Configurable hardware unit for car systems

• US 8,979,159 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AutoConnect Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Ricci, Christopher P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B
• Application Number:
  US13/679,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20130154298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.12, 361/724, 361/752, 361/796, 345/156, 345/173, 701/36, 701/1, 701/2
• US Class Current: 296/37.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/122 Instrument input devices with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1442 Emulation of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/145 Instrument input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1464 3D-gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1472 Multi-touch gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1476 Handwriting
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/166 Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/182 Distributing information between displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/566 Mobile devices displaying vehicle information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/5894 SIM cards
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/5899 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/5911 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/5915 Inter vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/592 Data transfer involving external databases
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/595 Data transfer involving internal databases
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/774 : on or in the centre console
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/828 : Mounting or fastening exchangeable modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/122 : with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/141 : Activation by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1442 : Emulation of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/145 : Input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1464 : 3D-gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1472 : Multi-touch gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1476 : Handwriting
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/166 : Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/182 : Distributing information between displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 : using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 : Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/55 : Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/566 : Mobile devices displaying vehicle information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/589 : Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/5894 : SIM cards
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/5899 : Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/5911 : Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/5915 : Inter vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/592 : External database involved
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/595 : Internal database involved
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/774 : on or in the centre console
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/81 : Fastening of instruments, e.g. to dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/828 : Exchangeable modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 : Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 : Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 : characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 : Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 : Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 : Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 : Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 : Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 : for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 : for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 : of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 : for control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0007 : Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure includes a universal chassis that may be mounted in the head unit of a vehicle. The chassis may accept one or more modules that each have common dimensions. With a common form factor, the universal chassis is configurable as different modules with different functionality may be inserted into the chassis with ease.

Claims

1. A vehicle console, comprising:

a head unit of a dashboard;

a chassis inserted into the head unit and attached to the head unit, the chassis having a front face and a back portion, wherein the back portion is unexposed, the chassis comprising;

a power bus;

at least four rails;

at least two stiles, wherein the at least four rails and at least two stiles form at least three cavities in the front face of the chassis, wherein each cavity is configured to accept a module, wherein each cavity has substantially similar dimensions, and wherein each cavity includes a wired electrical connection configured to electrically connect with the module;

a first module having first physical dimensions inserted into a first cavity of the at least three cavities such that the first module electrically connects with the electrical connection, and wherein the first module is configured to perform a first function for a vehicle; and

a second module having second physical dimensions inserted into a second cavity of the at least three cavities such that the second module electrically connects with the electrical connection, wherein the first physical dimensions and the second physical dimensions are the same, and wherein the second module is configured to perform a second function for the vehicle.

2. The vehicle console of claim 1, wherein the first function of the first module and the second function of the second module are different electrical operations.

3. The vehicle console of claim 2, wherein each first and second cavity includes a power connector configured to mate with the respective one of first or second module and wherein the power connector of each cavity is electrically connected to the power bus via the electrical connection.

4. The vehicle console of claim 3, wherein the chassis includes an input/output (I/O) bus.

5. The vehicle console of claim 4, wherein each first and second cavity includes an I/O connector configured to mate with the respective one of the first or second module and wherein the I/O connector of each cavity is electrically connected to the I/O bus via the electrical connection.

6. The vehicle console of claim 5, wherein the chassis further comprises at least one connection point on the front face of the chassis.

7. The vehicle console of claim 6, further comprising a display device mounted to the connection point, covering the front face of the chassis and the at least three cavities in the chassis, and in communication with the first or second module.