Apparatus for controlling an electronic equipment for vehicles

• US 20010049960A1
• Filed: 04/17/2001
• Published: 12/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shinada, Akira
• Granted Patent: US 6,956,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/118.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling an electronic equipment for vehicles comprises detection means for detecting the commencement of a condition of use of a vehicle which employs an electronic equipment for vehicles, and control means for controlling operations of the electronic equipment for vehicles. The control means is operative to cause the electronic equipment to be put in a standby condition from which the electronic equipment can be immediately shifted into a normally operating condition when the commencement of the condition of use of the vehicle is detected by the detection means.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling an electronic equipment for vehicles comprising;

detection means for detecting the commencement of a condition of use of a vehicle which employs an electronic equipment for vehicles,

and control means for controlling operations of the electronic equipment for vehicles, said control means being operative to cause the electronic equipment to be put in a standby condition from which the electronic equipment can be immediately shifted into a normally operating condition when the-commencement of the condition of use of the vehicle is detected by the detection means.

2. An apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said detection means is provided in a control unit which is shifted into a normally operating condition from a standby condition for controlling operations of motor-operated apparatus employed in the vehicle when the condition of use of the vehicle is commenced and operative to detect the commencement of the condition of use of the vehicle by detecting the shift of the control unit into the normally operating condition from the standby condition.

3. An apparatus according to

claim 2

, wherein said detection means is operative to detect the shift of the control unit into the normally operating condition from the standby condition by detecting starting voltage variations occurring in the control unit.

4. An apparatus according to

claim 2

, wherein said control unit is shifted into the the normally operating condition from the standby condition when the reception of a lock control signal for unlocking door lock means provided in the vehicle is detected by lock control signal receiving means provided in the vehicle.

5. An apparatus according to

claim 3

, wherein said control unit is shifted into the the normally operating condition from the standby condition when the reception of a lock control signal for unlocking door lock means provided in the vehicle is detected by lock control signal receiving means provided in the vehicle.

6. An apparatus according to

claim 2

, wherein said control unit is shifted into the the normally operating condition from the standby condition when a manual handling to a door knob of the vehicle for unlocking door lock means provided in the vehicle is detected by door knob handling detecting means provided in the vehicle.

7. An apparatus according to

claim 3

, wherein said control unit is shifted into the the normally operating condition from the standby condition when a manual handling to a door knob of the vehicle for unlocking door lock means provided in the vehicle is detected by door knob handling detecting means provided in the vehicle.

8. An apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said detecting means is operative to detect the commencement of the condition of use of the vehicle with the reception of a lock control signal for unlocking door lock means provided in the vehicle, which is detected by lock control signal receiving means provided in the vehicle.

9. An apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said detection means is operative to detect the commencement of the condition of use of the vehicle with a manual handling to a door knob of the vehicle for unlocking a door lock mechanism provided in the vehicle, which is detected by door knob handling detecting means provided in the vehicle.

10. An apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said control means is operative to keep the electronic equipment in the standby condition when pose control means provided in the electronic equipment is performing its function.