Assembly capable of deploying an electronic device having a display screen in a vehicle

• US 10,625,688 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2017
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Global IP Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Adamson, Sr., Richard D., Munro, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): McNichols, Eret C
• Application Number:
  US15/803,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20190135192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization

Abstract

An assembly capable of deploying an electronic device having a display screen from a stowed position towards a viewing position and simultaneously supporting the device and supplying electrical signals to the device in the viewing position within a passenger compartment of a vehicle is provided. A device holder is capable of movably holding the device and is supported for rotation about a rotational axis at a distal end of an elongated support. A bi-directional, electrically powered, linear actuator subassembly is mounted on a base and includes a motor-driven screw-drive and a threaded member mounted on the screw-drive to linearly move along a longitudinal axis of the screw-drive upon rotation of the screw-drive. The threaded member is connected to a proximal end of the elongated support to lift the elongated support to deploy the device along a predetermined, non-linear path upon rotation of the screw-drive.

Claims

1. An assembly capable of deploying an electronic device having a display screen from a stowed position towards a viewing position and simultaneously supporting the device and supplying electrical signals to the device in the viewing position within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a base adapted to be coupled to a component of the vehicle;

an elongated support having a proximal end, an intermediate portion extending from the proximal end and a distal end supported by and extending from the intermediate portion;

a device holder capable of movably holding the device and supported for rotation about a rotational axis at the distal end of the elongated support;

a bi-directional, electrically powered, linear actuator subassembly mounted on the base and including a motor-driven screw-drive and a threaded member mounted on the screw-drive to linearly move along a longitudinal axis of the screw-drive upon rotation of the screw-drive, the threaded member being connected to the proximal end of the elongated support to lift the elongated support to deploy the device along a predetermined, non-linear path upon rotation of the screw-drive in a first direction from the stowed position to the viewing position based on a deployment command signal; and

a hinge arm subassembly supported for rotation by the base about a second rotational axis, the device holder being supported for rotation by the hinge arm subassembly about a third rotational axis during movement of the device holder along the predetermined non-linear path.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the screw-drive includes a lead screw.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the subassembly includes a reversible electric motor mounted on the base and which drives the lead screw.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the subassembly includes an electric motor and wherein the subassembly is configured to rotate and translate the device holder to the viewing position along the non-linear path.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predetermined non-linear path is an elliptical path.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an actuator slide to guide linear motion of the elongated support.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the actuator slide includes at least one guide rod positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis wherein the elongated support is driven along the at least one guide rod.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rotational axes are substantially parallel to each other.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the linear actuator subassembly retracts the device holder upon rotation of the screw-drive in a second direction opposite the first direction from the viewing position towards the stowed position based on a retraction command signal.

10. An assembly capable of deploying an electronic device having a display screen from a stowed position towards a viewing position and simultaneously supporting the device and supplying electrical signals to the device in the viewing position within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a base adapted to be coupled to a component of the vehicle;

an elongated support having a proximal end, an intermediate portion extending from the proximal end and a distal end supported by and extending from the intermediate portion;

a device holder capable of movably holding the device and supported for rotation about a rotational axis at the distal end of the elongated support; and

a bi-directional, electrically powered, linear actuator subassembly mounted on the base and including a motor-driven screw-drive and a threaded member mounted on the screw-drive to linearly move along a longitudinal axis of the screw-drive upon rotation of the screw-drive, the threaded member being connected to the proximal end of the elongated support to lift the elongated support to deploy the device along a predetermined, non-linear path upon rotation of the screw-drive in a first direction from the stowed position to the viewing position based on a deployment command signal wherein the holder is apertured and the support is hollow to allow electric wiring to supply electrical power to the device from a power source.

11. An assembly capable of deploying an electronic device having a display screen from a stowed position below an instrument panel towards a viewing position above the instrument panel and simultaneously supporting the device and supplying electrical signals to the device in the viewing position within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a base adapted to be coupled to a component of the vehicle;

an elongated support having a proximal end, an intermediate portion extending from the proximal end and a distal end supported by and extending from the intermediate portion;

a device holder capable of movably holding the device and supported for rotation about a rotational axis at the distal end of the elongated support;

a bi-directional, electrically powered, linear actuator subassembly mounted on the base and including a motor-driven screw-drive and a threaded member mounted on the screw-drive to linearly move along a longitudinal axis of the screw-drive upon rotation of the screw-drive, the threaded member being connected to the proximal end of the elongated support to lift the elongated support to deploy the device along a predetermined, non-linear path upon rotation of the screw-drive in a first direction from the stowed position to the viewing position based on a deployment command signal; and

a hinge arm subassembly supported for rotation by the base about a second rotational axis, the device holder being supported for rotation by the hinge arm subassembly about a third rotational axis during movement of the device holder along the predetermined non-linear path.

12. The assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the screw-drive includes a lead screw.

13. The assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the subassembly includes a reversible electric motor mounted on the base and which drives the lead screw.

14. The assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the subassembly includes an electric motor and wherein the subassembly is configured to rotate and translate the device holder to the viewing position along the non-linear path.

15. The assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the predetermined non-linear path is an elliptical path.

16. The assembly as claimed in claim 11 further comprising an actuator slide to guide linear motion of the elongated support.

17. The assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein the actuator slide includes at least one guide rod positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis wherein the elongated support is driven along the at least one guide rod.

18. The assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the rotational axes are substantially parallel to each other.

19. The assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the linear actuator subassembly retracts the device holder upon rotation of the screw-drive in a second direction opposite the first direction from the viewing position towards the stowed position based on a retraction command signal.

20. An assembly capable of deploying an electronic device having a display screen from a stowed position below an instrument panel towards a viewing position above the instrument panel and simultaneously supporting the device and supplying electrical signals to the device in the viewing position within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a base adapted to be coupled to a component of the vehicle;

an elongated support having a proximal end, an intermediate portion extending from the proximal end and a distal end supported by and extending from the intermediate portion;

a device holder capable of movably holding the device and supported for rotation about a rotational axis at the distal end of the elongated support; and

a bi-directional, electrically powered, linear actuator subassembly mounted on the base and including a motor-driven screw-drive and a threaded member mounted on the screw-drive to linearly move along a longitudinal axis of the screw-drive upon rotation of the screw-drive, the threaded member being connected to the proximal end of the elongated support to lift the elongated support to deploy the device along a predetermined, non-linear path upon rotation of the screw-drive in a first direction from the stowed position to the viewing position based on a deployment command signal wherein the holder is apertured and the support is hollow to allow electrical wiring to supply electrical power to the device from a power source.