PORTABLE DEVICE INTERFACING

• US 20090130884A1
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Howard, Damian, Lee, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 7,931,505 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/297
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard

Abstract

A portable device interfacing system for use in a vehicle or other environments permits a portable device to be removably connected with another system, such as an audio system. The portable device interfacing system may include features that help to prevent liquid from damaging electronics of the system, align physical connections between the interfacing system and the portable device, safely secure the portable device in position, and/or permit the system to be expanded to support different portable devices.

Claims

1. A portable device receiving unit comprising:

a receptacle defining an interior space configured to receive a portable media player, the interior space having an interior bottom surface that includes an upper portion that extends into the interior space and a lower portion that is below the upper portion; and

a coupler to provide electrical connection between the portable media player and a vehicle media system, the coupler being disposed on the upper portion of the interior bottom surface;

wherein the interior space defines at least one drain hole disposed in the lower portion of interior bottom surface.

2. The portable device receiving unit of claim 1, wherein the interior bottom surface defines a generally convex shape and the upper portion is a portion toward the peak of the convex shape and the lower portion is a portion toward the bottom of the convex shape.

3. The portable device receiving unit of claim 1, further comprising a drain tube in fluid communication with the at least one drain hole.

4. The portable device receiving unit of claim 3, wherein the drain tube is in fluid communication with an exterior region outside of a vehicle, the portable device holder being disposed in an interior region of the vehicle.

5. The portable device receiving unit of claim 3, wherein the drain tube is in fluid communication with a reservoir.

6. The portable device receiving unit of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is integrated with an element of interior finish work of a vehicle.

7. The portable device receiving unit of claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises a cup holder.

8. The portable device receiving unit of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is configured to receive a portable device holder housing the portable media player.

9. A portable device interfacing system comprising:

a portable device holder comprising;

a holder body defining a cavity configured to receive a portable media player; and

a first coupler to provide electrical connection with the portable media player; and

a portable device receiving unit comprising;

a receptacle defining an interior space configured to receive the portable device holder, the interior space having an interior bottom surface that protrudes into the interior space; and

a second coupler to provide electrical connection between the first coupler of the received portable device holder and a vehicle media system, the second coupler disposed on the interior bottom surface;

wherein the interior space defines at least one drain hole in the interior bottom surface.

10. The portable device interfacing system of claim 9, wherein the interior bottom surface of the receptacle defines as a convex shape to receive a bottom surface of the holder body defined as a concave shape.

11. A portable device receiving unit comprising:

a receptacle defining an interior space configured to receive a portable media player;

a coupler to provide electrical connection between the received portable media player and a vehicle media system, the coupler disposed on an interior bottom surface defined by the interior space of the receptacle; and

a cover pivotally attached to the interior bottom surface and operable to move among an open position exposing the coupler for electrical connection and a closed position separating the coupler from the interior space.

12. The portable device receiving unit of claim 11, further comprising a compliant seal disposed along a perimeter of the cover.

13. The portable device receiving unit of claim 11, wherein the interior space of the receptacle defines a coupler cavity that houses the coupler, the cover configured to cover the coupler in the coupler cavity while in the closed position.

14. The portable device receiving unit of claim 13, further comprising a compliant seal disposed along an edge of the coupler cavity to engage a surface of the closed cover.

15. The portable device receiving unit of claim 11, wherein the receptacle is configured to receive a portable device holder housing the portable media player.

16. A portable media player holder comprising:

a holder body defining a holder cavity configured to receive a portable media player;

a first coupler disposed in the holder cavity for electrical connection with the received portable media player;

a second coupler in electrical connection with the first coupler and disposed in a coupler cavity defined in a bottom surface of the holder body, the second coupler operable to move among a retracted position in the coupler cavity and a deployed position at least partially out of the coupler cavity for electrical connection between the received portable media player and a third, mating coupler in electrical connection with a vehicle media system; and

a door pivotally attached to the bottom surface and operable to move among an open position exposing the coupler for electrical connection and a closed position separating the coupler in the coupler cavity.

17. The portable media player holder of claim 16, further comprising a compliant seal disposed along a perimeter of the door.

18. The portable media player holder of claim 16, further comprising a compliant seal disposed along an edge of the coupler cavity to engage a surface of the closed door.

19. A portable device interfacing system comprising:

a portable device holder comprising;

a holder body defining a cavity configured to receive a portable media player; and

a first coupler to provide electrical connection with the portable media player;

a portable device receiving unit comprising;

a receptacle defining an interior space configured to receive the portable device holder; and

a second coupler to provide electrical connection between the first coupler of the received portable device holder and a vehicle media system, the second coupler being disposed on an interior bottom surface defined by the interior space of the receptacle; and

an alignment system configured to orient the received portable device holder with respect to the receptacle.

20. The portable device interfacing system of claim 19, wherein the alignment system comprises at least two guides defined by the holder body and arranged asymmetrically with respect to a mid-plane bisecting the holder body;

wherein the asymmetrically arranged guides are configured to orient the first coupler of the received portable device holder with the second coupler.

21. The portable device interfacing system of claim 20, wherein the guides comprise ribs.

22. The portable device interfacing system of claim 19, wherein the alignment system comprises at least two guides defined by the interior space and arranged asymmetrically with respect to a mid-plane bisecting the receptacle;

wherein the asymmetrically arranged guides are configured to orient the first coupler of the received portable device holder with the second coupler.

23. The portable device interfacing system of claim 22, wherein the guides comprise ribs.

24. The portable device interfacing system of claim 22, wherein the interior bottom surface defines the guides.

25. The portable device interfacing system of claim 19, wherein the alignment system comprises a bottom portion of the interior space;

wherein the bottom portion defines an asymmetric shape to receive a mating portion of the portable device holder; and

wherein the asymmetric shape is designed to orient the first coupler of the portable device holder relative to the second coupler.

26. A portable device receiving unit comprising:

a frame configured to receive a portable media player;

connection elements to provide electrical connection between the portable media player and a vehicle media system; and

at least two guides disposed asymmetrically with respect to a mid-plane bisecting the frame to align the received portable media player with the connection elements.

27. A portable device receiving unit comprising:

a receptacle defining an interior space configured to receive a portable media player holder; and

a coupler to provide electrical connection between the received portable media player holder and a vehicle media system;

wherein the interior space defines at least two alignment features asymmetrically positioned with respect to a mid-plane bisecting the receptacle and configured to orient the received portable device holder with respect to the receptacle.

28. A portable media player holder comprising:

a holder body defining a cavity configured to receive a portable media player;

a first coupler disposed in the cavity for electrical connection with the portable media player;

a converter circuit housed in the holder body and in electrical connection with the first coupler; and

a second coupler in electrical connection with the converter circuit and disposed on the holder body for electrical connection with a vehicle media system;

wherein the converter circuit provides communication between the received portable media player and the connected vehicle media system.

29. The portable media player holder of claim 28, wherein the holder body comprises a cup defining an electronics chamber in a bottom portion of the cup, the converter circuit being housed in the electronics chamber.

30. The portable media player holder of claim 28, wherein the holder body comprises first and second body portions cooperatively associated to house the received portable media player.

31. The portable media player holder of claim 30, wherein the first and second body portions are pivotally attached to each other.

32. The portable media player holder of claim 28, wherein the cavity of the holder body defines ribs to support the received portable media player.

33. The portable media player holder of claim 28, wherein the holder body defines a user access opening for a user to access to a user interface of the portable media player.

34. A portable device receiving unit comprising:

a frame configured to receive a portable media player;

connection elements to provide electrical connection between the portable media player and a vehicle media system; and

a door operable to move between an open position and a closed position, the open position for allowing ingress and egress of the portable media player to and from the frame, and the closed position for preventing the portable media player from exiting the frame.

35. The portable device receiving unit of claim 34, wherein the door is pivotally attached to the frame.

36. The portable device receiving unit of claim 34, wherein the door is slidably attached to the frame.

37. The portable device receiving unit of claim 34, wherein the door is spring biased to the closed position.

38. The portable device receiving unit of claim 34, wherein the frame comprises a receptacle defining an interior space configured to receive the portable media player.

39. The portable device receiving unit of claim 34, wherein the frame is configured to receive a portable media player holder housing the portable media player.