Audio-video output device and car navigation system

• US 6,243,645 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Mamoru, Moteki, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Donnelly, Arthur D.
• Application Number:
  US09/101,267
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/208, 701/212, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 348/564, 348/565, 348/566, 731/78.R
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

To provide an audio-video output device that can simultaneously output video and audio information from multiple input sources and which can constantly display the video or audio information from one of these sources. Input-side selector 55 which can select car navigation video information 2a, TV video information 3a, or video information 4a from a video player, and output-side selectors 56 which supplies the output from said input-side selector 55 and car navigation video information 2a as video display signals to liquid crystal panel 11 which can be split for display, are provided. Consequently, car navigation video information 2a is always displayed on panel 11 even when it is split for display. For audio information, monitoring speaker 19 through which car navigation audio information 2b can be output is provided, in addition to terminal 37 through which the audio for the video being displayed on panel 11 can be output as FM sound. Consequently, car navigation audio information 2b can be monitored regardless of the type of video information being displayed.

Claims

1. An audio-video output device comprising:

a first input terminal for receiving video information and audio information from a first source;

a second input terminal for receiving video information and audio information from a second source;

a video output for outputting video information from at least one of said first and second sources;

a first audio output comprising an FM transmitter for outputting audio information from one of said first and second sources being output by said video output; and

a second audio output for outputting audio information from another of said first and second source.

2. An audio-video output device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first audio selector for selecting audio information from said one of said first and second sources being output by said video output, and

a second audio selector for selecting one of audio information selected by said first audio selector and audio information from said first source and for supplying said selected one audio information to said second audio output.

3. An audio-video output device according to claim 2 wherein

said video output comprises a multi-screen display for displaying video information from said first and second sources, and further comprising

a third audio selector for selecting audio information from one of said first and second sources being displayed in a predetermined area of said multi-screen display, and for supplying said selected audio information to said first audio output and said second audio selector.

4. An audio-video output device according to claim 1, wherein

said first source comprises a car navigation system,

said video output comprises a liquid crystal display device, and

said second audio output comprises a speaker mounted near said liquid crystal display device.

13. An audio-video output device according to claim 1, further comprising

a car navigation information supply device for supplying video information and audio information for car navigation and wherein said first source comprises said car navigation information supply device.

14. An audio-video output device according to claim 2, wherein

said first source comprises a car navigation system,

said video output comprises a liquid crystal display device,

said first audio output comprises an FM transmitter, and

said second audio output comprises a speaker mounted near said liquid crystal display device.

15. An audio-video output device according to claim 3, wherein

said first source comprises a car navigation system,

said video output comprises a liquid crystal display device,

said first audio output comprises an FM transmitter, and

said second audio output comprises a speaker mounted near said liquid crystal display device.

5. An audio-video output device comprising:

a first input terminal for receiving video information and audio information from a first source;

a second input terminal for receiving video information and audio information from a second source;

a third input terminal for receiving video information and audio information from a third source;

a video output for outputting video information from at least one of said first, second and third sources;

a first audio output for outputting audio information from one said first, second and third sources being output by said video output; and

a second audio output for outputting audio information exclusively from said first source

wherein said video output comprises a display for displaying, in a single-screen display mode, video information from one of said first, second and third sources, and, in a multi-screen display mode, for displaying video information from said first source on a first portion of said display, and for displaying video information from at least one of said second and third sources on a second portion of said display.

6. An audio-video output device according to claim 5, further comprising a first video selector for selecting video information from at least one of said first, second and third sources and for supplying said selected video information to said video output;

and

a second video selector for selecting video information from said first source in said multi-screen display mode and to for supplying said video information to said video output, and wherein

said first video selector selects video information from one of said second and third sources in said multi-screen display mode to supply said video information to said video output.

7. An audio-video output device according to claim 5 wherein said display comprises a display screen having a 9:

16 vertical-to-horizontal ratio, and operable in one mode wherein said display screen is split in the middle and another mode wherein said display screen is split such that the vertical-to-horizontal ratio of one portion of the display screen is 3;

4.

8. An audio-video output device according to claim 5, comprising a first audio selector for selecting audio information from said one of said first, second and third sources being output by said video output, and

a second audio selector for selecting one of audio information selected by said first audio selector and audio information from said first source and for supplying said selected one audio information to said second audio output.

9. An audio-video output device according to claim 8, further comprising a third audio selector for selecting audio information from a source being displayed in a predetermined area of said display, and for supplying said audio information to said first audio output and said second audio selector in said multi-screen display mode.

10. An audio-video output device according to claim 9 wherein said second audio output comprises a speaker mounted near said video output.

11. An audio-video output device according to claim 9, wherein in said multi-screen display mode, said display is split into at least said first and second portions for display, and further comprising a controller for swapping video information from sources displayed on said first and second portions, and wherein

said third audio selector selects audio information from a source being displayed in one of said first and second portions.

12. An audio-video output device according to claim 5, wherein said first source comprises a car navigation system,

said second source comprises a TV tuner,

said video output comprises a liquid crystal display device, and wherein

said first audio output comprises an FM transmitter.

16. An audio-video output device according to claim 5, wherein

said first source comprises a car navigation system,

said second source comprises a TV tuner,

said video output comprises a liquid crystal display device, and wherein

said first audio output comprises an FM tuner.

17. An audio-video output device according to claim 5, further comprising

a car navigation information supply device for supplying video information and audio information for car navigation and wherein said first source comprises said car navigation information supply device.

18. An audio-video output device according to claim 5, further comprising

a car navigation information supply device for supplying video information and audio information for car navigation and wherein said first source comprises said car navigation information supply device.

19. An audio-video output device according to claim 8, further comprising

a car navigation information supply device for supplying video information and audio information for car navigation and wherein said first source comprises said car navigation information supply device.

20. An audio-video output device comprising:

a video connection terminal;

an audio connection terminal;

a first input terminal for receiving a first video signal and a first audio signal from a first source, said first input terminal having a first video line for carrying said first video signal and having a first audio line for carrying said first audio signal;

a second input terminal for receiving a second video signal and a second audio signal from a second source, said second input terminal having a second video line for carrying said second video signal and having a second audio line for carrying said second audio signal;

a first video selector having a first input node electrically coupled to said first video line and having a second input node electrically coupled to said second video line, said first video selector having an intermediate video output node and being effective for selectively coupling of one of its first and second input nodes to its intermediate video output node;

a second video selector having a first input node electrically coupled to said first video line via a third video line bypassing said first video selector and having a second input node electrically coupled to said intermediate video output node of said first video selector, said second video selector selectively applying at least one of its first and second input nodes to said video connection terminal;

a first audio selector having a first input node electrically coupled to said first audio line and having a second input node electrically coupled to said second audio line, said first audio selector having an intermediate audio output node and selectively coupling of one of its first and second input nodes to its intermediate audio output node; and

a second audio selector having a first input node electrically coupled to said first audio line via a third audio line bypassing the first audio selector and having a second input node electrically coupled to said intermediate audio output node of said first audio selector, said second audio selector selectively coupling one of its first and second input nodes to said audio connection terminal.

21. The audio-video output device of claim 20 wherein said second video selector is further effective for establishing a dual-screen mode in which said second video selector applies a split screen image to said video connection terminal, said split screen image including the image of said first video line in one screen and the image of said intermediate video output node in a second screen.

22. The audio-video output device of claim 20 wherein said second video selector includes a first image output node coupled to said video connection terminal and a second image output node coupled to said video connection terminal, said second video selector being effective for selectively coupling its second input node to either of said first and second image output nodes, and effective for selectively coupling its first input node to only said second image output node;

said second video selector establishing a dual-screen mode by coupling its first input node to its second image output node and coupling its second input node to its first image output node.

23. The audio-video output device of claim 21, wherein said first source comprises a car navigation system for use in a car having at least a park operation mode and a drive operation mode, said second video selector being effective for establishing said dual-screen mode in response to said drive operation mode.

24. The audio-video output device of claim 20, wherein said first source comprises a car navigation system for use in a car having at least a park operation mode and a drive operation mode, said second video selector being effective for applying its first input node to said video connection terminal in response to said car being in said drive operation mode.

25. The audio-video output device of claim 23 wherein said park and drive operation modes are respectively determined by the engaging and disengaging of a parking brake in said car.

26. The audio-video output device of claim 20 further having a third audio selector having a first input node electrically coupled to said first audio line via a fourth audio line bypassing said first and second audio selector and having a second input node electrically coupled to the audio output of said second audio selector, said third audio selector selectively coupling said first audio line to said audio connection terminal in response to a manual override switch.

27. The audio-video output device of claim 26 wherein the audio output of said second audio selector is further coupled to an FM transmitter.

28. The audio-video output device of claim 20, further comprising:

a video display electrically coupled to said video connection terminal, and

a speaker electrically coupled to said audio connection terminal.

29. The audio-video output device of claim 20, further comprising:

a video output terminal electrically coupled to said intermediate video output of said first video selector, and

an audio output terminal electrically coupled to said intermediate audio output node of said first audio selector.