Vehicular communication system and in-vehicle communication apparatus

• US 10,279,634 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2016
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Usami, Akinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzales, April G
• Application Number:
  US15/556,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20180050571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 455 631
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0442 the transmitted signal comprises further information, e.g. instruction codes, sensor characteristics or identification data
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0461 externally triggered, e.g. by wireless request signal, magnet or manual switch
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0464 to avoid signal interference
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0483 Wireless routers between wheel mounted transmitters and chassis mounted receivers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/00 Suppression or limitation of noise or interference by means associated with receiver H04B1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/04 the interference being caused by substantially sinusoidal oscillations, e.g. in a receiver or in a tape-recorder

Abstract

Provided is a vehicular communication system configured to prevent crosstalk between signals transmitted from an in-vehicle wireless device constituting one wireless communication system such as a TPMS and a mobile device constituting another wireless communication system. The vehicular communication system includes a mobile device wirelessly transmitting a signal related to operation of a vehicle, an in-vehicle wireless device wirelessly transmitting a signal related to the vehicle, and an in-vehicle communication apparatus provided in a different part from the in-vehicle wireless device and wirelessly communicates with the mobile device and the in-vehicle wireless device. The in-vehicle communication apparatus receives signals transmitted from the mobile device and the in-vehicle communication apparatus, and determines whether there is crosstalk. The in-vehicle communication apparatus transmits to the mobile device or the in-vehicle wireless device, a stop signal instructing to stop signal transmission when crosstalk has occurred.

Claims

1. A vehicular communication system comprising a mobile device configured to wirelessly transmit a signal related to operation of a vehicle in a predetermined frequency band, an in-vehicle transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit a signal related to the vehicle in the predetermined frequency band to a vehicle subsystem, and an in-vehicle communication apparatus provided in a different part from the in-vehicle transceiver and configured to wirelessly communicate with the mobile device and the in-vehicle transceiver,

the in-vehicle communication apparatus including:

an in-vehicle receiving unit configured to receive the signals transmitted from the mobile device and the in-vehicle transceiver;

a determination unit configured to determine whether there is crosstalk, based on the signals received with the in-vehicle receiving unit; and

an in-vehicle transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the mobile device or the in-vehicle transceiver, a stop signal instructing to stop signal transmission, in a case where it is determined with the determination unit that crosstalk has occurred, and

the mobile device or the in-vehicle transceiver stopping signal transmission, in a case where the stop signal is received, and

the in-vehicle transmitting unit transmitting the stop signal to the in-vehicle transceiver before the signal is transmitted from the in-vehicle transceiver, in a case where the in-vehicle receiving unit receives the signal transmitted from the mobile device after transmitting, to the in-vehicle transceiver, a request signal requesting signal transmission.

2. The vehicular communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the in-vehicle transmitting unit transmits, to the mobile device or the in-vehicle transceiver, a stoppage cancellation signal instructing to cancel transmission stoppage, and

the mobile device or the in-vehicle transceiver resumes signal transmission, in a case where the stoppage cancellation signal is received.

3. The vehicular communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the mobile device or the in-vehicle transceiver includes a clocking unit configured to clock an elapsed time period from when the stop signal was received, and resumes signal transmission in a case where a predetermined time period elapses from when the stop signal was received.

4. The vehicular communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the in-vehicle communication apparatus deletes information of the signal received with the in-vehicle receiving unit, in a case where it is determined with the determination unit that crosstalk has occurred.

5. The vehicular communication system according to claim 1, comprising:

an air pressure detection unit configured to detect an air pressure of a tire of the vehicle,

wherein the in-vehicle transceiver transmits a signal related to the air pressure detected with the air pressure detection unit.

6. The vehicular communication system according to claim 5, comprising:

a vehicle speed detection unit configured to detect a speed of the vehicle,

wherein the in-vehicle transmitting unit intermittently transmits, to the in-vehicle transceiver, a request signal requesting signal transmission, and, in a case where the speed detected with the vehicle speed detection unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined speed and it is determined with the determination unit that crosstalk has occurred, increases a transmission frequency of the request signal.

7. The vehicular communication system according to claim 5, comprising:

a vehicle speed detection unit configured to detect a speed of the vehicle,

wherein the in-vehicle transmitting unit transmits a predetermined instruction signal to the in-vehicle transceiver, in a case where the speed detected with the vehicle speed detection unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined speed and it is determined with the determination unit that crosstalk has occurred, and

the in-vehicle transceiver intermittently transmits the signal related to the vehicle, and, in a case where the in-vehicle receiving unit receives the instruction signal, increases a transmission frequency of the signal related to the vehicle.

8. The vehicular communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the in-vehicle transceiver includes a monitoring unit configured to monitor whether there is a signal in the predetermined frequency band that is transmitted from outside, and, in a case where there is not a signal in the predetermined frequency band, transmits the signal related to the vehicle, and, in a case where there is a signal in the predetermined frequency band, stops transmission of the signal related to the vehicle.

9. An in-vehicle communication apparatus that communicates with a mobile device configured to wirelessly transmit a signal related to operation of a vehicle in a predetermined frequency band and an in-vehicle transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit a signal related to the vehicle in the predetermined frequency band, comprising:

an in-vehicle receiving unit configured to receive the signals in the predetermined frequency band;

a determination unit configured to determine whether there is crosstalk, based on the signals received with the in-vehicle receiving unit; and

an in-vehicle transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the mobile device or the in-vehicle transceiver, a stop signal instructing to stop signal transmission, in a case where it is determined with the determination unit that crosstalk has occurred,

wherein the in-vehicle transmitting unit transmits the stop signal to the in-vehicle transceiver before the signal is transmitted from the in-vehicle transceiver, in a case where the in-vehicle receiving unit receives the signal transmitted from the mobile device after transmitting, to the in-vehicle transceiver, a request signal requesting signal transmission.