Abstract: A voice guidance system for a vehicle includes a transmitter, a tuner, a touch sensor, a smart ECU, a D-seat speaker, and a P-seat speaker, which are all mounted in a vehicle. It is used for an in-vehicle system, such as a smart entry system, which performs intercommunication with a portable unit. In this guidance system, a smart ECU stores in a memory information indicating that a user has performed predetermined operation with the smart entry system. When it is determined that a user will use the smart entry system, the following processing is performed: voice guidance about the operation procedures for the system is outputted from a driver seat speaker or a passenger seat speaker when information indicating that the user has performed the predetermined operation in the past is not stored in the memory; and voice guidance is disabled when information indicating that the user has performed the predetermined operation is stored.

Abstract: A CPU of a speech ECU acquires vehicle position information. If it is determined from the position information and map data stored in a memory that the vehicle has moved between areas where different languages are spoken as dialects or official languages, the CPU determines a language corresponding to the vehicle position information and transmits a request signal to a speech information center to transmit speech information in the language. By receiving the speech information from the speech information center, the CPU updates speech information pre-stored in the memory with the speech information transmitted from the speech information center.

Abstract: An in-vehicle monitor for monitoring a status of a vehicle includes: a monitoring means for monitoring the status of the vehicle; a determination means for determining based on the status of the vehicle whether an obstacle interrupts an operation of an operation object when a user inputs an operation instruction for operating the operation object; and a controller for controlling the operation object to execute the operation corresponding to the operation instruction when the determination means determines that the obstacle does not interrupts the operation, and for controlling the operation object to execute another operation different from the operation corresponding to the operation instruction when the determination means determines that the obstacle interrupts the operation.

Abstract: In an in-vehicle device remote control system, a vehicle-side device determines in which detection area an electronic key exists based on a response signal transmitted from the key in response to request signals, and a control door to be operated in correspondence to the detection area in which the key exists. The vehicle-side device notifies a user that the key is an authorized one by light, sound, display or the like on the determined control door. With this operation, it is readily recognized by the user because the user is approaching the control door.

Abstract: When searching of a location of a vehicle is commanded, a vehicle search signal is transmitted from a portable device. The vehicle search signal includes an ID code of the portable device. When a vehicle side communication unit receives the valid ID code, the vehicle side communication unit transmits a vehicle side response signal to the portable device. The portable device computes a distance from the portable device to the vehicle based on a signal level of the received vehicle side response signal. A notifying device notifies the computed distance.

Abstract: Based on a user's instruction, a door control unit drives a door opening/closing motor for a pop-up operation. A door is thereby rotated to a predetermined angle, which is smaller than a fully opened angle. Therefore, even when a user holds stuff in his/her hands, the door can be easily opened up to the predetermined angle. When the door is opened at the predetermined angle, the user can insert a part of his/her body into a gap corresponding to the predetermined angle and then further open the door by pushing the door from the door inside surface.

Abstract: A vehicle-side device receives a response signal transmitted from an electronic key carried by a user and executes a matching process to check whether the key is an authorized one. When the matching is confirmed and the operation of a sensor/switch disposed on a door is detected, a given door is unlocked. The device determines a door which is to be opened by the user, and the seat state is controlled on the basis the door to be opened. If the door to be opened is for rearmost seats, the rearmost seats are automatically controlled to a seating state or a loading state based on detection of absence or presence of an object on the rearmost seats.

Abstract: After a door of a vehicle is locked, a touch switch and a lock switch is disabled for a predetermined time period. A predetermined operation of a holder of a handheld unit to a door handle during the predetermined time period causes a device mounted in the vehicle to perform a certain function other than unlocking the door. Thus the predetermined operation solely to the door handle after the door of the vehicle is locked can serve as an instruction for the device mounted in the vehicle to execute the certain function.

Abstract: The vehicle-installed remote control unit includes a receiver receiving a command signal transmitted from a transmitter dedicated to a vehicle, and a controller controlling a part of the vehicle in accordance with the command signal received by the receiver. The controller has a noise-decision function of deciding whether or not a signal received by the receiver is a noise, a record function of recording noise information including at least information specifying a time at which the signal received by the receiver is decided to be the noise by the noise-decision function in a memory included in the controller, and an output function of outputting the noise information recorded in the memory to an external device in response to a command received from the external device.

Abstract: When a master portable unit exists inside a vehicle compartment and a sub-portable unit exists outside the vehicle compartment, master portable unit disable control is performed and door lock control is performed. Thus, even if the master portable unit put in a bag or a jacket is not taken out, the door can be locked. Accordingly, when the user holds the sub-portable unit and goes out of the vehicle compartment while leaving the master portable unit in the vehicle compartment, locking can be performed. Further, even if an unauthorized user breaks the glass and enters the vehicle compartment when the user carries the sub-portable unit and exists outside the vehicle, operations such as starting an engine by using the master portable unit can be disabled.

Abstract: A CPU of a speech ECU acquires vehicle position information. If it is determined from the position information and map data stored in a memory that the vehicle has moved between areas where different languages are spoken as dialects or official languages, the CPU determines a language corresponding to the vehicle position information and transmits a request signal to a speech information center to transmit speech information in the language. By receiving the speech information from the speech information center, the CPU updates speech information pre-stored in the memory with the speech information transmitted from the speech information center.

Abstract: On condition that a holder of a portable device has manipulated an ignition switch, a main control ECU discriminates the open/closed state of a luggage compartment door. When the luggage compartment door is in the closed state, the main control ECU instructs a rear transmitter to transmit a first request signal. When the luggage compartment door is in the open state, the main control ECU instructs the rear transmitter to transmit a second request signal. A portable ECU discriminates the request signal received by a receiver. When the received request signal has been determined to be the second request signal, the portable ECU adjusts the transmission output of a response signal which is to be transmitted from a transmitter, to a second transmission output which is lower than an ordinary output.

Abstract: An in-vehicle device remote control system includes a vehicle-side device, a main mobile device that returns a first response signal in response to a request signal transmitted from the vehicle-side device, and a sub-mobile device that returns a second response signal in response to the request signal. When the vehicle-side device receives the response signal, it conducts a matching process. Vehicle doors are unlocked automatically when the received response signal is determined to be either the first or the second response signal. On the other hand, the engine start is permitted only when the received signal is determined to be the first response signal.

Abstract: A portable device in an electronic key system has a motion detection sensor to detect its motion from a continuation of standing state over a specified period of time, sound and vibration are generated. This sound and vibration make the user aware that he or she carries the portable device. The user thus is reminded of carrying the portable device whenever he or she goes out. If the motion detection sensor detects a larger motion, the sound and vibration are generated without checking the specified period of time. The motion may also be reported to handy equipment, which is separate from the portable device and carried by the user.

Abstract: A vehicle door control system provides increased usability convenience to users by a function for automatically opening and closing vehicle doors. When a response signal has been continuously received over a predetermined period from a portable device in response to a request signal periodically transmitted from a vehicle unit, it can be inferred that the holder of the portable device has not merely passed by the vehicle but stays in the vicinity of the vehicle with the will to ride in the vehicle. Therefore, vehicle doors having the automatic opening/closing function are unlocked and automatically opened. This eliminates a need for the holder of the portable device to command the operations of unlocking and automatically opening the vehicle doors.

Abstract: A voice guidance system for a vehicle includes a transmitter, a tuner, a touch sensor, a smart ECU, a D-seat speaker, and a P-seat speaker, which are all mounted in a vehicle. It is used for an in-vehicle system, such as a smart entry system, which performs intercommunication with a portable unit. In this guidance system, a smart ECU stores in a memory information indicating that a user has performed predetermined operation with the smart entry system. When it is determined that a user will use the smart entry system, the following processing is performed: voice guidance about the operation procedures for the system is outputted from a driver seat speaker or a passenger seat speaker when information indicating that the user has performed the predetermined operation in the past is not stored in the memory; and voice guidance is disabled when information indicating that the user has performed the predetermined operation is stored.

Abstract: A portable device search system for an electronic key system is formed by a portable device and handy equipment such as a cellular phone, PDA and the like, which is separate from the portable device. When a predetermined operation is performed on the handy equipment, the handy equipment transmits a search signal. On receiving the search signal, the portable device generates a specific sound and vibration to notify the location. In addition, an image near the portable device may be transmitted to the handy equipment to be displayed on the handy equipment.

Abstract: A vehicle-side device receives a response signal transmitted from an electronic key carried by a user and executes a matching process to check whether the key is an authorized one. When the matching is confirmed and the operation of a sensor/switch disposed on a door is detected, a given door is unlocked. The device determines a door which is to be opened by the user, and the seat state is controlled on the basis the door to be opened. If the door to be opened is for rearmost seats, the rearmost seats are automatically controlled to a seating state or a loading state based on detection of absence or presence of an object on the rearmost seats.

Abstract: In an in-vehicle device remote control system, a vehicle-side device determines in which detection area an electronic key exists based on a response signal transmitted from the key in response to request signals, and a control door to be operated in correspondence to the detection area in which the key exists. The vehicle-side device notifies a user that the key is an authorized one by light, sound, display or the like on the determined control door. With this operation, it is readily recognized by the user because the user is approaching the control door.

Abstract: After a door of a vehicle is locked, a touch switch and a lock switch is disabled for a predetermined time period. A predetermined operation of a holder of a handheld unit to a door handle during the predetermined time period causes a device mounted in the vehicle to perform a certain function other than unlocking the door. Thus the predetermined operation solely to the door handle after the door of the vehicle is locked can serve as an instruction for the device mounted in the vehicle to execute the certain function.