Vehicle systems and methods

• US 10,521,179 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2017
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Monroe, Jason, Welch, Christopher S., Zhang, Lei
• Primary Examiner(s): Lyjak, Lori L
• Application Number:
  US15/856,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20180178652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/46 Electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/56 using mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/573 Mobile devices controlling vehicle functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/586 Wired data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/60 Structural details of dashboards or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/828 Mounting or fastening exchangeable modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/834 Docking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/65 Instruments specially adapted for specific vehicle types or users, e.g. for left- or right-hand drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/658 the instruments being ergonomically adjustable to the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/507 specific to autonomous vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/543 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 : Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 : Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/10 : for dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/12 : lighting onto the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/233 : Seats; Arm rests; Head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/51 : for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 : for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 : Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 : Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 : Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 : electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 : Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 : Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0021 : Doors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 : Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 : using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/008 : Adjustable or movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 : for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 : using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 : controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A vehicle includes an interior cabin and a plurality of modular docking stations fixedly disposed in the interior cabin. Each modular docking station is configured to removably receive one or more modular components. The one or more modular components interchangeably connect to the plurality of modular docking stations to enable relocation of each modular component of the one or more modular components in a desired modular docking station of the plurality of docking stations.

Claims

1. A vehicle interior cabin having an arrangement configured for upgrading one or more modular components provided therein, comprising:

a plurality of modular docking stations fixedly disposed in the interior cabin, each modular docking station configured to removably receive the one or more modular components;

wherein the one or more modular components interchangeably connect to each of the plurality of modular docking stations to enable relocation of each modular component of the one or more modular components in a desired modular docking station of the plurality of docking stations, and

wherein the one or more modular components include a first type of modular component having a plurality of upgradable classes, each upgradable class of the plurality of upgradable classes including a different version of the first type of modular component, thereby enabling a vehicle user to upgrade or modify the vehicle interior with the different version of the first type of modular component to provide a unique user-defined vehicle interior arrangement.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first type of modular component is display screens.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the plurality of upgradable classes comprises display screen size.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first type of modular component is a central controller for the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the plurality of upgradable classes comprises at least one of processor speed and storage size.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first type of modular component is smart climate controls.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first type of modular component is smart lighting.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first type of modular component is at least one of smart buttons and slides.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first type of modular component is a camera.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first type of modular component is a sensor.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first type of modular component is a universal device support configured to hold various different portable electronic devices;

and

wherein the universal device support is configured to establish signal communication with the various portable electronic devices upon each of such devices being positioned in the universal device support.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a vehicle dashboard between a driver'"'"'s seat and a front of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a central location of a vehicle dashboard between opposite sides of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in an instrument panel display.

15. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a vehicle dashboard between a front passenger seat and a front of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a roof of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a support arm extending from a roof of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in an interior surface of a door of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a seat back.

20. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a central controller in electrical and signal communication with each docking station of the plurality of docking stations, the central controller configured to enable signal communication between the one or more modular components docked with the plurality of docking stations.

21. A vehicle comprising:

an interior cabin;

a plurality of modular docking stations fixedly disposed in the interior cabin, each modular docking station configured to removably receive one or more modular components;

wherein the one or more modular components interchangeably connect to the plurality of modular docking stations to enable relocation of each modular component of the one or more modular components in a desired modular docking station of the plurality of docking stations;

a dashboard; and

a charge rail system disposed in the dashboard and configured to couple to a portable electronic device for charging thereof, the charge rail system enabling the coupled electronic device to slide along a length of the charge rail system to a desired location while charging the electronic device.

22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the charge rail system comprises:

an attachment member slidably coupled to the dashboard;

an inductive charging interface configured to removably couple to the electronic device; and

a pivot assembly coupled between the attachment member and the inductive charging interface to enable selective positioning of the inducting charging interface and coupled electronic device.

23. A vehicle comprising:

an interior cabin;

a dashboard;

a plurality of modular docking stations fixedly disposed in the interior cabin, each modular docking station configured to removably receive one or more modular components;

wherein the one or more modular components interchangeably connect to the plurality of modular docking stations to enable relocation of each modular component of the one or more modular components in a desired modular docking station of the plurality of docking stations;

wherein the modular components include a first type of modular components having a plurality of upgradable classes, the first type of modular components including at least one of display screens, a central controller for the vehicle, smart climate controls, smart lighting, one or more smart buttons and/or slides, a camera, a sensor, and a universal device support configured to hold various different portable electronic devices;

wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in the dashboard between a driver'"'"'s seat and a front of the vehicle;

wherein a second docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a central location of a vehicle dashboard between opposite sides of the vehicle;

wherein a third docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in an instrument panel display;

wherein a fourth docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in the dashboard between a front passenger seat and the front of the vehicle;

wherein a fifth docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a roof of the vehicle;

wherein a sixth docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a support arm extending from the roof of the vehicle;

wherein a seventh docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in an interior surface of a door of the vehicle;

wherein an eighth docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a seat back; and

a charge rail system disposed in the dashboard and configured to couple to a portable electronic device for charging thereof, the charge rail system enabling the coupled electronic device to slide along a length of the charge rail system to a desired location while charging the electronic device, wherein the charge rail system comprises;

an attachment member slidably coupled to the dashboard;

an inductive charging interface configured to removably couple to the electronic device; and

a pivot assembly coupled between the attachment member and the inductive charging interface to enable selective positioning of the inducting charging interface and coupled electronic device.