Device for managing power supply of a motor vehicle multimedia system

• US 7,908,054 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Korzin, Stephane
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kim T
• Application Number:
  US11/576,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20070288102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,987 Days
• Field of Search: 701/24, 701 32- 33, 701 35- 36, 701/99, 701/115, 713/300, 713/320, 713/324
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for managing power supply of a motor vehicle multimedia system, comprising a number of modules each having at least one function requiring electrical power supply, in particular in standby mode, such that it consists of a module receiving in input: a permanent electrical power supply from the vehicle battery; wake-up/sleep data from the vehicle control computer, based on the contact key in particular and from control means particular to the multimedia system; optionally wake-up and/or sleep control signals from certain modules belonging to the multimedia system itself, for: delivering to said multimedia system modules wake-up/sleep and/or switched power supply signals; saving data in the volatile storage means; keeping time through the metering means.

Claims

1. A device for managing power supply for a multimedia system of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a number of functional modules, each fulfilling at least one function requiring an electrical power supply, including a management module including a microprocessor, a storage unit, and a counter, and the management module receiving as input;

a permanent electrical power supply from an electric vehicle battery;

wake-up/sleep information from a vehicle control computer, based on an ignition key; and

wake-up/sleep information from a control specific to the multimedia system;

wherein the management module is configured to;

deliver at least one wake-up/sleep or switched power supply signal to the modules of the multimedia system;

save information from the modules of the multimedia system in the storage unit; and

keep time using the counter.

2. The management device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the management module further receives as input at least one wake-up or sleep control signal from certain modules specific to the multimedia system.

3. The management device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the management module is a module of the multimedia system, receiving from a vehicle central unit a permanent power supply signal and wake-up/sleep signals from the vehicle and information passing through the vehicle network, and receiving information via a control specific to the multimedia system including at least one of steering column controls or ON/OFF button of the system, and at least one of a wake-up or sleep control signal from certain modules specific to the multimedia system, to deliver wake-up/sleep signals to other modules of the multimedia system and control their electrical power supply by switched power supply signals.

4. The management device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the management module is a vehicle navigation module, which is linked to the ON/OFF button of a front part of the multimedia system and to the steering column controls, to a wake-up/sleep control for certain modules specific to the multimedia system, including at least one of an emergency call button or an ON/OFF button of a rear part of the multimedia system, intended to send the management module wake-up or sleep commands, to control operation and power supply of the other modules of the system.

5. The management device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the management module is a central unit of the vehicle, which manages locking of the vehicle, opening of doors, waking-up and putting to sleep of the functional modules of the vehicle, operation of fuses and of power supply relays, which are powered by the vehicle battery, which is linked to steering column controls and ON/OFF buttons of front and rear parts of the multimedia system in the vehicle and that handles time computation, to directly and individually control and supply power to each module of the multimedia system including at least one of a car radio, time and outside temperature display, or a DVD player located in the rear part.

6. The management device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the management module is a module of the multimedia system, receiving from a vehicle central unit a permanent power supply signal and wake-up/sleep signals from the vehicle and information passing through a vehicle network, and receiving information via a control specific to the multimedia system including at least one of a steering column controls or ON/OFF button of the system, to deliver wake-up/sleep signals to other modules of the multimedia system and control their electrical power supply by switched power supply signals.

7. The management device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the management module is a car radio that is supplied with power by the vehicle battery, manages time computation, and includes a volatile memory to save information originating from a time and outside temperature display and from a compact disk changer to control and supply power to other modules including at least one of the outside temperature display or the compact disk changer.

8. The management device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the management module is a time and outside temperature display that is supplied with power by the vehicle battery, manages time computation, and includes a memory to save information originating from a car radio and from a compact disk changer.

9. A device for managing power supply for a multimedia system of a motor vehicle, comprising:

front and rear parts corresponding respectively to functions accessible from a front and from a rear of the vehicle; and

a number of functional modules, including two management modules, each of the two management modules belonging to one of the parts of the multimedia system and each comprising a microprocessor, storage, and counter, and each of the two management modules receiving as input;

a permanent electrical power supply from an electric vehicle battery;

wake-up/sleep information from a vehicle central unit, based on an ignition key;

wake-up/sleep information from a control specific to the corresponding part of the multimedia system;

wherein each of the two management modules is configured to;

deliver at least one wake-up/sleep or switched power supply signal to the modules of the corresponding part of the multimedia system;

save information from the modules of the multimedia system in the storage;

keep time using the counter.

10. The management device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the two management modules are a navigation module that manages the power supply and operation of the modules of the front part of the multimedia system, which receives a permanent electrical signal and wake-up/sleep signals from the vehicle central unit and is connected to wake-up/sleep control signals for the multimedia system, and a DVD player that manages the power supply and operation of the modules of the rear part of the multimedia system, which also receives a permanent electrical signal from the vehicle battery and wake-up/sleep signals from an operation button of the rear part of the multimedia system of the vehicle.

11. The management device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the two management modules are a display and a telematics unit of the vehicle multimedia system, permanently supplied with power by a signal from the vehicle central unit, the display also receiving a wake-up/sleep signal from the telematics unit and in turn sending a wake-up/sleep signal to other modules, including the telematics unit, which is periodically woken up when the vehicle is asleep, to check whether a remote server is asking the telematics unit to wake up the vehicle.