Synchronized Display System

• US 20150138043A1
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
• Inventors: Rawlinson, Peter Dore, Obers, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 9,442,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/2.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay

Abstract

A system and method of use is provided that monitors the position of a vehicle seat and automatically adjusts the location of a vehicle display based on the current seat position, thereby helping to alleviate the eye strain, fatigue, neck and back pain that often accompany the improper use of a monitor for an extended period of time.

Claims

1. A display positioning system, comprising:

a display mounted within and to a vehicle, wherein said display is adjustable within a range of display positions;

a display positioning system coupled to said display;

a vehicle seat adjustable within a range of seat positions;

a vehicle seat position sensor, wherein said vehicle seat position sensor outputs seat position data corresponding to a current seat position, wherein said current seat position is within said range of seat positions; and

a control system coupled to said display positioning system and to said vehicle seat position sensor, wherein said control system monitors said seat position data and automatically adjusts said display with said display positioning system to a current display position within said range of display positions in response to said current seat position.

2. The display positioning system of claim 1, further comprising a memory coupled to said control system, wherein stored within said memory is a look-up table providing a plurality of compatible display positions that correspond to said range of seat positions, wherein said control system utilizes said look-up table to select said current display position from said plurality of compatible display positions based on said current seat position.

3. The display positioning system of claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of compatible display positions maintains a display viewing distance within a preset range.

4. The display positioning system of claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of compatible display positions maintains a display viewing height within a preset range.

5. The display positioning system of claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of compatible display positions maintains a display viewing angle within a preset range.

6. The display positioning system of claim 2, further comprising a user interface coupled to said control system, wherein said control system is configured to accept a set of display settings input via said user interface, and wherein said control system adjusts said plurality of compatible display positions to maintain said set of display settings throughout said range of available seat positions.

7. The display positioning system of claim 6, wherein said set of display settings include at least one of a display viewing distance, a display viewing height, and a display viewing angle.

8. The display positioning system of claim 1, said display positioning system further comprising an electro-mechanical positioning system.

9. The display positioning system of claim 1, said display positioning system further comprising a hydraulic positioning system.

10. The display positioning system of claim 1, further comprising a linkage assembly controllable by said display positioning system, wherein said display is mounted to said vehicle with said linkage assembly, and wherein said display positioning system and said control system utilizes said linkage assembly to adjust said display to said current display position.

11. The display positioning system of claim 10, said linkage assembly further comprising a track mounted to said vehicle, wherein a link of said linkage assembly slides within said track, wherein a position of said link within said track is controlled by said display positioning system, and wherein said display positioning system and said control system utilizes said link of said linkage assembly to adjust said display to said current display position.

12. The display positioning system of claim 10, said linkage assembly further comprising a telescoping link, wherein a link length corresponding to said telescoping link is controlled by said display positioning system, and wherein said display positioning system and said control system utilizes said telescoping link of said linkage assembly to adjust said display to said current display position.

13. The display positioning system of claim 10, said linkage assembly further comprising a first link and a second link, wherein a first end portion of said first link is pivotably coupled to said display, wherein a first end portion of said second link is pivotably coupled to a second end portion of said first link, and wherein a second end portion of said second link is pivotably coupled to said vehicle, and wherein said display positioning system and said control system utilizes said linkage assembly to adjust said display to said current display position.

14. The display positioning system of claim 13, said linkage assembly further comprising a track mounted to said vehicle, wherein said second end portion of said second link slides within said track, and wherein a position of said second end portion of said second link within said track is controlled by said display positioning system.

15. A method of positioning a display within a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a current seat position of a vehicle seat, wherein said current seat position is within a range of available seat positions;

providing said current seat position of said vehicle seat to a control system;

selecting a display position from a plurality of compatible display positions based on said current seat position, wherein said plurality of compatible display positions correspond to said range of available seat positions, and wherein said step of selecting said display position is performed automatically by said control system; and

moving said display to said display position selected by said control system, wherein said step of moving said display to said display position is performed automatically by a display positioning system controlled by said control system.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of determining when a video source coupled to said display is activated and moving said display from a storage position to said display position when said video source is activated, wherein said step of moving said display from said storage position to said display position is performed automatically by said display positioning system controlled by said control system.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of determining when a video source coupled to said display is deactivated and moving said display from said display position to a storage position when said video source is deactivated, wherein said step of moving said display from said display position to said storage position is performed automatically by said display positioning system controlled by said control system.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of determining when said display is activated and moving said display from a storage position to said display position when said display is activated, wherein said step of moving said display from said storage position to said display position is performed automatically by said display positioning system controlled by said control system.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of determining when said display is deactivated and moving said display from said display position to a storage position when said display is deactivated, wherein said step of moving said display from said display position to said storage position is performed automatically by said display positioning system controlled by said control system.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of determining when said vehicle is turned off and moving said display from said display position to a storage position when said vehicle is turned off, wherein said step of moving said display from said display position to said storage position is performed automatically by said display positioning system controlled by said control system.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of determining when a drive system of said vehicle is placed into park and moving said display from said display position to a storage position when said drive system of said vehicle is placed into park, wherein said step of moving said display from said display position to said storage position is performed automatically by said display positioning system controlled by said control system.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of presetting said plurality of compatible display positions to maintain a display viewing distance within a preset range when said current seat position is selected from within said range of available seat positions.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of presetting said plurality of compatible display positions to maintain a display viewing height within a preset range when said current seat position is selected from within said range of available seat positions.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of presetting said plurality of compatible display positions to maintain a display viewing angle within a preset range when said current seat position is selected from within said range of available seat positions.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of accepting a set of display settings for a particular seat position, wherein said set of display settings are input by a user, and wherein said control system adjusts said plurality of compatible display positions to maintain said set of display settings throughout said range of available seat positions.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said set of display settings include at least one of a display viewing distance, a display viewing height, or a display viewing angle.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein said display positioning system is comprised of a linkage assembly coupling said display to said vehicle, and wherein said step of moving said display to said display position further comprises the step of manipulating said linkage assembly.