COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND COMMUNICATION METHOD

• US 20100231349A1
• Filed: 02/18/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics Company Limited (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaka, Akitomo
• Application Number:
  US12/708,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20100231349A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/406 Power supply in the remote key
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A communication method of a communication device for performing communication with an in-vehicle device includes determining whether or not the communication device is within a predetermined storage region, and performing a control of prohibiting transmission and reception of signals with the in-vehicle device when determined that the communication device is within the predetermined storage region.

Claims

1. A communication device for performing communication with an in-vehicle device, the communication device comprising:

a transmission unit for transmitting signals to the in-vehicle device;

a reception unit for receiving signals from the in-vehicle device;

a determination unit for determining whether or not the communication device is within a predetermined storage region; and

a control unit for performing a control of prohibiting the transmission and the reception of signals with the in-vehicle device by the transmission unit or the reception unit when a determination is made that the communication device is within the predetermined storage region by the determination unit.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connection detection unit for detecting connection with a charger for charging the communication device;

wherein the determination unit determines that the communication device is within the predetermined storage region when the connection with the charger is detected by the connection detection unit.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a signal detection unit for detecting a signal output at a passage through which the signal passes when entering and exiting the predetermined storage region;

wherein

the determination unit determines whether or not the communication device is within the predetermined storage region based on the signal detected by the signal detection unit.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit prohibits the transmission and the reception of the signals with the in-vehicle device by stopping at least either the transmission of signals by the transmission unit or the reception of signals by the reception unit.

5. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an inhibiting signal emitting unit for emitting an inhibiting signal for inhibiting the signal output from the transmission unit, wherein

the control unit prohibits the transmission and the reception of signals with the in-vehicle device by emitting the inhibiting signal for inhibiting the signal output from the transmission unit from the inhibiting signal emitting unit.

6. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a warning unit for making a warning when the reception unit receives the signal from the in-vehicle device while the transmission and the reception of signals with the in-vehicle device are prohibited by the control unit.

7. A communication method of a communication device for performing communication with an in-vehicle device, the communication method comprising the steps of:

determining whether or not the communication device is within a predetermined storage region; and

performing a control of prohibiting transmission and reception of signals with the in-vehicle device when a determination is made that the communication device is within the predetermined storage region.

8. The communication method according to claim 7, further comprising:

detecting connection with a charger for charging the communication device, thereby determining that the communication device is within the predetermined storage region.

9. The communication method according to claim 7, further comprising:

detecting a signal output at a passage through which the signal passes when entering and exiting the predetermined storage region, and

determining whether or not the communication device is within the predetermined storage region based on the detected signal.

10. The communication method according to claim 7, further comprising:

prohibiting the transmission and the reception of the signals with the in-vehicle device by stopping at least either the transmission of signals or the reception of signals.

11. The communication method according to claim 7, further comprising:

emitting an inhibiting signal for inhibiting the signal output from the transmission unit, thereby prohibiting the transmission and the reception of signals with the in-vehicle device.

12. The communication method according to claim 7, further comprising:

making a warning when the signal from the in-vehicle device is received while the transmission and the reception of signals with the in-vehicle device are prohibited.