Vehicle and information apparatus of vehicle

• US 7,994,908 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Tonegawa, Hiromi, Ichishi, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shannon; Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/224,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20090184833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 340538-53817, 340988-996, 307 3- 101, 707769-780, 707781-788, 717168-173
• US Class Current: 340/538
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/40 related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An information apparatus of a vehicle that allows the request for the required information to be reliably made is provided. When a vehicle and a charging device are connected to each other for transmission and reception of electric power in order to charge a main battery, a main control ECU receives the contents from a server depending on the contents requesting information stored in a request storing unit and stores the received contents in a contents storing unit. Preferably, prior to receiving the contents, the main control ECU notifies of the content of the contents requesting information to inquire of an operator performing the charging whether the contents are received based on the contents requesting information.

Claims

1. A vehicle having an apparatus using contents and having an electric power transmitting and receiving device transmitting and receiving electric power to and from an external device external to the vehicle, comprising:

a first storage unit storing contents requesting information for said contents used in said apparatus;

a second storage unit storing said contents;

a detecting unit detecting a connected state of said vehicle to said external device; and

a control unit, when receiving an instruction from an occupant to request new one of said contents in a state where said external device and said vehicle are not connected to each other, writing corresponding one of said contents requesting information to said first storage unit, and, when said detecting unit detects the connected state, obtaining said contents to store in said second storage unit from outside the vehicle based on said contents requesting information stored in said first storage unit,

said control unit notifying of a content of said contents requesting information prior to receiving said contents to inquire of an operator connecting said vehicle and said external device whether said contents are intended to be received based on said contents requesting information, and

said control unit receiving said contents when a result of said inquiry indicates permission of reception of said contents, and further inquiring whether said contents requesting information is to be deleted when the result of said inquiry indicates inhibition of reception of said contents.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said vehicle and said external device are connected by a cable for transmitting and receiving electric power, and

said contents are stored in said second storage unit through said cable.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said contents requesting information is transmitted through said cable.

4. A vehicle having an apparatus using contents and having an electric power transmitting and receiving device transmitting and receiving electric power to and from an external device external to the vehicle, comprising:

a first storage unit storing contents requesting information for said contents used in said apparatus;

a second storage unit storing said contents;

a detecting unit detecting a connected state of said vehicle to said external device;

a control unit, when receiving an instruction from an occupant to request new one of said contents in a state where said external device and said vehicle are not connected to each other, writing corresponding one of said contents requesting information to said first storage unit, and, when said detecting unit detects the connected state, obtaining said contents to store in said second storage unit from outside the vehicle based on said contents requesting information stored in said first storage unit; and

a car navigation device,

said control unit, when a state of said car navigation device satisfies a predetermined condition, inquiring of said occupant of said vehicle whether to obtain said contents, and, when receiving an instruction from said occupant to obtain said contents, adding a request for said contents as said contents requesting information to said first storage unit.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

said vehicle and said external device are connected by a cable for transmitting and receiving electric power, and

said contents are stored in said second storage unit through said cable.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said contents requesting information is transmitted through said cable.

7. An information apparatus of a vehicle using contents and mounted in the vehicle having an electric power transmitting and receiving device transmitting and receiving electric power to and from an external device external to the vehicle, comprising:

a first storage unit storing contents requesting information for said contents used in said information apparatus;

a second storage unit storing said contents;

a detecting unit detecting a connected state of said vehicle to said external device; and

a control unit, when receiving an instruction from an occupant to request new one of said contents in a state where said external device and said vehicle are not connected to each other, writing corresponding one of said contents requesting information to said first storage unit, and, when said detecting unit detects the connected state, obtaining said contents to store in said second storage unit from outside the vehicle based on said contents requesting information stored in said first storage unit,

said control unit notifying of a content of said contents requesting information prior to receiving said contents to inquire of an operator connecting said vehicle and said external device whether said contents are intended to be received based on said contents requesting information, and

said control unit receiving said contents when a result of said inquiry indicates permission of reception of said contents, and further inquiring whether said contents requesting information is to be deleted when the result of said inquiry indicates inhibition of reception of said contents.

8. The information apparatus of the vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

said vehicle and said external device are connected by a cable for transmitting and receiving electric power, and

said contents are stored in said second storage unit through said cable.

9. The information apparatus of the vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said contents requesting information is transmitted through said cable.

10. An information apparatus of a vehicle using contents and mounted in the vehicle having an electric power transmitting and receiving device transmitting and receiving electric power to and from an external device external to the vehicle, comprising:

a first storage unit storing contents requesting information for said contents used in said information apparatus;

a second storage unit storing said contents;

a detecting unit detecting a connected state of said vehicle to said external device;

a control unit, when receiving an instruction from an occupant to request new one of said contents in a state where said external device and said vehicle are not connected to each other, writing corresponding one of said contents requesting information to said first storage unit, and, when said detecting unit detects the connected state, obtaining said contents to store in said second storage unit from outside the vehicle based on said contents requesting information stored in said first storage unit; and

a car navigation device,

said control unit, when a state of said car navigation device satisfies a predetermined condition, inquiring of said occupant of said vehicle whether to obtain said contents, and, when receiving an instruction from said occupant to obtain said contents, adding a request for said contents as said contents requesting information to said first storage unit.

11. The information apparatus of the vehicle according to claim 10, wherein

said vehicle and said external device are connected by a cable for transmitting and receiving electric power, and

said contents are stored in said second storage unit through said cable.

12. The information apparatus of the vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said contents requesting information is transmitted through said cable.