DESCRIPTION

IN-VEHICLE AUDIO DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates, for example, to an in-vehicle audio device.

BACKGROUND ART

In a conventional in-vehicle audio device, an operation panel is attached to a front side of a metal body case, and an operation unit and a display unit are provided in the operation panel. In such an in-vehicle audio device, audio is activated according to contents operated in the operation unit, and the activated contents are displayed on the display unit. Recently, there has been proposed an in-vehicle audio device that is used in cooperation with a portable device (a cellular phone, for example) in order to improve the function of the in-vehicle audio device (see PTL 1). When a portable device and an in-vehicle audio device are used in cooperation with each other as described above, music information stored in the portable device can be provided to the in-vehicle audio device. Therefore, it is possible to improve the function as an in-vehicle audio device.
However, when a portable device and an in-vehicle audio device are used in cooperation with each other in this manner, since the portable device is stored inside a console box or the like in a vehicle, it is not possible, in such a state, to recognize a current playing state of the portable device. Therefore, such an in-vehicle audio device has low usability.

In view of the above, the present invention is directed to improve the usability of an in-vehicle audio device. Citation List Patent Literature PTL 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-296875

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An in-vehicle audio device of the present invention includes a metal body case, an operation panel which is attached to a front side of the body case, an operation unit and a display unit provided in the operation panel, and a holder provided on the front side of the operation panel for holding a portable device. The holder includes a body case mounting unit having both side portions disposed on both sides of the operation penal with a middle portion facing at least one of the operation unit and the display unit, and a support which is provided in a bridge form between the side portions of the body case mounting unit. Both the side portions of the body case mounting unit penetrate the operation panel. The body case mounting unit includes a support fixing portion which fixes the support at the front side of the operation panel, and body case fixing portions fixed to the body case at a rear side of the operation panel. With this configuration, the intended purpose can be achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle that is equipped with an in-vehicle audio device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the in-vehicle audio device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the in-vehicle audio device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the in-vehicle audio device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the in-vehicle audio device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the in-vehicle audio device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part of an in-vehicle audio device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the in-vehicle audio device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, handle 3 and in-vehicle audio device 4 are installed in a front part of room 2 of vehicle body 1.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in-vehicle audio device 4 is provided with metal body case 5, operation panel 6 which is attached to a front side of body case 5, operation units 7, 8, and 9 which are provided in operation panel 6, and display unit 10.

When audio device 4 is used without cooperation with cellular phone 11, shown in FIG. 2, as an example of a portable device, operation unit 7, operation unit 8, or operation unit 9 is operated to cause control unit 12 shown in FIG. 6 to operate. For example, reception unit 12b selects a radio channel according to a frequency stored in storage unit 12a, and sound is output from speaker 14 via output unit 13. Further, information about the selected channel is displayed on display unit 10. In addition, holder 15 for attaching a portable device thereto as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 is provided on the front side of operation panel for the cooperation with cellular phone 11. Holder 15 includes body case mounting unit 16 which is provided in such a manner that both side portions of which are positioned on both sides of operation penal 6 so as to face each other with operation units 7, 8 and 9 and display unit 10 interposed therebetween, and support 17 which is provided in a bridge form between the both side portions of body case mounting unit 16. The both side portions of body case mounting unit 16 of holder 15 penetrate through holes 18 which are formed on operation panel 6. As shown in FIG. 3, body case mounting unit 16 includes, at the front side of operation panel 6, support fixing portion 19 which fixes support 17 thereto. Body case mounting unit 16 also includes, at a rear side of operation panel 6, body case fixing portions 20 which are fixed to body case 5.

More specifically, the both side portions of body case mounting unit 16 of holder 15 penetrate through holes 18 which are formed on operation panel 6, and body case fixing portions 20 are fixed to body case 5. On the other hand, body case 5 has a box-like shape as shown in FIG. 4. In the present embodiment, body case fixing portions 20 of holder 15 are fixed to front plate 5a or outer plate 5b of box-shaped body case 5. More specifically, through holes A are formed on front plate 5a at positions facing respective through holes 18 formed on operation penal 6. Fixing portions B are provided on a rear side of front plate 5a at positions corresponding to the positions of respective through holes A so as to be bent rearward at 90 degrees from front plate 5a. Body case fixing portions 20 of holder 15 are arranged so as to overlap with respective fixing portions B at both sides. Then, in this state, holder 15 is fixed to body case 5 by screwing screws 21 shown in FIG. 3 from body case fixing portions 20 into fixing portions B. Thus the fixed state is shown in FIG. 5. Support 17 is attached to support fixing portion 19 of holder 15, angle adjuster 22 is then arranged at the front side of support 17, and screws 23 are then screwed from a front side into support fixing portion 19 through cover 24, angle adjuster 22, and support 17. As a result, support 17 and angle adjuster 22 are integrated into holder 15.

Angle adjuster 22 has a hinge mechanism. Holding unit 25 arranged at the front side of angle adjuster 22 is integrated with angle adjuster 22 with screws 26 screwed from a rear side to thereby form a state shown in FIG. 2. In other words, holding unit 25 holds upper and lower long sides of cellular phone 11. In a state where cellular phone 11 is integrated with the front side of operation panel 6 in this manner, the electrical configuration is in a state as shown in a control block diagram of FIG. 6. More specifically, communication is performed between communication unit 27 of cellular phone 11 and communication unit 28 of in-vehicle audio device 4. Accordingly, it is possible, for example, to transmit music that has been stored, by the operation by input unit 32, in storage unit 29 of cellular phone 11 as an example of a portable device from control unit 30 to in-vehicle audio device 4 via communication units 27 and 28, and output the transmitted music from speaker 14 via control unit 12 and output unit 13. Further, display unit 10 provided in in-vehicle audio device 4 is a small unit that displays only selection of radio channels. Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability of in-vehicle audio device 4 also by displaying information about the music (title, lyrics etc.,) being output from speaker 14 on display unit 31 of cellular phone 11.
Further, outer plate 5b and front plate 5a of body case 5, and body case mounting unit 16 which is connected to front plate 5a are also electrically connected to each other. That is, front plate 5a, outer plate 5b, and body case mounting unit 16 are in a conductive state. As can be understood from FIG. 4, front plate 5a of body case 5 is larger than the exterior dimension of outer plate 5b when viewed from the front side. Vehicle mounting portions 5c are provided near the four corners of front plate 5a which is made large in this manner. As can be understood also from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, vehicle mounting portions 5c protrude outward from the outline of operation panel 6 which is provided on the front side thereof. Therefore, when mounting body case 5 in the state shown in FIG. 5 to a vehicle, outer plate 5b of body case 5 is inserted into an in-vehicle audio device mounting unit (not shown) of the vehicle, and, in this state, screws (not shown) are screwed into respective vehicle mounting portions 5c from the front side toward the rear side. In this manner, in-vehicle audio device 4 can be mounted to the in-vehicle audio device mounting unit.

In this state, by holding cellular phone 11 in holding unit 25 as shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to achieve the cooperation between cellular phone 11 and in-vehicle audio device 4. (Second Embodiment) FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 illustrate another example of use of in-vehicle audio device 4 of a second embodiment of the present invention. In this example, cellular phone 11a to be attached to the front side of the operation panel 6 provided in body case 5 is larger than cellular phone 11 shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, in this case, holding unit 25 fixed to angle adjuster 22 shown in FIG. 3 with screws 26 is detached therefrom, and holding unit 25a having a larger size for cellular phone 11a is fixed to angle adjuster 22 shown in FIG. 3 with screws 26. That is, when the size of cellular phone 11 or 11a changes, holding units 25 and 25a to be attached to angle adjuster 22 are appropriately selected depending on the size of cellular phone 11 or 11a.
As described above, the in-vehicle audio device of the present invention includes a metal body case, an operation panel which is attached to the front side of the body case, operation units which are provided in the operation panel, and a display unit. A holder for attaching a portable device thereto is provided on the front side of the operation panel. The holder includes a body case mounting unit which is provided in such a manner that both side portions of which are positioned on both sides of the operation penal so as to face each other with at least one of the operation units and the display unit interposed therebetween, and a support which is provided in a bridge form between the both side portions of the body case mounting unit. The both side portions of the body case mounting unit penetrate the operation panel. The body case mounting unit includes, at the front side of the operation panel, a support fixing portion which fixes the support thereto, and includes, at the rear side of the operation panel, body case fixing portions which are fixed to the body case. Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability of the in-vehicle audio device.

In the prevent invention, since the holder for attaching a portable device thereto is provided on the front side of the operation panel, when a portable device is held in the holder in order to allow the portable device and the in-vehicle audio device to cooperate with each other, it is possible to visually observe the portable device from the front side. As a result, it is also possible to easily confirm a current playing state of the portable device, and thereby make the usability of the in-vehicle audio device extremely excellent. In addition, the holder of the present invention includes the body case mounting unit which is provided in such a manner that both side portions of which are positioned on both sides of the operation penal so as to face each other with at least one of the operation units and the display unit interposed therebetween, and the support which is provided in a bridge form between the both side portions of the body case mounting unit. The both side portions of the body case mounting unit penetrate the operation panel. The body case mounting unit includes, at the front side of the operation panel, the support fixing portion which fixes the support thereto, and includes, at the rear side of the operation panel, the body case fixing portions which are fixed to the body case. Therefore, it is possible not only to enhance the strength of the holder, but also to take a ground countermeasure Specifically, since the both side portions of the body case mounting unit of the holder penetrate the operation panel, and the body case fixing portions are fixed to the body case, the holder has high strength, and a ground countermeasure of the body case can also be utilized.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, in the in-vehicle audio device of the present invention, since the holder for attaching a portable device thereto is provided on the front side of the operation panel, when the portable device is held in the holder in order to allow the portable device and the in-vehicle audio device to cooperate with each other, it is possible to visually observe the portable device from the front side. As a result, it is also possible to easily confirm a current playing state of the portable device, and thereby make the usability of the in-vehicle audio device extremely excellent. Therefore, the prevent invention is expected to be utilized as an in-vehicle audio device.

REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS

1 vehicle body

2 room

3 handle

4 in-vehicle audio device

5 body case

5a front plate

5b outer plate

5c vehicle mounting portion

6 operation panel

7, 8, 9 operation unit

10 display unit

11, 11a cellular phone (example of portable device)

12 control unit

12a storage unit

12b reception unit

13 output unit

14 speaker

15 holder

16 body case mounting unit

17 support

18 through hole

19 support fixing portion

20 body case fixing portion

21 screw

22 angle adjuster

23 screw

24 cover

25, 25a holding unit

26 screw

27, 28 communication unit

29 storage unit

30 control unit

31 display unit

32 input unit

A through hole

B fixing unit

CLAIMS

1. An in-vehicle audio device comprising: a metal body case; an operation panel which is attached to a front side of the body case; an operation unit and a display unit provided in the operation panel; and a holder provided on the front side of the operation panel for holding a portable device, wherein the holder includes a body case mounting unit having both side portions disposed on both sides of the operation penal with a middle portion facing at least one of the operation unit and the display unit, and a support provided in a bridge form between the side portions of the body case mounting unit, both the side portions of the body case mounting unit penetrate the operation panel, and the body case mounting unit includes a support fixing portion which fixes the support at the front side of the operation panel, and body case fixing portions fixed to the body case at a rear side of the operation panel.

2. The in-vehicle audio device according to claim 1, wherein the body case has a box-like shape, and the body case fixing portions of the holder are fixed to a font plate or an outer plate of the body case.

3. The in-vehicle audio device according to claim 2, wherein the front plate of the body case for fixing the operation panel is disposed at the rear side of the operation panel, and the front plate is provided with in-vehicle mounting portions.

4. The in-vehicle audio device according to claim 3, wherein the front plate of the body case is larger than an exterior dimension of the outer plate when viewed from a front side.