Universal audio/video docking station for an automobile

• US 20070224841A1
• Filed: 03/21/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bruce Hamilton, J Davis
• Original Assignee: Bruce Hamilton, J Davis
• Inventors: Hamilton, Bruce, Davis, J.
• Application Number:
  US11/385,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20070224841A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0205 for radio sets B60R11/0211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0003 inside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space

Abstract

An automotive entertainment system includes an interior automotive surface having a receptacle with a first electrical connector. The receptacle has a size and shape to matingly receive at least a portion of each of a plurality of different types of audio/video components. The first electrical connector connects to a second electrical connector of each of the different types of audio/video components. An electrical conductor is electrically connected to the first connector and is also electrically connected to a power source, a processor, an audio speaker, or an antenna.

Claims

1. An automotive entertainment system, comprising:

an interior automotive surface including a receptacle having a first electrical connector, said receptacle having a size and shape configured to matingly receive at least a portion of each of a plurality of different types of audio/video components, said first electrical connector being configured to connect to a second electrical connector of each of the different types of audio/video components; and

an electrical conductor electrically connected to said first connector and configured to also be electrically connected to at least one of a power source, a processor, an audio speaker, and an antenna.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said interior automotive surface comprises a surface of at least one of a seat, a roof, and a dashboard within a passenger compartment of an automobile.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio/video components include at least one audio component and at least one video component.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio/video components include at least one of a radio, a television, a DVD player having a display screen, and a compact disc player.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said receptacle has a size and shape configured to matingly receive at least a portion of a navigation component, said first electrical connector being configured to connect to a second electrical connector of said navigation component.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a blank sized and shaped to be received in said receptacle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said electrical conductor comprises a data bus.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said electrical conductor is connected to a processor and is configured to carry command/control messages between said processor and one of said audio/video components when said one audio/video component is received in said receptacle.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a desktop docking station including a second receptacle having a third electrical connector, said second receptacle having a size and shape configured to matingly receive at least a portion of each of the different types of audio/video components, said third electrical connector being configured to connect to the second electrical connectors of the different types of audio/video components; and

a second electrical conductor electrically connected to said third electrical connector and configured to also be electrically connected to a home audio/video device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said second electrical conductor is configured to carry downloaded broadcast data from the home audio/video device to a selected one of the audio/video components when said one audio/video component is received in said second receptacle, wherein the broadcast data may be later utilized via said one audio/video component.

11. An automotive entertainment system, comprising:

a plurality of different types of audio/video components, including at least one audio component and at least one video component, each of said audio/video components having a first electrical connector;

an interior automotive surface including a receptacle having a second electrical connector, said receptacle having a size and shape configured to matingly receive at least a portion of each of the audio/video components, said second electrical connector being configured to connect to each of the first electrical connectors of said audio/video components; and

an electrical conductor electrically connected to said second connector and configured to also be electrically connected to at least one of a power source, a processor, an audio speaker, and an antenna.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said interior automotive surface comprises a surface of at least one of a seat, a roof, and a dashboard within a passenger compartment of an automobile.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the audio/video components include at least one audio component and at least one video component.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the audio/video components include at least one of a radio, a television, a DVD player having a display screen, and a compact disc player.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said receptacle has a size and shape configured to matingly receive at least a portion of a navigation component, said first electrical connector being configured to connect to a second electrical connector of said navigation component.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising a blank sized and shaped to be received in said receptacle.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said electrical conductor comprises a data bus.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said electrical conductor is connected to a processor and is configured to carry command/control messages between said processor and one of said audio/video components when said one audio/video component is received in said receptacle.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a desktop docking station including a second receptacle having a third electrical connector, said second receptacle having a size and shape configured to matingly receive at least a portion of each of the different types of audio/video components, said third electrical connector being configured to connect to the second electrical connectors of the different types of audio/video components; and

a second electrical conductor electrically connected to said third electrical connector and configured to also be electrically connected to a home audio/video device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said second electrical conductor is configured to carry downloaded broadcast data from the home audio/video device to a selected one of the audio/video components when said one audio/video component is received in said second receptacle, wherein the broadcast data may be later utilized via said one audio/video component.

21. A method of configuring an automotive entertainment system, said method comprising:

providing an interior automotive surface including a receptacle having a first electrical connector;

providing an electrical conductor electrically connected to said first electrical connector and to at least one of a processor, an audio speaker, and an antenna;

providing a plurality of different types of audio/video components, including at least one audio component and at least one video component;

inserting a selected one of said audio/video components into said receptacle such that a second electrical connector of said one audio/video component mates with said first electrical connector; and

transmitting an electrical signal via said electrical conductor between said one audio/video component and said at least one of a processor, an audio speaker, and an antenna.

22. The method of claim 21, comprising the further steps of:

removing said selected one of said audio/video components from said receptacle;

inserting an other of said audio/video components into said receptacle such that a second electrical connector of said other audio/video component mates with said first electrical connector; and

transmitting an electrical signal via said electrical conductor between said other audio/video component and said at least one of a processor, an audio speaker, and an antenna.

23. The method of claim 21, comprising the further step of removing a blank from said receptacle before said inserting step.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said electrical conductor is electrically connected to said processor, said method comprising the further step of transmitting command/control messages via said electrical conductor between said processor and said one audio/video component.

25. The method of claim 21, comprising the further steps of:

providing a desktop docking station including a second receptacle having a third electrical connector;

providing a second electrical conductor electrically connected to said third electrical connector and to a home audio/video device;

inserting an other of said audio/video components into said second receptacle such that a second electrical connector of said other audio/video component mates with said third electrical connector; and

transmitting an electrical signal via said second electrical conductor between said other audio/video component and said home audio/video device.

26. The method of claim 25, comprising the further steps of:

downloading broadcast data from the home audio/video device to said other audio/video component when said other audio/video component is received in said second receptacle;

removing said other audio/video component from said second receptacle; and

utilizing the broadcast data via said other audio/video component.