Mobile video system

• US 20050066369A1
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Johnson Safety Incorporated
• Inventors: Chang, Chung L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,636,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• 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 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0276 for rear passenger use
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2146 located in mass transportation means, e.g. aircraft, train or bus flight-deck installations for entertainment or communications B64D11/0015; arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62; moving wireless networks H04W84/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42607 for processing the incoming bitstream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/61 Network physical structure; Signal processing H04B takes precedence

Abstract

A mobile video system includes a first video source, a second video source, a first video monitor, a second video monitor, an audio signal receiver, and a wireless transmitter. One of the first video source and the second video source generates a first audiovisual signal. One of the first video monitor and the second video monitor receives a video portion of at least one of the first audiovisual signal and the second audiovisual signal. The wireless transmitter transmits an audio portion of one of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal to the audio signal receiver. A video portion of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal is displayed on the first video monitor, on the second video monitor, or on both the first video monitor and the second video monitor.

Claims

1. A mobile video system comprising:

a motorized land vehicle comprising a passenger compartment, a first seat having a first headrest, the first seat positioned in the passenger compartment;

a first video source that generates a first audiovisual signal;

a second video source that generates a second audiovisual signal;

a first video monitor configured to receive a video portion of at least one of the first audiovisual signal and the second audiovisual signal, the first video monitor comprising;

a housing comprising a first hinge portion adjacent an upper edge thereof and defining a storage cavity having a floor, the floor having an aperture formed therein;

a screen structure comprising a second hinge portion adjacent an upper edge thereof, the second hinge portion cooperating with the first hinge portion to pivotably secure the screen structure to the housing such that when the screen structure is pivoted outward from the housing, access is provided to the aperture, wherein the screen structure is interposed between a viewer and the aperture along a line of sight of the viewer when the screen structure is pivoted out to a desired viewing position; and

a fastener configured to be advanced through the aperture and to coupled with the headrest of the first seat to secure the first video monitor thereto;

a second video monitor mounted in the passenger compartment, the second video monitor configured to receive a video portion of at least one of the first audiovisual signal and the second audiovisual signal;

a radio that includes a loudspeaker and that is installed in the vehicle; and

a first wireless transmitter configured to transmit an audio portion of one of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal to the radio;

whereby a video portion of either of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal can be displayed on the first video monitor, on the second video monitor, or on both the first video monitor and the second video monitor.

2. The mobile video system of claim 1, wherein the screen structure has a stowed position wherein a surface of the screen structure hides the fastener from view.

3. The mobile video system of claim 1, further comprising a manually operated audio frequency selector that selects a transmission frequency upon which the wireless transmitter transmits the audio portion of the first audiovisual signal or the audio portion of the second audiovisual signal.

4. The mobile video system of claim 3, wherein the manually operated audio frequency selector comprises a remote control.

5. The mobile video system of claim 1, wherein the first video source comprises a DVD player.

6. The mobile video system of claim 1, wherein the first video source comprises a video game console.

7. The mobile video system of claim 6, wherein the second video source comprises a DVD player.

8. The mobile video system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless transmitter comprises a frequency modulation (FM) transmitter.

9. The mobile video system of claim 1, wherein a first angular orientation of the first video monitor relative to the first seat and a second angular orientation of the second video monitor relative to the second seat are adjustable without moving the headrests.

10. A mobile video system comprising:

a motorized land vehicle comprising a passenger compartment, a first seat having a first headrest, the first seat positioned in the passenger compartment;

a first video source that generates a first audiovisual signal;

a second video source that generates a second audiovisual signal;

a first video monitor configured to receive a video portion of at least one of the first audiovisual signal and the second audiovisual signal, the first video monitor comprising;

a housing comprising a first hinge portion adjacent an upper edge thereof and defining a storage cavity having a floor, the floor having formed therein a plurality of apertures configured to receive fasteners for securely mounting the first video monitor to the headrest of the first seat; and

a screen structure comprising a second hinge portion adjacent an upper edge thereof, the second hinge portion cooperating with the first hinge portion to pivotably secure the screen structure to the housing such that when the screen structure is pivoted outward from the housing, access is provided to the apertures, wherein the screen structure is interposed between a viewer and the apertures along a line of sight of the viewer when the screen structure is pivoted out to a desired viewing position;

a second video monitor mounted in the passenger compartment, the second video monitor configured to receive a video portion of at least one of the first audiovisual signal and the second audiovisual signal;

a radio that includes a loudspeaker and that is installed in the vehicle; and

a first wireless transmitter configured to transmit an audio portion of one of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal to the radio;

whereby a video portion of either of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal can be displayed on the first video monitor, on the second video monitor, or on both the first video monitor and the second video monitor.

11. The mobile video system of claim 10, wherein the screen structure has a stowed position wherein a surface of the screen structure hides the apertures from view.