JPH11245740A - Method of and device for recognizing external equipment in on-vehicle acoustic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily execute a recognition process again by comprising a step of starting and transferring a device body to an operating state to perform the recognizing processing of each external apparatus connected to the device body and a step of laying the device body again to resting state after the recognizing processing is ended. SOLUTION: A recognition processing part 22 judges that a first external apparatus is recognized when a recognition data is returned from the external apparatus within a prescribed time, and judges the impossibility of recognition when the recognition data is not returned to transfer the recognition processing to the following external apparatus. After the recognition processing to all external apparatuses are ended, the results are recorded in a memory as recognition information. The recognition result of each external apparatus is outputted to a display screen. When the recognition processing of each external apparatus is ended, an end judging means 23 detects this and outputs a transfer instruction to resting state to an equipment control part 30. Consequently, the device body and each external apparatus connected thereto are returned to the original resting state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an on-vehicle acoustic device constructed by connecting a plurality of external devices to an apparatus main body having a control unit, and in particular, to a mechanically and electrically connected apparatus main body. A method for recognizing an external device that detects whether or not a control unit in the apparatus main unit can recognize and recognize a plurality of connected external devices, and enables re-recognition when there is an external device that cannot be recognized. And the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a vehicle-mounted acoustic device has a plurality of (a plurality of types) external devices connected to a device body having a built-in control unit via a bidirectional data bus according to the user's preference. By doing so, each external device is centrally controlled by the apparatus main body. In this case, a control unit using a computer is built in the apparatus main body, and an operation panel thereof has a display unit for displaying the status of each device, operation buttons, knobs, dials, etc. (hereinafter collectively referred to as operation keys). ) Is provided. As the external device, a radio, a cassette deck, a CD, a CD autochanger, an MD, an MD autochanger, a spectrum analyzer (spectrum analyzer), and the like, which are generally called source devices, are used.

In such a vehicle-mounted acoustic device,
When an external device is connected to the control unit, it is necessary to not only mechanically and electrically connect the control unit and the external device but also to recognize the external device so that the external device can be operated by the control unit. Conventionally, the recognition processing of external devices in such an in-vehicle acoustic device is performed by: (1) If the power of the device itself can be turned on / off by the ignition key of the vehicle, the sound device such as turning the ignition key At power-on. (2) When an external device is newly connected to the device body, that is, when a slave external device is newly operated. (3) New operation of the main unit (when first connected to the power supply) or when the reset switch is pressed to return to the initial state.

[0004] These are always (1) to (3)
In many cases, this is not done in (1) and (2). Further, (2) and (3) are performed when it is known that the relationship between the apparatus main body and the external device has changed, such as when a new external device is connected.

However, as recently as it has become possible to connect a large number of external devices to the device body, even if the device body and each external device are electrically and mechanically connected, the device is A state occurs where the control unit of the main unit cannot recognize all external devices. The causes are as follows: (a) In-vehicle audio equipment causes a communication error between the main unit and each external equipment due to power fluctuation or noise. (b) Malfunctions of the microcomputer that constitutes the control unit. Can be considered.

As described above, when some external devices cannot be recognized despite being electrically and mechanically connected, it is necessary to perform recognition processing again. Such re-recognition processing is to artificially create the same state as described in (1) to (3) above. That is, (1) In a device in which the power of the device main body can be turned on / off by an ignition key, the power is once turned off and then turned on again. (2) Electrically and mechanically disconnect the external device that is the slave from the main unit of the device, and then reconnect it. (3) Press the reset switch on the main unit, or disconnect the battery, turn off the main unit, and turn it on again. Normally, in an in-vehicle acoustic device, the device main body is connected to a power source even when an ignition key is removed, so that it is necessary to disconnect the power source from the battery in order to turn off the power source. This is substantially the same as connecting a new apparatus body to a power supply. Either of these means is required.

[0007]

However, the conventional recognition processing methods as described above have the following disadvantages.

(1) A method of performing recognition processing by turning on / off the power supply of the apparatus main body using an ignition key. In this method, the recognition process is performed every time the power is turned on to the apparatus main body. However, in recent on-vehicle acoustic devices, the number of external devices connected to the device main body increases, and a complicated check is performed, so that it takes time to recognize all the external devices. For example, when several external devices are connected, recognition of all the external devices takes several to ten seconds from power-on. If some external devices cannot be recognized, it may take time for re-recognition, but if the ignition key is turned on, a long waiting time for recognition processing is required every time the power is turned on. It is very difficult to use, and it does not work as a product. As the number of external devices to be connected increases recently, it is desirable to display the connection status of each device on a display unit such as a liquid crystal display after the recognition processing. But,
In an on-vehicle audio system, the ignition switch is used to turn on the accessory switch, and at the same time, the in-vehicle audio system is started to play a preset external device (the same external device as when the accessory switch was turned off last time). To get started. Therefore, when the recognition result is displayed as described above, various displays associated with the started performance cannot be performed.

(2) A method in which an external device as a slave is once electrically and mechanically disconnected from the device main body and reconnected. In general, in this method, when power is supplied to a newly connected external device and operation starts, a command requesting a recognition process is sent to a control unit of the device main body via a data bus. The apparatus main body that has received this command starts recognition processing for all external devices. However, this method imposes on the user the task of removing the external device already electrically and mechanically connected to the apparatus main body from the apparatus main body and reconnecting it.
In particular, as in the case where the in-vehicle console panel cannot be disassembled, there are many cases where the user cannot reconnect depending on external devices due to the structure of the vehicle. Therefore, even if it is effective when a new external device is added by a vehicle or a vehicle-mounted acoustic device dealer, such a method cannot be adopted for the purpose of performing a recognition process by a user.

(3) Press the reset switch on the main unit or disconnect the battery once and turn off the power of the main unit.
How to turn it on after turning it on. The method of once disconnecting the battery cannot be easily implemented by the user as in (2). On the other hand, pressing the reset switch is effective as a method to escape from the abnormal state,
Usually, the reset switch provided on the apparatus main body of the in-vehicle audio apparatus is a reset switch of a computer that controls the entire apparatus. Therefore, when the reset switch is pressed, the computer returns to the initial state, and the data stored in the memory is also initialized. As a result, data such as CD titles stored by the user and radio station names stored in preset memories for channel selection are also lost. In the original recognition process, the title data and the data in the preset memory are retained, so in this method an extra memory clear operation is performed, and pressing the reset switch only for the recognition process is too risky .

As described above, in the prior art, when the apparatus main body cannot recognize the external device, it is not easy to perform the recognition process again. Of course, it is technically possible to provide a switch dedicated to recognition processing without performing memory clear or the like in the apparatus main body. But,
The recognition process is performed once when the device is newly installed or a new external device is connected, and is not necessary as long as power is supplied to the device. It is useless to provide a dedicated switch because it is extremely low.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has as its object the inability to recognize external devices that are electrically and mechanically connected. In this case, it is possible to easily carry out the recognition process again, and before and after the recognition process, the title information and frequency preset information etc. stored in each external device or device main body are retained. To provide a method and an apparatus for recognizing an external device of a vehicle-mounted acoustic device.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is detected that an operation key performs a preset special operation while the apparatus main body is in a halt state. And starting the apparatus main body and shifting to the operating state in response to the previously set special operation, and performing recognition processing of each external device connected to the apparatus main body, and the recognition processing is completed. And then restoring the apparatus main body again.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus main body connected to a power supply, and a plurality of external devices connected to the apparatus main body via a communication line, wherein the apparatus main body includes the apparatus main body. And a control unit of each external device, and an in-vehicle audio device provided with an operation key for operating a device main body and each external device by inputting a signal to the control unit, provided in the device main body in a quiescent state of the device main body. A special operation monitoring means for monitoring a special operation of the operated operation key, and an external device connected to the device main body via a communication line by starting up the apparatus main body when the special operation is detected and shifting to an operation state. And a means for determining the end of the recognition processing, and a means for returning the apparatus body to a sleep state based on the end of the recognition processing.

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, during the recognition processing of the external device, the apparatus main body only returns from the sleep state connected to the power supply through the operation state to the sleep state again. Therefore, the entire device is not initialized as when turning off the power or pressing the reset switch like disconnecting the battery, and the data stored by the user in the memory etc. is kept as it is. I can put it. In addition, since the recognition process is started by using the operation keys used during a normal performance without requiring a dedicated switch for starting the recognition process, no extra key is required, and the device can be used. The configuration is also simplified.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the special operation monitoring means detects a simultaneous operation of a plurality of predetermined operation keys or a continuous operation of the predetermined operation keys for a predetermined time or more. It is characterized by doing. According to the invention of claim 3 having such a configuration, as for the operation keys provided on the apparatus main body, for example, a plurality of operation keys are simultaneously pressed, or a specific operation key is continuously pressed for a predetermined time or more. When a predetermined special operation is performed, recognition processing of the external device is executed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus main body is provided with an operation switch for switching between an idle state and an operation state of the apparatus main body, and the special operation monitoring means includes an operation switch and another operation key. It detects a simultaneous operation with. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention having such a configuration, it is necessary to shift to the operation state of the apparatus main body necessary for performing the recognition processing of each external device, and thus it is necessary to perform the operation and the recognition processing for that. Special key operations can be performed simultaneously with one operation switch. In other words, when the operation switch is used for the recognition process, the operability of the user is common and the operation switch is used, as compared with the case where the apparatus body is operated using another operation key for the recognition process. There is an advantage that the control of the device is simple.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Each function of the embodiment described below is realized by a predetermined mechanism or software controlling a computer and peripheral devices. In this specification, each function and each process correspond to “...”. The invention and the embodiments are described on the assumption of a virtual circuit block such as “means”. Therefore, for each block, each hardware element or software element that realizes this does not correspond one-to-one.

(1) Configuration of the Embodiment As shown in FIG.
And a plurality of external devices 2a to 2n connected thereto via a data bus 3. The device body 1
Generally called a center unit, an internal device 11 such as a timer or a clock is incorporated as a function of the device itself. On the other hand, examples of the external devices 2a to 2n include a radio, a television, a CD, a first CD autochanger, a second CD autochanger, an MD, an MD autochanger, and a sparer. The apparatus body 1 and each of the external devices 2a to 2n are connected to a battery power source (not shown), and a voltage is constantly supplied. That is, the apparatus main body 1 is provided with an operation switch called a “POWER” key, which will be described later. By turning on and off the operation switch, the apparatus main body and each external device are switched between a sleep state and an operation state. . However, even in the pause state, only the performance using each external device as a source is stopped, and power is supplied to the apparatus main body 1 itself.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the operation of the internal device 11 such as a clock and the output display on the display unit are performed. The output display of the internal device 11 can be stopped when the accessory switch is turned off by linking the ignition key and the main body of the apparatus.

The apparatus body 1 includes a control unit 12 which is a computer for controlling the internal device 11 and the external devices 2a to 2n, and a plurality of operation keys 13 for inputting various commands to the control unit 12. And a display unit 14 for displaying an operation state of each device and the like. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the control unit 12 includes a recognition processing control unit 20 that controls a recognition processing operation of an external device, and a device control unit 30 that controls the internal device 11 and each of the external devices 2a to 2n. ing. The device control unit 30 encodes an input from the operation key 13 and gives a command to each of the external devices 2a to 2n through the internal device 11 and the data bus 3, and also outputs a command from the internal device 11 and each of the external devices 2a to 2n. The display data and the like are sent to the display unit 14 to perform a predetermined display. In addition, the device control unit 30 controls a sound output signal from each source device to control a reproduced sound from a speaker (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, the recognition processing control unit 2
0 is provided with a special operation monitoring means 21 for monitoring a special operation of an operation key when the apparatus main body is in a halt state. In this embodiment, the monitoring unit 21 simultaneously activates the “POWER” key 13P, the “1” key 13a, and the “6” key 13b, which are keys for starting recognition processing of each device, when the apparatus main body 1 is in the rest state. This is to detect that the button is pressed. When the special operation is detected, the monitoring unit 21 starts up the apparatus main body 1 and shifts the apparatus main body 1 to an operation state.
It is connected to recognition processing means 22 for executing recognition processing of each of the external devices 2a to 2n connected to the apparatus main body 1 via a communication line (data bus 3). This recognition processing means 22
Outputs a code for recognition determination to each of the external devices 2a to 2n in order through the data bus 3, and returns confirmation data within a predetermined time from the corresponding external device 2a to 2n through the data bus 3. The external device, in which the confirmation data is detected, is registered as a controllable device in a storage unit such as a memory. The recognition result of each external device by the recognition processing unit 22 is output to the display unit 14 provided in the apparatus main body 1. Further, the recognition processing means 22 includes a means 23 for determining whether or not the recognition processing has been completed for all the external devices 2a to 2n, and a means 24 for returning the apparatus main body 1 to the sleep state based on the completion of the recognition processing. It is connected to the. The restoring unit 24 for returning to the sleep state is connected to the device control unit 30.

FIG. 3 shows the operation keys 1 on the apparatus main body 1.
3 shows a front panel of the apparatus main body 1 provided with a display unit 3 and a display unit 14. In FIG. 3, a rectangular part in the center is a display part 14 constituted by a liquid crystal display, and buttons and dial keys arranged around the display part 14 are operation keys 13, respectively. These operation keys 13
Are set in advance so that a certain operation is performed so that the description of the operation is described on the surface of each key. For example, each operation key in which characters 1 to 6 arranged in a horizontal line below the display unit 14 are usually used to select a channel or a radio station, or to select a CD or M according to each external device.
The selection of a track to be played by D, and the selection of a CD to be played in a CD autochanger and the like are used. The operation keys provided on the left and right sides of the display unit 14 are also necessary for operating the apparatus main body 1 and each external device so that the operation content is described on the surface of each key. In particular, in the present embodiment, among these operation keys 13, the "POWER" key 13P, the "1" key 13a, and the "6" key 13b are set in advance as keys for starting the recognition processing of each device. .

(2) Operation of the Embodiment The operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 and a display example of the display unit 14 of FIG.

In order to perform the recognition processing of each of the connected external devices 2a to 2n, the apparatus main body 1 is set in a sleep state (power off). In this case, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the apparatus main body and each external device are in an operating state (power on),
By pressing a "POWER" key 13P provided on the front panel of the apparatus main body 1, a pause command is issued to the device control unit 30 to bring the apparatus into a pause state (step 1). FIG.
“a” indicates that the radio is selected as the external device. FIG. 5B is a display example of the pause state. In this case, since the clock as the internal device 11 is moving, the time is displayed on the display unit 14.

In the above-described hibernation state, the user can use the "POWER" key 13P for recognizing the external device.
When the three operation keys of the "1" key 13a and the "6" key 13b are simultaneously pressed (step 2), the special operation monitoring means 2
1 detects this and outputs an operation command to the recognition processing means 22. Upon receiving the operation command, the recognition processing unit 22 switches to a state in which the recognition process can be executed (step 3), and the display unit 1
4 is output to the start screen of the recognition processing as shown in FIG. 5C (step 4). When the user sees this screen display and presses the "POWER" key 13P again (step 5), the monitoring means 21 detects this key operation, outputs a recognition start signal to the recognition processing means 22, and outputs this signal. In response, the recognition processing unit 22 transmits a code for recognition determination to the first external device, and executes a recognition process. At the same time, the display unit 14
The display during the recognition process as shown in FIG. 5D is output (step 6).

When the recognition data is returned from the first external device within a predetermined time, the recognition processing unit 22 determines that the external device is recognized, and when the recognition data is not returned, the recognition processing unit 22 recognizes the external device. It is determined that the external device cannot be recognized, and the process proceeds to the next external device recognition process (step 8). After the recognition process for all external devices is completed, the result is recorded in the memory as recognition information (step 9). The obtained recognition result of each external device is output to a display screen as shown in FIG. 5E (step 10). In FIG. 5e, "OK" is displayed for an external device whose connection state has been recognized, and indicates that the tuner, CD, and CD autochangers 1 and 2 have been recognized. When the recognition process of each external device is completed, the completion determination means 23 detects this, and outputs a command to shift to the hibernation state to the device control unit 30 (step 11). As a result, the apparatus main body and each external device connected thereto return to the original hibernation state. In this case, the display of the recognition result may be left as it is on the display unit 14, or may be returned to the original time display.

(3) Effects of the Embodiment As described above, according to the embodiment, the recognition process is performed in the sleep state without interrupting the power supply to the apparatus main body and the external device. There is no risk of losing the stored data as in the case where the power is turned off or the reset switch is pressed to initialize. In addition, since the recognition process is executed in the idle state of the device, the recognition process is suddenly performed during the performance or reception, so that the performance order and the data of the receiving station are lost. It is not necessary to prepare the process in advance. Further, in the sleep state, there is no need to display data from each external device, and therefore, no problem occurs even if the recognition result is displayed. Further, pressing the “POWER” key and the other two operation keys simultaneously as in the present embodiment cannot be a normal operation, so that the recognition process is not started by an erroneous operation.

(4) Other Embodiments The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes the following other embodiments. (a) Recognition processing is started when a plurality of other operation keys are simultaneously pressed instead of pressing the "POWER" key. (b) When any one or a plurality of operation keys are continuously pressed for a fixed time or more (a sufficiently long time compared to a normal operation), a recognition process is started. (c) When a special operation of the operation key is detected without requiring the start screen display of the recognition processing as shown in FIG. 5C and the recognition start command by the “POWER” key shown in step 5 of FIG. Those that start recognition processing immediately. (d) When a special operation is performed in the playing state (operating state) of the apparatus, the apparatus is shifted to a sleep state, performs recognition processing, and returns to the operating state again.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the user wants to check what kind of external device is connected, or when he notices an abnormality in the connection state of the external device, he can easily do so. Recognition processing of each external device can be performed. In addition, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated switch for that purpose, and a vehicle-mounted acoustic device having excellent operability can be periodically required without complicating the configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a “recognition device for an external device in a vehicle-mounted acoustic device” of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of a control unit in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of the apparatus main body in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a display example of a display unit in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Device main body 2a-2n ... External equipment 3 ... Data bus 11 ... Internal equipment 12 ... Control part 13 ... Operation key 13P ... "POWER" key 13a ... "1" key 13b ... "6" key 14 ... Display part 20 ... Recognition processing control unit 21 ... Special operation monitoring means 22 ... Recognition processing means 23 ... Recognition processing determination means 24 ... Hibernation state return means 30 ... Equipment control unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] A step of detecting that an operation key has performed a preset special operation in a pause state of the apparatus main body; and starting up and operating the apparatus main body triggered by the preset special operation. In-vehicle sound, comprising the steps of: shifting to a state and performing recognition processing of each external device connected to the apparatus main body; and, after the recognition processing is completed, setting the apparatus main body to a rest state again. External device recognition processing method in the device. 2. An apparatus main body connected to a power source and a plurality of external devices connected to the device main body via a communication line, wherein the device main body includes a control unit for the apparatus main body and each external device. And an operation key provided on the in-vehicle audio device provided with operation keys for operating a device main body and each external device by inputting a signal to the control unit. And a special operation monitoring means for monitoring the operation of the apparatus, and starting up the apparatus main body when a special operation is detected, shifting to an operation state, and executing recognition processing of an external device connected to the apparatus main body via a communication line. An external device for an in-vehicle acoustic device, comprising: a processing unit; a unit for determining the end of the recognition process; and a unit for returning the apparatus body to a sleep state based on the end of the recognition process. Recognition processor. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation operation monitoring means detects simultaneous operation of a plurality of predetermined operation keys or continuous operation of the predetermined operation keys for a predetermined time or more. Item 3. A recognition processing device for an external device in the on-vehicle acoustic device according to Item 2. 4. The apparatus main body includes an operation switch for switching between an idle state and an operation state of the apparatus main body, and the special operation monitoring means detects simultaneous operation of the operation switch and another operation key. 4. The apparatus for recognizing an external device in an on-vehicle acoustic device according to claim 3, wherein