RECONFIGURABLE DASHBOARD ASSEMBLY FOR MILITARY VEHICLES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dashboard assembly for a tactical vehicle, the dashboard assembly comprising:
- a back panel attached to the tactical vehicle, wherein the back plane includes;
a wiring harness that provides electrical communication between the dashboard assembly and the vehicle;
a data bus that provides data communication between the dashboard assembly and the vehicle; and
two or more module reception portions, wherein the module reception portions are configured to;
receive a module containing one or more dashboard components,provide an electrical communication link between the one or more dashboard components and the wiring harness; and
provide a data communication link between the one or more dashboard components and the data bus;
a first module removably attached to the back plane, wherein the first module contains at least one component providing an indication of a functionality of the tactical vehicle and at least one component that receives input to control a functionality of the tactical vehicle; and
a second module removably attached to the back plane, wherein the second module contains at least one component useable in connection with a mission performed by the tactical vehicle.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A modular dashboard assembly for a vehicle, such as a tactical vehicle, is described. In some cases, the dashboard assembly includes a smart back plane and removably attachable front modules. The back plane may facilitate communications between components within the front modules and systems with the vehicle, or between components.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A dashboard assembly for a tactical vehicle, the dashboard assembly comprising:
-
a back panel attached to the tactical vehicle, wherein the back plane includes; a wiring harness that provides electrical communication between the dashboard assembly and the vehicle; a data bus that provides data communication between the dashboard assembly and the vehicle; and two or more module reception portions, wherein the module reception portions are configured to; receive a module containing one or more dashboard components, provide an electrical communication link between the one or more dashboard components and the wiring harness; and provide a data communication link between the one or more dashboard components and the data bus; a first module removably attached to the back plane, wherein the first module contains at least one component providing an indication of a functionality of the tactical vehicle and at least one component that receives input to control a functionality of the tactical vehicle; and a second module removably attached to the back plane, wherein the second module contains at least one component useable in connection with a mission performed by the tactical vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A dashboard assembly for use in a tactical vehicle, the dashboard assembly comprising:
-
a back plane having an integral control system, wherein the back plane communicates with a control network within the vehicle; and a plurality of front modules removably attached to the back plane, wherein at least one of the front modules includes two or more dashboard components associated with components within the control network within the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A modular dashboard assembly for use in a vehicle used in connection with an intended mission, the dashboard assembly comprising:
-
a back portion that communicates with a control network within the vehicle and is fixedly attached to the vehicle; a first module removably attached to the back portion, wherein the first module includes two or more dashboard components associated with components within the control network within the vehicle; a second module removably attached to the back portion, wherein the second module includes at least one dashboard component associated with a functionality specific related to the intended mission of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A dashboard assembly for use in a tactical vehicle configured for use in an identified type of mission, and the tactical vehicle carries at least one mission-specific component related to the identified type of mission, the dashboard assembly comprising:
-
a back plane, wherein the back panel with an integral control system that communicates with a control network within the vehicle; and a plurality of front modules removably attached to the back plane, wherein at least one of the front modules includes two or more dashboard components associated with components within the control network within the vehicle, wherein the dashboard components are configured to communicate with the mission-specific component of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (21)
-
- 22. The dashboard assembly of claim 20, further comprising a third front module that has functionality different that the first front module and wherein the third front module is interchangeable on the back panel with the first front module.
-
22-1. A method of manufacturing a dashboard assembly for a tactical vehicle, the method comprising:
-
fixedly attaching a smart back plane to a structural component of a vehicle; removably attaching a first module to the smart back plane, wherein the first module includes one or more dashboard components associated with a controller network within the vehicle; and removably attaching a second module to the smart back plane, wherein the second module includes one or more dashboard components associated with a type of the vehicle.
-
-
23-2. The method of claim 22, further comprising:
-
removing the second module from the smart back plane; and removably attaching a third module to the smart back plane in a location from which the second module was removed.
-
Specification