Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20020158512?dq=mirroring+data+in+a+remote+data+storage+system
Timestamp: 2017-08-18 22:45:10
Document Index: 567162781

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42']

Patent US20020158512 - Mounting structure including communication system for transmitting multiplex ... - Google Patents
A mounting structure for mounting accessories on a designed interior member in a vehicle compartment includes a plurality of mounting portions. Each of the mounting portions includes a non-contact type power sending terminal and a vehicle-side antenna. The mounting portion transmits power from the battery...http://www.google.com/patents/US20020158512?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20020158512 - Mounting structure including communication system for transmitting multiplex control signal to vehicle electrical devices
Publication number US20020158512 A1
Application number US 10/133,878
Also published as DE10218505A1, US6756697
Publication number 10133878, 133878, US 2002/0158512 A1, US 2002/158512 A1, US 20020158512 A1, US 20020158512A1, US 2002158512 A1, US 2002158512A1, US-A1-20020158512, US-A1-2002158512, US2002/0158512A1, US2002/158512A1, US20020158512 A1, US20020158512A1, US2002158512 A1, US2002158512A1
Inventors Satoshi Mizutani, Kazushi Shikata, Yoshio Shinoda, Shigeto Tsuge, Ikuo Hayashi, Fumio Asakura, Yuichi Watanabe, Yutaka Matsuda
Original Assignee Satoshi Mizutani, Kazushi Shikata, Yoshio Shinoda, Shigeto Tsuge, Ikuo Hayashi, Fumio Asakura, Yuichi Watanabe, Yutaka Matsuda
Patent Citations (12), Referenced by (106), Classifications (16), Legal Events (7)
US 20020158512 A1
1. A mounting structure for a vehicle electrical device comprising:
a mounting portion on which an electrical device arbitrarily selected from a plurality of vehicle electrical devices is mounted, said mounting portion being disposed on an interior member in a vehicle compartment and including communication means for transmitting a first electrical signal received from a vehicle to said selected electrical device, wherein said first electrical signal is a multiplex signal which includes a plurality of control signals for controlling said plurality of vehicle electrical devices, respectively.
2. A mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein said interior member is an instrument panel and said mounting portion is arranged on a top surface of said instrument panel.
3. Amounting structure as in claim 2, wherein said instrument panel includes a detachable cover member on its top surface and said mounting portion is arranged on said cover member.
4. A mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein said mounting portion includes mounting means which enables a user to mount said selected electrical device on said mounting portion in a single procedure.
6. A mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein:
said communication means is connected to a signal converter to which wiring for transferring a second electrical signal other than said first electrical signal from said vehicle is connected;
said signal converter extracts said plurality of control signals from said second electrical signals and multiplexes said extracted plurality of control signals into said first electrical signal; and
said communication means receives said first electrical signal from said signal converter.
7. A mounting structure as in claim 6, wherein said mounting portion is one of a plurality of mounting portions each of which is disposed on said interior member and includes communication means for transmitting said first electrical signal to an electrical device mounted thereon.
8. A mounting structure as in claim 7, wherein said signal converter is a single signal converter which alone transmits said first electrical signal to said communication means of said plurality of mounting portions.
9. A mounting structure as in claim 7, wherein said communication means of each of said plurality of mounting portions performs two-way communication with an electrical device mounted thereon.
10. A mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein said communication means performs wireless communication with said selected electrical device utilizing an electromagnetic wave.
11. A mounting structure as in claim 10, wherein said electromagnetic wave is infrared light.
12. A mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein said communication means is a contact-type first communication terminal which communicates with a second communication terminal provided in said selected electrical device touching said second communication terminal.
13. A mounting structure as in claim 12, wherein:
one of said first communication terminal and said second communication terminal includes a first elastic member; and
when said selected electrical device is mounted on said mounting portion, said first elastic member touches the other of said first communication terminal and said second communication terminal while deformed so that said second communication terminal is pressed against said first communication terminal by an elastic force of said first elastic member.
14. A mounting structure as in claim 12, wherein said second communication terminal is connected to said first communication terminal as a result of mounting said selected electrical device on said mounting portion.
15. A mounting structure as in claim 12, wherein said second communication terminal is a cylindrical plug and said first communication terminal is a jack into which said plug is inserted.
16. A mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein said mounting portion includes non-contact type power transmission means which transmits power from a battery of the vehicle to said selected electrical device without touching said selected electrical device.
17. A mounting structure as in claim 16, wherein said non-contact type power transmission means has a circular surface opposite to said selected electrical device which is mounted on said mounting portion.
18. A mounting structure as in claim 16, wherein:
transmission of power to said selected electrical device is suppressed based on at least one of a first criterion and a second criterion;
said first criterion is that an amount of power consumed by said non-contact type power transmission means is equal to or larger than a predetermined upper threshold; and
said second criterion is that the amount of power consumed by said non-contact type power transmission means is equal to or less than a predetermined lower threshold.
19. A mounting structure as in claim 16, wherein said mounting portion includes control means for controlling, based on a proper voltage of said selected electrical device, an amount of power transmitted to said selected electrical device which is mounted on said mounting portion.
20. A mounting structure as in claim 19, wherein said control means receives an identification signal from said selected electrical device and controls the amount of power transmitted to said selected electrical device based on said identification signal.
21. A mounting structure as in claim 20, wherein said control means suppresses transmission of power to said selected electrical device when said identification signal is not received from said selected electrical device.
22. A mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein said mounting portion includes a power sending terminal which transmits power from a battery of the vehicle to a power receiving terminal included in said selected electrical device touching said power receiving terminal.
23. A mounting structure as in claim 22, wherein:
one of said power sending terminal and said power receiving terminal includes a second elastic member; and
when said selected electrical device is mounted on said mounting portion, said second elastic member touches the other of said power sending terminal and said power receiving terminal while deformed so that said power receiving terminal is pressed against said power sending terminal by an elastic force of said second elastic member.
24. A mounting structure as in claim 22, wherein said power receiving terminal is connected to said power sending terminal as a result of mounting said selected electrical device on said mounting portion.
25. A mounting structure as in claim 22, wherein:
said mounting portion is a cavity formed on a designed surface of said interior member;
a user mounts said selected electrical device on said mounting portion by partially inserting said selected electrical device into said cavity; and
said power receiving terminal is annularly formed on said selected electrical device around an axis which extends in a longitudinal direction of said cavity.
26. A mounting structure as in claim 22, wherein:
said mounting portion includes a link member;
said selected electrical device actuates said link member by pressing said link member when said selected electrical device is mounted on said mounting portion; and
said power sending terminal touches said power receiving terminal after said link member is actuated.
27. A mounting structure as in claim 22, wherein:
said selected electrical device has a casing from which a convex portion protrudes and said convex portion includes said power receiving terminal;
said mounting portion includes a concave portion which has a shape complementary to a shape of said convex portion and said concave portion includes said power sending terminal;
said power receiving terminal is properly connected to said power sending terminal as a result of inserting said convex portion into said concave portion; and
said mounting portion includes a guide adjacent to said concave portion for guiding said convex portion into said concave portion.
28. A mounting structure as in claim 22, wherein said mounting portion includes control means for controlling, based on a proper voltage of said selected electrical device, an amount of power transmitted to said selected electrical device which is mounted on said mounting portion.
29. A mounting structure as in claim 28, wherein:
said control means receives an identification signal from said selected electrical device; and
said control means controls the amount of power transmitted to said selected electrical device based on said identification signal.
30. A mounting structure as in claim 29, wherein said control means suppresses transmission of power to said selected electrical device when said identification signal is not received from said selected electrical device.
31. A mounting structure as in claim 29, wherein said identification signal is transmitted from said selected electrical device to said control means via said power receiving terminal and said power sending terminal.
32. A mounting structure as in claim 29, wherein:
said mounting portion includes an input terminal other than said power sending terminal for receiving said identification signal;
said selected electrical device includes an output terminal other than said power receiving terminal for transmitting said identification signal; and
said output terminal transmits said identification signal to said input terminal touching said input terminal.
33. A mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein said mounting portion includes a catching member which is engagable with said selected electrical device and movable so as to be disengagable from said selected electrical device.
34. A mounting structure as in claim 33 further comprising a release switch which outputs a release signal when a user operates said release switch for disengaging said catching member from said selected electrical device, wherein said catching member is moved so as to disengage from said selected electrical device in response to said release signal.
35. A mounting structure as in claim 33, wherein said catching member is disengaged from said selected electrical device only if a predetermined criterion is satisfied, so that said selected electrical device is protected against theft.
36. A mounting structure as in claim 33, wherein disengagement of said catching member from said selected electrical device is suppressed based on at least one of an operating state of an antitheft device installed on the vehicle and a status of power supply to the vehicle.
37. A mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein:
said selected electrical device includes a catching member;
said interior member includes an engaging portion which engages with said catching member of said selected electrical device; and
said catching member is movable so as to be disengagable from said engaging portion.
38. A mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein:
said interior member includes a designed cover which covers said mounting portion and forms a part of a designed surface of said interior member;
said designed cover is movable between an open position and a closed position; and
said mounting portion is open when said designed cover is in the open position and closed when said designed cover is in the closed position.
39. A mounting structure as in claim 38, wherein:
said mounting portion is a cavity formed on the designed surface of said interior member;
said designed cover moves in a longitudinal direction of said cavity keeping its surf ace perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said cavity so that said mounting portion is open, when the user presses said selected electrical device against said designed cover for mounting said selected electrical device on said mounting portion.
40. A mounting structure as in claim 38, wherein:
said designed cover includes a pivot pivotably supported by said interior member; and
said designed cover moves between the open position and the closed position by pivoting said pivot.
41. A mounting structure as in claim 38, wherein:
said designed cover further covers said selected electrical device; and
when said designed cover is in the closed position, movement of said designed cover is suppressed based on at least one of an operating state of an antitheft device installed on the vehicle and a status of power supply to the vehicle.
42. A mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein said selected electrical device is mounted on said mounting portion facing in an arbitrary direction with reference to a predetermined axis.
43. A mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein said mounting portion and said selected electrical device mounted on said mounting portion are pivotable as one on a predetermined axis.
44. A mounting structure as in claim 42, wherein said predetermined axis extends in a vertical direction.
45. A mounting structure as in claim 43, wherein said predetermined axis extends in a vertical direction.
46. A mounting structure comprising:
an electrical device arbitrarily selected from a plurality of vehicle electrical devices; and
a mounting portion on which said selected electrical device is mounted, said mounting portion being disposed on an interior member in a vehicle compartment and including communication means for transmitting an electrical signal received from a vehicle to said selected electrical device, wherein said electrical signal is a multiplex signal which includes a plurality of control signals for controlling said plurality of vehicle electrical devices, respectively.
[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing an instrument panel in which a mounting structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention is incorporated;
[0012]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing how accessories mounted on the mounting portions of the mounting structure are electrically connected to the electric circuit of a vehicle according to the first embodiment;
[0013]FIG. 3 is across section diagram showing the mounting structure according to the first embodiment;
[0014]FIG. 4A is a perspective diagram showing a mounting portion of the mounting structure according to the first embodiment;
[0015]FIG. 4B is a perspective diagram showing how an accessory is mounted on the mounting portion of the mounting structure according to the first embodiment;
[0016]FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram showing a mounting structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0017]FIG. 6 is a cross-section diagram showing the mounting structure according to the second embodiment;
[0018]FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram showing a mounting structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0019]FIG. 8 is a perspective diagram showing a mounting structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[0020]FIG. 9 is a cross section diagram showing a mounting structure according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
[0021]FIG. 10 is a view seen in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 9;
[0022]FIG. 11 is a view seen in the direction of arrow XI in FIG. 9;
[0023]FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a charging system for charging an accessory mounted on a mounting portion of the mounting structure according to the fifth embodiment;
[0024]FIG. 13 is a timing diagram of the operation of the charging system of FIG. 12;
[0025]FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a charging system for charging an accessory mounted on a mounting portion of a mounting structure according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
[0026]FIGS. 15A and 15B are cross section diagrams showing amounting structure according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;
[0027]FIG. 16 is a perspective diagram showing a mounting structure according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;
[0028]FIG. 17 is a cross section diagram showing the mounting structure according to the eighth embodiment;
[0029]FIG. 18 is a cross section diagram showing amounting structure according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;
[0030]FIG. 19 is a front view of a mounting structure according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention;
[0031]FIG. 20 is a front view of the mounting structure showing that the connector of an accessory may be directly connected to the connector of a mounting portion according to the tenth embodiment;
[0032]FIG. 21 is a front view of a mounting structure according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention;
[0033]FIG. 22 is a front view of a mounting structure according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention;
[0034]FIG. 23 is across section diagram showing amounting structure according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention;
[0035]FIG. 24 is a cross section diagram showing amounting structure according to a modification of the thirteenth embodiment;
[0036]FIG. 25 is a cross section diagram showing amounting structure according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention;
[0037]FIG. 26 is a perspective diagram showing a mounting structure according to a modification of the fourteenth embodiment; and
[0038]FIG. 27 is a perspective diagram showing how an accessory is mounted on a mounting portion of the mounting structure of FIG. 26.
The mounting portion 12 includes a non-contact type power sending terminal 17 as non-contact type power transmission means, which is connected to the battery of the vehicle by a wire harness 18 for power transmission. The power sending terminal 17 includes a disc-shaped primary coil 17 a, which is fit into a circular hole 11 a formed on the bottom of the recess. The mounting portion 12 further includes, as mounting means, a circular fastener member 19 made of fabric fastener tape like Velcro (trademark), which is glued to the bottom of the recess. The circular fastener member 19 covers the primary coils 17 a, and thereby the primary coil 17 a is not exposed to the vehicle compartment when the accessory 20 c is not mounted on the mounting portion 12. Thus the good appearance of the instrument panel 10 is ensured even when the accessory 20 c is not mounted on the mounting portion 12.
On the other hand, the accessory 20 c includes a non-contact type power receiving terminal 21 on the bottom of the raised portion. The power receiving terminal 21 includes a disc-shaped secondary coil 21 a, which is exposed when the accessory 20 c is not mounted on the mounting portion 12. The accessory 20 c further includes, as mounting means, an annular fastener member 22 made of resinous fastener tape like Velcro on the bottom of the raised portion. The annular fastener member 22 surrounds the exposed portion of the secondary coil 21 a.
Referring to FIG. 4B, when a user mounts the accessory 20 c on the mounting portion 12, he/she places the accessory 20 c on the mounting portion 12 as indicated by arrow A so that the raised portion of the accessory 20 c is disposed in the recess of the mounting portion 12. Further the user presses down the accessory 20 c against the bottom of the recess so that the annular fastener member 22 of the accessory 20 c is fastened to the circular fastener member 19 of the mounting portion 12. Thus the accessory 20 c is fixed to the mounting portion 12 of the cover member 11.
It is preferable that the secondary coil 21 a is arranged within a distance of 2 or 3 mm from the primary coil 17 so that the power is efficiently transmitted from the power sending terminal 17 to the power receiving terminal 21. According to the present embodiment, the secondary coil 21 a can be disposed within a distance of 2 or 3 mm, because the annular fastener member 22 does not cover the secondary coil 21 a.
The power sending terminal 17 includes a power consumption detector in its electric circuit. If the user carelessly places a piece of metal such as a juice can on the mounting portion 12, the juice can may be heated up by the power sending terminal 17 and thereby the amount of consumed power may increase abnormally. In order to prevent such abnormality, the power consumption detector measures the amount of power consumed by the power sending terminal 17. When the measured amount of the consumed power reaches a predetermined upper threshold, it is determined that the mounting portion 12 is in an unusual situation and therefore transmission of the power to the accessory 20 c is suppressed. On the other hand, when the measured amount of consumed power is lower than a predetermined lower threshold, it is determined that the accessory 20 c is not mounted on the mounting portion 12 and therefore transmission of the power to the accessory 20 c is also suppressed for saving of power.
The fastener members 19, 22 are not heated up even when a current is applied to the primary coil 17 a, because the fastener members 19, 22 are made of nonmagnetic materials. In contrast, if magnetic fastener members are employed instead, they are heated up due to the electromagnetic induction when a current is applied to the primary coil 17 a.
According to the present invention, the accessories 20 a, 20 b, 20 c are supported steady from the below and further the display 20 b and the tachometer 20 c are clearly visible to the user, because the instrument panel 10 is selected as an interior member on which the accessories 20 a, 20 b, 20 c are mounted. Further the mounting portions 12 are formed on the cover member 11 detachably attached to the top of the instrument panel 10. Therefore the vehicle may be equipped with the mounting portions 12 at the user's option after the vehicle comes onto the market.
Since the power sending terminals 170 are provided on the inner wall of the recess of the mounting portion 12 and the power receiving terminals 210 are provided on the outer wall of the raised portion of the accessory 20 c, the power receiving terminals 210 come into contact with the power sending terminals 170 as a result of mounting the accessory 20 c on the mounting portion 12. Accordingly the user can readily replace the accessories 20 a, 20 b 20 c.
Further according to the fourth embodiment, as a result of inserting the plug 211 into the jack 171, the accessory 20 c is mounted and held on the mounting portion 12 and further all the required connections (i.e., the connection for power transmission and the connection for communication) are established. Therefore the user can readily replace the accessories 20 a, 20 b, 20 c.
When the accessory 20 c is forced into the cavity 120 a, the designed cover 30 is pushed down against the elastic force of the elastic member so that the opening 11 b is open. If the insert 24 b is further inserted into the cavity 120 a as indicated by arrow F in FIG. 9 and pressed into the inmost portion 120 b, the terminals 212, 213, 214 of the accessory 20 c come in contact with the terminals 172, 173, 174 of the mounting portion 12. The pedestal 120 includes a guide 120 c adjacent to the inmost portion 120 b in the cavity 120 a, and thereby the protrusion of the insert 24 b can be readily inserted into the inmost portion 120 b. Further the user does not bother to open the designed cover 30 before he/she mounts the accessory 20 c in the cavity 120 a.
The pedestal 120 includes an electric catching device 40, which includes a pin-type operative part 42 as a catching member and a solenoid 41 as an actuator for the operative part 42. When the accessory 20 c is not mounted on the mounting portion 12, the operative part 42 is in a first position (shown by broken lines in FIG. 9), that is, it is evacuated from the cavity 120 a. When the catching device 40 detects intrusion of the accessory 20 c into the cavity 120 a, it moves the operative part 42 into a second position (shown by soil lines in FIG. 9), that is, it projects the operative part 42 by applying a current to the solenoid 41. The projected operative part 42 fits into a hole 24 c formed in the insert 24 b of the accessory 20 c. Thus the operative part 42 engages with the insert 24 b. According to this construction, the accessory 20 c is prevented from being accidentally disconnected from the pedestal 120 even when the vehicle vibrates largely or crashes.
When the user operates the release switch SW1 for disengaging the operative part 42 from the insert 24 b, are lease signal is provided for the control circuit 24 d. In response to the release signal, the control circuit 24 d controls the catching device 40 so that the operative part 42 is disengaged from the insert 24 b.
However, the control circuit 24 d may control the catching device 40 so that the operative part 42 is disengaged from the insert 24 b, only when the release signal is received from the release switch SW1 under a condition where a predetermined criterion is satisfied. In this case, the operative part 42 also acts as antitheft means if the criterion is appropriately determined. The criterion is, for example, that an antitheft device such as an immobilizer is inactive, that the accessory switch of the vehicle is ON, or that the ignition switch of the vehicle is ON. The user cannot dismount the accessory 20 c from the pedestal 120 until the operative part 42 is disengaged from the insert 24 b.
Referring to FIG. 13, if the user turns on a power switch SW2 connected to the power transmission control circuit 55 when the terminals 172, 173, 174 of the mounting portion 12 are connected to the terminals 212, 213, 214 of the accessory 20 c, the control circuit 24 d and the charge control circuit 24 e of the battery charger 24 supply electricity to the battery-powered device 25 for a fixed length of time. Then the rechargeable battery 25 a of the battery-powered device 25 accumulates the supplied electricity, and transmits a coded signal as an identification signal. The coded signal is transmitted via the power receiving and sending terminals 212, 172. However, an output terminal and an input terminal for transmitting the coded signal may be provided on the accessory 20 c and the mounting portion 12, respectively. The coded signal indicates to the control circuit 24 d of the battery charger 24 that the battery-powered device 25 is a device powered by a rechargeable battery.
Thereafter the control circuit 24 d of the battery charger 24 identifies the type of the accessory 20 c based on the coded signal, and controls the charge control circuit 24 e according to a charging program appropriate for identified type of the accessory 20 c. The charging program provides a switching frequency and a duty cycle appropriate for the accessory 20 c. Further the charging program appropriately switches between an intermittent mode and a continuous mode based on the coded signal according to the type of the accessory 20 c.
In the intermittent mode, electricity is supplied to the battery-powered device 25 intermittently so that the life of the rechargeable battery 25 a is prolonged. In the continuous mode, electricity is supplied to the battery-powered device 25 continuously so that the rechargeable battery 25 a is charged rapidly. Thus the charge control circuit 24 e charges the battery-powered device 25 according to the charging program.
The control circuit 24 d has the capability to measure the voltage of a rechargeable battery 25 a of the battery-powered device 25 before it begins to charge the rechargeable battery 25 a, and the capability to measure the charging current. The control circuit 24 d determines a proper voltage applied to the rechargeable battery 25 a of the battery-powered device 25 based on the measured voltage of the battery-powered device 25. Then the control circuit 24 d selects one of the coils 21 b, 21 c, 21 d based on the proper voltage, and then the proper voltage is applied to the rechargeable battery 25 a.
When the measured voltage is almost zero, that is, the rechargeable battery 25 a is fully discharged, the control circuit 24 d selects a coil that provides the lowest voltage from the coils 21 b, 21 c, 21 d. Thereafter the control circuit 24 d switches to a coil that provides higher voltage, if the measured charging current vanishes in a predetermined length of time. Thus the control circuit 24 d is prevented from applying a voltage higher than the proper voltage to the rechargeable battery 25 a.
In this way, the battery charger 24 can adapt to change in the proper voltage to be applied to the accessory 20 c. Further accessories which differ in the proper voltage may be alternately mounted on the same mounting portion and charged. That is, the accessories can share the battery charger 24, and thereby the total number of battery chargers that should be installed in the vehicle compartment is reduced.
In the present embodiment, contact type power sending and receiving terminals similar to those employed by the mounting structure according to the fifth embodiment may be employed instead of the non-contact type power sending and receiving terminals. In this case, the above-described advantages are also provided if the battery charger 24 has the capability to control the voltage applied to the rechargeable battery 25 a.
In the present embodiment, the control circuit 24 d adjusts the voltage applied to the rechargeable battery 25 a by selecting one of the coils 21 b, 21 c, 21 d. However, the control circuit 24 may control the current applied to the rechargeable battery 25 a by adjusting the switching frequency and/or the duty cycle keeping the voltage constant.
Referring to FIGS. 15A and 15B, a mounting structure according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention includes a mounting portion 12 which includes a cylindrical cavity and a link member 60. The cavity is formed in the cover member 11 so that the longitudinal axis of the cavity extends vertically. An opening 11 b corresponding to the cavity is formed on the designed top surface of the cover member 11, so that the cavity communicates with the vehicle compartment through the opening 11 b.
The link member 60 is pivotably supported by a pivot 61, and projects its tail end 60 a into the cavity as shown in FIG. 15A. The head 60 b of the link member 60 includes two power sending terminals 172, which are an anode terminal and a cathode terminal. The power sending terminals 172 are connected to the battery of the vehicle by a wire harness 18 for power transmission. Further the mounting portion 12 includes communication means 13, 130, 173 similar to that included in the mounting portion 12 according to the first, second or fifth embodiment.
A generally cylindrical accessory 20 c is mounted in the mounting portion 12 so as to be partially inserted into the cavity as shown in FIG. 15B. The accessory 20 c includes a waist on its circumferential surface. Two power receiving terminals 212, which are an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, are circumferentially provided on the waist of the accessory 20 c.
A designed cover 31 is disposed in the cavity. An elastic member 50 disposed in the cavity biases the designed cover 31 so that the designed cover 31 is flush with the designed top surface of the cover member 11 as shown in FIG. 15A when the accessory 20 c is not mounted on the mounting portion 12. When the accessory 20 c is forced into the cavity, the designed cover 31 is pushed down against the elastic force of the elastic member. Then the designed cover 31 moves down keeping its surface horizontal, so that the cavity is open. Therefore the user is not required to bother to open the designed cover 31 before he/she mounts the accessory 20 c on the mounting portion 12.
The mounting portion 12 includes switches SW4 corresponding to the respective catching members 80. When the edge of the cover member 11 engages with the grooves 80 a of the catching members 80, the switches SW4 are turned ON by the lower portions of the catching members 80 so that power from the battery of the vehicle is transmitted to the primary coil 17 a of the mounting portion 12. Then the power is transmitted from the primary coil 17 a to the secondary coil 21 a of the accessory 20 c.
According to this construction, the power is not transmitted to the accessory 20 c until the accessory 20 c is mounted in the mounting portion 12. Therefore, if a piece of metal such as a juice can is carelessly placed on the mounting portion 12, power is not transmitted to the primary coil 17 a of the mounting portion 12 because the switches SW4 are not turned ON. That is, the power is not transmitted to the primary coil 17 a of the mounting portion 12 until an accessory which has catching members 80 is mounted in the mounting portion 12. Thus abnormality is prevented.
The mounting portion 12 includes a primary coil 17 a on one side, while the accessory 20 c includes a secondary coil 21 a on the side corresponding to the primary coil 17 a. The mounting portion 12 and the accessory 20 c are constructed so that the secondary coil 21 a of the accessory 20 c is placed opposite to the primary coil 17 a of the mounting portion 12 when the accessory 20 c is mounted on the mounting portion 12. The primary coil 17 a transmits power from the battery of the vehicle to the secondary coil 21 a without touching the secondary coil 21 a.
The mounting structure according to the present embodiment does not include a designed cover or a catching member, while the mounting structure according to the ninth embodiment includes the designed cover 31 a, the catching member 80, the elastic members 50, 81 for biasing the designed cover and a catching member 80, and the power switch SW4 to be turned on by the catching member 80. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, not only an accessory (shown by broken lines in FIG. 23) that fits the cavity but also a smaller accessory 20 c (shown by solid lines in FIG. 23) can be mounted in the mounting portion 12.
Referring to FIG. 25, a mounting structure according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention includes an adjustable primary coil 17 a in a mounting portion 12 and a secondary coil 21 a in an accessory 21 c. Further the mounting portion 12 includes communication means 13, 130 similar to that included in the mounting portion 12 according to the first or second embodiment. The primary coil 17 a can be inclined and further its inclination is adjustable as indicated by arrows I in FIG. 25. Thereby an accessory 20 c smaller than an accessory that fits the mounting portion 12 can be mounted in the mounting portion 12 reclining against the inner wall of the mounting portion 12. In this case, the secondary coil 21 a of the accessory 20 c is arranged parallel to the primary coil 17 a of the mounting portion 12 so that power from the battery of the vehicle may be efficiently transmitted to the accessory 20 c.
The mounting portion 12 may include a tapered holding portion 12 a as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. The accessory 20 c is mounted in the mounting portion 12 reclining against the holding portion 12 a in this case. Then the side walls 11 b of the holding portion 12 a hold the accessory 20 c in position.
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International Classification B60K37/00, B60K37/02, B60R11/02, B60K37/04
Cooperative Classification B60K37/02, B60R2013/0287, B60R11/0241, B60R2011/0005, B60K2350/945, B60R13/0256, B60K2350/307, B60R11/02
European Classification B60K37/02, B60R11/02, B60R11/02G
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Owner name: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD., (FORMERLY THE FURUKAW
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