Remote control device and remote control method for vehicle

Abstract

A counter increases a counted value at regular time intervals during a transmission time of a request signal Sr transmitted based on trigger signals input from a door unlocking sensor or the like. On the other hand, the counter decreases the counted value at regular time intervals during a non-transmission time of the request signal Sr. A determination unit either prohibits or permits transmission of the request signal Sr to a portable unit, based on comparison results of the counted value with a prohibition value and a lifting value.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicular remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically illustrating a vehicle to which there is applied a system for using the remote control device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process for unlocking the doors of a vehicle;

FIG. 4 is a timing chart of a comparative example, showing a rise in temperature in an LF transmitting circuit and a LF transmission antenna, during communications between a control unit and a portable unit;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for showing a process performed within a counter and a determination unit, for determining whether to transmit a request signal or not; and

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing suppression of a rise in temperature in the LF transmitter circuit and the LF transmission antenna, according to the determination shown in FIG. 5, during communications between the control unit and the portable unit.

Claims

1. A vehicular remote control device for controlling operation of a vehicle-mounted device based on a trigger signal from a predetermined switch operated by an operator, comprising: a counting unit for increasing a counted value at predetermined regular time intervals during an operation time of said vehicle-mounted device in response to inputting of the trigger signal, while decreasing the counted value at said predetermined regular time intervals during a non-operation time of said vehicle-mounted device; anda control unit for controlling permission and prohibition of operation of said vehicle-mounted device based on comparison of said counted value with a predetermined threshold value.

2. The vehicular remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said threshold value comprises a first threshold value and a second threshold value that is lower than said first threshold value, and wherein said control unit prohibits the operation of said vehicle-mounted device when said counted value exceeds said first threshold value, and permits the operation of said vehicle-mounted device when said counted value falls to the second threshold value or lower.

3. The vehicular remote control device according to claim 2, wherein prohibition of the operation of said vehicle-mounted device is lifted in order to permit operation of said vehicle-mounted device when said counted value falls to said second threshold value or lower.

4. The vehicular remote control device according to claim 2, wherein the operation of said vehicle-mounted device is prohibited when said control unit judges that said counted value exceeds said first threshold value before a next regular time interval.

5. The vehicular remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said counting unit increases said counted value by adding a first preset value to said counted value at said regular time intervals during the operation time of said vehicle-mounted device, and decreases said counted value by subtracting a second preset value from said counted value at said regular time intervals during the non-operation time of said vehicle-mounted device.

6. A vehicular remote control device for controlling transmission of a request signal when the request signal is transmitted to a portable unit from a transmitting unit of a vehicle-mounted device, based on a trigger signal input from a predetermined switch of a vehicle operated by an operator, comprising: a counting unit for increasing a counted value at predetermined regular time intervals during a transmission time of said request signal in response to inputting of said trigger signal, while decreasing said counted value at said predetermined regular time intervals during a non-transmission time of said request signal; anda transmission control unit for controlling permission and prohibition of transmission of said request signal based on comparison of said counted value with a predetermined threshold value.

7. The vehicular remote control device according to claim 6, wherein said threshold value comprises a first threshold value and a second threshold value that is lower than said first threshold value, and wherein said control unit prohibits transmission of said request signal when said counted value exceeds said first threshold value, and permits transmission of said request signal when said counted value falls to the second threshold value or lower.

8. The vehicular remote control device according to claim 7, wherein prohibition of transmission of said request signal is lifted in order to permit transmission of said request signal when said counted value falls to said second threshold value or lower.

9. The vehicular remote control device according to claim 7, wherein transmission of said request signal is prohibited when said control unit judges that said counted value exceeds said first threshold value before a next regular time interval.

10. The vehicular remote control device according to claim 6, wherein said counting unit increases said counted value by adding a first preset value to said counted value at said regular time intervals during the transmission time of said request signal, and decreases said counted value by subtracting a second preset value from said counted value at said regular time intervals during the non-transmission time of said request signal.

11. A method of vehicular remote control for controlling operation of a vehicle-mounted device based on a trigger signal from a predetermined switch of a vehicle operated by an operator, comprising: a counting step for increasing a counted value at predetermined regular time intervals during an operation time of the vehicle-mounted device in response to inputting of said trigger signal, while decreasing said counted value at said predetermined regular time intervals during a non-operation time of said vehicle-mounted device; anda controlling step for controlling permission and prohibition of operation of said vehicle-mounted device based on comparison of said counted value with a predetermined threshold value.

12. The method of vehicular remote control according to claim 11, wherein said threshold value comprises a first threshold value and a second threshold value that is lower than said first threshold value, and wherein said controlling step prohibits the operation of said vehicle-mounted device when said counted value exceeds said first threshold value, and permits the operation of said vehicle-mounted device when said counted value falls to said second threshold value or lower.

13. The method of vehicular remote control according to claim 12, wherein said controlling step lifts prohibition of the operation of said vehicle-mounted device in order to permit the operation of said vehicle-mounted device when said counted value falls to said second threshold value or lower.

14. The method of vehicular remote control according to claim 12, wherein said controlling step prohibits the operation of said vehicle-mounted device when it is judged in said controlling step that said counted value exceeds said first threshold value before a next regular time interval.

15. The method of vehicular remote control according to claim 11, wherein said counting step increases said counted value by adding a first preset value to said counted value at said regular time intervals during the operation time of said vehicle-mounted device, and decreases said counted value by subtracting a second preset value from said counted value at said regular time intervals during the non-operation time of said vehicle-mounted device.

16. A method of vehicular remote control for controlling transmission of a request signal when the request signal is transmitted to a portable unit from a transmitting unit of a vehicle-mounted device based on a trigger signal input from a predetermined switch of a vehicle operated by an operator, comprising: a counting step for increasing a counted value at predetermined regular time intervals during a transmission time of said request signal in response to inputting of said trigger signal, while decreasing said counted value at said predetermined regular time intervals during a non-transmission time of said request signal; anda transmission controlling step for controlling permission and prohibition of transmission of said request signal based on comparison of said counted value with a predetermined threshold value.

17. The method of vehicular remote control according to claim 16, wherein said threshold value comprises a first threshold value and a second threshold value that is lower than said first threshold value, and wherein said controlling step prohibits transmission of said request signal when said counted value exceeds said first threshold value, and permits transmission of said request signal when said counted value falls to said second threshold value or lower.

18. The method of vehicular remote control according to claim 17, wherein said transmission controlling step lifts prohibition of transmission of said request signal in order to permit transmission of said request signal when said counted value falls to said second threshold value or lower.

19. The method of vehicular remote control according to claim 17, wherein said transmission control step prohibits the operation of said vehicle-mounted device when it is judged in said transmission control step that said counted value exceeds said first threshold value before a next regular time interval.

20. The method of vehicular remote control according to claim 16, wherein said counting step increases said counted value by adding a first preset value to said counted value at said regular time intervals during the transmission time of said request signal, and decreases said counted value by subtracting a second preset value from said counted value at said regular time intervals during the non-transmission time of said request signal.