Method for Controlling Car Computer and Apparatus Thereof

• US 20080125936A1
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gigabyte Technology Company Limited (Giga-Byte Technology Co.)
• Original Assignee: Gigabyte Technology Company Limited (Giga-Byte Technology Co.)
• Inventors: TSAI, Shen-Fa
• Application Number:
  US11/668,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125936A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• 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

A method for controlling a car computer is provided. An operation mode is received, and the operation mode selectively selects a user input interface from a plurality of user input interfaces. Next, in response to the selection of the operation mode, an operating signal of the user input interface is defined as a corresponding first control signal. Then, an input of changing the operating signal definition is determined, and if an input signal of the user input interface is changing the operating signal definition, the control signal defined by the operating signal of the user input interface defines the operating signal to a corresponding second control signal, in response to the changing of the operating signal definition. Finally, the car computer is operated according to the selected operation mode and the set operating signal definition.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a car computer, comprising:

receiving an operation mode, wherein the operation mode selectively selects a user input interface from a plurality of user input interfaces;

defining an operating signal of the user input interface as a corresponding first control signal in response to selection of the operation mode, and;

determining an input of changing an operating signal definition, wherein if an input signal of the user input interface is the changing of the operating signal definition, the first control signal defined by the operating signal of the user input interface defines the operating signal as a corresponding second control signal in response to the changing of the operating signal definition; and

operating the car computer, according to the selected operation mode and the set operating signal definition.

2. The controlling method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operation mode includes a computer mode and a multimedia mode.

3. The controlling method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multimedia mode has a plurality of multimedia operation modes.

4. The controlling method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multimedia operation mode includes an audio-visual playing operation mode, a music playing operation mode, or a radio operation mode.

5. An apparatus for controlling a car computer, comprising:

a connecting port;

an operation mode select key, for selectively selecting an operation mode;

a plurality of operation keys, for being defined as first operation keys, in response to the selected operation mode;

a function switch key, for selectively setting and changing definition of the plurality of operation keys to that of second operation keys in response to the selected operation mode; and

a microcontroller, for storing a plurality of groups of definitions corresponding to the operation keys, for receiving operating signal of the operation mode select key, the function switch key, and the plurality of operation keys, and transmitting an electronic signal corresponding to the operating signal to the car computer through the connecting port.

6. The controlling apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a display.

7. The controlling apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising an operation mode indicating lamp.

8. The controlling apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a state indicating lamp.

9. The controlling apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the operation mode comprises a computer mode and a multimedia mode.

10. The controlling apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connecting port is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connecting port.

11. The controlling apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connecting port is a parallel connecting port.

12. The controlling apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connecting port is a serial connecting port.

13. The controlling apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a wireless signal transmission module, connected to the connecting port, for wirelessly transmitting the electronic signal corresponding to the operating signal to the car computer.