Patent Publication Number: US-2011054789-A1

Title: Cradle having gps function for portable device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application Serial Number 10-2009-0083141, filed on Sep. 3, 2009, the entirety which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a cradle having a GPS function for a portable device, in detail, a cradle having a GPS function for a portable device which is connected with a portable device, which can output an image and a voice, and guides a course. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Recently, portable devices, such as an iPod providing an expanded function by installing lots of software as well as the basic functions, such as playing music and video, and photograph and text viewers, have increasingly come into wide use. 
     Most portable devices are manufactured in a small size to improve portability. Portable devices have built-in memory and battery to reduce the size. Portable devices, including the iPod, have a built-in large-capacity memory. However, most users use portable devices only to play sound source files (e.g. mp3, ogg, wma, flac etc.) or video files (e.g. mp4, avi, mpg etc.). Accordingly, there is a problem in that portable devices are used only to May sound source files or video files, but the large-capacity memory is not effectively used. 
     In the US, even though there are iPod products, many consumers are not satisfied with using them in a vehicle, and even though there are portable devices having a large-capacity memory, they have an inconvenience of having to separately purchase an expensive navigation device. 
     Further, since the portable devices use a built-in battery, a separate charger for charging the battery is required. In particular, a cradle is mounted on the dash board of vehicles to charge the battery of portable devices in the vehicles. Cradles provided in vehicles are used only to charge the battery of a portable device held therein. In this configuration, the cradles receive power from the battery of vehicles, and for consumers, it deteriorates efficiency to place a large charging device on the dash board only for charging. 
     Therefore, it is required to improve usability of portable devices by utilizing the space for the large-capacity memory of portable devices and to efficiently use the portable devices by providing a cradle in vehicles with additional functions, other than using the cradle in vehicles to charge a battery. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to overcome the problems in the related art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cradle having a GPS function for a portable device in which a GPS function is additionally provided to the cradle mounted in a vehicle to charge a portable device and large-sized map data is stored in the portable device. 
     The cradle having a GPS function for a portable device according to an embodiment of the present invention to accomplish the object, includes: a housing that has a built-in GPS antenna, a built-in circuit board that converts a GPS signal received through the GPS antenna into traveling information of a vehicle and then transmits the traveling information to the portable device, and receives navigation information from the portable device, and one or more built-in speaker that vocally outputs the navigation information received through the circuit board, in which a direction change informing portion, which is formed at both side ends of the front of a protruding portion that protrudes toward the driver&#39;s seat at the lower end of the housing, and informs a direction change of the vehicle on the basis of the navigation information, is disposed. 
     A connecting portion that is detachably connected with a fixing member attached to the vehicle is formed the rear of the housing, and a built-in battery that supplies power to the circuit board when the connecting portion is not connected with the fixing member is additionally disposed in the housing. 
     The protruding portion has a receiving portion, which receives remote control information, at the front. 
     The direction change informing portion includes a first LED module corresponding to a left turn of the vehicle and a second LED module corresponding to a right turn of the vehicle. 
     The circuit board includes: a GPS process module that converts a GPS signal received from the GPS antenna into traveling information; a control module that performs a control to communicate traveling information and navigation information with the portable device, performs a control to vocally output the navigation information, and performs a control to turn on or off the direction change informing portion on the basis of the navigation information; an interface module that transmit the traveling information converted by the GPS process module to the portable device through a connector in response to control of the control module, and receives the navigation information from the portable device through the connector; a voice output unit that vocally outputs the navigation information through the one or more built-in speakers of the housing in response to control of the control module; and a direction change informing portion-activating module that turns on or off the direction change informing portion in response to control of the control module. 
     Further, a cradle having a GPS function for an iPod touch according to an embodiment of the present invention to accomplish the object, includes: a housing that has a built-in GPS antenna, a built-in circuit board that converts a GPS signal received through the GPS antenna into traveling information of a vehicle and then transmits the traveling information to the iPod touch, and receives navigation information from the iPod touch and one or more built-in speakers that vocally outputs the navigation information received through the circuit board, in which a direction change informing portion that is formed at both side ends of the front of a protruding portion that protrudes toward the driver&#39;s seat at the lower end of the housing, and informs a direction change of the vehicle on the basis of the navigation information. 
     A connecting portion that is detachably connected with a fixing member attached to the vehicle is formed at the rear of the housing, and a built-in battery that supplies power to the circuit board when the connecting portion is not connected with the fixing member is additionally disposed in the housing. 
     The protruding portion has a receiving portion, which receives remote control information, at the front. 
     The direction change informing portion includes a first LED module corresponding to left turn of the vehicle and a second LED module corresponding to the right turn of the vehicle. 
     The circuit board includes: a GPS process module that converts a GPS signal received from the GPS antenna into traveling information; a control module that performs a control to communicate traveling information and navigation information with the iPod touch, performs a control to vocally output the navigation information, and performs a control to turn on or off the direction change informing portion on the basis of the navigation information; an interface module that transmits the traveling information converted by the GPS process module to the portable device through a connector in response to control of the control module, and receives the navigation information from the iPod touch through the connector; a voice output unit that vocally outputs the navigation information through the one or more built-in speakers of the housing in response to control of the control module; and a direction change informing portion-activating module that turns on or off the direction change informing portion in response to control of the control module. 
     According to the present invention, by installing a navigation program in the portable device and holding and using the portable device in the cradle having a GPS function, a user having the portable device can use the navigation function at the minimum cost, without needing to separately purchase a navigation device. 
     Further, with the use of the cradle having a GPS function, it is not necessary to additionally install a navigation device in a vehicle, such that it is possible to maximally utilize the space in the vehicle while providing convenience for a driver, and also, it is possible to maximize usability of the portable device and efficiently use the narrow space in the vehicle. 
     Further, since a lot of consumers have iPod touch in the US and they can purchase the cradle provided with a GPS function at a low cost without separately purchasing a navigation device and the cradle for charging, if at least only 1% of the consumers having an iPod purchase this product, the manufactures can make a lot of sales profit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 4  are views illustrating a cradle having a GPS function for a portable device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a protruding portion of a housing of the cradle having a GPS function for a portable device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are views illustrating the sides of the housing of the cradle having a GPS function for a portable device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are views illustrating the rear of the housing of the cradle having a GPS function for a portable device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustrating a circuit board that is disposed in the housing of the cradle having a GPS function for a portable device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram illustrating a portable device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The most preferred embodiment of the invention is described hereafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to describe in detail it such that those skilled in the art can easily implement the technical spirit of the present invention. Giving reference numerals to components in each figure, it should be understood first that the same components are referred by the same reference numerals even if they are shown in different figures. Describing the invention herein, when it is considered that the detailed description about related known configurations or functions makes the aspects of the invention unclear, the detailed description may be omitted. 
     Prior to describing an embodiment of the present invention, the terms used herein to describe the embodiment of the present invention is defined as follows. 
     Traveling information implies RMC (Recommended Minimum Specific DNSS Data) including data items that are generally used in a navigation device, in various data received from a satellite. The RMC includes fields, such as Sentence ID, UTC Time, Latitude, N/S Indicator/Longitude, E/W Indicator, Speed over ground, UTC Data, and Magnetic variation. The Sentence ID implies the type of data and is expressed by $GPGGA, $GPGSV, $GPRMC, $GPVTG etc. The RMC is expressed by $GPRMC. The UTC Time implies Greenwich Mean Time, which is composed of date, time, minute, and second. The Latitude implies the latitude corresponding to the present location of GPS module. The N/S Indicator implies the north latitude and the south latitude. The Longitude implies the longitude corresponding to the present location of a GPS module. The E/W Indicator implies the east longitude and the west longitude. The Speed over ground implies the movement velocity of a GPS module. The traveling information includes various data received from a satellite, other than the above data. 
     Navigation information is information created from the traveling information received from a satellite. That is, the navigation information detects data of fields corresponding to vehicle velocity and present location, in the fields of the traveling information. The navigation information is information including a destination, estimated time of arrival to the destination, and movement course guide information. The destination and estimated time of arrival to the destination are created on the basis of destination information and traveling information that are inputted by a user. 
     A cradle having a GPS function for a portable device according to the present invention is described hereafter. 
       FIGS. 1 and 4  are views illustrating a cradle having a GPS function for a portable device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     A cradle  100  having a GPS function for a portable device is connected with a portable device  200  (e.g. an iPod touch) having a navigation program. The cradle  100  for a portable device includes a housing  300 , and a GPS antenna  110 , a circuit board  120 , and one or more speakers  130  which are disposed in the housing  300 . In this embodiment, the GPS antenna  110  communicates GPS signals with a plurality of satellites. The circuit board  120  converts GPS signals received through the GPS antenna  110  into traveling information of a vehicle and transmits it to the portable device  200 , and receives navigation information from the portable device  200 . The one or more speakers  130  vocally outputs navigation information received through the circuit board  120 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the cradle  100  for a portable device can be separated from a fixing member  400  fixed to a dash board (not shown). That is, the cradle  100  for a portable device is separated from the fixing member  400  and can operate as a navigation device. In this case, a built-in battery  140  supplying power to the circuit board  120  is additionally provided in the cradle  100  for a portable device. Further, the built-in battery  140  may supply power to the portable device  200  connected to the cradle  100  for a portable device. 
       FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a protruding portion of a housing of the cradle having a GPS function for a portable device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the housing  300  of the cradle  100  having a GPS function for a portable device has a protruding portion  310 , which protrudes toward the driver&#39;s seat, at the lower portion of the front. A connector  312 , a direction change informing portion  314 , a receiving portion  316 , and power display  318  are formed at the protruding portion  310 . 
     The connector  312  protrudes on the upper surface of the protruding portion  310  and is fitted in a connector connecting portion (not shown) formed at one side of the portable device  200  (e.g. iPod touch). The connector  312  communicates data, such as traveling information and navigation information, with the portable device  200  (e.g. iPod touch). Further, the connector  312  functions as a power supply line through which power is supplied to charge the portable device  200 , which is the basic function of the cradle  100 . 
     The direction change informing portion  314  is formed at both side ends of the front of the protruding portion  310  and informs a direction change of a vehicle on the basis of the navigation information received from the portable device  200 . In this configuration, the direction change informing portion  314  includes a first LED module  314   a  formed at the left side of the front of the protruding portion  310  and a second LED module  314   b  formed at the right side of the front of the protruding portion  310 . 
     That is, when receiving navigation information corresponding to a left turn, the direction change informing portion  314  turns on or off the first LED module  314   a  to inform the driver of the left turn of the vehicle. When receiving navigation information corresponding to a right turn, the direction change informing portion  314  turns on or off the second LED module  314   b  to inform the driver of the right turn of the vehicle. 
     The receiving portion  316  is formed on the front of the protruding portion  310  and receives remote control information. That is, the receiving portion  316  receives control information (that is, information for controlling the cradle  100 ; e.g. turning-on/off of the cradle  100 , volume-up/down of the speaker  130  etc.) which is generated when a user operates a remote controller. 
     The power display  318  is formed on the front of the protruding portion  310  and displays power-on/off of the cradle  100 . In this configuration, the power display  318  displays power-on of the cradle  100  by generating green light and power-off of the cradle  100  by generating red light. Alternatively, it is possible for those skilled in the art to display power-on/off of the cradle  100  in various ways, other than the method described above. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  are views illustrating the sides of the housing of the cradle having a GPS function for a portable device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     The housing  300  of the cradle  100  having a GPS function for a portable device has fixing portions  320 , a volume control portion  330 , and power button  340  at the sides. 
     The fixing portions  320  are formed at both sides of the housing  300  and fix the portable device  200 . The fixing portions  320  fix the portable device  200  not to move, by applying a force to both sides of the portable device  200 . The fixing portions  320  are formed in various shapes in accordance with the shape of the portable device  200  that is placed on the cradle  100 . Since the fixing portions  320  can be formed in various shapes for fixing the portable device  200  by those skilled in the at, the detailed description is not provided. 
     The volume control portion  330  is formed of a button or a wheel for controlling the volume of the built-in speakers  130  of the housing  300 , at one side of the housing  300 . Although the volume control portion  330  is formed at one side of the housing  300  in this embodiment, it may be formed at the upper portion, lower portion, rear, and front of the housing  300 . 
     The power button  340 , which is a button for turning on/off the power of the cradle  100 , is formed at one side of the housing  300 . The power button  340  is formed at the same side as the volume control portion  330  or the opposite side to the volume control portion  330 . Although the power button  340  is formed at one side of the housing  300 , it may be formed at the upper portion, lower portion, rear, and front of the housing  300 . 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  are views illustrating the rear of the housing of the cradle having a GPS function for a portable device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the housing  300  of the cradle  100  having a GPS function for a portable device has a connecting portion  350 , a power supply terminal  360 , and an auxiliary input terminal (AUX)  370  at the rear. 
     The connecting portion  350  is formed on the rear of the housing  300  and connected with the fixing member  400  attached to a dash board (not shown). In this configuration, the connecting portion  350  is detachably connected with the fixing member  400  to utilize the cradle  100  as a portable navigation device. The connecting portion  350  is connected to rotate about the portion connected with the fixing member  400 . That is, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the connecting portion  350  is connected to rotate about the portion connected with the fixing member  400  to ensure the viewing angle of the portable device  200  held in the cradle  100  or rotate the display. 
     The power supply terminal  360  is connected with a cigar jack (not shown) of a vehicle through a power cable and supplies power supplied from the vehicle to the built-in circuit board  120  of the cradle  100 . 
     The auxiliary input terminal  370  transmits voice output of the portable device  200  to the car audio (not shown), for voice output through the car audio (not shown). In this embodiment, the auxiliary input terminal  370  is formed in various types, such as a 3.5 stereo terminal and a gender, and is connected with the car audio (not shown) through a corresponding cable. 
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustrating a circuit board that is disposed in the housing of the cradle having a GPS function for a portable device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the built-in circuit board  120  of the housing  300  of the cradle  100  for a portable device includes a GPS process module  121 , a control module  123 , an interface module  125 , a voice output module  127 , and a direction change informing portion-activating module  129 . 
     The GPS module  121  detects data (e.g. RMC) which is used in a navigation device, in the data received from a satellite through a GPS antenna  110 . For example, the GPS process module  121  detects data in which the Sentence ID is “$GPRMC” from received data, in order to detect RMC, which is used for navigation, in the data received from a satellite through the GPS antenna  110 . 
     The GPS process module  121  creates traveling information, using the detected data. That is, the GPS module  121  create traveling data by detecting data corresponding to date, location (i.e., latitude, longitude, north latitude, south latitude, east longitude, and west longitude), and movement velocity from the detected data. That is, the GPS process module  121  creates traveling information, from the detected RMC, in which UTC Date and UTC Time means date, Latitude means latitude, Longitude means longitude, N/S Indicator means north latitude and south latitude, E/W indicator means east longitude and west longitude, and Speed over ground means movement velocity. The movement velocity included in the RMC has a unit of Knots for the sea. For example, when the detected RMC is “$GPRMC, 141113, 999, A, 3730.0308, N,  12655 . 2369 , E, 19.77, 195.23, 101200, *3C”, the GPS process module  121  creates traveling information in which the date is Dec. 10, 2000 14:11:13, the location is 3730.0308 north latitude and 12655.2369 east longitude, and the movement velocity is 19.77. 
     The control module  123  performs a control to communicate traveling information and navigation information with the portable device  200 . That is, the control module  123  controls the interface module  125  transmit the traveling information created by the GPS process module  121  to the portable device  200  held in the cradle  100  and receive navigation information from the portable device  200 . 
     The control module  123  performs a control to vocally output navigation information. That is, the control module  123  controls the voice output module  127  to vocally output voice information that informs a movement course of navigation information and navigation information including movement velocity information. 
     The control module  123  performs a control to turn on or off the direction change informing portion  314  on the basis of the navigation information. That is, the control module  123  controls the direction change informing portion-activating module  129  to turn on or off the corresponding direction change informing portion  314 , when it is required to change direction (e.g. left turn, right turn) in accordance with the movement course of the navigation information. 
     The interface module  125  is connected with the connector  312  formed on the protruding portion  310  and communicates traveling information and navigation information with the portable device  200  in response to control of the control module  123 . That is, the interface module  125 , in response to control of the control module  12   e , transmits traveling information converted by the GPS process module  121  to the portable device  200  through the connector  312  and receives navigation information from the portable device  200  through the connector  312 . In this process, the interface module  125  transmits traveling information including date, location, movement velocity etc. to the portable device  200  in response to control of the control module  123  and transmits navigation information including a destination, estimated time of arrival to the destination, movement course guide information, and estimated time of arrival to the portable device  200 . 
     The voice output module  127  vocally outputs the traveling information and navigation information from the interface module  125  through one or more built-in speakers  130  of the housing  300 . That is, the voice output module  127  vocally informs a driver of movement velocity, location, date, destination, estimated time of arrival to destination, movement course guide information, and estimated time of arrival etc. through the speakers  130 . 
     The direction change informing portion-activating module  129  turns on or off the direction change informing portion  314  in response to control of a control unit  240 . That is, the direction change informing portion-activating module  129  informs a driver on left turn of the vehicle by turning on or off the first LED module  14   a , when receiving navigation information corresponding to the left turn. The direction change informing portion-activating module  129  informs the driver of a right turn of the vehicle by turning on or off the second LED module  314   b , when receiving navigation information corresponding to the right turn. 
     Hereinafter, a portable device that is connected to a cradle having a GPS function for a portable device according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 11  is a block diagram illustrating a portable device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the portable device  200  that is connected to the cradle  100  having a GPS function for a portable device includes an interface unit  210 , an input unit  220 , a navigation setting unit  230 , a control unit  240 , an output unit  250 , and a storage unit  260 . The above components are implemented by software installed in a built-in memory of the portable device  200 . 
     The interface unit  210  is connected with a connector connecting portion (not shown) that is fitted on the connector  312  formed on the protruding portion  310 . The interface unit  210  communicates traveling information and navigation information with the interface module  125  of the cradle  100  in response to control of the control unit  240 , That is, the interface unit  210  receives traveling information from the interface module  125  in response to control of the control unit  240  and transmits navigation information created by the navigation setting unit  230  to the interface module  125 . 
     The input unit  220  receives destination information and control information that correspond to the arrival location of a vehicle. That is, the input unit  220  receives information (i.e. destination information and control information) for controlling common navigation functions, such as destination information, selection, guide start, search, and place name input. In this configuration, the input unit  200  is formed of an input device of the portable device  200  (e.g. key button, jog button, touch screen etc.). For example, for an iPod touch by Apple), destination information is inputted by a virtual keyboard displayed on the touch screen. 
     The navigation setting unit  230  creates navigation information of the vehicle on the basis of inputted destination information and traveling information from the cradle  100  for a portable device. That is, the navigation setting unit  230  creates navigation information including a destination, estimated time of arrival to destination, movement course guide information etc. In this process, the navigation setting unit  230  sets destination on the basis of the destination information inputted to the input unit  220 . The navigation setting unit  230  creates the movement course, using the present location information and destination information of the traveling information. The navigation setting unit  230  creates the estimated time of arrival on the basis of the inputted destination information, movement velocity, and movement course. In this process, the navigation setting unit  230  converts the movement velocity included in the traveling information into km/h. That is, since the movement velocity included in the traveling information has a unit of Knots for the sea, the navigation setting unit  230  converts the movement velocity included in the traveling information into km/h, using the following Formula 1. For example, when the movement velocity included in the traveling information is 19.77 Knots, the navigation setting unit  230  converts the velocity into 36.614 km/h, using Formula 1. 
       Movement velocity (km/h)=Speed over ground (Knots)×1.852  [Formula 1]
 
     where, it can be easily understood by those skilled in the art that the navigation setting unit  230  creates the movement course, destination, and estimated time of arrival to destination etc., and thus the detailed description is not provided. 
     The control unit  240  performs a control to output navigation information and map information set by the navigation setting unit  230 . That is, the control unit  240  performs a control to output navigation information, which includes vehicle velocity, the present location, destination, estimated time of arrival, movement course etc., and map information. The map information is information including buildings, roads, and speed limit, etc. in the surround area of the navigation information. The present location changes with movement of the vehicle. Therefore, the control unit  240  detects map information corresponding to the present location from the storage unit  260  every time the present invention changes, and controls the output unit  250  to output it. 
     The output unit  250  displays or vocally outputs navigation information and map information of a vehicle in response to control of the control unit  240 . That is, the output unit  250  displays map information and navigation information, such as a common navigation, using a display device, such as LCD and AMOLED etc. of the portable device  200 . 
     The output unit  250  may vocally output navigation information through the built-in speakers  130  of the cradle  100  having a GPS function for a portable device or a car audio. That is, the output unit  250  may vocally output corresponding navigation information and map information by transmitting navigation information and map information to the built-in circuit board  120  of the cradle  100  through the interface unit  210 . It may be possible that the cradle  100  transmits navigation information and map information to the car audio through the auxiliary input terminal  370  formed on the rear and then the navigation information and the map information is vocally outputted from the car audio. 
     The storage unit  260  stores map information that is used for navigation. That is, the storage unit  260  stores map information including buildings around, roads around, speed limit etc. The storage unit  260  corresponds to the built-in memory of the portable device  200 . 
     As described above, by installing a navigation program in the portable device  200  and holding and using the portable device  200  in the cradle  100  having a GPS function, a user having the portable device  200  can use a navigation function at the minimum cost, without needing to separately purchase a navigation device. 
     Further, with the use of the cradle  100  having a GPS function, it is not necessary to additionally install a navigation device in a vehicle, such that it is possible to maximally utilize the space in the vehicle while providing convenience to a driver, and also, it is possible to maximize usability of the portable device  200  and efficiently use the narrow space in the vehicle. 
     Further, since a lot of consumers have iPod touch in the US and they can purchase the cradle  100  provided with a GPS function at a low cost without separately purchasing a navigation device and the cradle  100  for charging, if at least only 1% of the consumers having iPod purchase this product, the manufactures can make a lot of sales profit. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it should be understood that the present invention can be achieved by various changed and modified embodiments by those skilled in the art, without departing from the claims of the present invention.