WO1995013577A1

WO1995013577A1 - Computer for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO1995013577A1
Application number: PCT/FI1994/000491
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ari Rautiainen; Pekka Peura; Juha Savolainen
Original assignee: Computec Oy
Priority date: 1993-11-03
Filing date: 1994-11-01
Publication date: 1995-05-18
Also published as: AU8062694A; FI934865A; FI934865A0

Abstract

A computer for a vehicle, comprising a central processing unit (1), a display unit (2), a keyboard unit (3), and means (1, 5) for establishing a radio connection with base stations to set up a communication connection between public communication networks and the computer, to transfer data between the computer and the base stations. To provide a vehicle computer that can be installed in all kinds of vehicles and that is easy to use, the keyboard unit (3) is formed as a separate element that can be held in one hand and used for feeding data into the computer either via a wired or wireless connection, and the central processing unit (1) of the vehicle computer is spaced from the display unit (2) and keyboard unit (3).

Description

Computer for a vehicle

Background of the invention

The invention relates to a computer for a vehicle, comprising a display unit; a keyboard unit consisting of a separate element to be held in one hand for feeding data into the computer via either a wired or wireless connection; a central processing unit spaced from the display unit and the keyboard unit; and means for establishing a radio connection with base stations to set up a communication connection between public communication networks and the computer, to transfer data between the computer and the base stations.

The invention especially relates to a vehicle computer suitable for use in mobile communication net¬ works, such as the MOBITEX system. Other systems in which the computer of the invention can be applied are e.g. the NMT (Nordisk Mobil Telefon), GSM (Groupe Special Mobile), AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone Service) and TACS (Total Access Communications System) mobile communication networks. The computer of the invention can also be employed e.g. in satellite systems or the like, and in a PMR (Private Mobile Radiotelephone) system. It is previously known to employ in the above systems a vehicle computer whose display, keyboard and central processing unit are integrated, or encased, to form a single whole. The evident place for a computer in a vehicle is naturally the dashboard, so that the computer is within easy reach of the driver. On account of its integrated structure, said known computer for a vehicle is so large, however, that in most vehicles it cannot be installed in the dashboard due to lack of space. Another major drawback of said known computer is that due to its integrated structure, the computer is difficult to use, since in the solution concerned, the keyboard is arranged next to the computer, i.e. in a practically vertical position. On account of this, the driver has to lean forward to reach the keyboard of the computer and, in addition, a keyboard arranged in an essentially vertical position is very difficult to use. An integrated solution like this may even endanger traf¬ fic if the driver starts using the computer while he is driving. Another known computer for a vehicle comprises an integrated display and central processing unit to which is connected a keyboard of a normal PC by means of a cable. The problem with also this solution is that the integrated display and central processing unit needs much space. Another major drawback is that the keyboard is large. It is very difficult to use a keyboard of a normal PC if there is no steady surface for it, as is naturally the case in most vehicles. In practice, when a normal PC keyboard is employed in a vehicle computer, the driver holds the keyboard on the lap when he is writing, and so he cannot use the vehicle computer while driving.

Summary of the Invention The object of the present invention is to elim¬ inate the above problems, and to provide a vehicle com¬ puter that is designed to suit all kinds of vehicles and that is much easier to use than the known vehicle com¬ puters. This is achieved with the vehicle computer of the present invention, which is characterized in that the keyboard unit comprises means for reading a bar code and for feeding it to the vehicle computer.

The invention provides a solution which makes is much easier to use a computer in a vehicle and to install such a computer in different kinds of vehicles, as the different elements of the computer are encased separately and made as small as possible so that the elements that must be arranged in the dashboard or within the driver's reach are as small as possible. The other elements of the vehicle computer can then be installed in a place where lack of space is not a prob¬ lem. The use of a vehicle computer according to the invention is much easier than that of the known solu¬ tions, since the keyboard unit can be made so small that the driver, who uses the vehicle computer the most often, is able to manage the functions of the computer by a keyboard unit that can be operated by one hand. The fact that a bar code reader is integrated into the key¬ board unit further facilitates the use of a vehicle computer as compared with the known solutions, since all data to be fed into the computer no longer needs to be keyed in but some of it can be fed via the bar code reader. The major advantages of the vehicle computer of the invention are that it is easy to install, since only the fairly small display unit has to be arranged in the dashboard, which in most vehicles is the most problem¬ atic place as regards space; and that it is easy to use, since the moveable keyboard can be held in and managed by one hand. Advantageously, the connection between the keyboard unit and the vehicle computer is a wireless connection, which makes it even easier to move and use the keyboard unit e.g. during the driving.

The advantageous embodiments of the vehicle computer of the invention appear from attached dependent claims 2 to 6.

Description of one embodiment of the invention

In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail by means of one advantageous embodiment and with reference to the attached figure, which shows a block diagram of an advantageous embodi¬ ment of a vehicle computer according to the invention. The figure shows that a central processing unit (CPU) 1 of a vehicle computer is encased separately from the other components of the computer. Thus the central pro¬ cessing unit 1, which is usually the largest component in a vehicle computer, can be positioned in a place where it is the least in the way when the vehicle is used. Depending on the type of the vehicle, the suitable place may be e.g. the space between the driver's seat and the floor, or e.g. the boot. Practice has shown that connecting cables 4 between a central processing unit 1 and a display unit 2 and/or a keyboard unit 3 may be up to 7 m in length, without the length causing any major problems in the signalling between the components concerned.

The central processing unit shown in the figure is thus connected with the display unit 2 by means of a connecting cable 4. Advantageously, the connecting cable 4 is arranged inside the dashboard of the vehicle. The break in the connecting cable 4 indicates that the distance between the display unit 2 and the central processing unit 1 is much greater than implied by the figure. The display unit 2, which is advantageously arranged in the dashboard, is very small and easy to install in very different types of vehicles. The monitor of the display unit shown in the figure can display 16 x 40 signs. The display unit 2 is 160 mm high, 180 mm wide and 40 mm thick. To the display unit 2 is connected a keyboard

3. This is indicated in the figure by a broken line 7. The connection 7 between the display unit 2 and the keyboard unit 3 is either a wired (cable) or wireless connection. A wireless connection 7 is e.g. a transmitter/receiver application operating in the infra- red area; it is known per se from other connections. The keyboard unit 3 is very small, and light, and so it can be managed and moved by one hand as data is keyed in the vehicle computer. The keyboard unit 3 shown in the figure is 160 mm long, 55 mm wide and 20 mm thick. Using said keyboard unit 3, both alphanumerical characters and numbers can be fed into the computer by means of function keys. A bar code reader is integrated into the keyboard unit 3, and so not all data to be fed into the vehicle computer needs to be keyed in. The feeding of data is thereby speeded up considerably.

The central processing unit (CPU) 1 shown in the figure further comprises a transmitter and receiver for establishing radio-frequency signalling between a computer for a vehicle and e.g. the MOBITEX network. The signalling is effected via an antenna 5, which is advantageously arranged e.g. on the roof of the vehicle. The vehicle computer shown in the figure pro¬ vides the user e.g. with at least the following MOBITEX services: transmission and receival of status messages within the network, transmission and receival of text messages within the network, transmission and receival of form-based information by "hpdata" messages within the network, and processing of alarm signals. The specification and the accompanying figure are to be understood only as illustrating one advantage¬ ous embodiment of the vehicle computer according to the invention, without limiting the invention. The advant¬ ageous embodiments of the vehicle computer of the inven- tion may thus vary within the limits of the attached claims.

Claims

1. A computer for a vehicle, comprising a display unit (2); a keyboard unit (3) consisting of a separate element to be held in one hand for feeding data into the computer via either a wired or wireless connection; a central processing unit (1) spaced from the display unit (2) and the keyboard unit (3) ; and means (1,5) for establishing a radio connection with base stations to set up a communication connection between public communication networks and the computer, to transfer data between the computer and the base sta¬ tions, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the keyboard unit (3) comprises means for reading a bar code and for feeding it to the vehicle computer.

2. A computer for a vehicle according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that using the keyboard unit (3) , data can be keyed both in numerical and in alphanumerical form.

3. A computer for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the keyboard unit (3) comprises a transmitter and the display unit (2) comprises a receiver for allowing signals in the infrared area to be transmitted from the keyboard unit (3) to the display unit (2), the display unit (2) com¬ prising means for feeding the received signals into the central processing unit (1) of the computer.

4. A computer for a vehicle according to claim

1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the computer communicates via a radio connection with base stations of the MOBITEX, NMT, GSM, AMPS or TACS systems.

5. A computer for a vehicle according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the keyboard unit (3) is about 160 mm long, about 55 mm wide and about 20 mm thick.

6. A computer for a vehicle according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the display unit (2) is about 160 mm high, about 180 mm wide and about 40 mm thick.