JP4212407B2 - Automotive electronics - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an in-vehicle electronic device, and more particularly to an in-vehicle electronic device that can be easily rewritten even when a defect or the like occurs in internal software after the device main body is mounted on a vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In-vehicle electronic devices include CD players that play CDs (Compact Disk), audio players such as MD players that play MDs (Mini Disks), cassette decks with integrated radio tuners, navigation systems, ETC ( (Toll collection system: Electronic Toll Collection System) or devices such as air conditioners have been widely used for a long time, but the control program that performs graphic data to be displayed on the display and its display processing on these devices itself A memory in which specific software is written is incorporated so that the entire device can function properly.
[0003]
For example, a navigation system includes a device body that drives a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or hard disk that records map data, a display typified by a liquid crystal display (LCD), a GPS antenna, and a vehicle speed sensor. However, the device main body incorporates a memory (storage means) that stores software (control program) for selecting a route from the current location to the destination and scrolling the display image on the display.
[0004]
The radio tuner is provided with a memory storing a control program for auto-tuning, and the control unit (equipment body) of the air conditioner is provided with a memory storing a control program for controlling the temperature in the passenger compartment. .
[0005]
However, according to the conventional in-vehicle electronic device as described above, in order to improve the function according to the debugging process when a defect (bug) is found in the control program stored in the memory or the market needs, etc. when updating the control program and various basic data, there open the case of the apparatus main body needs to be replaced memory storing software as described above.
[0006]
Note that the software stored in the memory can be rewritten by connecting various writing devices to the device body in order to eliminate the troublesomeness of replacing the memory or reduce the replacement cost. However, this kind of in-vehicle electronic device has a terminal for connecting the writing device on the back side or inside of the device body, so that only the front surface is exposed in the vehicle interior. When installing software for update from a writing device in the internal memory after installing the device main body in a vehicle, it is necessary to remove the device main body from the vehicle. There was a problem that a lot of time and labor were consumed.
[0007]
Therefore, there is an audio signal processing apparatus having a digital data input terminal, which can rewrite data stored in its internal memory by operating a CD player connected to the input terminal (for example, Patent Document 1). ).
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-149428 [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
However, in the digital signal processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to mount a signal processing apparatus for in-vehicle use and a CD player or the like as a writing apparatus for rewriting the internal memory in the vehicle. It will be costly, yet there is a problem that shall be secure a space for placing them in the car.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and an object of the present invention is to install an apparatus including a driver such as a CD, a DVD, or a ROM on which software for update is recorded without mounting the apparatus on a vehicle. The purpose is to allow software to be easily rewritten while the main body is mounted on the vehicle.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
In the in-vehicle electronic device provided with storage means capable of rewriting stored data in the device body, and specific software is stored as stored data in the storage means,
An update data input terminal for connecting a writing device for rewriting the software stored in the storage means and a cover member for shielding the update data input terminal are provided on the front surface of the device main body ,
The front surface of the device main body is an operation panel provided with switches, and a specific operation knob constituting the switches or a lid simulating the operation knob is provided on the front surface portion of the device main body as a cover member that shields the update data input terminal. Provided is an in-vehicle electronic device that is detachably provided, the update data input terminal is exposed by the removal, and the writing device can be connected to the update data input terminal from outside the device body To do.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, application examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a radio tuner integrated cassette deck as an example of an in-vehicle electronic device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a device main body, the front of which is an operation panel 1A. The front operation panel 1A has a cassette tape loading port 2, a display 3 comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) and the like. In addition, as a switch for operation, a main power switch 4A, a plurality of push button switches 4B for fast-forwarding and rewinding the tape, an operation knob 4C for adjusting the volume, and the like are provided.
[0011]
The device main body 1 is incorporated into a console or the like in the vehicle with only the front operation panel 1A exposed in the vehicle interior, and performs radio / tape playback switching and volume adjustment by operating the above switches. The display 3 displays the radio frequency, the running state of the cassette tape, and the like.
[0012]
The device main body 1 has a built-in memory 5 (non-volatile memory) such as a flash memory as a storage means capable of rewriting stored data. The memory 5 has symbols and characters to be displayed on the display 3. Data or specific software such as a control program for displaying a predetermined symbol or character on the display 3 is stored.
[0013]
Here, in the in-vehicle electronic device, the software stored in the memory 5 can be easily rewritten as necessary. For example, when a bug is found in the control program in the memory 5 or when the display pattern of the display 3 needs to be changed, the software in the memory 5 remains in the state where the device body 1 is incorporated in the console in the vehicle. Can be rewritten.
[0014]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 6 denotes an update data input terminal for connecting a writing device, which will be described later, in order to rewrite software stored in the memory. It is shielded by the operation knob 4C, and when rewriting software in the memory 5, the update data input terminal 6 is exposed to the front surface of the device body 1 by removing the operation knob 4C.
[0015]
That is, according to the present example, the operation knob 4 </ b> C for volume adjustment is detachably provided on the operation shaft 7 as a cover member that shields the update data input terminal 6. When the operation knob 4C is attached to the front surface (operation shaft 7) of the device body 1, the update data input terminal 6 is shielded by facing the operation knob 4C, and the operation knob 4C is removed from the operation shaft 7 and updated. When excluded from the facing position with the data input terminal 6, the update data input terminal 6 is exposed and a writing device described later can be connected.
[0016]
In FIG. 3, 8 is a writing device connected to the update data input terminal, and this writing device 8 is composed of a notebook personal computer 9 and an interface unit 10 in this example. The personal computer 9 is used to drive a medium M such as a CD in which update software is recorded, and the update software read from the medium M is supplied from the update data input terminal 6 via the interface unit 10. It is written in the memory 5.
[0017]
The interface unit 10 includes an RS232C interface 11, an inverter 12, a constant voltage power supply 13, and the like. The interface unit 10 is connected to the personal computer 9 by the communication cable 14 and is connected to the device main body 1 by the communication cable 15. The constant voltage power supply 13 of the interface unit 10 can receive power supply from a battery 16 mounted on the vehicle via a cigarette lighter (not shown) provided in the vehicle.
[0018]
Here, when the software stored in the memory 5 is rewritten, the update data input terminal 6 is exposed by removing only the operation knob 4C from the front portion of the device body 1 with the device body 1 attached to the vehicle. . Then, after the connector plug 15A provided at the tip of the communication cable 15 is inserted into the update data input terminal 6 and the writing device 8 is connected, the medium M sent from the manufacturer of the device main body 1 is transferred to the personal computer 9 To load.
[0019]
Thus, by starting the personal computer 9 and reading the update software recorded on the medium M, the update software is written from the update data input terminal 6 to the memory 5 in the device body 1 via the interface unit 10. Thus, the software rewriting operation in the memory 5 is completed. At the end of the rewriting operation, the communication cable 15 is disconnected from the update data input terminal 6, and the operation knob 4C is reattached here to shield the update data input terminal 6.
[0020]
As described above, according to the in-vehicle electronic device, the software stored in the memory 5 can be easily rewritten while the device main body 1 is attached to the vehicle. It can also prevent unauthorized rewriting of software by bad guys without blocking the appearance.
[0021]
Although a preferred example of the present invention has been described above, as a cover member for shielding the update data input terminal, other switches can be used in addition to the operation knob for adjusting the volume. Further, as a cover member, it is also Rukoto provided the operation knob so as to face the cover of electrically insulating imitating the update data input terminal detachably.
[0022]
In the above example, the in-vehicle electronic device (equipment main body) is a radio tuner integrated cassette deck. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the in-vehicle CD player, MD player, DVD player, air conditioner, and navigation. It can also be applied to control units such as systems and ETC.
[0023]
In the above example, the medium on which the update software is recorded is read out by the personal computer. However, the software may be downloaded to the personal computer via the Internet, and the writing device itself may appropriately use a known one. be able to.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the vehicle-mounted electronic device according to the present invention, an update data input terminal is provided on the front surface of the device body, and a writing device is connected to the terminal to store the storage means in the device body. Since the software stored in can be rewritten, even if the device main body is incorporated in a console or the like in the vehicle, the software can be easily rewritten without removing it.
[0025]
Further, since it is only necessary to connect the device main body and the writing device only at the time of rewriting the software, it is not necessary to always keep the device main body and the writing device integrally in the vehicle, and the interior of the vehicle can be made compact.
[0026]
Furthermore, since a cover member that shields the update data input terminal is provided, the appearance of the update data input terminal is not easily noticed by other persons by the cover member without losing the appearance in the normal usage mode of the device body. Can be prevented.
[0027]
In particular, the use of a specific operation knob that constitutes switches as a cover member increases the concealing effect of the terminal, and the update data input terminal is provided in the area where the operation knob is located, preventing the equipment body from becoming large. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an in-vehicle electronic device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where an update data input terminal is exposed in the device. FIG. 3 shows a state where software is rewritten. Illustration [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 1A Operation panel 3 Display 4C Operation knob 5 Memory (memory means)
6 Update data input terminal 8 Writing device 9 Personal computer 10 Interface unit 14, 15 Communication cable

Claims (1)

In the in-vehicle electronic device provided with storage means capable of rewriting stored data in the device body, and specific software is stored as stored data in the storage means,
An update data input terminal for connecting a writing device for rewriting the software stored in the storage means and a cover member for shielding the update data input terminal are provided on the front surface of the device main body ,
The front surface of the device main body is an operation panel provided with switches, and a specific operation knob constituting the switches or a lid simulating the operation knob is provided on the front surface portion of the device main body as a cover member that shields the update data input terminal. An in-vehicle electronic device provided so as to be detachable, wherein the update data input terminal is exposed by the removal, and the writing device can be connected to the update data input terminal from outside the device main body .

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