Vehicle entertainment system including monitor for rear view enhancement
First Claim
1. An automobile entertainment system, comprising:
- a video system mounted within a ceiling of an automobile, the video system being moveable between a use position and a storage position, the video system includes a rear facing surface from which a video monitor displays images for viewing by passengers of the automobile, the video system also includes a front facing surface having a forward facing video monitor wherein the forward facing video monitor is in alignment with a rearview mirror of the automobile for viewing by a driver when the video system is in its use position;
a video camera for viewing that which would be seen out a rear window of the automobile, the video camera being linked to the forward facing video monitor for displaying an image of an environment in a rear of the automobile a driver would see as a driver looks through the rearview mirror;
means for linking activation of the video camera and the forward facing video monitor to rotation of the video system between its use position and its storage position; and
a cradle substantially recessed within the ceiling of the automobile and which is adapted to receive a base portion of the video system therein for detachably mounting the video system to the cradle, wherein the base portion of the video system includes a first hinge that facilitates rotation of the video system about an axis substantially parallel to the ceiling of the automobile for movement from an upward storage position to a downward usage position and a second hinge that permits for rotation of the video system about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the first hinge to allow rotation of the video system in a manner that facilitates viewing of the video system from opposite sides of the automobile.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automobile includes a video system mounted within a ceiling of the automobile. The video system is moveable between a use position and a storage position. The video system includes a rear facing surface from which a video monitor displays images for viewing by passengers of the automobile. The video system also includes a front facing surface having a forward facing video monitor wherein the forward facing video monitor is in alignment with a rearview mirror for viewing by the driver when the video system is in its use position. A video camera is provided for viewing that which would be seen out a rear window of the automobile. The video camera is linked to the forward facing video monitor for displaying an image of the environment in the rear of the automobile a driver would see as the driver looks through a rearview mirror. A mechanism is further provided for linking activation of the video camera and the forward facing video monitor to rotation of the video system between its use position and its storage position.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An automobile entertainment system, comprising:
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a video system mounted within a ceiling of an automobile, the video system being moveable between a use position and a storage position, the video system includes a rear facing surface from which a video monitor displays images for viewing by passengers of the automobile, the video system also includes a front facing surface having a forward facing video monitor wherein the forward facing video monitor is in alignment with a rearview mirror of the automobile for viewing by a driver when the video system is in its use position; a video camera for viewing that which would be seen out a rear window of the automobile, the video camera being linked to the forward facing video monitor for displaying an image of an environment in a rear of the automobile a driver would see as a driver looks through the rearview mirror; means for linking activation of the video camera and the forward facing video monitor to rotation of the video system between its use position and its storage position; and a cradle substantially recessed within the ceiling of the automobile and which is adapted to receive a base portion of the video system therein for detachably mounting the video system to the cradle, wherein the base portion of the video system includes a first hinge that facilitates rotation of the video system about an axis substantially parallel to the ceiling of the automobile for movement from an upward storage position to a downward usage position and a second hinge that permits for rotation of the video system about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the first hinge to allow rotation of the video system in a manner that facilitates viewing of the video system from opposite sides of the automobile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An automobile entertainment system, comprising:
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a video system mounted within a ceiling of an automobile, the video system including a video monitor for displaying an image; and a cradle substantially recessed within the ceiling of the automobile and which is adapted to receive a base portion of the video system therein for detachably mounting the video system to the cradle, wherein the base portion of the video system includes a first hinge that facilitates rotation of the video system about an axis substantially parallel to the ceiling of the automobile for movement from an upward storage position to a downward usage position and a second hinge that permits for rotation of the video system about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the first hinge to allow rotation of the video system in a manner that facilitates viewing of the video system from opposite sides of the automobile. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification