IN-VEHICLE INFORMATION APPARATUS

• US 20120287262A1
• Filed: 01/26/2011
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Inventors: Nakayama, Kiyoshi, Takahashi, Masato
• Granted Patent: US 9,841,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/113
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1442 Emulation of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/186 Displaying information according to relevancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/11 Graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1442 Emulation of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/186 Displaying Information according to relevancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• 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
• 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 information apparatus according to the invention includes a main unit having a display device, and a navigation unit providing a navigation function to the main unit. The navigation unit includes a navigation processing unit which executes a process concerning the navigation function, a sub unit providing an addition function to the navigation unit, and a navigation unit screen generating unit which generates a navigation unit screen for displaying information concerning a function which the navigation unit provides. The main unit includes an operation unit which receives an input for selecting a function from a user, a main unit screen generating unit which generates a main unit screen for displaying information concerning a function which the main unit provides, and a video selector which selects one of the navigation unit screen and the main unit screen and provides the selected one to the display device. The addition function provided by the sub unit is executed by an interruption process, and the video selector selects one of the navigation unit screen and the main unit screen based on the function inputted to the operation unit and the addition function executed by the interruption process.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle information apparatus, comprising:

a main unit having a display device; and

a navigation unit providing a navigation function to the main unit, the navigation unit comprising;

a navigation processing unit which executes a process concerning the navigation function;

a sub unit providing an addition function to the navigation unit; and

a navigation unit screen generating unit which generates a navigation unit screen for displaying information concerning a function which the navigation unit provides,

the main unit comprising;

an operation unit which receives an input for selecting a function from a user,

a main unit screen generating unit which generates a main unit screen for displaying information concerning a function which the main unit provides; and

a video selector which selects one of the navigation unit screen and the main unit screen and provides the selected one to the display device,

wherein;

the addition function provided by the sub unit is executed by an interruption process; and

the video selector selects one of the navigation unit screen and the main unit screen based on the function inputted to the operation unit and the addition function executed by the interruption process.

2. The in-vehicle information apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the navigation unit screen generating unit generates one of a first screen displaying information concerning the navigation function, a second screen displaying information concerning the addition function and a third screen in which the information concerning the addition function is superimposed on the information concerning the navigation function, based on the function inputted to the operation unit and the interruption process.

3. The in-vehicle information apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the navigation unit screen generating unit generates one of the second screen and the third screen based on a screen which the video selector has provided to the display device at a time of occurrence of the interruption process.

4. The in-vehicle information apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein:

software for the navigation function for generating the first screen or the third screen and software for the addition function for generating the second screen are installed in the navigation unit screen generating unit; and

the navigation unit screen generating unit switches between the software for the navigation function and the software for the addition function based on a command from the main unit.

5. The in-vehicle information apparatus according claim 1,

wherein the main unit further comprises a display screen notification unit which notifies the navigation unit of a screen which the video selector has provided to the display device at a time of occurrence of the interruption process.

6. The in-vehicle information apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein:

the main unit further comprises a display screen notification unit which notifies the navigation unit of a screen which the video selector has provided to the display device at a time of occurrence of the interruption process; and

the navigation unit screen generating unit generates one of the second screen and the third screen based on a notification from the display screen notification unit.

7. The in-vehicle information apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the navigation unit further comprises a display screen recognition unit which obtains the notification from the display screen notification unit and recognizes a screen which has been displayed on the display device at a time of occurrence of the interruption process, based on the notification.

8. The in-vehicle information apparatus according to claim 5,

further comprising a display screen notification request unit which requires the notification from the display screen notification unit.

9. The in-vehicle information apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein the display screen notification request unit requires the notification from the display screen notification unit when the interruption process occurs.

10. The in-vehicle information apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein:

the sub unit provides a communication function for communicating with an external device; and

the interruption process is a process which utilizes a function of the external device by using the communication function.

11. The in-vehicle information apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein the sub unit is a Bluetooth unit which provides Bluetooth communication with the external device.

12. The in-vehicle information apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the external device is a mobile phone.

13. The in-vehicle information apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the interruption process is a process for using a handsfree communication function of the mobile phone.

14. The in-vehicle information apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein a main circuit board designed for a general-purpose or a different navigation apparatus is mounted on the navigation unit.