Vehicle body structure

• US 9,802,553 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2013
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sura, Bhargav, Weinert, Norbert, Cat, Quan, Johnson, Randall, Phan, Nelson
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Quan-Zhen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foxx, Chico A
• Application Number:
  US13/964,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20150046027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 340461, 340462, 362488
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/797 at the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/797 At the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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: B60Q 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/325 on or for running boards or steps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5035 electronic displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/543 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/549 for expressing greetings, gratitude or emotions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/025 Pillars; Roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories

Abstract

A vehicle body structure includes a first surface, a closure panel, an interactive display panel and a controller. The first surface has a first edge extending along an exterior portion of a vehicle and a second edge opposite the first edge extending along an interior portion of the vehicle. The first surface at least partially defines a door opening. The closure panel is movably coupled for movement between an open position exposing the first surface and a closed position covering the first surface such that a closure panel surface overlays the first surface. The interactive display panel is disposed along the first surface and is covered by the closure panel with the closure panel in the closed position and is exposed with the closure panel in the open position. The controller is in communication with the interactive display to display user inputted data on the interactive display panel.

Claims

1. A vehicle body structure, comprising:

a first surface having a first edge extending along an exterior portion of a vehicle and a second edge opposite the first edge extending along an interior portion of the vehicle, the first surface at least partially defining a door opening;

a closure panel movably coupled relative to the first surface for movement between an open position exposing the first surface and a closed position covering the first surface such that a closure panel surface overlays the first surface;

a closure panel switch configured to detect whether or not the closure panel is in the open position;

a first key fob and a second key fob;

an interactive display panel disposed along the first surface and being covered by the closure panel with the closure panel in the closed position and being exposed with the closure panel in the open position; and

a controller in communication with the closure panel switch and the interactive display to display user inputted data on the interactive display panel, the controller being configured to receive a first set of the user inputted data inputted by a first driver and a second set of user inputted data inputted by a second driver, the first key fob being assigned to the first driver and the first set of the user inputted data, and the second key fob being assigned to the second driver and the second set of the user inputted data each of the first and second sets of user inputted data including text messages, personalized greetings, appointment reminders and vehicle service reminders inputted by the first driver and the second driver, the first and second sets of user inputted data also include images entered by the first driver and the second driver, that are subsequently displayed by the controller on the interactive display panel, the interactive panel display being configured to display the first set of the user inputted data in response to detecting the presence of the first key fob and determining that the closure panel is in the open position, and the interactive panel display is configured to display the second set of the user inputted data in response to detecting the presence of the second key fob and determining that the closure panel is in the open position.

2. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein

the interactive display panel includes a touch sensitive screen operable along an exposed surface thereof for manipulating data displayed by the interactive display panel.

3. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is disposed within the interactive display panel and includes a wireless communication device, the interactive display panel being configured to receive input of each of the first set and the second set of user inputted data by a respective one of the first driver and the second driver.

4. The vehicle body structure according to claim 3, wherein

the controller is configured to communicate with separate handheld communication devices, a first handheld communication device used by the first driver for inputting the first set of the user inputted data and a second handheld communication device used by the second driver for inputting of the second set of the user inputted data.

5. The vehicle body structure according to claim 3, further comprising

a navigation system installed within the vehicle and being configured to communicate with the controller, providing data to the interactive display panel for display thereon.

6. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, further comprising

a sill structure defining the first surface, and

a first pillar structure extending upwardly from the sill structure, the first pillar structure defining a second surface that extends upward from a first end of the first surface.

7. The vehicle body structure according to claim 6, wherein

the interactive display panel includes a first panel installed along the first surface and a second panel installed along the upwardly extending surface of the pillar structure.

8. The vehicle body structure according to claim 7, wherein

the first panel is configured to display text messages and the second panel is configured to provide illumination.

9. The vehicle body structure according to claim 6, further comprising

a second pillar structure having a third surface that extends upwardly from a second end of the first surface with the closure panel being pivotally connected to the second pillar structure for movement between the open position and the closed position such that in the closed position, the closure panel covers the second upwardly extending surface.

10. The vehicle body structure according to claim 9, wherein

the interactive display panel includes a first panel installed along the first surface, a second panel installed along the second surface and a third panel installed along the third surface.

11. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein

the interactive display panel is further configured to provide illumination.

12. The vehicle body structure according to claim 11, wherein

the interactive display panel is further configured to selectively provide illumination in any one of a plurality of colors.

13. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein

the interactive panel display is visible from outside the vehicle with the closure panel in the open position.

14. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, where in

the controller is configured to receive input of the first set and the second set of user inputted data from any one of the following plurality of inputting devices:

a touch sensitive layer of the interactive display panel;

a mobile phone;

a tablet device;

a personal computer; and

an input display panel located on an instrument panel within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

15. A vehicle body structure, comprising:

a first surface having a first edge extending along an exterior portion of a vehicle and a second edge opposite the first edge extending along an interior portion of the vehicle, the first surface at least partially defining a door opening;

a closure panel movably coupled relative to the first surface for movement between an open position exposing the first surface and a closed position covering the first surface such that a closure panel surface overlays the first surface;

a closure panel switch configured to detect whether or not the closure panel is in the open position;

a first key fob and a second key fob;

an interactive display panel disposed along the first surface and being covered by the closure panel with the closure panel in the closed position and being exposed with the closure panel in the open position; and

a controller in communication with the closure panel switch and the interactive display to display user inputted data on the interactive display panel, the controller being configured to receive a first set of the user inputted data inputted by a first driver and a second set of user inputted data inputted by a second driver, the first key fob being assigned to the first driver and the first set of the user inputted data, and the second key fob being assigned to the second driver and the second set of the user inputted data, each of the first and second sets of user inputted data including text messages, personalized greetings, appointment reminders and vehicle service reminders inputted by the first driver and the second driver, the first and second sets of user inputted data also include images entered by the first driver and the second driver, that are subsequently displayed by the controller on the interactive display panel, the interactive panel display being configured to display a first user specific greeting of the first set of user inputted data in response to detecting the presence of the first key fob and determining that the closure panel is in the open position, and the interactive panel display and is configured to display a second user specific greeting of the second set of user inputted data in response to detecting the presence of the second key fob and determining that the closure panel is in the open position, the controller being further configured to display a default greeting on the interactive display panel in the absence of user inputted data.

16. The vehicle body structure according to claim 15, wherein

the controller is configured to provide a text message of one of the first set and the second set of user inputted data that is displayed on the interactive display panel while the closure panel is in the open position.

17. The vehicle body structure according to claim 16, wherein

the interactive display panel displays the text message such that the text message is oriented for reading from an exterior side with the closure panel in the open position.

18. The vehicle body structure according to claim 15, wherein

the controller is configured to receive input of the first set and the second set of user inputted data from any one of the following plurality of inputting devices:

a touch sensitive layer of the interactive display panel;

a mobile phone;

a tablet device;

a personal computer; and

an input display panel located on an instrument panel within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

19. A vehicle body structure, comprising:

a first surface having a first edge extending along an exterior portion of a vehicle and a second edge opposite the first edge extending along an interior portion of the vehicle, the first surface at least partially defining a door opening;

a closure panel movably coupled relative to the first surface for movement between an open position exposing the first surface and a closed position covering the first surface such that a closure panel surface overlays the first surface;

a closure panel switch configured to detect whether or not the closure panel is in the open position;

a first key fob and a second key fob;

an interactive display panel disposed along the first surface and being covered by the closure panel with the closure panel in the closed position and being exposed with the closure panel in the open position, the interactive display panel further including a touch sensitive layer proximate an exposed surface thereof for inputting the user inputted data; and

a controller in communication with the closure panel switch and the interactive display to display user inputted data on the interactive display panel, the controller being configured to receive a first set of the user inputted data inputted by a first driver and a second set of user inputted data inputted by a second driver, the first key fob being assigned to the first driver and the first set of the user inputted data, and the second key fob being assigned to the second driver and the second set of the user inputted data, each of the first and second sets of user inputted data including text messages, personalized greetings, appointment reminders and vehicle service reminders inputted by the first driver and the second driver, the first and second sets of user inputted data also include images entered by the first driver and the second driver, that are subsequently displayed by the controller on the interactive display panel, the interactive panel display being configured to display the first set of the user inputted data in response to detecting the presence of the first key fob and determining that the closure panel is in the open position, and the interactive panel display is configured to display the second set of the user inputted data in response to detecting the presence of the second key fob and determining that the closure panel is in the open position.

20. The vehicle body structure according to claim 19, wherein

the controller is configured to receive input of the first set and the second set of user inputted data from any one of the following plurality of inputting devices:

the touch sensitive layer of the interactive display panel;

a mobile phone;

a tablet device;

a personal computer; and

an input display panel located on an instrument panel within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.