Headrest mounted entertainment system

• US 7,812,784 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Chung Lung Chang
• Inventors: Chang, Chung Lung
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu; Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Gene W
• Application Number:
  US11/475,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20070097210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 725/74, 725/75, 725/77, 345/1.1, 348/837
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a mobile video system is provided that includes a first entertainment system mountable in a first headrest of a vehicle. The first entertainment system includes a first input having a structure and a first output having a structure. The mobile video system also includes a second entertainment system mountable in a second headrest of a vehicle. The second entertainment system includes a second input and a second output. The second input has a structure the same as the structure of the first input and the second output has a structure the same as the structure of the first output. The mobile video system also includes an adapter configured to couple the first input with the second output and the second input with the first output.

Claims

1. An automotive media system comprising:

a first headrest-mountable entertainment assembly, comprising a first video source and a first display configured to be mounted in an automotive headrest comprising a first connector, the first connector comprising a first signal input, a first signal output and a first power input;

a second headrest-mountable entertainment assembly, comprising second video source and a second display configured to be mounted in an automotive headrest comprising a second connector, the second connector comprising a second signal input, a second signal output and a second power input; and

a switchless adapter comprising a single integral unit;

a third connector configured to couple with either the first or second connector;

a fourth connector configured to couple with either the first or second connector;

a first communication line coupled with the third and fourth connectors such that the first output is able to directly electrically communicate with the second input or the second output is able to communicate with the first input; and

a second communication line coupled with the third and fourth connectors such that the first output is able to directly electrically communicate with the second input or the second output is able to communicate with the first input; and

a first electrical line coupled with the third and fourth connectors, the first electrical line configured to be coupled with a power source;

wherein the first, second, third and fourth connectors each comprise a plurality of interfaces, and wherein the plurality of interfaces of the first connector and the second connector each comprise the same one of a plurality of pins and a plurality of sheaths, and the plurality of interfaces of the third connector and the fourth connector each comprise the other of a plurality of pins and a plurality of sheaths;

wherein the first connector has a first configuration and the second connector has a second configuration that is the same as the first configuration, and the third connector has a third configuration and the fourth connector has a fourth configuration that is the same as the third configuration, each of the third and fourth configurations being able to cooperate with either of the first and second configurations to form a connection;

wherein the third configuration and the fourth configuration each comprise the same arrangement of at least a first interface at a first location, a second interface at a second location, and a third interface at a third location; and

wherein the first communication line directly connects the first interface of the third connector to the second interface of the fourth connector, the second communication line directly connects the second interface of the third connector to the first interface of the fourth connector, and the first electrical line connects the third interface of the third connector to the third interface of the fourth connector such that said third connector can be connected to the first connector and said fourth connector can be connected to said second connector or said third connector can be connected to said second connector and said fourth connector can be connected to said first connector without altering the operation of the system.

2. The media system of claim 1, wherein the first communication line is configured to allow communication between the first output and the second input when the second communication line allows communication between the second output and the first input.

3. The media system of claim 1, wherein the adapter further comprises an electrical line coupled with the third and fourth connectors, the electrical line configured to provide a common ground between the first and second entertainment systems.

4. The media system of claim 1, wherein the adapter further comprises a second electrical line coupled with the third and fourth connectors, the second electrical line configured to be coupled with a ground.

5. The media system of claim 4, wherein the adapter further comprises a third electrical line coupled with the third and fourth connectors, the third electrical line configured to provide electrical communication between the first and second entertainment systems.

6. The media system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pins comprises at least five pins, and the plurality of sheaths comprises at least five sheaths.

7. The media system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of pins comprises at least seven pins, and the plurality of sheaths comprises at least seven sheaths.

8. An automotive media system comprising:

a first headrest, comprising a first pair of mounting posts,

a first entertainment assembly mounted within said first headrest, said first assembly comprising a first video source, a first video display, a first audio transmitter, and a first connector, the first connector comprising a first signal input, and a first signal output configured as a single integrated unit;

a second headrest comprising a second pair of mounting posts;

a second entertainment assembly mounted within said second headrest, said second entertainment assembly comprising a second video source, a second video display, a second audio transmitter, and a second connector, the second connector comprising a second signal input, and a second signal output configured as a single integrated unit; and

a switchless adapter comprising a single integral unit;

a third connector configured to couple with either the first or second connector;

a fourth connector configured to couple with either the first or second connector;

a first communication line coupled with the third and fourth connectors such that the first output is able to communicate with the second input or the second output is able to communicate with the first input; and

a second communication line coupled with the third and fourth connectors such that the first output is able to communicate with the second input or the second output is able to communicate with the first input; and

wherein the first connector and the second connector both individually define the same one of a plurality of pins and a plurality of sheaths, and the third connector and the fourth connector both individually define the other of a plurality of pins and a plurality of sheaths;

wherein said third connector can be connected to the first connector and said fourth connector can be connected to said second connector or said third connector can be connected to said second connector and said fourth connector can be connected to said first connector without altering the operation of the system; and

wherein said first headrest-mountable entertainment assembly and said second headrest-mountable entertainment assembly are physically placed in electrical communication solely by said first connector, said second connector, and said adaptor extending through only one mounting post of the first pair mounting posts of the first headrest and only one mounting post of the second pair of mounting posts of the second headrest.

9. The media system of claim 8, wherein the adaptor further comprises a power line coupled with the third and fourth connectors such that a power source is able to communicate with the first and second connectors when the power source is connected to the power line.

10. The media system of claim 9, wherein the adapter further comprises a ground line configured to couple a ground with the first and second connectors.

11. The media system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of pins comprises at least five pins, and the plurality of sheaths comprises at least five sheaths.

12. The media system of claim 8, wherein the adapter comprises three branches.