Onboard apparatus, navigation system, and method for setting display screen

• US 8,498,754 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2004
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Shinichi, Arie, Takumi, Amano, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Application Number:
  US10/822,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20040254690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,400 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/1, 701/400, 701/33, 342/357.09, 702/183, 340/500, 439/620.21
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

To use the same onboard apparatus and navigation system in many kinds of vehicles. A table in which manufacturers and vehicle types are connected with designs and functions has been previously stored in a navigation system module 21. The navigation system module 21 itself sends the center controller 11 a query about vehicle information (the country that manufactured, manufacturer, vehicle type, using country, manufacturing number), recognizes the vehicle information supplied from the center controller 11, and automatically sets the screen design, function, etc., suitable to the vehicle on which the onboard apparatus is mounted.

Claims

1. An onboard apparatus mounted on a vehicle, comprising:

getting means for automatically getting vehicle model information from the vehicle by determining a shape of a connector used to attach the onboard apparatus to the vehicle, the vehicle model information being peculiar to the vehicle;

storage means for storing the vehicle model information and design information, the design information comprising at least one of a layout of a screen, a shape of operating keys, and a color pattern;

recognition means for recognizing the vehicle model, based on the vehicle information obtained by the getting means;

design setting means for setting the design information, the setting of the design information being at least partially based on the vehicle model information; and

display means for displaying the design information set by the design setting means.

2. The onboard apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle model information comprises at least one of a manufacturer of the vehicle, a country that manufactured the vehicle, a using country of the vehicle, and a manufacturing number of the vehicle.

3. The onboard apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage means stores function setting information.

4. The onboard apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the function setting information comprises at least one of a navigation function, a mileage measuring function, and a night-vision function.

5. An onboard apparatus mounted on a vehicle, comprising:

getting means for automatically getting vehicle model information from the vehicle by determining a formed position of a connector used to attach the onboard apparatus to the vehicle, the vehicle model information being peculiar to the vehicle;

storage means for storing the vehicle model information and design information, the design information comprising at least one of a layout of a screen, a shape of operating keys, and a color pattern;

recognition means for recognizing the vehicle model, based on the vehicle information obtained by the getting means;

design setting means for setting the design information, the setting of the design information being at least partially based on the vehicle model information; and

display means for displaying the design information set by the design setting means.

6. The onboard apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said vehicle model information comprises at least one of a manufacturer of the vehicle, a country that manufactured the vehicle, a using country of the vehicle, and a manufacturing number of the vehicle.

7. The onboard apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the storage means stores function setting information.

8. The onboard apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the function setting information comprises at least one of a navigation function, a mileage measuring function, and a night-vision function.