Door lock control apparatus for vehicle

This application is based on and incorporates herein by reference Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-224976 filed on Sep. 2, 2008.

The present exemplary embodiment relates generally to door lock control apparatus for a vehicle and, in particular, a door lock control apparatus for locking a door of a vehicle in response to a door lock command inputted through a door lock switch provided on the exterior of the vehicle under conditions where an user carrying an electronic key specific to the vehicle is located outside around the vehicle and where the electronic key is not located inside an occupant compartment of the vehicle.

As it is well known, in a smart entry system for a vehicle, a door of the vehicle is locked and unlocked by automatically detecting whether a user carrying an electronic key specific to the vehicle is approaching or coming away from the vehicle through wireless communication with the electronic key.

In such a smart entry system, if the door is fully automatically locked and unlocked regardless of a user's intention, problems may occur such as degradation in usability and an increase in time elapsed from when the user exits the vehicle to when the door is locked. As a result, the user may be anxious about whether the door is actually locked.

In a smart entry system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3582384, a user can manually input a door lock command through a lock switch (SW) provided on the exterior (e.g., near a door handle) of a vehicle in order to lock a door of the vehicle. A door of the vehicle is locked in response to an operation of the lock switch, if a door lock condition is met. The door lock condition is that an electronic key specific to the vehicle is located outside the vehicle and is not located inside the vehicle.

For example, a vehicle-interior/trunk-interior key check is performed to check whether the electronic key is not located inside the vehicle, and a vehicle-outside key check is performed to check whether the key is located outside the vehicle.

Such a key check procedure to determine whether the door lock condition is met is performed to prevent the door from being locked with the electronic key left inside the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 5 , the key check procedure starts after the lock SW is pressed down.

Therefore, it takes much time to verify the door is locked after pressing down the lock SW.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present exemplary embodiment to provide a door lock control apparatus for reducing time required to verify a vehicle door is locked after a door lock switch on an exterior of the vehicle is operated.

A door lock control apparatus for a vehicle includes a lock switch, a door lock control device, and a vehicle-interior check device. The lock switch is located on an exterior of the vehicle and configured to be manually operable to input a door lock command. The door lock control device performs a vehicle-outside key check in response to the door lock command. In the vehicle-outside key check, a wireless signal is transmitted outside around the vehicle, and it is determined whether an electronic key specific to the vehicle is located outside around the vehicle based on a response signal from the electronic key. The vehicle-interior check device performs a vehicle-interior key check when the electronic key is put into a situation in which the electronic key is allowed to be moved from inside to outside an occupant compartment of the vehicle. In the vehicle-interior key check, the wireless signal is transmitted inside the occupant compartment, and it is determined whether the electronic key is located inside the occupant compartment based on the response signal from the electronic key. The vehicle-interior check device stores a result of the vehicle-interior key check as a check record. The door lock control device determines, based on the check record, whether the electronic key is located inside the occupant compartment in response to the door lock command. The door lock control device locks a door of the vehicle upon determination that the electronic key is not located inside the occupant compartment, and that the electronic key is located outside around the vehicle.

The above and other objectives, features and advantages of the present exemplary embodiment will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with check to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a door lock control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a check record update process performed by a control ECU of the door lock control apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a door lock control process performed by the control ECU;

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram of the door lock control apparatus; and

FIG. 5 is a timing diagram of a conventional door lock control apparatus.

A door lock control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to FIG. 1 .

The door lock control apparatus includes an electronic key 2 carried by a user (e.g., driver) and an in-vehicle device 4 mounted to a vehicle. When receiving a call signal wirelessly transmitted from the in-vehicle device 4 , the electronic key 2 transmits a response signal corresponding to the call signal.

The in-vehicle device 4 mainly includes a control electronic control unit (ECU) 10 . The control ECU 10 performs wireless communication with the electronic key 2 to lock/unlock a door of the vehicle.

The control ECU 10 is connected to each of a vehicle-interior transmitter 12 , a trunk-interior transmitter 14 , a vehicle-outside transmitter 16 , and a receiver 18 . The vehicle-interior transmitter 12 transmits the call signal inside to an occupant compartment of the vehicle. The trunk-interior transmitter 14 transmits the call signal inside a trunk of the vehicle. The vehicle-outside transmitter 16 transmits the call signal to the outside of the vehicle. For example, the call signal transmitted by the vehicle-outside transmitter 16 can be effective within a predetermined distance from the vehicle. The receiver 18 receives the response signal from the electronic key 2 .

The control ECU 10 transmits the call signal through the transmitters 12 , 14 , and 16 and receives the response signal from the electronic key 2 through the receiver 18 . The control ECU 10 detects a location of the electronic key 2 by determining whether the received response signal is authorized.

The control ECU 10 is further connected to a trunk sensor 28 , a door lock mechanism 22 , a door sensor 24 , and a door lock switch 26 . The trunk sensor 28 detects whether the trunk of the vehicle is opened or closed. The door lock mechanism 22 locks/unlocks the door of the vehicle. The door lock switch 26 is provided on the exterior of the vehicle so that the user can access the door lock switch 26 from the outside of the vehicle. The door lock mechanism 22 , the door sensor 24 , and the door lock switch 26 are provided for each door of the vehicle.

When any one of the door lock switches 26 is operated (e.g., pressed down), the control ECU 10 determines whether a door lock condition is met based on the detected location of the electronic key 2 . If the door lock condition is met, the control ECU 10 sends to the door lock mechanism 22 a door lock command that causes the door lock mechanism 22 to lock the door of the vehicle.

Control processes performed by the control ECU 10 to determine whether the door lock condition is met are described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 .

FIG. 2 illustrates a check record update process performed by the control ECU 10 before the door lock switch 26 is operated by the user. In the check record update process, the control ECU 10 checks whether the electronic key 2 is located inside the vehicle and stores a record of the check.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the check record update process starts at S 110 , where the control ECU 10 determines, based on a detection signal from the door sensor 24 , whether the door of the vehicle is opened and then closed. Specifically, at S 110 , the control ECU 10 determines whether the door is closed after the door was previously opened so that the electronic key 2 can be put into a situation in which the electronic key 2 can be moved from inside to outside the occupant compartment.

If the control ECU 10 determines that the door has been opened and then closed corresponding to YES at S 110 , the check record update process proceeds to S 120 , where the control ECU 10 performs a vehicle-interior key check procedure. In the vehicle-interior key check procedure, the vehicle-interior transmitter 12 transmits the call signal inside the occupant compartment, the receiver 18 receives the response signal from the electronic key 2 , and the control ECU 10 checks whether the electronic key 2 is located inside the occupant compartment by determining whether the response signal received by the receiver 18 is authorized. Then, the check record update process proceeds from S 120 to S 130 , where the control ECU 10 stores a result of the vehicle-interior key check procedure as a vehicle-interior check record. For example, the result of the vehicle-interior key check procedure can be stored in a memory incorporated in the control ECU 10 . After S 130 is finished, the check record update process returns to S 110 .

Conversely, if the control ECU 10 does not determine that the door is opened and then closed corresponding to NO at S 110 , the check record update process proceeds to S 140 , where the control ECU 10 determines, based on a detection signal from the trunk sensor 28 , whether the trunk of the vehicle has been opened and then closed. Specifically, at S 140 , the control ECU 10 determines whether the trunk is closed after the trunk was previously opened so that the electronic key 2 can be put into a situation in which the electronic key 2 can be moved from inside to outside the trunk.

If the control ECU 10 does not determine that the trunk has been opened and then closed corresponding to NO at S 140 , the check record update process returns to S 110 .

Conversely, if the control ECU 10 determines that the trunk has been opened and then closed corresponding to YES at S 140 , the check record update process proceeds to S 150 , where the control ECU 10 performs a trunk-interior key check procedure. In the trunk-interior key check procedure, the trunk-interior transmitter 14 transmits the call signal inside the trunk, the receiver 18 receives the response signal from the electronic key 2 , and the control ECU 10 checks whether the electronic key 2 is located inside the trunk by determining whether the response signal received by the receiver 18 is authorized. Then, the check record update process proceeds to S 160 , where the control ECU 10 stores a result of the trunk-interior key check procedure as a trunk-interior check record. For example, the result of the trunk-interior key check procedure can be stored in the memory incorporated in the control ECU 10 . After S 160 is finished, the check record update process returns to S 110 .

In this way, the check record update process is repeated so that the vehicle-interior and trunk-interior check records stored in the memory can be updated.

FIG. 3 illustrates a door lock control process performed by the control ECU 10 . The door lock control process is performed, when the door lock switch 26 provided on the exterior of the vehicle is operated (e.g., pressed down). In the door lock control process, the control ECU 10 locks/unlocks the door of the vehicle based on whether the door lock condition is met.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the door lock control process starts at S 210 , where the control ECU 10 determines whether the door lock switch 26 is pressed down. If the control ECU 10 does not determine that the door lock switch 26 is pressed down corresponding to NO at S 210 , the door lock control process ends. Conversely, if the control ECU 10 determines that the door lock switch 26 is pressed down corresponding to YES at S 210 , the door lock control process proceeds to S 220 . At S 220 , the control ECU 10 reads the updated vehicle-interior and trunk-interior check records, for example, from the memory.

Then, the door lock control process proceeds to S 230 , where the control ECU 10 determines, based on the vehicle-interior check record, whether the electronic key 2 is located outside the occupant compartment. If the control ECU 10 determines that the electronic key 2 is located inside the occupant compartment corresponding to NO at S 230 , the door lock control process proceeds to S 340 . Conversely, if the control ECU 10 determines that the electronic key 2 is located outside the occupant compartment corresponding to YES at S 230 , the door lock control process proceeds to S 240 .

At S 240 , the control ECU 10 determines, based on the trunk-interior check record, whether the electronic key 2 is located inside the trunk of the vehicle. If the control ECU 10 determines that the electronic key 2 is located inside the trunk corresponding to NO at S 240 , the door lock control process proceeds to S 250 . Conversely, if the control ECU 10 determines that the electronic key 2 is located outside the trunk corresponding to YES at S 240 , the door lock control process proceeds to S 260 .

At S 250 , the control ECU 10 determines whether the trunk is now opened. If the control ECU 10 determines that the trunk is now closed corresponding to NO at S 250 , the door lock control process proceeds to S 340 . Conversely, if the control ECU 10 determines that the trunk is now opened corresponding to YES at S 250 , the door lock control process proceeds to S 260 .

At S 260 , the control ECU 10 performs a vehicle-outside key check procedure. In the vehicle-outside key check procedure, the vehicle-outside transmitter 16 transmits the call signal to the outside of the vehicle, the receiver 18 receives the response signal from the electronic key 2 , and the control ECU 10 checks whether the electronic key 2 is located outside the vehicle by determining whether the response signal received by the receiver 18 is authorized. That is, in the vehicle-outside key check procedure, the control ECU 10 determines whether a user carrying the electronic key 2 is near the vehicle.

Then, the door lock control process proceeds from S 260 to S 270 , where the control ECU 10 determines, based on a result of the vehicle-outside key check procedure, whether the electronic key 2 is located outside the vehicle. If the control ECU 10 determines that the electronic key 2 is located outside the vehicle corresponding to YES at S 270 , the door lock control process proceeds to S 280 . Conversely, if the control ECU 10 does not determine that the electronic key 2 is located outside the vehicle corresponding to NO at S 270 , the door lock control process ends.

At S 280 , the control ECU 10 sends the door lock command to the door lock mechanism 22 so that the door of the vehicle can be locked. That is, the door lock condition is considered as met, when the control ECU 10 determines that the electronic key 2 is located outside the occupant compartment corresponding to YES at S 230 , that the electronic key 2 is located outside the trunk corresponding to YES at S 240 , and that the electronic key 2 is located outside around the vehicle corresponding to YES at S 270 .

Then, the door lock control process proceeds from S 280 to S 290 . At S 290 , the control ECU 10 performs the vehicle-interior key check procedure and the trunk-interior key check procedure in the same manner as at S 120 and S 150 .

Then, the door lock control process proceeds from S 290 to S 300 , where the control ECU 10 determines, based on a result of the vehicle-interior key check procedure performed at S 290 , whether the electronic key 2 is located inside the occupant compartment. If the control ECU 10 determines that the electronic key 2 is located inside the occupant compartment corresponding to YES at S 300 , the door lock control process proceeds to S 330 . At S 330 , the control ECU 10 sends a door unlock command to the door lock mechanism 22 so that the door of the vehicle can be unlocked. After S 330 is finished, the door lock control process ends.

Conversely, if the control ECU 10 does not determine that the electronic key 2 is located inside the occupant compartment corresponding to NO at S 300 , the door lock control process proceeds to S 310 . At S 310 , the control ECU 10 determines, based on a result of the trunk-interior key check procedure performed at S 290 , whether the electronic key 2 is located inside the trunk.

If the control ECU 10 determines that the electronic key 2 is located inside the trunk of the vehicle corresponding to YES at S 310 , the door lock control process proceeds to S 320 . Conversely, if the control ECU 10 determines that the electronic key 2 is located outside the trunk of the vehicle corresponding to NO at S 310 , the door lock control process ends.

At S 320 , the control ECU 10 determines whether the trunk is now opened. If the control ECU 10 determines that the trunk is now closed corresponding to NO at S 320 , the door lock control process proceeds to S 330 , where the control ECU 10 sends the door unlock command to the door lock mechanism 22 so that the door of the vehicle can be unlocked. Conversely, if the control ECU 10 determines that the trunk is now opened corresponding to YES at S 320 , the door lock control process ends.

As mentioned previously, the door lock control process proceeds to S 340 , if the control ECU 10 determines that the electronic key 2 is located inside the occupant compartment corresponding to NO at S 230 , or if the control ECU 10 determines that the trunk is now closed corresponding to NO at S 250 . At S 340 , the control ECU 10 performs an all area key check procedure. In the all area key check procedure, the control ECU 10 performs all of the vehicle-interior key check procedure, the trunk-interior key check procedure, and the vehicle-outside key check procedure in the same manner as at S 260 and S 290 .

Then, the door lock control process proceeds from S 340 to S 350 , where the control ECU 10 determines, based on a result of the all area key check procedure performed at S 340 , whether the door lock condition is met. As mentioned previously, the door lock condition is considered as met, when the control ECU 10 determines that the electronic key 2 is located outside the occupant compartment. If the control ECU 10 does not determine that the door lock condition is met corresponding to NO at S 350 , the door lock control process ends. Conversely, if the control ECU 10 determines that the door lock condition is met corresponding to YES at S 350 , the door lock control process proceeds to S 360 . At S 360 , the control ECU 10 sends the door lock command to the door lock mechanism 22 so that the door of the vehicle can be locked. After S 360 is finished, the door lock control process ends.

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram of the door lock control apparatus according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4 , in the door lock control apparatus, regardless of the operating state of the door lock switch 26 , the trunk-key check procedure is performed when the trunk is opened and then closed, and the vehicle-interior key check procedure is performed when the door is opened and then closed. In this way, it is checked whether the electronic key 2 is located inside the vehicle, and the results of the check procedures are stored as the check records.

When the door lock switch 26 is operated, the vehicle-outside key check procedure is performed to check whether the electronic key 2 is located around the vehicle. If it is determined that the electronic key 2 is located around the vehicle and the check record of the key 2 is not located inside the vehicle, it is determined that the door lock condition is met. When the door lock condition is met, the door lock command is sent to the door lock mechanism 22 so that the door of the vehicle can be locked.

In such an approach, time required to verify the door of the vehicle are locked after the door lock switch 26 is operated is reduced so that usability can be improved. That is, as can be seen by comparing FIGS. 4 and 5 , the time required for door lock in the door lock control apparatus of the embodiment is less than the time required for door lock in the conventional door lock control apparatus.

Further, according to the embodiment, after the doors of the vehicle are locked in response to the operation of the door lock switch 26 , the vehicle-interior key check procedure and the trunk-key check procedure are performed to check whether the electronic key is left inside the vehicle. If the electronic key is left inside the vehicle, the door unlock command is sent to the door lock mechanism 22 so that the door can be unlocked (refer to S 290 -S 330 in FIG. 3 ).

In such an approach, even if the door is locked due to the fact that the stored check records have errors caused by factors such as noise and an unexpected operation of the user, the door can be unlocked. Thus, it is possible to prevent the door from being locked with the electronic key 2 left inside the vehicle.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment, when the stored check records indicate that the door lock condition is not met, the all area key check procedure is performed. If the result of the all area key check procedure indicates that the door lock condition is met, the door of the vehicle is locked (refer to S 340 -S 360 in FIG. 3 ) regardless of the stored check records.

In this way, even if the door is not locked due to the fact that the stored check records have errors caused by factors such as noise and an unexpected operation of the users the door can be locked by performing the all area key check procedure. Thus, usability can be improved.

The control ECU 10 can serve as a door lock control device by performing the door lock control process shown in FIG. 3 . The control ECU 10 can serve as a vehicle-interior check device by performing S 110 -S 130 of the check record update process shown in FIG. 2 . The control ECU 10 can serve as a trunk-interior check device by performing S 140 -S 160 of the check record update process shown in FIG. 2 . The control ECU 10 can serve as a door unlock control device by performing S 290 -S 330 of the door lock control process shown in FIG. 3 .

The embodiments described above can be modified in various ways. For example, the trunk-interior key check procedure can be omitted. In such a case, it can be determined whether the door lock condition is met based on the results of the vehicle-interior key check procedure and the vehicle-outside key check procedure.

Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.