Apparatus for processing digital images

• US 20070019072A1
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Cheung, Kwun-Wing, Bengtsson, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/628,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20070019072A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00151 Permanently mounted seat back monitors
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest

Abstract

A vehicle seat for supporting a passenger of a vehicle. The seat includes a seat frame having a mount for mounting the frame to the vehicle, a support extending from the mount, a seat bottom mounted on the support for supporting the passenger when occupying the seat, and a seat back extending upward from the seat bottom. The seat back has a front surface oriented to face the passenger occupying the seat and a rear surface opposite the front surface. A video monitor is mounted on the seat frame, and a digital processor is operatively connected to the video monitor for processing a digital input for display as an image on the video monitor.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat for supporting a passenger of a vehicle, said seat comprising:

a seat frame having a mount for mounting the frame to the vehicle, a support extending from the mount, a seat bottom mounted on the support for supporting the passenger when occupying the seat, and a seat back extending upward from the seat bottom, said seat back having a front surface oriented to face the passenger occupying the seat and a rear surface opposite said front surface;

a video monitor mounted on the seat frame; and

a digital processor operatively connected to the video monitor for processing a digital input for display as an image on the video monitor.

2. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1 wherein the video monitor is mounted on the rear surface of the seat back for viewing from behind the vehicle seat.

3. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1 wherein the digital processor includes an interface for connecting the processor to an external data source.

4. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 3 wherein the external data source for which the interface is configured is selected from a group consisting of a digital camera, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant and a data storage card.

5. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 3 wherein the interface includes a data port selected from a group of data ports consisting of a serial port, a parallel port, a small computer system interface (SCSI) port, and a universal serial bus (USB) port.

6. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1 wherein said digital processor is configured to organize and edit a plurality images selected from the digital input.

7. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 6 wherein said processor is configured to generate a digital travel album from said plurality of images.

8. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 7 wherein said processor is configured to add text to at least one image of said plurality of images.

9. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 6 wherein said processor is configured to generate a digital travel log including text and the plurality of images.

10. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a digital camera mounted on said seat frame operatively connected to said processor for providing digital input to the processor.

11. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 10 wherein the digital camera is mounted on the rear surface of the seat back for recording images of behind the vehicle seat.

12. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a control device operatively connected to said processor for controlling operation of said processor.

13. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 12 wherein said control device comprises a remote control device operatively connected to said processor by an electromagnetic signal.

14. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1 wherein said processor is operatively connectable to a printer for printing images.

15. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1 wherein said processor is operatively connectable to a camera remote from the seat for providing digital input to the processor.

16. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 15 in combination with the vehicle wherein the camera is mounted on an exterior surface of the vehicle.

17. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1 wherein the said processor is operatively connectable to a transmitter for sending information output by the processor to a location remote from the vehicle.

18. A vehicle for transporting a plurality of passengers, said vehicle comprising:

a body having an interior cabin sized and shaped for holding a plurality of passengers;

a power plant mounted on the body for generating power to move body;

a plurality of seats mounted on the body for supporting at least one passenger of said plurality of passengers, at least a portion of said seats of said plurality of seats comprising;

a seat frame having a mount for mounting the frame to the vehicle, a support extending from the mount, a seat bottom mounted on the support for supporting the passenger when occupying the seat, and a seat back extending upward from the seat bottom, said seat back having a front surface oriented to face the passenger occupying the seat and a rear surface opposite said front surface;

a video monitor mounted on the seat frame; and

a digital processor operatively connected to the video monitor for processing a digital input for display as an image on the video monitor.

19. A vehicle in accordance with claim 18 wherein the body comprises an airframe.