Vehicle media system

• US 20070139878A1
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Trainer, Mark, Plunkett, Bradley, Giffin, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,184,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/99
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0288 Apparatus made of several modules independently mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/54 with provision for moving the head into or out of its operative position or across tracks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A vehicle media system for use in conjunction with a portable media device is set forth. The vehicle media system includes an input module that is mountable, for example, at a console between the driver'"'"'s seat and front passenger seat of the vehicle cabin, so that it may be manipulated by a user pursuant to input of system commands. A display module is mountable at a different location within the vehicle cabin, such as on the dashboard. A main module is connected to cooperate with the display module and the input module to facilitate user interaction with the portable media device.

Claims

1. A vehicle media system for use in conjunction with a portable media device comprising:

an input module mountable at a first location within a vehicle cabin for manipulation by a user pursuant to input of system commands;

a display module mountable at a second location within the vehicle cabin, where the second location is different from the first location; and

a main module cooperating with the display module and the input module to facilitate user interaction with the portable media device.

2. The system of claim 1, where the first location is on a console disposed between a driver'"'"'s seat and a front passenger seat of the vehicle cabin.

3. The system of claim 2, where the second location is on a dashboard of the vehicle cabin.

4. The system of claim 1, where the portable media device comprises a user interface that facilitates user interaction with the portable media device when the portable media device operates apart from the vehicle media system, and where the main module cooperates with the input module and the display module to generally mimic the user interface of the portable media device when the portable media device is operated in conjunction with the vehicle media system.

5. The vehicle media system of claim 4, where the first location is on a console disposed between a driver'"'"'s seat and a front passenger seat of the vehicle cabin.

6. The vehicle media system of claim 5, where the second location is on a dashboard of the vehicle cabin.

7. The system of claim 1, where the main module comprises:

an input interface disposed to receive signals indicative of manipulation of the input module by the user;

a display interface disposed to provide signals to operate the display module; and

a media device interface disposed to communicate with the portable media device.

8. The system of claim 7, where the main module further comprises audio circuitry receiving signals corresponding to stored audio content of the portable media device through the media device interface.

9. The system of claim 8, where the signals received by the audio circuitry from the media device interface are analog signals.

10. The system of claim 8, where the signals received by the audio circuitry from the media device interface are digital signals.

11. The system of claim 8, where the audio circuitry comprises:

an FM modulator converting the signals received by the audio circuitry to a format for reception by an FM radio; and

baseband output circuitry converting the signals received by the audio circuitry to a format for provision to a vehicle head unit.

12. The system of claim 8, where the audio circuitry comprises:

an FM modulator converting the signals received by the audio circuitry to a format for reception by an FM radio; and

an antenna switch receiving modulated RF signals from the FM modulator and a vehicle antenna, where the antenna switch operates to selectively connect either the FM modulator or the vehicle antenna to an output of the antenna switch.

13. The system of claim 12, where the antenna switch operates to selectively connect either the FM modulator or the vehicle antenna based on a level of a DC offset signal provided on the modulated RF signal from the FM modulator to the antenna switch.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a recharge controller for recharging the portable media device, the recharge controller comprising:

a power input from a power source in the vehicle;

a recharge circuit disposed to receive power provided from the power input, where the recharge circuit is further disposed to provide recharge power to the portable media device;

a comparator circuit disposed to compare a voltage level of the power input with a threshold voltage level; and

a disconnection circuit disposed to inhibit charging of the portable media device by the recharge circuit if the voltage level of the power input is less than the threshold voltage level.

15. The system of claim 4, where the main module further comprises audio circuitry receiving signals corresponding to stored audio content of the portable media device through the media device interface.

16. The system of claim 15, where the signals received by the audio circuitry from the media device interface are analog signals.

17. The system of claim 15, where the signals received by the audio circuitry from the media device interface are digital signals.

18. The system of claim 15, where the audio circuitry comprises:

an FM modulator converting the signals received by the audio circuitry to a format for reception by an FM radio; and

baseband output circuitry converting the signals received by the audio circuitry to a format for provision to a vehicle head unit.

19. The system of claim 15, where the audio circuitry comprises an FM modulator converting the signals received by the audio circuitry to a format for reception by an FM radio, and the system further comprises an antenna switch receiving modulated RF signals from the FM modulator and a vehicle antenna, where the antenna switch operates to selectively connects either the FM modulator or the vehicle antenna to an output of the antenna switch.

20. The system of claim 19, where the antenna switch operates to selectively connects either the FM modulator or the vehicle antenna based on a level of a DC offset signal provided on the modulated RF signal from the FM modulator to the antenna switch.

21. The system of claim 4, further comprising a recharge controller for recharging the portable media device, the recharge controller comprising:

a power input from a power source in the vehicle;

a recharge circuit disposed to receive power provided from the power input, where the recharge circuit is further disposed to provide recharge power to the portable media device;

a comparator circuit disposed to compare a voltage level of the power input with a threshold voltage level; and

a disconnection circuit disposed to inhibit charging of the portable media device by the recharge circuit if the voltage level of the power input is less than the threshold voltage level.

22. The system of claim 1, where the input module comprises:

a generally circular housing having a face portion and a rear portion; and

a mounting stem extending from the rear portion of the generally circular housing.

23. The system of claim 22, where the input module further comprises:

a plurality of user selectable buttons disposed radially about a first axis of the generally circular housing; and

a potentiometer control disposed for rotational manipulation about a second axis of the generally circular housing.

24. The system of claim 23, where the first and second axes are coaxial with one another.

25. The system of claim 1, where the display module comprises:

an electronic display;

a housing disposed about the electronic display, where the housing has an open bezel portion for viewing the electronic display; and

a mounting stem extending from the housing.

26. The system of claim 1, where the main module comprises a housing substantially enclosing electronic components of the main manual, where the housing is mountable at a third location in the vehicle cabin that is separate from the first and second locations.

27. A vehicle media system comprising:

audio circuitry providing output signals corresponding to audio stored on media of a portable media device;

an FM modulator converting output signals from the audio circuitry to a format for reception by an FM radio; and

an antenna switch receiving modulated RF signals from the FM modulator and a vehicle antenna, where the antenna switch operates to selectively connects either the FM modulator or the vehicle antenna to an output of the antenna switch.

28. The system of claim 27, where the antenna switch operates to selectively connect either the FM modulator or the vehicle antenna based on a level of a DC offset signal provided on the modulated RF signal from the FM modulator to the antenna switch.

29. A vehicle media system for use in connection with a portable media device comprising:

an input module mounted at a console disposed between a driver'"'"'s seat and a passenger seat within a vehicle cabin for manipulation by a user pursuant to input of system commands;

a display module mounted at a dashboard within the vehicle cabin;

a main module cooperating with the display module and the input module to facilitate user interaction with the portable media device, where the main module cooperates with the input module and the display module to generally mimic a user interface of the portable media device when the portable media device is operated in conjunction with the vehicle media system.

30. The system of claim 29, where the main module comprises audio circuitry receiving signals corresponding to stored audio content of the portable media device.

31. The system of claim 30, where the audio circuitry comprises:

an FM modulator converting the signals received by the audio circuitry to a format for reception by an FM radio; and

baseband output circuitry converting the signals received by the audio circuitry to a format for provision to a vehicle head unit.

32. The system of claim 30, where the audio circuitry comprises:

an FM modulator converting the signals received by the audio circuitry to a format for reception by an FM radio; and

an antenna switch receiving modulated RF signals from the FM modulator and a vehicle antenna, where the antenna switch operates to selectively connect either the FM modulator or the vehicle antenna to an output of the antenna switch.

33. The system of claim 32, where the antenna switch operates to selectively connect either the FM modulator or the vehicle antenna based on a level of a DC offset signal provided on the modulated RF signal from the FM modulator to the antenna switch.

34. The system of claim 29, further comprising a recharge controller for recharging the portable media device, the recharge controller comprising:

a power input from a power source in the vehicle;

a recharge circuit disposed to receive power provided from the power input, where the recharge circuit is further disposed to provide recharge power to the portable media device;

a comparator circuit disposed to compare a voltage level of the power input with a threshold voltage level; and

a disconnection circuit disposed to inhibit charging of the portable media device by the recharge circuit if the voltage level of the power input is less than the threshold voltage level.