Vehicle information display and communication system having an antenna array
First Claim
1. A vehicle information system having a plurality of operative modules, said system comprising:
- a control processing unit adapted to provide an interface among said plurality of operative modules, said operative modules include a display module adapted to provide visual information to the occupants of the vehicle, a navigation module adapted for global positioning satellite reception to provide vehicle position information to said control processing unit, a telecommunications module adapted for wireless communication to provide communication between said control processing unit and a wireless telecommunications network and between said control processing unit and any one of a plurality of local wireless devices, and a local network interface module adapted to provide communication between a vehicle control bus and said control processing unit; and
an antenna array including a GPS antenna mounted in an overhead console, said overhead console adapted to extend forward over the upper edge of the vehicle windshield such that said GPS antenna maintains line-of-sight with at least one global positioning satellite transmitter at all times.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a vehicle information display and communication system having a plurality of operative modules, the system includes a control processing unit adapted to provide an interface among the plurality of operative modules. The operative modules include a display module adapted to provide visual information to the occupants of the vehicle, a navigation module adapted for global positioning satellite reception to provide vehicle position information to the control processing unit, and a telecommunications module adapted for wireless communication to provide communication between the control processing unit and a wireless telecommunications network and between the control processing unit and any one of a plurality of local wireless devices. The system further includes a local network interface module adapted to provide communication between a vehicle control bus and the control processing unit, and an antenna array including a GPS antenna mounted in an overhead console, the overhead console adapted to extend forward over the upper edge of the vehicle windshield such that GPS antenna maintains line-of-sight with at least one global positioning satellite transmitter at all times.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle information system having a plurality of operative modules, said system comprising:
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a control processing unit adapted to provide an interface among said plurality of operative modules, said operative modules include a display module adapted to provide visual information to the occupants of the vehicle, a navigation module adapted for global positioning satellite reception to provide vehicle position information to said control processing unit, a telecommunications module adapted for wireless communication to provide communication between said control processing unit and a wireless telecommunications network and between said control processing unit and any one of a plurality of local wireless devices, and a local network interface module adapted to provide communication between a vehicle control bus and said control processing unit; and an antenna array including a GPS antenna mounted in an overhead console, said overhead console adapted to extend forward over the upper edge of the vehicle windshield such that said GPS antenna maintains line-of-sight with at least one global positioning satellite transmitter at all times. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17)
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14. A vehicle information system having a plurality of operative modules, said system comprising:
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a control processing unit adapted to provide an interface among said plurality of operative modules, said operative modules include a vacuum fluorescent display module adapted to provide visual information to the occupants of the vehicle; a keypad in operative communication with said control processor unit, said keypad adapted to allow a physical interface between vehicle occupants and said control processing unit; a microphone system adapted to receive voice signals from vehicle occupants; a speaker system adapted to generate audio signals from said control processing unit; an audio conversion module having a voice recognition circuit and a voice synthesizer circuit, said voice recognition circuit adapted to receive voice commands from said microphone system, recognize particular predetermined voice commands as being one of a group of predetermined commands and to pass said recognized commands to said control processing unit, said voice synthesizing module adapted to process signals from said control processing unit and synthesize said signals into intelligible audio output signals and to pass said audio output signals to said speaker system; a navigation module adapted for global positioning satellite reception and having a navigational database to provide vehicle position information and location specific information to said control processing unit; a telecommunications module adapted for wireless communication to provide communication between said control processing unit and a wireless telecommunications network and between said control processing unit and any one of a plurality of local wireless devices; a local network interface module adapted to provide communication between a vehicle control bus and said control processing unit; and an antenna array including a GPS antenna mounted in an overhead console, said overhead console adapted to extend forward over the upper edge of the vehicle windshield such that GPS antenna maintains line-of-sight with at least one global positioning satellite transmitter at all times.
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Specification