Docking station for a vehicle

• US 20050047081A1
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Vicard, Dominique, Le Rouzo, Christophe, LaPorte, Alexandre
• Granted Patent: US 7,236,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.410
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode

Abstract

A docking station for a vehicle, the docking station being adapted to receive a portable computer, the docking station comprising mounting elements to mount the docking station in a vehicle, a holding element to hold a portable computer in engagement with the docking station, and a connection element to connect a portable computer in engagement with the docking station to a subsystem of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A docking station for a vehicle,

the docking station being adapted to receive a portable computer,

the docking station comprising mounting elements to mount the docking station in a vehicle,

a holding element to hold a portable computer in engagement with the docking station, and

a connection element to connect a portable computer in engagement with the docking station to a subsystem of the vehicle wherein the mounting elements are adapted to mount the docking station to an underside of the roof of the vehicle

2. A docking station according to claim 1 wherein the connection element is operable to connect a power input of the portable computer to a power supply system of the vehicle.

3. A docking station according to claim 1 wherein the connection element is operable to connect the portable computer to one or more subsystems, wherein the subsystems comprise one or more of;

an engine management system, a mobile phone holder, speakers and a navigation system.

6. A vehicle comprising a docking station according to claim 1.

7. A vehicle according to claim 6 where provided with a portable computer adapted to engage the docking station, the portable computer comprising a screen and being operable to generate a display on the screen, wherein portable computer is operable to generate an inverted display on the screen.

4. A portable computer being adapted to engage a docking station, the portable computer comprising a screen and being operable to generate a display on the screen, wherein portable computer is operable to generate an inverted display on the screen.

5. A portable computer according to claim 4 wherein the computer is operable to generate a display, wherein the display is reversed about a vertical axis of the screen.

8. A method of displaying information to the occupant of a vehicle comprising engaging a portable computer in a docking station provided on the underside of a roof of a vehicle, the laptop being disposed in an inverted position, the portable computer comprising a screen, the method further comprises a step of generating a display to be displayed on the screen, and inverting the display such that it appears to be correctly oriented to an occupant of the vehicle.

9. A method according to claim 8 further comprising disposing the portable computer such that the screen is visible in a rear view mirror of the vehicle, and reversing the display about a vertical axis such that the display appears correctly oriented when viewed in the rear view mirror.

10. A docking station for a vehicle,

the docking station being adapted to receive a portable computer,

the docking station comprising mounting elements to mount the docking station in a vehicle,

a holding element to hold a portable computer in engagement with the docking station, and

a connection element to connect a portable computer in engagement with the docking station to a subsystem of the vehicle wherein:

the mounting elements are adapted to mount the docking station to an underside of the roof of the vehicle;

the connection element is operable to connect a power input of the portable computer to a power supply system of the vehicle; and

the connection element is operable to connect the portable computer to one or more subsystems, wherein the subsystems comprise one or more of;

an engine management system, a mobile phone holder, speakers and a navigation system.

11. A portable computer being adapted to engage a docking station according to any one of the proceeding claims, the portable computer comprising a screen and being operable to generate a display on the screen, wherein portable computer is operable to generate an inverted display on the screen.

12. A portable computer according to claim 11 wherein the computer is operable to generate a display, wherein the display is reversed about a vertical axis of the screen.

13. A vehicle comprising a docking station the docking station being adapted to receive a portable computer,

the docking station comprising mounting elements to mount the docking station in a vehicle,

a holding element to hold a portable computer in engagement with the docking station, and

a connection element to connect a portable computer in engagement with the docking station to a subsystem of the vehicle wherein:

the mounting elements are adapted to mount the docking station to an underside of the roof of the vehicle;

the connection element is operable to connect a power input of the portable computer to a power supply system of the vehicle; and

the connection element is operable to connect the portable computer to one or more subsystems, wherein the subsystems comprise one or more of;

an engine management system, a mobile phone holder, speakers and a navigation system.