Power supply control apparatus of navigation system

• US 8,260,541 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2010
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Motohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Li, Ce
• Application Number:
  US12/795,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20100324809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 701/400, 701/70, 701/71, 701/82, 340/988, 340/995.1, 340/425.5, 340/539.3, 361/679.21
• US Class Current: 701/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A power supply control apparatus of a navigation system includes a power switch for a user to turn a display screen of the navigation system on or off; a navigation power switching unit to turn an internal function of the navigation system on or off by a power supply connection; a navigation information unnecessary state detecting unit to detect a navigation information unnecessary state where a user does not need navigation information; and a power supply control unit to turn the navigation power switching unit off when the navigation information unnecessary state detecting unit detects the navigation information unnecessary state.

Claims

1. A power supply control apparatus of a navigation system comprising:

a power switch for a user to turn a display screen of the navigation system on or off;

a navigation power switching unit to turn an internal function of the navigation system on or off by a power supply connection;

a navigation information unnecessary state detecting unit to detect a navigation information unnecessary state where a user does not need navigation information; and

a power supply control unit to turn the navigation power switching unit off when the navigation information unnecessary state detecting unit detects the navigation information unnecessary state, if the power switch for a user is turned off and the navigation power switching unit is turned on,

wherein the navigation information unnecessary state detecting unit includes an engine hood sensor, and

the navigation information unnecessary state includes a state where the engine hood sensor detects that the engine hood is open.

2. The power supply control apparatus of the navigation system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the power supply control unit turns the navigation power switching unit on when the engine hood sensor detects that the engine hood is closed after turning the navigation power switching unit off.

3. The power supply control apparatus of the navigation system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the navigation information unnecessary state detecting unit includes a vehicle stability control operation signal detecting unit to detect an operation signal indicating a vehicle stability control to ensure a vehicle stability by controlling a hydraulic pressure of a brake and an engine output is working, and

the navigation information unnecessary state is where the vehicle stability control operation signal detecting unit continues to detect the operation signal for more than or equal to a predetermined time.

4. The power supply control apparatus of the navigation system as claimed in claim 3,

wherein the power supply control unit turns the navigation power switching unit on when the power supply switch for a user is turned on after turning the navigation power switching unit off.

5. The power supply control apparatus of the navigation system as claimed in claim 2,

wherein the navigation information unnecessary state detecting unit includes a vehicle stability control operation signal detecting unit to detect an operation signal indicating a vehicle stability control to ensure a vehicle stability by controlling a hydraulic pressure of a brake and an engine output is working, and

the navigation information unnecessary state is where the vehicle stability control operation signal detecting unit continues to detect the operation signal for more than or equal to a predetermined time.

6. The power supply control apparatus of the navigation system as claimed in claim 5,

wherein the power supply control unit turns the navigation power switching unit on when the power supply switch for a user is turned on after turning the navigation power switching unit off.

7. The power supply control apparatus of the navigation system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a whole power switching unit to turn off the power supply connection to the display screen and the internal function when the power switch for a user is turned off for more than or equal to a predetermined time, if the power switch for a user is turned on.

8. The power supply control apparatus of the navigation system as claimed in claim 7,

wherein the power supply control unit turns the whole power switching unit on when the power switch for a user is turned on after the whole power switching unit turns the power supply connection off.

9. The power supply control apparatus of the navigation system as claimed in claim 7,

wherein the whole power switching unit is connected in series to the navigation power switching unit.

10. The power supply control apparatus of the navigation system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a power switching unit for a user linked to the power switch for a user and to supply electric power for the navigation system in accordance with the power switch for a user,

wherein the navigation power switching unit is connected in parallel to the power switching unit for a user.