In-vehicle docking station for a portable media player

• US 20070108788A1
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Tranchina, James, Shalam, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,909,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/37.150
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position

Abstract

An entertainment system for a vehicle includes an entertainment console which includes a display and at least one docking station. The at least one docking station receives a portable media player at least partially therein and operatively connects the media player to the entertainment console. The entertainment system may be mounted within a vehicle for use therein or used at a location outside of a vehicle (e.g. home or office) based upon the preference of the user.

Claims

1. An entertainment system for a vehicle comprising:

an entertainment console which includes a display and at least one docking station,

and wherein the at least one docking station receives a portable media player at least partially therein and operatively connects the media player to the entertainment console.

2. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein. the media player comprises one of an IPOD®

, an MP3 player or an MP4 player.

3. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the display of the entertainment console comprises one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (LED) display or an electro-luminescent display.

4. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the entertainment console downloads data from the media player into a memory of the entertainment console.

5. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the at least one docking station includes a slot located within the entertainment console for receiving the portable media player at least partially therein, and the slot includes an electrical connector which mates with a corresponding electrical connector of the portable media player.

6. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the entertainment console is adapted to receive data comprising at least one of video data, audio data or meta data from the media player via the connection between the media player and the entertainment console at the docking station.

7. The entertainment system of claim 6, wherein the entertainment console displays the video data received from the media player on the display of the entertainment console.

8. The entertainment system of claim 6, wherein the entertainment console outputs the audio data received from the media player through speakers connected to the entertainment console.

9. The entertainment system of claim 1, further comprising a data output assembly disposed on the entertainment console for being connected to a device which is external to the entertainment console to output data from the media player to the external device.

10. The entertainment system of claim 1, further comprising a port located on the entertainment console, wherein the port receives a wire connector from the media player to operatively connect the entertainment console to a media player.

11. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the entertainment console further comprises one or more control buttons on the entertainment console for controlling the playing of programs received from the media player on the entertainment console.

12. An entertainment system mounted within a headrest of a vehicle for docking a media player within the vehicle comprising:

a housing mounted within the headrest of the vehicle; and

an entertainment console which includes a video display and a docking station, wherein the docking station receives a media player at least partially therein and operatively connects the media player to the entertainment console, the docking station including at least one of a slot within the entertainment console or a port within the entertainment console,

and wherein the entertainment console is housed within the housing.

13. The entertainment system of claim 12, wherein the entertainment console is pivotably coupled to the housing.

14. The entertainment system of claim 12, wherein the docking station comprises the slot, and wherein the slot includes an electrical connector which mates with a corresponding electrical connector of the portable media player such that the entertainment console and the media player are operatively connected to each other.

15. The entertainment system of claim 12, wherein the portable media player comprises one of an IPOD®

, an MP3 player or an MP4 player.

16. The entertainment system of claim 12, wherein the entertainment console downloads data from the media player into a memory of the entertainment console.

17. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein audio data from the media player is supplied via the electrical connector to a sound system of the vehicle, which is electrically connected to the entertainment console.

18. The entertainment system of claim 12, wherein the docking station comprises the port, and wherein the port receives a wire connector from the media player to operatively connect the entertainment console to the media player.

19. The entertainment system of claim 18, wherein the port comprises a universal serial bus (USB) port and includes contacts for mating with corresponding contacts on a USB connector coupled to the portable media player.

20. The entertainment system of claim 13, wherein the slot is accessed by pivoting the entertainment console with respect to the housing.

21. The entertainment system of claim 12, further comprising a data output assembly disposed on the entertainment console for being connected to a device which is external to the entertainment console to output data from the media player to the external device.

22. The entertainment system of claim 21, wherein the external device comprises at, least one of a video display located within the vehicle and away from the entertainment console or a vehicle sound system.

23. The entertainment system of claim 21, wherein the data output assembly comprises at least one of a line out port, a dock connector cable connection slot or an S-video out port.

24. The entertainment system of claim 21, wherein the entertainment console is operatively connected to one or more displays positioned within the vehicle and away from the entertainment console via the data output assembly.

25. The entertainment system of claim 12, wherein the entertainment console further comprises an infrared receiver located on a front face of the entertainment console, and wherein said infrared receiver receives control signals from a remote control for controlling playing of programs from the media player on the entertainment console.

26. The entertainment system of claim 12, wherein the entertainment console is electrically connected to a wire harness of the vehicle to receive power from the vehicle, and wherein the media player operates using the power received from the vehicle.

27. The entertainment system of claim 12, wherein the entertainment console is removable from the housing to be operated outside of the vehicle.

28. An entertainment system mounted overhead to a ceiling within a vehicle for docking a portable media player within the vehicle comprising:

an entertainment console which includes a video display and at least one docking station, wherein the entertainment console is connected to a ceiling of the vehicle, and the display is pivotably coupled to the entertainment console,

and wherein the least at one docking station is adapted to receive a portable media player at least partially therein for operatively connecting the media player to the entertainment console.

29. The entertainment system of claim 28, wherein the media player comprises one of an IPOD®

, an MP3 player or an MP4 player.

30. The entertainment system of claim 28, wherein the entertainment console is removable from the vehicle to be operated outside of the vehicle.

31. The entertainment system of claim 28, wherein the at least one docking station comprises a slot located within the entertainment console for receiving a portable media player at least partially therein, the slot includes an electrical connector which mates with a corresponding electrical connector of the portable media player.

32. The entertainment system of claim 28, further comprising a port located on the entertainment console, and wherein the port is adapted to receive a wire connector from the media player to operatively connect the entertainment console to the media player.

33. The entertainment system of claim 28, further comprising a data output assembly disposed on the entertainment console for being connected to a device which is external to the entertainment console to output data from the media player to the external device.

34. An in-vehicle docking system for a portable media player comprising:

a docking unit located within an interior of a vehicle,

and wherein the docking unit includes a docking station adapted for being connected to a media player to operatively connect the media player to an external device which is located away from the docking unit within the vehicle.

35. The in-vehicle docking system of claim 34, wherein the media player comprises at least one of an IPOD®

, an MP3 player or an MP4 player.

36. The in-vehicle docking system of claim 34, wherein the external device comprises at least one of a video display located within the vehicle and away from the entertainment console or a vehicle sound system.