Abstract:
A vehicular audio/video expansion device provided with learning function, a vehicular audio/video system using the same and its learning method have been disclosed. According to the present invention, the vehicular A/V system comprises: a playback device having a remote control provided with a first button associated with a first control code for controlling the playback device when the first button is pressed; a host provided with a second button associated with a second control code; and an expansion device coupled to the host and the playback device. The expansion device processes the first control code and the second control code to generate a corresponding relation under a learning mode. According to the corresponding relation, the function of the first button is replaced by the second button to control the playback device under an operation mode.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to vehicular audio/video techniques, more particularly, this invention relates to an audio/video expansion device provided with learning function, a vehicular audio/video system using the same and its learning method. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Traditionally, the shipping configuration of a car includes audio/video devices such as a stereo system and speakers. As the audio/video technology advances and users? demand on better audio/video experiences increases, an audio/video system is now become a popular option to vehicular users. The inventor of the present invention disclosed Vehicular Audio/Video Device and a Circuit of a Vehicular Audio/video Device for Integrating Auxiliary Input? in Taiwanese Utility Patent Number 225478. The vehicular audio/video device disclosed integrates a plurality of auxiliary inputs without alternating the hardware configuration of a conventional host system. A playback device for providing an auxiliary signal source often equips with a remote control for the user ease of use. However, when a user has several playback devices in use, the user is often confused by finding the correct remote control for the certain playback device. In addition, if a user is in a vehicle, the user is easily distracted by the extra effort required to match the remote control and the playback device and the user is at risk. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is therefore an objective of this invention to provide a vehicular audio/video expansion device with learning function, a vehicular audio/video system using the same and its learning method. The invention integrates the functions of buttons on one or a plurality of remote controls into the functions of buttons on a host so that a driver does not need to pay extra attention on matching the remote controls and playback devices and driver safety is protected. 
         [0006]    In order to achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides a vehicular audio/video expansion device provided with learning function. The vehicular audio/video expansion device is coupled to the host and the playback device. The playback device comprises a remote control provided with a first button associated with a first control code for controlling the playback device when the first button is pressed. The host has a second button. The second button is associated with a second control code for the expansion device when the second button is pressed. The vehicular audio/video expansion device comprises a receiver for receiving the first control code, a controller coupled to the receiver and the host for processing the first control code and the second control code, and a memory coupled to the controller. The controller associates the first control code and the second control code to generate a corresponding relation and stores the corresponding relation in the memory under a learning mode. The controller generates a third control code for controlling the playback device according to the corresponding relation when the second button is pressed under an operation mode. 
         [0007]    It is another objective of this invention to provide a vehicular audio/video system provided with learning function. The system comprises a playback device with a remote control, a host and an expansion device. The remote control provided with a first button associated with a first control code for controlling the playback device when the first button is pressed. The host provided with a second button associated with a second control code for the expansion device when the second button is pressed. The expansion device coupled to the host and the playback device. The expansion device processes the first control code and the second control code to generate a corresponding relation under a learning mode. The expansion device generates a third control code for controlling the playback device according to the corresponding relation when the second button is pressed under an operation mode. 
         [0008]    It is another objective of this invention to provide a learning method for using a vehicular audio/video system. The learning method comprises: initiating a learning status; pressing a first button on a remote control to transmit a first control code for controlling a playback device; receiving the first control code at a expansion device; pressing a second button at a host to generate a second control code for the expansion device; and receiving the first control code an the second control code at the expansion device to generate a corresponding relation. The function of the first button is replaced by the function of the second button according to the corresponding relation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a vehicular audio/video system according to the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of a learning method with the vehicular audio/video system according to the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram of an alternative preferred embodiment of a vehicular audio/video system according to the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of another alternative preferred embodiment of a vehicular audio/video system according to the present invention; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a detailed circuit diagram of a vehicular audio/video device with learning function according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a vehicular audio/video system according to the present invention. In the vehicular audio/video system shown in  FIG. 1 , the vehicular audio/video system  1  comprises a host  10 , an expansion device  20 , a playback device  30  and at least one speaker  40 . 
         [0015]    The host  10  comprises an AM/FM tuner, a cassette player, an amplifier and audio process circuit such as a crossover. In addition to process the audio signals from the AM/FM tuner and the cassette player, the host  10  also processes audio signals from the signal wire  70  of the expansion device  20  or from the signal wire  69  of the playback device  30 , then output the processed audio signals to the speaker  40 . Alternatively, a host  10  is built in with a video display and a video process circuit for receiving and processing the video signals from the signal wire  70  of the expansion device  20  or from the signal wire  69  of the playback device  30 . Alternatively, a host  10  is not build in with a video display and a video process circuit, then the video signals from the signal wire  70  of the expansion device  20  or from the signal wire  69  of the playback device  30  output to an external video display  50 . Alternatively, a host is build in with a DVD player, VCD player, CD player or a MD player. 
         [0016]    A playback device  30  is an audio signal source, an video signal source or an external audio/video mixed signal source, such as a detachable media storage device (for example, an MP3 player, MPEG-4 player, or an Apple iPod), a tuner, an analog TV box, digital TV box, a satellite receiver, a video cassette recorder/player, an karaoke machine, a DivX recorder/player, an HDMI player, a game console and a optical disc player. The optical disc player can be an audio player such as a CD player, and sometimes is an audio/video player such as a VCD player, or a DVD player. The playback device  30  transmits audio signals or video signals to the expansion device  20  via signal wire  68 . The expansion device  20  transmits the audio signals or video signals to the host  10  via signal wire  70  for signal processing. If the expansion device  20  is connected to a single playback device  30 , then the playback device  30  transmits the audio signals or video signals to the host  10  via signal wire  69  for signal processing directly. 
         [0017]    The playback device  30  has a designated remote control  32 . The remote control  32  is built with certain control buttons  34  for controlling operations of the playback device  30 . If the playback device  30  is a digital TV receiver, the buttons  34  on the remote control  32  can be the buttons H+? or H−? for channel selections. The remote control  32  transmits corresponding control code  60  when H+? or H−? is pressed. The receiver  36  installed at the playback device  30  receives the control code  60  for controlling the channel selection of the digital TV receiver. The signals transmitted from the remote control  32  to the playback device  30  can be infrared (IR) signals or radio frequency (RF) signals. 
         [0018]    The objective of the present invention is to replace the button  34  on the remote control  32  with the button  12  on the host  10  by performing the learning operations at the expansion device  20 . The learning method makes the function of the button  34  on the remote control  32  associated with the function of the button  12  on the host  10 . Upon the learning method completes, the button  12  on the host  10  replaces the button  34  on the remote control  32  and the button  12  control the playback device  30  directly. The learning method is detailed in  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the playback device  30  being a digital TV is exemplified to demonstrate steps of the learning method to replace the buttons H+? and H−? 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the step S 1  is the beginning of the leaning method and the step S 2  is the judgment step on if a user presses the learning initiation button. In the preferred embodiment, the DISK SCAN button on the host  10  is predefined as the learning initiation button. At the S 2 , the user decides if the DISK SCAN button on the host  10  is pressed or not. If the judgment is yes, then the learning moves to the step S 3  to initiate the learning status of the remote control  32 . The step S 4  is a judgment on if the remote control  32  receives the control code  60  after the learning status initiated. If the remote control  32  does not receive the control code  60 , which means the user does not press the button  34  on the remote control  32 , the learning moves to the step S 5  to terminate the learning status of the remote control and return to the step S 1 . If the user presses the button  34  on the remote control  32 , which means at the step S 4  the receiver  22  of the expansion device  20  receives the control code  60 , the learning moves to the step S 6 . The step S 6  is a judgment on if the corresponding button  12  is pressed on the host  10  and corresponding control code is transmitted to the expansion device  20  via control wire  62 . If the button  12  is not pressed on the host  10  at the step S 6 , then the learning moves to the step S 5  to terminate the learning status of the remote control. If the button  12  is pressed at the step S 6 , then the learning moves to the step S 7 , the control code transmitted by the control wire  62  is linked to the control code  62  from the remote control  32 . For example, the expansion device  20  links the function of the button pressed on the remote control  32 , the H+? button, to the function of the button pressed on the host  10 , the SEEK/TRACK UP button by establish a corresponding relation of the control codes. The expansion device  20  stores the corresponding relation and then the learning method moves to S 5 . 
         [0020]    At the step S 2 , if the DISK SCAN button is not pressed, then the learning moves to a operation mode, where the button  12  on the host  10  replaces the button  34  on the remote control  32 . It follows that at the step S 8 , the control code is transmitted to the expansion device  20  via the control wire  62  after pressing the button  12  such as a SEEK/TRACK UP button on the host  10 . According to the corresponding relation stored at the expansion device  20 , the control code from the host  10  corresponds to the button CH+ on the remote control  32 . A transmitter  24  on the expansion device  20  transmits the control code  64  corresponding to the button CH+ to the playback device  30 . The receiver  36  on the playback device  30  receives the control code  64  such that he playback device  30  adjusts the audio or video signals according to the control code  64 . The audio or video signals then are transmitted to the expansion device  20  via the signal wire  68  or output to the host  10  via the signal wire  69 . The signal transmission used between the expansion device  20  and the playback device  30  can be IR or RF signaling. As shown in  FIG. 1 , if the expansion device  20  is connected to the playback device  30  with a control wire  66 , then the control codes  64  can be transmitted via the control wire  66  and the transmitter  24  can be waived. 
         [0021]    Furthermore, when the expansion device  20  is installed with a learning initiation button or initiation control wire as shown in the reference numeral  26  in  FIG. 1 , the step S 2  shown in the  FIG. 2  is a judgment step on if the learning method is initiated by pressing initiation button is pressed or enabling the initiation control wire at the expansion device  20 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram of an alternative preferred embodiment of a vehicular audio/video system according to the present invention. As shown in the  FIG. 3 , the vehicular audio/video system comprises a host  10 , an expansion device  20 , a plurality of playback device  30 A,  30 B,  30 C and a speaker  40 . 
         [0023]    The host  10  comprises an AM/FM tuner, a cassette player, an amplifier and audio process circuit such as a crossover. In addition to process the audio signals from the AM/FM tuner and the cassette player, the host also processes audio signals from a signal wire  70  of the expansion device  20 , and then output the processed audio signals to the speaker  40 . Alternatively, a host  10  is built in with a video display and a video process circuit for receiving and processing the video signals from the signal wire  70  of the expansion device  20 . Alternatively, a host  10  is not build in with a video display and a video process circuit, then the video signals from the signal wire  70  of the expansion device  20  output to an external video display  50 . Alternatively, the host  10  can be build in with a DVD player, VCD player, CD player or a MD player. 
         [0024]    A plurality of playback devices  30 A,  30 B, and  30 C are audio signal source, video signal source or external audio/video mixed signal source, such as an detachable media storage device (for example, an MP3 player, MPEG-4 player, or an Apple iPod), a tuner, an analog TV box, digital TV box, a satellite receiver, a video cassette recorder/player, an karaoke machine, a DivX recorder/player, an HDMI player, a game console and an optical disc player. The optical disc player can be an audio player such as a CD player, and sometimes is an audio/video player such as a VCD player, or a DVD player. The playback devices  30 A,  30 B, and  30 C transmits audio signals or video signals to the expansion device  20  via signal wire  68 A,  68 B, and  68 C. The expansion device  20  selects one input among  68 A,  68 B, and  68 C, and then transmits the audio signals or video signals selected to the host  10  via the signal wire  70  for following signal processing. In the present preferred embodiment, three playback devices  30 A,  30 B and  30 C are utilized as one example, the applications according to the invention is not limited by the embodiment. Preferred embodiments may apply two, four or multiple playback devices as the embodiments fit. 
         [0025]    The playback device  30 A,  30 B and  30 C have a designated remote controls  32 A,  32 B and  32 C. The remote controls  32 A,  32 B and  32 C are built with certain control buttons  34 A,  34 B and  34 C for controlling operations of the playback devices  30 A,  30 B and  30 C. When the playback device  30 A is a digital TV receiver, the buttons  34 A on the remote control  32 A are the buttons H+? or H−? for channel selections. The remote control  32 A transmits corresponding control code  60  when H+? or H−? is pressed. The receiver  36 A installed at the playback device  30 A receives the control code  60  for controlling the channel selection of the digital TV receiver. The signals transmitted from the remote control  32 A to the playback device  30 A are infrared (IR) signals or radio frequency (RF) signals. 
         [0026]    The aim of the present invention is to replace the button  34 A,  34 B, and  34 C on the remote control  32 A,  32 B and  32 C with the button  12  at the host  10  by performing the learning operations at the expansion device  20 . The learning method connects the function of the button  34 A,  34 B, and  34 C on the remote control  32 A,  32 B and  32 C with the function of the button  12  on the host  10 . Upon the learning method completes, the button  12  on the host  10  replaces the buttons  34 A,  34 B, and  34 C on the remote controls  32 A,  32 B and  32 C and the button  12  control the playback device  30  directly. The learning method is detailed in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , after the learning method completes, a transmitter  24  at the expansion device  20  transmits corresponding control code  64  to the playback device  30 A,  30 B or  30 C. The receiver  36 A,  36 B or  36 C at the corresponding playback device  30 A,  30 B or  30 C receives the control code  64 . One of the playback device  30 A,  30 B and  30 C adjusts the audio or video signals according to the control code  64  and transmits the signals to the to the expansion device  20  via one of the signal wire  68 A,  68 B and  68 C. 
         [0028]    The signals transmission used between the expansion device  20  and the playback device  30 A,  30 B and  30 C can be IR or RF signals. As shown in  FIG. 3 , if the expansion device  20  is connected to the playback device  30 A,  30 B and  30 C with a control wire  66 A,  66 B and  66 C respectively, then the control codes can be transmitted via the control wire  66 A,  66 B or  66 C such that the transmitter  24  can be waived. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of another alternative preferred embodiment of a vehicular audio/video system according to the present invention. As compared  FIG. 4  with  FIG. 1 , the expansion device and the host  10  are integrated to be a single host  100  in the preferred embodiment disclosed in the  FIG. 4 . The rest of the configuration disclosed in the preferred embodiment shown in the  FIG. 4  is similar to the preferred embodiment shown in the  FIG. 1  and thus is not repeated here. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates a detailed circuit diagram of a vehicular audio/video device  20  with learning function according to the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the expansion device  20  has a micro controller  200 , a control code memory  210  and a signal switch  220 . The micro controller  200  controls operations of expansion device  20 . The control code memory  210  is coupled to the micro controller  200  for storing a corresponding relation between the button  34  on the remote control  32  and the button  12  on the host  10 . The signal switch  220  is coupled to the micro controller  200  for switching the plural auxiliary inputs (AUX 1 _Audio/AUX 1 _Video, AUX 2 _Audio/AUX 2 _Video, AUX 3 _Audio/AUX 3 _Video) from three playback devices shown in the  FIG. 5 . Further, the audio output terminal  221  of the signal switch  220  is coupled to an audio buffer  230  and the video output terminal  222  of the signal switch  220  is coupled to a video buffer  240 . The output terminals of audio buffer  230  and video buffer  240  connected to the host  10  form the signal wire  70 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the control wire  62  between the host  10  and the expansion device  20  has a bus buffer  250 . In details, the bus buffer  250  is provided between the micro controller  200  and the host  10 . The receiver  22  and the transmitter  24  are coupled to the micro controller  200  for receiving the control code  60  and transmitting the control code  64 . If the transmitter  24  is an infrared transmitter, then an oscillator  260  of 38 KHz is installed between the micro controller  200  and the transmitter  24 . Alternatively, the oscillator of 38 KHz can be replaced by generating 38 KHz oscillating frequency by running software or firmware at the micro controller  200 . As described previously, the expansion device  20  may transmit control code directly via the control wire  66  and as a result the transmitter  24  can be waived. A voltage regulator.  270  is provided for transforming the 12V DC to 5V DC or 8V DC as the power source of the expansion device  20 . 
         [0032]    The present invention has been described with a preferred embodiment thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the described embodiment can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.