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Vehicle-mounted audio device and automobileVehicle-mounted audio device and automobile description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080025526, Vehicle-mounted audio device and automobile. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application JP 2006-202005 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Jul. 25, 2006, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]1. Field of the Invention [0003]The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted audio device and an automobile incorporating such a vehicle-mounted audio device. [0004]2. Description of the Related Art [0005]Heretofore, many vehicle-mounted audio devices on automobiles have a tuner for receiving AM and FM radio broadcasts and a player for reproducing CDs and DVDs. A source is selected from either one of the tuner and the player, and sounds of the source are output from the speakers in the passenger compartment of the automobile. [0006]In recent years, various portable audio devices have been available in the art. [0007]It is highly convenient to be able to use such a portable audio device in the passenger compartment of an automobile in combination with the speakers in the passenger compartment. [0008]To allow a portable audio device to be used in the passenger compartment of an automobile, it has been proposed to keep a space in the passenger compartment, place a casing in the space, put the portable audio device in the casing, and use the portable audio device in combination with the speakers in the passenger compartment. For details, reference should be made to Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2000-332433. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009]With the above proposed arrangement, however, the casing for accommodating the portable audio device needs to be provided in the passenger compartment, and tends to present an obstacle as it takes up a certain area in the limited space of the passenger compartment. [0010]It is desirable to provide a vehicle-mounted audio device which includes a casing for accommodating a portable audio device therein, so that sounds of good quality can be reproduced by the portable audio device without impairing the aesthetic appearance of the passenger compartment of an automobile which incorporates the vehicle-mounted audio device, and an automobile which incorporates such a vehicle-mounted audio device. [0011]According to an embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle-mounted audio device includes a casing, a tuner, an audio output unit, a housing chamber, an opening of the housing chamber, a housing, a lock mechanism, and a casing connector. The tuner is disposed in the casing. The audio output unit is for amplifying and outputting an audio signal supplied from the tuner. The housing chamber is defined in the casing. The opening is defined in a front panel of the casing. The housing is for accommodating a portable audio device and is removably housed in the housing chamber through the opening. The lock mechanism is for selectively locking the housing in the housing chamber and unlocking the housing from the housing chamber. The casing connector is electrically connected to the audio output unit and disposed in the housing for disengageably connecting to an audio signal output connector of the portable audio device. [0012]According to an embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle-mounted audio device includes a casing, a tuner, an audio output unit, a housing chamber, an opening of the housing chamber, a housing, a lock mechanism, a controller, a casing connector, and an operation member. The tuner is disposed in the casing. The audio output unit is for amplifying and outputting an audio signal supplied from the tuner. The housing chamber is defined in the casing. The opening is defined in a front panel of the casing. The housing is for accommodating a portable audio device. The housing is removably housed in the housing chamber through the opening. The lock mechanism is for selectively locking the housing in the housing chamber and unlocking the housing from the housing chamber. The controller is disposed in the casing for controlling the tuner and the portable audio device accommodated in the housing. The casing connector is electrically connected to the audio output unit and disposed in the housing for disengageably connecting to an audio signal output connector of the portable audio device. The operation member is for sending a control signal for controlling the portable audio device to the controller. [0013]According to an embodiment of the present invention, an automobile including a vehicle-mounted device includes a casing, a tuner, an audio output unit, a housing chamber, an opening of the housing chamber, a housing, a lock mechanism, and a casing connector. The tuner is disposed in the casing. The audio output unit is for amplifying and outputting an audio signal supplied from the tuner. The housing chamber is defined in the casing. The opening is defined in a front panel of the casing. The housing is for accommodating a portable audio device and is removably housed in the housing chamber through the opening. The lock mechanism is for selectively locking the housing in the housing chamber and unlocking the housing from the housing chamber. The casing connector is electrically connected to the audio output unit and disposed in the housing for disengageably connecting to an audio signal output connector of the portable audio device. The front panel of the casing faces the passenger compartment of the automobile. [0014]According to an embodiment of the present invention, an automobile including a vehicle-mounted device includes a casing, a tuner, an audio output unit, a housing chamber, an opening of the housing chamber, a housing, a lock mechanism, a controller, a casing connector, and an operation member. The tuner is disposed in the casing. The audio output unit is for amplifying and outputting an audio signal supplied from the tuner. The housing chamber is defined in the casing. The opening is defined in a front panel of the casing. The housing is for accommodating a portable audio device and is removably housed in the housing chamber through the opening. The lock mechanism is for selectively locking the housing in the housing chamber and unlocking the housing from the housing chamber. The controller is disposed in the casing for controlling the tuner and the portable audio device accommodated in the housing. The casing connector is electrically connected to the audio output unit and disposed in the housing for disengageably connecting to an audio signal output connector of the portable audio device. The operation member is for sending a control signal for controlling the portable audio device to the controller. The front panel of the casing faces the passenger compartment of the automobile. [0015]According to the embodiment of the present invention, the portable audio device is placed in the casing of the vehicle-mounted audio device while being electrically connected to the vehicle-mounted audio device. [0016]Therefore, sounds of good quality can be reproduced from the portable audio device through a speaker in the passenger compartment. Since the portable audio device and a cable are accommodated in the casing of the vehicle-mounted audio device, the portable audio device and the cable do not take up a certain area in the limited space of the passenger compartment, and do not present an obstacle. The passenger compartment can thus have an improved aesthetic appearance. [0017]Even if the passenger compartment does not have an extra space other than the space for installing the vehicle-mounted audio device, since the portable audio device is accommodated in the casing of the vehicle-mounted audio device installed in the passenger compartment, and the sounds of good quality are reproduced from the portable audio device through the vehicle-mounted audio device, the practical value of the vehicle-mounted audio device is increased. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018]FIG. 1 is a view showing the passenger compartment of an automobile which incorporates a vehicle-mounted audio device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vehicle-mounted audio device; [0020]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vehicle-mounted audio device with an upper plate of a casing thereof being omitted from illustration; Continue reading about Vehicle-mounted audio device and automobile... Full patent description for Vehicle-mounted audio device and automobile Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Vehicle-mounted audio device and automobile patent application. 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