Processing apparatus and processing method for acquiring a position of a mobile terminal relative to a vehicle

Abstract

This invention reduces power consumption. This processing device comprises: an acquisition unit which performs data acquisition processing for acquiring distance data relating to a distance between each of multiple sensors 11 and a target device (mobile terminal 2) by using each of the sensors 11, the sensors 11 being installed at mutually different positions in a vehicle 1 and serving to transmit electromagnetic waves; and a processing unit which extracts some of the plurality of sensors 11 on the basis of the result of the data acquisition processing, identifies a plurality of candidates of a relative position of the target device relative to the vehicle 1 on the basis of the distance data obtained by the extracted sensor(s), and determines the relative position from among the plurality of candidates on the basis of the extraction result of the extracted sensor(s).

Description

[0001] [Document name] Statement

[0002] [Title of Invention] Processing device and processing method for acquiring the position of a mobile terminal relative to a vehicle

[0003] [Technical Field]

[0004]

[001] The present invention relates to a processing device and a processing method.

[0005] [Background technology]

[0006]

[002] In recent years, technologies have been used that perform various processes depending on the positional relationship between a target device, such as a user's mobile terminal, and a vehicle. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that automatically unlocks a vehicle door when it detects that a user's mobile terminal is approaching the vehicle.

[0007] [Prior art documents]

[0008] [Patent documents]

[0009]

〇 0 0 3

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-204149

[0011] Summary of the Invention

[0012] [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013]

[0004] In a technology for performing various processes according to the positional relationship between a target device and a vehicle, for example, a data acquisition process is performed using multiple sensors installed in different positions on the vehicle and emitting electromagnetic waves to acquire distance data regarding the distance between each sensor and the target device, and the acquired distance data is used to identify the relative position of the target device with respect to the vehicle. Various processes are then performed based on the determined relative position. As described above, in the process for identifying the relative position of the target device with respect to the vehicle, power consumption may increase due to the various processes being performed using many sensors. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce power consumption.

[0014]

[0005] In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a processing device and a processing method that can reduce power consumption.

[0015] [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] [0 0 0 6] In order to solve the above problem, the processing device is a processing device for a vehicle, and includes: an acquisition unit that performs data acquisition processing to acquire distance data relating to the distance between each of a plurality of sensors that are installed at different positions on the vehicle and emit electromagnetic waves, using each of the sensors; and a processing unit that extracts a specific sensor from among the plurality of sensors based on the result of the data acquisition processing, identifies a plurality of candidates for the relative position of the target device with respect to the vehicle based on the distance data obtained by the specific sensor, and determines the relative position from among the multiple candidates based on the extraction result of the specific sensor.

[0017] [0 0 0 7] In order to solve the above problem, the processing method is a processing method for a vehicle, in which an acquisition unit of the processing device performs a data acquisition process using each of a plurality of sensors that are installed at different positions on the vehicle and emit electromagnetic waves to acquire distance data regarding the distance between each of the sensors and a target device, and a processing unit of the processing device extracts a specific sensor from among the plurality of sensors based on the result of the data acquisition process, identifies a plurality of candidates for the relative position of the target device with respect to the vehicle based on the distance data obtained by the specific sensor, and determines the relative position from among the multiple candidates based on the extraction result of the specific sensor.

[0018] [Effects of the Invention]

[0019]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce power consumption.

[0020] [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021]

〇 0 0 9

[0022]

[0023] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a general configuration of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] [Figure 3] A diagram for explaining the automatic control of door unlocking and locking performed by a processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] [Figure 4] A flowchart showing an example of the overall flow of processing performed by a processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] [Figure 5] A flowchart showing an example of the flow of a relative position identification process performed by a processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] [Figure 6] A figure showing an example of a relative position candidate.

[0027] [Figure 7] A diagram to explain the case where another vehicle is applied as the target device.

[0028] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029]

[0010] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific values ​​shown in the embodiments are merely examples to facilitate understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant explanation, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0030]

[0011] <Vehicle configuration> With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the configuration of a vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0031]

[0012] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of a vehicle 1. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 1 is equipped with multiple sensors 11 and a processing device 12.

[0032]

[0013] The drive source of the vehicle 1 is not particularly limited. For example, the vehicle 1 may be equipped with only a motor as a drive source, only an engine as a drive source, or both a motor and an engine as drive sources.

[0033]

[0014] The sensors 11 are installed on the vehicle 1 to determine the position of a target device (for example, a mobile terminal 2, which will be described later) outside the vehicle 1. In the example of FIG. 1, four sensors 11, sensors 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d, are installed on the vehicle 1. Sensor 11a is installed on the right front of the vehicle 1. Sensor 11c is installed on the left front of the vehicle 1. Sensor 11c is installed on the left rear of the vehicle 1. Sensor lid is installed on the right rear of the vehicle 1. However, the number and arrangement of the sensors 11 installed on the vehicle 1 are not limited to the example of FIG. 1. As will be described later, the sensors 11 can emit electromagnetic waves. This allows distance data regarding the distance between the sensors 11 and the target device to be obtained. Details of the operation of sensor 11 will be described later.

[0034]

[0015] The processing device 12 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), which is an arithmetic processing device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), which is a memory element that stores programs and calculation parameters used by the CPU, and a RAM (Read Only Memory), which is a memory element that temporarily stores parameters that change as the CPU executes. The processing device 12 may be, for example, a single device, or may be divided into multiple devices. When the processing device 12 is divided into multiple devices, the various functions described below are shared among the multiple devices. For example, some functions of the processing unit 12b described below and other functions may be shared by different devices.

[0035]

[0016] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the processing device 12. As shown in Figure 2, the processing device 12 includes, for example, an acquisition unit 12a, a processing unit 12b, and a storage unit 12c.

[0017] The acquisition unit 12a acquires information from each device in the vehicle 1. For example, the acquisition unit 12a acquires information from each sensor 11. Specifically, the acquisition unit 12a outputs an operation command to each sensor 11 and acquires information detected by each sensor 11. In this specification, the acquisition of information may include the extraction or generation of information (for example, calculation), etc.

[0036]

[0018] The processing unit 12b performs various processes. In particular, the processing unit 12b performs processes related to identifying the position of a target device (e.g., a mobile terminal 2 described later) outside the vehicle 1. Details of the processes performed by the processing unit 12b will be described later.

[0037]

[0019] The memory unit 12c stores various types of information. The information stored in the memory unit 12c is used in the processing performed by the processing unit 12b.

[0038]

[0020] Here, the processing device 12 can perform various processes according to the positional relationship between the vehicle 1 and a target device outside the vehicle 1. For example, the processing device 12 automatically controls unlocking and locking of the doors of the vehicle 1 according to the positional relationship between the vehicle 1 and a mobile terminal 2 (for example, a terminal such as a smartphone owned by the user of the vehicle 1). Hereinafter, such control performed by the processing device 12 is also referred to as automatic control of unlocking and locking of doors.

[0039]

[0021] Figure 3 is a diagram for explaining the automatic control of door locking and unlocking performed by the processing device 12. As will be described later, the processing device 12 can identify the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1 using each sensor 11. For example, the sensor 11 transmits a first electromagnetic wave W! to the mobile terminal 2, and the mobile terminal 2 transmits a second electromagnetic wave W2 to the sensor 11 upon receiving the first electromagnetic wave W!. The processing device 12 can determine the distance between the sensor 11 and the mobile terminal 2 based on the flight time of the electromagnetic wave. The processing device 12 can then identify the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1 based on the distance between each sensor 11 and the mobile terminal 2. Details of the process related to obtaining distance data using the sensor 11 will be described later.

[0040]

[0022] For example, as shown by the solid arrow in Fig. 3, when the mobile terminal 2 enters from the outside of area A1 within a predetermined distance from the outer periphery of the vehicle 1, the processing device 12 automatically unlocks the doors of the vehicle 1. On the other hand, when the mobile terminal 2 exits from the inside of area A1 to the outside, the processing device 12 automatically locks the doors of the vehicle 1. With this automatic control of door unlocking and locking, for example, even if the user of the vehicle 1 has their hands full with luggage, the user can unlock the doors simply by approaching the vehicle 1. This improves convenience.

[0041]

[0023] The processing device 12 can authenticate whether or not the mobile terminal 2 is a terminal that is associated with the user of the vehicle 1 and registered in advance, for example, by using information obtained through communication between the mobile terminal 2 and the sensor 11. Only when the mobile terminal 2 is associated with the user of the vehicle 1 and registered in advance, the processing device 12 automatically controls the unlocking and locking of the doors as described above.

[0042]

[0024] In the following, an example will be mainly explained in which the target device to be located is a mobile terminal 2. However, as will be described later, the mobile terminal 2 is merely an example of a target device. Furthermore, automatic control of door unlocking and locking is merely an example of processing performed according to the positional relationship between the vehicle 1 and the target device.

[0043]

[0025] <Operation of the Processing Device> The operation of the processing device 12 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 7.

[0026] As described above, the processing device 12 can perform various processes (for example, automatic control of door unlocking and locking) according to the positional relationship between the vehicle 1 and the mobile terminal 2. When performing such processes, the processing device 12 performs a process to identify the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1. The process to identify the relative position performed by the processing device 12 will be described below.

[0044]

[0027] Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the overall flow of processing performed by the processing device 12. Step S101 in Fig. 4 corresponds to the start of the processing flow shown in Fig. 4. The processing flow shown in Fig. 4 starts, for example, while the vehicle 1 is stopped.

[0045]

[0028] When the processing flow shown in FIG. 4 starts, in step S102, the acquisition unit 12a performs data acquisition processing to acquire distance data relating to the distance between the sensor 11 and the mobile terminal 2.

[0046]

[0029] Specifically, in step S!02, the acquisition unit 12a performs data acquisition processing for each sensor 11. That is, in the data acquisition processing, the acquisition unit 12a acquires distance data relating to the distance between each sensor 11 and the mobile terminal 2. In the following, an example will be mainly described in which the distance data is data that directly indicates the distance between the sensor 11 and the mobile terminal 2. However, as will be described later, the distance data may be data that can be substantially converted into the distance between the sensor 11 and the mobile terminal 2.

[0047]

[0030] In the data acquisition process, the acquisition unit 12a acquires distance data using the sensor 11. For example, the acquisition unit 12a causes the sensor 11 to emit a first electromagnetic wave W1. The sensor 11, for example, emits the first electromagnetic wave W1 radially in each direction around it. The first electromagnetic wave W1 emitted from the sensor 11 is then received by the mobile terminal 2. Here, when the mobile terminal 2 receives the first electromagnetic wave W1, the mobile terminal 2 that has received the first electromagnetic wave W1 emits a second electromagnetic wave W2 to the sensor 11. The second electromagnetic wave W2 emitted from the mobile terminal 2 is then received by the sensor 11.

[0048]

[0031] The acquisition unit 12a acquires distance data based on a first time period from when the first electromagnetic wave W1 is transmitted from the sensor 11 to when the first electromagnetic wave W1 is received by the mobile terminal 2, and a second time period from when the second electromagnetic wave W2 is transmitted from the mobile terminal 2 in response to the reception of the first electromagnetic wave W1 to when the second electromagnetic wave W2 is received by the sensor 11. Here, the sum of the first time period and the second time period corresponds to the time it takes for the electromagnetic wave to travel back and forth between the sensor 11 and the mobile terminal 2. Therefore, the acquisition unit 12a acquires, for example, half the value obtained by multiplying the sum of the first time period and the second time period by the speed of the electromagnetic wave (i.e., the speed of light) as distance data indicating the distance between the sensor 11 and the mobile terminal 2.

[0049]

[0032] When the mobile terminal 2 receives the first electromagnetic wave W1, it determines whether the sender of the first electromagnetic wave W1 is a pre-registered vehicle 1, and if it determines that the sender of the first electromagnetic wave W1 is a pre-registered vehicle 1, it transmits the second electromagnetic wave W2. Therefore, there is actually a time difference between the time when the first electromagnetic wave W1 is received by the mobile terminal 2 and the time when the second electromagnetic wave W2 is transmitted from the mobile terminal 2. Therefore, the acquisition unit 12a takes this time difference into consideration and calculates the sum of the first time and the second time to acquire distance data.

[0050]

[0033] Furthermore, the acquisition unit 12a stores the result of the data acquisition process (specifically, the distance data acquired by the data acquisition process) in the memory unit 12c. As will be described later, the result of the data acquisition process in step S102 is used in a determination process (step S103) that determines the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1.

[0034] Note that, as will be described later, the method of acquiring distance data in the data acquisition process is not limited to the above example.

[0051]

[0035] After step S102, in step S103, the processing unit 12b performs a determination process to determine the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1, and then returns to step S102.

[0052]

[0036] In the relative position determination process of step S103, the processing unit 12b determines the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1 based on the result of the data acquisition process of step S102. Here, in the relative position determination process, power consumption may increase due to various processes being performed using many sensors 11. In this embodiment, by implementing improvements in the relative position determination process, it is possible to reduce power consumption, as will be described later. Below, the relative position determination process performed by the processing unit 12 is described in detail.

[0053]

[0037] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a relative position specification process performed by the processing device 12. Step S201 in Fig. 5 corresponds to the start of the process flow shown in Fig. 5. Step S205 in Fig. 5 corresponds to the end of the process flow shown in Fig. 5. The process flow shown in Fig. 5 is executed, for example, in step S103 of the process flow shown in Fig. 4.

[0054]

[0038] In the following, an example will be described in which the processing unit 12b determines a two-dimensional position as the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1. However, as will be described later, the processing unit 12b may determine a three-dimensional position as the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1.

[0055]

[0039] When the processing flow shown in FIG. 5 starts, in step S202, the processing unit 12b extracts some specific sensors from among the sensors 11a, lib, 11c, and lid based on the results of the data acquisition process.

[0056]

[0040] As will be described later, after a specific sensor is extracted, distance data from the sensor 11 that was not extracted as a specific sensor is not used, and only distance data from the sensor 11 that was extracted as a specific sensor is used to determine the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1. As a result, during the series of processes for specifying the relative position, some of the sensors 11 can be put into a state in which power consumption is reduced (for example, a standby state in which data output is temporarily stopped), thereby realizing a reduction in power consumption.

[0057]

[0041] For example, the processing unit 12b preferentially extracts the sensor 11 closest to the mobile terminal 2 from among the sensors 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d as the specific sensor. Here, the processing unit 12b extracts two sensors 11 from among the sensors 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d: the sensor 11 closest to the mobile terminal 2 and the sensor 11 second closest to the mobile terminal 2. For example, if the shortest and second shortest distances among the distance between sensor 11a and mobile terminal 2, the distance between sensor 11b and mobile terminal 2, the distance between sensor 11c and mobile terminal 2, and the distance between sensor 11d and mobile terminal 2 are the distance between sensor 11a and mobile terminal 2 and the distance between sensor 11b and mobile terminal 2, respectively, processing unit 12b extracts sensor 11a and sensor 11b as specific sensors.

[0058]

[0042] After step S202, in step S203, the processing unit 12b identifies multiple candidates for the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1 based on the distance data obtained by the specific sensor extracted in step S202.

[0059]

[0043] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of relative position candidates. The example in Fig. 6 is an example in which sensor 11a and sensor 11b are extracted as specific sensors in step S202. In this case, in the horizontal plane, the mobile terminal 2 exists on a circle with sensor 11a as its center and a radius equal to the distance L1 between sensor 11a and the mobile terminal 2. Similarly, the mobile terminal 2 exists on a circle with sensor lib as its center and a radius equal to the distance L2 between sensor 11b and the mobile terminal 2. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 6, the mobile terminal 2 is located at either the intersection P1 or P2 of the two circles. Therefore, the processing unit 12b identifies the intersection P1 and the intersection P2 as candidates for the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1.

[0060]

[0044] After step S203 in FIG. 5, in step S204, the processing unit 12b determines the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1 from among multiple candidates based on the extraction result of the specific sensor in step S202, and the processing flow shown in FIG. 5 ends.

[0061]

[0045] The processing unit 12b determines a relative position from among multiple candidates, for example, based on the position of a specific sensor in the vehicle 1. Here, the direction in which electromagnetic waves can be emitted between each sensor 11 differs depending on the position of the sensor 11 in the vehicle 1. Therefore, the range in which the mobile terminal 2 can be detected between each sensor 11 differs depending on the position of the sensor 11 in the vehicle 1.

[0062]

[0046] For example, sensor 11a installed on the right front of vehicle 1 can emit electromagnetic waves mainly forward and to the right. Therefore, the range in which sensor 11a can detect mobile terminal 2 is a range extending from the front to the right of vehicle 1. Sensor lib installed on the left front of vehicle 1 can emit electromagnetic waves mainly forward and to the left. Therefore, the range in which sensor 11b can detect mobile terminal 2 is a range extending from the front to the left of vehicle 1. Sensor 11c installed on the left rear of vehicle 1 can emit electromagnetic waves mainly backward and to the left. Therefore, the range in which sensor 11c can detect mobile terminal 2 is a range extending from the rear to the left of vehicle 1. Furthermore, the sensor 11d installed on the right rear of the vehicle 1 can emit electromagnetic waves mainly toward the rear and right. Therefore, the range within which the sensor 11d can detect the mobile terminal 2 extends from the rear to the right of the vehicle 1.

[0063]

[0047] Therefore, the processing unit 12b determines, from among the candidates for the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1, a candidate that is within the range in which the mobile terminal 2 can be detected by the specific sensor as the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, sensors 11a and 11b are extracted as specific sensors. Here, the range in which the mobile terminal 2 can be detected by sensors 11a and 11b is the range in front of the vehicle 1. Intersection P1 is located in front of the vehicle 1. On the other hand, intersection P2 is located behind the vehicle 1. Therefore, of intersections P1 and P2 that are candidates for the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1, the processing unit 12b determines intersection P1 as the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1. If the mobile terminal 2 were located at intersection P2, the sensors 11c and 11d would be extracted as specific sensors. Therefore, the processing unit 12b can determine that the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1 is not intersection P2 based on the fact that the sensors 11c and 11d are not extracted as specific sensors.

[0064]

[0048] As described above, in this embodiment, the processing unit 12b of the processing device 12 extracts some specific sensors from the multiple sensors 11 based on the result of the data acquisition process, identifies multiple candidates for the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1 based on the distance data obtained by the specific sensors, and determines the relative position from among the multiple candidates based on the extraction result of the specific sensors. As a result, after extracting the specific sensors, the processing unit 12b can determine the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1 using only the distance data of the sensors 11 extracted as specific sensors, without using the distance data of the sensors 11 that were not extracted as specific sensors. Therefore, during the series of flows of the relative position specification process, some sensors 11 can be put into a state in which power consumption is reduced (for example, a standby state in which data output is temporarily stopped, etc.), and power consumption can be reduced. For example, in the example of FIG. 5, after the specific sensor is extracted in step S202, the processing unit 12b can temporarily put the sensor 11 that was not extracted as the specific sensor into a standby state.

[0065]

[0049] The above describes examples of processing performed by the processing device 12 with reference to Figs. 4 to 6. However, the processing performed by the processing device 12 may be modified from the above-described processing examples.

[0066]

[0050] For example, the above description mainly deals with an example in which the distance data is data that directly indicates the distance between the sensor 11 and the mobile terminal 2. However, the distance data may be data that can be substantially converted into the distance between the sensor 11 and the mobile terminal 2. For example, the distance data may be data that indicates the total value of the flight time (i.e., the second time) of the first electromagnetic wave W1 transmitted from the sensor 11 to the mobile terminal 2 and the flight time (i.e., the second time) of the second electromagnetic wave W2 transmitted from the mobile terminal 2 to the sensor 11.

[0067]

[0051] In the above description, an example has been described in which distance data is acquired based on the time of flight (i.e., the second time) of the first electromagnetic wave W1 transmitted from the sensor 11 to the mobile terminal 2 and the time of flight (i.e., the second time) of the second electromagnetic wave W2 transmitted from the mobile terminal 2 to the sensor 11 in the data acquisition process. However, the method of acquiring distance data in the data acquisition process is not limited to the above example. For example, in the data acquisition process, the acquisition unit 12a may acquire distance data based on the received signal strength when the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the sensor 11 is received by the mobile terminal 2. In this case, for example, when the mobile terminal 2 receives the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the sensor 11, the mobile terminal 2 measures the received signal strength and transmits a signal indicating the measurement result of the received signal strength to the sensor 11. The acquisition unit 12 a can determine, for example, that the greater the received signal strength, the closer the distance between the sensor 11 and the mobile terminal 2. In this case, data directly indicating the received signal strength may be used as distance data.

[0068]

[0052] In the above example, the processing unit 12b determines a two-dimensional position as the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1. In this case, the processing unit 12b can determine the two-dimensional position as the relative position by extracting at least two sensors 11 as specific sensors, as in the above example. Specifically, the processing unit 12b can identify two candidates for the two-dimensional relative position using distance data obtained by the two specific sensors. Therefore, the processing unit 12b can determine the relative position from among the two candidates based on the extraction results of the specific sensors (for example, based on the positions of the specific sensors on the vehicle 1).

[0069]

[0053] However, the processing unit 12b may determine a three-dimensional position as the relative position of the mobile terminal 2 with respect to the vehicle 1. In this case, the processing unit 12b can determine the three-dimensional position as the relative position by, for example, extracting at least three sensors 11 as specific sensors. Specifically, the processing unit 12b can identify two candidates for the three-dimensional relative position using distance data obtained by the three specific sensors. Therefore, the processing unit 12b can determine the relative position from among the two candidates based on the extraction results of the specific sensors (for example, based on the positions of the specific sensors on the vehicle 1).

[0070]

[0054] In the above description, the target device whose location is to be identified is mainly the mobile terminal 2. However, the target device whose location is to be identified may be a device other than the mobile terminal 2. For example, the target device whose location is to be identified may be another vehicle, a battery charger for the vehicle 1, a garage gate, a drone, a robot, etc.

[0071]

[0055] Figure 7 is a diagram for explaining a case where another vehicle 3 is applied as a target device. In the example of Figure 7, the other vehicle 3 is located to the left front of the vehicle 1. The other vehicle 3 has the same configuration as the vehicle 1. Specifically, the other vehicle 3 is equipped with four sensors 31, namely, sensors 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d, that emit electromagnetic waves. Sensor 31a is installed at the right front of the other vehicle 3. Sensor 31b is installed at the left front of the other vehicle 3. Sensor 31c is installed at the left rear of the other vehicle 3. Sensor 31d is installed at the right rear of the other vehicle 3.

[0072]

[0056] In the example of Fig. 7, the processing device 12 of the vehicle 1 identifies the relative position of another vehicle 3 with respect to the vehicle 1. In the data acquisition process, the acquisition unit 12a acquires distance data relating to the distance between each sensor 11 of the vehicle 1 and each sensor 31 of the other vehicle 3. Here, there are 16 possible combinations of the sensors 11 and 31. In other words, the acquisition unit 12a acquires 16 different sets of distance data in the data acquisition process.

[0073]

[0057] The processing unit 12b extracts, for example, from the sensors 11a, lib, 11c, and lid, two sensors 11, namely, the sensor 11 closest to the other vehicle 3 and the sensor 11 second closest to the other vehicle 3, as specific sensors.

[0074]

[0058] For example, first, the processing unit 12b calculates the sum of the shortest and second shortest distances among the distance between sensor 31a and sensor 11a, the distance between sensor 31a and sensor lib, the distance between sensor 31a and sensor 11c, and the distance between sensor 31a and sensor lid. Similarly, the processing unit 12b calculates the sum of the shortest and second shortest distances among the distance between sensor 31b and sensor 11a, the distance between sensor 31b and sensor 11b, the distance between sensor 31b and sensor 11c, and the distance between sensor 31b and sensor 11d. Similarly, the processing unit 12b calculates the sum of the shortest and second shortest distances among the distance between sensor 31c and sensor 11a, the distance between sensor 31c and sensor 11b, the distance between sensor 31c and sensor lie, and the distance between sensor 31c and sensor lid. Similarly, the processing unit 12b calculates the sum of the shortest and second shortest distances among the distance between sensor 31d and sensor 11a, the distance between sensor 31d and sensor 11b, the distance between sensor 31d and sensor 11c, and the distance between sensor 31d and sensor 11d.

[0075]

[0059] Next, the processing unit 12b extracts the two sensors 11 used to calculate the smallest sum of the four types of sums as the specific sensors. For example, in the example of Fig. 7, the smallest sum of the four types of sums is the sum of the distance between sensor 31d and sensor 11a and the distance between sensor 31d and sensor 11b. Therefore, the processing unit 12b extracts sensor 11a and sensor 11b as the specific sensors.

[0076]

[0060] Then, the processing unit 12b identifies multiple candidates for the relative position of the other vehicle 3 with respect to the vehicle 1 based on the distance between the sensor 31d and the sensor 11a and the distance between the sensor 31d and the sensor 11b. For example, the processing unit 12b identifies, as candidates for the relative position of the other vehicle 3 with respect to the vehicle 1, two intersections of a circle with the sensor 11a at its center and the distance between the sensor 31d and the sensor 11a as its radius, and a circle with the sensor 11b at its center and the distance between the sensor 31d and the sensor 11b as its radius.

[0077]

[0061] Then, the processing unit 12b determines a relative position from among multiple candidates based on the positions of the sensors 11a and 11b on the vehicle 1. Here, the range in which the sensors 11a and 11b can detect the sensor 31 is the range ahead of the vehicle 1. Therefore, of the two intersections identified as candidates for the relative position of the other vehicle 3 to the vehicle 1, the processing unit 12b determines the intersection located ahead of the vehicle 1 as the relative position of the other vehicle 3 to the vehicle 1.

[0078]

[0062] In the above, automatic control of door unlocking and locking has been described as an example of processing performed according to the positional relationship between the vehicle 1 and the target device. However, the processing performed according to the positional relationship between the vehicle 1 and the target device may be processing other than automatic control of door unlocking and locking. For example, the processing performed according to the positional relationship between the vehicle 1 and the target device may be processing that permits the start of a drive source such as an engine of the vehicle 1 when it is detected that the mobile terminal 2 of the user of the vehicle 1 is approaching the vehicle 1.

[0079]

[0063] <Effects of the Processing Apparatus> The effects of the processing apparatus 1-2 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0080]

[0064] The processing device 12 includes an acquisition unit 12a that performs a data acquisition process to acquire distance data relating to the distance between each of the sensors 11 and the target device (in the above example, the mobile terminal 2) using each of the multiple sensors 11 that are installed at different positions on the vehicle 1 and emit electromagnetic waves, and a processing unit 12b that extracts some specific sensors from the multiple sensors 11 based on the results of the data acquisition process, identifies multiple candidates for the relative position of the target device with respect to the vehicle 1 based on the distance data acquired by the specific sensors, and determines the relative position from among the multiple candidates based on the extraction results of the specific sensors. As a result, after extracting the specific sensors, the processing unit 12b can determine the relative position of the target device with respect to the vehicle 1 using only the distance data of the sensors 11 extracted as specific sensors, without using the distance data of the sensors 11 that were not extracted as specific sensors. Therefore, during the series of processes for determining the relative position, some sensors 11 can be put into a state in which power consumption is reduced (for example, into a standby state in which data output is temporarily stopped), thereby reducing power consumption.

[0081]

[0065] Preferably, in the processing device 12, the processing unit 12b preferentially extracts, as the specific sensor, from among the multiple sensors 11, the sensor 11 closest to the target device (in the above example, the mobile terminal 2). This allows the sensor 11 closest to the target device and capable of easily detecting the target device with high accuracy to be preferentially extracted as the specific sensor. Therefore, based on the extraction result of the specific sensor, the relative position of the target device with respect to the vehicle 1 can be appropriately determined.

[0082]

[0066] The processing unit 12b does not necessarily have to preferentially extract a sensor 11 that is closer to the target device as the specific sensor from among the multiple sensors 11. For example, the processing unit 12b may extract a sensor 11 that is farther from the target device than the other two or more sensors 11 from among the multiple sensors 11 as the specific sensor.

[0083]

[0067] Preferably, in the processing device 12, the processing unit 12b determines a relative position from among a plurality of candidates based on the position of a specific sensor in the vehicle 1. This makes it possible to appropriately determine the relative position of the target device with respect to the vehicle 1, taking into account the range in which the target device can be detected by each sensor 11.

[0084]

[0068] Note that the processing unit 12b does not necessarily have to determine the relative position from among multiple candidates based on the position of a specific sensor on the vehicle 1. For example, the range in which each sensor 11 can detect the target device may change depending on factors other than the position of the sensor 11 on the vehicle 1. Therefore, the processing unit 12b may determine the relative position from among multiple candidates, taking into account the above factors other than the position of the sensor 11 on the vehicle 1.

[0085]

[0069] Preferably, in the processing device 12, the processing unit 12b extracts two sensors 11 as specific sensors and determines the two-dimensional position as a relative position. As described above, when determining a two-dimensional position as a relative position, distance data obtained by at least two sensors 11 is sufficient. Therefore, when determining a two-dimensional position as a relative position, by extracting two sensors 11 as specific sensors, the number of specific sensors can be effectively reduced, and power consumption can be effectively reduced.

[0086]

[0070] When the processing unit 12b determines a two-dimensional position as a relative position, it may extract three or more sensors 11 as specific sensors.

[0087]

[0071] Preferably, in the processing device 12, the processing unit 12b extracts three sensors 11 as specific sensors and determines the three-dimensional position as a relative position. As described above, when determining a three-dimensional position as a relative position, distance data obtained by at least three sensors 11 is sufficient. Therefore, when determining a three-dimensional position as a relative position, by extracting three sensors 11 as specific sensors, the number of specific sensors can be effectively reduced, and power consumption can be effectively reduced.

[0088]

[0072] When the processing unit 12b determines a three-dimensional position as a relative position, it may extract four or more sensors 11 as specific sensors.

[0089]

[0073] Preferably, in the processing device 12, the acquisition unit 12a acquires distance data in the data acquisition process based on a first time from the time the first electromagnetic wave W! is emitted from the sensor 11 to the time the first electromagnetic wave W! is received by the target device (in the above example, the mobile terminal 2), and a second time from the time the second electromagnetic wave W2 is emitted from the target device in response to receiving the first electromagnetic wave W1 to the time the second electromagnetic wave W2 is received by the sensor 11. This makes it possible to appropriately acquire distance data relating to the distance between the sensor 11 and the target device in the data acquisition process.

[0090]

[0074] Preferably, in the processing device 12, the target device is the mobile terminal 2. This reduces power consumption when performing processing (for example, automatic control of door unlocking and locking) that is performed depending on the positional relationship between the vehicle 1 and the mobile terminal 2.

[0091]

[0075] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and that various modifications and alterations within the scope of the claims also fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0092]

[0076] For example, the processes described herein using flowcharts do not necessarily have to be performed in the order shown in the flowcharts. Some process steps may be performed in parallel. Additional process steps may also be employed, and some process steps may be omitted.

[0093]

[0077] For example, the series of processes performed by the processing device 12 described above may be realized by software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The programs constituting the software are stored in advance in a storage medium provided inside or outside the information processing device.

[0094] [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] [ 0 0 7 8 ]

[0096] 1 vehicle

[0097] 2 Mobile terminal (target device)

[0098] 3 Other vehicles (target devices)

[0099] 1 1 Sensor

[0100] 1 1 a sensor lib sensor

[0101] 1 1 c sensor lid sensor

[0102] 1 2 Processing device 1 2 a Acquisition unit 1 2 b Processing unit 1 2 c Memory unit 3 1 Sensor 3 1 a Sensor 3 1 Sensor 3 1 c Sensor 3 1 d Sensor A 1 Area L ! Distance L 2 Distance P 1 Intersection P 2 Intersection W 1 First electromagnetic wave W 2 Second electromagnetic wave

Claims

【Document Name】 Claims

1. A processing device (12) of a vehicle (1), comprising: an acquisition unit (12a) that performs data acquisition processing for acquiring distance data regarding the distance between each of a plurality of sensors (11) installed at different positions in the vehicle (1) and transmitting electromagnetic waves and a target device (2); and a processing unit (12b) that extracts some specific sensors from the plurality of sensors (11) based on the result of the data acquisition processing, specifies a plurality of candidates for the relative position of the target device (2) with respect to the vehicle (1) based on the distance data obtained by the specific sensors, and determines the relative position from among the plurality of candidates based on the extraction result of the specific sensors. A processing device.

2. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit (12b) preferentially extracts, as the specific sensors, the sensors (11) among the plurality of sensors (11) that are close to the target device (2).

3. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit (12b) determines the relative position from among the plurality of candidates based on the positions of the specific sensors in the vehicle (1).

4. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit (12b) extracts two of the sensors (11) as the specific sensors and determines a two-dimensional position as the relative position.

5. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit (12b) extracts three of the sensors (11) as the specific sensors and determines a three-dimensional position as the relative position.

6. The acquisition unit (12a) acquires the distance data based on a first time from the time when a first electromagnetic wave (W1) is transmitted from the sensor (11) to the time when the first electromagnetic wave (W1) is received by the target device (2) in the data acquisition process, and a second time from the time when a second electromagnetic wave (W2) is transmitted from the target device (2) in response to the reception of the first electromagnetic wave (W1) to the time when the second electromagnetic wave (W2) is received by the sensor (11). The processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The target device is a mobile terminal (2). The processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. A processing method for a vehicle (1), wherein an acquisition unit (12a) of a processing device (12) performs a data acquisition process of acquiring distance data regarding the distance between each of a plurality of sensors (11) installed at different positions in the vehicle (1) and transmitting electromagnetic waves and a target device (2) using each of the sensors (11), and a processing unit (12b) of the processing device (12) extracts a part of the plurality of sensors, i.e., specific sensors, based on the result of the data acquisition process, and identifies a plurality of candidates for the relative position of the target device (2) with respect to the vehicle (1) based on the distance data obtained by the specific sensors, and determines the relative position from among the plurality of candidates based on the extraction result of the specific sensors.

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