Vehicle communication system

• US 7,206,615 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ochi, Masaaki, Deguchi, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US11/016,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20050143141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 34053922-53923, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/426.1, 340/426.16, 340/10.4, 340/10.41, 340 56- 561, 340/5.2, 340/5.33, 340 101- 102, 340173-176, 340/539.32, 340/5.72, 340/426.13, 340/426.14, 340/426.15, 340/853.2, 340989-994, 341173-176, 307 101- 103, 4554561-4566, 455 305- 306, 455/404.2, 455/3.03, 455 411- 413, 455/67.11, 455/67.12, 455/550.1, 455423-425, 455/99, 455/421, 455/569.2, 455/575.9, 455 95- 96, 455/101, 455/103, 455123-124, 455/414.2, 455/73, 455/88, 455 91- 92, 455/345, 455/152.1, 455/68, 455418-420, 455/352, 701 19- 20, 701/2, 701/36, 701/49, 701/51, 701 53- 54, 701/214, 701/300
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• 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 first transmitter outputs a request signal requesting a response to a mobile device toward an area including a driver'"'"'s seat and its neighborhood, and a second transmitter outputs a request signal toward an area covering the entire vehicle. The mobile device transmits a response signal to a receiver if receiving the request signal transmitted from the first or second transmitter. The controller detects the position of the mobile device based on a communication result between the mobile device and the receiver in response to the request signals transmitted from the first and second transmitters.

Claims

1. A vehicle communication system provided with a transceiver disposed in a vehicle and a mobile device for transmitting and receiving specified signals to and from the vehicle equipped with the transceiver,

wherein the transceiver includes:

a first transmitting means for outputting a first request signal toward a first communication area, the first request signal requesting a response from the mobile device;

a second transmitting means for outputting a second request signal toward a second communication area different from the first communication area,

a receiving means for receiving a response signal transmitted from the mobile device in response to the first request signal or the second request signal; and

a control means for controlling operations of the first transmitting means, the second transmitting means and the receiving means;

wherein the mobile device transmits the response signal to the receiving means in the case of receiving the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means or the second request signal transmitted from the second transmitting means; and

wherein the control means;

detects a position of the mobile device based on a communication result between the mobile device and the receiving means in response to the first and second request signals transmitted from the first and second transmitting means;

controls a notifying means for outputting information used to specify the position of the mobile device to a user based on a detection result of the position of the mobile device;

judges that the mobile device is located in the first communication area and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located in the first communication area if the receiving means has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means;

judges that the mobile device is located in the second communication area excluding the first communication area and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located in the second communication area excluding the first communication area if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means, but has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the second request signal transmitted from the second transmitting means; and

judges that the mobile device is located outside the first and second communication areas and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located outside the first and second communication areas if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the first and second request signals transmitted from the first and second transmitting means.

2. A vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first transmitting means outputs the first request signal toward a driver'"'"'s-seat centered communication area covering a driver'"'"'s seat and its neighborhood;

the second transmitting means outputs the second request signal toward an extended communication area wider than the driver'"'"'s-seat centered communication area; and

the control means;

judges that the mobile device is located at the driver'"'"'s seat or its neighborhood and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located at the driver'"'"'s seat or its neighborhood if the receiving means has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means;

judges that the mobile device is located in the extended communication area excluding the driver'"'"'s seat and its neighborhood and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located in the extended communication area excluding the driver'"'"'s seat and its neighborhood if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means, but has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the second request signal transmitted from the second transmitting means; and

judges that the mobile device is located outside the extended communication area and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located outside the extended communication area if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the first and second request signals transmitted from the first and second transmitting means.

3. A vehicle communication system according to claim 2, wherein:

the extended communication area includes a within-compartment communication area at least covering the entire area in a passenger compartment excluding the driver'"'"'s-seat centered communication area; and

the control means;

judges that the mobile device is located at the driver'"'"'s seat or its neighborhood and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located at the driver'"'"'s seat or its neighborhood if the receiving means has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means;

judges that the mobile device is located in the passenger compartment excluding the driver'"'"'s seat and its neighborhood and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located in the passenger compartment excluding the driver'"'"'s seat and its neighborhood if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means, but has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the second request signal transmitted from the second transmitting means; and

judges that the mobile device is located outside the passenger compartment and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located outside the passenger compartment if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the first and second request signals transmitted from the first and second transmitting means.

4. A vehicle communication system according to claim 2, wherein:

the extended communication area includes a within-vehicle communication area at least covering the entire area within the vehicle excluding the driver'"'"'s-seat centered communication area; and

the control means;

judges that the mobile device is located at the driver'"'"'s seat or its neighborhood and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located at the driver'"'"'s seat or its neighborhood if the receiving means has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means;

judges that the mobile device is located within the vehicle excluding the driver'"'"'s seat and its neighborhood and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located within the vehicle excluding the driver'"'"'s seat and its neighborhood if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means, but has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the second request signal transmitted from the second transmitting means; and

judges that the mobile device is located outside the vehicle and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located outside the vehicle if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the first and second request signals transmitted from the first and second transmitting means.

5. A vehicle communication system according to claim 2, wherein:

the second request signal includes a front right second request signal, a front left second request signal, a rear right second request signal, and a rear left second request signal;

the second transmitting means includes;

a front right transmitting means disposed at a front right side of the vehicle for outputting the front right second request signal toward a front right area of the vehicle;

a front left transmitting means disposed at a front left side of the vehicle for outputting the front left second request signal toward a front left area of the vehicle;

a rear right transmitting means disposed at a rear right side of the vehicle for outputting the rear right second request signal toward a rear right area of the vehicle; and

a rear left transmitting means disposed at a rear left side of the vehicle for outputting the rear left second request signal toward a rear left area of the vehicle;

wherein the front right area, the front left area, the rear right area and the rear left area cover at least the entire area within the vehicle excluding the driver'"'"'s-seat centered communication area; and

the control means;

judges that the mobile device is located at the driver'"'"'s seat or its neighborhood and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located at the driver'"'"'s seat or its neighborhood if the receiving means has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means;

judges that the mobile device is located within the vehicle excluding the driver'"'"'s seat and its neighborhood and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located within the vehicle excluding the driver'"'"'s seat and its neighborhood if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means, but has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to at least one of the front right second request signal transmitted from the front right transmitting means, the front left second request signal transmitted from the front left transmitting means, the rear right second request signal transmitted from the rear right transmitting means and the rear left second request signal transmitted from the rear left transmitting means; and

judges that the mobile device is located outside the vehicle and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located outside the vehicle if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means, the front right second request signal transmitted from the front right transmitting means, the front left second request signal transmitted from the front left transmitting means, the rear right second request signal transmitted from the rear right transmitting means and the rear left second request signal transmitted from the rear left transmitting means.

6. A vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first transmitting means outputs the first request signal toward a within-compartment front communication area covering the driver'"'"'s seat, the front passenger seat and their neighborhoods;

the second transmitting means transmits the second request signal toward a communication extended area wider than the within-compartment front communication area; and

the control means;

judges that the mobile device is located at the driver'"'"'s seat, the front passenger seat or their neighborhoods and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located at the driver'"'"'s seat, the front passenger seat or their neighborhoods if the receiving means has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means;

judges that the mobile device is located in the extended communication area excluding the driver'"'"'s seat, the front passenger seat and their neighborhoods and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located in the extended communication area excluding the driver'"'"'s seat, the front passenger seat, and their neighborhoods if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means, but has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the second request signal transmitted from the second transmitting means; and

judges that the mobile device is located outside the extended communication area and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located outside the extended communication area if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the first and second request signals transmitted from the first and second transmitting means.

7. A vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first transmitting means outputs the first request signal toward a within-compartment communication area covering the entire area in the passenger compartment;

the second transmitting means outputs the second request signal toward an extended communication area wider than the within-compartment communication area; and

the control means;

judges that the mobile device is located in the passenger compartment and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located in the passenger compartment if the receiving means has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means;

judges that the mobile device is located in the extended communication area excluding the interior of the passenger compartment and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located in the extended communication area excluding the interior of the passenger compartment if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means, but has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the second request signal transmitted from the second transmitting means; and

judges that the mobile device is located outside the extended communication area and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located outside the extended communication area if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the first and second request signals transmitted from the first and second transmitting means.

8. A vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first request signal includes a within-compartment front first request signal and a within-compartment rear first request signal;

the first transmitting means includes a within-compartment front transmitting means for outputting the within-compartment front first request signal toward a within-compartment front communication area covering the driver'"'"'s seat, the front passenger seat and their neighborhoods, and a within-compartment rear transmitting means for outputting the within-compartment rear first request signal toward a within-compartment rear communication area covering the rear passenger seat and its neighborhood,

the second transmitting means outputs the second request signal toward an extended communication area wider than the within-compartment front communication area; and

the control means;

judges that the mobile device is located at the driver'"'"'s seat, the front passenger seat or their neighborhoods and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located at the driver'"'"'s seat, the front passenger seat or their neighborhoods if the receiving means has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the within-compartment front first request signal transmitted from the within-compartment front transmitting means; and

judges that the mobile device is located at the rear passenger seat or its neighborhood and causes the notifying means to output information representing that the mobile device is located at the rear passenger seat or its neighborhood if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the within-compartment front first request signal transmitted from the within-compartment front transmitting means, but has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the within-compartment rear first request signal transmitted from the within-compartment rear transmitting means.

9. A vehicle communication system provided with a transceiver disposed in a vehicle and a mobile device for transmitting and receiving specified signals to and from the vehicle equipped with the transceiver,

wherein the transceiver includes:

a first transmitting means for outputting a first request signal toward a first communication area the first request signal requesting a response from the mobile device;

a second transmitting means for outputting a second request signal toward a second communication area different from the first communication area,

a receiving means for receiving a response signal transmitted from the mobile device in response to the first request signal or the second request signal; and

a control means for controlling operations of the first transmitting means, the second transmitting means and the receiving means;

wherein the mobile device transmits the response signal to the receiving means in the case of receiving the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means or the second request signal transmitted from the second transmitting means; and

wherein the control means;

detects a position of the mobile device based on a communication result between the mobile device and the receiving means in response to the first and second request signals transmitted from the first and second transmitting means;

controls a start detecting means for detecting that a user has instructed to start an engine of the vehicle and a starting means for starting the engine;

controls the first transmitting means to output the first request signal toward the first communication area if the start detecting means detects that the user has instructed to start the engine of the vehicle; and

controls the starting means to start the engine of the vehicle if the receiving means receives the response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means while controlling the starting means not to start the engine of the vehicle unless the receiving means receives the response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means.

10. A vehicle communication system provided with a transceiver disposed in a vehicle and a mobile device for transmitting and receiving specified signals to and from the vehicle equipped with the transceiver,

wherein the transceiver includes:

a first transmitting means for outputting a first request signal toward a first communication area, the first request signal requesting a response from the mobile device;

a second transmitting means for outputting a second request signal toward a second communication area different from the first communication area,

a receiving means for receiving a response signal transmitted from the mobile device in response to the first request signal or the second request signal; and

a control means for controlling operations of the first transmitting means, the second transmitting means and the receiving means;

wherein the mobile device transmits the response signal to the receiving means in the case of receiving the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means or the second request signal transmitted from the second transmitting means; and

wherein the control means;

detects a position of the mobile device based on a communication result between the mobile device and the receiving means in response to the first and second request signals transmitted from the first and second transmitting means;

controls a locking/unlocking detecting means for detecting that a user has instructed to lock or unlock doors of the vehicles and a locking/unlocking means for locking or unlocking the doors of the vehicle;

controls the first transmitting means to output the first request signal toward the first communication area if the locking/unlocking detecting means detects that the user has instructed to lock or unlock the doors of the vehicle;

controls the locking/unlocking means not to lock or unlock the doors of the vehicle if the receiving means has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means; and

controls the locking/unlocking means to lock or unlock the doors of the vehicles if the receiving means has received no response signal from the mobile device in response to the first request signal transmitted from the first transmitting means, but has received the response signal from the mobile device in response to the second request signal transmitted from the second transmitting means.