Vehicle electronic equipment apparatus and its assembling method

• US 6,093,977 A
• Filed: 02/12/1999
• Issued: 07/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Otsubo, Yoshinori, Shouji, Futoshi, Fujita, Nagahisa, Ohmura, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIOS CUEVAS, ROBERTO JOSE
• Application Number:
  US09/242,260
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 455/347, 455/349, 381/86, 369/12
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/81 Fastening of instruments, e.g. to dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0205 for radio sets B60R11/0211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0045 with visible part, e.g. flush mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0047 using hidden fastening means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/027 for Din-sized apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0294 Apparatus with multi-functionalities, e.g. radio and telephone

Abstract

A central control panel (P) and accessory control components (U2, U3) are selected in correspondence with the type of vehicle, and are electrically and mechanically integrally connected to each other together with a signal control component (U1). The control components (U1-U3) are stored in an opening portion (2) of an instrument panel (1), and the opening portion is covered by the central control panel (P). Upon operation of a given switch (7) on the central control panel (P), a switch signal is output to the signal control component (U1), which outputs an activation signal representing the activation condition corresponding to the switch signal to the accessory control components (U2, U3), and the accessory control components (U2, U3) output display control signals according to the activation signal to the central control panel (P).

Claims

1. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus characterized by comprising:

a first control unit which is independently arranged, and executes different control processing operations;

a central control panel which has a console and display unit for said first control unit, and defines a portion of an inner surface of a passenger room; and

a second control unit which is arranged independently of said first control unit and said central control panel, is electrically connected to said central control panel, and executes signal processing with said first control unit via said central control panel, and

in that in a state wherein said first and second control units are electrically connected to said central control panel,

an operation signal according to an operation of the console can be output from said central control panel to said second control unit,

a control signal according to an operation of the console can be output from said second control unit to said first control unit via said central control panel,

an activation signal representing an activation condition according to the control signal can be output from said first control unit to said second control unit via said central control panel, and

said second control unit can output a display control signal according to the activation signal to said central control panel.

2. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said central control panel has a first connection portion to which said first control unit is electrically connected, and a second connection portion to which said second control unit is electrically connected.

3. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the inner surface of the passenger room comprises an instrument panel, which is formed with an opening portion for receiving said first and second control units, and the opening portion is covered by said central control panel while said first and second control units are stored in said instrument panel from the opening portion.

4. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said first and second control units are connected to said central control panel in a subassembly state, and said first and second control units and said central control panel are integrated.

5. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that a plurality of said first control units and said second control unit are mounted, and said second control unit executes a signal communication with said at least one of said plurality of first control unit via a communication line provided to said central control panel.

6. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the inner surface of the passenger room comprises an instrument panel, which is formed with an opening portion for receiving said first and second control units, and the opening portion is covered by said central control panel while said first and second control units are stored in said instrument panel from the opening portion.

7. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of said first control units and said second control unit are mounted, and said second control unit executes a signal communication with at least one of said plurality of said first control unit via a communication line provided to said central control panel.

8. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the display unit is a display for displaying image information, wherein said at least one of said plurality of said first control unit includes a control unit for a navigation apparatus, and image information of said at least one of said plurality of said first control unit for th e navigation apparatus is output to said central control panel without intervention of said second control unit.

9. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the inner surface of the passenger room comprises an instrument panel, which is formed with an opening portion for receiving said at least one of said plurality of said first and second control units, and the opening portion is covered by said central control panel while said at least one of said plurality of said first and second control units are stored in said instrument panel from the opening portion.

10. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the inner surface of the passenger room comprises an instrument panel, which is formed with an opening portion for receiving said at least one of said plurality of said first and second control units, and the opening portion is covered by said central control panel while said at least one of said plurality of said first and second control units are stored in said instrument panel from the opening portion.

11. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner surface of the passenger room comprises an instrument panel, which is formed with an opening portion for receiving said first and second control units, and the opening portion is covered by said central control panel while said first and second control units are stored in said instrument panel from the opening portion.

12. An assembling method for a vehicle electronic equipment apparatus, comprising:

a first step of selecting at least one of a plurality of first control units, which are independent from each other, and execute different control processing operations, in correspondence with a type of vehicle;

a second step of selecting one of central control panels, each of which has a console and display unit for said at least one of a plurality of first control unit, and defines a portion of an inner surface of a passenger room, in correspondence with the type of vehicle; and

a third step of electrically connecting a second control unit, which is arranged independently of said at least one of a plurality of first control unit and said central control panel, and executes signal processing with said first control unit via said at least one of a plurality of central control panel, and said at least one of a plurality of first control unit selected in the second step to said at least one of a plurality of central control panel selected in the first step, and

in that said at least one of a plurality of first and second control units are electrically connected to said central control panel, so as to allow

said central control panel to output an operation signal according to an operation at the console to said second control unit,

said second control unit to output a control signal according to an operation at the console to said at least one of a plurality of first control unit via said central control panel,

at least one of a plurality of said first control unit to output an activation signal representing an activation condition corresponding to the control signal to said second control unit via said central control panel, and

said second control unit to output a display control signal according to the activation signal to said central control panel.

13. An assembling method for a vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a fourth step of integrating said at least one of a plurality of first and second control units, and said central control panel by connecting said first and second control units to a rear surface of said at least one of a plurality of central control panel in a subassembly state, and

in that said first arid second control units, and said at least one of a plurality of central control panel are assembled in a vehicle in the integrated state obtained in the fourth step.

14. An assembling method for a vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the inner surface of the passenger room comprises an instrument panel, which is formed with an opening portion for receiving said at least one of a plurality of first and second control units, and the opening portion is covered by said central control panel while said first and second control units are stored in said at least one of a plurality of instrument panel from the opening portion.