Vehicle display with automatic positioning system

• US 9,648,374 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
• Inventors: Rawlinson, Peter Dore, Obers, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Larkin, Daniel S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Megna Fuentes, Anthony W
• Application Number:
  US14/972,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20160101697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 348148, 715728
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/00 Indexing scheme associated with groups B60K35/00 or B60K37/00 relating to details of instruments or dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/771 on the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• 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 35/656 the user being a passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0027 for detecting the position of the occupant or of occupant's body part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/003 characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02 the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/16 Electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/26 Ultrasonic, e.g. sonar
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/40 Force or pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/008 Adjustable or movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 : Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 : Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 : for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• 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 21/42201 : biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/655 : Construction or mounting of chassis, e.g. for varying the elevation of the tube

Abstract

A display system mounted within a vehicle is provided, where the system monitors the user'"'"'s position within the vehicle'"'"'s seat and automatically adjusts the location of the display to compensate for variations in the size or seating position of the user, thereby helping to alleviate the eye strain, fatigue, neck and back pain that often accompany the improper use of a monitor for an extended period of time.

Claims

1. A display system, comprising:

a flat panel display screen mounted within and to a vehicle, wherein said flat panel display screen is adjustable within a range of display positions;

a display positioning system coupled to said flat panel display screen;

a vehicle seat mounted within said vehicle, wherein said vehicle seat is positioned within said vehicle to allow an occupant of said vehicle seat to utilize said flat panel display screen;

an occupant position sensor system, wherein said occupant position sensor system outputs occupant position data corresponding to a current occupant position selected from a plurality of possible occupant positions within said vehicle seat;

a memory, wherein stored within said memory is a look-up table providing a plurality of compatible flat panel display screen positions that correspond to said plurality of possible occupant positions within said vehicle seat, wherein each of said plurality of compatible flat panel display positions maintains a preset flat panel display viewing distance between said occupant and said flat panel display screen; and

a control system coupled to said display positioning system and to said occupant position sensor system and to said memory, wherein said control system monitors said occupant position data and utilizes said look-up table to select a current display position from said plurality of compatible flat panel display screen positions based on said current position of said occupant within said vehicle seat in order to maintain said preset flat panel display viewing distance, and wherein said control system automatically adjusts said flat panel display screen with said display positioning system to said current display position from said plurality of compatible flat panel display screen positions in response to said current position of said occupant within said vehicle seat in order to maintain said preset flat panel display viewing distance.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of compatible flat panel display screen positions maintains a flat panel display screen vertical tilt angle relative to said occupant within a preset range.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of compatible flat panel display screen positions maintains a flat panel display screen horizontal tilt angle relative to said occupant within a preset range.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of compatible flat panel display screen positions maintains a flat panel display screen horizontal tilt angle relative to a horizontal vehicle axis within a preset range.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein said occupant position sensor system is comprised of a plurality of pressure sensors integrated into said vehicle seat.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein said occupant position sensor system is comprised of at least one transducer.

7. The display system of claim 6, wherein said at least one transducer is comprised of at least one electromagnetic transducer.

8. The display system of claim 6, wherein said at least one transducer is comprised of at least one ultrasonic transducer.

9. The display system of claim 6, wherein said at least one transducer is mounted to said flat panel display screen.

10. The display system of claim 1, said display positioning system further comprising an electro-mechanical positioning system.

11. The display system of claim 1, said display positioning system further comprising a hydraulic positioning system.

12. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a linkage assembly controllable by said display positioning system, wherein said flat panel display screen is mounted to said vehicle with said linkage assembly, and wherein said display positioning system and said control system utilize said linkage assembly to adjust said flat panel display screen to said current display position.

13. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle seat position sensor coupled to said control system, wherein said vehicle seat position sensor outputs seat position data corresponding to a current seat position of said vehicle seat, and wherein said control system monitors said seat position data and automatically adjusts said current display position in response to a change in said current seat position.