Onboard wirless communication system

• US 20080088422A1
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hiroshi Sakai
• Original Assignee: Hiroshi Sakai
• Inventors: Sakai, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,813,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/403 Power supply in the vehicle

Abstract

An onboard wireless communication system includes a power supply circuit, a wireless communication circuit, a control circuit, and a current integration circuit. The current integration circuit calculates an integration value of current fed from a battery after the battery starts discharging. The current integration circuit temporarily stops the calculation until transmission of a burglar alarm signal is completed when a burglar detection signal is outputted from a burglar detection ECU while the integration value is still smaller than a reference value. As a result, power supply from the power supply circuit to the wireless communication circuit is maintained. The power supply is stopped when the integration value is equal to or larger than the reference value while the burglar detection signal is still not outputted from the burglar detection ECU.

Claims

1. An onboard wireless communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

wireless communication means for transmitting a signal out of the vehicle;

power supply means for supplying power from a battery of the vehicle to the wireless communication means; and

control means for controlling the wireless communication means and the power supply means, wherein;

the control means lets the wireless communication means to transmit the signal out of the vehicle when the control means receives an external signal, which is originated outside of the onboard wireless communication system and is triggered by an unauthorized break-in of the vehicle, in a state where the power supply means maintains the supplying of the power from the battery to the wireless communication means;

the control means calculates a cumulative amount of current fed from the battery to the wireless communication means since turning off an ignition key of the vehicle;

when the calculated cumulative amount becomes equal to or larger than a reference value, the control means lets the power supply means to stop the supplying of the power from the battery to the wireless communication means except time of receiving the external signal; and

when the control means receives the external signal, the control means lets the power supply means to maintain the supplying of the power from the battery to the wireless communication means at least until completion of the transmission of the signal from the wireless communication means.

2. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein when the control means receives the external signal, the control means stops an increase in the calculated cumulative amount at least until the completion of the transmission of the signal from the wireless communication means.

3. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the control means resets the calculated cumulative amount when the control means receives the external signal before reaching of the calculated cumulative amount to the reference value.

4. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the control means raises the reference value when the control means receives the external signal before reaching of the calculated cumulative amount to the reference value.

5. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein when the control means determines that the power supply means fails the stopping of the supplying of the power from the battery to the wireless communication means, the control means stops the power supply means after reaching of the calculated cumulative amount to a second reference value, which is larger than the reference value.

6. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the control means determines whether the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value to see whether the calculated cumulative amount becomes equal to or larger than the reference value; and

the control means halts the determining of whether the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value when the control means receives the external signal before reaching of the calculated cumulative amount to the reference value.

7. An onboard wireless communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

a wireless communication device that transmits a signal out of the vehicle;

a power supply device that supplies power from a battery of the vehicle to the wireless communication device; and

a controller that controls the wireless communication device and the power supply device, wherein;

the controller lets the wireless communication device to transmit the signal out of the vehicle when the controller receives an external signal, which is originated outside of the onboard wireless communication system and is triggered by an unauthorized break-in of the vehicle, in a state where the power supply device maintains the supplying of the power from the battery to the wireless communication device;

the controller calculates a cumulative amount of current fed from the battery to the wireless communication device since turning off of an ignition key of the vehicle;

when the calculated cumulative amount becomes equal to or larger than a reference value, the controller lets the power supply device to stop the supplying of the power from the battery to the wireless communication device except time of receiving the external signal; and

when the controller receives the external signal, the controller lets the power supply device to maintain the supplying of the power from the battery to the wireless communication device at least until completion of the transmission of the signal from the wireless communication device.

8. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 7, wherein:

the controller includes;

a current monitoring device that calculates the cumulative amount; and

a control device that is provided separately from the current monitoring device and controls the wireless communication device and the power supply device;

when the calculated cumulative amount becomes equal to or larger than the reference value, the current monitoring device provides a notification to the control device, so that the control device lets the power supply device to stop the supplying of the power from the battery to the wireless communication device except the time of receiving the external signal; and

when the current monitoring device receives the external signal before reaching of the calculated cumulative amount of the reference value, the current monitoring device stops an increase in the calculated cumulative amount at least until the completion of the transmission of the signal from the wireless communication device.

9. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 7, wherein:

the controller includes;

a current monitoring device the calculates the cumulative amount; and

a control device that is provided separately from the current monitoring device and controls the wireless communication device and the power supply device;

when the calculated cumulative amount becomes equal to or larger than the reference value, the current monitoring device provides a notification to the control device, so that the control device lets the power supply device to stop the supplying of the power from the battery to the wireless communication device except the time of receiving the external signal; and

when the current monitoring device receives the external signal before reaching of the calculated cumulative amount to the reference value, the current monitoring device resets the calculated cumulative amount.

10. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 7, wherein:

the controller includes;

a current monitoring device that calculates the cumulative amount; and

a control device that is provided separately from the current monitoring device and controls the wireless communication device and the power supply device;

when the calculated cumulative amount becomes equal to or larger than the reference value, the current monitoring device provides a notification to the control device, so that the control device lets the power supply device to stop the supplying of the power from the battery to the wireless communication device except the time of receiving the external signal; and

when the current monitoring device receives the external signal before reaching of the calculated cumulative amount to the reference value, the current monitoring device raises the reference value.

11. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 7, wherein:

the controller includes;

a current monitoring device that calculates the cumulative amount; and

a control device that is provided separately from the current monitoring device and controls the wireless communication device and the power supply device;

when the calculated cumulative amount becomes equal to or larger than the reference value, the current monitoring device provides a notification to the control device, so that the control device lets the power supply device to stop the supplying of the power from the battery to the wireless communication device except the time of receiving the external signal; and

when the power supply device fails the stopping of the supplying of the power from the battery to the wireless communication device, the current monitoring device stops the power supply device after reaching of the calculated cumulative amount to the second reference value, which is larger than the reference value.

12. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 7, wherein:

the controller includes;

a current monitoring device that calculates the cumulative amount and determines whether the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value to see whether the calculated cumulative amount becomes equal to or larger than the reference value; and

a control device that is provided separately from the current monitoring device and controls the wireless communication device and the power supply device;

when the calculated cumulative amount becomes equal to or larger than the reference value, the current monitoring device provides a notification to the control device, so that the control device lets the power supply device to stop the supplying of the power from the battery to the wireless communication device except the time of receiving the external signal; and

when the current monitoring device receives the external signal before reaching of the calculated cumulative amount to the reference value, the current monitoring device halts the determining of whether the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value.

13. An onboard wireless communication system comprising:

wireless communication means that transmits a signal to an outside;

power supply means that supplies power from a battery to the wireless communication means;

control means that controls the power supply from the battery to the wireless communication means and transmission of an emergency report signal from the wireless communication means to the outside; and

current monitoring means that calculates a cumulative amount of current fed from the battery after the battery starts discharging, wherein

the control means includes signal transmission instructing means that issues an instruction to the wireless communication means for transmitting the emergency report signal to the outside on a condition that the emergency signal is detected while the power is supplied from the power supply means to the wireless communication means,

the current monitoring means includes power supply determining means, emergency signal detecting means, cumulative amount comparing means, calculation halting means, and power supply halting means,

the power supply determining means determines whether power is supplied from the power supply means to the wireless communication means,

the emergency signal detecting means detects an emergency signal outputted from an outside of the onboard wireless communication system,

the cumulative amount comparing means compares the calculated cumulative amount with a reference value and determines whether the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value,

the calculation halting means temporarily stops the calculation of the cumulative amount at least until the control means completes the transmission of the emergency report signal from the wireless communication means to the outside on the condition that the emergency signal is detected by the emergency signal detecting means while the calculated cumulative amount is still smaller than the reference value, and

the power supply halting means stops the power supply from the power supply means to the wireless communication means based on an instruction from the control means on a condition that the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value while the emergency signal is still not detected by the emergency signal detecting means.

14. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 13, wherein the current monitoring means resets the calculated cumulative amount on a condition that the emergency signal is detected by the emergency signal detecting means while the calculated cumulative amount is still smaller than the reference value.

15. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 13, wherein the current monitoring means modifies the reference value on a condition that the emergency signal is detected by the emergency detecting means while the calculated cumulative amount is still smaller than the reference value.

16. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 13, wherein the current monitoring means is provided separately from the control means.

17. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 13, wherein:

the current monitoring means further includes failure detecting means and second cumulative amount comparing means;

the failure detecting means detects a failure to stop the power supply from the power supply means to the wireless communication means;

the second cumulative amount comparing means compares the calculated cumulative amount with a second reference value and determines whether the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the second reference value; and

the power supply halting means stops the power supply from the power supply means to the wireless communication means on a condition that the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the second reference value.

18. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 13, wherein the emergency signal detecting means determines whether the emergency signal is inputted from the outside of the onboard wireless communication system to the control means immediately after the battery starts discharging.

19. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 13, wherein the control means further includes reference value modifying means that modifies the reference value on the condition that the emergency signal is detected while the calculated cumulative amount is still smaller than the reference value.

19-1. An onboard wireless communication system comprising:

wireless communication means that transmits a signal to an outside;

power supply means that supplies power from a battery to the wireless communication means;

control means that controls the power supply from the battery to the wireless communication means and transmission of an emergency report signal from the wireless communication means to the outside; and

current monitoring means that calculates a cumulative amount of current fed from the battery after the battery starts discharging, wherein

the control means includes signal transmission instructing means that issues as instruction to the wireless communication means for transmitting the emergency report signal to the outside on a condition that the emergency signal is detected while the power is supplied from the power supply means to the wireless communication means,

the current monitoring means includes power supply determining means, emergency signal detecting means, cumulative amount comparing means, power supply halting means, and comparison halting means,

the power supply determining means determines whether power is supplied from the power supply means to the wireless communication means,

the emergency signal detecting means detects an emergency signal outputted from an outside of the onboard wireless communication system,

the cumulative amount comparing means compares the calculated cumulative amount with a reference value and determines whether the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value,

the power supply halting means stops the power supply from the power supply means to the wireless communication means based on an instruction from the control means on a condition that the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value, and

the comparison halting means stops the comparison between the calculated cumulative amount and the reference value at least until the control means completes the transmission of the emergency report signal from the wireless communication means to the outside on a condition that the emergency signal is detected by the emergency signal detecting means.

21. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 20, wherein the current monitoring means is provided separately from the control means.

22. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 20, wherein:

the current monitoring means further includes failure detecting means and second cumulative amount comparing means;

the failure detecting means detects a failure to stop the power supply from the power supply means to the wireless communication means;

the second cumulative amount comparing means compares the calculated cumulative amount with a second reference value and determines whether the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the second reference value; and

the power supply halting means stops the power supply from the power supply means to the wireless communication means in a condition that the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the second reference value.

23. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 20, wherein the emergency signal detecting means determines whether the emergency signal is inputted form the outside of the onboard wireless communication system to the control means immediately after the battery starts discharging.

24. An onboard wireless communication system comprising:

wireless communication means that transmits a signal to an outside;

power supply means that supplies power from a battery to the wireless communication means;

control means that controls the power supply from the battery to the wireless communication means and transmission of an emergency report signal from the wireless communication means to the outside; and

current monitoring means that calculates a cumulative amount of current fed from the battery after the battery starts discharging, wherein

the control means includes signal transmission instructing means that issues an instruction to the wireless communication means for transmitting the emergency report signal to the outside on a condition that the emergency signal is detected while the power is supplied from the power supply means to the wireless communication means,

the current monitoring means includes power supply determining means, emergency signal detecting means, cumulative amount comparing means, power supply halting means, and power supply maintaining means,

the power supply determining means determines whether power is supplied from the power supply means to the wireless communication means,

the emergency signal detecting means detects an emergency signal outputted from an outside of the onboard wireless communication system,

the cumulative amount comparing means compares the calculated cumulative amount with a reference value and determines whether the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value,

the power supply halting means stops the power supply from the power supply means to the wireless communication means based on an instruction from the control means on a condition that the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value, and

the power supply maintaining means maintains the power supply from the power supply means to the wireless communication means at least until the control means completes the transmission of the emergency report signal from the wireless communication means to the outside even on a condition that the emergency signal is detected by the emergency signal detecting means while the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value.

25. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 24, wherein the current monitoring means is provided separately from the control means.

26. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 24, wherein:

the current monitoring means further includes failure detecting means and second cumulative amount comparing means;

the failure detecting means detects a failure to stop the power supply from the power supply means to the wireless communication means;

the second cumulative amount comparing means compares the calculated cumulative amount with a second reference value and determines whether the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the second reference value; and

the power supply halting means stops the power supply from the power supply means to the wireless communication means on a condition that the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the second reference value.

27. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 24, wherein the emergency signal detecting means determines whether the emergency signal is inputted from the outside of the onboard wireless communication system to the control means immediately after the battery starts discharging.

28. An onboard wireless communication system comprising:

wireless communication means that transmits a signal to an outside;

power supply means that supplies power from a battery to the wireless communication means; and

control means that controls the power supply from the battery to the wireless communication means and transmission of an emergency report signal from the wireless communication means to the outside, wherein

the control means includes power supply determining means, emergency signal detecting means, signal transmission instructing means, cumulative amount calculating means, cumulative amount comparing means, calculation halting means, and power supply halting means,

the power supply determining means determines whether power is supplied from the power supply means to the wireless communication means,

the emergency signal detecting means determines whether an emergency signal is outputted from an outside of the onboard wireless communication system,

the signal transmission instructing means issues an instruction to the wireless communication means for transmitting an emergency report signal to the outside on a condition that the emergency signal is detected while the power is supplied from the power supply means to the wireless communication means,

the cumulative amount calculating means calculates the cumulative amount of current fed from the battery after the battery starts discharging,

the cumulative amount comparing means compares the calculated cumulative amount with a reference value and determines whether the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value,

the calculation halting means temporarily stops the calculation of the cumulative amount at least until the transmission of the emergency signal from the wireless communication means to the outside is completed on a condition that the emergency signal is detected by the emergency signal detecting means, and

the power supply halting means stops the power supply from the power supply means to the wireless communication means on a condition that the emergency signal is not detected by the emergency signal detecting means while the calculated cumulative amount is still smaller than the reference value.

29. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 28, wherein the control means further includes cumulative amount resetting means that resets the calculated cumulative amount at a time on a condition that the emergency signal is detected while the calculated cumulative amount is still smaller than the reference value.

30. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 28, wherein the emergency signal detecting means determines whether the emergency signal is inputted from the outside of the onboard wireless communication system immediately after the battery starts discharging.

31. An onboard wireless communication system comprising:

wireless communication means that transmits a signal to an outside;

power supply means that supplies power from a battery to the wireless communication means; and

control means that controls the power supply from the battery to the wireless communication means and transmission of an emergency report signal from the wireless communication means to the outside, wherein

the control means includes power supply determining means, emergency signal detecting means, signal transmission instructing means, cumulative amount calculating means, cumulative amount comparing means, power supply halting means, and comparison halting means,

the power supply determining means determines whether power is supplied from the power supply means to the wireless communication means,

the emergency signal detecting means determines whether an emergency signal is outputted from an outside of the onboard wireless communication system,

the signal transmission instructing means issues an instruction to the wireless communication means for transmitting an emergency report signal to the outside on a condition that the emergency signal is detected while the power is supplied from the power supply means to the wireless communication means,

the cumulative amount calculating means calculates the cumulative amount of current fed from the battery after the battery starts discharging,

the cumulative amount comparing means compares the calculated cumulative amount with a reference value and determines whether the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value,

the power supply halting means stops the power supply from the power supply means to the wireless communication means on a condition that the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value, and

the comparison halting means stops the comparison between the calculated cumulative amount and the reference value at least until the control means completes the transmission of the emergency report signal from the wireless communication means to the outside when the emergency signal is detected by the emergency signal detecting means.

32. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 31, wherein the emergency signal detecting means determines whether the emergency signal is inputted from the outside of the onboard wireless communication system immediately after the battery starts discharging.

33. An onboard wireless communication system comprising:

wireless communication means that transmits a signal to an outside;

power supply means that supplies power from a battery to the wireless communication means; and

control means that controls the power supply from the battery to the wireless communication means and transmission of an emergency report signal from the wireless communication means to the outside, wherein

the control means includes power supply determining means, emergency signal detecting means, signal transmission instructing means, cumulative amount calculating means, cumulative amount comparing means, power supply halting means, and power supply maintaining means,

the power supply determining means determines whether power is supplied from the power supply means to the wireless communication means,

the emergency signal detecting means determines whether an emergency signal is outputted from an outside of the onboard wireless communication system,

the signal transmission instructing means issues an instruction to the wireless communication means for transmitting an emergency report signal to the outside on a condition that the emergency signal is detected while the power is supplied from the power supply means to the wireless communication means,

the cumulative amount calculating means calculates the cumulative amount of current fed from the battery after the battery starts discharging,

the cumulative amount comparing means compares the calculated cumulative amount with a reference value and determines whether the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value,

the power supply halting means stops the power supply from the power supply means to the wireless communication means on a condition that the calculated cumulative amount is equal to or larger than the reference value, and

the power supply maintaining means maintains the power supply from the power supply means to the wireless communication means at least until the control means completes the transmission of the emergency report signal from the wireless communication means to the outside even on a condition that the emergency signal is detected by the emergency signal detecting means.

34. The onboard wireless communication system according to claim 33, wherein the emergency signal detecting means determines whether the emergency signal is inputted from the outside of the onboard wireless communication system immediately after the battery starts discharging.