Removable electronic tablet for vehicle instrument panel

• US 20070176797A1
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Mrozowski, John, Rhodes, Louis
• Granted Patent: US 7,561,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/995.150
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/834 Docking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/81 Fastening of instruments, e.g. to dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/834 Docking
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens

Abstract

An instrument panel for a vehicle that includes a screen that is operable to display at least one object, and wherein the object automatically changes in size when the vehicle changes between a drive mode and a park mode.

Claims

1. An instrument panel for a vehicle comprising:

a screen that is operable to display at least one object, and wherein the at least one object automatically changes in size when the vehicle changes between a drive mode and a park mode.

2. The instrument panel of claim 1, wherein the object automatically increases in size when the vehicle changes from a park mode to a drive mode.

3. The instrument panel of claim 1, further comprising a support member and an electronic tablet that is removably supported by the support member, wherein the screen is operatively coupled to the electronic tablet.

4. The instrument panel of claim 3, further comprising a vehicle-tablet interface operable to allow communication between the electronic tablet and the vehicle when the electronic tablet is supported by the support member.

5. The instrument panel of claim 3, wherein the support member includes a front wall with an opening through which the screen can be seen when the electronic tablet is supported by the support member.

6. The instrument panel of claim 3, further comprising a retention member operable to retain the electronic tablet in the support member.

7. The instrument panel of claim 1, wherein the screen is a touch sensitive screen.

8. The instrument panel of claim 1, wherein the screen is operable to display geographic information to the user.

9. The instrument panel of claim 8, wherein the geographic information displayed on the screen is chosen from a group consisting of at least one map, navigation information, and a combination thereof.

10. An electronic tablet for a vehicle comprising:

a housing that can be removably supported by the vehicle; and

a screen that is operable to display at least one object, and wherein the object automatically changes in size when the vehicle changes between a drive mode and a park mode.

11. The electronic tablet of claim 10, wherein the object automatically increases in size when the vehicle changes from a park mode to a drive mode.

12. The electronic tablet of claim 10, wherein the screen displays a plurality of objects when the vehicle is in park mode and the housing is supported by the vehicle, and wherein the screen automatically displays less than all of the plurality of objects when the vehicle is in drive mode and the housing is supported by the vehicle.

13. The electronic tablet of claim 10, wherein the screen is operable to display geographic information to the user, the geographic information chosen from a group consisting of at least one map, navigation information, and a combination thereof.

14. The electronic tablet of claim 13, wherein the geographic information is chosen from a group consisting of geographic location of the electronic tablet, navigational directions, and a combination thereof.

15. The electronic tablet of claim 13, further comprising a global positioning interface operable to determine the location of the electronic tablet from a positioning signal transmitted by a global positioning system.

16. The electronic tablet of claim 10, wherein the screen is a touch sensitive screen.

17. The electronic tablet of claim 10, further comprising at least one data transfer devices, the at least one data transfer device chosen from a group consisting of a USB 2.0 port, an IEEE Firewire port, a LAN interface, a WLAN interface, and a global positioning interface.

18. The electronic tablet of claim 10, further comprising a microphone, and wherein the electronic tablet is operable to receive sound input via the microphone for controlling the vehicle.

19. The electronic tablet of claim 10, wherein the electronic tablet includes at least one speaker.

20. A vehicle comprising:

a support member; and

an electronic tablet that is removably supported by the support member, the electronic tablet including a touch sensitive screen with which a user can provide input for controlling at least one vehicle system, wherein the screen is operable to display at least one object, and wherein the object automatically changes in size when the vehicle changes between a drive mode and a park mode.