Seatback Entertainment Display System

• US 20090316057A1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S..R.L.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Campbell, Douglas C., Stokes, Theodore J., Thimm, David P., Lee, Joon K., Prosniewski, Joseph F., Michalak, Eric B., Greene, Alan G., Price, James B., Schultz, Steven G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,625,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/837
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• 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: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests

Abstract

A seatback entertainment display system for a vehicle is provided having a support member extending from a seatback frame, and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the support member, and a display device coupled to the adjustment mechanism. The support member may be a cantilever type beam or frame extending upwardly from the seatback at a position behind and adjacent to a headrest. The support member may also be a pair of rods arranged to fixedly receive the display device and movably receive the headrest. The adjustment device may include any one or more of a forward-rearward tilting mechanism, a side to side pivoting mechanism and an up-down translation mechanism. The seatback entertainment display system is adaptable to optimize a viewing angle for a rear seat occupant of the vehicle, throughout a normal adjustment range of the seat.

Claims

1. A seatback entertainment display system for a vehicle seat having a seatback frame for supporting a seatback and a headrest, comprising:

a support member coupled to the seatback frame and extending substantially adjacent to and behind the headrest;

an adjustment device coupled to the support member; and

a display device coupled to the adjustment device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the support member comprises a cantilever type frame extending upwardly from the top portion of the seatback.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the adjustment device comprises a forward-rearward tilting feature.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the adjustment device comprises a side-to-side pivoting feature.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the adjustment device comprises an up-down translation feature.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the adjustment device comprises a side-to-side translation feature.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the adjustment device and the support member are adaptable to optimize a viewing angle of the display device for an occupant of a rear seat of the vehicle, throughout an adjustment range of the seatback and headrest.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the display device includes at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of a media device, a speaker, a connectivity port, a headphone jack, and an auxiliary input.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the display device includes at least one lighting device selected from the group consisting of a reading lamp, a task lamp, a decorative accent lamp, and an ambient lighting lamp.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the display device includes a wireless transmitter and receiver.

11. A seatback entertainment system for use with a vehicle seat having a seatback and a headrest, comprising:

a frame for the seatback of the vehicle seat, the frame including a support member extending above the seatback and behind the headrest;

an adjustment device having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion coupled to the support member; and

a display device coupled to the second portion of the adjustment device.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the first portion and the second portion of the adjustment device are interconnected by a viscous coupler.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the first portion and the second portion of the adjustment device are interconnected by a friction-generating device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the friction-generating device comprises a torque hinge that is operable to permit pivotal adjustment of the display device about a substantially horizontal axis.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the torque hinge is operable to permit pivotal adjustment of the display device about a substantially vertical axis.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the first portion of the adjustment device is slidably coupled to the support member.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the second portion of the adjustment device is slidably coupled to the display device.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the support member comprises a restorable break-free mechanism.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the display device includes an ambient lighting source integrated along a side of the display device.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein the display device includes a screen portion and a body portion, and the screen portion is movably coupled to the body portion.

21. The system of claim 11 wherein the adjustment device provides a connection point to facilitate removal and replacement of the display device.

22. A seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a seat bottom frame coupled to a seatback frame,

a headrest coupled adjacent to a top portion of the seatback frame;

a support member extending from the seatback frame, and adjacent to the headrest;

an adjustment device coupled to the support member; and

a display device coupled to the adjustment device.

23. The seat for a vehicle of claim 22 wherein the support member comprises a cantilever type frame having a portion extending upwardly beyond the top portion of the seatback frame.

24. The seat for a vehicle of claim 22 wherein the adjustment device comprises at least one hinge to permit movement about at least one of a substantially horizontal axis and a vertical axis.

25. The seat for a vehicle of claim 22 wherein the support member further comprises a track configured to slidably receive a projection on the adjustment device.

26. The seat for a vehicle of claim 22 wherein the display device comprises a track configured to slidably receive a tang extending from the adjustment device.

27. The seat for a vehicle of claim 22 wherein the display device includes a screen having a touch screen interface for receiving an input from a user.

28. The seat for a vehicle of claim 22 wherein the display device is removably coupled to the support member to permit removal of the display device from the seat by a user.

29. The seat for a vehicle of claim 22 wherein the display device further comprises at least one of a component selected from the group consisting of a media device, a speaker, a connectivity port, a headphone jack, an auxiliary input, a lighting device, a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver.

30. The seat for a vehicle of claim 29 wherein the media device comprises a DVD player.

31. The seat for a vehicle of claim 22 further comprising a camera arranged to provide an image on the display device.

32. The seat for a vehicle of claim 22 wherein the display device comprises an interchangeable trim piece.

33. The seat for a vehicle of claim 22 wherein the display device further comprises control buttons.

34. The seat for a vehicle of claim 22 wherein the display device further comprises a movable display screen and a drive device arranged behind the display screen so that the drive device is hidden when the display screen is in a stowed position.

35. The seat for a vehicle of claim 22 wherein the display device further comprises a compartment for an accessory device;

the compartment arranged behind the display screen so that the compartment is hidden when the display screen is in a stowed position.

36. The seat for a vehicle of claim 22 wherein the adjustment device permits movement of the display device approximately 180 degrees to accommodate movement of the seat to a stowed position.

37. A seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a seat bottom frame coupled to a seatback frame;

at least one support member extending from the seatback frame;

a display device having a body portion coupled to the support member in a generally fixed position, and a screen portion pivotally coupled to the body portion along a top edge of the screen portion for movement to any one of a plurality of viewing positions; and

a headrest movably coupled to one of the body portion and the support member for positioning of the headrest within a predetermined adjustment range relative to the seatback and the body portion of the display device.

38. A seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a seat bottom frame coupled to a seatback frame, the seatback frame having a pair of apertures;

a display device having a body portion, the body portion having a first pair of rod segments received and secured within the apertures of the seatback frame, and a second pair of rod segments configured to receive a headrest;

wherein the headrest is adjustable relative to the display device and the seatback frame along at least a portion of the second pair of rod segments.

39. The seat of claim 38 wherein the headrest is movably positioned forward of, and adjacent to, the body portion of the display device.

40. The seat of claim 38 further comprising a display screen having a top edge pivotally connected to the body portion of the display device.