ON-BOARD EQUIPMENT AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20110156892A1
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
• Original Assignee: J&K Car Electronics Corporation (JVC Kenwood Corporation)
• Inventors: AKIYAMA, Taira
• Application Number:
  US12/974,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20110156892A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0098 using electric or electronic means, e.g. alarms, codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens

Abstract

An on-board equipment 1 includes a main body 2 arranged in a vehicle and an operation panel 3 detachably attached to the main body 2. The on-board equipment 1 further includes a sensor 34 for detecting whether or not the operation panel 3 has been detached from the main body 2, an indicator L1 arranged in the main body 2, a driver 22 for lighting the indicator L1 and a controller 21 for controlling the driver 22 so as to light the indicator L1 when it is detected that the operation panel 3 has been detected from the main body 2 by the sensor 34.

Claims

1. An on-board equipment for a vehicle, comprising:

an equipment main body;

an operation unit detachably attached to the equipment main body;

a sensor configured to detect whether or not the operation unit has been detached from the equipment main body;

a first indicator arranged in the equipment main body;

a driver configured to light the first indicator; and

a controller configured to control the driver so as to light or blink the first indicator when the sensor detects that the operation unit has been detected from the equipment main body.

2. The on-board equipment of claim 1, further comprising a second indicator arranged in the operation unit, wherein:

the driver is also configured to light or blink the second indicator; and

the controller controls the driver so as to light or blink the second indicator when the sensor does not detect that the operation unit has been detected from the equipment main body.

3. The on-board equipment of claim 1, wherein

when an accessory power source of the vehicle mounting the on-board equipment is powered ON, the controller controls the driver so as to put the first indicator off.

4. The on-board equipment of claim 2, wherein

when an accessory power source of the vehicle mounting the on-board equipment is powered ON, the controller controls the driver so as to put the second indicator on.

5. A control method of an on-board equipment for a vehicle, the on-board equipment having an equipment main body, an operation unit detachably attached to the equipment main body and first and second indicators arranged in the equipment main body, the control method comprising:

detecting whether or not the operation unit has been detected from the equipment main body; and

lighting or blinking the first indicator when it is detected that the operation unit has been detected from the equipment main body.

6. The control method of the on-board equipment according to claims 5, further comprising:

lighting or blinking the second indicator when it is not detected that the operation unit has been detected from the equipment main body.

7. The control method of the on-board equipment according to claim 5, further comprising:

detecting whether or not an accessory power source of the vehicle mounting the on-board equipment is powered ON; and

putting the first indicator off if it is detected that the accessory power source is powered ON.

8. The control method of the on-board equipment according to claim 6, further comprising:

detecting whether or not an accessory power source of the vehicle mounting the on-board equipment is powered ON; and

putting the second indicator on if it is detected that the accessory power source is powered ON.

9. The control method of the on-board equipment according to claims 7, further comprising:

counting a period of lighting the first indicator since the accessory power source of the vehicle mounting the on-board equipment is powered OFF; and

putting the first indicator off if the period of lighting or blinking the first indicator exceeds a predetermined value.

10. The control method of the on-board equipment according to claims 8, further comprising:

counting a period of lighting the second indicator since the accessory power source of the vehicle mounting the on-board equipment is powered OFF; and

putting the second indicator off if the period of lighting or blinking the first indicator exceeds a predetermined value.