Vehicle control apparatus

• US 9,751,497 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2014
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Sanji, Kenichiro, Katoh, Tatuya, Hirao, Noritaka, Matsushita, Suguru, Nakao, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWANDROSKI, SARA J
• Application Number:
  US15/033,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20160272154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/103 Near field communication [NFC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/31 of human presence inside or outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• 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 9/00 Individual registration on entry or exit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]

Abstract

A vehicle control apparatus includes: a first communicator that has a communication range outside a vehicle and communicates with a portable communication terminal by a predetermined first wireless communication system; a second communicator that has a communication range in a vehicle compartment of the vehicle and communicates with the portable communication terminal by a second wireless communication system; a first authenticator that receives identification information from the portable communication terminal; a second authenticator that receives identification information from the portable communication terminal; a determinator that determines that the portable communication terminal exists within a predetermined range outside the vehicle, and determines that the portable communication terminal exists in the vehicle compartment of the vehicle; and a controller that permits or causes an electronic control device controlling an action of the vehicle to perform a predetermined action.

Claims

1. A vehicle control apparatus, comprising:

a first communicator that has a communication range outside a vehicle, and communicates with a portable communication terminal by a predetermined first wireless communication protocol;

a second communicator that has a communication range in a vehicle compartment of the vehicle, and communicates with the portable communication terminal by a second wireless communication protocol, which is different from the first wireless communication protocol;

a first authenticator that receives identification information from the portable communication terminal with the first communicator, and authenticates a received identification information;

a second authenticator that receives identification information from the portable communication terminal with the second communicator, and authenticates a received identification information;

a determinator that

determines that the portable communication terminal exists within a predetermined range outside the vehicle when the portable communication terminal is authenticated by the first authenticator and when the portable communication terminal is not authenticated by the second authenticator, and

determines that the portable communication terminal exists in the vehicle compartment of the vehicle when the portable communication terminal is authenticated by the first authenticator and when the portable communication terminal is authenticated by the second authenticator; and

a controller that permits or causes an electronic control device controlling an action of the vehicle to perform a predetermined action corresponding to a position of the portable communication terminal determined by the determinator.

2. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the first communicator includes a first communication antenna;

the first communication antenna is disposed to an external side of the vehicle with a vehicle body structure interposed between the vehicle compartment and the external side of the vehicle, the vehicle body structure partially restricting electric wave that invades into the vehicle compartment;

the second communicator includes a second communication antenna; and

the second communication antenna is disposed to face the vehicle compartment.

3. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the determinator determines a distance from the vehicle to the portable communication terminal existing outside the vehicle based on a communication state by the first communicator, when the portable communication terminal is authenticated by the first authenticator and when the portable communication terminal is not authenticated by the second authenticator; and

the controller permits or causes the predetermined action, which is associated with the distance at which the portable communication terminal exists outside the vehicle, to be performed.

4. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the first wireless communication protocol is provided by a communication protocol conformable to a communication protocol for a short distance wireless communication in a near-field type near field communication; and

the second wireless communication protocol is provided by a communication protocol conformable to Bluetooth communications protocol.

5. A vehicle control apparatus, comprising:

a first communicator that has a communication range outside a vehicle, and communicates with a portable communication terminal by a predetermined first wireless communication system;

a second communicator that has a communication range in a vehicle compartment of the vehicle, and communicates with the portable communication terminal by a second wireless communication system, which is different from the first wireless communication system;

a first authenticator that receives identification information from the portable communication terminal with the first communicator, and authenticates a received identification information;

a second authenticator that receives identification information from the portable communication terminal with the second communicator, and authenticates a received identification information;

a determinator that

determines that the portable communication terminal exists within a predetermined range outside the vehicle when the portable communication terminal is authenticated by the first authenticator and when the portable communication terminal is not authenticated by the second authenticator, and

determines that the portable communication terminal exists in the vehicle compartment of the vehicle when the portable communication terminal is authenticated by the first authenticator and when the portable communication terminal is authenticated by the second authenticator;

a controller that permits or causes an electronic control device controlling an action of the vehicle to perform a predetermined action corresponding to a position of the portable communication terminal determined by the determinator; and

an acquisition portion that acquires image information, which is produced by a camera-included in the portable communication terminal, through communication to be performed by the first communicator,

wherein;

when the determinator determines that the portable communication terminal is authenticated by the first authenticator and the portable communication terminal is not authenticated by the second authenticator,

the determinator causes the acquisition portion to acquire the image information produced by the portable communication terminal at a time when the determinator makes determination, and

the determinator determines based on a result of analysis performed on the image information whether the portable communication terminal exists outside the vehicle or exists in the vehicle compartment while the second authenticator does not authenticate the portable communication terminal.

6. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

when a plurality of portable communication terminals that are not authenticated by the second authenticator and are authenticated by the first authenticator are detected,

the determinator determines based on the image information produced by the detected portable communication terminals and acquired by the acquisition portion whether each of the portable communication terminals exists outside the vehicle or exists in the vehicle compartment while the second authenticator does not authenticate; and

the controller permits or causes the electronic control device, which controls an action of the vehicle, to perform the predetermined action in accordance with a distribution state of positions of the portable communication terminals.

7. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the controller causes a predetermined information presentation device to notify a user of a fact that the portable communication terminal is placed in the vehicle compartment, when the plurality of portable communication terminals mixedly exist outside the vehicle and in the vehicle compartment.