Thematic vehicle interior

• US 7,221,266 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Hein, David, Cowelchuk, Glenn A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/711,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 340/460, 340/457, 340/438, 340/426.28, 340/384.1, 340/442, 340/457.1, 381/61, 381/86, 701/1
• US Class Current: 340/460
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/02 Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners B60R13/01 takes precedence ; padded linings for the vehicle interior B60R21/04; arrangements or adaptations of floor mats or carpets in vehicles B60N3/04; internal lining for trains B61D17/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control

Abstract

A thematic vehicle interior (10) is provided. The thematic vehicle interior (10) is comprised of a passenger cabin, a cosmetic trim (14) for attachment to the vehicle (12) within the passenger cabin, and a feedback system (16) for playing one or more audio programs. The audio programs are utilized in combination with the cosmetic trim (14) for creating a predetermined theme. Additionally, the audio programs are also utilized for indicating one or more predetermined vehicle conditions. The vehicle conditions include one or more of the following: an open-door condition, a low-fuel condition, a maintenance-required condition, a low-tire-pressure condition, a headlights-on condition, a key-in-the-ignition condition, an unfastened-seatbelt condition, an engine-start condition, and an engine-shut-off condition. Also, the thematic vehicle interior (10) includes a sensor (18) for detecting a vehicle condition and actuating the feedback system (16) to play the audio program.

Claims

1. A thematic vehicle interior, comprising:

a passenger cabin of the vehicle;

a feedback system for playing a plurality of audio programs for alerting a vehicle occupant of a pluraliry of vehicle conditions, said plurality of vehicle conditions including at least one of an open-door condition, a low-fuel condition, a maintenance-required condition, a low-tire-pressure condition, a headlights-on condition, a key-in-the-ignition condition, an unfastened-seatbelt condition, an engine-start condition, and an engine-shut-off condition;

a sensor for detecting said plurality of vehicle conditions and actuating said feedback system to play said plurality of audio programs;

said plurality of audio programs providing a predetermined theme for said passenger cabin; and

a cosmetic trim for attachment to the vehicle and being displayed within said passenger cabin;

said cosmetic trim having a wooden appearance and said plurality of audio programs including a wooden-instrument sound.

2. The thematic vehicle interior recited in claim 1 wherein said wooden-instrument sound is recorded from at least one of a xylophone, a tongue drum, and a woodwind instrument.

3. The thematic vehicle interior recited in claim 1 wherein said cosmetic trim is coupled to at least one of a steering wheel, a dashboard fascia, a gear shifter mechanism, a vehicle door, a vehicle seat, a center console, an overhead eyewear receptacle, an overhead transmitter receptacle, and an overhead light device.

4. The thematic vehicle interior recited in claim 1 wherein said cosmetic trim includes a metallic material and said plurality of audio programs includes a sports-related sound.

5. The thematic vehicle interior recited in claim 4 wherein said sports-related sound includes at least one of a golf-swing sound, a golf-putting sound, a whistle sound, a horn sound, a buzzer sound, a baseball-bat sound, a football-tackle sound, a cheering-crowd sound, and an organ sound.

6. The thematic vehicle interior recited in claim 1 wherein said cosmetic trim includes a leather material and said plurality of audio programs includes a sports-related sound.

7. The thematic vehicle interior recited in claim 1 wherein said feedback system comprises:

a media storage device for storing said plurality of audio programs; and

a media playback device coupled to said media storage device for playing said plurality of audio programs.

8. A thematic vehicle interior, comprising:

a passenger cabin of the vehicle;

a cosmetic trim for attachment to the vehicle and being displayed within said passenger cabin;

a feedback system for playing a plurality of audio programs for alerting a vehicle occupant of a plurality of vehicle conditions, each of said plurality of audio programs being associated with one of said plurality of vehicle conditions, said plurality of vehicle conditions including at least one of an open-door condition, a low-fuel condition, a maintenance-required condition, a low-tire-pressure condition, a headlights-on condition, a key-in-the-ignition condition, an unfastened-seatbelt condition, an engine-start condition, and an engine-shut-off condition; and

a sensor for detecting said plurality of vehicle conditions and actuating said feedback system to play said plurality of audio programs;

said plurality of audio programs and said cosmetic trim providing a predetermined theme to said passenger cabin;

said cosmetic trim having a wooden appearance and said plurality of audio programs including a wooden-instrument sound.

9. The thematic vehicle interior recited in claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of audio programs has a predetermined melody.

10. The thematic vehicle interior recited in claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of audio programs has a predetermined volume.

11. The thematic vehicle interior recited in claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of audio programs has a predetermined duration.

12. The thematic vehicle interior recited in claim 8 wherein said wooden-instrument sound is recorded from at least one of a xylophone, a tongue drum, and a woodwind instrument.

13. The thematic vehicle interior recited in claim 8 wherein said cosmetic trim is coupled to at least one of a steering wheel, an dashboard fascia, a gear shifter mechanism, a vehicle door, a vehicle seat, a center console, an overhead eyewear receptacle, an overhead transmitter receptacle, and an overhead light device.

14. A thematic vehicle interior, comprising:

a passenger cabin of the vehicle;

a cosmetic trim for attachment to the vehicle and being displayed within said passenger cabin;

a feedback system for playing a plurality of audio programs for alerting a vehicle occupant of a plurality of vehicle conditions, each of said plurality of audio programs being associated with one of said plurality of vehicle conditions, said plurality of vehicle conditions including at least one of an open-door condition, a low-fuel condition, a maintenance-required condition, a low-tire-pressure condition, a headlights-on condition, a key-in-the-ignition c ondition, an unfastened-seatbelt condition, an engine-start condition, and an engine-shut-off condition; and

a sensor for detecting said plurality of vehicle conditions and actuating said feedback system to play said plurality of audio programs;

said plurality of audio programs and said cosmetic trim providing a predetermined theme to said passenger cabin;

said cosmetic trim including a metallic material and said plurality of audio programs including a sports-related sound.

15. The thematic vehicle interior recited in claim 14 wherein said sports-related sound includes at least one of a golf-swing sound, a golf-putting sound, a whistle sound, a horn sound, a buzzer sound, a baseball-bat sound, a football-tackle sound, a cheering-crowd sound, and an organ sound.

16. The thematic vehicle interior recited in claim 14 wherein said cosmetic trim includes a leather material and said plurality of audio programs includes a sports-related sound.