Positioning a front panel of a telematics terminal

• US 20060209261A1
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Tak, Jin-Hee
• Granted Patent: US 7,593,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/13
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

Positioning a front panel of a telematics terminal includes receiving an electronic signal that indicates a change in a physical position of a display panel of the telematics terminal. The front panel, which is distinct from the display panel of the telematics terminal but located on a same side of the telematics terminal as the display panel, is moved from a first position to a second position based on the control signal. The second position is physically displaced from the first position.

Claims

1. A method for positioning a front panel of a telematics terminal, the method comprising:

receiving an electronic control signal indicating a change in a physical position of a display panel of the telematics terminal; and

moving a front panel of the telematics terminal, which is distinct from the display panel of the telematics terminal but located on a same side of the telematics terminal as the display panel, from a first position to a second position based on the control signal, the second position being physically displaced from the first position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises a monitor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the front panel comprises moving the front panel concurrently and in a same direction as a direction of movement of the display panel of the telematics terminal when the physical position of the display panel is changed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the front panel comprises a plurality of buttons and a plurality of buttons.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the front panel is positioned adjacent to the display panel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the front panel based on the control signal comprises moving the front panel in response to the control signal.

7. An apparatus for positioning a front panel of a telematics terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a transferring module configured to;

receive an electronic signal indicating a change in a physical position of a display panel of the telematics terminal; and

move a front panel of the telematics terminal, which is distinct from the display panel of the telematics terminal but located on a same side of the telematics terminal as the display panel, from a first position to a second position based on the control signal, the second position being physically displaced from the first position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the transferring module comprises:

a rack gear;

a driving unit for rotating a pinion gear in mesh with the rack gear based on the control signal; and

a transfer unit extending from the rack gear, the transfer unit being configured to support the front panel and to enable movement of the front panel in response to a rotatory force of the driving unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein when the change in the physical position of the display panel results from movement of the display panel out of a housing of the telematics terminal, the driving unit is configured to move the front panel of the telematics terminal from a position adjacent to the housing of the telematics terminal to a position away from the housing of the telematics terminal.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein when the change in the physical position of the display panel results from movement of the display panel into a housing of the telematics terminal, the driving unit is configured to move the front panel of the telematics terminal from a position away from the housing of the telematics terminal to a position adjacent to the housing of the telematics terminal.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a fixed member connected to the transfer unit and defining a recess configured to receive a fixed protrusion that protrudes from a rear surface of the front panel.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transfer unit defines a recess configured to receive a fixed protrusion that protrudes from a surface of the front panel.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transfer unit includes a fixed protrusion that protrudes from a surface of the transfer unit and that is configured to be received in a recess defined by the front panel.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the display panel comprises a monitor.

15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the transferring module is configured to move the front panel concurrently and in a same direction as a direction of movement of the display panel of the telematics terminal when the physical position of the display panel is changed.

16. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the front panel comprises a plurality of buttons and a plurality of ports.

17. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the front panel is positioned adjacent to the display panel.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein the transferring module is configured to move the front panel in response to the control signal.

19. A telematics terminal comprising:

a housing;

a display panel including a monitor configured to display image information, the display panel being configured to;

move from a first display panel position located inside of the housing to a second display panel position located outside of the housing, and

move from the second display panel position located outside of the housing to the first display panel position located inside of the housing; and

a front panel positioned adjacent to the display panel and configured to move in response to movement of the display panel.

20. The telematics terminal of claim 19, wherein the display panel is configured to:

move from the first display panel position located inside of the housing to the second display panel position located outside of the housing; and

move from the second display panel position located outside of the housing to the first display panel position located inside of the housing.

21. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the front panel comprises a plurality of buttons for controlling the telematics terminal and a plurality of ports for enabling the telematics terminal to communicate with one or more external devices.

22. The terminal of claim 19, further comprising a controller configured to automatically move the front panel based on a control signal of a remote controller indicating a change in position of the display panel from the first display panel position to the second display panel position or from the second display panel position to the first display panel position.

23. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the controller comprises:

a rack gear;

a driving unit for rotating a pinion gear in mesh with the rack gear based on a control signal indicating a change in a physical position of the display panel; and

a transfer unit extending from the rack gear, the transfer unit being configured to support the front panel and to enable movement of the front panel in response to a rotatory force of the driving unit.

24. An apparatus for positioning a front panel of a telematics terminal comprising:

a rack gear;

a pinion gear configured to engage the rack gear;

a driving unit configured to rotate the pinion gear based on a control signal, the control signal indicating movement of a display panel of the telematics terminal in a first direction; and

a transfer unit extending from the rack gear, the transfer unit being configured to support the front panel and to move the front panel in the first direction in response to a rotatory force generated by the driving unit.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the front panel comprises a plurality of buttons and a plurality of ports.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the front panel is positioned adjacent to the display panel.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a fixed member connected to the transfer unit and defining a recess configured to receive a fixed protrusion that protrudes from a rear surface of the front panel.

28. A method for positioning a front panel of a telematics terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a signal to move a display panel of the telematics terminal; and

moving a front panel of the telematics terminal based on the signal.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the front panel is distinct from the display panel.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the display panel and the front panel are moved together.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the front panel is located on a same side of the telematics terminal as the display panel.

32. An apparatus for controlling a front panel of a telematics terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a driving unit for moving a front panel of the telematics terminal based on a signal for moving a display panel of the telematics terminal, wherein the front panel is distinct from the display panel.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the display panel and the front panel are moved together.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the front panel is located on a same side of the telematics terminal as the display panel.