RECONFIGURABLE DASHBOARD ASSEMBLY FOR MILITARY VEHICLES

• US 20140183897A1
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korry Electronics Co. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Korry Electronics Co. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Utsugi, Michael Y., Mitchell, Ryan, Doyea, Shawn M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,960,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• 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 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/06 of controls, e.g. controls knobs
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/06 mounted on or below dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/12 in graphical form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49904 Assembling a subassembly, then assembling with a second subassembly

Abstract

A modular dashboard assembly for a vehicle, such as a tactical vehicle, is described. In some cases, the dashboard assembly includes a smart back plane and removably attachable front modules. The back plane may facilitate communications between components within the front modules and systems with the vehicle, or between components.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A dashboard assembly for use in a tactical vehicle containing a control network and being configured for use in a selected mission, the vehicle having a mission component for use in connection with the selected mission, the dashboard assembly comprising:

a back plane having an integral control system with a communications link, wherein the back plane communicates with a control network within the vehicle and is coupled to the mission component; and

a plurality of front modules removably attached to the back plane, wherein a first front module includes two or more dashboard components associated with components within the control network of the vehicle, wherein the first front module components within the control network of the vehicle via the operatively coupled to the mission component of the vehicle via the back plane.

14. The dashboard assembly of claim 11, wherein one of the two or more dashboard components displays information via data received from the communications link.

15. The dashboard assembly of claim 11 wherein the

the back plane is fixedly attached to the vehicle;

and wherein the first front module is

removably attached to the back plane; and

the plurality of front modules further comprises

a second front module removably attached to the back plane, wherein the second front module includes at least one dashboard component associated with a functionality related to the selected mission.

16. The dashboard assembly of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second modules includes a display component.

17. The dashboard assembly of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second modules includes at least a portion of a communications system.

18. The dashboard assembly of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second modules includes a storage component.

19. The dashboard assembly of claim 15, further comprising a third module removably attached to the back plane and having a display configured to display information received from the control network.

20. The dashboard assembly of claim 11 wherein the tactical vehicle is configured for use in an identified type of mission, and the tactical vehicle carries at least one mission-specific component related to the identified type of mission,

and wherein the dashboard component communicates with the mission component of the vehicle.

21. The dashboard assembly of claim 11, wherein the first dashboard component of the first module is useable in connection with the selected mission, and a second front module has a second dashboard component in communication with the first dashboard component via the back plane.

22. The dashboard assembly of claim 21, further comprising a third front module that has functionality different than the first front module and wherein the third front module is interchangeable on the back plane with the first front module.

23. The dashboard assembly of claim 22, further comprising a fourth front module that has functionality different than the second front module and wherein the fourth front module is interchangeable on the back plane with the second front module.

27. The dashboard assembly of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second modules includes a portion of a computing system, a weapon system, a navigation system, or a monitoring system.

28. The dashboard assembly of claim 11 wherein the one of the components within the control network is a sensor coupled to the mission component, and wherein the first dashboard component communicates with the sensor via the communications link.

29. The dashboard assembly of claim 11, wherein the plurality of front modules includes a second front module having a second dashboard component in communication with the first dashboard component via the back plane.

30. The dashboard assembly of claim 11, further comprising a third front module that has functionality different than the first front module and wherein the third front module is interchangeable on the back plane with the first front module.

31. The dashboard assembly of claim 11, further comprising a fourth front module that has functionality different than the second front module and wherein the fourth front module is interchangeable on the back plane with the second front module.

12-13. -13. (canceled)

24-26. -26. (canceled)