JP2001354087A - Control device for on-vehicle equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To keep wasteful energy consumption to a minimum while restraining troublesome operation of a user. SOLUTION: A display device, called a multi-vision, is provided for a car navigation system or other systems. An occupant detecting sensor such as an infrared sensor is provide for detecting the existence or not of an occupant in the interior and his position. An ECU stores the operated condition of equipment such as the display device in conjunction of previous ignition switch-off. At the ACC-on of an ignition switch (S1), the corresponding equipment such as the display device is automatically turned on to start operation (S4), providing that each piece of equipment is previously in operated condition (S2; Y) and that the occupant detecting sensor detects the existence of the occupant in the interior (S3; Y). If the crew is not detected (S3; N), the equipment such as the display device is still off (S5).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control of an on-vehicle device for controlling an on-vehicle device driven by a power supply for a vehicle, such as a display device called a multi-vision and various systems including the same. Related to the device.

[0002]

In recent years, vehicles equipped with a display unit called a multi-vision have been provided in the center of an instrument panel. This display unit is provided with, for example, a full-color liquid crystal display, and a touch panel is provided on the surface of the display unit to function as an operation input device. This display unit is adapted to display the status of the vehicle control and the air conditioner system, and also serves as a display (and operation switches) for a car navigation system, an audio system, a TV, a video system, and the like.

The display unit (and various systems connected to the display unit) is driven by using the battery of the vehicle as a power source. Unless the user performs an operation of turning off the display, the ignition switch A is turned on.
It is automatically operated when the CC is turned on (when the engine is started), and a display is provided. Especially in luxury cars etc., similar display units are provided not only on the front seat side but also on the rear seat side so that the air conditioning system and audio system can operate independently on the rear seat side and on the front seat side. Some have been offered.

[0004] However, the conventional display unit described above is unconditionally turned on when the power is turned on (ACC on), so that there is a problem that wasteful energy is often consumed. Was. In particular, in the case where an individual display unit is provided on the rear seat side, the display unit is automatically turned on even though there is no occupant in the rear seat, which is wasteful. On the other hand, in the configuration in which the display unit is turned on after waiting for the user's operation, there is a possibility that the operation is troublesome and conversely, it becomes difficult to use. In addition, such a situation is not limited to the above-described display unit, and the same can be said for general in-vehicle devices such as a single car navigation system and a car audio system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a control apparatus for a vehicle-mounted device which can minimize unnecessary energy consumption while suppressing the complexity of user operations. To be.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a control apparatus for a vehicle-mounted device according to the present invention is provided. It is configured such that the power cutoff for the equipment is controlled (the invention of claim 1). According to this, the energization control unit energizes the in-vehicle device only when the occupant detection unit detects the occupant in the passenger compartment, and stops energization of the in-vehicle device when the occupant is not detected. Control can be performed.

In this case, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the in-vehicle device is operated even when there is no occupant, and when the occupant is present, the in-vehicle device can be automatically operated without troublesome operation. It is possible to obtain an excellent effect that unnecessary energy consumption can be prevented as much as possible while suppressing the complexity of the operation of the user. As the occupant detection means, a pressure-sensitive sensor provided in each seat in the vehicle compartment, an infrared sensor provided in the vehicle compartment, or the like can be employed.

At this time, the above-mentioned on-vehicle equipment includes:
It is possible to include a display device (invention of claim 2), whereby it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an unreasonable state in which a display is performed on the display device even when there is no occupant. Becomes

As a more specific control mode of the energization control means, it is desirable to automatically start the operation of the on-vehicle equipment when a vehicle occupant is present when the vehicle power is turned on. If the condition is that the vehicle-mounted device was in operation at the time of the last power-off of the vehicle power supply (the invention of claim 3), if the vehicle-mounted device was not operated previously, it becomes unnecessary. Operation is not started at the same time, which is more effective in preventing useless operation.

When a plurality of in-vehicle devices are provided corresponding to a plurality of seat positions in the vehicle interior, the communication of each in-vehicle device is performed based on detection of an occupant at the corresponding seat position. It is desirable that the power cut be controlled individually (the invention of claim 4), whereby the on-vehicle equipment can be automatically operated only in the seat where the occupant is present, which is more effective. Becomes

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment,
As a specific example, a car navigation system and other systems (such as a car audio system, a TV tuner, and a car air-conditioning system) are provided as on-vehicle devices, and a display device called a multi-vision shared therewith is provided. I have.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the system configuration of a vehicle-mounted device according to this embodiment. Here, the display device 1 is composed of, for example, a full-color liquid crystal display, and is disposed, for example, at the center of the instrument panel. The display device 1 is controlled by an instrument panel ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 2 that functions as a control device.
The ECU 2 includes a microcomputer and its peripheral circuits.

A switch signal from the operation switch group 3 is input to the ECU 2.
Although not shown in detail, the operation switch group 3 includes a mechanical switch disposed in the vicinity of the display device 1, a touch panel provided on a surface portion of a screen of the display device 1, a remote controller, and the like. I have. Furthermore, a car navigation system 4, a voice recognition / synthesis device 5, and other systems 6 are connected to the ECU 2.

Although not shown in detail, the car navigation system 4 includes a navigation ECU, a position detector including a GPS receiver for detecting the current position of the vehicle, and a map data input device for reading map data from a DVD or the like. And the like. A location function for detecting the current position of the user and superimposing the current position on a map and displaying the current position on the display device 1 or a user operating the operation switch group 3
Alternatively, a route search and guidance function of searching for a recommended route to a destination designated by the voice recognition / synthesis device 5 and performing guidance by a display from the display device 1 and voice from the voice recognition / synthesis device 5 is realized. ing.

The voice recognition / synthesis device 5 recognizes voice input from a microphone (not shown) and outputs synthesized voice from a speaker (not shown) based on voice data. Although not described in detail, the car audio system as the other system 6 includes a CD player, a radio tuner, and the like, and reproduces a music CD or receives a radio broadcast and outputs it from a speaker. I have.

The TV tuner receives a television broadcast, displays an image on the display device 1, and outputs sound from a speaker. The car air conditioner system includes an air conditioner unit including a compressor, an evaporator, a heater, a blower fan, and the like, various sensors for control, an air conditioner ECU, and the like, so as to maintain the inside of the vehicle at appropriate temperature and humidity.

At this time, the display device 1 displays a navigation screen such as a map screen and various setting screens when the navigation system 4 is operating, and displays an audio setting screen when the car audio system is operating. A TV image screen and a setting screen are displayed when the TV is operating, and an air conditioner status display screen and a setting screen are displayed when the car air conditioner system is operating.

The screen display of the display device 1 is based on the ECU.
2 is controlled. In this case, when a plurality of systems are operating at the same time, the screen can be freely switched by a user's switching operation. Each of the above devices (systems)
It is driven by a vehicle-mounted battery as a power supply, and can supply operating power when the power is turned on, that is, when the ignition switch is turned on to ACC.

The ECU 2 receives a detection signal from an occupant detection sensor 7 as occupant detection means. The occupant detection sensor 7 is formed of, for example, an infrared sensor, and is disposed on a front ceiling portion of the vehicle interior to detect the presence or absence of an occupant in the vehicle interior and its position (front seat, rear seat). I have. The occupant detection sensor 7 (infrared sensor) is described in detail in, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-115023, which was filed by the applicant of the present invention.

As will be described later in the description of the flowchart, the ECU 2 detects the presence of an occupant in the vehicle cabin by the occupant detection sensor 7 when the ignition switch is turned on in the ACC mode. In this case, the display device 1 (and the car navigation system 4 and the other system 6) is energized (turned on) to perform an operation (display), and when no occupant is detected, devices such as the display device 1 are disconnected. Electric (off)
The operation (display) is not started as it is.

At this time, in the present embodiment, the ECU 2 operates the respective devices such as the display device 1 when the power supply was cut off last time (when the ignition switch was turned off) (the on / off state and the display screen). Type), the corresponding device such as the display device 1 is automatically turned on on condition that the occupant is detected by the occupant detection sensor 7 and that the device was in the operating state last time. To start the operation. At this time, the same type of display as the previous time is displayed so that the stored operation state is continued.

Therefore, the ECU 2 functions as the power supply control means. In addition, when the occupant is not detected by the occupant detection sensor 7 when the ACC is turned on, or
If all the devices such as the display device 1 were off when the power was last shut off, the display device 1 and the like are energized (operated) by the user operating the operation switch group 3 (or voice input) thereafter. ).

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. The flowchart of FIG. 1 shows the ignition switch AC
The outline of a control procedure for the display device 1 and the like executed by the ECU 2 when C is turned on is shown. That is, when the ignition switch is operated and the ACC is turned on (step S1), first, it is determined whether or not each device such as the display device 1 was on when the power was last shut off (the ignition switch was turned off). Is determined (step S2).

Here, when all the devices are off at the time of the previous power-off (N at step S2)
o), without turning on each device such as the display device 1, the process directly proceeds to step S <b> 6 to wait for operation and voice input. At this time, when the user (occupant) wants to use (operate) the navigation system 4 or the other system 6, the user operates the operation switch group 3 and the like for the first time to operate the system, and the display device 1 is operated. The screen is displayed.

On the other hand, if any device including the display device 1 is in the ON state at the time of the previous power-off (Yes in step S2), in the next step S3
It is determined whether or not the presence of the occupant is detected by the occupant detection sensor 7. When the occupant is present (Yes in step S3), each device such as the display device 1 is automatically turned on based on the stored operation state (step S4). Therefore, when an occupant is present in the passenger compartment, the device (system) that was in the ON state at the time of the previous power-off is automatically turned on as it is, and the operation of the system is started to display the device. 1 is displayed on the screen.

For example, if the navigation system 4 was operating when the power was last shut off, the operation of the navigation system 4 is automatically started as it is, and the navigation screen is displayed on the display device 1. Or,
If the car audio system among the other systems 6 was operating when the power was last shut down, the car audio system is operated and an audio setting screen is displayed on the display device 1. Is operated to display a TV image screen and a setting screen on the display device 1. In the case of a car air conditioner system, the car air conditioner system is operated and the display device 1 displays an air conditioner status display screen and a setting screen. Will be done. Also,
If a plurality of systems were operating at the time of the previous power-off, those operations are automatically started, and the screen selected at that time is displayed on the display device 1.

On the other hand, if the presence of the occupant is not detected by the occupant detection sensor 7 (N in step S3)
o), no power is supplied to any device (system) including the display device 1 (step S5), and each system does not operate, and the display device 1 remains off (power cut off). Then, at this time, the operation and the voice input are waited for by the user (step S6). Therefore, in this case, after the user (occupant) enters the vehicle compartment, the user operates the operation switch group 3 and the like, whereby the desired system is operated and the screen of the display device 1 is displayed. It is.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, only when the occupant detection sensor 7 is detecting an occupant in the vehicle compartment, the devices (systems) including the display device 1 are energized to detect the occupant. When there is no occupant, the power supply is stopped, so that the situation where each device is operating even when there is no occupant is prevented beforehand. In addition, since these devices are automatically operated, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect that unnecessary energy consumption can be prevented as much as possible while suppressing the complexity of the operation of the user.

Further, in this embodiment, the operating state of each device (system) such as the display device 1 when the vehicle power supply was last shut down is stored, and the occupant detection sensor 7 detects the occupant. In addition, since the corresponding device such as the display device 1 is automatically energized to start operation on condition that the device was in the operating state last time, the device (system) is operated last time. If not, the operation is not started unnecessarily, which is more effective in preventing useless operation.

Although not described in detail in the above embodiment, for example, depending on the type of automobile, the display device 1 may be arranged not only on the front seat side but also on the rear seat side. Also, some car air-conditioning systems and audio systems are arranged so that they can operate independently on the front seat side and the rear seat side, and in such a case, the present invention is extremely effective.

That is, when a plurality of in-vehicle devices are provided corresponding to a plurality of seat positions in the vehicle interior, the communication of each in-vehicle device is performed based on detection of an occupant at the corresponding seat position. If the power cut is individually controlled, the in-vehicle device can be automatically operated only in the seat where the occupant is present. Therefore, in particular, it is considered that there are many cases where no occupant is present next, even if the device on the rear seat side is operated at the time of the previous power-off, and the display device is displayed even though there is no occupant in the rear seat. Is automatically turned on, which is more effective.

Further, in the above embodiment, the display device 1, which is called multi-vision, the car navigation system 4, and the other system 6 are provided as the on-vehicle devices. Various variations are conceivable for the system configuration, that is, for the types and combinations of on-vehicle devices, for example, the present invention may be applied to a single device such as the car navigation system 4.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the screen displayed on the display device 1 may be a video screen, an Internet screen, a back sonar screen, or the like. As a means,
The sensor is not limited to the infrared sensor described above, and may be a pressure sensor or the like provided on a seat.
Even during N, based on the detection of the occupant detection sensor 7,
The display device 1 and the like may be configured to be automatically turned on and off, for example, and may be appropriately changed and implemented without departing from the gist.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure executed by an ECU when an ACC is turned on according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the entire system.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawings, 1 is a display device (vehicle equipment), 2 is an ECU (control device), 3 is an operation switch group, 4 is a navigation system (vehicle equipment), 6 is another system (vehicle equipment), 7 is an occupant. 4 shows a detection sensor (occupant detection means).

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for controlling an on-vehicle device driven by a power supply for a vehicle, comprising: occupant detection means for detecting an occupant in a vehicle cabin; A control device for an in-vehicle device, comprising: an energization control unit that controls power cutoff. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the on-vehicle device includes a display device. 3. The vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply control unit detects the occupant by the occupant detection unit when the vehicle power supply is turned on, and activates the vehicle-mounted device when the vehicle power supply is shut off last time. 3. The control device for an in-vehicle device according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the in-vehicle device is automatically started on condition that the condition is satisfied. 4. A plurality of the on-vehicle devices are provided corresponding to a plurality of seat positions in a vehicle interior, and the energization control means includes:
4. The control device for a vehicle-mounted device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the power cutoff of each vehicle-mounted device is individually controlled based on detection of a passenger at a corresponding seat position.