Abstract:
The present invention provides an in-vehicle electronic system including: an in-vehicle electronic apparatus mounted in a vehicles and a portable electronic apparatus detachably provided to the in-vehicle electronic apparatus, and the in-vehicle electronic apparatus includes: a detecting portion detecting a connection of the portable electronic apparatus; and a first controller requesting the portable electronic apparatus to display display information of the portable electronic apparatus on a display portion of the portable electronic apparatus, when detecting a connection of the portable electronic apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to an in-vehicle electronic apparatus in which a portable electronic apparatus is detachably provided. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    As conventional navigation apparatuses, there are widely known small-sized portable navigation apparatuses with simplified structure and portability, also known as Personal Navigation Device (hereinafter, referred to as PND); and in-vehicle navigation apparatuses accommodated and fixed in a recess portion (DIN opening) formed in a dashboard of a vehicle. The in-vehicle navigation apparatuses are capable of guiding with high accuracy by use of the information supplied from vehicles such as vehicle speed, and some of the in-vehicle navigation apparatuses are equipped with audio devices. 
         [0005]    In recent years, there have been proposed an audio navigation system with both portability of the PND type navigation apparatus and high-accuracy guide function of the in-vehicle navigation apparatus. This audio navigation system is provided with an audio portion and a navigation portion, and the main body thereof is accommodated and fixed in the DIN opening of the vehicle. However, the navigation portion is removable from the audio portion. The removed navigation portion is configured such that the power supply is equipped therein and the navigation is enabled with the navigation portion removed. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, in the audio navigation system equipped with the detachable navigation portion, how to improve the user friendliness remains to be solved. 
         [0007]    Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-35554 is an invention relating to the portable type navigation apparatus that can be detached from a vehicle. There are provided an in-vehicle unit mounted in a vehicle and storing and retaining map information, and a portable unit detachably mounted in the in-vehicle unit and acquiring a portion of the map information from the in-vehicle unit at every given timing. It is disclosed that when the portable unit is detached from the in-vehicle unit, the acquired map information is displayed on the portable unit. 
         [0008]    However, in a system in which the navigation apparatus is detachable from the audio apparatus, there is still room for improvement of user-friendliness. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and provides an in-vehicle electronic system and an in-vehicle electronic apparatus, with which user-friendliness is improved in that the display can be changed according to user&#39;s feelings in a system where the portable electronic apparatus can be detached from the in-vehicle electronic apparatus. 
         [0010]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an in-vehicle electronic system including: an in-vehicle electronic apparatus mounted in a vehicle; and a portable electronic apparatus detachably provided to the in-vehicle electronic apparatus, and the in-vehicle electronic apparatus includes: a detecting portion detecting a connection of the portable electronic apparatus; and a first controller requesting the portable electronic apparatus to display display information of the portable electronic apparatus on a display portion of the portable electronic apparatus, when detecting a connection of the portable electronic apparatus. Therefore, a user who uses the portable electronic apparatus is able to operate the portable electronic apparatus immediately after getting in a vehicle, whereby user-friendliness can be improved. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an in-vehicle electronic apparatus mounted in a vehicle and detachably provided with a portable electronic apparatus, and the in-vehicle electronic apparatus includes: a detecting portion detecting a connection of the portable electronic apparatus; and a first controller causing display information of the portable electronic apparatus to be displayed on a display portion of the portable electronic apparatus. Therefore, a user who uses the portable electronic apparatus is able to operate the portable electronic apparatus immediately after getting in a vehicle, whereby user-friendliness can be improved. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings, wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a view showing a configuration of an audio navigation system: 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  shows an exterior shape of the audio navigation system, and  FIG. 2B  is a view showing a navigation apparatus taken out of an audio apparatus; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a view showing the audio navigation system accommodated in a 2DIN opening of a vehicle; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a configuration of a detecting circuit; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5A  is an example of displaying a navi screen on a display portion, and  FIG. 5B  is an example of displaying an audio screen on the display portion; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a procedure of a controller of the audio apparatus when the navigation apparatus is attached to the audio apparatus; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing a procedure of a controller of the navigation apparatus when the navigation apparatus is detached from the audio apparatus; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the controller of the audio apparatus by means of a button operation of a screen button. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    A description will now be given, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
       Embodiment 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a view showing a configuration of an audio and navigation system  1 . 
         [0023]    The audio and navigation system  1  employed in the present exemplary embodiment includes: an audio apparatus  100  mounted in a vehicle; and a navigation apparatus  200  detachably provided in the audio apparatus  100 . The navigation apparatus  200  is connected to the audio apparatus  100  by a connector portion  300 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2A  show an exterior shape of tho audio and navigation system  1 . The navigation apparatus  200  is fitted to a front face panel  150  of the audio apparatus  100 . Also, the navigation apparatus  200  can be taken out of the audio apparatus  100  as shown in  FIG. 2B  and used alone as a single unit. The front face panel  150  of the audio apparatus  100  is provided with: in addition to the navigation apparatus  200 ; a display portion  101 ; an operating portion  102  operable the audio apparatus  100 ; and the like. The operating portion  102  is provided with, for example, an operation button, push button, cross key, enter key, TITL (eject button), and the like, and in addition, the operating portion  102  is also provided with a screen button  122  (this button will be described later) that can change the display of a display portion  201 . 
         [0025]    The audio and navigation system  1  shown in  FIG. 2A  is accommodated and fixed in a 2DIN opening of a vehicle, as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0026]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , a description will be given of a configuration of each of components. The audio apparatus  100  is provided with: the display portion  101 ; the operating portion  102 ; a microphone  103 , a radio tuner  104 ; a CD (Compact Disk) unit  105 ; a controller  106 ; a RAM (Random Access Memory)  107 ; and an audio outputting portion  110 . 
         [0027]    The display portion  101  of the audio apparatus  100  is capable of displaying music information, play time, and the like. With the operating portion  102 , it is possible to operate the CD unit  105  or the radio tuner  104  for selecting a song to be played by the audio apparatus  100 , a broadcast program to be received, or the like. 
         [0028]    The radio tuner  104  and the CD unit  105  are audio sources, and in addition, an MD (Mini Disk) unit or a cassette recorder may be provided. When any of the radio tuner  104  and the CD unit  105  is selected by the operating portion  102  as an operation target, the controller  106  outputs a signal fed by the selected audio source, to the audio outputting portion  110 . 
         [0029]    The audio outputting portion  110  is provided with: a signal processor  111  that processes a signal sent from the controller  106 ; and an amplifier  112  that amplifies a signal. The signal amplified by the amplifier  112  is output from a speaker  113  connected. 
         [0030]    The controller  106  reads a program or the like stored in the RAM  107 , and controls each part of the audio apparatus  100 . 
         [0031]    The microphone  103  is a hands-free type, and is provided in the audio apparatus  100 . The controller  106  outputs the audio input from the microphone through a connector  310  to a wireless communication sender/receiver  212  of the navigation apparatus  200  to send to communications equipment of an apparatus to be communicated with. 
         [0032]    In addition, the controller  106  controls the supply of the power supplied from an in-vehicle battery  10  mounted in a vehicle, to the navigation apparatus  200 . 
         [0033]    Further, the controller  106  is fed with a vehicle speed pulse, an illumination power signal, ACC (accessory power) signal, or the like, and performs processing according to the signal. The vehicle speed pulse is output to a controller  208  of the navigation apparatus  200  from the controller  106 . 
         [0034]    The navigation apparatus  200  includes: the display portion  201 : an operating portion  202 : a map storage portion  203 ; a power switch  204 : a GPS (Global Positioning System) antenna  205 ; a speaker  206 ; the controller  209 ; a RAM  209 ; a charge circuit  210 ; a built-in battery  211 ; the wireless communication sender/receiver  212 ; and a wireless antenna  213 . 
         [0035]    The GPS antenna  205  receives a GPS signal from a satellite, and the GPS signal received by the GPS antenna  205  is output to the controller  208 . The controller  208  determines the position of the vehicle based on the GPS signal fed by the satellite (GPS navigation). 
         [0036]    The map storage portion  203  stores map data, and the map data read from the map storage portion  203  is decoded by a decoder (not shown). The decoder is connected to the controller  208 , and the controller  208  performs a so-called map matching process that matches the vehicle position determined with the map data. By the map matching process, map image data is to be created such that the vehicle position is indicated with accuracy. Such created map image data is displayed on the display portion (main display)  201  by the control of the controller  20 B. 
         [0037]    Also, an operation signal applied from the operating portion  202  is input into the controller  208 , and then the processing is performed by the controller  208  in accordance with the operation signal. For example, a destination is set according to the instruction by operating the operating portion  202 , the controller  208  searches for a most appropriate route from the vehicle position to the destination and displays the route with the map on the display portion  201  as a guiding route. Also, the audio guidance of the navigation is output from the speaker  206  by the control of the controller  208 . 
         [0038]    Here, when the navigation apparatus  200  is attached to the audio apparatus  100 , the audio guidance of the navigation apparatus  200  is output from the speaker  113  connected to the audio apparatus  100 . 
         [0039]    In addition thereto, the controller  208  is capable of displaying the music information of the audio apparatus  100  on the display portion (main display)  201 , by operating the operating portion  202  or  102 . 
         [0040]    The navigation apparatus  200  further includes: the charge circuit  210  that charges in the built-in battery  211 , the power supplied by the control of the controller  106  of the audio apparatus  100 ; and the built-in battery  211  that supplies the power to the navigation apparatus  200 , when the navigation apparatus  200  is removed from the audio apparatus  100  or when there is no power supplied from the in-vehicle battery  10 . 
         [0041]    The navigation apparatus  200  is also provided with: the wireless antenna  213 ; and the wireless communication sender/receiver  212 , and is configured to acquire traffic information such as traffic congestion prediction or the like, from a center, not shown. The traffic information is used for selecting a route at the time of navigation. 
         [0042]    It is also possible to utilize as a hands-free function, by receiving the sound on communication from a telephone to be communicated with and outputting the sound on communication from the microphone  103  in connection with the audio apparatus  100 . 
         [0043]    The audio apparatus  100  and the navigation apparatus  200  are connected by multiple signal lines such as a control line, a power line, and the like. The connector portion  300  has the connector  310  of the audio apparatus side and a connector  320  of the navigation apparatus side. When the connectors are in connection, the aforementioned multiple signal lines are connected. 
         [0044]    Also, the connector portion  300  is provided with a detecting circuit  370  that detects whether or not the navigation apparatus  200  is connected to the connector portion  300 . The configuration of the detecting circuit  370  is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0045]    A transistor  350  shown in  FIG. 4  is off, while the navigation apparatus  200  is not in connection with a power line  360  supplying power to the navigation apparatus  200 . For this reason, the voltage supplied to the controller  106  of the audio apparatus  100  is 0 V. When the navigation apparatus  200  is connected to the power line  360 , the transistor  350  turns on and a voltage of 3.3 V is supplied to the controller  106  of the audio apparatus  100  from the power supply. 
         [0046]    When an output voltage of a navigation apparatus sensing terminal connecting the transistor  350  and the controller  106  is 3.3 V, the controller  106  senses as a connected state. When the output voltage is 0 V, the controller  106  senses as an unconnected state. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the audio apparatus  100  further includes a removable switch (SW)  301 . By pushing the removable switch  301 , the navigation apparatus  200  is taken out of the front face panel  150  of the audio apparatus  100 . 
         [0048]    The front face panel  150  to be an operating face of the audio apparatus  100  is provided with the screen button  122  for switching between display information on the navigation apparatus  200  and the display information of the audio apparatus  100 , to be displayed on the display screen of the navigation apparatus  200  (see  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B ). The display information of the navigation apparatus  200  includes not only the map information or guiding path information for navigation but also information for operating the navigation apparatus  200  or the information received by the wireless communication sender/receiver  212 . Hereinafter, the screen displaying the above-described information is referred to as Navi Screen. 
         [0049]    The display information of the audio apparatus  100  includes the information on music data to be reproduced by the audio apparatus, the operation screen of the radio, the screen for volume operation, sound quality operation screen, and the like. Hereinafter, the screen displaying the above-described information is referred to as audio screen.  FIG. 5A  is an example of displaying Navi Screen on the display portion  201  of the navigation apparatus  100 , and  FIG. 5B  is an example of displaying an audio screen on the display portion  201  of the navigation apparatus  100 . 
         [0050]    When the navigation apparatus  200  is attached to the audio apparatus  100 , the audio screen and Navi Screen can be changed by pushing the screen button  122  for a short period of time. The display on the display portion  201  can be turned off by pushing for more than a given period of time, and can be turned on by pushing the screen button  122  again. 
         [0051]    At this time, the controller  106  of the audio apparatus  100  sends an instruction to the navigation apparatus  200  according to the operation of the screen button  122 . The navigation apparatus  200  changes the display of the display portion  201  according to the control of the controller  106  of the audio apparatus  100 . 
         [0052]    Also, even when the display of the display portion  201  is off, it is possible to output the audio guidance of the navigation apparatus  200  or play by the audio apparatus  100  continuously. 
         [0053]    The controller  106  of the audio apparatus  100  turns off the display of the display portion  201  that has been off, when the screen button  122  is pushed, when it is detected that the navigation apparatus  200  is removed from the audio apparatus  100 , or when a hands-free telephone call is received via the wireless communication sender/receiver  212 . 
         [0054]    In addition, when the display of the display portion  201  is turned on, Navi Screen may be displayed on the display portion  201  at first. Specifically, Navi Screen is to be displayed in the beginning, when the audio apparatus  100  is powered on, or when there is an operation on the screen button  122 . A user is able to recognize the vehicle location on a map, just after getting in the vehicle. Furthermore, as soon as the audio and navigation system is powered on, the map or the vehicle location can be checked. 
         [0055]    In the present exemplary embodiment, in a system in which the navigation apparatus detachable from the audio apparatus, an object is to improve user-friendliness. For this reason, when the controller  106  of the audio apparatus  100  detects the connection of the navigation apparatus  200  with the detecting circuit  370 , the controller  106  causes the controller  208  of the navigation apparatus  200  to display the display information of navigation. 
         [0056]    Also, when a destination is set in the navigation apparatus  200  and the map information or the guiding path to the destination is displayed, the navigation apparatus  200  causes the map information or the guiding path information to be displayed continuously after the audio apparatus  100  is attached. 
         [0057]    Referring to the flowchart shown in  FIG. 6 , a description will be given of a procedure of the controller  106  of the audio apparatus  100  when the connection of the navigation apparatus  200  is detected. 
         [0058]    When the controller  106  of the audio apparatus  100  detects the connection of the navigation apparatus  200  (step S 1 ), the controller  106  determines whether or not the navigation apparatus  200  is powered on (step S 2 ). The controller  106  of the audio apparatus  100  determines whether or not the communication with the controller  20 B of the navigation apparatus  200  is enabled so as to determine whether or not the navigation apparatus  200  is powered on. 
         [0059]    If the navigation apparatus  200  is powered on (step S 2 /YES), the controller  106  outputs a display request of Navi Screen to the controller  208  of the navigation apparatus  200  (step S 5 ). 
         [0060]    If the navigation apparatus  200  is not powered on (step S 2 /NO), the controller  106  outputs an activation signal to the navigation apparatus  200  to activate the navigation apparatus  200  (step S 3 ), and outputs the display request of Navi Screen (step S 4 ). 
         [0061]    Next, a description will be given of a procedure of the controller  208  of the navigation apparatus  200  when the navigation apparatus  200  is detached from the audio apparatus  100 , with reference to the flowchart shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0062]    If the communication with the audio apparatus  100  is disconnected, the controller  208  of the navigation apparatus  200  detects that the navigation apparatus  200  is detached from the audio apparatus  100  (step S 10 ). If the detachment from the audio apparatus  100  is detected (step S 10 /YES), the controller  208  of the navigation apparatus  200  determines whether or not Navi Screen is being displayed on the display portion  201  (step S 11 ). If Navi Screen is not being displayed (step S 11 /NO), the display is changed to Navi Screen (step S 12 ). 
         [0063]    Next, a description will be given of a control procedure for changing the display screen by means of the operation of the screen button  122 , with reference to the flowchart shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0064]    When the screen button  122  is pushed (step  521 ), the controller  106  of the audio apparatus inquires of the controller  208  of the navigation apparatus  200  whether or not an image is being displayed on a display portion  220  (step S 22 ). If the image is not displayed on the display portion  201  (step S 22 /NO), a request for turning on the display on the display portion  201  is output to the controller  208  of the navigation apparatus  200 . If the image is being displayed on the display portion  201  (step S 22 /YES), it is determined whether or not the period of time while the screen button  122  is being pushed exceeds a threshold value (step S 24 ). If the period of time while the screen button  122  is being pushed does not exceed the threshold value (step S 24 /YES), a request for turning off the screen display is output to the controller  208  of the navigation apparatus  200  (step S 25 ). Also, if the period of time while the screen button  122  is being pushed exceeds the threshold value (step  524 /YES), a request for switching between Navi Screen and the audio screen is output to the controller  208  of the navigation apparatus  200  (step S 26 ). 
         [0065]    In the present exemplary embodiment, when the navigation apparatus  200  is attached to the audio apparatus  100 , the display information of the navigation apparatus is displayed on the display portion  201  of the audio apparatus  100 . Accordingly, a user who uses the navigation apparatus is able to start the operation of the navigation apparatus, as soon as the user gets in a vehicle, whereby the user friendliness can be improved. 
         [0066]    The controller  208  of the navigation apparatus  200  causes the display portion  201  to continuously display the information on the guiding path that has been displayed on the display portion  201  before the attachment to the audio apparatus  100 , after the navigation apparatus  200  is attached to the audio apparatus  100 . Therefore, it is possible to display the information on the guiding path after the navigation apparatus  200  is attached to the audio apparatus  100 , thereby eliminating the necessity of setting the destination again. 
         [0067]    Also, the controller  209  of the navigation apparatus  200  displays Navi Screen of the navigation apparatus  200  on the display portion  201 , when detecting that the navigation apparatus  200  is detached from the audio apparatus  100 . Accordingly, as soon as the navigation apparatus is removed from the audio apparatus, it is possible to start the operation of navigation. 
         [0068]    In addition, in the above-described audio and navigation system  1 , the controller  106  of the audio apparatus  100  functions as a main control apparatus; however, the controller  208  of the navigation apparatus  200  may function as the main control apparatus. 
         [0069]    Although a few specific exemplary embodiments employed in the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.