INFORMATION PROVISION APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information provision apparatus for a vehicle, and more particularly to an information provision apparatus for a vehicle, which is capable of providing variety of multimedia contents as well as an audio function to a driver.

Description of the Related Art

Generally, a vehicle includes a car audio system which allows a driver to listen to a radio and music. The driver can receive information from a terrestrial radio station via the car audio system and listen to music via a music compact disc (CD) or a cassette tape so as to beguile the tedium at the time of the driving of the vehicle.

In addition, as small-sized high-quality liquid crystal display devices have been developed, vehicle television receivers including a television tuner for receiving and outputting a terrestrial broadcasting signal are developed and provided to users.

Meanwhile, there is a vehicle navigation system for providing convenience to a driver when a vehicle is driven. The

vehicle navigation system receives a destination from a user and guides a route to the destination. The navigation system receives a global positioning system (GPS) signal from a GPS satellite, calculates positional information of the vehicle which is being driven, and calculates a shortest route to the destination, and displays the shortest route on a map or guides the shortest route with a voice.

In addition, with the development of audio/video compression technology such as an MP3 or an MPEG4, mobile multimedia devices have been developed and have gained in popularity.

However, in order to allow the driver to use the navigation system or multimedia data, devices associated with the navigation system or multimedia data should be separately purchased. In addition, in order to mount the purchased devices in the vehicle or connect the purchased devices to the car audio system, a separate connection device or a fixing device should be used.

If the driver operates various devices mounted in the vicinity of the driver's seat while driving the vehicle, the concentration power of the driver may be reduced. In addition, since the devices are fixed in the vehicle via dedicated supports, the beauty of the vehicle is injured.

In order to solve such problems, a vehicle multimedia device called a car-PC has been developed. Such a car-PC

reproduces and provides a variety of multimedia data.

The car-PC and vehicle electronic devices use parts which can operate at a very low temperature or a very high temperature. In most of vehicles, vehicle parts or industrial parts which can operate at a temperature of -30 ⁰ C to 90 ⁰ C are used. However, parts used in home or office computers are mostly manufactured so as operate at a temperature of 0 ⁰ C to 60 ⁰ C. Thus, such parts may abnormally operate or may not operate at a temperature outside the temperature range of 0 °C to 60 ⁰ C, that is, an operational temperature range. In the case where the parts abnormally operate, a harmful effect may be caused in a whole product or a product may be damaged.

Among the computer parts, parts which operate at a temperature of -30 °C to 90 ⁰ C are partially produced, but the manufacturing costs thereof are higher than those of general parts by several times to several tens times. Accordingly, these parts cannot be used as the general parts.

In a conventional vehicle, power is supplied from a battery mounted in the vehicle. Such a battery supplies power to all electric devices (including a start-up motor, an ignition plug power source, an engine controller or other electric devices) used in the vehicle. If the current charged in the battery is insufficient, the vehicle may not be started up at worst. Accordingly, the state of the battery should be always checked and an information provision apparatus for a

vehicle (in particular, a computer) which consumes a large amount of current should be turned off if the amount of current is insufficient, such that the discharge of the battery is prevented. However, in the conventional vehicle, a device and method for automatically checking the state of the battery and controlling the operation of the information provision apparatus is not provided. Accordingly, the vehicle is not occasionally started up.

Meanwhile, the information provision apparatus mounted in the vehicle (e.g., a computer) should be booted for a normal operation. It takes time of several ten seconds to several minutes to perform the booting process according to an operating system or the configuration thereof. The time consumed for performing the booting process of several ten seconds to several minutes is not problematic in home or office, but the time of several ten seconds to several minutes in the vehicle may be significantly long. Accordingly, the vehicle computer uses a standby mode. Here, the standby mode indicates a function for storing a current operation state in a main memory (RAM) of the computer when the system is turned off and returning to a previous state with the information stored in the main memory without performing the booting process when the system is turned on. In the standby mode, minimum power for maintaining the data stored in the memory should be maintained such that the data stored in the main memory is not damaged.

However, it is difficult to maintain the minimum standby power by the battery mounted in the vehicle for a long time. According to circumstances, the vehicle may not be started up due to the discharge of the battery. Accordingly, there is a need for a device for preventing the discharge of the battery in the case where the vehicle is in the standby mode for a long time. However, since the device for preventing the discharge of the battery is not included in the conventional vehicle, the vehicle is not occasionally started up due to the discharge of the battery.

Conventional vehicle A/V devices provide a touch screen graphic user interface (GUI) for allowing the driver to easily perform the function. However, the vehicle is driven by the driver. In addition, in a state in which the vehicle is driven, the driver views the screen of the A/V device, finds a desired button, and operates the function of the A/V device, such as radio channel change or music play. At this time, since the driver views the screen of an LCD monitor or the front surface of the A/V device and finds and presses the desired button, safe driving may be disturbed in the state in which the vehicle is driven. Thus, an accident may be occasionally caused.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view

of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an information provision apparatus for a vehicle, which is capable of preventing a battery from being completely discharged due to the use of a computer by automatically checking the state of the battery mounted in the vehicle and automatically controlling driving power of the computer according to the amount of charged current.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an information provision apparatus for a vehicle, which is capable of automatically checking the state of a battery mounted in the vehicle, generating an alert sound if the voltage of the battery is reduced to a predetermined voltage or less, and allowing a driver to accurately recognize the state of the battery. It is another object of the present invention to provide an information provision apparatus for a vehicle, which is capable of detecting the temperature of the information provision apparatus (system) mounted in the vehicle, displaying the temperature on a monitor if the temperature is significantly low or high, and allowing a driver to recognize the temperature of the system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an information provision apparatus for a vehicle, which is capable of preventing a battery from being discharged when the information provision apparatus mounted in the vehicle is in a

standby mode for a long time.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an information provision apparatus for a vehicle, which is capable of stably operating an A/V device without averting driver's eyes while the vehicle is driven.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of an information provision apparatus for a vehicle, the information provision apparatus including: a battery power sensor which senses power of a battery mounted in the vehicle; a temperature sensor which senses a temperature of the vehicle; and a controller which controls the whole operation of the information provision apparatus, controls power supplied to a computer main board and the generation of an alert signal according to the sensed power of the battery and the sensed temperature, controls the driving of a cooling device according to the temperature, and generates an audio/video (A/V) driving signal corresponding to a user' s operation command, wherein the controller connects a power supply line of the computer main board via a computer power control unit and automatically operates a computer switch of the computer main board so as to operate a computer, if the power of the battery is equal to or greater than a reference voltage and the temperature is in a predetermined reference temperature range.

Preferably, the information provision apparatus may further include a monitor which outputs contents reproduced by a user' s application, visually displays the alert signal generated by the controller, receives and processes an operation command according to a touch gesture of a user, and supplies the operation command to the controller.

Preferably, the information provision apparatus may further include a cooler which drives a cooling fan according to a cooling control signal generated by the controller, and an A/V device driving unit which controls the driving of an A/V device included in the vehicle according to the A/V driving signal generated by the controller.

Preferably, the controller may include a command processing unit which processes an operation command corresponding to a touch gesture provided via the monitor and the user' s operation command input via an input button; a computer power control unit which generates a computer power control signal according to the outputs of the battery power sensor and the temperature sensor; an alert generating unit which generates the alert signal according to the outputs of the battery power sensor and the temperature sensor; a cooler driving unit which generates a driving signal of the cooler according to the sensed temperature; and an A/V device control unit which generates a driving signal of an A/V device according to an operation command for processing the touch

gesture.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of an apparatus for providing information to a driver (user) in a vehicle, the apparatus including: an accessory power sensor which senses accessory power of the vehicle and generates a main power control signal according to the existence/nonexistence of the accessory power and the elapse of time; a main power control unit which controls the supply of main power supplied from a battery mounted in the vehicle according to the main power control signal generated by the accessory power sensor; a suspend power control unit which generates and supplies suspend power to a computer main board by power supplied via the main power control unit; a controller which controls the whole operation of the information provision apparatus, controls the power supplied to the computer main board according to the existence/nonexistence of the sensed accessory power, and generates an A/V driving signal corresponding to a user' s operation command; and a power supply unit which supplies the power supplied from the main power control unit to the computer main board under the control of the controller.

Preferably, the information provision apparatus may further include a monitor which outputs contents reproduced by a user' s application, receives and processes an operation

command according to a touch gesture of a user, and supplies the operation command to the controller.

Preferably, the information provision apparatus may further include an A/V device driving unit which controls the driving of an A/V device included in the vehicle according to the A/V driving signal generated by the controller.

Preferably, the controller may include a command processing unit which processes an operation command corresponding to the touch gesture provided via the monitor and the user's operation command input via an input button, a computer power control unit which generates a signal for controlling the supply and the cutoff of main power supplied to the computer main board according to the existence/nonexistence of the sensed accessory power, and an A/V device control unit which generates a driving signal of an A/V device according to an operation command for processing a touch gesture.

According to information provision apparatuses for a vehicle of preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a battery from being completely discharged due to the use of a computer by automatically controlling driving power of a computer according to the amount of charged current. In addition, it is possible to generate an alert sound if the voltage of the battery is reduced to a predetermined voltage or less such that a driver

accurately recognizes the state of the battery.

In addition, it is possible to detect the temperature of the information provision apparatus (system) mounted in the vehicle and display the temperature on a monitor if the temperature is significantly low or high such that a driver recognizes the temperature of the system. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent a battery from being discharged when the information provision apparatus mounted in the vehicle is in a standby mode for a long time, and stably operate an A/V device without averting driver's eyes while the vehicle is driven.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information provision apparatus for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information provision apparatus for a vehicle according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In describing the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of a related known function or construction renders the scope of the present invention unnecessarily ambiguous, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information provision apparatus for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the information provision apparatus includes a controller 100 and a monitor 200. The controller 100 includes a temperature sensor 110, a battery 120, a battery power sensor 130, a computer main board 140, a control unit 150, an input button 160, a memory 170, a cooler 180, and an A/V device driving unit 190. The monitor 200 includes a touch screen 210 and a touch screen graphic user interface (GUI) 220. The temperature sensor 110 senses the temperature of a vehicle and preferably includes a thermistor which is a general temperature sensor. The battery power sensor 130 senses the charge amount of the battery 120 mounted in the vehicle and supplies the charge amount to the control unit 150.

The control unit 150 controls the whole operation of the information provision apparatus for the vehicle. The control unit controls the power supplied to the computer main board 140 and the generation of an alert signal according to the sensed power of the battery and the sensed temperature and generates an A/V driving signal corresponding to a user' s operation command.

The control unit 150 includes a command processing unit 152 for processing the operation command corresponding to a touch gesture provided via the monitor 200 and the user's operation command input via the input button 160, a computer power control unit 155 for generating a computer power control signal according to the outputs of the battery power sensor 130 and the temperature sensor 110, an alert generating unit 151 for generating an alert signal according to the outputs of the battery power sensor 130 and the temperature sensor 110, a cooler driving unit 153 for generating a driving signal of the cooler according to the sensed temperature, and an A/V device control unit 154 for generating a driving signal of an A/V device according to an operation command for processing the touch gesture.

The input button 160 performs a function for transmitting an operation command according to the user' s (driver's) operation of a button to the control unit 150. The memory 170 stores a program for controlling the power of the

computer, a program for controlling the information provision apparatus, a program for controlling the driving of a cooling device, a program for controlling the driving of the A/V device, and a program for controlling the generation of the alert signal. The memory 170 may be implemented by a high- capacity hard disc included in a computer system and is more preferably implemented by a hard disc for a laptop computer, for reducing the size of a main body. An operating program such as Windows or Linux of Microsoft Corporation is stored and a user' s application which is connected to the operating program in order to provide video, audio and various contents, and a variety of user data as well as audio/video data compressed by an encryption method such as an MP3 or an MPEG4, which is reproduced by the user's application, are stored. The data stored in the memory 170 is accessed by the operating program driven by the control unit 150.

The cooler 180 includes a cooling fan and performs an operation for lowering the temperature of the system under the control of the control unit 150. The A/V device driving unit 190 controls the driving of the A/V device included in the vehicle according to an audio/video (A/V) driving signal generated by the control unit 150.

The monitor 200 outputs contents reproduced by the user' s application and includes the touch screen 210 for visually displaying the alert signal generated by the control

unit 150 and the touch screen GUI 220 for receiving and processing the operation command according to a touch gesture and supplying the operation command to the control unit 150 when the user touches the touch screen 210 and then makes the gesture.

In the image provision apparatus for the vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the user operates a power button formed in the input button 160 so as to apply power to the apparatus, the battery power sensor 130 senses the power charged in the battery 120, converts the sensed analog power value into a digital signal corresponding thereto, and supplies the digital signal to the control unit 150. Here, it is preferable that the voltage of the battery 120 is repeatedly measured by three times in order to prevent the voltage from being unstably or inaccurately sensed.

The computer power control unit 155 of the control unit 150 compares the sensed voltage and a reference voltage (9.5 V) stored in the memory 170 and reads the temperature value of the temperature sensor 110 if the sensed voltage is equal to or greater than the reference voltage (9.5 V). If the sensed voltage is less than the reference voltage, an alert sound is generated by the alert generating unit 151. Although not shown in the drawing, an alert sound control signal is sent to an alert sound generating device (e.g., a buzzer) such that a

buzzer sound is generated.

If the buzzer sound is generated, the user recognizes the buzzer sound and rapidly turns off the power such that the battery 120 is prevented from being completely discharged. Alternatively, the whole power of the system is automatically cut off by the control operation of the control unit 150 such that the battery 120 is prevented from being completely discharged.

Next, if the sensed voltage is equal to or greater than the reference voltage, the controller 150 reads the temperature value of the system detected by the temperature sensor 110 and checks whether the temperature is in a reference temperature range (e.g., 0 to 60 °C) in which the system can normally operate. Here, the temperature sensor 110 uses the thermistor which is the general temperature sensor and preferably measures the temperature by about three times, for accurate temperature detection.

If the sensed temperature is outside the reference temperature range, the main power of the system is not applied, and a temperature alert signal is displayed on the touch screen 210 of the monitor 200 via the alert generating unit 151. Here, the temperature alert signal is displayed on the monitor using a low temperature alert icon if the sensed temperature of the system is less than 0 ⁰ C and is displayed on the monitor using a high temperature alert icon if the

sensed temperature of the system is greater than 60 ⁰ C.

Next, if the sensed temperature is less than 0 °C, the power is not applied such that the system is in the standby mode, until the temperature of the system is equal to or greater than 0 °C. In contrast, if sensed temperature is greater than 60 °C, a control signal for driving a cooling fan via the cooler driving unit 153 is generated. The cooler 180 drives the cooling fan according to the control signal for driving the cooling fan so as to lower the temperature of the system.

Meanwhile, if the voltage of the battery is equal to or greater than the reference voltage and the temperature of the system is in the reference temperature range, the computer power control unit 155 connects the power supplying line of the computer main board 140 and controls a computer switch so as to operate the computer.

In the case where the voltage of the battery is reduced to the reference voltage or less in a state in which the system is being operated, the buzzer sound is generated and the whole power of the system is then cut off. If the temperature of the system is deviated from the reference temperature range while the system is normally operated, the system is normally turned off. Then, when the temperature becomes the normal state, power is automatically applied to the computer main board 140 by the operation of the computer

power control unit 155.

When the driver touches the touch screen 210 of the monitor 200 and then makes a predetermined gesture while the vehicle is driven, the touch screen GUI 220 detects and processes the gesture and provides the processed signal to the control unit 150. Here, a method of detecting the touch and the movement of the driver' s finger on the touch screen by the touch screen GUI 220 preferably uses a method of recognizing a coordinate and a position on a general touch screen. A command processing unit 152 of the control unit 150 analyzes the information supplied by the touch screen GUI 220 and processes the command of the user, and the A/V device control unit 154 controls the A/V device driving unit 190 to generate a control signal by the processing command such that the A/V device operates.

That is, if the driver touches his/her finger on the touch screen 210 and makes a predetermined gesture when the driver listens to music of an MP3 or CD player, listens to a radio or views a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) program or in every screen state, the touch screen GUI 220 detects and converts the gesture into a command which can be recognized by the control unit 150 and supplies the command to the control unit 150.

The command processing unit 152 of the control unit 150 analyzes and processes the command received from the touch

screen GUI 220 and supplies a control signal corresponding thereto to the A/V device control unit 154.

In the analysis and the processing of the command, when the driver listens to music of the MP3 or CD player, if the driver touches and drags his/her finger on the touch screen rightward, a command "next music play" is processed and, if the driver drags his/her finger leftward, a command "previous music play" is processed. In addition, if the driver drags his/her finger downward, a command "play stop" is processed and, if the driver drags his/her finger upward, a command "replay" is processed.

When the driver listens to the radio, if the driver touches and drags his/her finger on the touch screen rightward, a command "change to next frequency channel" is processed and, if the driver drags his/her finger leftward, a command "change to previous frequency channel" is processed. In addition, if the driver drags his/her finger downward, a command "change to AM mode" is processed and, if the driver drags his/her finger upward, a command "change to FM mode" is processed.

When the driver views the DMB program, if the driver touches and drags his/her finger on the touch screen rightward, a command "change to next frequency channel" is processed and, if the driver drags his/her finger leftward, a command "change to previous frequency channel" is processed.

In addition, if the driver drags his/her finger downward, a command "change to DAB mode" is processed and, if the driver drags his/her finger upward, a command "change to DMB mode" is processed. In every screen state, if the driver touches his/her finger on the touch screen, drags his/her finger rightward, and then drags his/her finger leftward, a command "movement to main menu screen" is processed and, if the driver drags his/her finger leftward and then drags his/her finger rightward, a command "movement to navigation" is processed.

The processed command is sent to the A/V device control unit 154 and the A/V device control unit 154 supplies a control signal for controlling the driving of the A/V device to the A/V driving unit 190. The A/V device driving unit 190 controls the operation of the A/V device according to the command such that the driver can stably operate the A/V device without averting his/her eyes, while the vehicle is driven.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information provision apparatus for a vehicle according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the information provision apparatus includes a controller 400 and a monitor 200. The controller 400 includes an accessory power sensor 410, a battery 420, a main power

control unit 430, a suspend power control unit 440, a computer main board 450, a power supply unit 460, a control unit 470, an input button 480, a memory 485, and an A/V device driving unit 490. The monitor 200 includes a touch screen 210 and a touch screen graphic user interface (GUI) 220.

The accessory power sensor 410 senses the accessory power (ACC) of the vehicle and generates a main power control signal according to the existence/nonexistence of the accessory power and/or the elapse of time. The accessory power sensor 410 preferably includes a power detector for detecting the power and a timer counter for counting the elapse of time.

The main power control unit 430 controls the supply of the main power supplied from the battery 420 mounted in the vehicle according to the main power control signal generated by the accessory power sensor 410.

The suspend power control unit 440 generates and supplies suspend power to the computer main board 450 by the power supplied via the main power control unit 430. The control unit 470 controls the whole operation of the information provision apparatus for the vehicle. The control unit controls the power supplied to the computer main board 450 according to the existence/nonexistence of the sensed accessory power (ACC) and generates an A/V driving signal corresponding to a user's operation command.

The control unit 470 includes a command processing unit 471 for processing the operation command corresponding to a touch gesture provided via the monitor 200 and the user' s operation command input via the input button 480, a computer power control unit 473 for generating a computer power control signal according to the existence/nonexistence of the sensed accessory power, and an A/V device control unit 472 for generating a driving signal of an A/V device according to an operation command for processing the touch gesture. The power supply unit 460 supplies the power supplied from the main power control unit 430 to the computer main board 450 under the control of the control unit 470.

The input button 480 performs a function for transmitting an operation command according to the user' s (driver's) operation of a button to the control unit 470. The memory 485 stores a program for controlling the power of the computer, a program for controlling the information provision apparatus, and a program for controlling the driving of the A/V device. The memory 485 may be implemented by a high- capacity hard disc included in a computer system and is more preferably implemented by a hard disc for a laptop computer, for reducing the size of a main body. An operating program such as Windows or Linux of Microsoft Corporation is stored and a user' s application which is connected to the operating program in order to provide video, audio and various contents,

and a variety of user data as well as audio/video data compressed by an encryption method such as an MP3 or an MPEG4, which is reproduced via the user's application, are stored. The data stored in the memory 485 is accessed by the operating program driven by the control unit 470.

The A/V device driving unit 490 controls the driving of the A/V device included in the vehicle according to an A/V driving signal generated by the control unit 470.

The monitor 200 outputs the contents reproduced by the user's application and includes the touch screen 210 for visually displaying the alert signal generated by the control unit 470 and the touch screen GUI 220 for receiving and processing the operation command according to the touch gesture and supplying the operation command to the control unit 470 when the user touches the touch screen 210 so as to make a predetermined gesture.

In the image provision apparatus for the vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the accessory power sensor 410 senses whether or not the accessory power is supplied. If the accessory power is sensed, the internal timer count is stopped and a driving signal is generated by the main power control unit 430 for controlling main power.

The main power control unit 430 supplies a discharge voltage of the battery 420 to the power supply unit 460 using

a field effect transistor (FET) when the driving signal is generated by the accessory power sensor 410.

At this time, the suspend power control unit 440 operates the FET via which the main power is supplied from the main power control unit 430 to the power supply unit 460, converts the main power into a predetermined constant voltage

(DC 5V) using a voltage regulator, and supplies the constant voltage to the computer main board 450.

The computer main board 450 performs a standby mode by the supplied suspend voltage. Here, the standby mode indicates that minimum power is supplied in order to maintain data stored in the main memory (RAM) of the computer for storing a current operation state when the system is turned off. The computer power control unit 473 of the control unit

470 checks whether or not the accessory power is sensed by the accessory power sensor 410 and generates a power driving signal for supplying the main power to the power supply unit 460 only when the accessory power is sensed. The power supply unit 460 supplies the main power supplied from the main power control unit 430 to the computer main board 450 according to the generated power driving signal. Accordingly, the driver can use the information provision apparatus (e.g., a car-PC). Meanwhile, the accessory power sensor 410 supplies a

detection signal to the control unit 470 when the accessory power is not sensed. The computer power control unit 473 of the control unit 470 immediately controls the power supply unit 460 such that the main power is cut off, when the accessory power is not sensed. The main power is not supplied to the computer main board 450.

Next, the accessory power sensor 410 starts up the timer counter and counts the elapse of time when the accessory power is not sensed. If the counted time exceeds a predetermined time, the main power control unit 430 is automatically controlled such that the whole power supplied to the battery 420 is cut off. Here, it is preferable that the predetermined time is properly set by a designer of the system.

At this time, since the main power is not supplied to the suspend power control unit 440, the suspend power cannot be supplied to the computer main board 450. Thus, the battery 420 is not consumed.

The control unit 470 controls the power by the automatic control. Alternatively, when the user operates a power button via the input button 480, the power is supplied to or cut off from the computer main board 450. The supply and the cutoff of the power according to the user' s operation are known and thus the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When the driver touches the touch screen 210 of the monitor 200 and makes a gesture while the vehicle is driven,

the touch screen GUI 220 detects and processes the gesture and provides the processed signal to the control unit 470. Here, a method of detecting the touch and the movement of the driver' s finger on the touch screen by the touch screen GUI 220 preferably uses a method of recognizing a coordinate and a position on a general touch screen.

A command processing unit 471 of the control unit 470 analyzes the information supplied by the touch screen GUI 220 and processes the command of the user, and the A/V device control unit 472 controls the A/V device driving unit 490 to generate a control signal such that the A/V device operates.

That is, if the driver touches his/her finger on the touch screen 210 and makes a gesture when the driver listens to music of an MP3 or CD player, listens to a radio or views a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) program or in every screen state, the touch screen GUI 220 detects and converts the gesture into a command which can be recognized by the control unit 470 and supplies the command to the control unit 470. The command processing unit 471 of the control unit 470 analyzes and processes the command received from the touch screen GUI 220 and supplies a control signal corresponding thereto to the A/V device control unit 472.

In the analysis and the processing of the command, when the drivers listens to music of the MP3 or CD player, if the

driver touches and drags his/her finger on the touch screen rightward, a command "next music play" is processed and, if the driver drags his/her finger leftward, a command "previous music play" is processed. In addition, if the driver drags his/her finger downward, a command "play stop" is processed and, if the driver drags his/her finger upward, a command "replay" is processed.

When the driver listens to the radio, if the driver touches and drags his/her finger on the touch screen rightward, a command "change to next frequency channel" is processed and, if the driver drags his/her finger leftward, a command "change to previous frequency channel" is processed. In addition, if the driver drags his/her finger downward, a command "change to AM mode" is processed and, if the driver drags his/her finger upward, a command "change to FM mode" is processed.

When the driver views the DMB program, if the driver touches and drags his/her finger on the touch screen rightward, a command "change to next frequency channel" is processed and, if the driver drags his/her finger leftward, a command "change to previous frequency channel" is processed. In addition, if the driver drags his/her finger downward, a command "change to DAB mode" is processed and, if the driver drags his/her finger upward, a command "change to DMB mode" is processed.

In every screen state, if the driver touches his/her finger on the touch screen, drags his/her finger rightward, and then drags his/her finger leftward, a command "movement to main menu screen" is processed and, if the driver drags his/her finger leftward and then drags his/her finger rightward, a command "movement to navigation" is processed.

The processed command is sent to the A/V device control unit 472 and the A/V device control unit 472 supplies a control signal for controlling the driving of the A/V device to the A/V driving unit 490. The A/V device driving unit 490 controls the operation of the A/V device according to the command such that the driver can stably operate the A/V device without averting his/her eyes, while the vehicle is driven.

As described above, according to an information provision apparatus for a vehicle of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a battery from being completely discharged due to the use of a computer by automatically checking the state of the battery mounted in the vehicle and automatically controlling driving power of the computer according to the amount of charged current.

It is possible to automatically check the state of a battery mounted in the vehicle, generate an alert sound if the voltage of the battery is reduced to a predetermined voltage or less, and allow a driver to accurately recognize the state of the battery.

It is possible to detect the temperature of the information provision apparatus (system) mounted in the vehicle, display the temperature on a monitor if the temperature is significantly low or high, and allow a driver to recognize the temperature of the system.

It is possible to prevent a battery from being discharged when the information provision apparatus mounted in the vehicle is in a standby mode for a long time.

It is possible to stably operate an A/V device without averting driver's eyes while the vehicle is driven.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims .