User Interface Device and Method for Presenting Viewing Content

• US 20080040756A1
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Galvan, Darryl C., Perlman, Marshal H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,508,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/75
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00152 Seat back fixtures for removable monitors, e.g. tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00153 Monitors mounted on or in the seat other than the seat back

Abstract

A user interface device for presenting selected viewing content and methods for manufacturing and using same. The user interface device is adapted for installation at a suitable location via any of a wide variety of conventional mounting systems. The user interface device thereby can select and present viewing content and, when not in use, can be stowed in a manner that does not interfere with the user. A malfunctioning user interface device can be easily removed from the mounting system and replaced with another user interface device, minimizing inconvenience to the user and facilitating repairs. Since the user interface devices are produced with a common docking interface system, each user interface device can, without modification, be engaged by any other mounting system. Thereby, only one version of the user interface device needs to be produced, purchased, and inventoried.

Claims

1. A user interface device suitable for installation at a predetermined mounting location via a mounting system, comprising:

a device housing that includes a docking interface system, said docking interface system enabling said device housing to couple with the mounting system; and

a content presentation system that presents selected viewing content, said content presentation system being disposed within said device housing,

wherein the mounting system is selected from a group of conventional mounting systems, said docking interface system being suitable for interchangeably coupling with each of the conventional mounting systems.

2. A user interface device suitable for installation at a predetermined mounting location via a mounting system, comprising:

a device housing that includes a docking interface system, said docking interface system enabling said device housing to couple with the mounting system and having a device detent that facilitates engagement between said device housing and the mounting system; and

a content presentation system that presents selected viewing content, said content presentation system being disposed within said device housing,

wherein the mounting system is selected from a group of conventional mounting systems and includes a mounting detent that cooperates with said device detent, said docking interface system being suitable for interchangeably coupling with each of the conventional mounting systems.

3. The user interface device of claim 2, wherein said docking interface system has a plurality of device detents that facilitate the engagement between said device housing and the mounting system.

4. The user interface device of claim 3, wherein the mounting system includes a plurality of mounting detents, at least one of said device detents cooperating with at least one of the mounting detents.

5. The user interface device of claim 2, wherein said docking interface system permits said device housing to removably engage the mounting system.

6. The user interface device of claim 2, wherein said docking interface system permits said device housing to adjustably engage the mounting system.

7. The user interface device of claim 2, wherein said device housing includes a plurality of docking interface systems, a selected docking interface system enabling said device housing to couple with the mounting system.

8. The user interface device of claim 7, wherein two or more of said docking interface systems enable said device housing to couple with the mounting system.

9. The user interface device of claim 2, wherein said user interface device is suitable for installation at a predetermined mounting surface via the mounting system.

10. The user interface device of claim 9, wherein the predetermined surface is selected from a group consisting of a wall, a ceiling, a bulkhead, and a seatback.

11. The user interface device of claim 2, wherein said user interface device is suitable for installation at a predetermined seat via the mounting system.

12. The user interface device of claim 11, wherein said user interface device is suitable for installation at an armrest of said predetermined seat.

13. The user interface device of claim 2, wherein said content presentation system includes a video presentation system.

14. The user interface device of claim 2, wherein said content presentation system includes an audio presentation system.

15. The user interface device of claim 2, wherein said content presentation system includes an input system for selecting viewing content for presentation.

16. The user interface device of claim 2, wherein said user interface device comprises a handheld device.

17. The user interface device of claim 2, wherein said the selected viewing content is provided to said content presentation system from a content source.

18. The user interface device of claim 17, wherein said the content source is external from said user interface device.

19. The user interface device of claim 17, wherein said the selected viewing content is provided from the content source to said user interface device via a vehicle information system.

20. A method for installing user interface devices, comprising:

disposing a mounting system at a predetermined mounting location, said mounting system including a mounting detent;

providing a user interface device having a content presentation system that presents selected viewing content and that is disposed within a device housing, said device housing including a docking interface system that enables said device housing to couple with said mounting system and that has a device detent to facilitate engagement between said device housing and said mounting system; and

engaging said mounting detent and said device detent to couple said user interface device with said mounting system,

wherein said mounting system is selected from a group of conventional mounting systems and includes a mounting detent that cooperates with said device detent, said docking interface system being suitable for interchangeably coupling with each of the conventional mounting systems.

21. A vehicle information system, comprising:

a distribution system that communicates with a content source;

a mounting system disposed at a predetermined mounting location, said mounting system including a mounting detent; and

a user interface device, comprising;

a device housing that includes a docking interface system, said docking interface system enabling said device housing to couple with said mounting system and having a device detent that cooperates with said mounting detent to facilitate engagement between said device housing and said mounting system; and

a content presentation system that presents selected viewing content provided by the content source, said content presentation system being disposed within said device housing.

22. The vehicle information system of claim 21, wherein the content source is remote from said distribution system.

23. The vehicle information system of claim 21, wherein the distribution system comprises a wireless distribution system.

24. The vehicle information system of claim 21, wherein the distribution system comprises a wired distribution system.

25. The vehicle information system of claim 21, wherein the distribution system includes an access point for communicating with a for communicating with a communication port of said user interface device.

26. The vehicle information system of claim 21, wherein said mounting system is selected from a group of conventional mounting systems, said docking interface system being suitable for interchangeably coupling with each of the conventional mounting systems.

27. The vehicle information system of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of mounting systems disposed at predetermined mounting locations, said docking interface system enabling said device housing to interchangeably couple with each of said mounting systems.

28. The vehicle information system of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of user interface systems each having said device housing with said docking interface system, said docking interface system enabling each of said device housings to interchangeably couple with said mounting system.

29. The vehicle information system of claim 21, wherein the vehicle information system is installed aboard an aircraft.

30. An aircraft, comprising:

a fuselage;

a plurality of passengers seat arranged within a passenger cabin of the fuselage;

a mounting system disposed at a predetermined mounting location within said passenger cabin, said mounting system including a mounting detent; and

a vehicle information system, said vehicle information system coupled with said fuselage and comprising;

a content source;

a distribution system that communicates with said content source; and

a user interface device, comprising;

a device housing that includes a docking interface system, said docking interface system enabling said device housing to couple with said mounting system and having a device detent that cooperates with said mounting detent to facilitate engagement between said device housing and said mounting system; and

a content presentation system that presents selected viewing content provided by said content source via said distribution system, said content presentation system being disposed within said device housing,

wherein the mounting system is selected from a group of conventional mounting systems and includes a mounting detent that cooperates with said device detent, said docking interface system being suitable for interchangeably coupling with each of the conventional mounting systems.