Automatically deployable and stowable display monitor

• US 6,529,123 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VOXX Electronics Corporation (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rosen Products LLC
• Inventors: Paul, Charles A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US09/705,597
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/428, 340/815.4, 340/990, 340/995, 340/459, 340/10.6, 340/525, 340/461, 340/462, 340/815.58, 348/837, 349/58, 284/919, 284/920, 284/921, 284/924, 180/167
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• 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 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization

Abstract

A display monitor system for mounting in an automobile, the automobile having an interior and a vehicle status indicator with a changeable state, is provided. The display monitor system comprises a monitor, a motor drivingly coupled to the monitor, and a controller operatively connected to the motor for controlling the motor. The monitor has a screen with a viewing surface, and is configured to be movably coupled to the interior of the automobile such that it is movable between a deployed position, in which the viewing surface is visible to the viewer, and a stowed position. The motor is drivingly coupled to the monitor to move the monitor between the stowed position and the deployed position. The controller is adapted to detect a change in the state of the vehicle status indicator and to signal the motor to move the monitor to a predetermined position corresponding to the detected change in the state.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having an interior and a vehicle status indicator with a changeable state, a display monitor system comprising:

a monitor having a viewing surface, wherein the monitor is movable between a deployed position and a stowed position;

a motor drivingly coupled to the monitor to move the monitor between the stowed position and the deployed position; and

a controller operatively connected to the motor for controlling the motor, wherein the controller is adapted to detect a change in the state of the vehicle status indicator and to signal the motor to move the monitor to a predetermined position corresponding to the detected change in the state,

wherein the vehicle status indicator indicates a status of a door of the vehicle, and wherein the status of the door includes an open door status and a closed door status.

2. The display monitor system of claim 1, wherein the controller signals the motor to move the monitor to the stowed position when a change in the door status from closed door status to open door status is detected.

3. The display monitor system of claim 1, further comprising an encoder in communication with the controller for encoding an encoded position of the monitor and communicating the encoded position to the controller.

4. The display monitor system of claim 3, the controller including memory, wherein, upon detecting a first predetermined change in state of the vehicle status indicator, the controller stores the encoded position of the monitor in memory and signals the motor to move the monitor to the stowed position, and wherein, upon detecting a second change in the state of the vehicle status indicator, the controller signals the motor to move the monitor back to the encoded position.

5. The display monitor system of claim 4, wherein the vehicle status indicator-active state to the indicator-inactive state.

6. The display monitor system of claim 4, wherein the memory is nonvolatile.

7. The display monitor system of claim 3, wherein the encoder is an optical encoder.

8. The display monitor system of claim 1, wherein the monitor is pivotally coupled to the interior.

9. The display monitor system of claim 1, wherein the interior includes a ceiling, the monitor being mounted to the ceiling.

10. The display monitor system of claim 1, further comprising a base to couple the monitor to the interior.

11. The display monitor system of claim 10, wherein the base includes a recess, and wherein the monitor is positioned at least partially within the recess when in the stowed position.

12. The display monitor system of claim 1, wherein the deployed position is selectable from a range of possible deployed positions.

13. The display monitor system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes an override mechanism adapted to allow an occupant of the vehicle to selectively bypass the motor from moving the monitor when a change in the vehicle status indicator state is detected.

14. A vehicle comprising:

a ceiling;

an occupant-controllable component with a changeable status;

a monitor pivotally coupled to the ceiling, the monitor being pivotal between a first position and a second position;

a motor coupled to the monitor configured to drive movement of the monitor between the first position and the second position;

a door;

a vehicle status indicator with a changeable state for indicating the status of the occupant-controllable component, the vehicle status indicator including an open door state indicating an open status of the vehicle door and a closed door state indicating a closed status of the vehicle door, the change in the state corresponding to a change from the closed door state to the open door state; and

a controller for controlling the motor, wherein the controller is adapted to monitor the status of the occupant-controllable component, to detect a change in the state of the vehicle status indicator, and upon detecting a change in the status of the occupant-controllable component, to direct the motor to move the monitor to a position that facilitates use of the vehicle by the occupant.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the controller, upon detecting a change in status of the occupant-controllable component from a first status to a second status, stores the position of the monitor at the time the change in status was detected as an initial position.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the controller directs the motor to move the monitor to the position that facilitates use of the vehicle by the occupant after storing the initial position of the monitor.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the controller is adapted, upon detecting a change in status from the second status to the first status, to direct the motor to return the monitor to the initial position.

18. A method of facilitating use of an vehicle by an occupant of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, the vehicle including a vehicle status indicator with a changeable state, the passenger compartment including a display monitor system having a monitor that is movable between a plurality of positions, the plurality of positions including a stowed position, the method comprising:

periodically reviewing the state of the vehicle status indicator, wherein the vehicle status indicator indicates a status of a door of the vehicle, the status of the door including an open door status and a closed door status;

detecting a first predetermined change in the state of the vehicle status indicator, wherein detecting a first predetermined change in the state includes detecting a change in the state corresponding to a change from the closed door status to the open door status;

upon detecting the first predetermined change in the state of the vehicle status indicator, moving the monitor to a first predetermined position that facilitates use of the vehicle by the occupant while the vehicle is in the state indicated by the vehicle status indicator;

detecting a second predetermined change in the state of the vehicle status indicator; and

upon detecting the second predetermined change in the state of the vehicle status indicator, moving the monitor to a second predetermined position.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising encoding the position of the monitor with an encoder to form an encoded position before detecting the first predetermined change in the state.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising saving the encoded position to form a saved position after detecting the first predetermined change in the state and before moving the monitor to the first predetermined position.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein moving the monitor to the second predetermined position after detecting a second predetermined change in the state includes moving the monitor to the saved position after detecting the second predetermined change in state.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein moving the monitor to the first predetermined position to facilitate use of the vehicle by the occupant includes moving the monitor to the stowed position.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein detecting a second predetermined change in the state includes detecting a change in the state corresponding to a change from the open door status to the closed door status.