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Mobile Phone Patent Abstract
A motor vehicle built-in unit for a mobile phone has a central control
unit and an interface for exchanging signals between the central
control unit of the mobile phone and the motor vehicle. The built-in
unit also has a motor vehicle-specific adapter control unit for
adapting functions of the interface and/or of the central control
unit to the respective type of motor vehicle. The modular design
allows for electrical and mechanical adaptation to various types
of motor vehicles so that the central control unit and interface
can be identical for a wide variety of motor vehicles. An alternative
built-in unit has a central unit and an interface for connecting
to the motor vehicle. The interface is designed to connect the built-in
unit to the motor vehicle selectively either with a standardized
plug-type connector or a motor vehicle-specific plug-type connector.
The motor vehicle built-in unit can therefore easily be adapted
to the type of plug which is used in the respective motor vehicle.
Mobile Phone Patent Claims
We claim:
1. A motor vehicle built-in unit for a mobile phone, comprising:
a central control unit to be connected to a mobile phone, the mobile
phone having a mobile phone-specific communications protocol;
an interface connected between and adapted to exchange signals
between said central control unit and a motor vehicle, the motor
vehicle having a motor vehicle-specific communications protocol
differing from the mobile phone-specific communications protocol;
a motor vehicle-specific adapter control unit adapting functions
of said central control unit to the respective type of motor vehicle;
and
a device in said central control unit converting signals between
the motor vehicle-specific communications protocol and the mobile
phone-specific communications protocol.
2. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 1, wherein
said adapter control unit includes a device for converting respective
signal levels present at said interface.
3. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 1, wherein
said adapter control unit enables a connection of the mobile phone
to one of a radio of the motor vehicle, a lighting circuit of the
motor vehicle, and a databus of the motor vehicle.
4. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 1, which
comprises a housing commonly housing said adapter control unit,
said central control unit, and said interface.
5. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 1, which
further comprises a separate housing enclosing said adapter control
unit, a standardized plug-type connector for connecting said adapter
control unit to said central control unit, and a motor vehicle-specific
plug-type connector for connecting said adapter control unit to
the motor vehicle.
6. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 1, which
further comprises a standardized plug-type connector for connecting
said central control unit to the motor vehicle.
7. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 6, which
further comprises a standardized plug-type connector for connecting
said adapter control unit to the motor vehicle.
8. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 1, which
comprises a motor vehicle-specific plug-type connector for connecting
the built-in unit to the motor vehicle.
9. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 8, which
further comprises a housing enclosing said central control unit
and said a motor vehicle-specific adapter control unit, and wherein
said motor vehicle-specific plug-type connector is connected to
said adapter control unit via a cable connection guided through
said housing.
10. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 1, which
comprises a standardized plug-type device and a motor vehicle-specific
plug-type device for connecting the built-in unit to the motor vehicle.
11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said central control
unit is connectable to the motor vehicle by means of said standardized
plug-type connector and said adapter control unit is connectable
to the motor vehicle by means of said motor vehicle-specific plug-type
connector.
12. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 1, wherein
said interface is adapted to connect one of said central control
unit and said adapter control unit to the motor vehicle selectively
via a standardized plug-type connector or a motor vehicle-specific
plug-type connector.
13. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 12, wherein
said motor vehicle-specific plug-type connector is connected to
said adapter control unit via a cable connection.
14. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 12, which
further comprises a housing enclosing said central control unit
and said a motor vehicle-specific adapter control unit, and wherein
the cable connection is guided through said housing.
15. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 14, wherein
said housing is formed with a housing cutout for said standardized
plug-type connector, and the cable connection is guided through
said housing cutout of said standardized plug-type connector.
16. A motor vehicle built-in unit for a mobile phone, comprising:
a central control unit to be connected to a mobile phone, the mobile
phone having a mobile phone-specific communications protocol;
an interface connected between and adapted to exchange signals
between said central control unit and a motor vehicle, the motor
vehicle having a motor vehicle-specific communications protocol
differing from the mobile phone-specific communications protocol;
a motor vehicle-specific adapter control unit adapting functions
of said interface to the respective type of motor vehicle; and
a device in said interface converting signals between the motor
vehicle-specific communications protocol and the mobile phone-specific
communications protocol.
17. A motor vehicle built-in unit for a mobile phone, comprising:
an interface connecting to a component of a motor vehicle, the
component exchanging motor vehicle signals with said interface;
a central control unit connected to said interface and a mobile
phone, the mobile phone exchanging mobile phone signals with said
central control unit, the mobile phone signals differing from the
motor vehicle signals; and
a motor vehicle-specific adapter in said control unit translating
between the mobile phone signals and the motor vehicle signals.
18. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 17, wherein
said component is a lighting circuit.
19. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 17, wherein
said component is a radio.
20. The motor vehicle built-in unit according to claim 17, wherein
said component is a databus of the motor vehicle.
Mobile Phone Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a motor vehicle built-in unit for mobile
phones.
In general terms, such a motor vehicle built-in unit for mobile
phones has a central control unit for controlling the functions
of the built-in unit, a connection to the mobile phone to supply
an operating voltage, to exchange voice and/or data signals or the
like, and an interface to transmit signals from and to the motor
vehicle. The power supply, radio-frequency signals for connecting
the mobile phone to a motor vehicle antenna, an ignition signal,
and voice signals for connecting to a hands-free system (loudspeaker
and microphone) are exchanged between the motor vehicle and built-in
unit for the mobile phone. Furthermore, it is possible to provide
for data signals to be exchanged with a driver information system,
the car radio or a motor vehicle data bus or an external fax unit
or portable computer. A further possibility is also to illuminate
the display panel of the mobile phone using the dashboard illumination
system of the motor vehicle.
Currently only a few of the above-mentioned electrical signals
are standardized among different motor vehicle manufacturers and
types of motor vehicles such as, for example, the 12 volt vehicle
electrical system or the ignition signal. However, this also again
applies only to passenger cars. The other types of signal differ
depending on the motor vehicle manufacturer or type of motor vehicle.
Thus, there is the problem that the central control unit of the
motor vehicle built-in unit has to have a specific design for each
type of motor vehicle. This requires a high level of expenditure
on development and manufacture and therefore makes the motor vehicle
built-in unit expensive.
A further problem is the mechanical connection of the motor vehicle
built-in unit to the electrical circuits of the motor vehicle.
Moves are under way to standardized these systems. For instance,
the motor vehicle manufacturers that make up the Association of
German Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (Verband Deutscher Automobilhersteller--VDA)
have agreed on a guideline which is intended to define the mechanical
and electrical interface between a motor vehicle built-in unit and
the motor vehicle. However, in particular supplementary functions
such as communication between the motor vehicle's own communication
system and the wireless telephone, are only insufficiently defined
in the VDA guideline.
A plug-type connector which is defined in the VDA guideline is
not used universally in motor vehicles either. In particular, motor
vehicle manufacturers which do not belong to the VDA are not bound
to the guideline. For this reason, there is the problem that a motor
vehicle built-in unit has to be equipped with different plug-type
connectors in order to be used with different types of motor vehicle.
This also increases the price of the built-in unit.
European published patent application EP 0 723 378 describes a
built-in unit for a mobile phone in a motor vehicle. Specifically,
there is disclosed a possible way of connecting a multiplicity of
different mobile phones (for example units from different manufacturers)
to an interface. On the other hand, at the motor vehicle end there
is provided a standardized, universal (bus) plug-type connector.
2. Summary of the Invention
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a motor
vehicle built-in unit for a mobile phone, which overcomes the above-mentioned
disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type
and which can be retrofitted with the smallest possible degree of
expenditure and costs for use with different types of motor vehicles.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided,
in accordance with the invention, a motor vehicle built-in unit
for a mobile phone, comprising:
a central control unit to be connected to a mobile phone;
an interface connected between and adapted to exchange signals
between the central control unit and a motor vehicle; and
a motor vehicle-specific adapter control unit for adapting functions
of one of the interface and the central control unit to the respective
type of motor vehicle.
In other words, the novel built-in unit has a motor vehicle-specific
adapter unit for adapting functions of the interface and/or central
control unit to the respective type of motor vehicle. The central
control unit and the interface are independent of the type of motor
vehicle and can therefore be used universally and produced in large
numbers. The adaptation to the respective type of motor vehicle
is effected by means of the motor vehicle-specific adapter control
unit. A further advantage of the motor vehicle built-in unit according
to the invention is that subsequent adaptation to new types of motor
vehicles or implementation of new functions is made easier.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the adapter
control unit includes a device for converting respective signal
levels present at the interface. The adapter control unit can thus
have a device for converting different signal levels present at
the interface, from the motor vehicle on the one hand and from the
built-in unit on the other, and a device for converting signals
from a motor vehicle-specific communications protocol into a telephone-specific
communications protocol, and vice versa. The adapter control unit
can also make it possible to connect the mobile phone to the radio
of the motor vehicle, the lighting system of the motor vehicle and/or
a databus of the motor vehicle. As a result, supplementary functions
are made possible, for example enabling the audio output stage or
the loudspeakers of the motor vehicle radio or the lighting control
system to be used for the mobile phone.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, a housing
is provided which commonly houses the adapter control unit, the
central control unit, and the interface. This has the advantage
that it is not necessary to change the design of the housing when
adapting the motor vehicle built-in unit to a new type of motor
vehicle or when new functions are adopted. The adapter control unit
can be implemented as a plug-in board which can be plugged onto
a motherboard, which makes it easier to exchange the adapter control
unit.
In accordance with an alternative feature of the invention, a separate
housing encloses the adapter control unit. In that case, a standardized
plug-type connector connects the adapter control unit to the central
control unit, and a motor vehicle-specific plug-type connector connects
the adapter control unit to the motor vehicle.
In an alternative embodiment, the adapter control unit may be embodied
in a separate housing, which can be connected to the built-in unit
by means of a standardized plug-type connector or an internal plug-type
connector, and to the motor vehicle by means of a motor vehicle-specific
plug-type connector. This permits simultaneous electrical and mechanical
adaptation to the respective type of motor vehicle.
The connection between the built-in unit and motor vehicle can
be made by means of a standardized plug-type connector, for example
according to the VDA guideline, or by means of a motor vehicle-specific
plug-type connector. Both types of plug-type connector may also
be provided simultaneously, the central control unit preferably
being connected to the motor vehicle by means of a standardized
plug-type connector, and the adapter control unit preferably being
connected to the motor vehicle by means of a motor vehicle-specific
plug-type connector. Standard functions such as power supply and
a hands-free device can then be provided using the standardized
plug-type connector, and supplementary functions such as the lighting
system, connection to the car radio or motor vehicle databus can
be provided using the motor vehicle-specific plug-type connector.
This has the advantage that the motor vehicle-specific plug-type
connector can have a smaller number of poles, and thus be manufactured
more economically.
Alternatively, the interface of the motor vehicle built-in unit
according to the invention may be designed in such a way that the
connection to the motor vehicle can be made either by means of a
standardized plug-type connector or a motor vehicle-specific plug-type
connector. Adaptation to different mechanical types of plug can
then easily be effected without greatly changing the built-in unit
itself.
The invention also proposes a motor vehicle built-in unit for mobile
phones in which the interface is designed to connect the built-in
device to the motor vehicle either by means of a standardized plug-type
connector or a motor vehicle-specific plug-type connector.
The motor vehicle-specific plug-type connection here can be led
through the housing of the motor vehicle built-in unit by means
of a cable harness. Such a design permits a maximum degree of flexibility
in the adaptation of the built-in unit to different plug systems
of different motor vehicles, because the motor vehicle-specific
plug-type connector is arranged at the end of the cable harness
and no longer on or in the housing of the built-in unit.
With the above and other objects in view there is also provided,
in accordance with the invention, a motor vehicle built-in unit
for a mobile phone, which comprises:
a central control unit; and
an interface for exchanging signals between the central control
unit and a motor vehicle, the interface being adapted to connect
the central control unit to the motor vehicle selectively via a
standardized plug-type connector or a motor vehicle-specific plug-type
connector.
In accordance with again another feature of the invention, a housing
encloses the central control unit, and the motor vehicle-specific
plug-type connector is connected to the central control unit via
a cable connection guided through the housing.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the
cable connection is guided through a housing cutout of the standardized
plug-type connector.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention
are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied
in a motor vehicle built-in unit for mobile phone, it is nevertheless
not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications
and structural changes may be made therein without departing from
the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents
of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,
together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be
best understood from the following description of specific embodiments
when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a first exemplary embodiment of
a motor vehicle built-in unit according to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle built-in
unit according to the invention;
FIG. 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle built-in
unit according to the invention;
FIG. 4 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle built-in
unit according to the invention;
FIG. 5 shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle built-in
unit according to the invention;
FIG. 6 shows a sixth exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle built-in
unit according to the invention;
FIG. 7 shows a seventh exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle
built-in unit according to the invention; and
FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a motor vehicle built-in unit
according to the prior art.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first,
particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a first exemplary
embodiment of a motor vehicle built-in unit according to the invention.
The motor vehicle built-in unit is designated in its entirety with
the reference numeral 1. The built-in unit is connected, similarly
to the prior art motor vehicle built-in unit (see FIG. 8), to a
mount 6 for a mobile phone 2. The invention is not restricted here
to mobile phones, but rather can also be applied to mobile phone
modules, that is to say functional assemblies without their separate
key pad or display as so-called "embedded systems". The
built-in unit 1 has a central control unit 3 for controlling the
functions of the motor vehicle built-in unit such as charging the
mobile phone accumulator, actuating a hands-free device or passing
on radio-frequency signals to a motor vehicle antenna. A standardized
plug-type connector 4, for example complying with the VDA guideline
mentioned at the beginning, serves as the mechanical interface with
the motor vehicle.
The central control unit 3 controls those functions of the built-in
unit and those interface connections which are standardized in the
majority of motor vehicles that are suitable for a built-in mobile
phone, for example the 12 volt power supply or the ignition signal
which can be used to switch on the mobile phone. The method of actuating
the antenna and the hands-free device are also largely standardized.
Other functions, such as the motor-vehicle lighting system, are
designed differently in different passenger cars. The transmission
of data to external devices such as an external telefax unit or
a portable computer are not covered by the above-mentioned VDA standard
either. Furthermore, motor vehicles exist with a motor vehicle-specific
communications protocol, for example a so-called "vehicle area
network" (VAN) which can be used in a vehicle-mounted computer.
The motor vehicle built-in unit according to the invention contains
the motor vehicle-specific adapter control unit 5 in order to implement
further functions of the motor vehicle built-in unit, for the example
activation of the display illumination of the mobile phone when
the dashboard lighting system of the motor vehicle is switched on,
or the use of the audio output stage or of the loudspeakers of the
motor vehicle audio system for the mobile phone. The adapter control
unit 5 is used to adapt the central control unit 3 and the interface
4 of the motor vehicle built-in unit to the respective motor vehicle.
It is thus possible to implement, as a further function, the transmission
of data between a motor vehicle databus or vehicle-mounted computer
and the mobile phone or the built-in unit. The housing and the central
control unit 3 of the built-in device can therefore be used for
a wide variety of types of motor vehicle. Only the adapter control
unit 5, which may be embodied for example as a plug-in circuit board,
has to be specifically developed for a motor vehicle manufacturer
or type of motor vehicle. This modular design reduces the development
costs and manufacturing costs for the motor vehicle built-in unit.
In addition, the system can easily be adapted to new types of motor
vehicle or new functions can easily be implemented by exchanging
the adapter control unit.
A second exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle built-in unit
according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. This differs
from the first exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the
adapter control unit 5 is embodied together with the plug-type connector
4. The adapter module thus controls the control unit 5 and plug-type
connector 4 and is exchanged as one unit. Thus, both electronic
and mechanical adaptation to the motor vehicle are possible without
changing the central control unit.
FIGS. 3A and 3B show a further exemplary embodiment of the motor
vehicle built-in unit according to the invention. In this alternative
embodiment, two plug-type connectors, a standardized plug-type connector
4 and a motor vehicle-specific plug-type connector 5 are provided.
Similarly to the second exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the
adapter control unit 5 is embodied together with the motor vehicle-specific
plug-type connector 7. The adapter control unit and the motor vehicle-specific
plug-type connector can therefore be installed in a way which corresponds
to the respective motor vehicle, while the central control unit
3 and the standardized plug-type connector 4 can be used universally.
In FIG. 3B, the motor vehicle-specific plug-type connector is connected
to the outside by means of a cable.
Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a fourth exemplary embodiment
of a motor vehicle built-in unit according to the invention. The
adapter control unit 5 is accommodated in a separate housing. The
separate housing is attached to the main housing of the motor vehicle
built-in unit 1 via a standardized plug-type connector 4. The connection
to the motor vehicle is made via a motor vehicle-specific plug-type
connector 7. In motor vehicles which do not use standardized plug-type
connectors, it is possible in this way to carry out the electrical
and mechanical adaptation of the motor vehicle built-in unit to
the motor vehicle by plugging on the adapter module.
FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment, which is a variant
of the fourth exemplary embodiment. Again, only one motor vehicle-specific
plug-type connector 7 is used for connection to the motor vehicle.
However, the adapter control unit 5 is located in the main housing
of the motor vehicle built-in unit 1, and a cable harness is led
from the adapter control unit 5 through the housing to the plug-type
connector 7. As a result, the plug-type connector 7 can be replaced
with another plug-type connector with little effort.
A sixth exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle built-in unit according
to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The standardized
plug-type connector 4 is of removable design. FIG. 6A shows the
first state of this exemplary embodiment in which the connection
is made to the motor vehicle by means of the standardized plug-type
connector 4. However, if the motor vehicle requires a specific plug-type
connector, the standardized plug-type connector 4 can easily be
removed and replaced with a panel, and a cable connection from the
adapter control unit 5 is led to the motor vehicle-specific plug-type
connector 7 through the housing of the built-in unit, preferably
through the housing cutout provided for the plug-type connector
4. The adapter control unit 5 is embodied in such a way that the
exchange of signals with the motor vehicle can be carried out either
by means of the standardized plug-type connector 4 or by means of
the motor vehicle-specific plug-type connector. This exemplary embodiment
has the advantage of a very high degree of flexibility, because
the electrical and mechanical adaptation (by means of the plug-type
connector) to the motor vehicle can be implemented in a completely
unrestricted way.
FIG. 7 shows a seventh exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle
built-in unit according to the invention, which unit, like the sixth
exemplary embodiment, permits mechanical adaptation to various types
of plug-type connector of a motor vehicle, but does not have an
adapter control unit. This exemplary embodiment is advantageous
if, for example, just the basic functions of the motor vehicle built-in
unit are to be used but the built-in unit is to be adapted to different
types of plug-type connector. The seventh exemplary embodiment supplies
such a motor vehicle built-in unit which can be implemented at low
cost and can easily be converted to different types of plug-type
connector.
The present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, thus provides
for a motor vehicle built-in unit which can easily be adapted, mechanically
and/or electronically, to different motor vehicle manufacturers
or different types of motor vehicles by virtue of a modular design
concept.
The non-modular prior art concept is illustrated in FIG. 8. There,
the control unit 3 and the connection 4 to the motor vehicle and
the auxiliary devices are combined in the unitary system which is
housed in the housing of the unit 1. |