TH86076A - In-vehicle computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

The DC60 vehicle computer system includes a host computer, a mode switch, and a redundant microprocessor. When the host computer is operating normally, the mode switch is in normal mode by default, and the host computer uses the graphical interfaces on the display to control the operation of the electronic devices installed in the vehicle. These electronic devices may include a digital disc player (DVD player), an MP3 player, and a Global Positioning System (GPS). In the event of a complete computer failure, the mode switch is switched to redundant mode, and the host computer is replaced by the redundant microprocessor to control the redundant graphics processor. This retrieves the redundant graphics interface from backup storage media to process images and continue displaying them on the display. Therefore, the driver can continue to control the corresponding electronic devices through the redundant graphics interface on the display. The vehicle computer system includes a host computer, a mode switch, and a redundant microprocessor. When the host computer is operating normally, the mode switch is in normal mode by default, and the host computer uses the graphical interfaces on the display to control the operation. The electronic devices installed in the vehicle may include digital disc players (DVD players), MP3 players, and GPS systems. In the event of a complete computer failure, a mode switch is activated to backup mode, and the host computer is replaced by a backup microprocessor to control the backup graphics processor. This retrieves a backup graphical interface from backup storage for graphical processing and continues displaying results on the display device. Therefore, the driver can maintain control of the associated electronic devices via the backup graphical interface on the display.

Claims (10)

1. The vehicle's in-vehicle computer system controls the operations of various electronic devices in the vehicle and consists of the following components: a display device electrically connected to a mode switch, which switches between normal and alternate modes; a host computer electrically connected to the mode switch, which uses a bus to connect to the vehicle's electronic devices and includes the central processing unit (CPU) and storage media. The storage media stores multiple graphical interfaces corresponding to the operations of the respective electronic devices. A secondary storage media stores at least one secondary graphical interface corresponding to at least one electronic device operation. A secondary graphics processor is electrically connected to the secondary storage media and the mode switch, and a secondary microprocessor is electrically connected to the secondary graphics processor and at least one electronic device. When the host computer is operating normally, the mode switch is in normal mode by default. The CPU retrieves the graphical interface from the storage media and displays it on the display device. The CPU controls the operations of the electronic devices through the graphical interface. When the host computer fails, the system takes over. The mode switch will then switch from normal mode to alternate mode. The alternate microprocessor will control the alternate image processor to retrieve at least one alternate graphic interface from the alternate storage medium for image processing and display on a display device. The alternate microprocessor will then use at least one alternate graphic interface to control the operation of at least one electronic device corresponding to at least one alternate graphic interface. 2. The system as specified in Claim 1, where the mode switch is a manually controlled switch. 3. The system as specified in Claim 1, where the mode switch and the secondary image processor are integrated into a single image processing chip. 4. The system as specified in Claim 1, whereby one or more electronic devices are selected from the following: digital multifunction disc (DVD) players, MP3 players, compact disc (CD) players, global positioning systems (GPS), radios, navigation systems, air conditioning (A/C) systems, in-vehicle mobile phones, and electric wheelchair devices. 5. The system as described in Claim 1, where the host computer is an embedded computer system. 6. The system as described in Claim 1, whereby the host computer is booted immediately upon vehicle startup, and the backup microprocessor is booted when the mode switch is changed to backup mode. 7. The system as described in Claim 1, where the storage medium consists of memory and hard disk, and the hard disk stores the graphical interface. 8. The system as specified in claim 7, where the memory is flash memory. 9. The system as defined in Claim 1, whereby the alternate microprocessor shall use a bus to electrically connect to at least one electronic device corresponding to at least one alternate graphical interface. 10. The system as specified in Claim 1, whereby the bus shall be the CAN BUS (Canal Area Network) controller bus.