positioning of the housing electronic key 70 in a direction parallel to the operating surface (positioning in a direction parallel to the XY plane in the housing 60 when open) and preventing it from coming loose in the Z-axis direction due to frictional resistance. When the removed electronic key 70 is reinserted, it functions as a guide for insertion. By appropriately selecting the second member 64 to be used, multiple types of electronic keys 70 with different contours and push button positions when viewed from a direction parallel to the operating surface can be appropriately housed in a position where the push button can be operated via the intermediate member 50.

[0057] The third member 65 is a thin plate-like member, such as a hard plastic or aluminum plate. The third member 65 is a flat frame cut out along the edge of the opening of the sub-case portion 61. The third member 65 is screwed to the sub-case portion 61 from above the second member 64. The third member 65 holds down the outer edge of the second member 64, maintains the positions of the first member 63 and the second member 64, and acts as a frame to prevent them from falling out of the housing portion 60 (sub-case portion 61).

[0058] A communication opening 66 is provided in the positive Y-axis direction of the housing section 60, leading out from the housing recess 62 (see Figure 3). The communication opening 66 is a space for passing the extension part 74 of the housing electronic key 70 through. To form the communication opening 66, the sub-case section 61 has a notch 61k, the second member 64 has a communication section 64k, and the third member 65 has a notch 65k.

[0059] The extension part 74, which is passed through the communication opening 66, is set so that its total length (length extended along the Y-axis) is such that the second ring 76 is exposed to the outside from the communication opening 66 (see Figures 2B and 2C). Because the extension part 74 is exposed from the housing 60, the user can see at a glance from the outside that the electronic key 70 is housed inside. Because the extension part 74 is exposed, the user can use it as a handle when removing the electronic key 70 from the housing 60.

[0060] A setting sheet is included as part of the instruction manual for the in-vehicle unit 10. The setting sheet is a quick reference guide for setting up different vehicle types for the vehicle 5. The setting sheet shows, for each vehicle type, a combination of one type of intermediate member 50, one type of first member 63, and one type of second member 64. When the first member 63 and second member 64 combinations shown on the setting sheet are used to form the housing recess 62, the electronic key 70 of the vehicle 5 corresponding to that combination will be housed in the housing recess 62 of the housing unit 60, with the operating surface of the electronic key 70 in a position that satisfies a predetermined "housing height condition," and the position of the push button will satisfy a predetermined "push button operation position condition."

[0061] The "storage height condition" is a positional condition relating to the height when the electronic key 70 is housed in the storage recess 62. This positional condition is the height (position in the X-axis direction in Figures 3 and 4) at which, when the first actuator 41 and the second actuator 42 are operated in the closed state, the corresponding push button of the electronic key 70 can be operated via the intermediate member 50. The "push button operation position condition" is a positional condition relating to the direction parallel to the operating surface of the electronic key 70 when the electronic key 70 is housed in the storage recess 62. This positional condition indicates that, in the closed state, the center position of the push button of the housed electronic key 70 is within the range projected from the communication hole 13 in the X-axis direction (see Figures 3 and 4).

[0062] The administrator of the sharing system 3, as part of the setup work for the in-vehicle unit 10, refers to the setting sheet and selects the intermediate member 50, the first member 63, and the second member 64 that are suitable for the vehicle type (i.e., the type of electronic key 70) of the vehicle 5 in which the in-vehicle unit 10 is installed. The administrator then removes the back cover 14 (see Figure 4), attaches the selected intermediate member 50 to the second mounting part 18b, and reattaches the back cover 14 to return to its original state. As the back cover 14 is attached, the upper end of the intermediate member 50 fits into the first mounting part 18a. The intermediate member 50 is then fixed in a predetermined position within the main case part 11.

[0063] Next, the administrator operates the opening / closing operation unit 12 to swing the storage unit 60 into the open position. Then, the administrator fits the selected first member 63 into the bottom of the empty sub-case unit 61. The shape of the first member 63 and the shape of the inside of the sub-case unit 61 are in a concave-concave relationship, which prevents the first member 63 from being fitted into the sub-case unit 61 in the wrong position.

[0064] The administrator inserts the selected second member 64 into the sub-case 61 from above the first member 63, which is fitted into the bottom of the sub-case 61. The shape of the second member 64 and the shape of the inside of the sub-case 61 are in a concave-concave relationship, which prevents the second member 64 from being fitted into the sub-case 61 in the wrong orientation.

[0065] The administrator screws the third member 65 to the sub-case 61 by placing it over the second member 64, which is fitted into the sub-case 61, from above. The shape of the second member 64 and the shape of the inside of the sub-case 61 are such that the third member 65 cannot be screwed in unless the notch 65k corresponding to the communication opening 66 is oriented in the positive Y-axis direction. Therefore, this prevents the third member 65 from being fitted in the wrong orientation.

[0066] Then, the administrator of the sharing system 3 attaches a special extension part 74 to the key ring hole 73 of the electronic key 70 of the vehicle 5 equipped with the in-vehicle unit 10. Furthermore, an administrator's name tag may be attached to the second ring 76.

[0067] Figure 8 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the in-vehicle device 10. The in-vehicle unit 10 includes a control unit 310, a storage unit 320, an input / output control unit 330, an audio signal generation unit 340, a first communication unit 351, a second communication unit 352, an in-vehicle network communication unit 360, and an internal bus 390.

[0068] The control unit 310 is implemented by various IC chips, such as a CPU and a power control circuit, and comprehensively controls the operation of the in-vehicle device 10. Some of the functions of the control unit 310 are realized by reading and executing the control program 321 stored in the memory unit 320.

[0069] The control unit 310 includes a reservation authentication unit 311, an audio control unit 313, a lighting control unit 315, a display instruction control unit 317, and an operation control unit 319. In addition, the control unit 310 shall appropriately include various functional units that a computer should have. For example, it shall have functions such as a current date and time management unit and a timing unit such as a timer.

[0070] The reservation authentication unit 311 performs the following controls: (1) periodically access the server system 1100 to obtain a copy of the reservation information 700 related to its own unit and store it in the storage unit 320 as reservation information 700c for the in-vehicle device; and (2) compare the user reservation information 700t (see Figure 1) obtained from the user terminal 1500 connected for data communication with the reservation information 700c for the in-vehicle device to authenticate the reservation details and the user.

[0071] The voice control unit 313 refers to the voice guide data 323 pre-stored in the memory unit 320 and controls the speaker 26 to emit a given voice guidance regarding the operation procedure of the in-vehicle device 10 when using the vehicle 5.

[0072] The voice guidance consists of audio recordings covering a variety of topics. Specifically, the voice guidance includes, as service-in guidance for retrieving the electronic key 70 from the storage unit 60, open / close operation guidance prompting the operation of the open / close operation unit 12, and retrieval guidance for retrieving the electronic key 70 from the storage unit 60. Furthermore, as service-out guidance for putting the electronic key 70 back into the storage unit 60, it includes open / close operation guidance prompting the operation of the open / close operation unit 12, and storage guidance for putting the electronic key 70 back into the storage unit 60.

[0073] The voice control unit 313 controls the timing and timing of when to broadcast which voice guidance based on the detection results from the opening / closing detection unit 15 and the occupancy detection unit 16, and the vehicle status information of the vehicle 5 obtained from the in-vehicle computer 401 (e.g., powertrain system MCU 403, body system MCU 405, etc.) via the in-vehicle network communication unit 360.

[0074] The lighting control unit 315 controls the illumination of the light-emitting units 8 (8A, 8B) in conjunction with the sound emission control of the voice guidance by the voice control unit 313. Specifically, the lighting control unit 315 controls the illumination of the guide light 24 (second light-emitting unit 8B) in conjunction with the sound emission control of the service-in guidance by the voice control unit 313, thereby controlling the illumination of the lighting unit 20 (first light-emitting unit 8A). In addition, the lighting control unit 315 controls the illumination of the guide light 24 in conjunction with the sound emission control of the service-out guidance, thereby controlling the illumination of the lighting unit 20.

[0075] The display instruction control unit 317, in conjunction with the voice control unit 313's control of voice guidance emission, controls the display of a given guidance display on the user terminal 1500 via the second communication unit 352.

[0076] The motion control unit 319 drives and controls the first actuator 41 and the second actuator 42. It controls the opening and closing of the vehicle's door locks by controlling the push-button operation of the electronic key 70 by the in-vehicle device 10.

[0077] The memory unit 320 is implemented, for example, by an IC memory, and stores the control program 321, the voice guide data 323, and the in-vehicle device reservation information 700c. The memory unit 320 also stores other information as appropriate, such as the current date and time, various flags, and timers.

[0078] The audio guide data 323 includes audio data (audio guidance data) for implementing the audio guide, text data that serves as the basis for speech synthesis, etc., and makes it possible to identify the content of each audio guidance.

[0079] The input / output control unit 330 is implemented, for example, by an interface IC, and controls the input and output of the open / close detection unit 15, the occupancy detection unit 16, the LED 21 for lighting the lighting 20, and the emergency light 24.

[0080] The audio signal generation unit 340 generates an audio signal to emit sound from the speaker 26 based on the audio guide data 323, and outputs it to the speaker 26. The audio signal generation unit 340 may be implemented, for example, by an audio synthesis IC, or by the calculation processing of the control unit 310.

[0081] The first communication unit 351 supports wide-area communication corresponding to the movement of the vehicle 5 subject to sharing, and enables data communication with the server system 1100 via the network 9. The first communication unit 351 is implemented, for example, by a communication device connected to a mobile phone network.

[0082] The second communication unit 352 enables short-range communication connection with the user terminal 1500. The second communication unit 352 is implemented using a short-range radio.

[0083] The in-vehicle network communication unit 360 connects to the in-vehicle network 400 and functions as an information acquisition unit 362 that acquires the latest vehicle status information of the vehicle 5 from the in-vehicle computer 401. The in-vehicle network communication unit 360 can be implemented, for example, by an in-vehicle network communication IC.

[0084] Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating the processing flow in the in-vehicle unit 10 from the start of use (service in) to the end of use (service out) of the vehicle 5 that a user has reserved. The processing flow described below is realized by the CPU of the control board 30 reading and executing the control program 321 from the IC memory. As a prerequisite, the in-vehicle unit 10 has the legitimate electronic key 70 of the vehicle 5 on which the unit is installed stored in the correct storage position, and the storage section 60 is in the closed state. The user is assumed to be running the terminal program 502 on their user terminal 1500.

[0085] When power is supplied to the in-vehicle unit 10, the CPU automatically reads the control program 321 from the IC memory and starts execution. Once the execution of the control program 321 begins, the in-vehicle unit 10 periodically communicates with the server system 1100 using the first communication unit 351 to obtain a copy of the reservation information 700 related to itself from the server system 1100 and starts control to store it in the storage unit 320 as reservation information 700c for the in-vehicle unit (step S10).

[0086] The in-vehicle unit 10, which is supplied with power, automatically detects a communication connection with a user terminal 1500 that is within the communication range of the second communication unit 352 (short-range wireless). It then establishes a communication connection with the detected user terminal 1500 (step S12) and performs the reservation authentication process (step S14).

[0087] In the reservation authentication process, the in-vehicle unit 10 performs various authentications related to the start of use of the vehicle 5 based on the reservation information. For example, the in-vehicle unit 10 obtains user reservation information 700t from the user terminal 1500 and compares it with the reservation information 700c for the in-vehicle unit. It also compares the reservation date and time with the current date and time. In addition, authentication of user accounts, passwords, etc., may be performed as appropriate.

[0088] If the reservation authentication is performed correctly and it is determined that the use is legitimate based on a valid reservation, the in-vehicle unit 10 performs a service-in process (step S16). The service-in process will be described later using Figures 10 and 11. After the service-in process, if the in-vehicle unit 10 detects that the engine has been stopped (YES in step S160), it assumes that the user may be going out of service and performs a service-out process (step S162). If no engine stoppage is detected (NO in step S160), the in-vehicle unit 10 repeats the process in step S160 until an engine stoppage is detected. The service-out process will be described later using Figures 12 and 13.

[0089] Figures 10 and 11 are flowcharts illustrating the processing flow of the in-vehicle device 10 and the user terminal 1500 related to the service in-processing. During the service initiation process, the in-vehicle unit 10 sends a predetermined service initiation notification to the user terminal 1500 (step S30). This notification corresponds to an instruction to the user terminal 1500 to emit the voice guidance and display the guidance image (guidance display) in conjunction with the in-vehicle unit 10's control of voice guidance emission. Other notifications from the in-vehicle unit 10 to the user terminal 1500 in the following flowchart explanation have a similar meaning.

[0090] The user terminal 1500 is in a state of waiting to receive a service start notification from the in-vehicle unit 10 (step S32 NO). When it receives the service start notification (step S32 YES), it displays an image of a predetermined unlock operation icon on the screen (step S34) and accepts an unlock operation input from the user. The user terminal 1500 determines that an unlock operation has been performed based on the operation input to the icon (step S36 YES) and sends a predetermined unlock request to the in-vehicle unit 10 (step S38). If there is no operation input to the icon in step S36 (NO), the terminal waits until an operation input is received, or if no operation input to the icon is received after a predetermined time has elapsed, the screen display is terminated, and so on.

[0091] The user terminal 1500 starts emitting an opening operation guidance sound from its own speaker as part of the service in-service guidance (step S40), and displays an image of the opening operation guidance (guidance display) on the screen (step S42).

[0092] The opening operation guidance, which is part of the service-in guidance, is one of the opening operation guidances that prompts the user to operate the opening / closing operation unit 12, and prompts the user to swing the storage unit 60 to open it. For example, assuming that the in-vehicle device 10 is installed in the glove box, the voice of the opening operation guidance will read aloud, "Press the button on the top of the device inside the glove box to open the tray."

[0093] The wording of the opening operation guidance can be anything other than this and can be set as appropriate. For example, the phrase "inside the glove box" can be any name of the installation location of the in-vehicle unit 10 and can be changed as appropriate. It is preferable to have a DIP switch on the control board 30 so that different voice guidance data 323 with different installation location names are selected and applied according to the setting of the DIP switch.

[0094] The display of the service-in operation guidance image is an image that visually conveys the content of the service-in operation guidance to the user. The service-in operation guidance image may display illustrations, such as those shown in Figures 14 and 15, alternately, or as an animation combining both.

[0095] Returning to Figure 10, when the in-vehicle unit 10 receives an unlocking request (YES in step S50) from a waiting state for receiving an unlocking request (NO in step S50), it drives the first actuator 41 to unlock the doors of the vehicle 5 (step S52). Then, the in-vehicle unit 10 illuminates the guide light 24 (step S54) and starts emitting an opening operation guidance sound for service entry from the speaker 26 (step S56).

[0096] By emitting an opening operation guidance for service activation from the in-vehicle unit 10, the user can be informed by sound where the in-vehicle unit 10 is installed in the vehicle 5. The illumination (including flashing) of the guide light 24 can inform the user, who has heard or seen the guidance, of the part that needs to be operated as indicated by the guidance.

[0097] The operation of a user locating the mounting position of the in-vehicle device 10 inside the vehicle 5 and opening the storage compartment 60 by shaking it becomes far easier to perform, for example, if the in-vehicle device 10 is installed in a dark glove compartment, or in dark environments such as at night or in bad weather, compared to a situation without voice guidance or guide lights 24.

[0098] The on-board unit 10 can determine the open / closed state of the storage unit 60 from the input from the open / close detection unit 15. After the start of the sound emission of the opening operation guidance for service in, the on-board unit 10 monitors whether the storage unit 60 has been swung open (NO in step S58). If it detects that the storage unit 60 is open (YES in step S58), it terminates the emission of the guidance (step S60), turns off the guide light 24 (step S62), and turns on the illumination 20 (including flashing) (step S64).

[0099] By turning off the guide light 24 and turning on the light 20, it is possible to clearly indicate to the user that the area to be operated has changed. The light 20 is useful for illuminating the user's hands as they take the electronic key 70 out of the storage compartment 60. Even if the in-vehicle unit 10 is installed in a dark glove compartment, or in dark environments such as at night or in bad weather, taking the electronic key 70 out of the storage compartment 60 becomes much easier than without the light 20.

[0100] Next, the in-vehicle unit 10 sends a predetermined retrieval start notification to the user terminal 1500 (step S66), and the speaker 26 starts emitting retrieval guidance, which is part of the service in guidance (step S68). The retrieval guidance prompts the user to remove the electronic key 70 from the storage unit 60. The voice of the retrieval guidance reads, for example, "Please remove the key and return the tray to its original position." The content read aloud is not limited to this and can be set as appropriate.

[0101] Moving to Figure 11, when the user terminal 1500 receives a notification to start removing the device from the in-vehicle unit 10 (NO in step S80), it stops emitting the opening operation guidance sound for service entry and stops displaying the opening operation guidance image for service entry (step S82). Then, the user terminal 1500 starts emitting the removal guidance sound from the speaker (step S84) and starts displaying the removal guidance image (guidance display) on the screen (step S86). The removal guidance image display may alternately show illustrations such as those shown in Figures 16 and 17, or it may be displayed as an animation connecting the two.

[0102] The user understands, through audio and visual guidance, how to retrieve the electronic key 70 stored in the storage recess 62 of the storage compartment 60, and what operations to perform after retrieval. The user uses the extension part 74 as a guide to retrieve the electronic key 70, and then closes the storage compartment 60.

[0103] When the in-vehicle unit 10 detects that the storage compartment 60 has been closed by the open / close detection unit 15 (YES in step S100), it determines whether the electronic key 70 is stored by the storage detection unit 16 (step S102).

[0104] If the electronic key 70 is not stored (NO in step S102), the in-vehicle unit 10 assumes that the user has successfully retrieved the electronic key 70, turns off the light 20 (step S104), ends the retrieval guidance sound (step S106), and sends a predetermined retrieval completion notification to the user terminal 1500 (step S108). If the electronic key 70 is stored (YES in step S102), the in-vehicle unit 10 assumes that the user has not successfully retrieved the electronic key 70, and continues to keep the light 20 lit (including flashing). It also continues the retrieval guidance. In this way, it is possible to quickly notify the user that the storage compartment 60 has been closed with the electronic key 70 stored inside.

[0105] Next, the in-vehicle unit 10 begins emitting a warning guidance from the speaker 26 (step S110). The warning guidance explains the procedures to follow when the vehicle is taken out of service. For example, the warning guidance might say, "When taking the vehicle out of service, please return the key to its original position." By emitting the warning guidance at the service entry stage, the system allows the user to familiarize themselves with the procedures to follow when the vehicle is taken out of service, enabling them to smoothly complete the various procedures when the vehicle is actually taken out of service.

[0106] On the other hand, when the user terminal 1500 receives the retrieval completion notification from the waiting state for receiving the retrieval completion notification (NO in step S120) (YES in step S120), it stops emitting the retrieval guidance sound and stops displaying the retrieval guidance image (step S122). The speaker of the user terminal 1500 starts emitting the warning guidance sound (step S124) and starts displaying the warning guidance image (guidance display) on the screen (step S126). The warning guidance image display may alternately show illustrations such as those shown in Figures 18 and 19, or it may be displayed as an animation connecting the two.

[0107] After the user has successfully retrieved the electronic key 70 from the storage compartment 60 following the instructions in the retrieval guidance, the engine of the vehicle 5 will be started. The in-vehicle unit 10 communicates with the powertrain system MCU 403 (see Figure 8) to obtain information regarding the engine's operating status. When the in-vehicle unit 10 detects engine start (YES in step S140), it terminates the sound of the warning guidance (step S142), sends a predetermined engine start notification to the user terminal 1500 (step S144), and terminates the service in-process.

[0108] When the user terminal 1500 receives an engine start notification from a waiting state for receiving an engine start notification (NO in step S150) (YES in step S150), it stops emitting the warning guidance sound and ends the display of the warning guidance on the screen (step S152).

[0109] If, in step S102, the user starts using the vehicle 5 without removing the electronic key 70 from the onboard unit 10 (YES in step S102), the system determines that the electronic key 70 is still stored inside, so the light 20 remains on and the removal guidance continues to be emitted repeatedly. The system then determines that the service-in process has not been performed correctly and controls are implemented to prevent the engine from starting.

[0110] If the user takes out the electronic key 70 but starts using the vehicle 5 without closing the storage compartment 60 (step S100 NO), the closed state of the storage compartment 60 is not detected in step S100, and the key removal guidance is repeatedly emitted on both the in-vehicle unit 10 and the user terminal 1500. The system then determines that the service-in process has not been performed correctly and controls are implemented to prevent the engine from starting.

[0111] If the in-vehicle unit 10 is not installed in the glove box or console box, leaving the storage compartment 60 open may allow debris to enter and cause malfunctions. There is also a possibility that a user inside the vehicle 5 may bump into and damage the storage compartment 60. Therefore, it is important to properly close the storage compartment 60 after removing the electronic key 70.

[0112] Figures 12 and 13 are flowcharts illustrating the processing flow of the in-vehicle device and the user terminal related to service out processing. In this process, the in-vehicle unit 10 illuminates the guide light 24 (step S200) and sends a predetermined service out preparation notification to the user terminal 1500 (step S202). Subsequently, the in-vehicle unit 10 starts emitting an opening operation guidance as part of the service out guidance (step S204).

[0113] As part of the service-out guidance, the opening operation guidance is one of the opening and closing operation guidance. For example, assuming that the in-vehicle unit 10 is installed in the glove compartment, the voice would read, "To perform a service-out, you must return the key. Press the button on the top of the device in the glove compartment to open the tray."

[0114] The words to be read aloud can be other than those listed and can be set as appropriate. For example, the phrase "inside the glove box" can be any name of the installation location of the in-vehicle unit 10 and can be changed as appropriate. It is preferable to have a DIP switch on the control board 30 so that different voice guidance data 323 with different installation location names are selected and applied according to the setting of the DIP switch.

[0115] When the user terminal 1500 receives a service out preparation notification (YES in step S160) from a waiting state for receiving the service out preparation notification (NO in step S160), it starts emitting an opening operation guidance as part of the service out guidance from the speaker of the user terminal 1500 (step S162), and starts displaying an opening operation guidance image (guidance display) as part of the service out guidance (step S164). The display of the guidance image may alternately show illustrations such as those shown in Figures 20 and 21, or it may be displayed as an animation connecting the two.

[0116] The user understands, through audio and visual guidance for opening the service exit, that opening the storage compartment 60 is necessary as a procedure for exiting the service. The user opens the storage compartment 60 by operating the opening / closing control unit 12, using the illumination of the guide light 24 as a guide.

[0117] When the in-vehicle unit 10 detects that the storage compartment 60 has opened (NO in step S170) while it is in a state of detecting whether or not the storage compartment 60 has opened (YES in step S170), it turns off the guide light 24 (step S172) and stops emitting the opening operation guidance sound for service out (step S174).

[0118] The in-vehicle unit 10 turns on the lights 20 (step S176), sends a predetermined access start notification to the user terminal 1500 (step S178), and starts emitting access guidance, which is part of the service out guidance (step S180).

[0119] The storage guidance prompts the user to store the electronic key 70 in the storage compartment 60. The storage guidance is an audio message that reads, for example, "Place the key in the tray with the button facing upwards, and then close the tray to its original position."

[0120] When the user terminal 1500 receives a notification to begin receiving a service (YES in step S190) from a waiting state for such a notification (NO in step S190), it starts broadcasting service guidance from its speaker (step S192) and starts displaying service guidance images (guidance display) on its screen (step S194). The service guidance images are displayed by alternating between illustrations, such as those shown in Figures 18 and 19, or by displaying them as an animation.

[0121] The user can quickly understand and perform the correct procedure for storing the electronic key 70 through the audio and visual guidance for storage. Since the light 20 is on, the electronic key 70 can be correctly fitted into the storage recess 62, even inside the glove compartment or at night.

[0122] The in-vehicle unit 10 detects whether the storage compartment 60 is closed or not (NO in step S200), and then detects that the storage compartment 60 is closed (YES in step S200). Then it detects whether the electronic key 70 is stored in the storage compartment 60 (NO in step S202), and if it detects that the electronic key 70 is stored (YES in step S202), it turns off the lights 20 (step S204) and ends the sound broadcast of the storage guidance (step S206).

[0123] Moving to Figure 13, the in-vehicle unit 10 then sends a notification of completion of entry to the user terminal 1500 (step S208) and begins broadcasting the exit guidance, which is part of the service exit guidance (step S210). The exit guidance prompts the user to get out of the vehicle and lock the doors from the user terminal 1500. The exit guidance is a voice message that reads out, for example, "Get out of the vehicle and lock the doors from your user terminal."

[0124] When the user terminal 1500 receives a passenger boarding completion notification (YES in step S220) from a waiting state for receiving a boarding completion notification (NO in step S220), it starts broadcasting boarding completion guidance from its speaker (step S222) and starts displaying a boarding completion guidance image (guidance display) on its screen (step S224). The boarding completion guidance image may display an illustration, for example, as shown in Figure 22.

[0125] The in-vehicle unit 10 can communicate with the body system MCU 405 via the in-vehicle network 400 to acquire information about the vehicle's condition, such as the opening and closing of the vehicle's doors (see Figure 8). The in-vehicle unit 10, which is in a state of detecting whether the driver's side door is open or closed (NO in step S230), detects that the driver's side door is open or closed (YES in step S230), assumes that the user has left the vehicle, sends a locking request notification to the user terminal 1500 (step S232), ends the audible exit guidance (step S234), and starts the audible locking guidance (step S236).

[0126] The locking guidance prompts the user to perform the locking operation on the user terminal 1500. The locking guidance is an audio message that reads, for example, "When you operate the lock operation icon on the terminal, the vehicle will be locked and service will be terminated."

[0127] When the user terminal 1500 receives the lock request notification from the waiting state for receiving the lock request notification (NO in step S240) (YES in step S240), it stops emitting the disembarkation guidance sound and stops displaying the disembarkation guidance image (step S242). Then, the user terminal 1500 starts emitting the lock guidance sound from the terminal's speaker (step S244) and displays the lock operation icon on the screen (step S246).

[0128] When the user terminal 1500 detects that the user has made an operation input to the lock operation icon (YES in step S250), after being in a state of detecting whether or not the user has made an operation input to the lock operation icon (NO in step S250), it sends a predetermined lock request to the in-vehicle unit 10 (step S252).

[0129] When the in-vehicle unit 10 receives a locking request from a waiting state for receiving a locking request (NO in step S260) (YES in step S260), it executes locking operation control to drive the second actuator 42 to press the lock button 72 of the stored electronic key (step S262). Then, the in-vehicle unit 10 ends the sound emission of the locking guidance (step S264), communicates with the server system 1100, sends a predetermined service out notification (step S266), and ends the service out process.

[0130] As described above, according to this embodiment, the usability of the in-vehicle unit 10 that houses the electronic key 70 can be improved.

[0131] The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above configuration, and the components can be changed, added, or omitted as long as they do not depart from the spirit of the invention.

[0132] For example, a timeout can be set as appropriate in the decision step of the flowchart above. It is also possible to configure the system to set limits on the number of times and duration of various guidance messages to be emitted. Furthermore, it is possible to configure the system to omit the emission of guidance messages on the user terminal 1500.

[0133] Furthermore, while the in-vehicle unit 10 in the above embodiment had a configuration in which the light-emitting unit 8 consisted of two components: an LED 21 for illumination 20 and an emergency light 24, it is also possible to realize both with a single light-emitting unit. Specifically, as shown in the light guide plate 22B in Figure 23, the light from the illumination LED 21 is guided to the area below the opening / closing operation unit 12, and the emergency light 24 is omitted. Then, the steps for turning the illumination 20 on / off and the steps for turning the emergency light 24 on / off in the flowchart above can be read as steps for turning the illumination LED 21 on / off. In other words, in this configuration, the illumination 20 also serves as the emergency light 24 in the above embodiment.

[0134] [Summary] The disclosures of this specification by the embodiments described above can be summarized as follows:

[0135] An aspect of the present disclosure is an in-vehicle device for housing an electronic key for a vehicle, comprising: a speaker; a light-emitting unit; an audio control unit that controls the speaker to emit a given voice guidance relating to the procedure for using the in-vehicle device when using the vehicle; and a lighting control unit that controls the illumination of the light-emitting unit in conjunction with the voice control unit's control of emitting the voice guidance.

[0136] According to this embodiment, the in-vehicle unit can emit voice guidance regarding the operation procedure of the in-vehicle unit when using the vehicle, and can control the illumination of the light-emitting part in conjunction with the voice guidance. The user can be accurately informed of the location to be operated at the appropriate time. The illumination of the light-emitting part can be used as the illumination necessary for the operation of taking out / storing the electronic key. According to this embodiment, the usability of the in-vehicle unit that stores the electronic key can be improved.

[0137] The system further comprises a storage section for housing the electronic key and an opening / closing operation section for opening and closing the storage section, wherein the voice guidance includes an retrieval guidance for removing the electronic key from the storage section and a storage guidance for putting the electronic key back into the storage section.

[0138] The light-emitting unit may have illumination that lights up the storage unit, and the lighting control unit may control the illumination in conjunction with the sound emission control of the retrieval guidance and storage guidance by the sound control unit.

[0139] The light-emitting unit may have an indicator light that indicates the opening and closing operation unit, the voice guidance may include opening and closing operation guidance to prompt operation of the opening and closing operation unit, and the lighting control unit may control the lighting of the indicator light in conjunction with the sound emission control of the opening and closing operation guidance by the voice control unit.

[0140] The light-emitting unit includes an illumination that lights up the housing and an indicator light that shows the opening and closing operation unit. The voice guidance may include, as service-in guidance for taking the electronic key out of the storage unit, an opening / closing operation guidance prompting the operation of the opening / closing operation unit, an opening / closing operation guidance for taking the electronic key out of the storage unit, and as service-out guidance for putting the electronic key back into the storage unit, the opening / closing operation guidance and a storage guidance for putting the electronic key back into the storage unit. The lighting control unit may perform lighting control of the guide light and then lighting control of the illumination in conjunction with the sound emission control of the service-in guidance by the voice control unit, and perform lighting control of the guide light and then lighting control of the illumination in conjunction with the sound emission control of the service-out guidance by the voice control unit.

[0141] The system may further include a communication unit that communicates with a user terminal of a user using the vehicle, and a display instruction control unit that, in conjunction with the sound emission control of the voice guidance by the voice control unit, controls the display of a given guidance display on the user terminal via the communication unit.

[0142] By utilizing user terminals as elements for executing guidance, usability can be further improved.

[0143] The system may further include an actuator that performs a push-button operation on the contained electronic key, and an operation control unit that operates the actuator when it receives an instruction to open or close the vehicle door from the user terminal via the communication unit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0144] 3… Sharing system 8...Light-emitting part 10…Onboard equipment 11…Main case section 12…Opening / closing operation unit 15…Open / Close Detection Unit 16...Containment detection unit 20…Lighting 21…LED for lighting 22...Light guide plate 24...Guidance light 26...Speaker 30…Control board 41…First Actuator 42...Second Actuator 50…Intermediate member 60... Detention area 61... Sub-case section 62…Accommodation recess 70…Electronic key 71…Unlock button 72... Locking button 310... Control Unit 311...Reservation Authentication Department 313...Voice Control Unit 315...Lighting control unit 317...Display Instruction Control Unit 319...Operation Control Unit 320...Storage section 321... Control program 323... Audio guide data 330… Input / Output Control Unit 340...Audio signal generation unit 351...First Communications Department 352...Second Communications Department 1100…Server System 1500... User terminal

Claims

1. An in-vehicle device that houses the vehicle's electronic key, Speakers and, Light-emitting part, The system comprises a control unit that controls the speaker and the light-emitting unit, The control unit, A sound emission control that emits a given voice guidance regarding the operating procedure of the in-vehicle device when using the vehicle from the speaker, The lighting control is performed to control the illumination of the light-emitting part, The sound emission control is repeatedly performed and the lighting control is continued until it is detected that the user has performed the predetermined operation based on the aforementioned operating procedure. Onboard equipment.

2. A housing section for housing the aforementioned electronic key, An opening / closing operation unit for opening and closing the aforementioned storage unit, Furthermore, The voice guidance includes retrieval guidance for removing the electronic key from the storage compartment and storage guidance for storing the electronic key in the storage compartment. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1.

3. The light-emitting unit has illumination that lights up the housing unit, The control unit controls the illumination of the lights, along with the sound emission control of the retrieval guidance and the storage guidance. The in-vehicle device according to claim 2.

4. The light-emitting section has an indicator light that shows the opening and closing operation section. The voice guidance includes opening and closing operation guidance that prompts the operation of the opening and closing operation unit. The control unit controls the illumination of the guide light, along with the audible control of the opening and closing operation guidance. The in-vehicle device according to claim 2.

5. The light-emitting part is, Lighting to illuminate the aforementioned storage area, An indicator light showing the opening and closing operation section, It has, The aforementioned voice guidance is As service-in guidance for removing the electronic key from the storage unit, the following are provided: opening / closing operation guidance prompting the operation of the opening / closing operation unit, and removal guidance for removing the electronic key from the storage unit. As a service-out guidance for storing the electronic key in the storage compartment, the opening and closing operation guidance and storage guidance for storing the electronic key in the storage compartment are provided. Includes, The control unit, Along with controlling the sound emission of the service-in guidance, the illumination of the guide lights is controlled, and then the illumination of the lights is controlled. Along with controlling the sound emission of the service-out guidance, the illumination of the guide lights is controlled, and then the illumination of the lights is controlled. The in-vehicle device according to claim 2.

6. The vehicle further comprises a communication unit that communicates with the user terminal of the user using the vehicle, The control unit, in conjunction with the control of the voice guidance emission, causes the user terminal to display a given guidance display via the communication unit. The in-vehicle device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The system further comprises an actuator that performs a push-button operation on the contained electronic key, The control unit operates the actuator when it receives a door opening / closing instruction for the vehicle from the user terminal via the communication unit. The in-vehicle device according to claim 6.

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