Infotainment device, infotainment service providing method, and vehicular electronic system comprising infotainment device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11878631-B2
Application number	US-201915733361-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2019
Priority date	Feb 5, 2018
Publication date	Jan 23, 2024
Grant date	Jan 23, 2024

Abstract

Disclosed is an infotainment device. The infotainment device comprises: a connector detachably attached to a slot disposed in a vehicle; at least one auxiliary antenna electrically connected to a main antenna arranged on the outside of the vehicle; a first communication circuit capable of performing communication for an infotainment service by using the main antenna and the at least one auxiliary antenna; a second communication circuit capable of performing communication with a head unit device installed in the vehicle; and a processor functionally connected to the connector, the at least one auxiliary antenna, the first communication circuitry, and the second communication circuitry, wherein the processor may be configured to: acquire a signal for the infotainment service by using the first communication circuit; and output the acquired signal using a speaker or a display which is functionally connected to the head unit device, through the second communication circuit; In addition, various embodiments recognized through the specification are possible.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An infotainment device, comprising:
a connector detachable from a slot disposed in a vehicle, the vehicle is configured to obtain a signal associated with a specific service using a main antenna disposed in the vehicle in a state where the connector is detached to the slot;
at least one sub-antenna electrically connected with the main antenna disposed in the vehicle based on the connector that is attached to the slot;
a first communication circuitry configured to perform communication for an infotainment service using the main antenna and the at least one sub-antenna;
a second communication circuitry configured to communicate with a head unit device installed in the vehicle; and
a processor operatively connected with the connector, the at least one sub-antenna, the first communication circuitry, and the second communication circuitry,
wherein the processor is configured, in a state where the connector is attached to the slot disposed in the vehicle, to:
obtain a signal for the infotainment service using the first communication circuitry; and
output the obtained signal using a speaker or a display operatively connected to the head unit device via the second communication circuitry.

2. The infotainment device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to take over priority to the main antenna provided in the vehicle and a hardware device provided in the vehicle from the head unit device, the hardware device including the speaker and the display.

3. The infotainment device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to operate based on an operating system for infotainment service, and
wherein the operating system for infotainment service is distinguished from operating system of the head unit device, the head unit device being driven based on a vehicle dedicated operating system.

4. The infotainment device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive a vehicle power through the connector, and
be powered on to be driven in a foreground state when obtaining a power-on instruction from the head unit device.

5. The infotainment device of claim 1 , wherein the slot is disposed in a side mirror, a room mirror, or a dashboard of the vehicle, and
wherein the sub-antenna is connected with the main antenna through a part where the side mirror, the room mirror, or the dashboard is connected with a car body.

6. The infotainment device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third communication circuitry configured to perform wireless communication,
wherein the processor is further configured to:
obtain a signal from a user terminal using the third communication circuitry; and
deliver the obtained signal to the head unit device using the second communication circuitry.

7. The infotainment device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to be driven in a background state, when in a specified situation while providing the infotainment service.

8. The infotainment device of claim 1 , wherein the first communication circuitry is configured to perform communication for the infotainment service using a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna system including the main antenna and the at least one sub-antenna, and
wherein a number of the at least one sub-antenna is corresponded to a number of channels of the MIMO antenna system.

9. A method for providing an infotainment service in an infotainment device, the method, comprising:
being powered on using an operating system for the infotainment service under an instruction of a head unit device installed in a vehicle, the vehicle is configured to obtain a signal associated with a specific service using a main antenna disposed in the vehicle, in a state where a connector of the infotainment device is detached to a slot of the vehicle;
in a state where the connector of the infotainment device is attached to the slot of the vehicle, obtaining a signal for the infotainment service using the main antenna provided in the vehicle and at least one sub-antenna provided internally; and
outputting the obtained signal through at least one of a speaker or a display operatively connected to the head unit device.

10. An electronic system for vehicle, the electronic system comprising:
a slot disposed in a vehicle;
a main antenna disposed in the vehicle;
at least one sub-antenna,
an infotainment device configured to be detachable from the slot; and
a head unit device operatively connected with at least one of a display or a speaker,
wherein the vehicle is configured to obtain a signal associated with a specific service using the main antenna, in a state where the infotainment device is detached to the slot, and
wherein the infotainment device is configured, in a state where the infotainment device is attached to the slot, to:
obtain a signal for an infotainment service using the main antenna and the at least one sub-antenna; and
instruct the head unit device to output the obtained signal through at least one of the display or the speaker.

11. The electronic system of claim 10 , wherein the head unit device is configured to operate based on a vehicle dedicated operating system, and
wherein the infotainment device is further configured to operate based on an operating system for infotainment service.

12. The electronic system of claim 10 , wherein a vehicle dedicated operating system includes at least one of QNX, Linux, Window, Genivi, or Android, and
wherein an operating system for infotainment service includes Android.

13. The electronic system of claim 10 , further comprising:
an input circuit operatively connected with the head unit device,
wherein the head unit device is configured to:
instruct the infotainment device to be powered on, when a specified input is identified via the input circuit, and

wherein the infotainment device is further configured to be powered on under instruction of the head unit device.

14. The electronic system of claim 10 , wherein, when a service for the vehicle using at least one of the main antenna or hardware provided in the vehicle is provided, the head unit device is configured to be driven in a foreground state and the infotainment device is further configured to be powered off or be driven in a background state.

15. The electronic system of claim 10 , wherein, when the infotainment service is provided, the infotainment device is further configured to be driven in a foreground state and the head unit device is configured to be driven in a background state.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Choi Hoon
• Cho Nara
• Cho Sungdae
• Lee Sungjun

Classifications

• B60K35/26

  using acoustic output · CPC title

• B60K37/00

  Dashboards (as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14) · CPC title

• B60K35/50

  Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle (B60K35/231 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60K35/28

  characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver · CPC title

• B60K35/60

  Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title