DISPLAY ASSEMBLY FOR AN INTERIOR PANEL IN A VEHICLE

• US 20160121805A1
• Filed: 10/27/2015
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: FORSGREN, Daniel, Kinsey, John
• Granted Patent: US 10,647,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/002 of trays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0003 inside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0012 Seats or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0293 Additional pads or cushions in vehicle compartments, e.g. movably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839

Abstract

Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a display assembly for an interior panel of a vehicle, corresponding method of use and a computer readable medium including instructions for operating the display assembly. The display assembly allows for the private viewing of multimedia content for occupants in a vehicle.

Claims

1. A display assembly for an interior panel of a vehicle, the display assembly comprising:

a display device with a display screen on a front surface, the front surface being configured to face a direction of a floor of the vehicle when the display device is in a downward position;

a pivot connectable to an edge of the display device and a surface of the vehicle interior panel; and

a control unit configured to initiate a rotation of the pivot to move the display device from the downward position to an upward position such that the display screen faces a backend of the vehicle.

2. The display assembly of claim 1 further comprising a user input device configured to receive a user command from a vehicle occupant, the control unit being configured to initiate the rotation of the pivot upon receipt of the user command.

3. The display assembly of claim 2 wherein the user input device is attachable to at least one front seat of the vehicle.

4. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein the display screen is configured to provide an ambient light source when the display device is in the downward position.

5. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein the pivot is a first pivot, the edge of the display is a first edge of the display device and the surface of the interior panel is a first surface of the vehicle interior panel, the display assembly further comprising a second pivot connectable to a second edge of the display device and a second surface of the vehicle interior panel, wherein the first and second edges are on opposite ends of the display device and the first and second surfaces of the vehicle interior are facing opposite one another.

6. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein a back surface of the display device comprises a storage compartment, air distribution system, an air bag occupant protection system, and/or a working surface.

7. A vehicle comprising the display assembly of claim 1, wherein the display device is configured to be in the upward position if the vehicle is in an autonomous driving mode or if a front seat of the vehicle is retracted in a rearward direction a predetermined distance.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the control unit is further configured to initiate a rotation of the display device from the upward position to the downward position upon receipt of a user command, a retraction of the front seat in a forward direction a predetermined distance, or an expected end of the autonomous driving mode.

9. A method for operating a display assembly on an interior panel of a vehicle, the display assembly comprising a display device with a display screen on a front surface of the display device, the front surface being configured to face a direction of a floor of the vehicle when the display device is in a downward position, the display assembly further comprising a pivot connected to an edge of the display device and a surface of the interior panel, the method comprising:

receiving an indication to move the display device from the downward position to an upward position in which the front surface of the display device faces a backend of the vehicle; and

rotating the display device, via the pivot, to the upward position upon receipt of the indication.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the indication is an expected start of an autonomous driving mode, a retraction of a vehicle front seat in a rearward direction a predetermined distance, and/or a user provided command.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising rotating the display device to the downward position from the upward position upon receiving a user command, a retraction of a vehicle front seat in a forward direction a predetermined distance, or upon an expected end to an autonomous driving mode.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing an ambient light source via the display screen when the display device is in the downward position.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for operating a display assembly provided on an interior panel of a vehicle, the display assembly comprising a display device with a display screen that defines a front surface of the display device, the front surface being configured to face toward a floor of the vehicle when the display device is in a downward position, the display assembly further comprising a pivot connected to an edge of the display device and a surface of the vehicle interior panel, wherein the program instructions are executable by one or more processors of a computer system to:

upon receipt of an indication to move the display device from the downward position to an upward position in which the front surface of the display device faces a backend of the vehicle, rotate the display device, via the pivot, to the upward position.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13 further comprising executable instructions to rotate the display device to the downward position from the upward position upon receiving a user command, a retraction of a vehicle front seat in a forward direction a predetermined distance, or upon an expected end to an autonomous driving mode.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 13 further comprising executable instructions for providing an ambient light source via the display screen when the display device is in the downward position.