Mobile video system

• US 20040083491A1
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Johnson Safety Incorporated
• Inventors: Chang, Chung L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,871,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• 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 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0276 for rear passenger use
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2146 located in mass transportation means, e.g. aircraft, train or bus flight-deck installations for entertainment or communications B64D11/0015; arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62; moving wireless networks H04W84/005
• 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 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42607 for processing the incoming bitstream
• 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 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/61 Network physical structure; Signal processing H04B takes precedence

Abstract

A mobile video system includes a first video source, a second video source, a first video monitor, a second video monitor, an audio signal receiver, and a wireless transmitter. One of the first video source and the second video source generates a first audiovisual signal. One of the first video monitor and the second video monitor receives a video portion of at least one of the first audiovisual signal and the second audiovisual signal. The wireless transmitter transmits an audio portion of one of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal to the audio signal receiver. A video portion of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal is displayed on the first video monitor, on the second video monitor, or on both the first video monitor and the second video monitor.

Claims

1. A mobile audiovisual system for a car, comprising:

a first video source that generates a first audiovisual signal;

a second video source that generates a second audiovisual signal;

a first video monitor adapted to be mounted to a first headrest of the car and to receive a video portion of at least one of the first audiovisual signal and the second audiovisual signal;

a second video monitor adapted to be mounted to a second headrest of the car and to receive a video portion of at least one of the first audiovisual signal and the second audiovisual signal;

a radio that includes a loudspeaker and that is adapted to be installed in the car; and

a first wireless transmitter configured to transmit to the radio an audio portion of one of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal;

whereby a video portion of either of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal can be displayed on the first video monitor, on the second video monitor, or on both the first video monitor and the second video monitor.

2. The mobile audiovisual system of claim 1, further comprising:

a set of headphones; and

a second wireless transmitter configured to transmit an audio portion of one of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal to the set of headphones.

3. The audiovisual system of claim 2, wherein the second wireless transmitter comprises an infrared audio transmitter.

4. The mobile audiovisual system of claim 1, further comprising:

a manually operated audio frequency selector that selects a transmission frequency upon which the wireless transmitter transmits the audio portion of the first audiovisual signal or the audio portion of the second audiovisual signal.

5. The mobile audiovisual system of claim 4, wherein the manually operated audio frequency selector is at least partially positioned within a housing for the first video monitor or within a housing for the second video monitor.

6. The mobile audiovisual system of claim 4, wherein the manually operated audio frequency selector comprises a remote control.

7. The mobile audiovisual system of claim 4, further comprising an audio frequency indicator.

8. The mobile audiovisual system of claim 7, further comprising a first housing for the first video monitor and a second housing for the second video monitor, the audio frequency indicator positioned within one of the first housing and the second housing.

9. The mobile audiovisual system of claim 7, further comprising a housing for the audio frequency indicator, the housing adapted to be mounted to one of the first headrest and the second headrest.

10. The mobile audiovisual system of claim 7, further comprising a remote control device, the audio frequency indicator positioned on the remote control device.

11. The mobile audiovisual system of claim 7, further comprising a second audio frequency indicator.

12. The mobile audiovisual system of claim 1, wherein the first video source comprises a DVD player.

13. The mobile audiovisual system of claim 1, wherein the first video source comprises a video game console.

14. The mobile audiovisual system of claim 13, wherein the second video source comprises a DVD player.

15. The mobile audiovisual system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a frequency modulation (FM) transmitter.

16. The mobile audiovisual system of claim 1, further comprising a first video signal transmitter adapted to provide a video portion of at least one of the first audiovisual signal and the second audiovisual signal to at least one of the first video monitor and the second video monitor.

17. The mobile audiovisual system of claim 1, further comprising a second wireless transmitter.

18. The audiovisual system of claim 17, wherein the first transmitter comprises a frequency modulation (FM) transmitter.

19. The audiovisual system of claim 18, wherein the second transmitter comprises a frequency modulation (FM) transmitter.

20. The audiovisual system of claim 18, wherein the second transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter.

21. The audiovisual system of claim 1, wherein a first angular orientation of the first video monitor relative to the first seat and a second angular orientation of the second video monitor relative to the second seat are adjustable without moving the headrests.

22. A mobile video system, comprising:

a car comprising a passenger compartment, a first seat having a first headrest, the first seat positioned in the passenger compartment;

a first video source that generates a first audiovisual signal;

a second video source that generates a second audiovisual signal;

a first video monitor mounted to the headrest of the first seat, the first video monitor configured to receive a video portion of at least one of the first audiovisual signal and the second audiovisual signal;

a second video monitor mounted in the passenger compartment, the second video monitor configured to receive a video portion of at least one of the first audiovisual signal and the second audiovisual signal;

a radio that includes a loudspeaker and that is installed in the vehicle; and

a first wireless transmitter configured to transmit an audio portion of one of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal to the radio;

whereby a video portion of either of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal can be displayed on the first video monitor, on the second video monitor, or on both the first video monitor and the second video monitor.

23. The mobile video system of claim 22, wherein the car further comprises a second seat having a second headrest, the second video monitor mounted to the second headrest of the second seat.

24. A car-based mobile video system, comprising:

a car comprising a passenger compartment within which are positioned a first seat having a first headrest and a second seat having a second headrest;

a first video source that generates a first audiovisual signal;

a second video source that generates a second audiovisual signal;

a first video monitor mounted to the first headrest of the first seat, the first video monitor configured to receive a video portion of at least one of the first audiovisual signal and the second audiovisual signal;

a second video monitor mounted to the second headrest of the second seat, the second video monitor configured to receive a video portion of at least one of the first audiovisual signal and the second audiovisual signal;

a radio that includes a loudspeaker and that is installed in the vehicle; and

a first wireless transmitter configured to transmit an audio portion of one of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal to the radio;

whereby a video portion of either of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal can be displayed on the first video monitor, on the second video monitor, or on both the first video monitor and the second video monitor.