JP2022174170A - adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an adapter that can supply power to a variety of external devices from a vehicle side relatively readily.

SOLUTION: An adapter includes: a power incoming connector 5 connected to a vehicle-side constant power supply connector 50 provided in a position accessible from an occupant-side of a vehicle so as to be detachable; and a power supply connector, such as USB connector 2, mini USB connector 3 and a cigar socket 4, for supplying power to an external device 10 based on electrical power supplied from the power supply connector 50.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

COPYRIGHT: (C)2023,JPO&INPIT

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an adapter and the like capable of supplying power from a vehicle to an external device.

As a port for outputting information from an in-vehicle computer, for example, an in-vehicle network to which a computer for controlling each part of the vehicle is connected and a signal line to which a computer for outputting information for fault diagnosis is connected. Connected ports are known. A fault diagnosis system mounted on a vehicle is known as, for example, OBDII (On-Board Diagnostic II). In this type of failure diagnosis system, various in-vehicle computers such as an ECU (Engine Control Unit) provided for controlling the vehicle acquire signals such as the status from sensors and switches provided in each part of the vehicle. Then, based on the acquired state, information for fault diagnosis and information to be transmitted to other in-vehicle computers are generated and transmitted to an in-vehicle network such as CAN. An in-vehicle network is connected to the diagnostic port. By connecting a fault diagnosis device installed outside the vehicle, such as at a repair shop, to this fault diagnosis port, the fault and status of each part of the vehicle can be checked from the fault diagnosis device outside the vehicle.

This type of fault diagnosis system is originally installed in a vehicle for the purpose of fault diagnosis. A proposal has been made to allow the user to check the state of the vehicle even when not diagnosing failures, by connecting the adapter and acquiring information from the computer that controls the vehicle and outputting it to a display installed in the vehicle. there is

JP 2012-206621 A JP 2012-206622 A

By the way, various portable electronic devices such as smart phones and digital cameras operate on batteries. When the battery runs out, these devices become unusable. These devices are generally powered by USB and can be charged. Therefore, various products for USB power feeding from a cigarette lighter socket provided in a vehicle have been on the market.

However, when the accessory switch (hereinafter referred to as ACC) is turned off, such as when the vehicle is parked, power is not supplied from the vehicle to the cigarette lighter socket. Vehicles typically spend more time parked than they drive. On the other hand, in order to continuously supply power, it is necessary to attach the battery directly to the conventional battery.

Since the adapter described in the above-mentioned patent document is connected to the vehicle's fault diagnosis system, power is supplied from the vehicle's battery even when the ACC is turned off. It was for acquiring , and did not have a charging function for smartphones and digital cameras.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an adapter that allows even a general user to relatively easily supply power from a vehicle to various external devices.

(1) The adapter of the present invention includes a power receiving connector that is detachably connected to a constant power supply type connector on the vehicle side provided at a position accessible from the passenger side of the vehicle, and a power receiving connector that supplies power from the power receiving connector. It is characterized by comprising a power supply connector for supplying power to an external device based on the power supplied from the device. In this way, even a general user can relatively easily supply power from the vehicle to various external devices at all times.

As a position accessible from the passenger side of the vehicle, for example, a position accessible from the passenger compartment of the vehicle is particularly preferable. In particular, it is preferable to select a place where a vehicle-side cover provided in the passenger compartment opens. In this way, even a general user can easily supply power from the vehicle to various external devices at all times simply by opening the cover. Also, it is better to use a place without a cover. In this way, simply by inserting the power receiving connector into the power feeding connector from the passenger side of the vehicle, power can always be supplied from the vehicle to various external devices. As for the passenger side, it is particularly preferable to use the driver's seat side. In particular, it is preferable to use a connector provided around the driver's seat. In this way, the driver can easily supply power from the vehicle to various external devices at all times.

As the constant power supply type connector on the vehicle side, it is preferable to use a connector provided especially for use from inside the vehicle. Also, for example, it is preferable to use a connector for outputting information that changes according to the operation of the vehicle driver. Also, for example, it is preferable to use a connector that is highly likely not to be used when the user of the vehicle is using it.

(2) The power-receiving connector may be a vehicle-side constant power supply connector connected thereto, for example, a connector provided at an output port of a fault diagnosis system provided in the vehicle. The connector provided at the output port of the fault diagnosis system is mainly intended for use in vehicle repair shops, and is highly likely to be unused when the vehicle is in use by the user. In particular, the connector provided at the output port of the fault diagnosis system is always supplied with power from the vehicle so that fault diagnosis can be performed by connecting the fault diagnosis device even when the ACC of the vehicle is turned off. connector can be used as a constant power supply type connector. This is because the connector provided at the output port of the failure diagnosis system is provided in the vehicle interior near the driver's seat and is easily accessible by the user. As the connector provided on the vehicle to which the fault diagnostic device can be connected, it is preferable to use, for example, an OBDII standard connector.

For example, the power supply connector may be a standardized connector for charging the external device from a power supply device not mounted in a typical vehicle. For example, as a connector standardized for charging from a power supply device not installed in a general vehicle, for example, a connector standardized for charging equipment used at home from a household power supply It may be a connector, particularly a connector used for portable equipment.
For example, the power supply connector may be a connector commonly used by a plurality of types of external devices in order to charge the external device from a power supply device not mounted on the vehicle. The plurality of types of external devices are particularly preferable to be portable devices, particularly portable devices that require battery charging.
As such a connector, it is preferable to use, for example, a USB standard connector as a power supply connector.
As other power supply connectors, for example, a cigar socket, a rectangular connector, a pin plug type connector, etc. used for power supply to various devices can be used. In particular, it is preferable to use a connector of a standard commonly used for power supply to various electronic devices. For example, a cigar socket is good. However, it is preferable to use a standard connector that is commonly used even in places other than vehicles, and it is even better to use a USB connector as described above.

(3) The power supply connector may be a USB connector or a cigar socket. There are two types of USB connectors: those that only supply power for charging electronic devices (called power supply type USB connectors), and those that also connect signal lines for power supply and information transmission (called communication type USB connectors). However, any USB connector can be used.

(Shape of power supply connector and power receiving connector, etc.)
The power supply connector and the power reception connector may be provided integrally with the case of the adapter, or may be connected to the case of the adapter by a cord or cable. Also, the power receiving connector is preferably connectable to and detachable from a constant power supply connector provided at a position accessible from the passenger side of the vehicle. It is preferable to use a connector that fits into a connector that fits into the constant power supply type connector itself and a connector that fits into a connector that fits into a connected power receiving connector. For example, it is preferable to provide a second connector to which a power cable is connected from a first connector that fits into the OBD connector, and use the connector that fits into the second connector as the power receiving connector of the adapter.
If it is integrated with the case, it can be made smaller, and if it is connected by a cord or cable, it is possible to install an adapter, power supply connector, or power receiving connector in a remote position. can be charged near

According to such a configuration, power is supplied from the vehicle side to the power supply connector provided on the adapter through the constant power supply type connector of the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to charge the external device at all times. In particular, when the user leaves the vehicle with the ACC turned off, power supply to the cigar socket is turned off in the prior art, making it impossible to charge external devices. also has the advantage of being able to charge the battery of an external device. In particular, it is preferable to have a structure in which electric power is always supplied from a battery provided in the vehicle to the constant power supply type connector on the vehicle side.

(a) USB connector, etc. Currently, various external devices equipped with a USB connector charging function, such as smart phones, mobile phones, tablet terminals, digital cameras, video cameras, and other small household appliances, are on the market. In this case, it is possible to use and charge a wide variety of external devices equipped with these USB connectors even when power supply to the cigarette lighter socket is stopped. .

(b) Plural Power Feed Connectors, Etc. In the present invention, it is preferable to provide the adapter with a plurality of power feed connectors that differ in at least one of shape, function, performance, and the like. For example, when a USB connector and a cigar socket are provided, both a device having a USB connector such as a smart phone and an in-vehicle device compatible with a cigar socket that is widely sold for use in vehicles can be used. In addition to USB connectors, when general-purpose connectors such as square connectors and pin plug connectors are used, large connectors such as cigar sockets are used for anti-theft devices, in-vehicle audio equipment, rear cameras, etc. can be powered without In addition, although the number of power supply connectors that are provided in advance in the vehicle is limited, this arrangement facilitates connection of a plurality of different external devices.

(Multiple power supply connectors + no control unit + different power supply capacities, etc.)
It is preferable to provide a plurality of power supply connectors of the same shape with different power supply current values (for example, it is preferable to provide 2A and 1A USB connectors. In this way, for example, rapid charging and normal charging can be performed together, and the battery of the vehicle can be charged. It is possible to achieve compatibility between the problem of the load of the battery and the problem of the charging speed.

(c) Information Acquisition from Power Receiving Connector, Control Unit, etc. In the adapter of the present invention, a connector having a function of receiving information from the vehicle side may be used as the power receiving connector. Further, the adapter itself may be provided with a control section that receives information from the vehicle side and outputs a power supply ON/OFF command to the power supply connector. The information from the vehicle may be various data such as the vehicle speed, various temperatures, and the state of the drive source and battery. In addition, it is preferable to acquire information from the vehicle side such as noise of the power supply line, fluctuations in current and voltage, etc. through the constant power supply type connector. In particular, it is preferable to have a configuration in which both are performed. Based on these findings, an OBD connector that fits into an OBD connector provided in a vehicle is most suitable as a power receiving connector.

(4) It has a function of receiving information from the vehicle side via the power receiving connector, and the adapter is provided with a control section that receives the information from the vehicle side and controls power feeding to the power feeding connector. It's good to have a configuration.
For example, it may be configured to determine the state of the vehicle based on information from the vehicle, and may be configured to stop power supply from the battery to the power supply connector when the ACC is off, similar to a conventional cigar socket. In particular, it is preferable that the adapter is provided with a plurality of power supply connectors, one of which is a constant power supply type, and the other power supply connectors stop power supply when the vehicle is stopped or the ACC is turned off. In this way, for example, the application of the external device, for example, an external device with a large power consumption is charged only when the vehicle is running, and a smart phone with a small power consumption is charged from the power supply connector to which the power is always supplied. It is possible to prevent power consumption on the vehicle side. In a configuration in which the power supply from the vehicle is performed from the vehicle's battery, it is possible to prevent the capacity of the vehicle-mounted battery from decreasing. For example, it is preferable that the housing having the power receiving connector has a function of receiving information from the vehicle.

(c-1) Detection of vehicle state by the control unit, etc. (5) The control unit has a function of detecting a signal from the vehicle and controlling supply or stop of power supply to the power supply connector according to the signal. It's good to have a configuration.
Signals from the vehicle include signals flowing through communication paths for data handled by the vehicle, such as voltage, current, battery status, water temperature, indoor temperature, and outdoor temperature supplied to the vehicle from sensors provided in various parts of the vehicle. .

In addition to the communication path, it is preferable to use signals on the power supply line on the vehicle side, such as voltage values and power supply noise. In particular, when the engine is running or when the engine is running, noise with different waveforms and voltage values are generated on the power supply line. It is effective when the adapter of the present invention is connected to

In this way, it becomes possible to control the power supply from the adapter to the external device according to the information on the vehicle side. It is possible to charge the battery and turn on/off external devices. As a result, it becomes possible not only to transfer electric power between the external device and the vehicle, but also to control the external device connected to the adapter according to the state of the vehicle.

(c-2) Judgment of vehicle type by the control unit, etc. (6) The control unit has a function of judging whether or not the vehicle equipped with the adapter is equipped with a large-capacity battery of a predetermined amount or more. If the vehicle is not equipped with a large-capacity battery, the power supply should be stopped at a predetermined point of time.
According to such a configuration, in a vehicle equipped with a relatively small capacity battery such as an engine-equipped vehicle (a vehicle driven by an engine and not driven by a motor), it is possible to prevent the engine from being unable to start due to a dead battery. In addition, in a vehicle with a large-capacity battery such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, it is possible to preferentially charge the device.
Whether or not the vehicle equipped with the adapter is equipped with a large-capacity battery having a predetermined amount or more is preferably determined based on a signal from the vehicle side. For example, it may be configured such that the user makes settings like DIP switches or selection on the screen. However, in this way, since the determination is made automatically, the user's trouble is not required and the usability is good.

(c-3) Detection of vehicle state, etc. (7) The control unit detects on/off of the engine based on a signal from the vehicle side, and does not stop power supply when the engine is on, but continues power supply when the engine is off. It is good to have a configuration to stop.
According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the capacity of the vehicle-mounted battery from excessively decreasing by charging the vehicle-mounted battery only when the engine charges the vehicle-mounted battery. For example, when multiple power supply connectors are provided, by turning off at least one of them when the engine is stopped by a command from the control unit, an external device that requires a large amount of charge can be charged with the vehicle battery by the engine. By charging only when charging, it is possible to prevent the capacity of the on-vehicle battery from dropping excessively.
(8) The control unit detects at least one of remaining battery capacity, engine speed, and accelerator opening based on a signal from the vehicle, and stops power supply when the detected value is equal to or less than a predetermined value. It is better to have a function to
For example, when the control unit detects the remaining battery level and the remaining battery level of the vehicle falls below a predetermined value, for example, when the engine can be started several times or less, power supply may be stopped. In addition, it is also possible to have a function of turning on the power supply to the power supply connector when the opening of the accelerator is above a predetermined level, when the number of revolutions of the engine is above a specified level, or when the speed is above a specified level.

With this configuration, the external device can be charged only when power is being supplied to the on-board battery when the engine is started, or when the on-board battery has sufficient capacity. capacity reduction can be prevented.

(c-4) Driving condition detection and power supply control, etc. by the control unit (9) The control unit has a function of controlling on/off of a plurality of power supply connectors according to the vehicle driving condition obtained from the vehicle. good.
By doing so, the operation of the device can be turned on/off according to the driving condition of the vehicle. For example, it is possible to set the correspondence between driving conditions and the on/off of multiple power supply connectors so that the driver does not have to turn on/off various external devices installed in the room by himself. If a configuration is adopted in which the on/off of a plurality of power supply connectors is controlled based on the above, the operability of the external device is greatly improved.
For example, the control unit acquires turn signal information of the vehicle, turns on power supply to the right power supply connector when the right turn signal is turned on, and turns on power supply to the left power supply connector when the left turn signal is turned on.
It also acquires the speed and impact (acceleration change) of the vehicle, and turns on the power supply to the camera, video, drive recorder, etc. according to it, and turns on the power supply to the fan according to the indoor and outdoor temperature. It is better to have a function to operate by

(c-5) (Controlling multiple connectors in different modes, etc.)
(10) It is preferable that a plurality of power supply connectors are provided and power supply control to the plurality of power supply connectors is controlled differently.
In this way, the operation of each external device connected to each power supply connector can be made different. For example, as a plurality of power supply connectors, a connector for an external device that requires constant power supply (for example, for a device without a battery) and a connector for an external device that does not require constant power supply (for example, for a device with a battery) are provided, It is preferable to have a configuration in which power is preferentially supplied to a connector for an external device that requires constant power supply. In addition, the adapter is equipped with a control unit that detects the vehicle's remaining battery power, and according to the detection result of this control unit, when the vehicle's remaining battery power is low, power is first supplied to the connector for an external device that does not require constant power supply. It should be configured to stop at

(c-6) (Control based on power supply priority, etc.)
(11) The plurality of power supply connectors are configured by a connector for an external device that requires constant power supply and a connector for an external device that does not require constant power supply, and the control unit is for an external device that requires constant power supply. It is better to have a function to give priority to power supply to the connector of the
In this way, a device that requires constant power supply can be operated with priority over a device that does not require constant power supply. Equipment that requires constant power supply, such as equipment that consumes a large amount of power, equipment that requires data communication, monitoring, or standby for a long time, and warning lights that must be charged in case of emergency. , disaster prevention radio, etc. are particularly good because they can be supplied with power preferentially. It is preferable to connect an external device, for example, a device that has a battery or the like and operates on the battery when power is not supplied, as an external device, to the connector for the external device that is unnecessary until the constant power supply.

(d-1) (hub function, etc.)
(12) A plurality of power supply connectors are provided, at least one of the plurality of power supply connectors being a connector having a communication path for control signals in addition to power from the battery, and one of the plurality of power supply connectors being a host. It is preferable to use the connector for connecting the device and the other connector as the connector for connecting the peripheral device.

In this way, the peripheral device connected to the other connector can be used from the host device connected to the connection connector of the host device. In particular, it is preferable to network a plurality of power supply connectors provided on the adapter. In this way, data can be exchanged between various external devices connected to a plurality of power supply connectors. In addition, it is preferable to use the data acquired by each external device to control power supply stoppage of each power supply connector. In addition, it is preferable to have a hub function in order to use peripheral devices connected to other connectors from the host device.

(d-2) Host controls power supply to peripheral device (13) The adapter is provided with a control unit that receives information from the host device connector and controls power supply to the peripheral device connector. It's good to be
When a connector having a communication path for control signals in addition to the power from the vehicle battery is used as the power supply connector, one of the power supply connectors is used as a connector for connecting the host device, and the other connector is used for connecting the peripheral device. can be a connector. In this case, it is possible to access the peripheral device connected to the other power supply connector from the host device. Also, it is preferable to control power supply to each power supply connector or the like based on a signal from the host device. .

With such a configuration, the adapter can be used as a hub for a plurality of external devices, and can be used as means for exchanging data between external devices. In particular, when multiple electronic devices such as a personal computer, a smart phone, and a digital camera are used in a vehicle and files are exchanged among them, the adapter of the present invention can be used without providing a dedicated hub, which is convenient. . In addition, it is preferable to control the power supply of each power supply connector from an external device such as a smart phone or a personal computer connected to the adapter. configuration.

(e-1) (Various settings by mobile terminal)
(14) The adapter includes a connection section with a mobile terminal and a control section for performing various settings related to the adapter, and the control section performs various settings related to the adapter based on a signal received from the mobile terminal at the connection section. good to go

(14-1) Connection of mobile terminal For example, the adapter has a wireless communication unit that connects to a mobile terminal such as a smart phone, and the control unit performs various settings related to the adapter based on the signal received by the wireless communication unit. or to control the power feeding state of the power feeding connector and/or the power receiving connector. In this case, as the wireless communication unit, a low-power wireless connection means such as WiFi, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Zigbee (registered trademark), RFID, etc. provided in mobile terminals such as smartphones that does not require a license for users is used. can do.

(14-2) Wired Connection with Portable Terminal In the present invention, the means for controlling the controller of the adapter from the portable terminal is not limited to the wireless connection means as described above. For example, in the case of an adapter with a USB connector, it is also possible to use a USB cable to wire-connect the mobile terminal and the adapter, and transmit a control signal from the mobile terminal to the controller of the adapter. In this case, there is no need to provide the adapter with a wireless communication means, and various settings can be made to the control unit even though the adapter itself has a simple structure.

(14-3) Condition setting from portable terminal Examples of condition setting are as follows.
(1) The controller sets the vehicle type of the vehicle in which this adapter is installed according to a signal from the portable terminal. can recognize whether it is connected to For example, it can be used to acquire or output information according to the vehicle type, or to control power supply to the power supply connector.
(2) The control unit sets the current value of the power supply connector and/or the power reception connector according to the signal from the mobile terminal.
(3) The control unit sets conditions for starting and stopping power supply from the vehicle-mounted battery to the power supply connector according to a signal from the portable terminal. For example, based on a signal from an on-vehicle electronic device, the power supply connector condition can be set. For example, when n USB connectors, ie, USB connectors 1 to n, are provided, when it is detected that the lights of the vehicle are turned on, for example, the power of the USB connector 2 is turned on, and when the lights are turned off, the power of the USB connector 2 is turned on. When receiving a signal from the mobile terminal to turn off the , control is performed according to the received content.
(4) The control unit sets power supply conditions for the vehicle and the portable battery as control from the smart phone according to a signal from the mobile terminal. For example, as a power supply condition, a condition for starting power supply and a condition for terminating power supply are set, such as supplying power from the portable battery to the power supply connector for 5 minutes when the power supply from the on-vehicle battery is interrupted. It is preferable to control the start/end of power supply based on this setting.

(Effect of condition setting by mobile terminal)
Automotive electronic equipment varies depending on the drive source such as an engine-equipped vehicle or an electric vehicle, the type of small vehicle, large vehicle, passenger vehicle, freight vehicle, etc., and the manufacturer or dealer. Optimal conditions for this are also different. Therefore, it is troublesome to set appropriate conditions in advance for various on-vehicle electronic devices because many types of adapters must be prepared. According to the present invention, the manufacturer or seller of the adapter can use a mobile terminal to set the optimum conditions for the adapter according to the in-vehicle electronic equipment of each vehicle. disappears.

For example, as shown in (1) to (4) above, the user can freely set the power supply conditions for the external device according to the user's vehicle type, its driving conditions, or the type of external device connected to the adapter. This makes it possible not only to simply charge the built-in battery of an external device, but also to automatically turn on and off various types of external devices according to the state of the vehicle and driving conditions.

(e-2) (Setting for adapter by mobile terminal)
(15) The adapter includes a connection unit for connecting to a mobile terminal and a control unit for performing various settings related to the adapter, and the power supply provided to the adapter based on a signal received from the mobile terminal at the connection unit. It is good to control the power supply of the connector.

For example, while the adapter is in use, the mobile terminal may transmit a power supply or power reception state switching signal to the power supply connector or the power reception connector to the controller of the adapter. By doing so, it becomes possible to perform an operation from the mobile terminal that is different from the conditions set in advance. As a result, it becomes possible for the user to arbitrarily control the external device connected to the adapter each time according to the situation in which the user or the vehicle is placed. For example, a control program that controls the controller of the adapter is built into the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal controls the adapter according to the time, position, acceleration, outside temperature, brightness, room temperature, etc. detected by the mobile terminal. You should send instructions to the department. In this way, there is an advantage that each connector of the adapter can be controlled based on information that cannot be detected by the vehicle-mounted electronic device.

(f) Power feeding and charging a portable battery (16) The external device is a portable battery, and the adapter comprises a power feeding connector from the adapter to the portable battery and a power feeding connector from the portable battery to the adapter. It's good to be
In the present invention, a portable battery generally called a mobile battery can be used as the external device. In other words, small portable batteries called mobile batteries are sold for charging battery-equipped devices such as smart phones, mobile phones, tablet terminals, digital cameras, and video cameras. This mobile battery charges the built-in battery of the electronic device using a USB cable or the like when the capacity of the built-in battery is low. The present invention can use this type of mobile battery as an external device to be charged.

When the adapter is provided with a connector for connecting the portable battery, the connector may be used as a power supply connector from the portable battery to the adapter in addition to being a power supply connector from the adapter to the portable battery. For example, when the adapter is provided with a plurality of power supply connectors, at least one of the power supply connectors may be used to supply power to the portable battery, and at least one of the power supply connectors may be used to supply power from the portable battery. It is also possible to use one power supply connector for both power supply to the portable battery and power supply from the portable battery.

Then, the power from the portable battery may be supplied via the adapter to various devices connected to the adapter, such as in-vehicle electronic devices and other external devices that receive power from the adapter. . Further, it is preferable to provide a selector switch on the adapter or change the type of connector provided on the adapter so that the direction of power supply between the adapter and the portable battery can be switched. Further, it is preferable to provide the adapter with a control section for switching the direction of power supply under specific conditions.

(f-1) Power supply from portable battery to vehicle (17) Provided with a function to determine a voltage drop of the battery mounted on the vehicle, and when a voltage drop of the battery is detected, the portable battery supplies power to the vehicle side. It is preferable to have a function to supply power. According to such a configuration, by supplying electric power to the electric wiring in the vehicle via the adapter, the electric power of the portable battery is used, and the interior lights and the like which are normally supplied with electric power from the in-vehicle battery can be used. Other electrical equipment can be used, the engine can be started, and the vehicle battery can be charged. The function of determining the voltage drop of the battery mounted on the vehicle is preferably determined by monitoring the voltage supplied from the power receiving connector. Alternatively, the control unit may obtain information regarding the state of the battery of the vehicle and make a determination.

(f-2) Power supply from portable battery to external device (18) As the control unit, when the capacity of the vehicle battery is low, the power from the connector to which the portable battery is connected is supplied to another power supply provided in the adapter. It is good to have a function to switch to supply to the connector. In that case, the power of the portable battery can be used to charge and use the external device connected to the adapter.

(g) Installation of storage means such as an SD card (19) It is preferable to provide a connector having a data communication path. For example, it is preferable to provide a connector for attaching an SD card, a USB memory, or other storage means. In this way, it becomes possible to read and write data stored in the storage means to and from an external device attached to a power supply connector having a data communication path, and to a mobile terminal or smart phone that does not have an SD card slot, etc., in the car. Data can be recorded.
(20) The adapter of the present invention has an input section for an output signal from a port of a fault diagnosis system mounted on a vehicle, and outputs a signal based on the signal received at the input section to an external device or an internal device. It is preferable to provide an output unit for

In this way, the functions desired by the user can be realized more easily than before. For example, by connecting various external devices, in addition to the functions of the adapter itself, various functions of the external device can be exhibited. For example, if the adapter is provided with an internal device having image and sound output means, or if an external device having image and sound output means is connected to the adapter, information from the fault diagnosis system can be transmitted to the user in various ways. be able to. For example, by connecting an external device with a display such as a radar detector, navigation device, drive recorder, etc. to the adapter, information from the failure diagnosis system can be displayed in various forms of images and sounds that were not possible with the adapter alone. This allows the user to easily and reliably recognize the state of the vehicle. The signal output from the output unit based on the signal received by the input unit may be, for example, the signal input from the adapter as it is, or the signal processed inside the adapter.

In particular, it is preferable that the unit is detachably attached to an adapter connected to a port of the failure diagnosis system, and one or more units are connected. A configuration in which a plurality of identical units are connected is preferable. However, it is particularly preferable to have a configuration in which a plurality of units of different types are connected. In particular, it is preferable to have a configuration in which information from a vehicle-side computer (for example, an ECU, etc.) is output to various types of external devices and/or internal devices in accordance with the user's request. In this way, functions desired by the user can be easily combined and realized.

(21) (Adapter Built-In Speaker and/or Display) It is preferable that the internal device is at least one of a speaker built into the adapter, an image display device, and a warning light.

With this configuration, the adapter incorporates a speaker, an image display device, and the like, so that audio information and image information obtained from the vehicle can be output from the adapter. In this respect, there is an advantage that the information output on the vehicle side can be output with the adapter alone, compared with the technique of simply increasing the number of ports on the vehicle side by using a branch harness or the like. For example, based on the information obtained from the failure diagnosis system, the adapter alone may output a warning sound, voice guidance, flashing warning light, and text or image guidance to the user. For example, if the internal device is a speaker, even if the adapter is placed in a location that is difficult for the user to see visually, it is possible to output warning sounds and voice guidance based on information from the fault diagnosis system.

(22) (Definition of External Equipment) It is preferable that the external equipment has at least one of an audio output function and an image display function.

The information that the adapter acquires from the failure diagnosis system may be, for example, vehicle speed, engine speed, oil temperature, water temperature, accelerator opening, and the like. Based on this information, for example, images such as numerical values and graphs, and sounds such as warning sounds and voice guidance are generated. It is preferable that the external device connected to the adapter has at least one of an audio output function and an image display function, and provides information output via the adapter in a form that is easy for the user to understand.

(23) (The external device is a navigation device, etc.) It is preferable that the external device is at least one of a navigation device, a radar detector, and a drive recorder.

In particular, the controller of the adapter sends information to the controller of these devices so that the user can use the image and audio output functions of the navigation device, radar detector, drive recorder, etc. that the user already owns. do it. In this way, there is no need to connect an adapter or a dedicated image and audio output device to the adapter. In particular, such equipment should be installed in a location that is easily visible to the user of the vehicle. In this way, the user can easily confirm the information from the vehicle obtained via the adapter.

(24) (Acquisition of information from external equipment) An external equipment input unit for receiving information from the external equipment is provided, and predetermined voice guidance and / Or it is preferable to include an information processing section for displaying an image.

In this way, not only information from the adapter but also information from the external device can be output to other external devices or internal devices connected to the adapter. For example, in the information processing unit, by comparing position information from navigation devices and radar detectors with speed and accelerator opening information from a fault diagnosis system, curves and obstacles in the vehicle's direction of travel can be identified in the current direction. Judgment can be made as to whether or not the vehicle is dangerous in terms of driving conditions, and the result can be output to other external or internal equipment. In particular, such a function is an advantage that cannot be obtained simply by increasing the number of output ports on the vehicle side using a branch harness.

(25) (Output of information to adapter) It is preferable to provide an adapter output section for outputting information received from at least one of the external device and the internal device to the adapter.

In this way, information obtained from external or internal equipment can be transmitted to the adapter, so that, for example, the adapter can perform fault diagnosis based on information from the fault diagnosis system and information from the external or internal device. By providing an information processing unit for performing various judgments and operations that could not be performed only by information from the system, it becomes possible to perform various information processing on the adapter side. For example, by comprehensively judging the information about the vehicle obtained by the failure diagnosis system and the information about the surrounding conditions of the vehicle and the driver obtained by external equipment, various things that were not possible with the failure diagnosis system alone can be performed. information can be provided to the user. For example, it is possible to perform various operations and parameter settings related to the adapter and the failure diagnosis system itself by commands from external or internal devices.

(26) (Information processing unit in adapter) Information for generating an image and/or audio signal to be output to at least one of said external device and internal device based on information received from at least one of said adapter and external device It is preferable to have a processing unit.

In this way, by providing the information processing section in the adapter, it is possible not only to output the information input from the adapter or the external device as it is, but also to process the information into a user-friendly form and output it. For example, numerical data such as vehicle speed, engine speed, temperature in various places, and remaining battery capacity input from an adapter can be converted into graphs and images for display, and input numerical values can be compared with preset thresholds. By doing so, warning sounds and voice guidance can be performed. For example, by processing the information received from the external device or comparing it with the information from the adapter, it is possible to output a wider variety of information to the external device or internal device in a form that is easy for the user to understand.

(27) (Connecting a Plurality of External Devices) It is preferable to provide a plurality of signal output units for external devices.

In this way, by processing signals to be output to a plurality of external devices differently depending on the signal output section provided in the adapter, for example, the type and installation location of the external device, the failure diagnosis system, etc. The most suitable information for the user can be output from the most suitable external device according to the type and magnitude of the signal. For example, depending on the degree of warning of the signal obtained from the fault diagnosis system, the volume of the audio signal output from each external device can be changed, or the content of the displayed image can be changed. For example, information with a high degree of urgency is displayed on a navigation device that is positioned most easily for the user to see, while normal engine speed, water temperature, and oil temperature are displayed on a radar detector with a smaller display screen than the navigation device. For example, by combining the information processing unit and a plurality of external devices, various patterns of display and voice guidance can be performed.

(28) (Hub Adapter) It is preferable that one pair of the plurality of input and output sections is used as a connection section for an external device serving as a host, and the other input section and output section are used as connection sections for an external device serving as peripheral devices.

In this way, for example, it becomes possible to use the adapter as a hub for a plurality of external devices, and information from the fault diagnosis system can be distributed to various external devices. For example, it becomes possible to exchange data between external devices via an adapter. In other words, this adapter can be conveniently used without providing a dedicated hub when using a plurality of electronic devices such as personal computers, smart phones, and digital cameras in the vehicle and exchanging files among them. For example, by controlling other external devices, adapters, or various functions of adapters from external devices with input functions such as smartphones and personal computers connected to adapters, it is possible to set parameters for external devices that do not have an operation unit. Various operations can be easily performed. For example, by providing an information processing unit, information acquired by an external device of the host can be processed and transmitted to other external devices that are peripheral devices. It is preferable to superimpose the image obtained in step 1 on the signal from the failure diagnosis system side and display it on another external device such as a navigation device.

(29) (Mobile terminal: including wireless and wired) The external device may be a mobile terminal.

In this way, for example, by using a portable terminal such as a smart phone, the data acquired from the vehicle by the adapter can be displayed on the screen of the smart phone using an application provided for the smart phone in advance. can be done. For example, by mounting an adapter connected to a mobile terminal in combination with an adapter having other functions, programs and data of external devices connected to the adapter having other functions can be updated from the mobile terminal side. . For example, it is possible to update the latest crackdown information to external devices such as radar using a personal computer or smartphone.

(30) (Bluetooth adapter) It is preferable to be connected to the portable terminal by wireless communication.
Mobile terminals such as smart phones and tablet computers often have wireless communication functions such as Bluetooth in addition to wired communication functions using USB cables. In such a portable terminal, by connecting the adapter and the portable terminal by wireless communication, data can be easily exchanged without preparing connection means such as a cable. For example, it is preferable to connect all the units and the mobile terminal by wireless communication. When connecting a unit to an adapter, if the end unit is always connected, it is preferable to provide the wireless communication function only to the end unit.

(31) (Logging Adapter) It is preferable to have a recording unit for information received from at least one of the in-vehicle computer, the external device, and the internal device.

In this way, by writing the information collected from the vehicle while driving and the position information collected from the GPS into a storage medium such as an SD card provided in the adapter or the unit connected to it, it is useful for safe driving and operation management. It is possible to collect the information obtained as a log. The information collected in the storage medium can be used for safe driving by analyzing operation information, operation trajectory, driving habits, etc. using a dedicated application on a personal computer or mobile terminal. For example, when connecting units to an adapter, recording units may be provided in all units, but when configuring to always connect terminal units, it is preferable to provide recording units only in terminal units.

(32) (TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) Adapter) The external device is an air pressure detection device mounted on a tire of a vehicle, the air pressure detection device and the adapter are connected by wireless communication, and the information processing section At least one of an image display and an audio output may be output from at least one of another external device and internal device connected to the adapter based on information from the air pressure detection device.

In this way, for example, the state of tire pressure can be displayed as a graph, the position of the tire and the tire pressure can be superimposed on the outline drawing of the vehicle, and a sound or warning sound can be output in the event of an abnormality. It is possible to display the tire pressure in various states. In particular, when a plurality of external devices are connected to the adapter, the tire pressure can be displayed in different modes depending on the type of external device, thereby further improving the user's visibility and voice guidance function.

(33) (Millimeter Wave Radar Receiving Adapter) The external device is an obstacle detection radar device, and the information processing section is connected to the adapter based on information from the obstacle detection radar device and information from the adapter. It is preferable to output at least one of an external device control command, warning sound, and voice guidance to at least one of the other external device and internal device.

In this way, the obstacle detection radar device uses, for example, a millimeter wave radar to detect the situation in a range of about 100 m, so it can measure the distance to an obstacle in front, Velocity against obstacles can be measured. For example, based on the information obtained from the millimeter wave radar and the information obtained from the vehicle by the adapter, by outputting a warning such as a non-maintaining distance from another external device connected to the adapter, it assists in avoiding danger. It can be used to prevent accidents such as collisions. For example, if obstacle detection radar devices are attached to the left and right of the vehicle, and a turn signal is issued to change course while the vehicle is running, the turn signal is detected by the fault diagnosis system via the adapter, and the control device of the adapter detects the turn signal. By comparing the information from the obstacle detection radar device and the information from the fault diagnosis system, if there is another vehicle on the side of the vehicle that is changing course, a warning sound can be sent out to warn the driver of danger.

(34) (Connecting expansion unit to adapter) It is preferable that the adapter is provided with a mounting portion for fixing the expansion unit. Also, each unit preferably has a mounting portion for fixing other units.

In this way, it is possible to connect various types of external equipment by connecting different units to the adapter according to the type of external equipment desired by the user. For example, one of the plurality of units may be an end unit having only a mounting portion to be secured to the adapter, and the end unit may be connected last after the plurality of units are connected to the adapter. By doing so, the mounting portion for connecting other units is not exposed in a part of the last connected unit, so that the dustproof effect is obtained and the appearance is good. For example, a terminal unit that does not have an attachment section for connecting other units can secure a large space for installing other equipment on its surface, so a large speaker that covers the entire surface of the unit can be used as the internal equipment. , can improve the quality of the output voice.

(35) (Stacking of Adapters and Units) It is preferable that the adapters and units are fixed in a state of being stacked in a plurality of stages. In this way, the adapter and the plurality of units connected thereto have the appearance of one block, so that the whole is compactly integrated while having many functions, and there is no sense of incongruity inside the vehicle. can be placed.

(36) (Multiple Units Attached to Adapter) It is preferable that the adapter is provided with a plurality of unit mounting portions adjacent to each other, and that the plurality of units be adjacently arranged on the adapter.

In this way, a plurality of units can be arranged on one adapter in a small area without stacking a plurality of units. For example, if each unit and an external device are connected by wireless communication, there is no need for a connector for connecting the unit and the external device, and it is possible to use a miniaturized unit in the form of a chip or card. become. For example, if a USB port is used as the unit attachment portion provided in the adapter, a plurality of units can be attached to one adapter using a standardized connection structure.

For example, a plurality of units (in particular, several to ten-odd units) of the same shape (the width and height are the same when attached to the adapter) that are smaller than the adapter are placed on one side of the adapter. By arranging them side by side, it becomes possible to compactly connect a plurality of units having external devices and internal devices with various functions to the adapter. In particular, it is good to arrange them side by side without gaps. By doing so, it is possible to solve the problem that dust enters the gap in a place where dust is likely to occur, such as a vehicle interior, and dirt becomes conspicuous.

(37) (Network Connection) The unit is connected to a plurality of sensors arranged in the vehicle by a network in which the fault diagnosis system is installed in the vehicle, and the adapter is connected to the network. and a local network connected to said network via said adapter, to which said unit, external equipment and/or internal equipment are connected.

In this manner, the failure diagnosis system is connected to various sensors on the vehicle side via a network inside the vehicle called a CAN network, for example, and collects data that is the basis for failure diagnosis. For example, by connecting a local network provided in an adapter to this type of network in the vehicle and exchanging information with external devices via the local network, information from the fault diagnosis system, Information from each external device can be delivered in real time to network-connected adapters, fault diagnosis systems, units, external devices, internal devices, and the like.

In other words, compared to the case where the adapter and unit are connected by serial communication, since multiple external devices are connected to the local network, each unit can receive information from the adapter and other external devices at the same time as other units. can be received. As a result, even when a large number of units are combined or a large number of external devices are connected, compared to the case where each company's devices are serially connected or each external device is directly connected to a network such as CAN in the vehicle, No information delays. For example, when a vehicle is driving at high speed, it is necessary to instantly issue a warning or take evasive action based on information collected by external equipment or a failure diagnosis system. The present invention can also be applied to a system that

(38) (Wireless connection between adapter and unit) The unit is preferably wirelessly connected to the adapter.

In this way, since the adapter and the unit are wirelessly connected, there is no need for a mounting portion for connecting the unit and the adapter, a connector for signal transfer, etc., and the size of the adapter and the unit can be reduced. be able to. For example, multiple internal devices, such as a speaker and SD card recording unit, and a wireless device for connecting external devices and adapters can be installed in a single case to achieve multiple functions in a single miniaturized unit. can. For example, since there is no restriction on the installation position of such a unit, the unit can be arranged at a position away from the adapter or at a position that is easy for the user to operate.

(39) Preferably, the unit is provided with a power supply connector for supplying vehicle-side power supplied via the adapter to an external device as power for charging.

In this way, for example, a smart phone, a personal computer, or the like can be charged using the battery on the vehicle side. For example, the port of the fault diagnosis system is always powered by the battery, and by supplying this power to an external device connected to the unit via an adapter, the external device can be charged even when the vehicle's accessory switch is turned off. It can be carried out.

(40) (Power Receiving Connector from External Device to Unit) The external device is a mobile battery, and the unit has a power receiving connector for supplying power from the mobile battery to the vehicle and/or other external devices. should be provided.

In this way, by supplying power from the mobile battery to other external devices and the vehicle side, for example, when the accessory switch of the vehicle is turned off, other external devices can be charged and used, and the vehicle battery can be charged. When the capacity of the mobile battery is insufficient, the electric power of the mobile battery can be supplied to the vehicle to use various devices on the vehicle.

At least any two of (1) to (40) described above may be combined. In particular, it is preferable to combine at least one of (2) to (40) on the premise of the configuration (1). Also, the components described in (1) to (40) may be selected and combined.
(A) A device for supplying power from a failure diagnosis connector provided in a vehicle to equipment retrofitted to the vehicle,
a function of connecting to an in-vehicle network of the vehicle via the failure diagnosis connector;
a function to detect the on state of the vehicle;
a function of transmitting a signal based on data acquired from the in-vehicle network to the device when the vehicle is in an ON state;
It is preferable to have a function of supplying power to the device when the vehicle is not in the ON state.

In this way, equipment retrofitted to the vehicle can be easily supplied with power from the failure diagnosis connector, and can be supplied with power without, for example, blocking a cigarette lighter socket. When in the ON state, it can receive information from the in-vehicle network of the vehicle, and can receive power even when the vehicle is not in the ON state.

Various devices can be used as the devices retrofitted to the vehicle, but a drive recorder, for example, is particularly preferable.
The in-vehicle network to be connected may be, for example, CAN or K-line.
An OBDII connector, for example, is particularly preferable as the connector for failure diagnosis. In particular, if the connector is installed inside the vehicle, the user can easily connect it.

(B) having a function of supplying power to the device when the vehicle is on;
It is preferable to provide a function for notifying the device whether the vehicle is on or not (off state).

In this way, equipment retrofitted to the vehicle can easily receive power supply and can know whether the vehicle is in the ON state or the OFF state. In particular, a line for supplying power and a signal line for notifying whether the vehicle is on or off should be a single cable covered with the same coating. In this way, by wiring only one cable, it is possible to receive power supply and a signal indicating whether or not the vehicle is in the on state, so that wiring for retrofitted equipment in the vehicle is extremely easy. Be smart and easy.

(C) The device may have a function of changing the operation of the device by a function of notifying whether the vehicle is on or off (off state).
For example, when the device is a drive recorder, if the vehicle is on, the constant recording mode is set, and if the vehicle is not on, the parking monitoring mode is set, and the recording parameters are switched between the two modes.

(D) The device preferably has a function of not transmitting a signal based on the data acquired from the in-vehicle network to the device when the vehicle is not on.
In this way, the device can easily determine whether or not the vehicle is in the ON state by whether or not there is transmission of a signal based on the data obtained from the in-vehicle network.

(E) The device may have the ability to not send signals to the in-vehicle network when the vehicle is not on.
In this way, when the vehicle is not in the ON state, for example, the in-vehicle computer for controlling the vehicle connected to the in-vehicle network, which is in the sleep state or the OFF state, can be turned into the activated state or the ON state. can be reduced. This is because these in-vehicle computers may transition from a sleep state or an off state to an activated state or an on state when a signal flows through the in-vehicle network.

(F) The ON state of the vehicle may be a state in which the vehicle charges the battery of the vehicle. An engine-on state may be provided as the on-state of the vehicle.
(G) When the vehicle is not in the ON state, it is preferable that power is not supplied to the cigar socket of the vehicle.
(H) It is preferable that a function of transmitting a signal to the effect that the device is turned off is provided, and that the device performs processing based on the signal that the device is turned off.
(I) The device is a drive recorder, and the video recording mode may be switched based on reception of the signal indicating that the device is turned off.

(J) The video recording mode may be switched from a recording mode in which the vehicle is on (eg, constant recording mode) to a recording mode in which the vehicle is off (eg, parking monitoring recording mode).
In the parking surveillance recording mode, for example, the bit rate of the captured video to be recorded may be lower than that in the constant recording mode. For example, it is preferable to reduce the frame rate of the video, reduce the resolution, increase the compression rate, or perform at least one of these.

(K) having a function of stopping power supply to the device when the vehicle is not in the ON state;
A sensor may be provided, and a function may be provided to start supplying power to the device based on a signal from the sensor even when the vehicle is not in the ON state.
If power is continuously supplied from the failure diagnosis connector to the devices attached to the vehicle while the vehicle is off, there is a concern that the vehicle battery will run out due to the power supply to the device. Such concerns can be alleviated by supplying power based on the signal from the sensor. Also, the load on the battery of the vehicle can be reduced.

The sensor may be a sensor that detects at least one of a person approaching the vehicle, vehicle shaking, and sound in the vicinity of the vehicle. Then, for example, in at least one of the following cases: when a person approaches, when the shaking of the vehicle corresponds to a predetermined state, or when the sound around the vehicle corresponds to a predetermined state, the power supply to the device is turned on. Supply should be resumed. These predetermined states may be states corresponding to artificial vibrations or sounds made by thieves or the like.

Whether or not to supply power to the device when the vehicle is not in the ON state is set based on a signal from the device to the device, and the device determines whether or not to supply power to the device when the vehicle is not in the ON state based on the setting. It is preferable to control on/off of power supply to the device. For example, even when this function is set so that power is not supplied to the device when the vehicle is not on, a sensor is provided as shown in (K), and the vehicle is controlled based on the signal from the sensor. It is preferable to have a function to start supplying power to the device even when the device is not in the ON state.

(L) The sensor may be an acceleration sensor. Then, when the acceleration acquired from the acceleration sensor reaches a predetermined state, the power supply to the device may be resumed even if the vehicle is not in the ON state. The predetermined state may be a state corresponding to the addition of acceleration to the vehicle by a person, such as a thief. For example, it may be assumed that an acceleration equal to or greater than a predetermined value occurs.
(M) The sensor may be provided in a housing provided with a connector that fits into a fault diagnosis connector provided in the vehicle. By doing so, it is possible to eliminate the exposure of the wiring from the failure diagnosis connector to the sensor, and to install the device or equipment smartly and easily.

(N) It is preferable to have a function of receiving a signal for controlling power supply from the device to the device and controlling power supply from the device to the device based on the signal.
The signal for controlling power supply from the device to the device may include at least one of turning off or turning on power supply from the device to the device. The power supply may be turned off or turned on immediately after receiving the signal, or may be turned on after a predetermined period of time. It is preferable to send a signal instructing the device from the device for a predetermined period of time so that the device performs the predetermined period of time based on the signal. Further, for example, the device sends a signal regarding the time to supply power to the device, and the device receives the signal, supplies power to the device for the time, and then supplies power to the device. You may make it stop.

(O) the device has a communication function, the device has a function of performing communication using the communication function when the vehicle is not in the ON state, and the power supply to the device is supplied to the device after the end of the communication; It is preferable that the device that receives the signal has a function of stopping the supply of power to the device.
In particular, the device is a drive recorder, and has a function of transmitting captured image data using the communication function while the vehicle is on, and recording image data that could not be transmitted. To have a function to transmit the recorded video data that could not be transmitted in the non-on state using the communication function, and to stop the supply of power to the device after the communication is completed. and the device receiving the signal has a function of stopping power supply to the device.

(P) It is preferable to have a function of stopping the power supply to the device when the power supply from the fault diagnosis connector provided in the vehicle reaches a predetermined state. In this way,
(Q) The device is a drive recorder and preferably has a function of automatically starting recording when power is supplied. In this way, the car security function can be easily realized by a general drive recorder.

(R) As for the configuration of the device, it is particularly preferable to combine at least any two of (A) to (Q). In particular, it is preferable to combine at least one of (B) to (R) on the premise of the configuration (A). Also, the components described in (A) to (Q) may be selected and combined. At least one of (1) to (40) and at least one of (A) to (Q) may be combined. Also, at least one of the components described in (1) to (40) and at least one of the components described in (a) to (r) may be combined.

The perspective view which shows 1st Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the modification of 1st Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the other modification of 1st Embodiment. The block circuit diagram of 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which an external device is connected by a USB connector having a communication function in the second embodiment; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a state in which an external device is connected by low-power radio in the second embodiment; The perspective view which shows the state which connected the portable battery in 2nd Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the example which provided the several USB connector in the adapter in 2nd Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the example which provided the slot of the SD card in the adapter in 2nd Embodiment. The perspective view of 3rd Embodiment. The block diagram of 4th Embodiment. The block diagram of 4th Embodiment. The block diagram of 5th Embodiment. The block diagram of 5th Embodiment. The block diagram of 6th Embodiment. The block diagram of 6th Embodiment. The block diagram of 7th Embodiment. The block diagram of 7th Embodiment. The block diagram of 8th Embodiment. The block diagram of 9th Embodiment. The block diagram of 10th Embodiment. The block diagram of 11th Embodiment. The block diagram of 12th Embodiment. The perspective view which shows an example of the adapter and unit in 12th Embodiment. The block diagram of 13th Embodiment. The block diagram of 14th Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the modification of 14th Embodiment.

[1. First Embodiment] (Adapter with Power Supply Function)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the adapter 1 of this embodiment has three power supply connectors and one power reception connector provided in a box-shaped housing.

In this embodiment, a USB connector 2, a mini USB connector 3, and a cigar socket 4 are provided on one side of the adapter 1 as power supply connectors. A male USB plug 20 provided at the end of the USB cable connecting the adapter 1 and the external device 10 is inserted into the USB connector 2, and the mini USB connector 3 is similarly provided at the end of the USB cable. A male USB plug 30 is inserted.

The USB connector 2 and the mini USB connector 3 have different capacities of current to be supplied, such as 2 A for the USB connector 2 and 1 A for the mini USB connector 3 . There are two types of USB connectors: those that only supply power for charging electronic devices (called power supply type USB connectors), and those that also connect signal lines for power supply and information transmission (called communication type USB connectors). Both connectors can be used, but the USB connector 2 and the mini USB connector 3 of the present embodiment are simple in configuration and only perform power supply used for charging electronic equipment. The capacity of the supply current of the cigar socket 4 is also set to a value different from that of the USB connectors 2 and 3, specifically 5A.

The power receiving connector 5 is provided on a different surface from the power feeding connector of the box-shaped adapter 1, and is connected to and separated from the connector 50 of the output port of the OBDII standard failure diagnosis system provided in the vehicle compartment near the driver's seat. Connected as possible. Specifically, the connector 50 is placed inside a pocket provided at the bottom of the dashboard on the driver's side of the vehicle, together with a fuse box and the like, and the opening of the pocket is covered with a cover that can be opened and closed from the passenger compartment. ing. Since the output port of the fault diagnosis system is always supplied with power from the vehicle side so that fault diagnosis can be performed by connecting the fault diagnosis device even when the ACC of the vehicle is turned off, the connector 50 provided there Power is always supplied from the vehicle side.

An external device 10 is connected to the adapter 1 via a cable 12 . In this embodiment, the external device 10 is a radar detector with a liquid crystal display, and the adapter 1 supplies power from the battery to the radar detector, and also supplies power from the vehicle through the connector 50 of the fault diagnosis port. Data is displayed on the LCD.

[1-2. Effect of the first embodiment]
According to this embodiment, the USB connector 2, the mini USB connector 3, and the cigar socket 4 provided on the adapter are constantly supplied with power from the connector 50 of the failure diagnosis port through the constant power supply type connector 5 of the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to constantly charge the external device regardless of the running state of the vehicle or the open/closed state of the ACC. In particular, there is an advantage that the battery of the external device can be charged even when the user leaves the vehicle with the ACC turned off.

A USB connector 2 and a mini USB connector 3 are provided as power supply connectors, so a wide variety of external devices equipped with a USB connector charging function, such as smart phones, mobile phones, tablet terminals, digital cameras, video cameras, and other small household appliances. can be used and charged. Since USB connectors 2 and 3 and a cigar socket 4 are provided, both a device equipped with a USB connector such as a smart phone and an in-vehicle device compatible with a cigar socket that is widely sold for in-vehicle use can be used. Since the USB connector 2, the mini USB connector 3, and the cigar socket 4 have different current values for power supply, for example, quick charging and normal charging can be used together, and both the problem of the load on the battery of the vehicle and the problem of the charging speed are compatible. can be achieved.

Since the radar detector 10 having a liquid crystal display is connected to the adapter 1 in addition to the power supply connector, it is possible not only to use and charge various external devices when the ACC is turned off, but also to use the liquid crystal display of the radar detector. It becomes possible to display information from the failure diagnosis port. As a result, the user can easily grasp the state of the vehicle, which contributes to improved safety, early detection of vehicle failures and abnormalities, and failure diagnosis.

Since the USB connector 2, the mini USB connector 3, the power supply connector such as the cigar socket 4, and the power receiving connector 5 are integrated with the case, the overall size of the adapter can be reduced.

[1-3. Modification 1 of the first embodiment]
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the USB connector 2, the mini USB connector 3, and the cigar socket 4, which are power supply connectors, may be connected to the adapter 1 using a cable 12. Alternatively, the power receiving connector 5 may be connected to the adapter 1 using the cable 12 . According to this modification, when the power supply connector and the power reception connector 5 are connected to the adapter by the cable 12, the power supply connector and the power reception connector can be installed at a position distant from the output port of the failure diagnosis system. , External devices can be charged near the driver's seat or passenger seat.

[1-3. Modification 2 of the first embodiment]
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the adapter 1 includes a speaker 1a, an image display device 1b such as a liquid crystal display, and a warning light 1c such as an LED. As a result, information from the fault diagnosis system can be displayed in various forms of images and sounds that were not possible with conventional adapters alone, allowing the user to easily and reliably recognize the state of the vehicle. Become. In this case, the information output from the speaker 1a, the image display device 1b such as a liquid crystal display, and the warning light 1c such as an LED is preferably the signal received from the vehicle by the adapter and output as it is. A signal processed inside the adapter may be used. In this way, since the adapter 1 incorporates the speaker 1a, the image display device 1b, etc., the audio information and image information obtained from the vehicle can be output from the adapter. In this respect, there is an advantage that the information output on the vehicle side can be output with the adapter alone, compared with the technique of simply increasing the number of ports on the vehicle side by using a branch harness or the like. For example, based on the information obtained from the failure diagnosis system, the adapter alone can output to the user warning sounds, voice guidance, blinking warning lights, and guidance by text and images. For example, if the internal device is a speaker, even if the adapter is placed in a location that is difficult for the user to see visually, it is possible to output warning sounds and voice guidance based on information from the failure diagnosis system.

[2. Second Embodiment] (Adapter with Power Supply Function and Control Function)
[2-1. Configuration of Second Embodiment]
FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram showing a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the adapter 1 is provided with a controller 11 to control power supply to the power supply connector. The control unit 11 includes a control microcomputer 111 that controls power supply to the power supply connectors (specifically, the USB connector 2, the mini USB connector 3, and the cigar socket 4). Each function of the adapter of the present embodiment is stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 11 as a program executed by the control microcomputer 111, and is realized by the control microcomputer 111 executing the program.

The functions realized by the computer by means of the programs of the control microcomputer 111 include functions (c-1, c-2, c-3) for acquiring information from the vehicle and determining the type and state of the vehicle, A function (c-4, c-5, c-6) that controls the on/off of power supply to each power supply connector by comparing the power supply conditions with the type and state of the vehicle, multiple external devices connected to the adapter, or A hub function (d-1) for exchanging information with the vehicle, a host processing function (d-2) for operating other external devices connected to the adapter according to commands from the host device connected to the adapter, a mobile phone There are various setting functions (e-1, e-2) by the terminal, a control function (f) for the portable battery connected to the adapter, and a function (g) for outputting information to external equipment connected to the adapter.

(c-1) Vehicle state detection function by control unit 11 In order to realize the vehicle state detection function by the control unit 11, the control microcomputer 111 is connected to various receiving units for acquiring vehicle-side information. there is That is, the control microcomputer 111 includes an engine state receiver 112 that detects engine start/stop, an analog signal detector 113 that receives an analog signal from an electronic device installed inside the vehicle, and a K-LINE communication controller. 114, and a CAN (Controller Area Network) communication control unit 115 wired inside the vehicle. In this embodiment, these receiving units are connected to an OBDII standard connector 50 provided on the vehicle side via a power receiving connector 5 provided on the adapter 1 .

The engine state receiving unit 112 detects the starting/stopping of the engine based on the pattern and magnitude of noise appearing on the power supply line 5L when the engine is started or stopped, and the voltage value fluctuation pattern. When detecting the appearance of a specific noise or voltage value, the control microcomputer 111 determines whether to start or stop the engine based on the detection signal, and supplies power to some or all of the power supply connectors. Output a start or stop signal. In this embodiment, the control microcomputer 111 controls the control microcomputer 111 so that power supply to the cigar socket 4 is stopped when the engine is stopped, and power supply to the USB connector 2 and the mini USB connector 3 is maintained even when the engine is stopped. controls.

The analog signal detection unit 113 detects various analog signals (for example, an analog audio signal or a temperature sensor from a output signal) and outputs the detection result to the control microcomputer 111 . The control microcomputer 111 controls the power supply control unit 119 based on information from various devices input from the analog signal detection unit 113 .

The K-LINE communication control unit 114 is connected to a K-LINE 114L wired to various devices such as sensors installed inside the vehicle. The K-LINE 114L is a low-speed bus dedicated to diagnostics, and has been used in diagnostic systems since before CAN became widespread. In the adapter 1 of the present embodiment, the K-LINE communication control unit 114 acquires information from various devices connected to the K-LINE 114L so that it can be mounted on a vehicle equipped with the K-LINE 114L, and the control microcomputer 111 can be output. Thereby, the control microcomputer 111 controls the power supply control unit 119 based on the information from each device connected to the K-LINE 114L.

The CAN communication control unit 115 is connected to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) of each part of the vehicle via a CAN 115N wired inside the vehicle. Inside the vehicle, for example, power train ECU such as engine, ABS, AT, body ECU such as door, seat, air conditioner, multimedia ECU such as car navigation, audio, drive recorder, speed sensor, oil temperature / water temperature sensor, direction In many vehicles, as many as 100 units of ECUs such as indicators, switches, etc. ECUs are provided, and these ECUs are connected to the CAN 115N. The CAN 115N is provided with a connector 50 of an OBDII standard fault diagnosis port, and the power receiving connector 5 provided on the adapter 1 is detachably fitted into this connector 50 .

The control microcomputer 111 controls the power supply control unit 119 according to the signals input from the engine state reception unit 112, the analog signal detection unit 113, the K-LINE communication control unit 114, and the CAN communication control unit 115. Outputs a power supply start or stop command. Specifically, the control microcomputer 111 detects the following information connected to one or more of the analog signal detection unit 113, the K-LINE communication control unit 114, and the CAN communication control unit 115.
(1) Battery output voltage
(2) Battery output current
(3) Battery charge status
(4) Cooling water temperature
(5) Room temperature
(6) Outdoor temperature
(7) Engine speed
(8) Accelerator opening
(9) Vehicle type
(10) Information on electronic equipment installed in the vehicle
(11) Door opening/closing
(12) User seated state

In this embodiment, the power receiving connector 5 provided in the adapter 1 is an OBDII standard connector, so the power receiving connector 5 can acquire various vehicle information every 0.5 seconds, for example. Vehicle information that can be acquired from the vehicle includes, for example, speed, average speed, maximum speed, 5-second speed, average 5-second speed, maximum 5-second speed, rotation speed, average rotation speed, maximum rotation speed, engine load, average load , maximum load, throttle opening, average throttle opening, maximum throttle opening, ignition timing, fuel level, intake manifold pressure, maximum intake manifold pressure, MAF, INJ, cooling water temperature, maximum cooling water temperature, intake air temperature, maximum intake air temperature , outside temperature, maximum outside temperature, remaining fuel, fuel flow rate, maximum fuel flow rate, fuel consumption, lifetime fuel consumption, instantaneous fuel consumption, current fuel consumption, maximum current fuel consumption, lifetime fuel consumption, average fuel consumption, average fuel consumption on ordinary roads, average fuel consumption on highways , moving average fuel consumption, maximum moving average fuel consumption, driving time, running time, idle time, idle ratio, mileage, lifetime mileage, 0-20km/h acceleration time, 0-20km/h average acceleration, 0-20km/h Shortest acceleration, 0-40km/h acceleration time, 0-40km/h average acceleration, 0-40km/h shortest acceleration, 0-60km/h acceleration time, 0-60km/h average acceleration, 0-60km/h shortest acceleration , 0-80km/h acceleration time, 0-80km/h average acceleration, 0-80km/h shortest acceleration, 0-20km/h running time, 20-40km/h running time, 40-60km/h running time, 60 There are vehicle data such as -80 km/h driving time, 80 km/h or more driving time, lifetime engine driving distance, lifetime engine driving ratio, etc. In the present invention, it is possible to appropriately set the conditions for charging the external device via the adapter from among these pieces of information. Since it affects the state of charge of the battery, it is suitable as a condition for starting and stopping power supply.

The control unit 11 has a database 116 that stores various data input to the control unit 11 . The database 116 can be realized by a non-volatile memory (for example, NAND Flash memory) inside the microcomputer of the control unit 11 or externally attached to the microcomputer. In the database 116, in order to realize each of the above functions, information regarding thresholds and conditions when each power supply connector turns on/off power supply according to the state of the vehicle obtained from the OBDII standard power receiving connector 5 is registered. It is This information includes information that is registered in the database 116 in advance when the adapter is shipped, and information that is added or updated by the user afterward.

The control microcomputer 111 includes a wired communication unit 117 such as USB, a wireless communication unit such as WiFi, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Zigbee (registered trademark), and RFID in order to acquire information from an external device connected to the adapter 1 . A communication unit 118 is connected. The USB connector 2 and the mini USB connector 3 of this embodiment use a communication type USB connector that also serves as a signal line connection for power supply and information transmission, so that the output from the wired communication unit 117 is output through the USB cable. can. In FIG. 5, the smart phone 61 is connected to the USB connector 2 using a USB cable, power is supplied from the adapter, and information from the smart phone 61 is received by the control microcomputer 111 via the wired communication unit 117. indicates the state of FIG. 6 shows a state in which information from the smart phone 61 is received by the control microcomputer 111 via the wireless communication section 118 .

The control unit 11 is provided with a power supply control unit 119 for starting and stopping power supply to the power supply connectors 2 to 4 in accordance with commands from the control microcomputer 111 . This power supply control unit 1
19 is provided between the power supply line 5L and each of the power supply connectors 2 to 4, and turns on/off the power supply from the adapter to the external device, and when the portable battery is connected to the adapter, the power supply from the portable battery to the adapter. Turns the power supply on and off. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the portable battery 62 is connected to the adapter and the portable battery 62 is charged from the adapter, and a state in which the portable battery 62 is connected to the in-vehicle battery or other external device via the adapter. Indicates the state of power supply to the device.

(c-2) Vehicle Type Determining Function by Control Unit The control unit 11 has a function of determining whether or not the vehicle equipped with the adapter is equipped with a large-capacity battery of a predetermined amount or more. That is, the control microcomputer 111 acquires information such as vehicle type and vehicle battery capacity from the K-LINE communication control unit 114 and/or the CAN communication control unit 115, and compares this information with the information stored in the database 116. If the vehicle equipped with the adapter is not equipped with a large-capacity battery, a command to stop power supply at a predetermined time is output to power supply control unit 119 . On the other hand, in the case of a vehicle equipped with a large-capacity battery, the power supply stop command is not output to the power supply control unit 119 .

According to such a configuration, in a vehicle equipped with a relatively small capacity battery such as an engine-equipped vehicle (a vehicle driven by an engine and not driven by a motor), it is possible to prevent the engine from being unable to start due to a dead battery. In addition, in a vehicle with a large-capacity battery such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, it is possible to preferentially charge the device. In addition, since the control microcomputer 111 obtains vehicle information and automatically determines whether or not power supply is possible, it is easy for the user to handle and is easy to use.

(c-3) Vehicle state detection function (a) Engine on/off function The control microcomputer 111 includes an engine state receiver 112, an analog signal detector 113, a K-LINE communication controller 114, and a CAN communication controller. It has a function of detecting on/off of the engine based on a signal from the vehicle obtained by either one of the units 115 or a combination thereof. That is, the control microcomputer 111 compares the information acquired from each receiving unit with the information stored in the database 116, for example, the noise pattern on the feeder line 5L and the pattern stored in the database 116, and Determine engine start or stop. According to the determination result, the control microcomputer 111 does not output a power supply stop command to the power supply control unit 119 when the engine is on, and outputs a power supply stop command to the power supply control unit 119 when the engine is off.

According to this function, it is possible to prevent the capacity of the vehicle battery from excessively decreasing by performing charging only when the vehicle battery is charged by the engine. For example, when multiple power supply connectors are provided, by turning off at least one of them when the engine is stopped by a command from the control unit, an external device that requires a large amount of charge can be charged with the vehicle battery by the engine. By charging only when charging, it is possible to prevent the capacity of the on-vehicle battery from dropping excessively.

(b) Detecting Function of Remaining Battery Level, Engine Speed, and Accelerator Opening At least one value of remaining amount, engine speed, and accelerator opening is detected. The control microcomputer 111 compares the detected value with a threshold value stored in advance in the database 116, and stops power supply to the power supply control unit 119 when the detected value is equal to or less than the threshold value. Specifically, the control microcomputer 111 outputs a command to stop the power supply to the power supply control unit 119 when the detected remaining battery level of the vehicle is below a threshold value, for example, when the engine can be started several times or below. do. Control microcomputer 111
turns on power supply to the power supply connector based on any one or a combination of the following: if the accelerator opening received from the vehicle is greater than or equal to a threshold value, the engine speed is greater than or equal to a threshold value, or the speed is greater than or equal to a threshold value.

With this configuration, the external device can be charged only when power is being supplied to the on-board battery when the engine is started, or when the on-board battery has sufficient capacity. capacity reduction can be prevented.

(c-4) Driving Situation Detection and Power Supply Control Function by Control Unit The control unit 11 has a function of controlling on/off of a plurality of power supply connectors according to the vehicle driving conditions obtained from the vehicle. That is, the control microcomputer 111 acquires the turn signal information of the vehicle from the CAN communication control unit 115, and in the database 116, when the right turn signal is turned on, the power supply to the power supply connector on the right side is turned on, and when the left turn signal is turned on, the power supply is turned on. Information to turn on the power supply to the power supply connector on the left side is stored in advance. As a result, the control microcomputer 111 can turn on/off power supply to the left and right power supply connectors based on the winker information of the vehicle.

The control microcomputer 111 acquires the speed and impact (acceleration change) of the vehicle by the K-LINE communication control unit 114 and/or the CAN communication control unit 115, and operates the camera, video, drive recorder, etc. accordingly. It also has a function to operate the fan according to the indoor or outdoor temperature. That is, the adapter 1 is provided with a USB connector 2 and a mini USB connector 3 having a communication function, and a camera, a video recorder, and a drive recorder are connected to the USB connector 2 and the like. The control microcomputer 111 normally supplies electric power from the feeder line 5L to these external devices to charge the built-in battery of the external device. When the speed or acceleration information received from the vehicle by the control microcomputer 111 exceeds the threshold value stored in the database 116, a start command is output to the drive recorder or the like connected to the USB connector 2 or the mini USB connector 3. , to start recording.

When the USB connector 2 without communication function is used, when an external device such as a drive recorder starts supplying power to the USB connector 2 in response to a power supply command from the control microcomputer 111, the power supply of the external device is turned off. Turned on and started recording. In this case, when the information from the vehicle is less than the threshold value, the control microcomputer 111 does not output a power supply command to the power supply control unit 119, so the external device connected to the power supply connector cannot be charged. , drive recorders, around-view cameras, back cameras, and other devices that generally do not have a built-in battery, the power-on can be controlled by the adapter of this embodiment. Similarly, if the control microcomputer 111 acquires the indoor and outdoor temperatures of the vehicle via the CAN communication control unit 115 and connects the power cord of the fan to the adapter, The fan can run automatically.

According to this embodiment, the operation of the device can be turned on/off according to the driving condition of the vehicle. For example, it is possible to set the correspondence between driving conditions and the on/off of multiple power supply connectors so that the driver does not have to turn on/off various external devices installed in the room by himself. If a configuration is adopted in which the on/off of a plurality of power supply connectors is controlled based on the above, the operability of the external device is greatly improved.

(c-5) Control Function for Multiple Connectors in Different Modes As shown in FIG. 8, the adapter 1 of the present embodiment is provided with multiple USB connectors 2a to 2d. The control microcomputer 111 performs different power supply controls for these USB connectors 2a to 2d. For example, the control microcomputer 111 outputs a power supply command to the power supply control unit 119 so that the USB connectors 2a and 2b function as connectors for non-battery-equipped devices that require constant power supply, and the USB connectors 2c and 2d Outputs a power supply command to the power supply switch so that it functions as a connector for battery-equipped equipment that does not require constant power supply. As for the command of the control microcomputer 111, the control mode of each USB connector 2a to 2d is stored in the database 116 in advance. Also, the adapter 1 is provided with a switch for the driver to freely set, or the driver sets which of the USB connectors 2a to 2d should be the constant power supply type from an external device such as a smart phone.

As the plurality of power supply connectors provided in the adapter 1, it is not necessary to use the same type of power supply connectors as shown in FIG. 8, and different types of power supply connectors can be controlled differently. Also, the mode of power supply is not limited to whether or not constant power supply is possible. In an adapter having different types of power supply connectors as shown in FIG. 5, the control microcomputer 111 controls the USB connector 2 and the mini USB connector 3 so that the constant power supply is not required, and the cigar socket 4 is always powered. . As for the mode of power supply, it is also possible to change whether or not the power supply is always available for each power supply connector according to the time zone and day/night (brightness outside the vehicle).

When the adapter 1 incorporates a voltage adjusting device, the control microcomputer 111 controls the power supply voltage and current differently for each power supply connector. A plurality of mini USB connectors 3 are provided, and a current of 1 A is supplied to the mini USB connector 3 for charging a smart phone or the like, and a current of 2.1 A is supplied to the mini USB connector 3 for charging a tablet terminal or the like. An adapter provided with a USB connector 2 and/or a mini USB connector 3 and a cigar socket 4 supplies a voltage of 5V to the USB connector and 12V to the cigar socket 4 .

(c-6) Control Function Based on Power Supply Priority The control microcomputer 111 has a function of giving priority to power supply to the USB connectors 2a and 2b for external devices that always require power supply. The control microcomputer 111 detects the remaining amount of the battery mounted on the vehicle via the K-LINE communication control unit 114 or the CAN communication control unit 115, compares it with the threshold value stored in the database 116, When the remaining battery level is less than the threshold, control is performed to first stop power supply to the USB connectors 2c and 2d, which do not require constant power supply. As a result, it is possible to preferentially supply power to the USB connectors 2a and 2b for external devices that require constant power supply.

In this way, equipment that requires constant power supply, such as equipment that consumes a large amount of power, equipment that requires data communication, monitoring, or standby for a long period of time, and even equipment that is always charged in an emergency. By connecting to the USB connectors 2a and 2b, which require constant power supply, power can be supplied preferentially to the required warning lights, disaster prevention radios, and the like. The USB connectors 2c and 2d for external devices that are unnecessary until constant power supply are connected to external devices such as devices that have a battery or the like and operate on the battery when power is not supplied.

(d-1) Hub Function The adapter 1 of this embodiment includes USB connectors 2, 2a to 2c and a mini USB connector 3 connected to the wired communication section 117, as shown in FIGS. These power supply connectors are communication type USB connectors, and have a communication path for control signals from the control microcomputer 111 in addition to the power from the vehicle-mounted battery. Among these USB connectors, for example, the USB connector 2 is used as a connector for connecting a host device, and the other connectors are used as connectors for connecting peripheral devices. Which USB connector is used for connecting the host device and which other USB connector is used for connecting the peripheral device is stored in the database 116 in advance. It is good to provide a switch on the adapter or set it with a smartphone connected to the USB connector.

In this way, the plurality of USB connectors 2, 2a to 2c and the mini USB connector 3 provided on the adapter 1 can be networked. can be exchanged, and the data acquired by each external device can be used to control power supply stoppage of each power supply connector.

(d-2) Power supply control function by host to peripheral device As shown in FIG. receives information from the smart phone 61 via the , and controls power supply to the mini USB connector 3 for connecting peripheral devices and the cigar socket 4 .

In FIG. 5, a host device is connected to the USB connector 2, a portable terminal such as a smart phone or a tablet as a peripheral device is connected to the mini USB connector 3, and a smart phone 61 and a portable terminal such as a smart phone or a tablet are connected. Data is exchanged between them, and the smart phone 61 is used to operate and set other mobile terminals. As peripheral devices, a digital camera, a video camera, a car navigation system, a drive recorder, etc. are connected to the power supply connector for the peripheral devices, so that these peripheral devices can be accessed. In addition to the adapter shown in FIG. 5, in the adapters shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 having a control unit 11, one of the USB connectors or mini-USB connectors is used as a power supply connector for connecting host equipment, and other USB connectors are used for connecting peripheral equipment. power supply connector for Also, the host device is not limited to the smart phone 61, and a mobile terminal or a personal computer having an input/output function may be used as appropriate.

With such a configuration, the adapter can be used as a hub for a plurality of external devices, and can be used as means for exchanging data between external devices. In particular, when multiple electronic devices such as a personal computer, a smart phone, and a digital camera are used in a vehicle and files are exchanged among them, the adapter of the present invention can be used without providing a dedicated hub, which is convenient. . In addition, by controlling the power supply to each power supply connector from an external device such as a smartphone or personal computer connected to the adapter, it is possible to charge multiple external devices according to the user's desired priority.

(e-1) Various setting functions by mobile terminal The adapter has a connection section with a mobile terminal such as a smart phone 61 and a control section 11 for performing various settings related to the adapter. Based on this, the control unit 11 makes various settings related to the adapter.

(a) Wireless connection of mobile terminal As shown in FIG. Based on this, various settings related to the adapter are made, and the power feeding state of the power feeding connector and/or the power receiving connector is controlled. In this case, as the wireless communication unit 118, low-power wireless connection means such as WiFi, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Zigbee (registered trademark), RFID, etc. provided in a mobile terminal such as a smart phone is used.

(b) Wired connection with portable terminal As shown in FIG. sends a control signal to the control microcomputer 111 of the adapter. In this case, it is preferable that the wireless communication unit 118 is not provided in the adapter 1 and that the adapter itself has a simple structure, and various settings are performed for the control unit 11 .

(c) Condition setting from portable terminal Smartphone 61 connected to wired communication unit 117 or wireless communication unit 118 as described above
An example of setting conditions for starting and/or stopping power supply to the control microcomputer 111 by an external device such as the following.
(1) Adapters corresponding to a plurality of different vehicle types are used, and the control microcomputer 111 sets the vehicle type of the vehicle equipped with the adapters according to a signal from the smart phone 61 . As a result, the adapter itself can recognize which vehicle type it is connected to. For example, the control microcomputer 111 acquires or outputs information corresponding to the vehicle type from the database 116, and controls power supply to each power supply connector.
(2) The control microcomputer 111 adjusts the current value of the power supply connector such as the USB connectors 2, 2a to 2c, the mini USB connector 3, and the cigarette lighter socket 4 and/or the power receiving connector 5 according to the signal from the mobile terminal such as the smart phone 61. set.
(3) The control microcomputer 111 sets conditions for starting and stopping power supply from the vehicle-mounted battery to each power supply connector according to a signal from a portable terminal such as the smart phone 61 . For example, the adapter 1 is provided with a plurality of USB connectors 1 to n, that is, n USB connectors, and from the mobile terminal, through the wired communication unit 117 or the wireless communication unit 118, the database 116 of the control unit 11 detects that the vehicle lights are turned on. A setting is written such that the power of the USB connector 2 is turned on when the light is turned off, and the power of the USB connector 2 is turned off when the light is turned off. In this state, when the control microcomputer 111 detects the ON/OFF of the light via the CAN communication control unit 115, the control microcomputer 111 supplies power to the USB connector 2 according to the signal written in the database 116 by the portable terminal. to the power supply control unit 119 .
(4) With the portable battery 62 connected to the adapter 1 as shown in FIG. 7, the control microcomputer 111 sets power supply conditions for the vehicle and the portable battery according to a signal from the mobile terminal. For example, the portable terminal sets in the database 116 that the portable battery 62 will supply power to each power supply connector for a certain period of time (for example, 5 minutes) when the power supply from the on-vehicle battery is cut off. When the control microcomputer 111 detects from the CAN communication control unit 115 that the power supply of the in-vehicle battery is cut off, the power of the portable battery 62 connected to the power supply connector is supplied to another power supply connector (in FIG. 5, a mini USB It controls the power supply to the connector 3 and cigar socket 4). In this case, as the power supply control unit 119, one having a circuit capable of appropriately switching the direction of power supply is used.

According to the present embodiment, the manufacturer or seller of the adapter can use a mobile terminal to set the optimum conditions for the adapter according to the in-vehicle electronic equipment of each vehicle, and prepare a wide variety of adapters. no longer needed. In particular, as shown in (1) to (4) above, the user can freely set the conditions for supplying power to external devices according to the type of user's vehicle, its driving conditions, or the type of external device connected to the adapter. This makes it possible not only to simply charge the built-in battery of an external device, but also to automatically turn on and off various types of external devices according to the state of the vehicle and driving conditions.

(e-2) Setting function for the adapter by the mobile terminal In this embodiment, the adapter 1 is provided with a wired connection unit 117 and/or a wireless connection unit 118 with the mobile terminal, and is connected to the USB connector 2 or the mini USB connector. A mobile terminal such as the smart phone 61 writes power supply conditions for each power supply connector to the database 116 . Power device conditions include voltage and current supplied from each power supply connector to external devices, or commands to start or stop power supply to each power supply connector according to time, position, vehicle acceleration, outside temperature, brightness, room temperature, etc. There is The information on which the control microcomputer 111 determines these conditions is preferably obtained from the vehicle through the CAN communication control unit 115 or the like. It is preferable that the control microcomputer 111 acquires the information from various sensors that the mobile terminal itself has. When writing to the database 116 , it is preferable to overwrite the power supply conditions and the like already stored in the database 116 . However, in this embodiment, the already set power supply condition and the power supply condition written from the mobile terminal are switched by a signal output from the mobile terminal to the control unit 11 .

The control microcomputer 111 controls the amount of power supplied to each power supply connector according to the current value and voltage value written in the database 116 from the portable terminal. In addition, when the control microcomputer 111 acquires information on the vehicle side obtained from the CAN communication control unit 115 or the like, or information on the time, position, acceleration of the vehicle, outside temperature, brightness, and room temperature obtained from the mobile terminal, It is compared with the conditions in the database 116 to perform on/off control of power supply to each power supply connector. In this case, in this embodiment, when the control microcomputer 111 receives a switching signal from the mobile terminal, it controls power supply to each power supply connector based on the power supply conditions written by the mobile terminal.

In this embodiment, when the adapter is in use, the data set in advance in the database 116 is transmitted by transmitting a signal for switching the power supply or power reception state of the power supply connector or the power reception connector from the mobile terminal to the controller 11 of the adapter. It becomes possible to perform operations other than conditions. As a result, it becomes possible for the user to arbitrarily control the external device connected to the adapter each time according to the situation in which the user or the vehicle is placed. For example, a control program for the adapter is built into the mobile terminal, and commands are sent from the mobile terminal to the controller of the adapter according to the time, position, acceleration, outside temperature, brightness, room temperature, etc. detected by the mobile terminal. In this case, there is an advantage that each connector of the adapter can be controlled based on information that cannot be detected by the vehicle electronic equipment.

(f) Power feeding and charging function for portable battery As shown in FIG. 7 or 8, in this embodiment, a portable battery 62 generally called a mobile battery is connected as an external device to the USB connector 2 or 2a, which is a power feeding connector. be done. Power supply connectors other than the USB connector 2 to which the portable battery 62 is connected, the mini USB connector 3 and the cigarette lighter 4 in FIG. 7, and the USB connectors 2b to 2d in FIG. Alternatively, it is connected to the power supply control unit 119 so as to receive power from the portable battery 62 connected to 2a. It is also possible to use one power supply connector for both power supply to the portable battery and power supply from the portable battery.

The control microcomputer 111 supplies electric power from the portable battery 62 to various devices connected to the adapter through the adapter 1, such as in-vehicle electronic devices and adapters, under specific conditions that have been written in the database 116 in advance. Control to supply power to other external devices that receive power. In addition to switching the power supply direction by the control microcomputer 111, the adapter 1 is provided with a power supply direction selector switch (not shown).

The direction of power supply between the adapter 1 and the portable battery 62 can be switched depending on the type of power supply connector. That is, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the adapter 1 and the portable battery 62 are provided with the USB connector 2 and the mini USB connector 3, and both the adapter 1 and the portable battery 62 are supplied with power from the USB connector 2 and the mini USB connector. Power is received at the USB connector 3 . In this way, power supply and power reception can be distinguished only by the shape of the connector.

(f-1) Power supply function to vehicle from portable battery In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the control microcomputer 111 determines the voltage drop of the battery mounted on the vehicle from the CAN communication control unit 115 or the like. It has a function of supplying power to the vehicle from the portable battery 62 connected to the adapter when a voltage drop of the battery is detected. According to such a configuration, by supplying electric power to the electric wiring in the vehicle via the adapter, the power of the portable battery 62 is used, and the interior lamp that normally receives power from the vehicle-mounted battery is used. It is possible to use other electrical equipment such as, start the engine, charge the on-board battery, etc.

(f-2) Power supply function from portable battery to external device In the embodiments of FIGS. Power is supplied from the power supply connector (for example, USB connectors 2 and 2a) to which the portable battery 62 is connected to other power supply connectors (for example, other USB connectors 2c and 2d and mini USB connector 3) provided on the adapter. It has a function to switch to In this case, the threshold value for determining how much the capacity of the on-vehicle battery is reduced before switching is set in advance in the database 116 or is set in the database 116 by the user from the portable terminal. As a result, the power of the portable battery 62 can be used to charge and use other external devices connected to the adapter.

(g) Attachment of storage means such as SD card In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. prepare. A connector for attaching a micro SD card, a nano SD card, a USB memory, or the like may be provided instead of the connector for the SD card 63 .

In this way, data stored in the SD card 62 can be read and written from an external device attached to the USB connector 2 having a data communication path. It is possible to record data in

[3. Third Embodiment] (Adapter for Connecting Units)
[3-1. Configuration of the third embodiment]
FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment. The third embodiment combines the adapter shown in the first or second embodiment with an optional unit for extension (hereinafter referred to as unit).

In FIG. 10, the adapter 1 has an OBDII standard input connector that serves as a power receiving connector 5 on its input side (hidden on the back side of the adapter 1 in FIG. 10), and has a power feeding connector on its output side. It has an OBDII standard output connector 50a. The adapter 1 receives information from various parts of the vehicle and electric power from the vehicle battery by fitting its input connector into an OBDII standard output connector 50, which is a power supply connector provided on the vehicle. The adapter 1 is provided with power supply connectors such as a USB connector 2 and a mini USB connector 3 as in the first and second embodiments. The adapter 1 is provided with a cable 12 having a connector 13 for connecting external equipment such as a car navigation system and a drive recorder.

A unit 100a is fitted into the output connector 50a of the adapter 1. As shown in FIG. This unit 100a is called an intermediate unit because other units can be connected to its output. As with the adapter 1, the unit 100a has an OBDII standard input connector that functions as the power receiving connector 5 on its input side, and an OBDII standard output connector 50a that functions as a power supply connector on its output side. By fitting the input connector to the output connector 50 of the adapter 1 , the unit 100 a receives information from various parts of the vehicle and power from the vehicle battery via the adapter 1 .

External devices 10 such as radar detectors, car navigation systems, drive recorders, and video cameras are connected to the unit 100a via cables 12. FIG. In this embodiment, the external device 10 is a car navigation system, and the unit 100a supplies the car navigation system 10 with electric power from the on-board battery, and displays various vehicle-related data supplied from the connector 50 of the fault diagnosis port on its liquid crystal display. to display. The unit 100a is provided with a cigar socket 4 as a power supply connector.

A second unit 100b is fitted to the output connector 50a of the unit 100a. The second unit 100b, like the adapter 1 and the intermediate unit 100a, has an OBDII standard input connector that serves as the power receiving connector 5 on its input side surface. The terminal unit 100b has its input connector fitted into the output connector 50b of the intermediate unit 100a, thereby receiving information from various parts of the vehicle and power supply from the vehicle battery via the adapter 1 and the intermediate unit 100a.

The terminal unit 100b is provided with a liquid crystal display 1a, a speaker 1b and an LED warning light 1c. As a result, the terminal unit 100b alone displays various data relating to the vehicle supplied from the connector 50 of the failure diagnosis port on the liquid crystal display 1a. Various warnings and guidance are given to the driver using the speaker 1b and/or the LED warning light 1c.

[3-2. Modification]
Although FIG. 10 shows two units 100a and 100b connected to the adapter 1, the number of units connected to the adapter 1 may be one or three or more. Since the second unit 100b of FIG. 10 does not have an output connector, it is suitable as a terminal unit to be connected to the final stage. The unit connected to the final stage is not necessarily limited to providing the liquid crystal display 1a, the speaker 1b, and the LED warning light 1c, and it is preferable to provide these output means in all units. Alternatively, it may be provided in one of the units depending on the use of the unit.

In FIG. 10, the power supply connector is provided for all of the adapter 1 and the units 100a and 100b. If the unit is not provided with a power supply connector, the size of the unit can be reduced. On the other hand, if only the unit is provided with the power supply connector and the adapter 1 is not provided with the power supply connector, the adapter can be made smaller, and only the driver who needs to charge the external device can use the unit having the power supply connector. Since it can be purchased and connected to the adapter 1, the convenience is enhanced.

[3-3. Action effect]
As described above, in this embodiment, the adapter 1 and the units 100a and 100b are mounted on the vehicle. to an external device 10 such as a car navigation system or an internal device such as a liquid crystal display 1a provided in the adapter 1 or units 100a and 100b.

In this way, it is possible to easily implement functions desired by the user as an in-vehicle device. For example, by connecting various external devices 10 to the adapter 1 and units 100a and 100b, various functions of the external device 10 can be exhibited in addition to the functions of the adapters and units themselves. be possible. If the terminal unit 100b in FIG. 10 or the adapter 1 in FIG. Information can be communicated to the user in a variety of ways.

For example, by connecting an external device 10 having a display, such as a radar detector, a navigation device, or a drive recorder, to the adapter 1 or the units 100a and 100b, information from the failure diagnosis system can be obtained in various ways that were impossible with the adapter alone. The state of the vehicle can be displayed with an image or sound, and the user can easily and reliably recognize the state of the vehicle.
In this case, the signal to be output based on the signal received by the adapter 1 or the units 100a and 100b should be, for example, the signal input from the vehicle side, the adapter, or the unit in the preceding stage, and output as it is. Signals processed inside the adapter or unit are good.

In particular, since one or a plurality of units are detachably connected to the adapter 1 connected to the port of the fault diagnosis system, different types of units can be appropriately combined according to the user's wishes. That is, it is preferable to adopt a configuration in which a plurality of identical units are connected. As shown in FIG. 10, when multiple units of different types are connected, information from a vehicle computer (e.g., ECU, etc.) is output to various types of external and/or internal devices as desired by the user. The functions desired by the user can be easily combined and realized.

Like the terminal unit 100b, the unit has a liquid crystal display 1a, a speaker 1b, and a liquid crystal display warning light 1c, so that audio information and image information obtained from the vehicle can be output from the terminal unit 100b. By using the terminal unit 100b and the adapter 1 shown in FIG. 3, information output on the vehicle side can be increased by the unit or the adapter alone, compared to the technique of simply increasing the number of ports on the vehicle side using a branch harness or the like. There are advantages that are possible. By using the speaker 1b and LED warning light 1c, based on the information obtained from the failure diagnosis system, the adapter and unit alone can output warning sounds, voice guidance, blinking warning lights, and text and image guidance to the user. can do. With the speaker 1b, even when the adapter 1 or the unit 100b is placed in a location that is difficult for the user to see, it is possible to output warning sounds and voice guidance based on information from the failure diagnosis system.

The information acquired by the adapter 1 from the failure diagnosis system includes various information such as vehicle speed, engine speed, oil temperature, water temperature, and accelerator opening. Based on this information, for example, images such as numerical values and graphs, and sounds such as warning sounds and voice guidance are generated. The external device 10 and the internal device connected to the adapter 1 and the units 100a and 100b have at least one of an audio output function and an image display function, so that information output via the adapter 1 or the units 100a and 100b can be displayed. It can be provided in a form that is easy for users to understand.

[4. Fourth Embodiment] (Unit for Wired Connection of External Devices)
[4-1. Basic configuration]
In the fourth embodiment, the external devices provided in the unit 100a are a navigation device 10a, a radar detector 10b and a drive recorder 10c. As shown in FIG. 11, three types of external devices 10a to 10c are connected to the unit 100a, but the number is not limited.

Providing at least one external device having a display unit such as a liquid crystal display is advantageous in that information on the vehicle side can be confirmed by an image. In particular, even if each user purchases the same adapter, the purpose is various, and it is possible to customize the functions of the OBDII standard adapter to suit each user. To customize the adapter to meet the needs of the user by modifying the connection part between the OBDII standard adapter and the connected device and easily attaching one or more units of different types. can be done.

Devices that can be connected to the OBDII standard adapter include radar, PND, and drive recorders, but generally only one of them can be connected to the adapter. According to this embodiment, three or more external devices can be connected at the same time, which is convenient.

The adapter 1 of the fourth embodiment is provided with a USB connector 2 and a mini-USB connector 3 as power supply connectors, and the unit 100a is provided with the mini-USB connector 3 . If the unit 100a is provided with the USB connector 2 and the mini USB connector 3, various external devices with different connector sizes can be charged and information can be exchanged. , the mini-USB connector 3 is advantageous.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 12, the adapter 1 includes a control microcomputer 111, an engine state detection unit 112, an analog signal detection unit 113, a K-LINE communication control unit 114, a CAN, as in the second embodiment. A communication control unit 115 and a power supply control unit 119 are provided. In the unit 100a, a control microcomputer 111, a power supply control section 119, and a plurality of external device connection sections 117a to 117n corresponding to the external devices 10a to 10n connected to the unit 100 are provided.

In this embodiment, since each external device is connected to the unit 100a by the cable 12, the external device connection sections 117a to 117n provided in the unit 100a are similar to the wired connection section 117 provided in the adapter 1 of the second embodiment. are similar. In this case, if a USB connector 2 or a mini USB connector 3 for power supply is provided as the external device connection units 117a to 117n, it can be used as a serial communication type connection unit by using them as they are. Therefore, there is no need to provide a separate wire-connected communication unit in addition to the connection unit of the power supply system. The external device connection units 117a to 117n are not limited to serial communication type connection units, and signal transmission means such as a wired LAN or CAN network may be used if high-speed information exchange is required.

The adapter 1 is provided with an OBDII standard output side connector 50 as a power supply connector, and the units 100a and 100b are provided with an OBDII standard input side connector 5 as a power receiving connector. By connecting these connectors 5 and 50, power supplied from the vehicle and information of each part of the vehicle are transmitted from the adapter 1 to the units 100a and 100b.

According to this embodiment, by connecting the unit 100a to the adapter 1, the image and audio output functions of the navigation device 10a, the radar detector 10b, the drive recorder 10c, etc. already owned by the user can be used. Therefore, it is not necessary to incorporate an image display device into the adapter 1 or to connect a dedicated image and audio output device to the adapter 1 . Due to their nature, these external devices are installed in locations that are easily visible to the user of the vehicle, so that the user can easily check the information from the vehicle that is obtained via the adapter 1 .

[4-2. Various functions by control microcomputer]
The adapter and unit of this embodiment have the following functions. These functions may be provided in all of the adapter and each unit connected to the adapter 1, but may be provided only in the adapter or in specific units. These functions are realized by executing a predetermined program on the control microcomputer 111 provided in the adapter or unit. In an adapter or unit that does not have a control microcomputer, the control microcomputer 111 in the adapter or the control microcomputer 111 provided in another unit may realize these functions. It is also possible to configure a processing unit that exhibits these functions by using hardware such as an electronic circuit instead of using the control microcomputer 111 .

(a) Acquisition function of information from external device As external device connection units 117a to 117n provided in unit 100a shown in FIG. Equipment 1
Based on the information from 0a to 10n and the information from the fault diagnosis system obtained via the adapter 1, the control microcomputer 111 has an information processing function of performing predetermined voice guidance and/or image display.

According to this function, not only information from the vehicle via the adapter 1, but also information from the external devices 10a to 10n can be output to other external devices and internal devices connected to the unit 100a. For example, as an information processing function of the control microcomputer 111, by comparing the position information from the navigation device or radar detector with the speed and accelerator opening information from the failure diagnosis system, the curve in the traveling direction of the vehicle and the Judgment can be made as to whether or not an obstacle is dangerous in view of the current driving situation, and the result can be output to other external or internal equipment. In particular, such a function is an advantage that cannot be obtained simply by increasing the number of output ports on the vehicle side using a branch harness.

If this function is realized by the control microcomputer 111 provided in the unit 100a, the program executed by the control microcomputer 111 can be simplified for the unit b to which no external device is connected. On the other hand, if this function is realized by the control microcomputer 111 built in the adapter 1 based on the information of the external devices 10a to 10n transmitted to the adapter 1 via the unit 100a, the configuration of the external device connection unit 100a can be changed. It can be simplified.

(b) Function of Outputting Information to Adapters and Units The adapter 1 and the unit 100a of this embodiment have a function of outputting information received from the external devices 10a to 10n and internal devices to other units and/or the adapter 1. FIG. According to this function, information acquired from the external devices 10a to 10n and internal devices can be transmitted to the adapter 1 and other units. For example, information that causes the adapter 1 or the unit 100a to make various judgments or operations based on information from the fault diagnosis system and information from external or internal devices, which would not be possible with only information from the fault diagnosis system. By realizing the processing unit by the control microcomputer 111, various information processing can be performed on the adapter or unit side.

For example, by comprehensively judging the information about the vehicle obtained by the failure diagnosis system and the information about the surrounding conditions of the vehicle and the driver obtained by the external devices 10a to 10n, the failure diagnosis system alone can not. A variety of information can be provided to the user. In addition, according to commands from the external devices 10a to 10n and internal devices, various operations and parameter settings regarding the adapter 1, each unit connected to it, or the failure diagnosis system itself can be performed by any external device connected to the unit 10a0. It is also possible to perform from

(c) Information processing function in adapters and units The adapter 1 and/or the unit 100a, based on the information received from at least one of the vehicle and the external devices 10a to 10n, the external devices 10a to 10n and/or the internal devices It has an information processing function that generates an image and/or audio signal to be output by the device. This function is realized by the control microcomputer 111 provided in the adapter 1 and/or the unit 100a.

In this way, by providing the adapter 1 and/or the unit 100a with an information processing function, the information input from the vehicle or the external device is not only output as it is, but also processed into a form that is easy for the user to understand. It becomes possible to output to the devices 10a to 10n and internal devices. For example, numeric data such as vehicle speed, engine speed, temperature in various places, and remaining battery capacity input from the vehicle can be converted into graphs or images and displayed on the liquid crystal displays of external or internal devices. By comparing with a preset threshold value, warning sound and voice guidance can be performed by the speaker 1b and the LED warning light 1c of the external device or internal device. By processing the information received from the external devices 10a to 10n and comparing it with the information from the vehicle, it is possible to output a wider variety of information to the external and internal devices in a form that is easy for the user to understand.

(d) Function to perform different information processing for a plurality of external devices The adapter 1 and/or the unit 100a is a signal output section provided for each of the external devices 10a to 10n, such as the external device connection section in FIG. 117a to 117n have a function of outputting signals of different formats and types to the wired connection unit 117 or the wireless connection unit 118 in FIG. That is, the control microcomputer 111 provided in the adapter 1 and the unit 100a converts the information acquired from the vehicle and the external devices 10a to 10n into the adapter 1 and the unit 100a according to the format and configuration of the external device to be output. It has a function of internally processing and outputting in a different manner for each signal output unit.

According to this function, signals to be output to a plurality of different external devices 10a to 10n can be processed differently by signal output units provided in the adapter 1 and unit 100a. As a result, according to this embodiment having such functions, the following effects are exhibited, for example.
(1) Optimal information for the user can be output from the optimal external device according to the type and installation location of the external device and the type and magnitude of the signal from the failure diagnosis system.
(2) It is possible to change the volume of the audio signal output from each external device or change the content of the image to be displayed according to the warning level of the signal obtained from the failure diagnosis system.
(3) Information with a high degree of urgency is displayed on the navigation device installed at the most visible position for the user, and radar detection with a small display screen compared to the normal navigation device for engine speed, water temperature, oil temperature, etc. By combining the information processing unit and a plurality of external devices, such as displaying on the machine, various patterns of display and voice guidance can be performed.

(e) Hub function Among the plurality of external device connection sections 117a to 117n provided in the unit 100, a predetermined one is used as a connection section for an external device serving as a host, and the other connection sections are used as external devices serving as peripheral devices. connection part. Which external device connection section is used for host device connection and which other external device connection section is used for peripheral device connection is set in advance in the database 116 provided in the adapter 1 or unit 100a.

A switch is provided in the adapter 1 or the unit 100a, and the external device connection section to which the host is connected is selected by switching the switch. Also, with a smartphone or the like connected to one of the external connection units, set which connection unit is used as the host. As shown in FIG. 10, when the adapter 1 and the unit 100a are each provided with an external device connection section, the control microcomputer is set so that the external device connected to either the adapter 1 or the unit 100a serves as the host. 111.

According to this function, for example, the adapter 1 or the unit 100a can be used as a hub for a plurality of external devices 10a to 10n, and information from the failure diagnosis system and information from other external devices can be can be delivered to the device. For example, the following effects are exhibited.
(1) It becomes possible to exchange data between the external devices 10a to 10n via the adapter 1 and/or the unit 100a. In other words, this adapter can be used conveniently without providing a dedicated hub when multiple electronic devices such as personal computers, smart phones, and digital cameras are used in the vehicle and files are exchanged among them.
(2) An external device having an input function such as a smart phone or a personal computer connected to the adapter 1 and/or the unit 100a can be used to control other external devices, adapters, or various functions of the adapter, thereby enabling an external device that does not have an operation unit. Parameters can be set and various operations can be easily performed for equipment.
(3) In the adapter 1 and/or the unit 100a, the control microcomputer 111 processes the information described in (d) above, thereby processing the information acquired by the external device of the host to be used as a peripheral device. Can be sent to an external device. For example, a smartphone or the like is used as an external device on the host side, and an image or the like acquired by the smartphone is superimposed on a signal from the failure diagnosis system and displayed on another external device such as a navigation device.

[5. Fifth Embodiment] (Terminal Unit)
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the terminal unit 100b of this embodiment has a speaker 1b and a mini USB connector 3. FIG. The terminal unit 100b includes an input connector 5 for receiving vehicle information from the adapter 1 and electric power from the vehicle battery, a control microcomputer 111, a buzzer control unit 14a connected to the control microcomputer 111, and an audio reproduction control unit 14b. , and a ROM 14c storing message data. The terminal unit 100b is connected to the final stage when a plurality of units are connected to the adapter 1, and does not have an output connector.

By connecting the unit 100 having the speaker 1b to the adapter 1 that does not have an output function, the control microcomputer 111 uses the buzzer control unit 14a to notify the user based on the information that the adapter 1 acquires from the vehicle. Output a warning sound. In addition to the warning by the buzzer, the message data stored in the ROM 14c is used to guide the user by voice. The control microcomputer 111 uses the power supply control unit 119 to transmit the power of the on-vehicle battery to the external device connected thereto from the USB connector 2 or the mini USB connector 3 provided on the adapter 1 or the unit 100, or Power is supplied from a portable battery 62 as shown in FIG.

As a result, even if the adapter 1 does not have an output means such as voice, information from the vehicle and information from each external device connected to the adapter for charging can be output. For example, completion of charging of an external device connected to the USB connector 2 or the mini USB connector 3 can be output from the speaker 1b. For users who are satisfied with the functions provided by the adapter 1 alone, by attaching a terminal unit 100b to the adapter 1 that only sends out sounds from a buzzer or a speaker, changes in the state of the vehicle, execution of active control, etc. can be announced. can do.

[6. Sixth Embodiment] (Wireless Communication Unit)
As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, in the sixth embodiment, a mobile terminal 61 such as a smart phone is connected as an external device to a wireless communication unit 100c. Connection of the mobile terminal 61 is performed by the wired connection section 117 or the wireless connection section 118 provided in the units 100b and 100c, as in the case of the adapter 1 shown in FIG. 4 of the second embodiment. In FIG. 15, among the plurality of units 100a to 100c connected to the adapter 1, the unit 100c adjacent to the adapter 1 is connected to the smart phone 61 by low-power wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). Therefore, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 16, a wireless communication section 118 is provided inside the unit 100c in addition to the input side connector 5, the output side connector 50, the control microcomputer 111, and the power supply control section 119. .

Many mobile terminals 61 such as smart phones and tablet computers have wireless communication functions such as Bluetooth in addition to wired communication functions using USB cables. In such a portable terminal, by connecting the unit 100c and the portable terminal 61 by wireless communication, data can be easily exchanged without preparing connection means such as a cable. It is preferable to connect all the units 100 to 100c and the portable terminal 61 by wireless communication.
When connecting a unit to the adapter 1, if the configuration is such that the terminal unit 100b is always connected, it is preferable to provide the wireless communication function only to the terminal unit.

According to this embodiment, by using a mobile terminal 61 such as a smart phone, the data acquired from the vehicle by the adapter 1 is displayed on the screen of the smart phone using an application provided for the smart phone in advance. be able to. Also, by combining the unit 100c to which the mobile terminal 61 is connected and the adapter 1 or unit having other functions, the program or data of the external device connected to the adapter or unit having other functions can be transferred to the mobile terminal. 61 can be updated. For example, it is possible to update the latest crackdown information to external devices such as radar detectors using a personal computer or smartphone.

[7. Seventh Embodiment] (Logging Unit)
As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, in the present embodiment, the unit 100d is provided with a recording section of information received from at least one of an in-vehicle computer, an external device, and an internal device as an external device. The unit 100d includes a recording section 63a of an SD card 63 as an information recording section. The information recording section is not limited to the SD card 63, and a mini SD card or micro SD card recording section may be provided. Although not shown, in addition to the unit 100d, the adapter 1 and other units, such as the unit 100a and the terminal unit 100b to which an external device is connected, may be provided with an SD card loading section.

The unit 100d includes an SD card control section 120 for controlling reading and writing of the SD card 63 by the recording section 63, and a GPS unit for acquiring position information from GPS and recording it on the SD card 63 and recording it on the database 116. A control unit 121 is provided. The SD card control unit 120 and the GPS unit control unit 121 acquire position information at a predetermined timing set in advance in the database 116 according to commands from the control microcomputer 111, and store the acquired position information and time as a vehicle travel log. Record on the SD card 63 . The control microcomputer 111 records vehicle information acquired by the logging unit 11d via the adapter 1 in the SD card 63 as a vehicle state log in addition to the information from the GPS.

According to this embodiment, by writing information collected from the vehicle during driving and position information collected from the GPS into a storage medium such as an SD card provided in the adapter 1 and the unit 100d connected thereto, safe driving and operation can be performed. Information useful for management can be collected as a log. The information collected in the storage medium can be used for safe driving by analyzing driving information, driving trajectories, driving habits, etc., using a dedicated application on a personal computer or mobile terminal. For example, when the units are connected to the adapter 1, all the units 100a to 100f may be provided with recording units. It is good to set.

[8. Eighth embodiment] (TPMS unit)
As shown in FIG. 19, in this embodiment, an air pressure detection device TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) mounted on a vehicle tire is connected to the unit 100e as an external device. This air pressure detection device TPMS and the unit 100e are connected by wireless communication. A TPMS control unit (not shown) is provided in the TPMS unit 100e, and the control microcomputer 111 controls the TPMS control unit. Based on the information from the air pressure detection device TPMS, the TPMS control unit and the control microcomputer 111 control other external devices 10a to 10n connected to the adapter 1, the unit 100a, or the terminal unit 100b, the liquid crystal display 1a, the speaker 1b, At least one of image display and audio output is output from one or more of the internal devices such as the LED warning light 1c.

According to this embodiment, for example, an external device (for example, a car navigation system or a radar detector) of another unit 100a combined with the TPMS unit 100e can display the tire pressure status as a graph, or can It is possible to display the tire pressure in various states, such as superimposing the position and the corresponding pressure, and outputting a voice or warning sound in the event of an abnormality. In particular, when a plurality of different external devices 10a to 10n are connected to the adapter 1 or another unit 100a, by displaying the tire pressure in a different manner according to the type of the external device, the visibility of the user can be improved. and the voice guidance function can be further improved.

In this embodiment, the dedicated TPMS unit 100e wirelessly connected to the air pressure detection device TPMS is shown, but the air pressure detection device TPMS may be incorporated into any or all of the units 100a to 100d to form the TPMS unit 100e. Similarly to the terminal unit 100b in FIG. 10, the TPMS unit 100e may be provided with output means for voice and images, or the TPMS unit 100e itself may not be provided with any output means at all. You may output the audio|voice and image regarding TPMS using an apparatus or an internal apparatus.

[9. Ninth embodiment] (Obstacle detection radar receiving unit)
As shown in FIG. 20, in this embodiment, an obstacle detection radar receiver is connected to the unit 100f as an external device. A millimeter wave radar MWR is used as the obstacle detection radar. In the unit 100f, although not shown, in addition to the control microcomputer 111, other external devices and internal devices connected to the adapter 1 are controlled based on information from the obstacle detection radar device and information from the adapter 1. At least one of them is provided with a radar control section that outputs at least one of a control command for an external device, a warning sound, and voice guidance. In this embodiment, only the receiver for the millimeter wave radar MWR is connected as an external device, but it is better to connect the transmitter and receiver for the millimeter wave radar MWR. In that case, the functions of the control microcomputer 111 and the radar control section are changed accordingly.

According to this embodiment, since the millimeter wave radar MWR is used as the obstacle detection radar device to detect the situation in a range of about 100 m, the distance to the obstacle in front can be measured, and the obstacle in front can be detected. It can measure the speed of objects. For example, based on the information obtained by the unit 100f from the receiver of the millimeter wave radar MWR and the information obtained by the adapter 1 from the vehicle, the adapter 1 and other external devices connected to the unit output a non-maintaining vehicle warning or the like. As a result, assistance for danger avoidance can be performed, and it can be used to prevent collisions and the like.

In this embodiment, it is preferable to attach obstacle detection radar devices to the left and right sides of the vehicle and receive information from the left and right radars by the unit 100f. In this way, when a turn signal is issued to change course while the vehicle is running, the turn signal is detected from the fault diagnosis system via the adapter 1, and the radar from the unit 100f to which the obstacle detection radar device is connected. By acquiring the information and comparing both information with the control microcomputer 111 in the adapter 1, when another vehicle is on the side of the vehicle on the side of changing the course, it is possible to send out a warning sound to inform the danger. .

[10. Tenth Embodiment] (Connecting expansion unit to adapter)
As shown in FIG. 21, the adapter 1 has a mounting portion for fixing the expansion unit. Similarly, each unit, except terminal unit 100b, has a mounting portion for securing other units. Therefore, by connecting different units to the adapter according to the type of external device desired by the user, it is possible to connect various types of external devices. Although (a) to (c) of FIG. 21 show examples of connection modes, the types and number of units to be connected are not limited to these, and can be appropriately changed according to the user's wishes. is.

When the adapter 1 and a plurality of units are combined, one of the plurality of units is a terminal unit 100b having only a mounting portion to be fixed to the adapter. After connecting the plurality of units to the adapter 1, the terminal unit 100b is finally connected. do. By doing so, the mounting portion for connecting other units is not exposed in a part of the last connected unit 100b, so that the dustproof effect can be obtained and the appearance is good. Since the terminal unit 100b, which has no mounting portion for connecting other units, can secure a large space for installing other devices on its surface, a large speaker 1b covering the entire surface of the unit can be used as an internal device. , can improve the quality of the output voice.

[11. Eleventh Embodiment] (Stacking Adapters and Units)
As shown in FIG. 22, in this embodiment, the adapter 1 and the respective units 100b to 100d are fixed in a state of being superimposed in multiple stages. Each of the units 100b to 100c incorporates the control microcomputer 111, the CAN communication control unit 115, and other means as shown in the above-described embodiments. 100c are connected to the CAN network 115N on the vehicle side. In this way, the adapter 1 and the plurality of units 100b to 100d connected to it present a single block-like appearance, so that the interior of the vehicle can be installed in a state in which the whole is compactly integrated while having a large number of functions. It can be placed without discomfort.

Although three units are connected to the adapter 1 in the embodiment of FIG. 22, the number of units to be connected to the adapter 1 is not limited to this. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection surfaces of the adapter 1 and each unit have the same shape, but it is preferable to use a unit that has a smaller connection surface with the adapter 1 and is smaller than the adapter. By doing so, various power supply connectors and units can be arranged on the same surface of the adapter 1 .

[12. Twelfth Embodiment] (Multiple Units Attached to Adapter)
As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, in this embodiment, a plurality of units 100a to 100f are arranged adjacently on the adapter 1 by providing the adapter 1 with a plurality of unit mounting portions 101 adjacently. Each of the units 100a to 100f is smaller than the adapter 1 and has the same shape, and in particular, has the same width and height when attached to the adapter. A plurality of units 100a to 100f having such a shape are arranged side by side on one side of the adapter, particularly several to ten-odd units. Although two external device connection units 100a, a wireless communication unit 100c, a logging unit 100d, a TPMS unit 100e, and a terminal unit 100b are arranged in the figure, the number and types of units connected to the adapter 1 are not limited to this.

According to this embodiment, a plurality of units 100a to 100f can be arranged in one adapter 1 in a small area without stacking a plurality of units as in the eleventh embodiment. For example, if each unit 100a to 100f and an external device are connected by wireless communication, a connector for connecting the units 100a to 100f and an external device becomes unnecessary, and the unit can be miniaturized in the form of a chip or a card. becomes possible to use. If the unit mounting portion 101 provided on the adapter 1 is a USB port, a plurality of units 100a to 100f can be mounted on one adapter 1 using a standardized connection structure.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to compactly connect a plurality of units 100a to 100f having external devices and internal devices having various functions to the adapter 1. FIG. In particular, by arranging the units 100a to 100f side by side without gaps as shown in the figure, it is possible to solve the problem that dust enters the gaps in places where dust is likely to occur, such as the interior of the vehicle, and dirt becomes conspicuous.

When a cable 12 or the like for connecting to an external device extends from each unit, the mounting portions 101 of each unit provided in the adapter 1 should be arranged in the horizontal direction while maintaining a space. By doing so, a gap is formed between the adjacent units, and the wiring of the cable 12 or the like is facilitated. If a plurality of units are directly attached to the adapter 1, the combined shape of the adapter and the units becomes large, so it is also possible to connect all or some of the units connected to the adapter 1 with cables. In this way, the connection position between the adapter and the unit can be separated, and the unit can be arranged near the external device to be connected.

[13. 13th Embodiment] (Network Connection)
As shown in FIG. 25, in this embodiment, the adapter 1 is connected via an input connector 5 to a CAN network 115N in which a fault diagnosis system is provided in the vehicle. connected to multiple sensors. Each unit 100a-100f comprises a local network LAN connected to the CAN network 115N via the adapter 1, to which each unit 100a-100f, external devices 10a-10n and/or internal devices is connected.

The fault diagnosis system is connected to various sensors on the vehicle side through a network inside the vehicle called a CAN network 115N, and collects data on which fault diagnosis is based. According to this embodiment, a local network LAN provided in the adapter 1 is connected to this type of network in the vehicle, and external devices connected to the units 100a to 100f via the local network LAN are connected to each other. By exchanging information, the adapter 1 connected to the network, the fault diagnosis system, the units 100a to 100f, the external devices 10a to 10n, the information from the fault diagnosis system and the information from each external device in real time, It can be distributed to internal devices.

That is, compared to the case where the adapter 1 and each unit 100a to 100f are connected by serial communication, since a plurality of external devices 10a to 10n are connected to the local network LAN, each unit 100a to 100f can be connected to other devices. It becomes possible to receive information from the adapter 1 and other external devices 10a to 10n at the same time as the unit. As a result, even when a large number of units are combined or a large number of external devices 10a to 10n are connected, comparison can be made between serial connection of each company's devices and direct connection of each external device to a network such as CAN in the vehicle. Therefore, no information delay occurs. For example, in a vehicle that is driving at high speed, it is necessary to instantly issue a warning or perform an avoidance action based on the information collected by the external devices 10a to 10n and the failure diagnosis system. The present invention can also be applied to a system that requires

[14. Fourteenth Embodiment] (Wireless connection between adapter and unit)
As shown in FIG. 26, in this embodiment, each unit 100a to 100f is wirelessly connected to the adapter 1 via low-power wireless such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or WiFi.

In the present embodiment, since the adapter 1 and the units 100a to 100f are wirelessly connected, there is no need for mounting parts for connecting the units 100a to 100f and the adapter 1, connectors for signal transfer, and the like. , the size of the adapter 1 and the units 100a to 100f can be reduced. For example, by providing a plurality of internal devices such as the speaker 1b and the recording unit 63b of the SD card, a wireless device for connecting the external devices 10a to 10n, and the adapter 1 in the case of one unit, the size can be reduced. Multiple functions can be achieved with one unit. Since there is no restriction on the installation position of such a unit, the unit can be arranged at a position away from the adapter 1 or at a position where the user can easily operate it.

FIG. 27 shows a unit 100a in which a plurality of functions shown in the above embodiments, such as a speaker 1b, an LED warning light 1c and an SD card recording section 63a, are incorporated. 1 is wirelessly connected. As an example, this unit 100a is provided with four connectors 102 for connecting external devices, and external devices such as car navigation systems, drive recorders, radars, etc. that have functions that cannot be performed by the functions built into the unit 100a. Connect detectors, millimeter-wave radar oscillators, etc. In this way, the configuration of the unit 100a having a plurality of functions is simplified, and only relatively large external devices need to be connected to the unit. Miniaturization can be achieved.

[15. Other embodiments]
The invention includes other embodiments as follows.
(1) All or one of the units 100a to 100f has a power supply connector, such as a , a USB connector 2, a mini USB connector 3, and a cigar socket 4, or any one of them. In this way, a smart phone, a personal computer, or the like can be charged using the battery on the vehicle side. The port of the fault diagnosis system is always powered by the battery, and by supplying this power to an external device connected to the unit via an adapter, the external device can be charged even when the vehicle's accessory switch is turned off. can be done.

(2) Each unit is provided with a power receiving connector for supplying power from a portable battery such as a mobile battery to the vehicle and/or other external devices. In this way, by supplying electric power from the portable battery to other external devices and the vehicle side, for example, when the accessory switch of the vehicle is turned off, other external devices can be charged and used, and the in-vehicle When the capacity of the battery is insufficient, the electric power of the portable battery can be supplied to the vehicle, and various devices on the vehicle can be used.

(3) It is not necessary to provide the power feeding function to all of the adapter 1 and each unit. Instead of providing a power supply connector to the adapter 1, it is preferable to provide a power supply connector to any or all of the units. Embodiments in which the adapter 1 and all units are not provided with a power supply function are also included in the present invention.

(4) The configurations and functions provided in the adapter 1 of FIGS. 1 to 9 may be provided in all of the units, or in any one or a plurality of units. It is preferable that the configurations and functions independently provided in each unit 100a to 100f are appropriately combined with each unit or adapter. For example, the adapter 1 may be provided with a logging function, a TPMS function, and a radar reception function. If the adapter itself has various functions, the number of units to be combined can be reduced.

A 3G/4G/5G communication unit, a Bluetooth unit, or the like may be provided as the adapter 1 or unit 100 .
It would be better to have a unit that can directly upload the information collected from the vehicle and each unit to the cloud and manage the data. The data uploaded to the cloud can be used, for example, for operation history and operation management using a dedicated application.

In addition, it is preferable to set a mail notification destination in advance so that when a change is detected in another unit, the notification is sent by mail or the like. With this communication unit, even if the user is away from the vehicle, it is possible to communicate with the user's smartphone or mobile phone by e-mail.

For example, a device (simple security) that can communicate with the Bluetooth unit sends notifications (shock detection, vehicle tilt detection, proximity detection, etc.) from the Bluetooth unit to the user's mobile phone via this unit. do it.
There are the following methods for setting the notification destination of the e-mail and selecting and setting the notification items.
(1) By installing a Bluetooth unit, it is possible to set with a dedicated application from a smartphone, tablet, or notebook PC.
(2) If the unit shown in the above embodiment is installed, it becomes possible to set from a radar, a navigation system, a drive recorder, or the like.

(3) It should be possible to set using a dedicated setting application from a smartphone or the like. (It is advisable to send an email directly from the dedicated application to the 3G/4G communication unit.
Simple security that has a Bluetooth communication interface, when there is an OBD adapter equipped with a Bluetooth unit and this 3G/4G/5G communication unit, notifies the user of an abnormality detected in the vehicle by e-mail. This makes it possible to communicate with other devices, making it possible to monitor the state of the vehicle, making it even more functionally convenient. For example, by inquiring about the door lock state of the car to the OBD adapter by e-mail, the door lock state of the car may be notified. If the vehicle is in the unlocked state, it is preferable to send an e-mail to instruct the vehicle to be locked, and based on this instruction, send a door lock instruction to the vehicle.

It is particularly preferable that the external device to which power is supplied from the adapter 1 or the unit 100 is a drive recorder and has the following functions. In other words, it is particularly good to have the following functions as the external device that supplies power from the OBD adapter as a drive recorder. In particular, the drive recorder preferably has a function of recording while driving and a function of recording while parked (referred to as a parking monitoring function).

The drive recorder becomes a device that takes power from OBD. This OBD adapter
(1) Function to output vehicle information acquired from the vehicle to the drive recorder while the engine is ON.
(2) Function to supply power to the drive recorder when the engine is off (parking monitoring).
(3) By incorporating a G-sensor into the OBD adapter, it is possible to supply power to the DVR and start recording when the G-sensor responds even when parking surveillance is turned off.
(4) A function to stop power supply for the convenience of the drive recorder (a function to stop outputting power to the drive recorder when a power stop signal from the drive recorder is input to the OBD adapter).
(5) It has a function to stop power supply when the vehicle battery voltage reaches a threshold.
Regarding (3), if you do this, the battery of the car may run out if power is always supplied to the conventional drive recorder. load is reduced.

If the G sensor is built in, it is assumed that the G sensor will frequently react to strong winds, the sound of fireworks, etc. as a malfunction. In order to prevent this, the OBD adapter should output a signal to the effect that the engine is turned off to the drive recorder when it detects that the engine is turned off based on a signal from the vehicle. When the drive recorder receives a signal to the effect that the engine is turned off, it displays a telop, etc., on the display screen of the drive recorder, etc. to select the normal monitoring / impact monitoring / OFF selection screen, and based on the user's operation, these It is preferable to have a configuration in which an action is selected from among them and the selected action is performed.

It is preferable to make the set contents visible by inverting the image or the like. Normal monitoring records for the set time regardless of G sensor reaction. Impact monitoring records for the set time only when the G sensor reacts. OFF is an operation that does not record.
Regarding (4), the drive recorder should preferably be a 3G/4G/5G built-in drive recorder, and such a drive recorder should be recorded on recording means such as an SD card in places where the communication environment is poor. In addition, in a drive recorder having an event recording function, video of event recording is saved in recording means such as an SD card. The video data, etc. shot in the cloud is always sent to the cloud using a communication function such as 4G, and it is desirable to send the data recorded in the SD card, etc. to the cloud after the engine has stopped.

You need a power supply that supplies power only for the time it takes to transfer the data recorded on the SD card, etc., so power supply from OBD is perfect.
For example, with the configuration of (4), when the data transfer after the engine is stopped, the drive recorder sends a power stop signal to the OBD adapter, and the OBD adapter receives this power stop signal. In this case, it is recommended to stop the power output to the drive recorder.

It is preferable to use the adapter 1 or the unit 100 as the device from (A) to (R) described next, and the drive recorder as the device from (A) to (R).
(A) A device for supplying power from a failure diagnosis connector provided in a vehicle to equipment retrofitted to the vehicle,
a function of connecting to an in-vehicle network of the vehicle via the failure diagnosis connector;
a function to detect the on state of the vehicle;
a function of transmitting a signal based on data obtained from the in-vehicle network to the device when the vehicle is in an ON state;
It is preferable to have a function of supplying power to the device when the vehicle is not in the ON state.

In this way, equipment retrofitted to the vehicle can be easily supplied with power from the failure diagnosis connector, and can be supplied with power without, for example, blocking a cigarette lighter socket. When in the ON state, it can receive information from the in-vehicle network of the vehicle, and can receive power even when the vehicle is not in the ON state.

Various devices can be used as the devices retrofitted to the vehicle, but a drive recorder, for example, is particularly preferable.
The in-vehicle network to be connected may be, for example, CAN or K-line.
An OBDII connector, for example, is particularly preferable as the connector for failure diagnosis. In particular, if the connector is installed inside the vehicle, the user can easily connect it.

(B) having a function of supplying power to the device when the vehicle is on;
It is preferable to provide a function for notifying the device whether the vehicle is on or not (off state).
In this way, devices retrofitted to the vehicle can easily receive power supply and can know whether the vehicle is in the ON state or the OFF state. In particular, a line for supplying power and a signal line for notifying whether the vehicle is on or off should be a single cable covered with the same coating. In this way, by wiring only one cable, it is possible to receive the power supply and the signal indicating whether or not the vehicle is in the on state. Be smart and easy.

(C) The device may have a function of changing the operation of the device by a function of notifying whether the vehicle is on or off (off state).
For example, when the device is a drive recorder, if the vehicle is on, the constant recording mode is set, and if the vehicle is not on, the parking monitoring mode is set, and the recording parameters are switched between the two modes.

(D) The device preferably has a function of not transmitting a signal based on the data acquired from the in-vehicle network to the device when the vehicle is not on.
In this way, the device can easily determine whether or not the vehicle is in the ON state by whether or not there is transmission of a signal based on the data obtained from the in-vehicle network.

(E) The device may have the ability to not send signals to the in-vehicle network when the vehicle is not on.
In this way, when the vehicle is not in the ON state, for example, the in-vehicle computer for controlling the vehicle connected to the in-vehicle network, which is in the sleep state or the OFF state, can be turned into the activated state or the ON state. can be reduced. This is because these in-vehicle computers may transition from a sleep state or an off state to an activated state or an on state when a signal flows through the in-vehicle network.

(F) The ON state of the vehicle may be a state in which the vehicle charges the battery of the vehicle. An engine-on state may be provided as the on-state of the vehicle.
(G) When the vehicle is not in the ON state, it is preferable that power is not supplied to the cigar socket of the vehicle.
(H) It is preferable to have a function of transmitting a signal to the effect that the device is turned off, and perform processing based on the signal that the device is turned off.

(I) The device is a drive recorder, and the video recording mode may be switched based on reception of the signal indicating that the device is turned off.
(J) The video recording mode may be switched from a recording mode in which the vehicle is on (eg, constant recording mode) to a recording mode in which the vehicle is off (eg, parking monitoring recording mode).
In the parking surveillance recording mode, for example, the bit rate of the captured video to be recorded may be lower than that in the constant recording mode. For example, it is preferable to reduce the frame rate of the video, reduce the resolution, increase the compression rate, or perform at least one of these.

(K) having a function of stopping power supply to the device when the vehicle is not in the ON state;
A sensor may be provided, and a function may be provided to start supplying power to the device based on a signal from the sensor even when the vehicle is not in the ON state.
If power is continuously supplied from the failure diagnosis connector to the devices attached to the vehicle while the vehicle is off, there is a concern that the vehicle battery will run out due to the power supply to the device. Such concerns can be alleviated by supplying power based on the signal from the sensor. Also, the load on the battery of the vehicle can be reduced.

The sensor may be a sensor that detects at least one of a person approaching the vehicle, vehicle shaking, and sound in the vicinity of the vehicle. Then, for example, in at least one of the following cases: when a person approaches, when the shaking of the vehicle corresponds to a predetermined state, or when the sound around the vehicle corresponds to a predetermined state, the power supply to the device is turned on. Supply should be resumed. These predetermined states may be states corresponding to artificial vibrations or sounds made by thieves or the like.
Whether or not to supply power to the device when the vehicle is not in the ON state is set based on a signal from the device to the device, and the device determines whether or not to supply power to the device when the vehicle is not in the ON state based on the setting. It is preferable to control on/off of power supply to the device.

For example, even when this function is set so that power is not supplied to the device when the vehicle is not on, a sensor is provided as shown in (K), and the vehicle is controlled based on the signal from the sensor. It is preferable to have a function to start supplying power to the device even when the device is not in the ON state.
(L) The sensor may be an acceleration sensor. Then, when the acceleration acquired from the acceleration sensor reaches a predetermined state, the power supply to the device may be restarted even if the vehicle is not in the ON state. The predetermined state may be a state corresponding to the addition of acceleration to the vehicle by a person, such as a thief. For example, it may be assumed that an acceleration equal to or greater than a predetermined value occurs.

(M) The sensor may be provided in a housing provided with a connector that fits into a fault diagnosis connector provided in the vehicle. By doing so, it is possible to eliminate the exposure of the wiring from the failure diagnosis connector to the sensor, and to install the device or equipment smartly and easily.
(N) It is preferable to have a function of receiving a signal for controlling power supply from the device to the device and controlling power supply from the device to the device based on the signal.

The signal for controlling power supply from the device to the device may include at least one of turning off or turning on power supply from the device to the device. The power supply may be turned off or turned on immediately after receiving the signal, or may be turned on after a predetermined period of time. It is preferable that a signal instructing the device is sent from the device to the device for a predetermined time, and the device performs the operation after the predetermined time based on the signal. Further, for example, the device sends a signal related to the time to supply power to the device, and the device receives the signal, supplies power to the device during the time, and then stops power supply to the device. You may make it stop.

(O) the device has a communication function, the device has a function of performing communication using the communication function when the vehicle is not in the ON state, and the power supply to the device is supplied to the device after the end of the communication; It is preferable that the device that receives the signal has a function of stopping the supply of power to the device.
In particular, the device is a drive recorder, and has a function of transmitting captured image data using the communication function while the vehicle is on, and recording image data that could not be transmitted. To have a function to transmit the recorded video data that could not be transmitted in the non-on state using the communication function, and to stop the supply of power to the device after the communication is completed. and the device receiving the signal has a function of stopping power supply to the device.

(P) It is preferable to have a function of stopping the power supply to the device when the power supply from the fault diagnosis connector provided in the vehicle reaches a predetermined state. In this way,
(Q) The device is a drive recorder and preferably has a function of automatically starting recording when power is supplied. In this way, the car security function can be easily realized by a general drive recorder. (R) As for the configuration of the device, it is particularly preferable to combine at least any two of (A) to (Q).

In particular, it is preferable to combine at least one of (B) to (R) on the premise of the configuration (A). Also, the components described in (A) to (Q) may be selected and combined. At least one of (1) to (40) and at least one of (A) to (Q) may be combined. Also, at least one of the components described in (1) to (40) and at least one of the components described in (a) to (r) may be combined.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Adapter 2... USB connector 20... USB plug 3... Mini USB connector 30... Mini USB plug 4... Cigar socket 40... Cigar plug 5... Power receiving connector (input side connector)
50... Power supply connector (output side connector)
61 smart phone 62 portable battery 63 SD cards 10, 10a, 10b, 10c external device 11 control unit 111 control microcomputer 112 engine state detection unit 113 analog signal detection unit 114 K-LINE communication Control unit 115 CAN communication control unit 116 Database 117 Wired communication unit 118 Wireless communication unit 119 Power supply control unit 12 Cable 13 Connector 100a External device connection unit 100b Terminal unit 100c Wireless communication unit 100d Logging Unit 100e... TPMS unit 100f... Obstacle detection radar receiving unit 101... Unit mounting part

Claims (3)

A system comprising a device retrofitted to a vehicle and a device that operates based on a power supply from a fault diagnosis connector provided in the vehicle,
A function to output a warning about tire pressure from the device connected to the device based on the information acquired by the device,
The device is fixed in a state of being fitted into a connector for fault diagnosis provided on the vehicle.
A system characterized by Having a function to display the tire air pressure status as a graph in the device connected to the device based on the information acquired by the device
The system of claim 1, characterized by: Equipped with a function to display the air pressure of the tire in a different manner according to the type of equipment when a plurality of different equipment are connected.
3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

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