Remote control dock system and method

• US 8,743,295 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2013
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Strohmaier, Jason Michael, Wecker, Eric Joshua, Ambrose, Aaron Michael, Feit, Steven, Dutter, Jason Alexander, Ikunami, Takahiro, Hirota, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette E
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCKLE JR, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US13/924,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20130278843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 348/836, 348/837, 348/838, 348/839, 348/840, 348/841, 348/842
• US Class Current: 348/836
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• 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: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7075 including discrete retainer

Abstract

A vehicle entertainment system and method to prevent a mechanical connection between certain components of an entertainment system for a vehicle can include an entertainment system housing containing a plurality of entertainment components and a remote control module. The remote control module can include a user interface on a surface of the remote control module. In addition, the remote control module can be configured to prevent secure mounting of the remote control module to the entertainment system housing when the remote control module is not the appropriate remote control module for the particular vehicle entertainment system.

Claims

1. A method to prevent a mechanical connection between certain components of an entertainment system for a vehicle comprising:

providing a housing containing a plurality of entertainment components and including a first locator structure;

providing a remote control module including a user interface on a surface of the remote control module and a second locator structure that is incompatible with the first locator structure; and

preventing secure mounting of the remote control module to the housing due to incompatibility between the first locator structure and the second locator structure such that mechanical connection of the remote control module to the housing is prevented.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein preventing secure mounting comprises:

providing the housing with a lock member;

providing the remote control module with a lock engaging member;

placing the lock engaging member proximate the lock member; and

preventing contact of the lock engaging member with the lock member when the lock engaging member is placed proximate the lock member.

3. A method to prevent a mechanical connection between certain components of an entertainment system for a vehicle comprising:

providing a housing containing a plurality of entertainment components;

providing a remote control module including a user interface on a surface of the remote control module; and

preventing secure mounting of the remote control module to the housing, wherein preventing secure mounting includes;

providing the housing with a lock member;

providing the remote control module with a lock engaging member;

placing the lock engaging member proximate the lock member; and

preventing contact of the lock engaging member with the lock member when the lock engaging member is placed proximate the lock member, wherein preventing contact includes;

providing an interference member extending from the housing;

engaging the interference member with a portion of the remote control module spaced from the lock engaging member before the lock engaging member contacts the lock member; and

maintaining the lock engaging member at a distance spaced from the lock member while the portion of the remote control module engages the interference member.

4. A method to prevent a mechanical connection between certain components of an entertainment system for a vehicle comprising:

providing a housing containing a plurality of entertainment components;

providing a remote control module including a user interface on a surface of the remote control module; and

preventing secure mounting of the remote control module to the housing, wherein preventing secure mounting includes;

providing the housing with a lock member;

providing the remote control module with a lock engaging member;

placing the lock engaging member proximate the lock member; and

preventing contact of the lock engaging member with the lock member when the lock engaging member is placed proximate the lock member, wherein preventing contact includes;

providing the remote control module with a module width and a module length;

providing the housing with a docking surface that defines a docking recess in the housing, wherein the docking recess has a length and a width substantially equal to the module length and the module width, respectively; and

providing an interference member extending from the housing and into the docking recess;

engaging the interference member with a first portion of the remote control module spaced from the lock engaging member before the lock engaging member contacts the lock member;

engaging a portion of the docking surface spaced from the interference member with a second portion of the remote control module that is spaced from the first portion by a distance that is less than one of the width and the length of the remote control module before the lock engaging member contacts the lock member; and

maintaining the lock engaging member at a distance spaced from the lock member when the remote control module engages the interference member and the portion of the docking surface.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein maintaining the lock engaging member comprises creating an interference fit between the portion of the docking surface, the interference member and the remote control module.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein engaging a portion of the docking surface comprises engaging a portion of the docking surface opposing the interference member;

and

wherein creating the interference fit comprises spacing the interference member from the portion of the docking recess opposite the interference member at a distance measured parallel to one of the width and the length of the docking recess that is less than the one of the length and the width of the docking recess.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

providing the lock member with a pin biased to extend into the docking recess; and

providing a lock recess in a surface of the remote control module and a lock detent in a surface of the lock recess; and

wherein maintaining the lock engaging member at a distance includes maintaining the lock detent spaced at a distance from the lock pin.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising providing the remote control module with a recess at a position such that the portion of the remote control module that engages the interference member is intermediate the recess and the lock engaging member.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising providing the remote control module with a recess at a position intermediate the portion of the remote control module that engages the interference member and the lock engaging member.