Vehicle display device for simultaneously displaying one or more video programs on separate displays

• US 20020105507A1
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Tranchina, James R., Schedivy, George, Macholz, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 6,928,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0056 using suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

There is provided a display device for a vehicle. At least one video signal source outputs at least one video signal corresponding to at least one video program. Two or more displays receive the at least one video signal and simultaneously display the at least one video program. An assembly housing encloses at least a portion of the at least one video signal source and supports at least one of the two or more displays. A bus couples the at least one of the two or more displays to the at least one media source when the at least one of the two or more displays is supported by the assembly housing, and wherein each of the two or more displays has a capability of operating while being remote from the assembly housing.

Claims

1. A display device for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one video signal source for outputting at least one video signal corresponding to at least one video program;

two or more displays for receiving the at least one video signal and for simultaneously displaying the at least one video program;

an assembly housing for enclosing at least a portion of said at least one video signal source and for supporting at least one of said two or more displays; and

a bus for coupling said at least one of said two or more displays to said at least one media source when said at least one of said two or more displays is supported by said assembly housing, and wherein each of said two or more displays has a capability of operating while being remote from said assembly housing.

2. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a connector for electrically coupling said at least one of said two or more displays to said bus when said at least one of said two or more displays is supported by said assembly housing.

3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein said at least one of said two or more displays comprises a screen, and said connector flexibly couples said at least one of said two or more displays to said bus such that said at least one of said two or more displays folds against said assembly housing to protect the screen.

4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one media source is adapted to output at least two video signals corresponding to at least two video programs, and said two or more displays are adapted to receive the at least two video signals and to display the at least two video programs.

5. The display device according to claim 4, wherein at least two of said two or more displays respectively and simultaneously display at least two different ones of the at least two video programs.

6. The display device according to claim 4, wherein each of said two or more displays respectively and simultaneously display a same one of the at least two video programs.

7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one media source comprises at least one of a television tuner, a video cassette player (VCP), a digital video disk (DVD) player, and a video game player.

8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one media source comprises a receiver for receiving the at least one video signal from at least one external input device.

9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one media source outputs at least one audio signal corresponding to the at least one video program, said display device further comprises at least one wireless transmitter operatively coupled to said at least one media source for wirelessly transmitting the at least one audio signal to at least one wireless headphone set, and each of said two or more displays comprise a wireless receiver for wirelessly receiving the at least one audio signal.

10. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the at least one audio signal is wirelessly transmitted as a radio frequency signal or an infrared signal.

11. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said display device further comprises at least one wireless transmitter operatively coupled to said at least one media source for respectively and wirelessly transmitting the at least one video signal to said two or more displays, and each of said two or more displays comprise a wireless receiver for wirelessly receiving the at least one video signal.

12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one video signal is wirelessly transmitted as a radio frequency signal or an infrared signal.

13. The display device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said two or more displays employs at least one of a liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and a gas plasma.

14. The display device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said two or more displays comprises a mounting device for mounting at a rear portion of a seat, independent of a location of the assembly housing.

15. The display device according to claim 1, wherein each of said two or more displays comprises at least one speaker for reproducing audio signals corresponding to the at least one video program.

16. The display device according to claim 1, wherein each of said two or more displays comprises at least one input jack for receiving audio or video signals.

17. The display according to claim 4, wherein each of said two or more displays comprises a multiplexer for selecting one of the at least two video programs.

18. The display device according to claim 1, wherein each of said two or more displays comprises a power supply jack for receiving power from an external power supply.

19. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes at least one seat, and said assembly housing mounts at a rear portion of the at least one seat.

20. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one speaker, disposed within the assembly housing, for reproducing audio signals corresponding to the at least one video program.

21. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a connector for electrically coupling said at least one of said two or more displays to said bus when said at least one of said two or more displays is supported by said assembly housing.

22. The display device according to claim 21, wherein said at least one of said two or more displays comprises a screen, and said connector flexibly couples said at least one of said two or more displays to said bus such that said at least one said two or more displays folds against said assembly housing to protect the screen.

23. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising signal processing facilities adapted to perform at least one of signal processing and signal conversion, with respect to the at least one video signal.

24. The display device according to claim 23, wherein said signal processing facilities are adapted to perform at least one of digital signal processing, encoding, decoding, encrypting, decrypting, compressing, decompressing, analog-to-digital conversion (ADC), digital-to-analog conversion (DAC), and error correction.

26. The display device according to claim 25, wherein said bag comprises a mounting mechanism for suspending said assembly housing to the rear of the seat.

27. The display device according to claim 25, wherein said bag comprises at least a main compartment for at least partially encasing at least said assembly housing.

28. The display device according to claim 27, wherein the main compartment partially encases said assembly housing irrespective of whether at least one of said two or more displays is supported by said assembly housing.

29. The display device according to claim 25, wherein said bag comprises at least one compartment for encasing at least one of said two or more displays, when said at least one of said two or more displays is remote from said assembly housing.

30. The display device according to claim 25, wherein said bag comprises at least one compartment for encasing accessories corresponding to the display device.

31. The display device according to claim 25, wherein said bag comprises a flap, disposed at a top face of the bag, for providing unrestricted viewing access to a given one of said two or more displays when said assembly housing is received and suspended by said bag and said given one of said two or more displays is supported by said assembly housing.

32. The display device according to claim 31, wherein the flap further provides access for loading at least a video medium into said at least one media source.

25. A display device for a vehicle having a seat, comprising:

at least one media source for outputting at least one video signal corresponding to at least one video program;

two or more displays for respectively receiving the at least one video signal and for respectively and simultaneously displaying the at least one video program;

an assembly housing for enclosing at least a portion of said at least one media source and for supporting at least one of said two or more displays;

a bag for receiving said assembly housing and suspending said assembly housing at a rear of the seat when said assembly housing is in any one of an operational mode and a non-operational mode; and

a bus for coupling said at least one of said two or more displays to said at least one media source when said at least one of said two or more displays is supported by said assembly housing, and wherein each of said two or more displays has a capability of operating while being remote from said assembly housing and irrespective of whether said assembly housing is received and suspended by said bag.

33. A display device for a vehicle, comprising:

a media source for outputting a video signal corresponding to a video program;

a display for receiving the video signal and displaying the video program;

an assembly housing for enclosing at least a portion of said media source and supporting said display;

a first bag for receiving media and said assembly housing;

a second bag for receiving said display, said second bag adapted to attach to an interior element of the vehicle; and

a bus for coupling said display to said media source when said display is supported by said assembly housing, and wherein said display has a capability of operating while being remote from said assembly housing.

34. The display device according to claim 33, wherein the vehicle includes a seat, and said first bag suspends said assembly housing at a rear of the seat.

35. The display device according to claim 33, wherein the vehicle includes a seat, and said second bag suspends said display at a rear of the seat.

36. The display device according to claim 35, wherein said second bag comprises at least one strap for suspending said display from the seat.

37. The display device according to claim 34, wherein said display has a capability of displaying the video signal when said assembly housing is received and suspended by said first bag or when said display is received and suspended by said second bag.

38. The display device according to claim 33, further comprising a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the video signal, and wherein said display comprises a wireless receiver for wirelessly receiving the video signal.

39. The display device according to claim 33, wherein said media source has a capability of outputting at least two video signals corresponding to at least two video programs, and said display has a capability of receiving the at least two video signals and displaying the at least two video programs.

40. The display device according to claim 39, wherein said display comprises a multiplexer for selecting one of the at least two video programs for display.

41. The display device according to claim 33, further comprising another display for receiving the video signal and displaying the video program.

42. The display device according to claim 33, wherein said media source has a capability of outputting at least two video signals corresponding to at least two video programs, and said display device comprises at least two displays for receiving the at least two video signals and displaying the at least two video programs.

43. The display device according to claim 42, wherein one of the at least two displays displays one of the at least two video programs and an other one of the at least two displays displays an another one of the at least two video programs.

44. The display device according to claim 42, further comprising a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the at least two video signals, and wherein each of said at least two displays comprises a wireless receiver for wirelessly receiving the at least two video signals.

45. The display device according to claim 42, wherein each of said at least two displays comprises a multiplexer for selecting one of the at least two video programs for display.