Mobile communication terminal having a gear-shifting information providing function and method of providing gear-shifting information using the same

• US 20060129297A1
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Ki Won
• Application Number:
  US11/299,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20060129297A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/55
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/42 Ratio indicator devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal and method of providing gear-shifting information using the same are disclosed, by which the gear-shifting information suitable for a vehicle speed can be provided to a novice or beginning driver of the vehicle. In one embodiment, a mobile communication terminal includes a speed detection unit configured to acquire speed data, a control unit configured to analyze the speed data and output a corresponding control signal if the speed data satisfies a gear-shifting condition, and a voice output unit configured to output a gear-shifting announcement message that corresponds to the control signal.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal having a gear-shifting information providing function, comprising:

a speed detection unit configured to acquire speed data;

a control unit configured to analyze the speed data and to output a corresponding control signal if the speed data satisfies a gear-shifting condition; and

an audible output unit configured to output a gear-shifting announcement message that corresponds to the control signal.

2. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store one or more gear-shifting conditions, where each gear-shifting condition corresponds to an appropriate speed at which a transmission of a vehicle should be shifted from one gear to another.

3. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the speed detection unit comprises a two-axis acceleration sensor.

4. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the speed detection unit comprises a global positioning system (GPS).

5. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises:

an analog/digital converter configured to receive speed data acquired by the speed detection unit and to convert the speed data to digital speed data;

a processor configured to receive the digital speed data, and to determine whether the digital speed data satisfies a gear-shifting condition, and, if so, to output a control signal that corresponds to the gear shifting condition; and

a codec configured to generate a gear-shifting announcement message that corresponds to the control signal output by the processor.

6. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the gear-shifting announcement message is generated from a digital voice recording.

7. A method of providing gear-shifting information using a mobile communication terminal, comprising the steps of:

acquiring a vehicle speed;

determining whether the acquired speed satisfies a gear-shifting condition;

accessing voice data corresponding to the speed if the gear-shifting condition is satisfied; and

outputting a gear-shifting announcement message based on the accessed voice data.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein acquiring the speed is accomplished using a two-axis acceleration sensor that is in communication with the mobile communication terminal.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein acquiring the speed is accomplished using a global position system (GPS) that is in communication with the mobile communication terminal.

10. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the gear-shifting condition is set by a user.

11. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein outputting the gear-shifting announcement message comprises the steps of:

decoding a digitally comprised form of the voice data; and

converting the decoded digital voice data to an analog signal.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the voice data is recorded by a user.