Multipurpose dashboard for use in a vehicle

• US 10,583,740 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2017
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Ory, Fabien
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilhelm, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US15/784,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20190111785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• 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 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• 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 35/658 the instruments being ergonomically adjustable to the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/001 of tables or trays
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/002 of trays

Abstract

A multipurpose dashboard for use in a vehicle includes an instrument panel disposed within the vehicle. The multipurpose dashboard also includes driving controls mounted to the instrument panel. The driving controls are configurable into a driving position for a user driving mode and configurable into a non-driving position for a non-driving mode. The non-driving position is disposed away from the driving position. The multipurpose dashboard also includes a workstation mounted to the instrument panel. The workstation is configurable into an accessible position during the non-driving mode and configurable into a stowed position during the user driving mode.

Claims

1. A multipurpose dashboard for use in a vehicle, the multipurpose dashboard comprising:

an instrument panel having a cross member, the instrument panel disposed within the vehicle;

driving controls mounted to a housing slidably mounted on the cross member of the instrument panel in the lateral direction of the vehicle, the driving controls configurable into a driving position for a user driving mode and configurable into a non-driving position for a non-driving mode, the non-driving position being disposed away from the driving position in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the vehicle; and

a workstation mounted to the instrument panel, the workstation configurable into an accessible position during the non-driving mode and configurable into a stowed position during the user driving mode.

2. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is controlled by a user during the user driving mode and the vehicle is controlled by a vehicle control system during the non-driving mode.

3. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 2, wherein the driving controls are disposed directly in front of a vehicle seat and accessible by the user in the vehicle seat when in the driving position.

4. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 3, wherein the driving controls are not accessible by the user in the vehicle seat when in the non-driving position.

5. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1, wherein the driving controls are centered on the instrument panel when in the driving position.

6. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 5, wherein the driving controls are disposed to a side of the instrument panel when in the non-driving position.

7. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1, wherein the instrument panel includes a member, the driving controls are mounted to the member, and the driving controls are configured to translate along the member between the driving position and the non-driving position.

8. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1, wherein the driving controls include a steering member, an accelerator pedal, and a brake pedal.

9. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1, wherein the workstation is stored in a space located above a wheel arch area of the vehicle when in the stowed position.

10. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1, wherein the workstation is accessible to a user in a vehicle seat when in the accessible position.

11. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1, wherein the workstation is rotatable and translatable from one configuration to another configuration when in the accessible position.

12. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1, wherein the workstation is housed within the instrument panel when in the stowed position.

13. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1, wherein the workstation includes an articulating arm operable to pivot from the stowed position into the accessible position.

14. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 13, wherein the articulating arm is connected to a pivot assembly that includes a ball detent spring mechanism to provide preset detent positions of the articulating arm.

15. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 13, wherein the articulating arm includes a front surface having an electronic user interface and a back surface, the front and back surfaces opposite one another, the articulating arm rotatable for access to the front surface and the back surface.

16. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1, wherein the workstation includes a work surface extending from the instrument panel when in the accessible position and stored within the instrument panel when in the stowed position.

17. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1, wherein the instrument panel at least partially surrounds a vehicle seat in the vehicle.

18. A multipurpose dashboard for use in an autonomous vehicle, the multipurpose dashboard comprising:

an instrument panel having a cross member, the instrument panel disposed within the autonomous vehicle;

driving controls mounted to a housing slidably mounted on the cross member of the instrument panel in the lateral direction of the vehicle, the driving controls configurable into a driving position for a user driving mode and configurable into a non-driving position for an autonomous driving mode, the non-driving position being disposed away from the driving position in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the vehicle;

wherein the driving controls are disposed directly in front of a vehicle seat and accessible by the user in the vehicle seat when in the driving position; and

wherein the driving controls are not accessible by the user in the vehicle seat when in the non-driving position; and

a workstation mounted to the instrument panel, the workstation configurable into an accessible position during the autonomous driving mode and configurable into a stowed position during the user driving mode, the workstation including a work surface extending from the instrument panel when in the accessible position, the work surface stored within the instrument panel when in the stowed position.

19. A multipurpose dashboard for use in an autonomous vehicle, the multipurpose dashboard comprising:

an instrument panel having a cross member, the instrument panel being disposed within the autonomous vehicle, the instrument panel at least partially surrounding a vehicle seat in the autonomous vehicle;

driving controls mounted to a housing slidably mounted on the cross member of the instrument panel in the lateral direction of the vehicle, the driving controls configurable into a driving position for a user driving mode and configurable into a non-driving position for an autonomous driving mode, the non-driving position being disposed away from the driving position in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the vehicle; and

a workstation mounted to the instrument panel, the workstation configurable into an accessible position during the autonomous driving mode and configurable into a stowed position housed within the instrument panel during the user driving mode, the workstation being rotatable and translatable from one configuration to another configuration and including a work surface extending from the instrument panel when in the accessible position, the work surface stored within the instrument panel in a space located above a wheel arch area of the autonomous vehicle when in the stowed position, the workstation further including an articulating arm operable to pivot from the stowed position into the accessible position, the articulating arm connected to a pivot assembly that includes a ball detent spring mechanism to provide preset detent positions of the articulating arm, the articulating arm including a front surface having an electronic user interface and a back surface, the front and back surfaces opposite one another, the articulating arm rotatable for access to the front surface and the back surface.