JP2001022482A - Portable information equipment, on-vehicle information equipment, and vehicle mounting with on-vehicle information equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] An object of the present invention is to propose a portable information device that can be effectively used in a vehicle and an in-vehicle information device connected to the information device, and to construct a simple in-vehicle information system. The portable information device includes an external device connection means,
An external device connection control unit for controlling the external device connection unit is provided, and the vehicle-mounted stationary information device is provided with an external device connection unit and an external device connection control unit for controlling the external device connection unit. Accordingly, the portable information device can be controlled from the vehicle-mounted stationary information device, and the portable information device can control the vehicle-mounted stationary information device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information device including a portable MD player and the like, and an information device such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as "PC"). Equipment related. Further, the present invention relates to a vehicle having an in-vehicle information device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, due to the remarkable development of semiconductor technology and the like, a high-performance personal computer (PC) which could only be realized on a desktop until several years ago has been reduced in size to a portable size. Particularly recently, products such as a handheld personal computer (HPC) and a palm personal computer have been put on the market.

On the other hand, regarding audio products, portable radios, portable cassette players, portable
Devices such as CD players and portable MD players are becoming more sophisticated and smaller.

[0004] When the portable device is realized by miniaturization of the device, there is a demand to share data with the device used as a stationary device at home or the like or exchange data.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 8-22342 proposes a configuration in which a portable computer and a desktop computer are easily connected.

[0006]

However, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-22342 mentioned in the above prior art, a method of connecting a full-sized PC having a mouse and a keyboard to a portable computer is discussed. No mention is made of the application. An object of the present invention is to construct a portable information device that can be easily used in a vehicle and an in-vehicle information system.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a portable information device is provided with external device connection means and external device connection control means for controlling the external device connection means. By providing the onboard stationary information device with an external device connection means and an external device connection control means for controlling the external device connection means, the portable information device can be controlled from the onboard stationary information device, and The in-vehicle stationary information device can be controlled from the portable information device.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment according to the present invention, and shows a cockpit of an automobile. Reference numeral 109 denotes a steering wheel, and reference numeral 113 denotes a center console portion which usually stores in-vehicle audio and the like. 110 is a liquid crystal display, 111 is an empty console. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the mobile computer 101 is inserted into the empty console 111 in the direction of the arrow 112 as a whole. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the mobile computer 101 is inserted into the console 111.

The mobile computer 101 has a storage slot 102, into which a storage medium such as an MD, CD, or floppy disk can be inserted. A button group 104 can operate the mobile computer 101. A liquid crystal display 103 having a touch panel function on the upper surface can display an address book, an e-mail message, a map of a navigation system, and the like, and displays a button as shown in FIG. 4, and touches this button. Thereby, the mobile computer 101 can be operated.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the mobile computer 101 (FIG.
FIG. 1 is a view seen from 108 side of FIG. For example, if the music CD inserted into the storage slot 102 is a music CD, 2
Using the buttons 02, 203, 204, and 205, playback, track forward, track reverse, and stop can be performed, respectively, and music can be heard with an earphone inserted into the earphone jack 208. A button 206 is a navigation system start button, and can display a map or traffic information on the liquid crystal display 103. Web button
Reference numeral 207 denotes a button that allows the liquid crystal display 103 to display a screen on which information on the Internet can be searched. Mobile computer 101 by itself, C
It shall have the functions of a D (or MD) player, navigation system, Internet browser, and electronic organizer.

As described above, FIG. 4 shows the mobile computer 1
FIG. 1 is a view of the liquid crystal display 103 having a touch panel function.
A player function, a navigation function, and the like can be used in the same manner as when the buttons up to 207 are pressed. Figure
Since the numbers assigned to the buttons in 4 have the same functions as the buttons in FIG. 2, the corresponding buttons have the same numbers.

FIG. 3 shows the mobile computer 101 behind (105
FIG. 301 is an empty car console 1
11 is a connector to be connected to a bus connector 501 provided in the inside (detailed FIG. 5).
It is a groove for coupling with.

As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile computer 101 is inserted into the center console 111 in the direction of arrow 112, the bus connector 301 on the rear surface is in electrical and physical contact with and connected to 501, and the groove 303 is connected to the convex portion 502. , Groove 302 is physically coupled to convex portion 503. By the contact between 501 and 301, it is connected to the bus of the in-vehicle multimedia computer (to be described later),
The mobile computer 101 will be able to access the resources of the in-vehicle multimedia computer. Groove 30
By coupling 3 and 502 and grooves 302 and 503, the mobile computer 101 does not come off the bus of the in-vehicle multimedia computer due to the vibration of the vehicle.

An on-vehicle multimedia computer is:
A computer installed in the car that is only one in the car, mainly for navigation systems, audio equipment,
It is a computer for controlling a television, an autopilot system, an automatic toll collection system, and the like.

Next, an example in which the mobile computer 101 is used by inserting it into the center console will be described. Figure
6 is an internal block diagram of the mobile computer and the in-vehicle multimedia computer.

Reference numeral 601 denotes an internal block diagram of the mobile computer 101. A button detection unit 604 for detecting pressing of the buttons 202 to 207, a ROM 608 for storing a program, a RAM 607 for storing or working a program, a CPU 606, an MD or a CD. It comprises a storage control unit 605 for controlling storage, a display control unit 609 for controlling the built-in liquid crystal display 103, a touch panel control unit 612, and an external bus control unit 603 for controlling data between the internal bus 610 and the external connection bus 611. .

Reference numeral 602 denotes an internal block diagram of the on-vehicle multimedia computer side.
6, display control unit 625 for controlling the liquid crystal display 110, ROM 622 for storing programs, RAM 624 for storing or working programs, CPU 623, touch panel control unit 621, internal bus 6.
External bus control unit 620 that controls data between 28 and external connection bus 627, converts digital audio data to analog,
It consists of a DA converter 629 that sends it to the amplifier. In addition,
The in-vehicle multimedia computer is in the housing of the liquid crystal display 110, and has a function of a television broadcast receiver (TV tuner section 626) by itself.

First, when the mobile computer 101 is inserted into the center console 111 and the bus connectors 301 and 501 are connected, the external bus controllers 603 and 620 connect the external bus 61 to the external bus 61.
The two communicate with each other via 1,627, and both the in-vehicle multimedia computer and the mobile computer communicate what is connected and what functions they have. In this case, the mobile computer informs that the audio data (by MD or CD), the map data by the navigation system, and the data (HTML format) obtained from the Internet may be sent to the in-vehicle multimedia computer. You. The period from the connection of the mobile computer 101 to the recognition of the device function is called a configuration phase.

After the end of the configuration phase, both devices are in a state of waiting for a user action.
When the MD is inserted into the storage slot 102 and the play button 202 is pressed, the button detection unit 604 detects this and the internal bus 610
Is transmitted to the CPU 606 via the. The CPU 606 issues a command to the storage control unit 605 according to a program stored in the ROM 608, and the storage control unit 605 reads data from the MD and sends MD (voice) data to the internal bus 610.

The external bus control unit 603 sends the data to the vehicle-mounted multimedia computer-side external bus 627 via the external bus 611. The in-vehicle multimedia computer-side external bus control unit 620 informs the CPU 623 that data has been sent. CPU 623 converts the received data to DA converter 6
Send to 29. The DA converter 629 converts the data to analog,
(Not shown). Sound is output from a speaker (not shown) via an amplifier circuit.

Next, a case where the mobile computer is controlled from the vehicle-mounted multimedia computer will be described. After the configuration phase, the external bus control unit 620 displays, on the liquid crystal display 110, an MD (player start) button 710, a navigation system start button 711, an Internet browser start button 712, and the like, which are resources of the mobile computer 101 as shown in FIG. A television reception function activation button 701, which is a function of the in-vehicle multimedia computer itself, is displayed.

When the MD button 710 is pressed, as shown in FIG.
The control panel 801 is displayed. When the play button 802 of the MD control panel 801 is touched with a finger or the like, the touch panel control unit 621 detects this and issues a desired command to the CPU 623. The CPU 623 controls the external bus control unit 620, and commands are sent to the mobile computer via the external buses 627 and 611. Upon detecting this, the external bus control unit 603 of the mobile computer instructs the CPU 606 to perform a predetermined operation.

The CPU 606 recognizes that the “MD playback” command has been issued, and issues a command to the storage control unit 605 to read the MD. Thereafter, (similar to the operation at the time of pressing the button 202 described above), audio data is sent to the in-vehicle multimedia computer, and sound is output from a speaker (not shown). By pressing the navigation system start button 711, the navigation function of the mobile computer is activated and the Internet browser start button 71
If you press 2, you can use the Internet browser function.

[0024]

According to the present invention, by inserting a mobile computer (portable information device) into the center console in a vehicle, the mobile computer can control the vehicle-mounted multimedia computer, and at the same time, the vehicle-mounted multimedia computer. Can also control the mobile computer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a portable information device according to the present invention mounted on an automobile cockpit.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the portable information device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a rear surface of the portable information device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the upper surface of the portable information device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a center console of a car for inserting a portable information device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of an internal block diagram of a portable information device and an in-vehicle information device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of a display diagram of an in-vehicle information device having a display according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an example of a display diagram of an in-vehicle information device having a display according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an example of a diagram in which the portable information device according to the present invention is mounted on an automobile cockpit.

[Explanation of symbols]

101… (Mobile computer) Portable information equipment, 103,110
… Liquid crystal display, 301, 501… External bus connector, 30
2,303: fixing groove, 502, 503: fixing protrusion, 601: internal block diagram of a mobile computer, 602: internal block diagram of an in-vehicle multimedia computer, 603, 620: external bus control unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04Q 7/32 H04B 7/26 VF term (Reference) 5B089 GA25 KA01 KA09 LB07 LB14 5K067 AA34 BB04 BB21 BB43 EE02 KK17

Claims (26)

[Claims] 1. An external connection means capable of connecting to equipment other than the own device, an external connection control means for controlling the external connection means, and a button detecting means for detecting that a button of the own device is pressed. And a function of detecting press of the button by the button detection means, and transmitting the data to the external connection means by the external connection control means. 2. An external connection means which can be connected to a device other than the own device, an external connection control means for controlling the external connection means, and a function which can operate according to data received via the external connection means. An in-vehicle information device comprising: 3. The vehicle-mounted information device according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle is equipped with a vehicle-mounted information device that can be connected to a portable information device. 4. A vehicle equipped with a vehicle-mounted information device according to claim 2, which can be connected to the portable information device according to claim 1. 5. The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein the external connection control means or the external connection means is a Universal Serial Bus (USB). machine. 6. The on-vehicle information device according to claim 2,
If the external connection control means or external connection means is Universal
3. The in-vehicle information device according to claim 2, wherein the information device is a serial bus (USB). 7. The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein the external connection control means or the external connection means is IEEE1394. 8. The on-vehicle information device according to claim 2,
3. The in-vehicle information device according to claim 2, wherein the external connection control means or the external connection means is IEEE1394. 9. An external connection means capable of connecting to a device other than the own device, an external connection control means for controlling said external connection means, and a function operable in accordance with data received via said external connection means. A portable information device comprising: 10. An external connection means capable of connecting to equipment other than the own device, an external connection control means for controlling the external connection means, and a button detecting means for detecting that a button of the own device is pressed. A vehicle information device, characterized in that the button detection means detects the press of the button, and the external connection control means can send data to the external connection means. 11. A vehicle equipped with the on-vehicle information device according to claim 10, which can be connected to a portable information device. 12. A vehicle equipped with the on-vehicle information device according to claim 10, which can be connected to the portable information device according to claim 9. 13. The portable information device according to claim 9,
If the external connection control means or external connection means is Universal
10. The portable information device according to claim 9, wherein the portable information device is a serial bus (USB). 14. An in-vehicle information device according to claim 10, wherein the external connection control means or the external connection means is a Universal.
11. The in-vehicle information device according to claim 10, wherein the information device is a serial bus (USB). 15. The portable information device according to claim 9, wherein the external connection control means or the external connection means is IEEE1394. 16. An on-vehicle information device according to claim 10, wherein the external connection control means or the external connection means comprises an IEEE 13
11. The on-vehicle information device according to claim 10, wherein the ratio is 94. 17. An external connection means capable of connecting to equipment other than the own apparatus, an external connection control means for controlling the external connection means, and a button detecting means for detecting that a button of the own apparatus is pressed. A function that the button detection means detects the pressing of the button and the external connection control means can send data to the external connection means; and, when connected to another device, at least two vibrations and slips A portable information device having a projection or an opening for preventing the phenomenon. 18. A vehicle equipped with the on-vehicle information device according to claim 2, which can be connected to the portable information device according to claim 17. 19. A vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle information device connectable to the portable information device according to claim 17, wherein at least two sliding connection means are provided in a box-shaped slot in the vehicle. A vehicle equipped with the in-vehicle information device, wherein when the device and the in-vehicle information device are connected, the slot is engaged with a protrusion or an opening of the portable information device so as to be fixed. 20. The portable information device according to claim 17,
If the external connection control means or external connection means is Universal
18. The portable information device according to claim 17, wherein the portable information device is a serial bus (USB). 21. The portable information device according to claim 17, wherein the external connection control means or the external connection means is IEEE1394. 22. External connection means capable of connecting to equipment other than the own device, external connection control means for controlling the external connection means, and a function operable in accordance with data received via the external connection means. And a portable information device having at least two projections or openings for preventing vibration and slipping when the device is connected to another device. 23. A vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle information device, which can be connected to the portable information device according to claim 22. 24. A vehicle equipped with the on-vehicle information device according to claim 10, which can be connected to the portable information device according to claim 22, wherein at least two sliding connection means are provided in a box-shaped slot in the vehicle. When the portable information device and the vehicle information device are connected to each other, the slot is engaged with a protrusion or an opening of the portable information device so that the information device can be fixed. Car. 25. The portable information device according to claim 22,
If the external connection control means or external connection means is Universal
23. The portable information device according to claim 22, which is a serial bus (USB). 26. The portable information device according to claim 22,
23. The portable information device according to claim 22, wherein the external connection control means or the external connection means is IEEE1394.