In-vehicle electronic apparatus and in-vehicle electronic system

• US 7,765,046 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Takimoto, Tatsuhiko, Koutari, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Figueroa; Jaime
• Application Number:
  US11/646,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20080158019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 701/100, 701/200, 701/208, 701/215, 701/1, 701/36, 340/995.26, 340/995.1, 710/303, 381/86, 381/87, 381/104, 381/334
• US Class Current: 701/36
• 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 in-vehicle electronic apparatus, to which a portable navigation apparatus is attachable, and which can output audio information to multiple audio outputting portions, and the in-vehicle electronic apparatus includes a receiver receiving as audio information, first audio information being navigation audio information output by the portable navigation apparatus and second audio information through the portable navigation apparatus, and an audio selector outputting the first audio information to at least one of the multiple audio outputting portions, when the audio information is the first audio information, and outputting the second audio information to the multiple audio outputting portions, when the audio information is the second audio information.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle electronic apparatus, to which a portable navigation apparatus is attachable, and which outputs audio information to multiple audio outputting portions, the in-vehicle electronic apparatus comprising:

a receiver receiving as audio information, first audio information being navigation audio information output by the portable navigation apparatus and second audio information being inputted into the portable navigation apparatus, passing through the portable navigation apparatus and being outputted by the portable navigation apparatus;

an audio selector outputting the first audio information to a part of the multiple audio outputting portions, in the case that the audio information is the first audio information, and outputting the second audio information to all of the multiple audio outputting portions, in the case that the audio information is the second audio information;

a controller controlling the audio selector on the basis of audio identification information representing whether the audio information output from the portable navigation apparatus is the first audio information or the second audio information and being received from the portable navigation apparatus, in the case that the portable navigation apparatus is attached; and

a single connecting line receiving the first audio information and the second audio information from the portable naviagation apparatus in the case that the portable navigation apparatus is attached.

2. The in-vehicle electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the part of the multiple audio outputting portions is an audio outputting portion outputting audio to a driver'"'"'s seat.

3. The in-vehicle electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio selector keeps a volume level constant, in the case that the audio information is the first audio information, and the audio selector variably controls the volume level, in the case that the audio information is the second audio information.

4. The in-vehicle electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second audio information is the audio information input into the portable navigation apparatus through a USB connector.

5. The in-vehicle electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio selector selects whether the audio information is to be output to said all of the multiple audio outputting portions or to the part of the multiple audio outputting portions, on the basis of the audio identification information.

6. The in-vehicle electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio selector selects whether a volume level is to be variably controlled or to be kept constant, on the basis of audio identification information representing whether the audio information output from the portable navigation apparatus is the first audio information or the second audio information.

7. The in-vehicle electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first selector connected to a first line branched from a connecting line serving as the receiver, not outputting the audio information to be input from the first line in the case that the audio information is the first audio information, and outputting the audio information to be input from the first line to all the audio outputting portions in the case that the audio information is the second audio information; and

a second selector connected to a second line branched from the connecting line, outputting the audio information to be input from the second line in the case that the audio information is the first audio information, and outputting the audio information to be output from the first selector to the part of the multiple audio outputting portions in the case that the audio information is the second audio information.

8. An in-vehicle electronic system provided with a portable navigation apparatus and an in-vehicle electronic apparatus, to which the portable navigation apparatus is attachable, and which outputs audio information to multiple audio outputting portions, the in-vehicle electronic system comprising:

a receiver provided in the in-vehicle electronic apparatus and receiving as audio information, first audio information being navigation audio information output by the portable navigation apparatus and second audio information being inputted into the portable navigation apparatus, passing through the portable navigation apparatus and being outputted by the portable navigation apparatus;

an audio selector provided in the in-vehicle electronic apparatus and outputting the first audio information to a part of the multiple audio outputting portions, in the case that the audio information is the first audio information, and outputting the second audio information to all of the multiple audio outputting portions, in the case that the audio information is the second audio information;

a controller controlling the audio selector on the basis of audio identification information representing whether the audio information output from the portable navigation apparatus is the first audio information or the second audio information and being received from the portable navigation apparatus, in the case that the portable navigation apparatus is attached; and

a single connecting line receiving the first audio information and the second audio information from the portable navigation apparatus in the case that the portable navigation apparatus is attached.