Vehicle remote control apparatus and vehicle remote control system using the same

A vehicle remote control apparatus has: A) a first transmitter for outputting an authentication request signal to a mobile device including a radio terminal assigned with an identification code special to a vehicle and outputting an authentication response signal corresponding to the identification code; B) a second transmitter for outputting an interference wave to cancel the authentication request signal at the same time as the first transmitter transmits the authentication request signal; C) a receiver for receiving the authentication response signal output from the mobile device in response to the authentication request signal, thereby checking authenticity of the authentication response signal; and D) a controller for controlling operation of an on-vehicle equipment based on the result of authentication of the authentication response signal.

THIS APPLICATION IS A U.S. NATIONAL PHASE APPLICATION OF PCT INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PCT/JP2004/015875.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle remote control apparatus for controlling a vehicle by authenticating a mobile device including a radio terminal assigned with an identification code special to the vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, there have been rapidly developed a vehicle remote control apparatus capable of opening and closing a vehicle door lock without inserting a key into the door.FIG. 6is a configuration diagram of a conventional vehicle remote control system andFIG. 7is an operation sequence diagram of the vehicle remote control apparatus shown inFIG. 6. In other words,FIG. 7shows a sequence of outputting of signals from various units.FIG. 8andFIG. 10are also configuration diagrams of the conventional vehicle remote control system in different situations andFIG. 9andFIG. 11are operation sequence diagrams in the respective situations.

Near the driver's door and near the assistant driver's door of the vehicle, there are respectively provided antennas11,12for transmitting signals for authentication. Further, within or near a rear bumper on the driver's side and within or near the bumper on the assistant driver's side, there are provided antennas13,14. Antennas11,13have communication ranges11A,13A, respectively.

In the configuration described above, suppose now that owner5of the vehicle carrying a mobile device4including a radio terminal assigned with an identification code special to the vehicle approaches the vehicle from the driver's side as shown inFIG. 6. When owner5touches the door on the driver's side, outside door switch2is turned on and this ON-signal is transmitted to controller1. Thereupon, controller1outputs authentication request signal701.

Since mobile device4is present within range.11A at this time, mobile device4outputs authentication response signal702. Authentication signal receiver (hereinafter called “receiver”)8receives response signal702, and when this signal is verified against the registered code and validated, receiver8outputs door lock opening signal703to controller1, whereby the door lock is released.

Then, suppose that controller1outputs authentication request signal901from antenna11when mobile device4is positioned at the rear of the vehicle as shown inFIG. 8. Since mobile device4is present out of range11A at this time, mobile device4does not output an authentication response signal. In such a case, controller1outputs authentication request signal902from antenna13after a predetermined period of time. Since mobile device4is now present within range13A where authentication request signal902is communicatable, it outputs authentication response signal903, and receiver8receives response signal903. Receiver8verifies and validates the received signal and outputs door lock opening signal904to controller1, whereby the door lock is released.

Likewise, when owner5carrying mobile device4approaches the vehicle from the assistant driver's side, an ON-signal of outside door switch3on the assistant driver's side is transmitted to controller1. Controller1outputs an authentication request signal from antenna12. If mobile device4is present within the communication range of antenna12, mobile device4outputs an authentication response signal. Receiver8receives this response signal and if the signal matches with the registered code, it outputs a door lock opening signal to controller1and thereby the door lock is released.

Further, when owner5carrying mobile device4approaches the vehicle from the rear of the vehicle, an ON-signal of outside door switch7at the rear of the vehicle is transmitted to controller1, and controller1outputs an authentication request signal from antenna13,14. If mobile device4is present within the communication range of antenna13or antenna14, mobile device4outputs an authentication response signal. Receiver8receives this signal and outputs a door lock opening signal to controller1, if it matches with the registered code, thereby, the door lock is released. Such a vehicle remote control apparatus as described above is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2003-106019.

However, there is a problem with the above described conventional system as follows. InFIG. 10, owner5carrying mobile device4is within the communication range13A of antenna13at the rear of the vehicle on the driver's side but the owner is just present there with no intention to open a door of the vehicle. For some time in the beginning, there is no response made to authentication request signal1101output from antenna11and, hence, door lock opening signal1104is not output. However, if stranger6approaches the vehicle from the driver's side and turns on switch2unnoticed by owner5, mobile device4transmits authentication response signal1103when authentication request signal1102is output. Namely, authentication is validated because mobile device4is present within communication range13A of antenna13. Thus, the door lock is released and the door is opened by stranger6while it is unnoticed by owner5.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A vehicle remote control apparatus according to the present invention includes a first transmitter, a second transmitter, a receiver, and a controller. The first transmitter outputs an authentication request signal to a mobile device including a radio terminal assigned with an identification code special to a vehicle and outputting an authentication response signal corresponding to the identification code. The second transmitter outputs an interference wave canceling the authentication request signal at the same time as the first transmitter transmits the authentication request signal. The receiver receives the authentication response signal output from the mobile device in response to the authentication request signal and, thereby, checks authenticity of the authentication response signal. The controller controls operation of on-vehicle equipment based on result of authentication of the authentication response signal. In the described configuration, limits are set to the communicatable range between the mobile device and the first transmitter, and therefore, opening the doors, starting an engine of the vehicle, and the like of the vehicle by a stranger other than the owner of the vehicle can be prevented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1is a configuration diagram of a vehicle remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention andFIG. 2is a sequence diagram of the same system. In other words,FIG. 2shows a sequence of signals output from various units.FIG. 3is a flowchart explanatory of operations in a vehicle remote control apparatus used in the same system.

In the vicinity of driver's door51and assistant driver's door52, there are provided antennas31and32as transmitters for transmitting signals for authentication, respectively. Also, on the: driver's side or thereabout of rear bumper53and on the assistant driver's side or thereabout of bumper53, there are provided antennas33and34as transmitters for transmitting signals for authentication, respectively.

Outside door switches (hereinafter called switches)22,23,27are provided in the vicinity of driver's door51, assistant driver's door52, and bumper53, respectively, and turned on when touched by a person. Controller21receives a signal from switch22,23,27, transmits a signal to mobile device24through antennas31-34, and receives a signal through authentication signal receiver (hereinafter called “receiver”)28. It also controls unlocking of doors51,52. Mobile device24includes a radio terminal having an identification code special to the vehicle assigned thereto. Antennas31,32,33and34are capable of making communication within their respective communication ranges31A,32A,33A and34A.

Operation of the system including the vehicle remote control apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference toFIG. 2andFIG. 3.

Suppose now that vehicle owner25carrying mobile: device24approaches the vehicle from the driver's side. When owner25touches switch22in the vicinity of door51, switch22is turned on and this ON-signal is transmitted to controller21. Thereupon, controller21outputs authentication request signal201from antenna31. At the same time, it causes interference wave202—a burst signal or the like to cancel authentication request signal201—to be output, for example, from antenna32as another transmitter.

At this time, if there is present mobile device24within range31A, mobile device24outputs authentication response signal203corresponding to the identification code and receiver28receives this response signal203. If it is confirmed as the registered code (i.e., if its authenticity is validated) by receiver28, door lock opening signal204is output to controller21and thereby the door lock is released. Also, when owner25carrying mobile device24approaches the vehicle and touches switch23or switch27, similar event occurs. Here, controller21first outputs authentication request signal201from antenna31. If there are made no responses thereto for some time, it changes the transmitters in turn to antenna32, antenna33, and to antenna34, sequentially. More specifically, functions of the antennas, i.e., outputting of the authentication request signal and outputting of the interference wave, are sequentially shifted when authentication response signals thereto are not received a predetermined period of time.

How the apparatus works will be described more concretely with reference toFIG. 3. Owner25touches one of switches22,23,27and turns the switch ON (S1). Then, controller21upon receipt of this ON-signal, outputs an authentication request signal to antenna31. At the same time, it causes, for example, antenna32as another transmitter to output an interference signal formed of a burst wave or the like, and then it waits for an authentication response signal to be output from mobile device24(S3). When receiver28receives the response signal at S4, the processing proceeds to S5and, if no response is obtained at S4, it shifts the transmitter (antenna) outputting the authentication request signal and the transmitter outputting the interference signal (S6) and, then, returns to S2. At S5, receiver28checks the received response signal for its authenticity. If the authenticity is validated at S7, a door lock opening signal is output to controller21and the door lock is released (S8). If the authenticity is not validated, the door lock remains locked and the processing ends (S9). Namely, controller21controls the operation of on-board equipment based on the result of authentication of the authentication response signal. In the present case, unlocking of doors51,52is controlled.

Referring now to the configuration diagram ofFIG. 4and the sequence diagram ofFIG. 5, a case where owner25carrying mobile device24is within range34A and just keeps staying there with no intention to open a door of the vehicle will be discussed. If, at this time, stranger26approaches the vehicle from the side of door51without being noticed by owner25and turns switch22on, controller21receives this ON-signal and outputs authentication request signal501from antenna31in the vicinity of door51.

Since, however, mobile device24is out of range31A, an authentication response signal is not output. Consequently, receiver28is unable to receive any authentication response signal. Then, after a predetermined time period, controller21outputs authentication request signal502from antenna33. At the same time, antenna34outputs interference wave503such as a burst wave to thereby interfere with authentication request signal502upon its being output. Therefore, the communicatable range of the authentication request signal from antenna33is limited to range33B by reachable range34A of interference wave503from antenna34.

Thus, authentication request signal502is put into its uncommunicatable state within range34A, i.e., mobile device24is placed out of range33B, where it is capable of receiving authentication request signal502from antenna33. Therefore, mobile device24does not output its authentication response signal and, hence, receiver28does not receive any authentication response signal.

Therefore, a door lock opening signal is not output and stranger26cannot release the door lock even if the person turns on switch22. Consequently, owner25is enabled to prevent the door from being opened by stranger26.

Likewise, even if stranger26approaches the vehicle from the side of door52and turns switch23on, the same effect as described above may be obtained by adapting such that an interference wave is output from antenna33at the same time as an authentication request signal is output from antenna34. Thereby, unlocking of the door lock by stranger26can be prevented. Incidentally, the interference wave may be output from one or more antennas, provided that such antennas are others than the antenna outputting the authentication request signal.

Although, in the present embodiment, description is made taking, as an example, the case where communication ranges are provided by the antennas arranged as shown inFIG. 1, it is possible to control the communication ranges by changing the number of antennas outputting interference waves and their places of installation relative to the antennas outputting authentication signals, depending on the characteristics and number of these antennas.

Although, in the above description, release of a door lock is controlled in accordance with result of authentication with respect to the mobile device, engine start or the like may also be controlled in accordance with result of authentication with respect to the mobile device.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In the vehicle remote control apparatus according to the present invention, it is adapted such that, while an authentication request signal is output from a selected transmitter, an interference wave is simultaneously output from at least one transmitter other than the selected transmitter. By virtue of the configuration described above, a vehicle remote control system of high security can be provided. The vehicle remote control apparatus is useful as a vehicle remote control apparatus for controlling door lock release and engine start of a vehicle based on result of authentication with respect to a mobile device.