In-car video system

• US 7,123,131 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Arai, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/959,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20050116879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/525, 340/461, 348/148, 725/75, 725/77
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/195 Blocking or enabling display functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions

Abstract

An in-car video system includes a first display device installed in a front part of a car and having a first light-sensitive element to receive remote control light output from a remote control transmitter, a second display device installed in a location posterior to the first display device and having a second light-sensitive element to receive remote control light output from a remote control transmitter, and a control section for controlling the display on the first and second display devices according to output signals of the first and second light-sensitive elements. The control section includes a display operation detecting unit operable to detect an operating state of the first or second display device according to an output of the first and second light-sensitive elements, and a moving/stationary state detecting unit operable to detect whether the car is moving or stationary. When the moving/stationary state detecting unit detects that the car is moving and the display operation state detecting unit detects the operating state of the first display device, control is effected to restrict the display on the first display device so as not to induce the driver of the car to gaze at the first display device.

Claims

1. A video system for a car, comprising

a first display device installed in a front part of the car and including a first light-sensitive element for receiving light output from a remote control transmitter;

a second display device installed in a location in the car posterior to the first display device and including a second light-sensitive element for receiving light output from a remote control transmitter; and

a control section operable to control displays on the first display device and the second display device according to output signals from the first light-sensitive element and the second light-sensitive element, the control section including

a display operation detecting unit operable to detect an operating state of the first display device and the second display device according to the output signals of the first light-sensitive element and the second light-sensitive element; and

a moving/stationary state detecting unit operable to detect whether the car is in a moving state or a stationary state,

wherein, when the car is in the moving state and the operating state of the first display device is detected, control is effected to restrict the display on the first display device.

2. A video system for a car, comprising

a first display device installed in a front part of the car and including a first light-sensitive element for receiving remote control light output from a remote control transmitter;

a second display device installed in a location in the car posterior to the first display device and including a second light-sensitive element for receiving remote control light output from a remote control transmitter; and

a control section operable to control displays on the first display device and the second display device according to output signals from the first light-sensitive element and the second light-sensitive element, wherein

when a remote control signal is output only from the first light-sensitive element while the car is moving, the control section imposes restrictions on the display on the first display device,

when a remote control signal is output only from the first light-sensitive element while the car is stationary, the control section removes the restrictions on the display on the first display device, and

when a remote control signal is output from the second light-sensitive element, the control section effects control to display a result of signal processing performed in accordance with the remote control signal on the second display device.

3. A video system for a car, comprising

a first light-sensitive element installed in a location anterior to seats in a front part of the car and operable to receive light output from a first remote control transmitter,

a second light-sensitive element installed in a location in the car posterior to the first light-sensitive element and operable to receive light output from a second remote control transmitter;

a first display device installed in a location in the car anterior to the front seats;

a second display device installed in a location in the car posterior to the first display device; and

a control section operable to control displays on the first display device and the second display device according to output signals from the first light-sensitive element and the second light-sensitive element, wherein

when a remote control signal is output only from the first light-sensitive element while the car is moving, the control section imposes restrictions on the display on the first display device,

when a remote control signal is output only from the first light-sensitive element while the car is stationary, the control section removes the restrictions on the display on the first display device, and

when a remote control signal is output from the second light-sensitive element, the control section effects control to display a result of signal processing performed in response to the remote control signal on the second display device.

4. A video system for a car, comprising

a first display device installed in a front part of the car and including a first light-sensitive element for receiving light output from a remote control transmitter;

a second display device installed in a location in the car posterior to the first display device and including a second light-sensitive element for receiving light output from a remote control transmitter; and

a control section operable to control displays on the first display device and the second display device according to output signals of the first light-sensitive element and the second light-sensitive element, the control section including

display operation detecting means for detecting an operating state of the first display device and the second display device according to the output signals of the first light-sensitive element and the second light-sensitive element; and

moving/stationary state detecting means for detecting whether the car is in a moving state or a stationary state,

wherein, when the car is in the moving state and the operating state of the first display device is detected, control is effected to restrict the display on the first display device.

5. A method of controlling a video system in a car having a first display device installed in a front part of the car and including a first light-sensitive element for receiving light output from a remote control transmitter, and a second display device installed in a location in the car posterior to the first display device and including a second light-sensitive element for receiving light output from a remote control transmitter, the method comprising:

detecting output signals from the first light-sensitive element and the second light-sensitive element;

detecting an operating state of the first display device and the second display device according to the output signals from the first light-sensitive element and the second light-sensitive element;

detecting whether the car is in a moving state or a stationary state; and

restricting the display on the first display device when the car is in the moving state and the operating state of the first device is detected.

6. A method of controlling a video system in a car having a first display device installed in a front part of the car and including a first light-sensitive element for receiving light output from a remote control transmitter, and a second display device installed in a location in the car posterior to the first display device and including a second light-sensitive element for receiving light output from a remote control transmitter, the method comprising:

detecting output signals from the first light-sensitive element and the second light-sensitive element;

detecting whether the car is in a moving state or a stationary state;

restricting the display on the first display device when the car is in the moving state and a remote control signal is output only from the first light-sensitive element;

removing the restrictions on the display on the first display device when the car is in the stationary state and a remote control signal is output only from the first light-sensitive element; and

displaying on the second display device a result of signal processing performed in accordance with a remote control signal when the remote control signal is output from the second light-sensitive element.

7. A method of controlling a video system in a car having a first light-sensitive element installed in a location anterior to seats in a front part of the car and operable to receive light output from a first remote control transmitter, a second light-sensitive element installed in a location in the car posterior to the first light-sensitive element and operable to receive light output from a second remote control transmitter, a first display device installed in a location in the car anterior to the front seats, and a second display device installed in a location in the car posterior to the first display device, the method comprising:

detecting output signals from the first light-sensitive element and the second light-sensitive element;

detecting whether the car is in a moving state or a stationary state;

restricting the display on the first display device when the car is in a moving state and a remote control signal is output only from the first light-sensitive element;

removing the restrictions on the display on the first display device when the car is in the stationary state and the remote control signal is output only from the light-sensitive element; and

displaying on the second display device a result of signal processing performed in response to a remote control signal when the remote control signal is output from the second light-sensitive element.