SMART KEY FOR A VEHICLE AND SMART ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME

A smart key is provided for use with a body control module (BCM) of an electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle. The BCM is configured to control electronic devices of the vehicle. The smart key includes a transceiver unit to communicate with the ECU, a control unit coupled to the transceiver unit, and a display unit coupled to the control unit. The control unit is configured to establish connection with the ECU via communication between the transceiver unit and the ECU for controlling operation of the BCM, and to control the display unit to display a state of at least one of the electronic devices controlled by the BCM.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Invention Patent Application No. 107105441, filed on Feb. 14, 2018.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a smart key for a vehicle, and more particularly to a smart key adapted for remotely controlling operation of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND

In the automobile industry, smart keys are widely used to facilitate users to control operation of vehicles, such as locking/unlocking vehicle doors, releasing a trunk, etc., without using a mechanical key.

Conventional smart keys transmit radio frequency (RF) signals to the vehicle to perform simple control of vehicles, such as door locking/unlocking, trunk releasing, etc., and the available functions thereof are limited.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a smart key that can remotely control operation of electronic devices of a vehicle, and that can display a state of at least one of the electronic devices in a real time manner.

According to the disclosure, the smart key adapted for use with a body control module (BCM) of an electronic control unit (ECU) for a vehicle is provided. The BCM is configured to control electronic devices of the vehicle and the smart key includes a transceiver unit configured to communicate with the ECU, a control unit coupled to the transceiver unit, and a display unit coupled to the control unit. The control unit is configured to establish connection with the ECU via communication between the transceiver unit and the ECU for controlling operation of the BCM, and to control the display unit to display a state of at least one of the electronic devices controlled by the BCM.

Another object of the disclosure is to provide a smart electronic control system for a vehicle.

According to the disclosure, the smart electronic control system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and a smart key. The ECU is to be disposed on a vehicle and includes a body control module (BCM) configured to control electronic devices of the vehicle. The smart key includes a transceiver unit configured to communicate with the ECU, a control unit coupled to the transceiver unit, and a display unit coupled to the control unit. The control unit is configured to establish connection with the ECU via communication between the transceiver unit and the ECU for controlling operation of the BCM, and to control the display unit to display a state of at least one of the electronic devices controlled by the BCM.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, the embodiment of the smart electronic control system for a vehicle (not shown) according to this disclosure includes a smart key100and an electronic control unit (ECU)200that is capable of communication with the smart key100. The ECU200is configured to be installed on the vehicle, which may be a car, an electric motorcycle, etc., and includes a transceiver module201configured for communication with the smart key100, and a body control module (BCM)210coupled to the transceiver module201, and configured to control electronic devices (not shown) of the vehicle, such as an air conditioner, an engine, a lamp device, a speaker device, etc. The smart key100is configured to control operation of the BCM210and to display a state of at least one of the electronic devices controlled by the BCM210, thereby achieving smart control. In this embodiment, the ECU200includes a controller area network bus (CAN bus) via which the BCM210is connected to the electronic devices of the vehicle. In other embodiments, the BCM210may be connected to the electronic devices of the vehicle via another interface such a local interconnect network bus (LIN bus), FlexRay, MOST, IDB-1394, Byteflight, etc., and this disclosure is not limited in this respect. In a case that the ECU200is installed on a vehicle that has an originally equipped ECU, which may be provided by an original factory that manufactured the vehicle, the BCM210may be connected to the electronic devices of the vehicle and acquire authority of controlling the same via an interface (e.g., a CAN bus, a LIN bus, FlexRay, MOST, IDB-1394, Byteflight) of the originally equipped ECU and using a protocol used by the originally equipped ECU.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the smart key100includes a transceiver unit10, a display unit30, a button unit40, and a control unit20coupled to the abovementioned units10,30,40.

The transceiver unit10includes a wireless communication circuit compatible with a wireless communication technology, such as radio frequency identification (RFID), near field communication (NFC), WiFi, Bluetooth, a 3G network, a 4G network, etc., so as to perform communication with the ECU200via the transceiver module201.

The control unit20may be a central processing unit (CPU) or a micro control unit (MCU), configured for controlling signal transmission of the units10,30,40, and controlling operation of the BCM210of the ECU200.

The display unit30includes a display screen for displaying the states of the electronic devices controlled by the BCM210. In this embodiment, the display unit30is exemplified to include a touch screen capable of touch control, so that the control unit20may control operation of the BCM210in response to a touch operation on the touch screen.

The button unit40includes a trunk control button41for releasing a trunk of the vehicle, a lock button42for locking at least one door of the vehicle, an unlock button43for unlocking at least one door of the vehicle, and a power button44for switching the smart key100between a power-on state and a power-off state. In this embodiment, the smart key100is configured to enter the power-off state when the power button44is held down for a predetermined time period (e.g., 3 seconds). In this embodiment, a backlight of the display unit30is turned off when the smart key100is in the power-off state, so the display unit30is unable to display images under this situation.

When a user presses or triggers the button unit40to make the button unit40generate a trigger signal, or operates the touch screen of the display unit30to make the display unit30generate a touch control signal, the control unit20generates a control signal in response to the trigger signal or the touch control signal, and transmits the control signal to the BCM210of the ECU200through the transceiver unit10and the transceiver module201, thereby controlling the BCM210to perform corresponding operation.

In this embodiment, the BCM210includes a door control module202, a window control module203, an engine control module204, an air conditioner control module205, a fuel control module206, a light control module207and a setting module208, each of which is coupled to the transceiver module201.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 3, via communication established between the transceiver unit10and the transceiver module201, the smart key100may remotely control operation of the BCM210, and display the states of the electronic devices that are controlled by the BCM210in a real time manner. As exemplified inFIG. 3, the display unit30is capable of displaying the states of the doors and the windows of the vehicle. When the user performs touch operation on the touch screen of the display unit30, the control unit20wirelessly transmits the control signal to the door control module202or the window control module204through the transceiver unit10and the transceiver module201, so that the door control module202controls operation of the doors of the vehicle (e.g., switch the doors of the vehicle from a lock state to an unlock state, or from the unlock state to the lock state), or the window control module203controls operation of the windows of the vehicle. Simultaneously, the door control module202reports the states of the doors (opened or closed) to the control unit20, or the window control module203reports the states of the windows to the control unit20, so that the control unit20is able to control the display unit30to display the states of the doors or the windows in a real time manner.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the doors of the vehicle, which is exemplified as a car, include one driver door, three passenger doors and a trunk door, and the state displayed for the doors may be one of “Secured”, “Non-secured”, and “Opened”. The “Secured” state represents that all of the doors are closed and locked; the “Non-secured” state represents that at least one of the doors is not closed or is unlocked; and the “Opened” state represents that all of the doors are opened. In this embodiment, the windows of the vehicle include two front side windows, two rear side windows, and a sunroof. The state displayed for the windows may be one of “Closed” and “Non-closed”. The “Closed” state represents that all of the windows are completely closed; and the “Non-closed” state represents that at least one of the windows is not completely closed. The numbers of the doors and the windows, and the display manner may vary in different embodiments, and this disclosure is not limited in this respect.

The user may perform touch operation (e.g., a slide operation) on the touch screen of the display unit30to change content displayed by the display unit30. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 4, the display unit30may be operated to display a state of the engine, a state of the air conditioner, a state of fuel amount or fuel consumption, a state of lighting, etc. In response to user operation that relates to operation of the engine of the vehicle on the touch screen, the control unit20may wirelessly transmit a control signal to the engine control module204, so that the engine control module204controls the engine to start or shut down based on the control signal, and reports a state of the engine to the control unit20. In response to user operation that relates to operation of the air conditioner of the vehicle on the touch screen, the control unit20may wirelessly transmit a control signal to the air conditioner control module205, so that the air conditioner control module205turns on or turns off the air conditioner based on the control signal, and reports a state of the air conditioner to the control unit20. In response to user operation that relates to monitoring the fuel consumption of the vehicle on the touchscreen, the control unit20may wirelessly transmit a control signal to the fuel control module206, so that the fuel control module206controls a fuel gauge to monitor a variation of the fuel based on the control signal, and reports a state of the fuel variation to the control unit20. In response to user operation that relates to lighting of the vehicle on the touch screen, the control unit20may wirelessly transmit a control signal to the light control module207, so that the light control module207turns on or turns off the lamp devices of the vehicle based on the control signal, and reports a state of the lamp devices to the control unit20. It is noted that what can be displayed by the display unit30is not limited to this embodiment. As an example, the display unit30may be used to display a variety of information, such as tire pressure, remote diagnosis for a health condition of the vehicle, self diagnosis for the health condition of the vehicle, ECO driving report, maintenance reminder etc., and this disclosure is not limited in this respect.

The state displayed for the engine may be one of “On”, which represents that the engine has been started, and “Off”, which represents that the engine has been shut down. The state displayed for the air conditioner may be one of “ON”, which represents that the air conditioner is in a power-on state, and “Off”, which represents that the air conditioner is in a power-off state. The state displayed for the fuel consumption may represent an amount of gasoline remaining in a fuel tank of the vehicle, which may be detected by the fuel gauge. The lamp devices of the vehicle may include headlamps, internal lamps, etc. The state displayed for lighting may be one of “On” and “Off”, where the “On” state represents that at least one of the lamp devices is in a power-on state, and the “Off” state represents that all of the lamp devices are in a power-off state.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 5, in this embodiment, the engine and the air conditioner may be automatically turned on or turned off via a presetting function. In one implementation, the user may operate the display unit30to set a time at which the engine and the air conditioner are required to be turned on/off, and set a desired temperature for the air conditioner, and the smart key100may store the time and temperature settings. When the time has reached the preset time, the control unit20transmits a control signal to the BCM210, so that the engine control module204starts the engine, and the air conditioner control module205turns on the air conditioner with the temperate setting. As a result, when the user reaches the vehicle, the vehicle will have been warmed up and the temperature inside the vehicle will have been adjusted to a comfortable level.

In one implementation, the user may preset several time points to control on/off operations of the engine, the air conditioner and the lamp devices in a desired sequence. For example, the user may use the presetting function to cause the engine to be started at a first time point (e.g., 8:00 AM), cause the air conditioner to be turned on at a second time point (e.g., 8:05 AM), and cause the lamp devices to be turned on at a third time point (e.g., 8:10 AM). In addition, the air conditioner may be configured to automatically determine an operation mode thereof based on a temperature sensed by a thermometer or a date set in the ECU200. For example, the air conditioner may output warm air when the date corresponds to winter, and output cold air when the date corresponds to summer.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 6, the user may operate the touch screen of the display unit30to make the display unit30display messages regarding settings for the ECU200. The settings are exemplified to include a time setting, a language setting, registration, etc. The time setting allows the user to set current time (e.g., year, month, day, hour, minute and second) for the ECU200. The language setting allows the user to select a language used by the ECU200from several preset language modes (e.g., traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, Japanese), and the default language may be English. The control unit20may wirelessly transmit a control signal to the setting module208in response to user operation on the touch screen of the display unit30. Upon receipt of the control signal, the setting module208sets the time and language for the ECU200, and reports the state of the settings to the control unit20, so that the display unit30may display the state of the current settings of the ECU200. Further referring toFIG. 7, the registration relates to registering information of, for instance, a registration plate number of the vehicle, a name of the vehicle owner, a phone number of the vehicle owner, an email address of the vehicle owner, etc. The transceiver unit10of smart key100may be further configured to establish communication with a backend server or a host server of the vehicle vendor, so as to transmit the abovementioned information to the server to link the vehicle to the owner, thereby preventing the vehicle from being used by an unauthorized person. Modification of the abovementioned information may require confirmation via the registered phone number or email address.

By virtue of the communication between the smart key100and the ECU200, the smart key100is able to remotely control operation of the BCM210of the ECU200based on the user's operations and setting, and to display results of the desired operation in a real time manner, promoting convenience of usage.

In some embodiments, the ECU200may further include data transfer interface, such as a universal serial bus, for transferring data relating to the smart key100and/or driving information of the vehicle to another electronic device. In some embodiments, the BCM210may further include a motor control module (not shown) configured for independent control of the sunroof, and control operation of headlights of the vehicle (e.g., when the driver rotates the steering wheel to make a turn, the motor control module may control the headlights to rotate correspondingly, such that the headlights emit light toward a direction that the driver wishes to turn to). The smart electronic control system is applicable to a passive keyless entry (PKE) system, in which the vehicle would automatically unlock the door(s) upon detecting presence of the smart key100within a detecting range (e.g., 1.8 meters from the vehicle), and would automatically lock the door(s) and activate an alarm system upon detecting that the smart key100is not in the detecting range. Furthermore, the smart electronic control system is applicable to a passive entry passive start (PEPS) system which further enables the engine to be started without insertion of the smart key100into the vehicle, achieving smarter security management.

In some embodiments, the transceiver unit10is further configured to be capable of establishing communication with a server or a computer of a rescue center, so that the control unit20may be operated to issue a message to the rescue center when a traffic accident or an emergency occurs for seeking help. Services that may be provided via the smart key100are listed in Table 1, but this disclosure is not limited in this respect.

In one embodiment, the ECU200may further include a positioning module (not shown) configured to transmit location information of the vehicle to the smart key100for display thereby. In one embodiment, the transceiver unit10may be capable of communication with an electronic device (e.g., a mobile phone), enabling the electronic device to display information intended to be displayed by the display unit30(e.g., information relating to the states of the engine, the air conditioner, driving information, vehicle location, etc.) via an application program on the electronic device. The application program may be designed to have functions as listed in Table 2, but this disclosure is not limited in this respect.

It is noted that control of the smart key100is not limited to touch control. In one embodiment, the smart key100may include a microphone unit50(seeFIG. 1) that is coupled to the control unit20and that includes a microphone to convert sound received thereby into a voice signal in a form of an electric signal which is to be transmitted to the BCM210via the transceiver unit10and the transceiver module201, so that the control unit20is able to control operation of the BCM210in response to the voice signal. In addition, the control unit20may analyze the voice signal, and cause the display unit30to display a voice message of the voice signal in a form of a text. Commands that may be executed via the voice control are exemplarily listed in Table 3.

TABLE 3Voice control commandActionLockLock the doors, and activatethe security systemUnlockUnlock the doors, anddeactivate the security systemTrunk releaseRelease the trunkSecurity informationEnter a page of “SecurityInformation” (see FIG. 3) afterthe screen is unlockedVehicle informationEnter a page of “VehicleInformation” (see FIG. 4) afterthe screen is unlockedAir conditioner presettingEnter a page of “AirConditioner Preset” (see FIG.5) after the screen is unlockedSettingEnter a page of “Setting” (seeFIG. 6) after the screen isunlockedRegistrationEnter a page of “Registration”(see FIG. 7) after the screen isunlocked

In one embodiment, the smart key100may include a speaker unit60(seeFIG. 1) coupled to the control unit20, so that the control unit20is able to control the speaker unit60to audibly output the states or operations of the electronic devices controlled by the BCM210. The messages which may be audibly output by the speaker unit60are exemplarily listed in Table 4.

In summary, the smart electronic control system for a vehicle according to this disclosure allows user to use the smart key100to remotely control operation of the body control module210via communication between the transceiver unit10and the transceiver module201, facilitating user operation.