Computer system for integrating car electronic devices

• US 7,007,118 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Wu, Ya-Wen, Liu, Wen-Che, Shu, Ping-Hui
• Primary Examiner(s): SHIN, CHRISTOPHER B
• Application Number:
  US10/882,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20040243730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 710105-106, 710/8, 710 1- 2, 710 72- 74, 709/200, 701 1- 2, 701 33- 41, 701/200, 370/401, 370/8, 370/312, 341/173, 455 301- 306, 180167-179, 340/825.49, 340/933, 705 1- 5, 361679-686
• US Class Current: 710/72
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/828 Mounting or fastening exchangeable modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

A computer system for integrating several car electronic devices is proposed. The computer system is installed in a housing, which is of the standard DIN size to be installed in a car dashboard. A computer host is disposed in the housing, and can run at least an operating system or at least a software program. At least an external electronic device is connected to the computer host through a plurality of connection ports disposed on the computer host. A control panel is disposed at the front end of the housing to control the computer host. A display for displaying text or picture information is also connected to the computer host. A touch panel adhering to the display is also provided. Data can be input through contacting the touch panel. The connection ports can connect all electronic devices in a car for integrating and controlling them.

Claims

1. An automotive communication system for integrating car electronic devices, comprising:

a plurality of wireless electronic devices, each including a respective wireless transmission module;

a plurality of wired electronic devices, each including a respective wired connection interface;

a communication host including a wireless network interface and a wired network interface, said wireless network interface being connected to said wireless electronic devices to form a wireless network, said wired network interface being connected to said wired electronic devices to form a wired network, and said communication host being capable of connecting all said wireless electronic devices and said wired electronic devices via said wireless network and said wired network, said communication host being housed in a housing;

an ID code being set for each of said communication host, said wireless electronic devices, and said wired electronic devices for mutual data exchange;

wherein said wired electronic devices comprise an anti-theft device connected to a connection interface of said comunication host;

wherein

(1) the communication host transmits the ID code and a control command to the network interface,

(2) the anti-theft device reads the ID code and the control command,

(3) the anti-theft device performs anti-theft relative actions,

(4) the anti-theft device transmits the the ID code and anti-theft relative communication data to the network,

(5) the communication host reads the ID code and the anti-theft relative communication data, and

(6) the communication host performs data processing for anti-theft relative steps or anti-theft relative data storage;

wherein said wired network interface of said communication host comprises wired host interfaces for connecting to said wired connection interfaces of said wired electronic devices, said wired host interfaces being installed on two areas of the housing of the communication host, one area being on an operation-facing side of the housing, the other area being on an operation-disregarding side of the housing; and

wherein said communication host comprises a user-inputting functional interfaces, one of which is on the one area on the side of operation-facing side of the housing, the other of which is on a display-panel area of one of said wired electronic devices.

2. The communication system for integrating car electronic devices as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wireless transmission module comprises:

a master control unit used to control data exchange between said electronic device and said communication host;

a wireless signal transmitter connected to said master control unit and used to transmit wireless signals to said communication host via said wireless network interface; and

a wireless signal receiver connected to said master control unit and used to receive wireless signals from said communication host via said wireless network interface.

3. The communication system for integrating car electronic devices as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a storage unit, wherein said storage unit is connected to said master control unit and used to store said ID code.

4. The communication system for integrating car electronic devices as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wireless connection interface comprises:

a master control unit used to control data exchange between said electronic device and said communication host;

a wired signal transmitter connected to said master control unit and used to transmit wired signals to said communication host via said wired network interface; and

a wired signal receiver connected to said master control unit and used to receive data from said communication host via said wired network interface.

5. The communication system for integrating car electronic devices as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a storage unit, wherein said storage unit is connected to said master control unit and used to store said ID code.

6. The communication system for integrating car electronic devices as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wireless electronic device is an anti-theft device, a navigation device, a car status diagnosis device, a car backing supplementary device, a mobile communication device or a central air-conditioning device.

7. The communication system for integrating car electronic devices as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wired electronic device comprises an audio device, a navigation device, a car status diagnosis device, a car backing supplementary device, a mobile communication device, or a central air-conditioning device.

8. The communication system for integrating car electronic devices as claimed in claim 7, wherein said audio device includes an AM/FM radio set, a CD player, an amplifier, a sound effect equalizer and at least a speaker.