Control apparatus for a vehicle equipment device

Abstract

There is disclosed an apparatus for controlling a vehicle equipment device. The apparatus permits a reduction in the cost of manufacturing a vehicle in which the apparatus is installed. The apparatus also enables easy and precise switching between normal mode and delivery mode. The apparatus has a delivery decision unit and control change unit. The decision unit makes a decision as to whether the vehicle is in the delivery mode. If the decision unit determines that the vehicle is in the delivery mode, the control change unit changes the controlled contents of the vehicle equipment device from normal mode to delivery mode. The decision unit makes the aforementioned decision according to whether a backup power supply is applied to a clock device.

1 . A vehicle control system comprising:
 a vehicle equipment device;   a control apparatus for the vehicle equipment device including a delivery decision unit configured to determine whether a vehicle is in a delivery mode or a normal mode, and a control change unit configured to control contents of said vehicle equipment device from the normal mode to the delivery mode if the delivery decision means determines that the vehicle is in the delivery mode;   an in-vehicle electronic device;   a backup power supply for supplying electric power to the in-vehicle electronic device;   a backup power supply circuit provided between the backup power supply and the in-vehicle electronic device;   a fuse, wherein electric power from the backup power is supplied to the in-vehicle electric device when the fuse is disposed in the backup power supply circuit; and   a storage circuit for receiving the fuse withdrawn from the backup power supply circuit;   wherein said delivery decision unit determines according to whether the fuse is inserted in or withdrawn from the backup power supply circuit.   
   
   
       2 . The vehicle control system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communication unit configured to receive an instruction signal regarding control of said vehicle equipment device from the outside, and wherein said control change unit changes controlled contents of said vehicle equipment device based on an instruction signal received by said communication unit.   
   
   
       3 . The vehicle control system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said control change unit changes the controlled contents of said vehicle equipment device to said delivery mode if said communication unit receives the instruction signal and if said delivery decision unit determines that the vehicle is in the delivery mode. 
   
   
       4 . The vehicle control system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said control change unit changes the controlled contents of said vehicle equipment device to an inspection mode, if said communication unit receives the instruction signal and said delivery decision unit determines that the vehicle is not in the delivery mode. 
   
   
       5 . The vehicle control system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said control change unit is so designed that controlled contents in the delivery mode when the communication unit has received an instruction signal and said delivery decision unit has determined that the vehicle is in the delivery mode are made different from controlled contents in the delivery mode when the communication unit has received no instruction signal and the delivery decision unit has determined that the vehicle is in the delivery mode. 
   
   
       6 . The vehicle control system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said delivery decision unit determines that the fuse is withdrawn from the backup power supply circuit by way of detecting the fuse received in the storage circuit. 
   
   
       7 . The vehicle control system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fuse box electrically connected to the control apparatus, the in-vehicle electronic device and a backup power supply,   wherein the backup power supply circuit and the storage circuit are provided in the fuse box.   
   
   
       8 . The vehicle control system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle equipment device is an engine of the vehicle, and the control change unit changes a normal engine control program for controlling the engine in the normal mode to a delivery control program for controlling the engine in the delivery mode when the delivery decision unit determines that the vehicle is in the delivery mode. 
   
   
       9 . The vehicle control system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the in-vehicle electronic device is at least one of a clock device, radio-audio device, navigation system and TV.