CONFIGURABLE HARDWARE UNIT FOR CAR SYSTEMS

• US 20130154298A1
• Filed: 11/16/2012
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AutoConnect Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Ricci, Christopher P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,979,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/37.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/122 Instrument input devices with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1442 Emulation of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/145 Instrument input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1464 3D-gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1472 Multi-touch gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1476 Handwriting
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/166 Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/182 Distributing information between displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/566 Mobile devices displaying vehicle information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/5894 SIM cards
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/5899 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/5911 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/5915 Inter vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/592 Data transfer involving external databases
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/595 Data transfer involving internal databases
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/774 : on or in the centre console
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/828 : Mounting or fastening exchangeable modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1464 : 3D-gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1472 : Multi-touch gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1476 : Handwriting
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/166 : Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/182 : Distributing information between displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/566 : Mobile devices displaying vehicle information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/5894 : SIM cards
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/5899 : Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/5911 : Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/5915 : Inter vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/592 : External database involved
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/595 : Internal database involved
• 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: B60K 35/28 : characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 : Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 : Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 : Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 : Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 : Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 : for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 : for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 : of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 : for control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0007 : Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure includes a universal chassis that may be mounted in the head unit of a vehicle. The chassis may accept one or more modules that each have common dimensions. With a common form factor, the universal chassis is configurable as different modules with different functionality may be inserted into the chassis with ease.

Claims

11. A chassis that mounts into a head unit of a vehicle, comprising:

a back face;

two side faces;

a top;

a bottom;

two or more cavities formed into the chassis;

a front face, the front face comprising;

at least two rails;

at least two stiles, wherein the at least two rails and at least two stiles form an opening to access the two or more cavities in the chassis;

a first module inserted into a first cavity; and

a second module inserted into a second cavity, wherein the first and second modules perform different functions.

1. A vehicle console, comprising:

a head unit;

a chassis inserted into the head unit and mechanically attached to the head unit, the chassis comprising;

at least two rails;

at least two stiles, wherein the at least two rails and at least two stiles form at least two cavities in the chassis;

a first module inserted into a first cavity; and

a second module inserted into a second cavity.

2. The vehicle console of claim 1, wherein the first module and the second module perform different operations.

3. The vehicle console of claim 2, wherein each cavity has common dimensions.

4. The vehicle console of claim 3, wherein each module has common dimensions.

5. The vehicle console of claim 4, wherein the chassis includes a power bus.

6. The vehicle console of claim 5, wherein each cavity includes a power connector configured to mate with the first or second module and electrically connected to the power bus.

7. The vehicle console of claim 6, wherein the chassis includes an input/output (I/O) bus.

8. The vehicle console of claim 7, wherein each cavity includes an I/O connector configured to mate with the first or second module and electrically connected to the I/O bus.

9. The vehicle console of claim 8, wherein the chassis further comprises at least one connection point on a front face of the chassis.

10. The vehicle console of claim 9, further comprising a display device mounted to the connection point, covering the front face of the chassis, and in communication with the first or second module.

12. The chassis of claim 11, further comprising at least one module inserted into a third cavity that performs different functions from the first or second modules.

13. The chassis of claim 12, wherein each cavity has common dimensions, and wherein each module has common dimensions.

14. The chassis of claim 13, further comprising:

a power bus mounted to the back face of the chassis;

a power connector mounted on the back face and configured to mate with the first, second, or third modules and electrically connected to the power bus;

an input/output (I/O) bus mounted to the back face of the chassis; and

an I/O connector mounted on the back face, configured to mate with the first, second, or third modules, and electrically connected to the I/O bus.

15. The chassis of claim 14, further comprising:

at least one connection point on a front face of the chassis; and

at least two display devices mounted to the connection point, covering at least a portion of the front face of the chassis, and electrically connected to at least one module, wherein the two display devices display different information.

16. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle console comprising;

a head unit;

a chassis mounted in the head unit, the chassis comprising;

a back face;

two side faces;

a top;

a bottom;

two or more cavities formed into the chassis;

a front face, the front face comprising;

at least two rails;

at least two stiles, wherein the at least two rails and at least two stiles form an opening to access the two or more cavities in the chassis; and

two or more modules mounted in two or more cavities, wherein each module performs a different function.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, further comprising:

a power bus mounted to the back face of the chassis;

a power connector mounted on the back face and configured to mate with a module and electrically connected to the power bus;

an input/output (I/O) bus mounted to the back face of the chassis; and

an I/O connector mounted on the back face, configured to mate with a module, and electrically connected to the I/O bus.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, further comprising:

at least one connection point on a front face of the chassis; and

at least one display devices mounted to the connection point, covering at least a portion of the front face of the chassis, and electrically connected to at least one module.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein a portion of at least one module is exposed.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the portion provides at least on mechanical control to a user to provide input into a vehicle control system.

16-1. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the functions performed by the two or more modules include a radio operation, a climate control operation, a multimedia display operation, a computing system operation, and a storage operation.