Mode control on-vehicle television adapter

Abstract

To provide an on-vehicle television adapter that allows watching television even during traveling of a vehicle without hindering the operation of a vehicle navigation system.SOLUTION: A television adapter body (10) is an on-vehicle television adapter connected to a navigation system having a plurality of operation modes including an accessory mode and an ignition mode, and has a function of converting an ignition-on signal supplied from a vehicle into an accessory signal even when the vehicle is in a traveling state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a television adapter for a navigation system, and more particularly to a television adapter for a navigation system that operates differently when the ignition is on and in accessory mode. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, televisions installed in genuine in-car navigation systems have been equipped with a function that prevents the driver from watching television while driving, as this could lead to distracted driving if the driver watches television while driving, for safety reasons. However, this means that passengers in the front or rear seats, who are not hindered from driving, cannot watch TV while driving, so TV adapters are manufactured and sold that allow passengers to watch TV while driving.

[0003] To detect whether the vehicle is moving, the original navigation system uses signals such as a vehicle speed pulse signal (a pulse signal corresponding to the vehicle's speed) and a parking brake signal (a signal indicating whether the parking brake, which is activated when the vehicle is stopped, is in use). However, conventional in-car TV adapters convert these vehicle speed pulse signals and parking brake signals to make them appear as if the vehicle is stopped, even when the vehicle is moving, and then send them to the original navigation system, or they block these signals from being sent to the original navigation system. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-43064 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, conventional approaches can impede the operation of the navigation system.

[0006] In order to display the vehicle's location (own vehicle position) on the displayed map, navigation systems use both GPS (Global Positioning System) and a vehicle speed pulse signal to determine the vehicle's speed. However, conventional methods convert or block the vehicle speed pulse even when the vehicle is moving, making it appear as if the vehicle is stopped. This can result in the vehicle's location being displayed inaccurately on the map, or the vehicle's location not moving at all if the navigation system does not receive a normal vehicle speed pulse. Furthermore, the navigation system may determine that there is an abnormality in the vehicle and send a signal indicating an abnormality to the vehicle.

[0007] If the navigation system sends an abnormal signal to the vehicle, many of the ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) that operate in conjunction with the navigation system in modern vehicles can stop functioning normally, which can be a problem. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a device is connected between a navigation system and a vehicle, and operates the navigation system in accessory mode (often commonly referred to as "ACC mode") even while the vehicle is moving. A typical vehicle has an accessory mode (ACC mode) and an ignition on mode (usually called "IG on"). In accessory mode, only some of the electrical equipment installed in the vehicle (navigation system, cigarette lighter power supply, USB power supply, etc.) can be used, and the vehicle's engine is stopped, so they can be used while the vehicle is stopped.

[0009] On the other hand, in ignition on mode, all electrical components necessary for the vehicle to run (engine ECU, speedometer, transmission ECU, etc.) are operational. The vehicle signals supplied to the navigation system differ between accessory mode and ignition on mode due to the difference in the devices operating in the mode.

[0010] As mentioned above, navigation systems also differ in their operation between accessory mode and ignition on mode, and since television viewing is not restricted in accessory mode even when a vehicle speed pulse is input, by converting the operating mode signal supplied from the vehicle to the navigation system so that only the navigation system is in accessory mode even when the vehicle is moving (ignition on mode), it is possible to watch television even while driving without converting the vehicle speed pulse signal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in a navigation system equipped with a television function, it is possible to enable television viewing even while the vehicle is moving without causing the vehicle's position to become inaccurate or interfering with the ADAS function. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a control television adapter and an in-vehicle system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control television adapter and in-vehicle system of the present invention according to a second embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control television adapter and in-vehicle system according to third and fourth embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] 1. First embodiment Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The navigation system (20) shown in FIG. 1 is composed of a display unit (21), a TV tuner unit (22), a navigation unit (23), an audio playback unit (24), a CAN-BUS (Controller Area Network) signal input unit (25), and an analog signal input unit (26). An actual vehicle may have other functions, but only the parts relevant to the present invention are described here.

[0014] Although the navigation system (20) shown in FIG. 1 has an integrated structure, the display unit (21), TV tuner unit (22), navigation unit (23), audio playback unit (24), CAN-BUS signal input unit (25), and analog signal input unit (26) may be separate units. It should be noted that the navigation system (20) may be a genuine product of the manufacturer of the vehicle in which it is installed, but is not limited to a genuine product of the manufacturer as long as it has a similar configuration. Although it varies depending on the vehicle, vehicles have several modes. In general, the modes include lock mode, accessory mode, ignition on mode, idle mode, drive mode, and reverse mode.

[0015] To explain in detail, lock mode is a mode that is mainly used when the vehicle is locked and stored, in which the vehicle engine is stopped and most of the electrical equipment installed in the vehicle (including the navigation system, meters, air conditioner, etc.) is not operating, minimizing the vehicle's current consumption. Accessory mode is a mode in which only some of the vehicle's electrical equipment operates; the navigation system continues to operate (navigation map display, music playback, and television viewing are possible), but the engine is stopped, the air conditioner is stopped, and the engine ECU (Electronic Control Unit) is stopped.

[0016] In ignition on mode, almost all electrical components (air conditioner, navigation system, engine ECU, etc.) are operational, but the engine is stopped. The idling mode is a state in which the engine has been started in the ignition-on mode, and is a preliminary stage before the vehicle can be driven. The drive mode is the idling mode in which the travel selector is set to the drive range and the vehicle travels forward. Reverse mode is similar to drive mode, but in this mode the vehicle travels backward instead of forward, and when traveling backward the rear camera is activated to ensure safety. Although each mode has been described, it should be noted that only the portions necessary for explaining the operation of the present invention are excerpted, and that the above-described modes are not all of the modes.

[0017] 1 in the first embodiment is a pulse signal indicating the speed at which the vehicle is traveling, with a higher number of pulses (higher frequency) if the traveling speed is faster and a lower number of pulses (lower frequency) if the traveling speed is slower, and there is no vehicle speed pulse when the vehicle is stopped. In the navigation system of the first embodiment, when a vehicle speed pulse is input, it is determined that the vehicle is traveling, and television viewing is restricted.

[0018] To remove restrictions on television viewing while driving using a navigation system using conventional methods, it is necessary to use a television adapter to convert the vehicle speed pulses sent from the vehicle to the navigation system so that it appears as if the vehicle is stopped, even when the vehicle is moving. However, as described in the section on problems with the prior art, if the vehicle speed pulse is converted to make it appear as if the vehicle is stopped even when the vehicle is moving, the vehicle speed pulse input to the navigation system will not be the normal vehicle speed pulse when the vehicle is moving, and the vehicle's position, which indicates where on the navigation system's map the vehicle is moving, will be inaccurate, resulting in various inconveniences.

[0019] In the television adapter (10) of the first embodiment, the vehicle speed pulse signal is not converted or blocked as a method for lifting restrictions on television viewing while driving, so the vehicle position is not inaccurate. The navigation system has an ignition signal (35) and an accessory signal (36), and is equipped with the accessory mode and ignition on mode explained above. In the ignition on mode, when a vehicle speed pulse signal is input, it is determined that the vehicle is moving and television viewing is restricted, but in the accessory mode, as explained above, the engine is stopped and the engine ECU is also stopped, meaning that the vehicle is not moving, so the navigation system does not restrict television viewing even if a vehicle speed pulse is input in accessory mode.

[0020] To summarize the above, in the navigation system of the first embodiment, television viewing is restricted when a vehicle speed pulse is input in ignition on mode, idling mode, or drive mode, but television viewing is not restricted in accessory mode even if a vehicle speed pulse is input. In other words, even if the vehicle is actually running (ignition on mode, idling mode, drive mode), if the navigation system is in accessory mode, it is possible to watch television even while the vehicle is running. The specific operation will be explained below using Figure 1. The TV adapter (10) in Figure 1 is equipped with a CAN-BUS control unit and an analog signal control unit, but its main purpose of removing TV viewing restrictions while driving can be achieved using only analog control. The operation unit (50) is provided with a switch (51) for selecting whether or not to operate the television adapter of the present invention and an indicator (52) for showing whether or not the television adapter of the present invention is operating, but the operation unit (50) can be omitted.

[0021] In FIG. 1, the vehicle signal detector (31) is the source of signals generated by various vehicles, and the vehicle ECU (32) represents all ECUs installed in the vehicle, such as the engine ECU and drive selector ECU. The signals (31) detected from the vehicle are converted into CAN-BUS signals by the vehicle ECU (32), which are then connected to other ECUs and the navigation system for data communication. The ignition signal (35) in FIG. 1 is a signal indicating whether the ignition is on or not, and in the first embodiment, it is 12V when the ignition is on and 0V when the ignition is off.

[0022] The accessory signal (36) in FIG. 1 is a signal indicating whether the accessory is on or not, and in the first embodiment, when the accessory is on, it is 12V, and when the accessory is off, it is 0V. As explained above, when the vehicle is moving, the accessories are on (12V) and the ignition is on (12V). If a vehicle speed pulse is input to the navigation system in this state, the navigation system determines that the vehicle is moving, and television viewing is restricted (the user is unable to watch television). When the TV adapter (10) of the present invention is not in operation, the analog signal control unit (12) outputs the vehicle speed pulse signal (33), parking signal (34), ignition signal (35), and accessory signal (36) from the vehicle directly to the navigation system, which is the same as when the TV adapter of the present invention is not installed. Next, when the switch (51) on the operation unit (50) connected to the television adapter (10) of the present invention is operated, the television adapter of the present invention becomes operational, and the indicator (52) on the operation unit (50) lights up to indicate that the television adapter (10) of the present invention is in an operational state. At the same time, the analog signal control unit converts the signal input to the television adapter (10) from the vehicle and transmits it to the analog signal input unit (26) in the navigation system (20).

[0023] When the TV adapter of the present invention is in operation, the signal conversion contents are as follows: the vehicle speed pulse signal (33) is not converted, the parking signal (34) is not converted, the ignition signal (35) is input from the vehicle to the TV adapter (10) at 12V (ignition on), but is converted to 0V (ignition off) by the analog signal control unit and sent to the navigation system (20), and the accessory signal (36) is not converted. When the television adapter of the present invention is in operation, even if the vehicle is moving, only the navigation system is in accessory mode, and television viewing is not restricted even if a vehicle speed pulse is input.

[0024] As described above, this is a completely new method of removing TV viewing restrictions that utilizes the operation of the navigation system's accessory mode, rather than converting vehicle speed pulses or parking signals to make them appear as if the vehicle is stopped, as was done by conventional devices that remove TV viewing restrictions. 2. Second embodiment

[0025] In the second embodiment, a case will be described in which, when the first embodiment is implemented, the image does not automatically switch to the image from the rear camera when the vehicle is backing up. In recent years, backup cameras have become mandatory for vehicles, and systems have been introduced that automatically display the image from a camera behind the vehicle on the navigation system when the vehicle is backing up. However, when the first embodiment is implemented, there are some navigation systems that do not automatically switch to the image from the backup camera when the vehicle is backing up.

[0026] The reason for the failure to switch is that in the first embodiment, the navigation system is in accessory mode due to the TV adapter even when the vehicle is moving. That is, in accessory mode, television viewing is not restricted even if a vehicle speed pulse is input, but at the same time, a drawback occurs in that the navigation system does not respond to a reverse signal even if the signal is input.

[0027] Using Figure 2, we will explain how to deal with problems such as the camera image not switching when backing up. FIG. 2 is similar to the first embodiment, but a back signal (37) is added, and other parts are similar to FIG. 1, so explanations other than the back signal will be omitted. The reverse signal (37) is a signal input from the vehicle to the analog input unit (26) of the navigation system (20) when the vehicle is backing up, and in the explanation of the second embodiment, it is explained as 12 V when the vehicle is backing up and 0 V when the vehicle is not backing up, but this is just an example, and it may be 5 V when backing up and 0 V when not backing up, and the voltage of the analog signal or the Hi or Lo of the signal are not limited.

[0028] In actual operation, as in the first embodiment, even when the vehicle is moving, the ignition-on signal input from the vehicle to the television adapter (10) is converted by the analog signal control unit (12) of the television adapter (10) to indicate ignition-off by operating the switch (51) of the operation unit (50) of the television adapter (10), and is then transmitted to the navigation system (20), so that the navigation system operates in accessory mode.

[0029] Since the navigation system is operating in accessory mode, the navigation system does not switch to the image from the backup camera even when a reverse signal is input to the navigation system from the vehicle. Therefore, the reverse signal (37) from the vehicle is also input to the television adapter (10), and when the reverse signal (37) from the vehicle is input to the television adapter (10), the operation of converting the ignition-on signal to an ignition-off signal is temporarily stopped, so that the navigation system operates in ignition-on mode while the vehicle is backing up.

[0030] When the vehicle finishes backing up (when the reverse signal changes to something other than reverse), the ignition signal is converted again and the navigation system operates in accessory mode, so that the image from the backup camera can be displayed on the navigation system while backing up, and television viewing can be resumed when backing up is finished. The second embodiment is described as temporarily stopping the conversion of only the navigation system to accessory mode only while the vehicle is backing up, even if the vehicle is moving, but this method of temporarily stopping accessory mode using an input signal can also be controlled using signals other than reverse.

[0031] For example, if you want to display the vehicle camera image on the navigation system when a corner sensor (a sensor that reacts when a person or object approaches the vehicle) attached to the vehicle reacts while the vehicle is moving forward, you can do so by temporarily stopping the switch to accessory mode. 3 Third embodiment

[0032] In the third embodiment, a case will be described in which an input signal from a vehicle is transmitted via data communication such as CAN-BUS. In the first and second embodiments, the input signals from the vehicle are explained as analog signals, but there are also navigation systems in which these signals are transmitted via data communication such as CAN-BUS, and FIG. 3 explains the operation of such systems.

[0033] Analog signals generated by the vehicle, such as a vehicle speed pulse signal (33), an ignition signal (35), and an accessory signal (36), are converted into CAN-BUS signals by the vehicle UEC (32) and supplied to the navigation system (20). In recent years, vehicles have become more and more prone to use data communications centered around CAN-BUS due to the increasing number of electrical signal connections.

[0034] To give an overview of CAN-BUS communication using the example in Figure 3, the CAN-BUS data for the vehicle speed pulse is 32A00 when the vehicle is stopped, 32A01 when the vehicle is traveling at 1 km / h, 32A10 when the vehicle is traveling at 10 km / h, and 32A30 when the vehicle is traveling at 30 km / h. The first three characters of 32A00, "32A," are a code used to identify which ECU it is in a vehicle and are usually called an ID, and the fourth and fifth characters, "00," represent the data value. 32A01 is data output from the vehicle ECU (1) = 32A, and the 01 part means that the vehicle is traveling at 1 km / h. Similarly, 32B00 is data indicating that the vehicle ECU (2) is in the off mode, 32B01 indicates the accessory mode, 32B02 indicates the ignition on mode, and 32B03 indicates idling (the engine is running). 32C00 is data output from the vehicle ECU (3) that indicates the position of the vehicle's drive mode selector, with 32C00 indicating that the selector lever is in P (parking mode), 32C01 indicating that the selector lever is in R (reverse drive position), 32C02 indicating that the selector lever is in N (neutral position), and 32C03 indicating that the selector lever is in D (drive drive position). The above explanation of the CAN-BUS signal has been made easy to understand in order to explain the present invention. Please note that the CAN-BUS in an actual vehicle has many more digits and IDs, and the CAN-BUS data is quite diverse.

[0035] To explain the actual operation of the third embodiment, when the vehicle is traveling, the data of the vehicle speed pulse (32A) is other than 00, for example 32A10 (the vehicle is traveling at 10 km / h), and at the same time, since the vehicle is traveling, data indicating that the engine is running becomes 32B03, and at the same time, data indicating the position of the selector lever becomes 32C03. When the navigation system (20) receives the data indicating that the vehicle is traveling, it determines that the vehicle is traveling and television viewing is restricted.

[0036] In the third embodiment, a television adapter (10) is connected between the vehicle ECUs (32a, 32b, 32c) and the navigation system (20), and data from the vehicle ECUs is supplied to the navigation system (20) via the television adapter (10).

[0037] While the vehicle is traveling (at 10 km / h), 32A10, 32B03, and 32C03 are supplied to the television adapter 10, and when the television adapter 10 is off (not operating), the above data is sent to the navigation system without conversion, which limits television viewing. However, when the television adapter 10 is turned on (operating), 32A10 and 32C03 are not converted, and 32B03 is converted to 32B01 and sent to the navigation system 20. This puts the navigation system 20 into accessory mode even while the vehicle is traveling, allowing television viewing. In other words, television viewing is possible even while the vehicle is traveling. As explained in the first embodiment, the operating section (50) may be omitted. 4 Fourth embodiment

[0038] In the fourth embodiment, a case will be described in which, when the third embodiment is implemented, the image does not automatically switch to the image from the rear camera when the vehicle is backed up. In recent years, backup cameras have become mandatory for vehicles, and systems have been introduced that automatically display the image from the camera behind the vehicle on the navigation system when the vehicle is backing up. However, when the third embodiment is implemented, there are some navigation systems that do not automatically switch to the image from the backup camera when the vehicle is backing up. The reason for the inability to switch is that, as explained in the third embodiment, the navigation system is in accessory mode due to the television adapter even when the vehicle is moving. In other words, in accessory mode, television viewing is not restricted even if a vehicle speed pulse is input, but at the same time, a drawback occurs in that the navigation system does not respond to the signal even if reverse signal data is input. Using Figure 3, we will explain how to deal with the problem of not switching to the camera image when backing up as described above.

[0039] In the third embodiment, even when the vehicle is running, the TV adapter (10) converts the CAN-BUS data 32B03 (when the engine is running) into accessory mode 32B01 and transmits it to the navigation system (20), making it possible to watch TV even while the vehicle is running. However, even if data 32C01 indicating that the vehicle is in reverse is input to the navigation system (20) in this state, the navigation system is in accessory mode and does not switch to the image from the backup camera.

[0040] Therefore, when the television adapter (10) receives data 32C01 indicating that the vehicle is backing up in the above state, by temporarily stopping the conversion operation to accessory mode (converting 32B03 to 32B01), the navigation system will change from accessory mode to idling mode, making it possible to display the image from the backup camera. When the drive mode data becomes other than reverse (32C01), 32B03 is converted back to the accessory mode of 32B01, so that television viewing becomes possible when reverse is completed. 4. Modifications of the embodiment of the present disclosure

[0041] The first and second embodiments are described for cases where the vehicle signals are analog, and the third and fourth embodiments are described for cases where the vehicle signals are CAN-BUS, but the present invention is also possible when the vehicle signals are a mixture of analog and CAN-BUS.

[0042] For example, even when the accessory signal is analog and the back signal is CAN-BUS, the same operation can be achieved by combining the second and fourth embodiments. Furthermore, although the explanation is given using CAN-BUS signals, it should be noted that the same applies to data communications other than CAN-BUS signals. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 33 Vehicle speed pulse (signal from vehicle) 35 Ignition signal (signal from vehicle indicating ignition is on) 36 Accessory signal (signal from vehicle indicating accessory mode) 32a Vehicle ECU (ECU that converts vehicle speed pulses into data) 32b vehicle ECU (ECU that converts accessory signals into data) 32c vehicle ECU (ECU that converts drive selector position into data)

Claims

1. An in-car television adapter for connecting to a navigation system having a television viewing function and at least two operation modes including an accessory mode and an ignition-on mode, a signal generated by a vehicle for switching between the accessory mode and the ignition-on mode and the navigation system; An in-car television adapter having a function of converting the ignition on mode signal into an accessory mode signal.

2. 2. The car television adapter according to claim 1, wherein, while receiving a specific signal supplied from a vehicle, An in-car television adapter characterized by temporarily suspending conversion to an accessory mode.

3. 3. The car television adapter according to claim 1, An in-car TV adapter characterized by converting to accessory mode and pausing conversion using an analog signal.

4. 3. The car television adapter according to claim 1, An in-car television adapter characterized by converting to accessory mode and pausing the conversion using a data signal.

5. 3. The car television adapter according to claim 1, An in-car TV adapter that converts to accessory mode and pauses conversion for both analog and data signals.

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