MODULAR UPGRADEABLE VEHICLE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM

• US 20160234954A1
• Filed: 02/11/2016
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: BURNS, THOMAS RAY, ANDERSEN, CLAUS, TROEMEL, HANS A. Jr., DAVIS, GERALD CLINTON, BURK, MICHAEL T.
• Application Number:
  US15/041,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20160234954A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/026 Multiple connections subassemblies
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/10 Plug-in assemblages of components , e.g. IC sockets

Abstract

An infotainment arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a permanent portion permanently installed in the vehicle, The permanent portion includes a plurality of non-upgradeable electronic components. A non-permanent upgradeable portion is in electronic communication with the permanent portion. A non-permanent upgradeable portion is non-permanently installed in the vehicle and is replaceable in the vehicle.

Claims

1. An infotainment arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a permanent portion configured to he permanently installed in the vehicle, the permanent portion including a plurality of non-upgradeable electronic components; and

a non-permanent upgradeable portion in electronic communication with the permanent portion, the non-permanent upgradeable portion being configured to be non-permanently installed in the vehicle and to be replaceable in the vehicle.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the non-permanent upgradeable portion is connected to the permanent portion by at least one cable or connector.

3. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the non-permanent upgradeable portion is configured to be communicatively coupled to a personal electronic device.

4. The arrangement of claim 3 wherein the non-permanent upgradeable portion is configured to use a processor in the personal electronic device to perform a majority of processing required by the arrangement.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the non-permanent upgradeable portion is configured to be removed from the vehicle by pulling the non-permanent upgradeable portion out of the vehicle in a first single, linear motion in a first direction, and the non-permanent upgradeable portion is configured to be installed in the vehicle by pushing the non-permanent upgradeable portion into a recess of the vehicle in a second single, linear motion in a second direction opposite to the first direction until the non-permanent upgradeable portion snaps into place.

6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the permanent portion includes at least one camera, at least one microphone, an instrument cluster, a user interface, at least one antenna, and at least one loudspeaker.

7. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the non-permanent upgradeable portion includes a microprocessor and at least one communication port.

8. A method of maintaining an infotainment system in a motor vehicle, comprising:

permanently installing a permanent portion of the infotainment system in the vehicle, the permanent portion including a plurality of non-upgradeable electronic components;

non-permanently installing a non-permanent upgradeable portion of the infotainment system in the vehicle;

performing electronic communication between the permanent portion and the non-permanent upgradeable portion;

removing the non-permanent upgradeable portion from the vehicle; and

re-installing an upgraded non-permanent portion in the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the upgraded non-permanent portion is installed in the vehicle at a same place in a dashboard of the vehicle as the replaced non-permanent portion was previously installed.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising connecting the non-permanent upgradeable portion to the permanent portion by at least one cable or connector.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising communicatively coupling the non-permanent upgradeable portion to a personal electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising using a processor in the personal electronic device to perform a majority of processing required by the system.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

removing the non-permanent upgradeable portion from the vehicle by pulling the nonpermanent upgradeable portion out of the vehicle in a first single, linear motion in a first direction; and

installing the upgraded non-permanent portion in the vehicle by pushing the upgraded non-permanent portion into a recess of the vehicle in a second single, linear motion in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

14. A motor vehicle, comprising an infotainment arrangement including:

a permanent portion permanently installed in the vehicle, the permanent portion having a plurality of non-upgradeable electronic components; and

a nonpermanent upgradeable portion electronically connected to the permanent portion, the non-permanent upgradeable portion being non-permanently installed in the vehicle and being replaceable in the vehicle, the nonpermanent upgradeable portion being configured to be;

removed from the vehicle by pulling the non-permanent upgradeable portion out of the vehicle in a first single, linear motion in a first direction; and

installed in the vehicle by pushing the nonpermanent upgradeable portion into a recess of the vehicle in a second single, linear motion in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

15. The arrangement of claim 14 wherein the nonpermanent upgradeable portion is connected to the permanent portion by at least one cable or connector.

16. The arrangement of claim 14 wherein the non-permanent upgradeable portion is configured to be communicatively coupled to a personal electronic device.

17. The arrangement of claim 16 wherein the nonpermanent upgradeable portion is configured to use a processor in the personal electronic device to perform a majority of processing required by the arrangement.

18. The arrangement of claim 14 wherein the permanent portion is contained within a first housing, and the non-permanent upgradeable portion is contained within a second housing.

19. The arrangement of claim 14 wherein the permanent portion includes at least one camera, at least one microphone, an instrument cluster, a user interface, at least one antenna, and at least one loudspeaker.

20. The arrangement of claim 14 wherein the non-permanent upgradeable portion includes a microprocessor and at least one communication port.