JP2002090444A - Gps sensor mounting unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the stable receivability of electric power supply while securing mounting stability to an object of mounting. SOLUTION: This GPS sensor mounting unit 3 is placed between a GPS housing body 101 which houses a GPS sensor 1 and an information apparatus 2 for processing information on received information, is provided with a USB connector 31 for connection to a USB connector 14 on the side of the GPS housing body 101, a USB connector 33 for connection to the information apparatus, and a power supply cable 5 for receiving power supply from an external power supply part 4, and comprises screw holes 304 for fastening to the dashboard of a motor vehicle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mounting unit interposed between a GPS housing body housing a GPS sensor therein and an information device for processing information received from the GPS sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional GPS (Global Positioning Sys
tem / Global Positioning System)
Shown in The GPS sensor 1A has a receiving circuit and USB
(Universal Serial Bas) interface, and the GPS sensor 1A is connected to the U
It has a configuration connectable to a host personal computer 2A having an SB (Universal Serial Bas) interface. The personal computer 2A has a storage unit for storing map information, and can superimpose the current position information obtained from the GPS sensor 1A on a map displayed on a monitor. In recent years, integrating the receiving circuit in this way, US
There is a demand to use the GPS sensor 1A having the B interface together with the personal computer 2A in a portable manner. Therefore, it is desired that the GPS sensor 1A be small and lightweight. Conventionally, when the entire device is reduced in size and weight, for example, in a mode in which the device is mounted on a dashboard of a vehicle and used, the device may jump or fall during traveling of the vehicle, resulting in failure or damage. There is a proposal that adopts a structure to cope with this. (JP-A-10-213443, JP-A-8-159139, JP-A-8-337146).

[0003]

However, in the case of a GPS sensor realizing portability that can be connected to a personal computer, when the securing of a power supply becomes an important problem, a secondary battery built into the personal computer 2A is used together. However, the capacity is not always sufficient.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a GPS sensor mounting unit capable of realizing stable power supply while ensuring the mounting stability of the mounting object.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A GPS sensor mounting unit interposed between a GPS storage body containing a GPS antenna, a reception circuit unit, and a GPS sensor having a USB interface and an information device for performing information processing on received information, wherein at least the GPS storage body side USB connector for connecting to a USB connector of the
An SB connector and a power supply cable for receiving power supply from an external power supply unit, and a structure for fixing the power supply cable to an object to be mounted.

According to such a configuration, the GPS sensor is a GP sensor.
It is stably fixed to the mounting object via the S sensor mounting unit. In addition, the GPS sensor receives power from an external power supply unit provided at or near the object to be attached (a range where the power cable can reach) via the power cable. As a result, it is not necessary to use the built-in power supply of the information device, and the GPS time can be reduced without unnecessarily reducing the driving time of the information device.
The sensor can be used for a long time.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a voltage converter for converting a power supply voltage of an external power supply section input through the power supply cable into a USB standard voltage. Since the power supply voltage of the unit is converted to a USB standard voltage, stable driving is ensured.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mounting surface portion on which the GPS storage main body is mounted, and a USB connector of the mounting unit has a connection structure that can be fitted with a USB connector of the GPS storage main body. The GPS
The two USB connectors are fitted with each other while the storage body is placed on the mounting surface described above. According to this configuration, the USB connector of the mounting unit and the USB connector of the GPS storage body are fitted. Connection, so GP
The position of the S sensor with respect to the GPS sensor mounting unit can be regulated.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a connection relationship when a GPS sensor mounting unit according to the present invention is employed. GPS sensor 1 is GPS mounting unit 3
And an information device 2 such as a personal computer (personal computer) serving as a host via a USB cable K.

FIG. 2 shows the GPS sensor 1 and GP shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of each of an S-sensor mounting unit 3 and an information device 2; The GPS sensor 1 includes an antenna 11 for periodically receiving GPS radio waves from a plurality of artificial satellites,
The reception processing unit 12 processes each received GPS radio signal to obtain current position information of the sensor in at least two dimensions (latitude and longitude), and converts the obtained position information into a USB standard signal format (method). A USB connector 13 for connecting the GPS sensor mounting unit 3 with the USB controller 13 and a control unit 15 for controlling the reception arithmetic unit 12 and the USB controller 13.

When the information device 2 is connected to the output side of the GPS sensor mounting unit 3 in addition to the data format conversion described above, the USB controller 13 receives power supply from the information device 2 and performs a connection procedure. Data for a predetermined data communication, for example, a data transfer method or an address setting process is received in the form of a token packet. When the USB controller 13 confirms that the information device 2 has been connected and then confirms the predetermined data communication for the connection, the USB controller 13 performs an interrupt process to that effect on the control unit 15. The control unit 15 is US
After receiving the power supply from the B controller 13, it waits for a predetermined time. During this time, when receiving the interrupt processing signal from the USB controller 13, it determines that the connected device is the information device 2 such as a personal computer and performs the positioning operation. The position information obtained from the result of
USB connector 14 and GPS sensor mounting unit 3,
The information is transmitted to the information device 2 via the USB cable K.

Here, the USB is a bidirectional high-speed serial communication bus having a data transfer rate of 12 Mbps, and data can be transferred between a host computer having a UBS interface and various peripheral devices on the same bus. USB host controller, USB connector,
It has a USB cable.

The mounting unit 3 includes a USB connector 31, a control unit 32, a USB connector 33, and a voltage converter 34. The USB connector 31 electrically connects the USB connector 14 of the GPS sensor 1 (for information communication and power supply).
Is to be connected to. The USB connector 33 is electrically connected to the USB connector 21 of the information device 2 (for information communication and power supply). The control unit 32 is provided as needed, and controls the operation of each unit of the GPS sensor mounting unit 3 as needed. The configuration and operation of the voltage converter 34 will be described later.

The information device 2 is, for example, an information processing device such as a personal computer, and has a power supply, for example, a secondary battery or the like, which is built-in or detachably mounted. The GPS sensor 1 has another embodiment as will be described later. It is possible to configure so that power can be supplied from this secondary battery via the USB connectors 21, 33, 31, and 14. The information device 2 generally has a monitor, on which a map read from a built-in map information storage unit (not shown) is displayed, and the position information is displayed at a position on the map corresponding to the map. For example, a predetermined position mark or the like is superimposed and displayed. The information device 2 generally includes a function unit that scrolls the displayed map in synchronization with the change of the position information so that the position mark is at a predetermined position on the monitor, for example, the center position of the screen.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the GPS sensor and the GPS sensor mounting unit. GPS sensor 1 shown in FIG.
Has a GPS storage main body 101 as a housing having an overall shape of a column (or a disk), has a bulging shape (dome shape) in which an antenna is provided on the ceiling, and has a reception calculation unit 12 therein. USB controller 13, control unit 15
At least housed. A concave portion 102 having, for example, a square opening is provided at an appropriate position on the side surface of the GPS housing body 101.
(Fitting hole) is formed, and US
A B connector 14 is provided. Or the recess 102
And connectors.

The GPS sensor mounting unit 3 has a disk-like shape as a whole, and is made of a relatively lightweight material such as resin in this embodiment. The GPS sensor attachment unit 3 has a flat mounting surface portion 301 having an area shape including the bottom shape of the GPS sensor 1 and a bulky portion 302 on one side (the right side in FIG. 3) in which a circuit portion is housed. ing. The fitting portion 30 is provided at the center of the side wall facing the mounting surface portion 301 of the bulky portion 302 so as to stand upright on the side wall.
3, a USB connector 31 is formed or attached to the top of the fitting portion 303. The fitting portion 303 has a shape equal to the opening shape of the concave portion 102, and the fitting portion 303 is fitted in the concave portion 102 while the GPS sensor 1 is placed on the placing surface portion 301, and the USB connector is 14
And mechanically connected to the GPS storage body 1
01 position can be regulated.

A screw hole 304 having a female screw is formed at a plurality of positions, for example, four positions, of the flat mounting surface portion 301. The GPS sensor mounting unit 3 is mounted using the screw hole 304. The screw 30 can be screwed into a thick portion of the dashboard while being mounted on an upper surface of an object, for example, a dashboard of a vehicle. By this screwing, the GPS sensor mounting unit 3 can be stably fixed to the mounting target.

It is to be noted that instead of the screw 30 as the fastening means, it may be fastened by bolting to the mounting object. In addition, if a structure in which a planar fastener is attached to the mounting object side and a planar fastener is attached to the back surface of the GPS sensor mounting unit 3 is adopted, a required coupling force can be obtained by the two planar fasteners. Thus, the GPS sensor mounting unit 3 can be stably fixed to the mounting target. Further, if a structure in which an adhesive material such as an adhesive tape is attached to the back surface of the mounting surface portion 301 is adopted,
The PS sensor mounting unit 3 can be stably fixed to the mounting object with a required coupling force. Further, a method of fixing to an object to be mounted by using a magnetic force or a method of using suction means using a negative pressure can be adopted. Further, the moving object to be attached is not limited to a vehicle, but may be a movable moving object such as a ship, for which it is useful to know positional information, and may be any as long as it can be attached to a predetermined location. .

A power cable 5 composed of a cable 51 and a plug 52 at the end thereof is attached near the same wall of the USB connector 33. This plug 5
Numeral 2 has a shape that can be inserted into a cigarette socket of the vehicle, and is connected to a battery (vehicle power supply unit) 4 of the vehicle. The voltage converter 34 shown in FIG. 2 converts a 12 V or 24 V power supply voltage from the vehicle battery 4 into a USB.
It converts to a standard voltage of 5V. The 5V voltage power supply from the voltage converter 34 is used as a drive power supply for the control unit 32, is guided to the GPS sensor 1 via the USB connector 31, and is supplied with power to each unit. Vehicle power is 12V or 24V
A switch may be provided for switching the conversion ratio by the voltage converter 34 by the user depending on whether the voltage is V or an automatic switching circuit for detecting the input voltage and automatically changing the conversion ratio based on the detection result may be employed. Can also. As a result, 5 V can be obtained as the output voltage without being limited to the type of the input voltage.

As described above, when the information device 2 is connected, the GPS sensor 1 can receive power from the internal power supply of the information device 2 via the USB connector. However, the power consumption of the GPS sensor 1 may exceed 100 mA, so that the power consumption of the GPS sensor 1 is excessively increased when used for a long time, which affects the driving time of the information device 2 itself. Therefore, the power supply cable 5 is additionally provided so that stable power supply can be received. As described above, the mounting object of the GPS sensor mounting unit 3 is not limited to a vehicle. However, the mounting object is in or near the mounting object itself and within a range where the power cable 5 can reach (for example, in the case of a vehicle, the dashboard On the other hand, the cigarette socket needs to have a power supply section having a required capacity (preferably about the internal battery of Pasco or more).

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the GPS sensor 1 is mounted (set) on the GPS sensor mounting unit 3 in FIG. The GPS sensor mounting unit 3 shown in FIG. 4 has the same structure as that of FIG. 3 except for the appearance and shape of the bulky portion 302.

That is, the mounting surface portion 301 of the bulky portion 302
The shape of the wall facing the surface is a concave surface having the same curvature as the side cylindrical shape of the GPS storage main body 1, thereby increasing the contact surface with the GPS storage main body 1 and restricting the lateral movement. The position regulation effect in the set state of No. 1 is further exhibited. In addition, a concave portion 305 erecting from the side wall is formed on an outer side wall of the bulky portion 302, and a USB connector 33 is formed or attached inside or including the concave portion 305. The USB connector 33 is electrically and mechanically connected by fitting with the USB connector 21 of the information device 2.

If the shape of the concave portion 102 and the shape of the fitting portion 303 substantially match each other so as to be fitted with a required frictional force, it becomes difficult to pull out and a rough surface having a large friction coefficient on the mounting surface portion 301 is provided. It may be formed in a shape. In addition, the mounting of the GPS sensor mounting unit 3 is
2 may be located on the lower side and fixed to the target object, thereby preventing dropout.

[0024]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the GPS sensor can be stably mounted on the object to be mounted via the GPS sensor mounting unit, and the length of the GPS sensor can be reduced without unnecessarily reducing the driving time of the information device. Time use can be realized.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the power supply voltage of the external power supply unit is converted to the USB standard voltage, stable driving can be ensured.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the USB connector of the GPS sensor mounting unit and the USB connector of the GPS housing body are fitted and connected, the position of the GPS sensor with respect to the GPS sensor mounting unit can be regulated. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a connection relationship when a GPS sensor attachment unit according to the present invention is employed.

FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram of each of a GPS sensor, a GPS sensor mounting unit, and an information device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an external view of a GPS sensor and a GPS sensor mounting unit.

FIG. 4 is another external view of the GPS sensor and the GPS sensor mounting unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a usage mode of a conventional GPS sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 GPS sensor 101 GPS storage main body 102 recessed part 2 Connected equipment (information equipment, personal computer) 3 GPS sensor mounting unit 301 mounting surface part 302 bulky part 303, 31, 33 USB connector 304 screw hole 305 recessed part 5 power cable

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A GPS antenna, a receiving circuit, and a USB
GP housing GPS sensor with interface
A GPS sensor mounting unit interposed between the S housing main body and an information device that performs information processing on received information, wherein the USB device is connected to at least a USB connector on the GPS housing main body side; A GPS sensor mounting unit, comprising: a USB connector for connection; a power cable for receiving power supply from an external power supply unit; and a structure for fixing to a mounting object. 2. The GPS sensor mounting unit according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage converter for converting a power supply voltage of an external power supply unit input via the power supply cable into a USB standard voltage. 3. The GPS storage device has a mounting surface on which the GPS storage main body is mounted, and a USB connector of the mounting unit has a connection structure that can be fitted with a USB connector of the GPS storage main body. The GPS sensor mounting unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein both USB connectors are fitted with each other while the main body is mounted on the mounting surface.