Notification device for vehicle

Abstract

To provide a notification device for a vehicle that can notify a user of a place where a portable terminal is placed in a cabin.SOLUTION: A notification device 100 for a vehicle includes a top surface transmission part 10 and a display part 21. The top surface transmission part 10 is provided in a dashboard 1 of a vehicle, can place a portable terminal 2 thereon, and has light permeability. The display part 21 is provided on an inside of the dashboard 1 and on a back side of the top surface transmission part 10 and emits light toward the top surface transmission part 10 to perform predetermined display on the top surface transmission part 10. The notification device 100 for a vehicle notifies an occupant of the vehicle of that the portable terminal 2 can be placed on the top surface transmission part 10 with the predetermined display.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle alarm device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a device that operates a display to notify a user (passenger of a vehicle) that a mobile terminal has been left in a predetermined location in the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-157533 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Although the device described in Patent Document 1 can prevent a mobile terminal from being left behind inside a vehicle, there is a problem in that passengers are not sure where in the vehicle cabin it is appropriate to place a mobile terminal such as a smartphone.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has an object to provide a vehicle notification device that can notify a user of the location of a mobile terminal inside a vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle alarm device according to the present disclosure includes: a top surface transparent portion that is provided on a dashboard of a vehicle, on which a mobile terminal can be placed, and that has optical transparency; a display unit that is provided inside the dashboard and behind the top surface transmission unit, and that emits light toward the top surface transmission unit to display a predetermined message on the top surface transmission unit, The predetermined display notifies a passenger of the vehicle that the mobile terminal can be placed on the top surface transparent portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to notify the location of a mobile terminal inside a vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vehicle notification device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing information displayed on an image display according to a modified example of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle alarm device 100 according to this embodiment is configured in a vehicle dashboard 1 (including an instrument panel), and includes a top surface transparent portion 10 on which a mobile terminal 2 can be placed, a display device 20, and an image display 30.

[0011] In the following, the terms "up" (the direction indicated by U in the figure) and "down" (the direction indicated by D in the figure) are used according to the up-down direction of the vehicle. Specifically, the up-down direction of the vehicle refers to the up-down direction when the vehicle is placed on a flat surface.

[0012] The dashboard 1 comprises, from bottom to top, a steering installation section 1a, a first top surface section 1b, a facing section 1c facing the vehicle occupants (mainly the driver and front passenger), and a second top surface section 1d adjacent to the vehicle's windshield 3. The steering installation section 1a is a section where a steering shaft 4a that supports the vehicle's steering wheel 4 is installed. The first top surface section 1b and the second top surface section 1d have surfaces that face generally upward, but may be inclined as long as an object can be placed on the surfaces.

[0013] The portable terminal 2 is brought into the vehicle by a passenger and is, for example, a smartphone. The portable terminal 2 is not limited to a smartphone, but may also be a tablet terminal, a smart watch, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), etc. The portable terminal 2 of this embodiment is capable of known short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and is a device that supports contactless charging.

[0014] The top surface transmitting portion 10 is a light-transmitting member provided on the first top surface 1b of the dashboard 1. The top surface transmitting portion 10 is configured by forming a light-transmitting printed layer on a transparent plate made of resin such as polycarbonate (PC) or acrylic (PMMA: Poly Methyl Methacrylate). The printed layer is formed on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the transparent plate. The top surface transmitting portion 10 is configured to express the texture and pattern of the dashboard 1 by at least one of the processing of the transparent plate and the shape of the printed layer. In this way, the top surface transmitting portion 10 is configured integrally with the first top surface 1b of the dashboard 1.

[0015] The display device 20 is provided inside the dashboard 1 on the back (underside) of the transparent top surface 10, and includes a display unit 21, a circuit board 22, a non-contact charging device 23, a movement prevention magnet 24, and a housing 25 that houses these components. The housing 25 is fixed to the dashboard 1 by a known fixing method.

[0016] The display unit 21 emits light toward the top transmissive portion 10 to provide a predetermined display on the top transmissive portion 10. Specifically, the display unit 21 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, or the like, and is capable of displaying images. For example, the upper surface of the display unit 21 is fixed to the lower surface of the top transmissive portion 10 by optical bonding. This provides a transparent layer 21a between the display unit 21 and the top transmissive portion 10.

[0017] It should be noted that the length over which the top surface transmission portion 10 and the corresponding display portion 21 are provided in the left-right direction of the vehicle is arbitrary in the dashboard 1. For example, the top surface transmission portion 10 and the corresponding display portion 21 may be provided in a pillar-to-pillar manner across substantially the entire width of the dashboard 1. Furthermore, the display portion 21 is not limited to being a single unit, and multiple display portions 21 may be arranged in the vehicle width direction.

[0018] The circuit board 22 is a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) that is electrically connected to the display unit 21. A control unit made up of a microcontroller that controls the operation of the display unit 21 is mounted (provided) on the circuit board 22.

[0019] The display unit 21, under the control of the control unit, displays an image of an icon imitating the portable terminal 2, an image showing the outer shape of the portable terminal 2, etc. In other words, the image is a notification image for notifying the passenger that the portable terminal 2 can be placed on the top surface transmission unit 10. In this way, the display unit 21 can perform a predetermined display on the top surface transmission unit 10 to notify the passenger that the portable terminal 2 can be placed on the top surface transmission unit 10 by emitting light representing the notification image toward the top surface transmission unit 10.

[0020] Here, the top surface transmission part 10 is provided at a position lower than the upper end A1 of the steering wheel 4. This makes it difficult for the mobile terminal 2 to get into the field of view of the driver while driving the vehicle, thereby reducing annoyance to the driver.

[0021] Moreover, the top surface transmission portion 10 is provided at a position higher than the intersection position A2 of the steering shaft 4a and the dashboard 1 (specifically, the steering installation portion 1a). This positional condition makes it easy for a passenger to place the mobile terminal 2 on the top surface transmission portion 10.

[0022] The contactless charging device 23 is provided inside the dashboard 1 on the back (underside) of the transparent top portion 10 and is capable of charging the battery 2a of the portable terminal 2 placed on the transparent top portion 10. The contactless charging device 23 may have any known configuration. For example, the contactless charging device 23 includes a power transmission coil that generates a magnetic field when an AC voltage is applied. When the portable terminal 2 is brought close to the contactless charging device 23, an induced electromotive force is generated in a power reception coil incorporated in the portable terminal 2, thereby charging the battery 2a. The contactless charging device 23 is electrically connected to the circuit board 22, and a control unit mounted on the circuit board 22 can determine whether charging has been started by the contactless charging device 23. The contactless charging device 23 may have any configuration and arrangement as long as it can charge the battery 2a of the portable terminal 2 placed on the transparent top portion 10.

[0023] In this way, by placing the non-contact charging device 23 on the back side of the top surface transparent portion 10, it is no longer necessary to fix the mobile terminal 2 using a separate part such as a holder, and the location where the mobile terminal 2 should be placed for charging becomes clear.

[0024] The movement prevention magnet 24 is provided inside the dashboard 1 on the back side (underside) of the top surface transmission part 10, and prevents movement of the mobile terminal 2 placed on the top surface transmission part 10. The type and arrangement of the movement prevention magnet 24 are arbitrary as long as it can prevent movement of the mobile terminal 2 placed on the top surface transmission part 10.

[0025] The image display 30 is configured separately from the display unit 21 and the display device 20, and is composed of an LCD, an organic EL display, or the like, and is capable of displaying images. For example, the image display 30 is provided on the rear side of the facing portion 1c of the dashboard 1. In this case, a light-transmitting cover 30a is provided on the facing portion 1c. The image displayed by the image display 30 is visible to the passenger through the cover 30a.

[0026] The image display 30 communicates with devices such as the vehicle's ECU (Electronic Control Unit) under the control of a control board (not shown), acquires various information related to the vehicle, and can display images showing the acquired information. A control means consisting of a microcontroller that controls the operation of the image display 30 is mounted (provided) on the control board.

[0027] Here, at least one of the display device 20 and the image display 30 can perform short-distance wireless communication with the portable terminal 2 and display information to be displayed on the portable terminal 2. In particular, in this embodiment, at least one of the display device 20 and the image display 30 can display an image indicating the remaining charge of the battery 2a of the portable terminal 2. This makes it easy for the passenger to decide whether to place the portable terminal 2 on the top surface transmission portion 10 to charge it.

[0028] Such short-range wireless communication can be realized by (i) a configuration in which a module for short-range wireless communication is provided on at least one of the circuit board 22 of the display device 20 and the control board of the image display 30, or (ii) a configuration in which a module for short-range wireless communication is provided on one of the circuit board 22 of the display device 20 and the control board of the image display 30, and the circuit board 22 and the control board are electrically connected. In other words, at least one of the circuit board 22 and the control board is connected by wireless communication to the mobile terminal 2 whose battery 2a is in an uncharged state.

[0029] The location of the image display 30 in the vehicle interior is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 1 and can be changed as desired. For example, the image display 30 may be part of a combination meter or a CID (Center Information Display).

[0030] Furthermore, when the portable terminal 2 is placed on the top surface transmission portion 10, the display device 20 causes the display unit 21 to illuminate an area where the portable terminal 2 can be placed, and the display unit 21 may change the light emission color, pattern blinking speed, etc. according to the remaining charge of the battery 2a of the portable terminal 2 with which communication is being carried out. Furthermore, the control unit of the display device 20 may cause the display unit 21 to perform ambient display or change the display pattern according to the charge level of the battery 2a not only when charging by the non-contact charging device 23 starts but also during charging by the non-contact charging device 23. Furthermore, a touch sensor may be provided near the display unit 21 of the display device 20 or a touch panel may be provided on the display device 20 to enable the passenger to perform input operations and turn on / off at least a part of the display on the display unit 21.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and drawings, and modifications (including the omission of components) can be made as appropriate within the scope of the present invention.

[0032] (Variation) In the above, an example has been shown in which the top surface transmission part 10 is provided on the first top surface part 1b, but the top surface transmission part 10 may be provided on the second top surface part 1d, and the display device 20 may be provided corresponding to this.

[0033] In the above, an example has been shown in which the display unit 21 is configured as a display that displays an image, but the display unit 21 may also be a light source such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) provided on the back side of the top transmissive portion 10. In this case, an icon resembling the mobile terminal 2, the outer shape of the mobile terminal 2, or the like may be represented by providing a plurality of printed layers with different light transmittances on the top transmissive portion 10. Even when this configuration is adopted, the display unit 21 is provided inside the dashboard 1 on the back side of the top transmissive portion 10, and can perform a predetermined display on the top transmissive portion 10 by emitting light toward the top transmissive portion 10.

[0034] As another example of a modified example, the control means may control the image display 30 to display information urging the user to charge the battery 2a when the remaining charge of the battery 2a of the portable terminal 2 is less than a predetermined threshold (e.g., 10%). For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the remaining charge of the battery 2a is less than 10%, the image display 30 can display a message (image) such as "Please charge the battery of the portable terminal." This configuration can notify the passenger that the remaining battery charge of the portable terminal is low. This message can be seen from the passenger's side through the cover 30a. Note that the information urging the user to charge the battery 2a may be displayed on the display unit 21 instead of the image display 30. In this case, when the remaining charge of the battery 2a of the portable terminal 2 is less than a predetermined threshold, the control unit executes a process to display information urging the user to charge the battery 2a on the display unit 21, and the message is displayed on the display unit 21.

[0035] Another example of the modified example will be described below. Here, the navigation route guidance information set in the mobile terminal 2 is linked with the display device 20 and the image display 30, and when the vehicle's traveling time (the time the passengers stay in the vehicle) is expected to be relatively long, the mobile terminal 2 is placed in the top surface transmission unit 10 before the remaining battery power of the mobile terminal 2 is completely depleted. In this case, the mobile terminal control unit (not shown) provided in the mobile terminal 2 is assumed to have, as its functional configuration, a situation estimation means, a remaining power detection means, and a notification means.

[0036] The situation estimation means estimates a planned usage situation of the portable terminal 2. An example of a planned usage situation is when a vehicle occupant sits in the driver's seat of the vehicle and operates the portable terminal 2 while holding it to obtain the route guidance information from the current location to the destination. The remaining charge detection means detects the remaining charge of the battery 2a of the portable terminal 2. The notification means compares a predicted value of the vehicle traveling time calculated based on the route guidance information (hereinafter referred to as a first predicted value) with a predicted value of the available time of the portable terminal 2 calculated based on the remaining charge of the battery 2a (hereinafter referred to as a second predicted value), and when it determines that the first predicted value is greater than the second predicted value, causes the display unit 21 to illuminate an area where the portable terminal 2 can be placed.

[0037] At this time, if the remaining charge of the battery 2a is less than a predetermined threshold (for example, less than 10%), the area of ​​the display unit 21 where the mobile terminal 2 can be placed may be made to flash in red, and a message (image) such as "Please charge the battery of the mobile terminal" or "Please place the mobile terminal 2 in the light-emitting area" may be displayed on the image display 30. By configuring in this way, when the vehicle will be traveling for a certain length of time, it is possible to alert the passenger to place the mobile terminal 2 in the top surface transparent unit 10, and to avoid a situation in which the mobile terminal 2 becomes unusable before arriving at the destination (i.e., a situation in which the battery 2a is completely drained).

[0038] Furthermore, the mobile terminal 2 may be capable of communicating with at least one of the display device 20 and the image display 30 via a wired connection, and may be capable of being charged.

[0039] The above-described vehicle notification device 100 has the following additional features.

[0040] (Addendum) (Appendix 1) a top surface transparent portion that is provided on a dashboard of a vehicle, on which a mobile terminal can be placed, and that has optical transparency; a display unit that is provided inside the dashboard and behind the top surface transmission unit, and that emits light toward the top surface transmission unit to display a predetermined message on the top surface transmission unit, The predetermined display notifies a passenger of the vehicle that the mobile terminal can be placed on the top surface transmission portion. Vehicle alarm device.

[0041] (Appendix 2) The top surface transmission portion is provided at a position lower than an upper end of a steering wheel of the vehicle. 2. A vehicle alarm device according to claim 1.

[0042] (Appendix 3) The top surface transmission portion is provided at a position higher than an intersection of a steering shaft of the vehicle and the dashboard. 3. The vehicle alarm device according to claim 1 or 2.

[0043] (Appendix 4) The dashboard further includes a non-contact charging device provided on the back side of the transparent top surface portion and capable of charging a battery of the mobile terminal placed on the transparent top surface portion. 4. The vehicle alarm device according to any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 3.

[0044] (Appendix 5) The image display device may further include an image display device capable of displaying an image, separate from the display unit. the display unit is capable of displaying an image; At least one of the display unit and the image display displays an image indicating the remaining amount of the battery. 5. The vehicle alarm device according to claim 4.

[0045] (Appendix 6) The image display device may further include an image display device capable of displaying an image, separate from the display unit. a circuit board provided with a control unit for controlling the operation of the display unit; a control board provided with a control means for controlling the operation of the image display device; At least one of the circuit board and the control board is connected to the mobile terminal by wireless communication while the battery is in an uncharged state; the control unit or the control means, when the remaining charge of the battery of the mobile terminal is less than a predetermined threshold, causes the display unit or the image display device to display information urging the user to charge the battery; 5. The vehicle alarm device according to claim 4.

[0046] In the above description, in order to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure, descriptions of well-known technical matters have been omitted as appropriate.

[0047] This invention allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to explain this invention and do not limit the scope of this invention. That is, the scope of this invention is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of the invention equivalent thereto are considered to be within the scope of this invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 100... Vehicle alarm device 1. Dashboard 1a...Steering installation part, 1b...First top part, 1c...Opposing part, 1d...Second top part 2...Mobile device, 2a...Battery 3...Windshield 4...Steering wheel, 4a...Steering shaft 10...Transparent top surface 20…Display device 21...display section, 21a...transparent layer 22...circuit board, 23...non-contact charging device, 24...movement prevention magnet, 25...casing 30...image display, 30a...cover A1...Top end of steering wheel 4 A2: Intersection of steering shaft 4a and dashboard 1

Claims

1. a top surface transparent portion that is provided on a dashboard of a vehicle, on which a mobile terminal can be placed, and that has optical transparency; a display unit that is provided inside the dashboard and behind the top surface transmission unit, and that emits light toward the top surface transmission unit to display a predetermined message on the top surface transmission unit, The predetermined display notifies a passenger of the vehicle that the mobile terminal can be placed on the top surface transmission portion. Vehicle alarm device.

2. The top surface transmission portion is provided at a position lower than an upper end of a steering wheel of the vehicle. The vehicle alarm device according to claim 1 .

3. The top surface transmission portion is provided at a position higher than an intersection of a steering shaft of the vehicle and the dashboard. The vehicle alarm device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The dashboard further includes a non-contact charging device provided on the back side of the transparent top surface portion and capable of charging a battery of the mobile terminal placed on the transparent top surface portion. The vehicle alarm device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The image display device may further include an image display device capable of displaying an image, separate from the display unit. the display unit is capable of displaying an image; At least one of the display unit and the image display displays an image indicating the remaining amount of the battery. The vehicle alarm device according to claim 4.

6. The image display device may further include an image display device capable of displaying an image, separate from the display unit. a circuit board provided with a control unit for controlling the operation of the display unit; a control board provided with a control means for controlling the operation of the image display device; At least one of the circuit board and the control board is connected to the mobile terminal by wireless communication while the battery is in an uncharged state; the control unit or the control means, when the remaining charge of the battery of the mobile terminal is less than a predetermined threshold, causes the display unit or the image display device to display information urging the user to charge the battery; The vehicle alarm device according to claim 4.

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