Pioneer Electronic Corporation

Akio Namiki

Yoshio Aoyagi

Takayuki Iijima

Toshiyuki Kimura

Hiroyuki Abe

Akira Haeno

Osamu Yoshizawa

Yoshihiko Watanabe

Hiroshi Wakimoto

Shigetoshi Kato

Akira Kawahara

Tsuneyoshi Nagashita

Isamu Nomura

Kimito Kobayashi

Isao Matsumoto

Kazuto Shimokawa

Seiji Kato

Teruo Takahashi

Susumu Niinuma

Susumi Niinuma

An audio apparatus having a detachable control panel or operating-part main unit includes a microcomputer for detecting an OFF state of an ACC position of the ignition key, or the attached/detached state of the operating-part main unit. When such states are detected, normal operations of the microcomputer; namely, the operations to turn on an SWD V.sub.DD terminal and an A/D port and to set a KEY DATA terminal into a standby mode, are stopped intermittently in order to execute a low consumption process in which electric power is consumed only for holding information in memory in the microcomputer. When the microcomputer detects the OFF state of the ignition key or the OFF state of an installation detection switch and, an alarm ON state is set in the memory in the microcomputer, then an alarm sound is generated from a speaker for a predetermined time. When the alarm sound is unnecessary, the state of the memory in the microcomputer can be updated to an alarm OFF state by depressing a function button and operating the ignition key. When the installation detection section detects the removal of the operating-part main unit, on the basis of a decrease in voltage value of an installation detection switch section and CPU recognizing the removal of the operation-part main unit, a control section sends control signals to a power supply limiting circuit and a data transmission switch section.

Car-stereo with removable control panel, alarm, and power conservation

An on-vehicle electronic device includes a main body which is fastened to a vehicle and has a first terminal, and an operation unit which is detachably mounted in the main body and which has a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal when the operation unit is mounted in the main body. The main body includes a reference power source applying a reference voltage to the first terminal, and a voltage detection unit for detecting a voltage applied to the first terminal. The main body further includes a mounting detection unit. The mounting detection unit determines, based on a difference between a first detection voltage detected by the voltage detection unit when the operation unit is mounted and a second detection voltage detected by the voltage detection unit when the operation unit is not mounted, whether or not the operation unit is mounted and electrically connected to the main body via the first and second terminals.

On-vehicle electronic device

A function setting method for an audio system which is capable of changing a function of the audio system without alternation of hardware of a system controller at all and is superior in general use. The method comprises the steps of preparing, as the system controller for controlling functions incorporated in the audio system in a concentrated manner, a microcomputer which has an analog/digital conversion input port and has built therein control programs for all of a plurality of functions which can be incorporated in the audio system, and applying a selected one of a plurality of analog voltages which individually represent possible combinations of the functions including the individual functions to the analog/digital conversion input port of the microcomputer to cause the microcomputer to be prepared for one or ones of the functions represented by the analog voltage.

Function setting method for audio system

An audio apparatus incorporating a CD player or a cassette tape deck and a radio receiver as integral audio components, includes a photosensor; a means for detecting an operating state of each audio source; and a drive mode switching means for automatically changing the photosensor to a continuous active mode or to an intermittent active mode according to a detection output of the source detecting means. When the CD or cassette tape is inserted, the active source is automatically switched to the corresponding CD player or cassette tape deck. Further, the photosensor is placed in the continuous active mode to eliminate noise generation when a source other than the CD or cassette tape is in operation. It is switched to the intermittent active mode to reduce power consumption when none of the sources is in operation.

Dual source audio apparatus with photosensor for detecting a recording

A method of operating a disk player that reproduces information recorded on a disk. Programs on the disk are addressed from a directory in a memory and the programs are sequentially accessed according to the order in the directory. The directory can be filled by inserting random numbers or by scanning through the programs or over the tracks. A table of contents at the beginning of the disk is read if possible. The tracks can be scanned and only tracks having new programs are reproduced. Also a playback position servo operates with a dead-zone in the drive voltage.

Record information reproducing method with content identifiers

A pulse-width modulation drive circuit for a load such as a motor, particularly, a motor used in a compact disc player or the like, in which losses in diodes used to absorb reverse EMF are substantially eliminated. For this purpose, the pulse widths of pulse signals used to on-off control drive current flow through the load are controlled so as to eliminate the diode losses. The circuits of the various embodiments of the invention are designed so as to be easily implemented in integrated circuit form.

Pulse-width modulation drive circuit

Growing community of inventors

Saitama, Japan

Akio Namiki