Audiovisual player system

• US 6,724,317 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2001
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Hibino, Masahiro, Saga, Ikuo, Kitano, Toyoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/959,961
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436, 340/903, 340/904, 340/691.1, 340/461, 348/837, 348/291, 348/776, 296/37.7, 296/24.1
• US Class Current: 340/691.1
• 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 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0089 around three axes, i.e. universally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0276 for rear passenger use
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/66 Transforming electric information into light information scanning details H04N3/00

Abstract

A visual-sound-reproducing system includes a display panel mounted on a ceiling of a cabin to reproduce a picture on a monitor screen; a moving mechanism moving the display panel toward a home-position that the monitor screen of the display panel is nearly parallel to a ceiling of a cabin of an automobile and a play-position that the monitor screen of the display panel faces rearward; and a visual-sound device providing information regarding visual and sound. The moving mechanism includes a rotational axis extending in a direction crossing a longitudinal direction of an automobile to support rotationally the display panel, a rotational means driving rotationally the display panel about the rotational axis, a guide member extending in the longitudinal direction of the automobile, and a rectilinear moving means moving reciprocally the display panel in the longitudinal direction of the automobile, the display panel being supported on the guide member to allow a slide of the display panel thereon.

Claims

1. A visual-sound-reproducing system, comprising:

display panel for reproducing a picture on a monitor screen;

a moving mechanism for moving the display panel toward a home-position that the monitor screen is nearly parallel to a ceiling of a cabin of an automobile and a play-position that the monitor screen of the display panel faces rearward;

a visual-sound device providing information regarding visual and sound; and

wherein the moving mechanism includes a guide member mounted on the ceiling of the cabin and extending the longitudinal direction of the automobile, and a rectilinear moving means for moving reciprocally the display panel along the guide member including during operation of the display panel.

2. A visual-sound-reproducing system according to claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism includes a rotational means rotating the display panel at an angle defined between the play-position and the home-position, the display panel being supported rotationally on a support axis mounted on the ceiling of the cabin and extending in a direction crossing a longitudinal direction of the automobile.

3. A visual-sound-reproducing system according to claim 2, further comprising a control mechanism controlling the rotational means to return the display panel located at the play-position to the home-position when a transmission gear of the automobile shifts to a reverse gear.

4. A visual-sound-reproducing system according to claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism includes a rotation-locking mechanism locking the display panel into the home-position, the display panel being supported rotationally on a support axis mounted on the ceiling of the cabin and extending in a direction crossing a longitudinal direction of the automobile.

5. A visual-sound-reproducing system according to claim 1,

wherein the moving mechanism includes a guide member mounted on the ceiling of the cabin and extending a longitudinal direction of the automobile; a support plate being reciprocally supported on the guide member and supporting the display panel; and

a reciprocal movement-locking mechanism controlling over a reciprocal movement of the support plate with respect to the guide member, and

wherein the reciprocal movement-locking mechanism has an engagement projection arranged at any one of the support plate and the guide member;

at least two engagement depressions arranged at the other in the longitudinal direction of the automobile; and

a biasing member biasing the engagement projection against the engagement depressions.

6. A visual-sound-reproducing system according to claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism includes a horizontal turn mechanism supports the display panel to allow an oscillation of the display panel in a lateral direction of the automobile when the display panel locates at the play-position.

7. A visual-sound-reproducing system according to claim 1, further comprising a loudspeaker performing sonic reproduction regarding the picture reproduced on the display panel and a sound device providing information regarding sound to the loudspeaker.

8. A visual-sound-reproducing system according to claim 7, wherein the loudspeaker includes a front loudspeaker located at the front of a front seat and a rear loudspeaker located near a rear seat, and further comprising a control mechanism controlling an operation of the rear loudspeaker in response to open/close of the display panel.

9. A visual-sound-reproducing system according to claim 1, further comprising an indicator arranged near to the display panel, the indicator indicating operating conditions of the display panel.

10. A visual-sound-reproducing system according to claim 9, further comprising a wireless remote controller transmitting optical signals to control an operation of the display panel, and wherein the indicator is provided with a photoreceptor receiving the optical signals from the wireless remote controller.

11. A visual-sound-reproducing system according to claim 9, further comprising a wireless headphone performing sonic reproduction regarding the picture reproduced on the display panel, and wherein the indicator is provided with a transmitter transmitting optical signals including information regarding sound to the wireless headphone.

12. A visual-sound-reproducing system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a loudspeaker for performing sonic reproduction regarding the picture reproduced on the display panel and a sound device providing information regarding sound to the loudspeaker wherein the loudspeaker including a front loudspeaker located at the front of a front seat and a rear loudspeaker located near a rear seat; and

a control mechanism for stopping an operation of the rear loudspeaker when the wireless headphone receives information regarding sound from a transmitter.

13. A display system, comprising:

a display for displaying a video signal; and

a mechanism for moving the display toward a first position substantially parallel to a ceiling of a vehicle and a second position facing rearward wherein said mechanism includes a first device for moving said display in a direction substantially parallel to said ceiling including during operation of the display.

14. The display system of claim 13, wherein said mechanism includes a second device for rotating the display between said first and second position using a support axis arranged substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of said vehicle.

15. The display system of claim 13, wherein said mechanism includes a second device for rotating said display between said second position and a third position facing frontward using a support axis arranged substantially perpendicular to the ceiling of said vehicle.

16. A method for displaying a video signal, comprising:

transmitting video signals to a display for viewing; and

providing a mechanism for moving said display toward a first position substantially parallel to a ceiling of a vehicle and a second position facing rearward wherein said mechanism includes a first device for moving said display in a direction substantially parallel to said ceiling while in said first position or said second position including during operation of the display.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said providing includes providing said mechanism including a second device for rotating the display between said first and second position using a support axis arranged substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of said vehicle.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said providing includes providing said mechanism including a second device for rotating said display between said second position facing rearward and, a third position facing frontward using a support axis arranged substantially perpendicular to the ceiling of said vehicle.