Patent Publication Number: US-6983137-B2

Title: Electronic apparatus, drive mechanism and drive control method for a front panel

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus, a drive mechanism and a drive control method for a front panel and in particular to a drive mechanism and a drive control method for a front panel of electronic apparatus such as AV apparatus, audio apparatus and a car navigation system mounted on a vehicle including an automobile. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Related art drive mechanisms for a front panel include those shown in  FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B . Electronic apparatus  101  equipped with the drive mechanism is incorporated into for example the instrumental panel in front of the gap between front seats of an automobile, and arranged below the line of sight of the driver sitting in the driver&#39;s seat and the crew member sitting in the seat next to the driver and offset from both crew members. 
   The drive mechanism for the electronic apparatus  101  is arranged to drive a front panel  107  so that the front face of the front panel  107  equipped with a display  103  and an operation section  105  faces upward, for the purpose of efficiently utilizing the front face of the electronic apparatus  101 . For example, the drive mechanism exposes the front face of the electronic apparatus  101  in forward direction by vertically driving the front panel  107  to form an inlet for a recording medium such as a CD thus efficiently utilizing the front face of the electronic apparatus  101 . 
   The left and right ends of the front panel  107  are supported slidably and rotatably by a pair of left and right drive mechanisms  111 L,  111 R provided on a support frame  109 . The sliding/rotating operation allows the front face of the front panel  107  equipped with the operation section  105  and the display  103  to rotate upward. 
   The front panel  107  is electrically connected to electronic apparatus main unit  113  via a flexible flat cable  115 . Thus, the front panel  107  can be activated even when it is rotated vertically. 
   However, in the drive mechanism of the related art front panel mentioned earlier, the front panel  107  is connected to the electronic apparatus main unit  115  via the flat cable  115 . Thus the direction the front panel  107  is driven is restricted, as shown in  FIG. 8B . 
   That is, because the front panel  107  is connected to the electronic apparatus main unit  115  via the flat cable, it is difficult to drive the front panel in a direction other than the vertical direction, thus restricting the drive direction and preventing the visibility of the driver and the crew member in the seat next to the driver. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the invention, contemplated with regard to such related art problems, is to provide an electronic apparatus, a drive mechanism and a drive control method for a front panel that diversify the drive direction of the front panel thus upgrading the visibility of the crew members in the front seats as well as stably activates the front panel. 
   In order to solve the problems, the first aspect of the invention is a drive mechanism for a front panel that drives a front panel attached at the front of electronic apparatus main unit detachably from the electronic apparatus main unit, wherein the electronic apparatus main unit comprises a driving section to drive the front panel and a main-unit-side communications element to perform signal communications to/from the front panel, the front panel comprises a battery for storing power fed from the electronic apparatus main unit and a panel-side communications element to perform signal communications to/from the main-unit-side communications element, the drive mechanism including a controller for controlling the driving section in order for the driving section to drive the front panel in a state where recharging of the front panel is allowed in case the charge voltage of the battery has dropped below a preset reference value. 
   Also, there is provided an electronic apparatus including: an electronic apparatus main unit; a front panel attached at the front of the electronic apparatus main unit detachably from the electronic apparatus main unit; a driving section provided at the electronic apparatus main unit to drive the front panel; a main-unit-side communications element to perform signal communications to/from the front panel; a battery provided at the front panel for storing power fed from the electronic apparatus main unit; a panel-side communications element to perform signal communications to/from the main-unit-side communications element; and a controller for controlling the driving section in order for the driving section to drive the front panel in a state where recharging of the front panel is allowed in case the charge voltage of the battery has dropped below a preset reference value. 
   According to the drive mechanism for a front panel in the configuration, the front panel and the electronic apparatus main unit perform signal communications by using the panel-side communications element and the main-unit-side communications element and the front panel comprises a battery as a separate power source. Thus, wiring by using flat cables is not necessary for feeding power from the electronic apparatus main unit. This assures the freedom of the driving direction of the front panel. 
   Further, the charge voltage of the battery is constantly monitored. In case the voltage of the battery has dropped below a preset reference value, the driving section is controlled to drive the front panel back to the state where recharging of the front panel is allowed thereby recharging the battery. This allows the front panel to be stably activated. 
   The second aspect of the invention is a drive mechanism for a front panel, characterized in that the driving section drives the front panel so as to allow the angle of the panel to be changed in the transverse and vertical directions. 
   According to the drive mechanism for a front panel in the configuration, the front panel can be driven in the transverse direction and the vertical direction at the same time so that it is possible to drive the front panel in various directions to upgrade the visibility. 
   For example, when the drive mechanism for a front panel in the configuration is separately provided as left and right driving sections and these driving sections are simultaneously drive-controlled to shift the front panel by the same amount, the front panel rotates in the vertical direction (vertical oscillation). 
   When control is made to provide different travel amount by the left and right driving sections, the front panel rotates in the transverse direction (transverse oscillation) as well as in the vertical direction. 
   The third aspect of the invention is a drive mechanism for a front panel, characterized in that the driving section comprises a driving motor for generating a driving force, a transmission section for transmitting a driving force from the driving motor, a lower frame arranged in the lower area of the front panel, a pair of lateral frames one end of which is connected to the lower frame and the other end of which is connected to the transmission section, a connecting arm one end of which is linked to the upper area of the front panel and the other end of which working as a fulcrum is linked to an activating spring, and a slot that supports the fulcrum of the connecting arm movably when the front panel rotates in the horizontal plane. 
   According to the drive mechanism for a front panel in the configuration, the lower frame in the lower area of the front panel is traveled back and forth with a driving force of the driving motor via the transmission section while back-and-force travel of the upper area of the front panel is restricted by the connecting arm, so that the front panel rotates while facing its front surface upward. While the connecting arm is normally in position by the activating spring it can travel along the slot so that it is possible to rotate the connecting arm in the transverse direction in the horizontal plane. 
   The fourth aspect of the invention is a drive control method for a front panel that drives a front panel attached at the front of electronic apparatus main unit detachably from the electronic apparatus main unit, 
   wherein the drive control method comprises a step of automatically driving the front panel in a state where recharging of the front panel is allowed in case the charge voltage of a battery provided on the front panel for storing power fed from the electronic apparatus main unit has dropped below a preset reference value. 
   According to the drive control method for a front panel in the configuration, the charge voltage of the battery provided on the front panel is constantly detected and monitored. In case the voltage of the battery has dropped below a preset reference value, the battery is recharged. In case the front panel is not in the state where recharging of the front panel is allowed, the front panel is automatically driven back to the state where it can be recharged. Thus, it is possible to stably activate the front panel without fail. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is partial perspective view showing a drive mechanism for a front panel according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of  FIG. 1  seen from the direction of II. 
       FIG. 3  shows the general structure of a driving section in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a plan view of  FIG. 1  showing that the front panel has oscillated leftward in the transverse direction in the horizontal plane. 
       FIG. 4B  is a plan view of  FIG. 1  showing that the front panel has oscillated rightward in the transverse direction in the horizontal plane. 
       FIG. 5  shows the configuration of charging apparatus in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a drive control method for a driving section for recharging the battery in the front panel of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a graph showing a reference value as a criteria for recharging the battery in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  is perspective views showing the drive mechanism for a related art front panel. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   An embodiment of a drive mechanism for front panels according to the invention will be detailed referring to  FIGS. 1 through 7 .  FIG. 1  shows an example of electronic apparatus  1  such as AV apparatus, audio apparatus and car navigation systems mounted on automobiles. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the electronic apparatus  1  includes an operation display panel  9  having a display  5  for displaying at least various data provided at the front of electronic apparatus main unit  3  and an operation section  7  for performing operation of the electronic apparatus  1 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the electronic apparatus main unit  3  has a pair of driving sections  11 L,  11 R for rotatably supporting the operation display panel  9  in the transverse and vertical directions. Each of the left and right driving sections has the same configuration. In the following description, the left driving section  11 L is described referring to  FIG. 2  except for a case where left and right driving sections must be distinguished from each other. 
   The driving section  11  has a driving motor  13  as a source of power and a worm gear  17  attached to the rotation shaft of the driving motor  13 , the worm gear constituting part of a transmission section for transmitting the driving force of the driving motor. A worm wheel that engages the worm gear  17  is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft  21 . 
   On the rotation shaft of the worm wheel  19  is integrally provided a first idle gear as a gear train. A second idle gear  25  that engages the first idle gear  23  is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft  27 . 
   To the rotation shaft is attached a pinion  29 . A rack  31  that engages the pinion is provided along the back-and-forth direction (side-to-side direction in  FIG. 2 ). 
   The rack  31  is attached to the upper area of the rear of the lateral frame  33  (left portion in  FIG. 2 ). Into the lateral frame  33  is notched a slot  35  along the approximate length in the back-and-forth direction. The lateral frame  33  is supported in a reciprocating way in the back-and-forth direction with regard to a main unit frame  37  by two bolts  36 ,  36  jointed into the main unit frame  37 . 
   The front end of the lateral frame  33  is connected to the lower frame  45  via a link plate  41  and pins  39 ,  43 . 
   In the main unit frame  37  of the electronic apparatus main unit  3  is notched a slot  47  and the lower end of a connecting arm  49  is slidably attached to the slot  47  by a pin  51 . 
   The pin  51  is constantly urged backward by an activating spring  53 . To the upper end of the connecting arm  49  and the front end of the lateral frame  33  is rotatably attached a fitting plate  55  by pins  43 ,  57 , respectively. 
   Thus, when control is made to simultaneously drive the left and right driving motors  13  and the drive motors  13  rotate the worm gear  17 , the pinion  29  is rotated via the worm wheel  19 , the first idle gear  23  and the second idle gear  25 , which causes the rack  31  to travel in the back-and-forth direction. 
   When the forward travel of the left and right racks  31  causes the left and right lateral frames  33  to push the lower end of the fitting plate  55  ahead of the electronic apparatus  1  at the same time, the fitting plate  55  rotates counterclockwise in  FIG. 2  and faces upward (the state shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
   The operation display panel  9  and the fitting plate  55  that detachably attaches the operation display panel  9  correspond to the front panel of the invention. 
   In case the travel amount of each of the left and right driving sections  11 L,  11 R in the back-and-forth direction is made different from each other by controlling the driving motors  13 L,  13 R of the left and right driving sections  11 L,  11 R to drive the front panel individually, the fitting plate rotates in the horizontal plane (transverse oscillation). In this practice, the lower end of the connecting arm  49  travels forward along the slot  47  against the activating spring  53  that activates the lower end of the connecting arm  49  backward, thereby reflecting the difference in the travel amount of the lateral frames in the back-and-forth direction. 
   For example, when the right driving section is caused to travel a greater distance than the left driving section  11 L, the operation display panel  9  rotates clockwise in the horizontal plane, as shown in  FIG. 4A . When the left driving section is caused to travel a greater distance, the operation display panel  9  rotates counterclockwise in the horizontal plane, as shown in  FIG. 4B . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the operation display panel  9  is detachably attached for example by a plurality of engaging projections  59  as means for attaching the operation panel provided on the left and right sides of the fitting plate. Alternatively, magnets may be attached to the operation display panel  9  and the fitting plate  55  to detachably attach the operation display panel  9  via magnetic force. 
   Further, the operation display panel  9  incorporates a microcomputer  61  as a controller for performing functions as the display  5  and the operation section  7  and a battery  63  as a power source. A panel-side charging terminal  65  for recharging the battery  63  is provided on the operation display panel  9 . 
   As mentioned later, recharging of the battery  63  in the operation display panel  9  is made in the initial state where the operation display panel  9  is attached to the fitting plate  55  and the fitting plate  55  is closed (see  FIG. 2 ). Thus a main-unit-side charging terminal  67  connected to the panel-side charging terminal  65  is provided on the main unit frame  37  corresponding to the panel-side charging terminal  65 . 
   On a front plate  68  of the main unit frame  37  is provided a main-unit-side communications element  71  for communicating signals by way of infrared rays and radio waves, at the position corresponding to the through hole formed in the fitting plate  55 . At the corresponding position at the rear of the operation display panel  9  is attached a panel-side communications element  73 . Accordingly, signal communications between the electronic apparatus main unit  3  and the operation display panel  9  are made using the communications elements  71 ,  73 . This eliminates the use of wiring such as flat cables employed in the related art. 
   Configuration of charging apparatus  75  for recharging the battery  63  will be described referring to  FIG. 5 . The operation display panel  9  includes the aforementioned battery  63 , a panel-side voltage monitoring section  77  for constantly monitoring the charge voltage of the battery  63 , a microcomputer  61 , a panel-side communications element  73 , and a panel-side charging terminal  65 . 
   The electronic apparatus main unit  3  includes a main-unit-side communications element  71 , a main-unit-side voltage detector  79  for detecting whether the charge voltage of the battery  63  exceeds the reference value, a system microcomputer  81  composed of a microprocessor that controls the driving motors  13 L,  13 R of the left and right driving sections  11 L and  11 R, a main-unit-side charging terminal  67 , an auxiliary power source  90 , and a switch section  91  connected to the main-unit-side charging terminal  67  for selecting switch positions under control by the system microcomputer  81 . 
   In the charging apparatus  75  thus configured, the panel-side voltage monitoring section  77  constantly monitors the charge voltage of the battery  63 . In accordance with an instruction from the microcomputer  61 , the panel-side voltage monitoring section  77  supplies a signal that indicates the charge voltage of the battery  63  to the microcomputer  61 . The microcomputer  61  supplies the signal to the main-unit-side voltage detector  79  via the panel-side communications element  73  and the main-unit-side communications element  71 . The main-unit-side voltage detector  79  compares the supplied voltage with the preset reference value and detects whether the voltage value of the battery  63  exceeds the reference value. The main-unit-side voltage detector  79  supplies the detection result to the system microcomputer  81 . The system microcomputer  81  performs drive control of the driving motors  13 L,  13 R based on the detection result. When the operation display panel  9  and the fitting plate  55  are rotated, drive control is made to return the driving motors  13 L,  13 R back to the initial state. When the panel-side charging terminal  65  is connected to the main-unit-side charging terminal  67 , the battery  63  is recharged. 
   Recharging by the aforementioned charging apparatus  75  will be described referring to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . 
   The system microcomputer  81  determines the key state of the automobile (step S 1 ) and in case an ACC key  95  is not in the ACC position (ACC key  95  is off), that is, in case power is not fed from a battery  96  mounted on the automobile, the system microcomputer  81  determines whether the operation display panel  9  is detached from the fitting plate  55  (step S 2 ). This determination is made based on the presence/absence of reception of a signal from the panel-side communications element  73 . In case the system microcomputer  81  has determined that the operation display panel  9  is detached from the fitting plate  55 , execution returns to step S 1 . In case the system microcomputer  81  has determined that the operation display panel  9  is not detached from the fitting plate  55 , the battery  63  is recharged (step S 3 ). In this practice, the system microcomputer  81  controls the switch section  91  to place the switch in the position of terminal A on the auxiliary power source  90 . The operation display panel  9  and the fitting plate  66  are in the initial state. The panel-side charging terminal  65  and main-unit-side charging terminal  67  are connected to each other. Thus, power from the auxiliary power source  90  is fed to the battery  63  via the switch section  91 , the main-unit-side charging terminal  67  and the panel-side charging terminal  65 . 
   In case it is determined that the key is in the ACC position (ACC key  95  is off) in step S 1 , that is, in case power is fed from the battery  96  mounted on the automobile, the system microcomputer  81  determines whether the operation display panel  9  is detached from the fitting plate  55 , same as step S 2  (step S 4 ). Power feed from the battery  96  activates various features of the electronic apparatus main unit. In case the system microcomputer  81  has determined that the operation display panel  9  is detached from the fitting plate  55 , execution returns to step S 1 . 
   In case the system microcomputer  81  has determined that the operation display panel  9  is not detached from the fitting plate  55  in step S 4 , the system microcomputer  81  determines whether the operation display panel  9  and the fitting plate  55  are in the initial state, that is, whether they are not rotated (step S 5 ). This determination is made by checking whether the system microcomputer  81  is performing drive control of the driving motors  13 L,  13 R. In case the system microcomputer  81  has determined that the operation display panel  9  and the fitting plate  55  are in the initial state, that is, in case the system microcomputer  81  is not performing drive control of the driving motors  13 L,  13 R, the system microcomputer  81  sends a control signal to the microcomputer  61  via the main-unit-side communications element  71  and the panel-side communications element  73 . The microcomputer  61  controls the panel-side voltage monitoring section  77  and sends a signal that indicates the voltage value of the battery  63  to the main-unit-side voltage detector  79 . The main-unit-side voltage detector  79  determines whether the received voltage value exceeds the reference value and supplies the detection result to the system microcomputer  81 . 
   In case the detection results shows that the voltage value exceeds the reference value (step S 6 : YES), the system microcomputer  81  continues monitoring the detection result supplied from the main-unit-side voltage detector  79 . In case the value is equal to or below the reference value (step S 6 : NO), the system microcomputer  81  controls the switch section  91  to place the switch in the position of terminal C on the battery  96  and recharges the battery  63  via the panel-side charging terminal  65  from the main-unit-charging terminal  67  (step S 7 ). The system microcomputer  81 , detecting that the charge voltage has exceeded the reference value (reached the upper limit), place the switch in the switch section  91  in the position of terminal B to finish recharging, and continues monitoring the detection result from the main-unit-side voltage detector  79 . 
   Voltage detection of the battery  63  (by the main-unit-side voltage detector  79 ) is made by determining whether the voltage of the battery  63  exceeds 3.5 V preset as a reference value, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The main-unit-side voltage detector  79  has a comparator and compares the charge voltage of the battery fed from the panel-side voltage monitoring section  77  with the preset reference value (3.5 V) and supplies the comparison result to the system microcomputer  81 . For example, the main-unit-side voltage detector  79  obtains the difference between the charge voltage and the reference value and detects that the reference value is exceeded in case the difference is a positive value and detects that the charge voltage is equal to or below the reference value in case the difference is zero or a negative value. 
   A reference value of 3.5 V is a value that allows for some margin over the minimum voltage of 3 V that can successfully activate the operation display panel  9 . By using a reference value that allows for some margin, it is possible to stably activate the operation display panel  9  without fail. 
   The upper limit value of the charge voltage of the battery  63  is set to 5 V. The system microcomputer  81  controls the switch section  91  so that power feed is halted when the charge voltage of the battery  63  fed from the panel-side voltage monitoring section  77  has reached 5 V. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6  again, in case the system microcomputer  81  has determined that the operation display panel  9  and the fitting plate  55  are not in the initial state, that is, rotated in step  5 , the system microcomputer  81  determines whether the detection result exceeds the reference value based on the detection result from the main-unit-side voltage detector  79 , same as the step S 6 . 
   In case the detection result exceeds the reference value (step S 8 : YES), the system microcomputer  81  continues monitoring the detection result from the main-unit-side voltage detector  79 . In case the detection result is below the reference value (step S 8 : NO), the system microcomputer  81  controls the driving motors  13 L,  13 R to drive the operation display panel  9  and the fitting plate  55  into the initial state. In this practice, the system microcomputer  81  simultaneously performs drive control of the driving motors  13 L and  13 R to place the driving motors  13 L and  13 R in case it performs simultaneous drive control of the driving motors  13 L and  13 R (in case the operation display panel  9  and the fitting plate  55  are rotated in the vertical direction). 
   In case the driving motors  13 L and  13 R are individually drive-controlled (in case the operation display panel  9  and the fitting plate  55  are rotated in the transverse direction), each driving motors is individually drive-controlled and placed in the initial state (step S 9 ). The switch section  91  is controlled to place the switch in the position of terminal C and power is fed to the battery  63  via the main-unit-side charging battery  67  and the panel-side charging terminal  65  thus recharging the battery  63  (step S 10 ). 
   As mentioned earlier, according to a drive mechanism and a drive control method for a front panel of this embodiment, it is possible to cause the driving motors  13 L,  13 R of the left and right driving sections  11 L,  11 R in the transverse direction (oscillate transversely) by individually controlling the driving motors  13 L,  13 R of the left and right driving sections  11 L,  11 R. Thus, it is possible to direct the display  5  or operation section  7  of the operation display panel  9  for example to the driver or the seat next to the driver, thus upgrading the operability and visibility of the electronic apparatus  1 . 
   In this practice, the operation display panel  9  and the electronic apparatus main unit  3  communicate signals with each other via the communications elements  73 ,  71  without using flat cables employed in the related art, thereby eliminating restriction on the drive direction of the front panel. 
   The battery  63  is incorporated as a power source in the operation display panel  9 . Charging state of the battery  63  is constantly monitored by detecting the voltage of the battery  63 . Drive control is made and the battery  63  is recharged when the voltage has dropped below the reference value. This allows the operation display panel  9  to be activated successfully without fail. 
   While the front panel is described as the operation display panel  9  and the fitting plate  55 , other configurations are allowed. For example, only the operation display panel  9  may be used as a front panel, without using the fitting plate  55 . In such a case, the front ends of the left and rite lateral frames  33  are connected to the lower area of the sides on the operation display panel  9  via the link plate  41  and pins  39 ,  43 . In this case, the bottom of the operation display panel  9  corresponds to the lower frame  45 . The upper ends of the left and right connecting arms  49  are linked to the upper ends of the sides of the operation display panel  9 . Thus the operation display panel  9  is rotatably attached to the electronic apparatus  1  by the pins  39 ,  43 . 
   The invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment and can be implemented in various embodiments within the scope of the invention. 
   As mentioned earlier, a drive mechanism and a drive control method for a front panel according to the invention do not use flat cables thus allowing the front panel to be rotated in the vertical direction and the transverse direction and diversifying the drive direction of the front panel, thereby upgrading the operability and visibility of the front panel. 
   Further, the charging state of the battery as a power source of the front panel is monitored and detected and drive control of the front panel is made depending on the driving state of the front panel. This activates the front panel stably without fail.