DE102007001994A1 - Docking station for minicomputers - Google Patents

Abstract

The The invention relates to a docking station (Cradle) (1) for receiving a mini-computer (personal digital assistant, PDA) in particular in the form of a mobile navigation device (Personal Navigation Device, PND) (2), wherein a contacting device (3) for electrical Connection with a counterpart (4) provided on such a navigation device or minicomputer is, wherein assemblies (5, 51, 52, 53) for operating the navigation device or Minicomputers in a different from a pure mobile mode of operation Dock operating mode are provided in the docking station, these being Assembly functions and / or data and / or a prepared Supply voltage via the contacting device (3) with a navigation device or minicomputers are connectable. Furthermore, the invention relates a system of such a docking station and a mobile navigation device.

Description

 The The invention relates to a docking station (Cradle) for receiving a Mini-computers (personal digital assistant, PDA) especially in Form of a mobile navigation device (Personal Navigation Device, PND) as well as a system from a mobile navigation device (Personnel Navigation Device) and a docking station receiving the same (Cradle).

at minicomputers on the market, and in particular mobile ones Navigation devices must always a compromise of performance and size on the one hand and performance and Power consumption can be found to another.

mobile navigation devices therefore often have a short life before the battery is exhausted and, in addition, the visual and audible indicators limited in their performance. Therefore, this particular when Operating in a vehicle in a docking station for power to the stationary Operation are plugged.

task The invention is the stationary operation of minicomputers or navigation devices and in particular to increase the performance of this.

These The object is achieved by a docking station according to the features of the claim 1 and a system of a navigation device and such a docking station solved according to the features of claim 10.

According to the invention is a Docking station (cradle) for holding a minicomputer (personal digital assistant, PDA), in particular in the form of a mobile navigation device (Personal Navigation Device, PND), wherein a contacting device for electrical connection with a counterpart on such a navigation device or minicomputer is proposed, which is characterized in that Assemblies for operating the navigation device or minicomputer in one from a pure mobile operating mode different dock operating mode in the docking station are provided, these assemblies functions and / or Provide data and / or a conditioned voltage supply via the Contacting device with a navigation device or minicomputer are connectable. As a result, are more compact designs and lesser Power consumption in mobile operation on the one hand and on the other coordinated functionalities for im Operation in the docking station allows.

To A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is provided, that contains an assembly for processing road traffic information digital radio data service (Traffic Message Channel, TMC), whereby through this assembly prepared data on the contacting device for a navigation device become.

A Another particularly preferred embodiment provides that a speaker is provided, by means of which information, in particular location information or directions to a navigation device.

From Advantage is an antenna for receiving signals and data of the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) provided, these over the Contacting device connected to a navigation device can be.

advantageously, is an assembly for processing global signals and data Positioning Systems (GPS) provided, the recycled or processed data provided at the contacting device for a navigation device become.

One Microphone or a connection to an external microphone is after a further embodiment of the invention, this on the Contacting device connected to a navigation device can be.

From Advantage is a data port, especially a universal serial Bus (USB), provided, with data at this data port provided at the contacting device for a navigation device become.

preferably, is a signal or a level at the contacting device on, which can be detected by a navigation device to change in the dock operating mode.

A Particularly advantageous variant of the invention provides that a Assembly for converting an external voltage level to a from a navigation device required Supply and / or charge level is provided, which at the contacting device for a Navigation device provided becomes.

To Another aspect of the invention is a system of a mobile Navigation device (staff Navigation Device) and a docking station receiving the same (Cradle) according to one of the claims 1 to 9 proposed.

An embodiment of the system provides that the navigation device in two Be operating modes can be operated, for a detached from the docking station in a pure mobile operating mode and in a dock operating mode in the docking station.

Functionalities or Assemblies of the navigation device in the dock mode of operation are by means of a recognition device switched off and the functionalities or modules of the navigation device through functionalities or assemblies of the docking station.

From Advantage has the navigation device a speaker for displaying audio information, in particular a location or directions to.

Especially Preferably, it is provided that the speaker of the navigation device a lower power than the speaker of the docking station has.

Further advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the other dependent claims or their possible Subcombinations.

following the invention will be further explained with reference to the drawings. in the Individual shows the schematic representation in:

1 a schematic representation of a docking station according to the invention with therein, electrically contacted mobile navigation device, and

2 a schematic representation of a docking station and separate mobile navigation device.

The in the figures, the same reference numerals designate the same or the same acting elements.

1 shows a docking station 1 with an electrically connected mobile navigation device 2 , The electrical connection takes place by means of a contacting device 3 in engagement with a counterpart 4 (please refer 2 ) on the navigation device.

In the docking trained modules 5 . 51 . 52 . 53 take over and provide functionality for operating the navigation device 2 in dock operating mode, which are not present in pure mobile operating mode, or are adopted by assemblies of the navigation device.

Thus, the docking station provides functions and / or data and / or a conditioned voltage supply via the contacting device 3 to be provided.

The detection of contacting with a docking station is done by a in the navigation device 2 trained recognition device 21 , This recognizes a on the contacting device 3 For this applied signal and signals this to the data processing device 26 of the navigation device 2 which uses the resources now available and changes from the mobile mode of operation to the dock mode of operation.

A TMC module 51 for processing a traffic information channel (TMC) containing road traffic information is provided, wherein prepared by this module data on the contacting device 3 to the navigation device 2 to be provided. The unprocessed TMC signal is sent to the docking station externally via signal and data lines 6 fed.

A speaker provided in the docking station 54 serves for more powerful reproduction of acoustic signals or a voice output of the navigation device 2 , which only has a less powerful speaker 22 is disabled in dock mode.

An optional GPS assembly 52 serves in the example for processing signals and data of a Global Positioning System (GPS), wherein the processed or processed data at the contacting device 3 to be provided. One in the navigation device 2 trained weaker GPS assembly 25 is therefore switched off.

One in the navigation device 2 built-in microphone 23 is replaced by a connection to an external microphone, this external microphone (not shown) via the signal and data lines 6 connected is.

A supply assembly 53 for implementing an external voltage level Ue, for example, 12 volts of a motor vehicle electrical system, to a required by a navigation device supply and / or charge level Uv, for example, 6 volts. The in the navigation device 2 located battery 24 will now be switched off and charged.

1

docking station

2

navigation device

21

recognizer

22

speaker

23

microphone

24

battery

25

GPS module

26

Data processing device

3

contacting

4

counterpart

5

module

51

TMC assembly

52

GPS module

53

Supply Unit

54

speaker

6

signal and data lines

Claims (14)

Docking station (Cradle) ( 1 ) for receiving a personal digital assistant (PDA), in particular in the form of a mobile navigation device (Personal Navigation Device, PND) ( 2 ), wherein a contacting device ( 3 ) for electrical connection with a counterpart ( 4 ) is provided on such a navigation device or minicomputer, characterized in that assemblies ( 5 . 51 . 52 . 53 ) are provided for operating the navigation device or minicomputer in a docking operating mode different from a pure mobile operating mode in the docking station, these components providing functions and / or data and / or a conditioned voltage supply which is transmitted via the contacting device ( 3 ) are connectable to a navigation device or minicomputer. Docking station according to claim 1, characterized in that a TMC module ( 51 ) for processing a traffic information channel (TMC) containing road traffic information, wherein data prepared by this module is transmitted to the contacting device ( 3 ) for a navigation device ( 2 ) to be provided. Docking station according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a loudspeaker ( 54 ), by means of which information, in particular location information or directions, of a navigation device ( 2 ) can be reproduced. Docking station according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an antenna for receiving signals and data of the Global Positioning System (GPS) is provided, these via the contacting device ( 3 ) with a navigation device ( 2 ) can be connected for processing. Docking station according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a GPS module ( 52 ) is provided for processing signals and data of a Global Positioning System (GPS), wherein the processed or processed data on the contacting device ( 3 ) for a navigation device ( 2 ) to be provided. Docking station according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a microphone or a connection to an external microphone is provided, this via the contacting device ( 3 ) with a navigation device ( 2 ) can be connected. Docking station according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a data port, in particular a universal serial bus (USB), is provided, wherein data present at this data port on the contacting device ( 3 ) for a navigation device ( 2 ) to be provided. Docking station according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a signal or a level at the Contacting device abuts, which detected by a navigation device can be used to switch to dock operating mode. Docking station according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a supply assembly ( 53 ) is provided for converting an external voltage level (Ue) to a supply and / or charge level (Uv) required by a navigation device, which is connected to the contacting device (Ue). 3 ) for a navigation device ( 2 ) provided. System from a Mobile Navigation Device (Personal Navigation Device) ( 2 ) and a same receiving docking station (Cradle) ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 9. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the navigation device ( 2 ) can be operated in two different operating modes, on the one hand detached from the docking station ( 1 ) in a pure mobile operating mode and in a dock operating mode in the docking station ( 1 ). System according to claim 11, characterized in that functionalities or assemblies ( 22 . 23 . 24 ) of the navigation device in the dock operating mode by means of a recognition device ( 21 ) and the functionalities or assemblies of the navigation device by functionalities or assemblies ( 5 . 51 . 52 . 53 ) of the docking station ( 1 ). System according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the navigation device ( 2 ) a speaker ( 22 ) for displaying acoustic information, in particular a location or directions. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the loudspeaker ( 22 ) of the navigation device ( 2 ) a lower power than the sound talker ( 54 ) of the docking station ( 1 ) Has.