In-vehicle display for audio-video distribution

• US 9,432,716 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2014
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Concept USA Inc. (Hamilton Fixture Company)
• Original Assignee: Calvin Liu
• Inventors: Liu, Calvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): Andramuno, Franklin
• Application Number:
  US14/262,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20140237518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 725/25, 725/75
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/818 with stepwise positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0045 with visible part, e.g. flush mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/62 for transportation systems, e.g. in vehicles
• 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 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805

Abstract

An in-vehicle display for audio-video distribution. The in-vehicle display may comprise a mounting arrangement and an entertainment system, wherein the entertainment system may further comprise: a housing, at least one display screen, a communication tool, and one or more connection modules. The mounting arrangement is generally configured to mount the entertainment system to a roof or headrest of a vehicle. The communication tool may be electrically connected to the display screen and may be configured to communicate with an external electronic device of a user via the connection modules, such that the communication tool links the display screen with the external electronic device in order to establish an interaction between the display screen and the external electronic device. Thus, user may be able to operate and control a digital content on the display screen through the external electronic device.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle display system for audio-video distribution, comprising:

a first mounting arrangement;

a second mounting arrangement;

a first entertainment system; and

a second entertainment system;

wherein said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system each comprise;

a housing, at least one display screen, a communication tool, and one or more connection modules;

wherein said first mounting arrangement is configured to mount said housing of said first entertainment system to an interior portion of a vehicle;

wherein said second mounting arrangement is configured to mount said housing of said second entertainment system to a vehicle headrest;

wherein said one or more connection modules are located within said communication tools of said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system;

wherein said communication tools are electrically coupled to said at least one display screens of said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system;

wherein said communication tool of said first entertainment system is configured to communicate with one or more external electronic devices of a user via said one or more connection modules, such that said communication tool of said first entertainment system links said at least one display screens of said first entertainment system with said one or more external electronic devices in order to establish an interaction between said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system and said one or more external electronic devices, such that said user is able to operate and control a digital content displayed on said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system through said one or more external electronic devices;

wherein said one or more connection modules of said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system comprise an echo display module;

wherein said echo display module is configured to wirelessly mirror said digital content displayed on said one or more external electronic devices of said user to said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system or said at least one display screen of said second entertainment system, such that said digital content displayed on said one or more external electronic devices is shared and displayed simultaneously on one of said at least one display screens of said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system without utilizing a physical connection between said one or more external electronic devices and said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system;

wherein said first entertainment system is configured to wirelessly connect to said second entertainment system, such that, when said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system mirrors said digital content displayed by said external electronic device, said at least one display screen of said second entertainment system also mirrors said digital content displayed on said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system; and

wherein said in-vehicle display system is configured to allow said user to wirelessly operate and control said digital content of said one or more external electronic devices by interacting with said at least one display screens of said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system when said digital content is mirrored on said one or more external electronic devices and said at least one display screens via said echo display module.

2. The in-vehicle display system, recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more connection modules comprise a wireless local area network module;

wherein said wireless local area network module is configured to wirelessly connect said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system to an Internet.

3. The in-vehicle display system, recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more connection modules comprise a broadband wireless access module;

and

wherein said broadband wireless access module is configured to wirelessly connect said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system to a high speed Internet.

4. The in-vehicle display system, recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more connection modules comprise a wireless personal area network module;

and

wherein said wireless personal area network module is configured to wirelessly connect said external electronic device to said first entertainment system or said second entertainment system, such that said user is able to exchange data between said external electronic device and said first entertainment system or said second entertainment system.

5. The in-vehicle display system, recited in claim 1, wherein said communication tool of said first entertainment system comprises at least one universal serial bus connection port;

and

wherein said at least one universal serial bus connection port is configured to facilitate said physical connection between said external electronic device and said first entertainment system via said one or more connection modules.

6. The in-vehicle display system, recited in claim 1, wherein said first entertainment system further comprises a built-in multimedia player;

and

wherein said built-in multimedia player is configured to process and play a multimedia material on said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system.

7. The in-vehicle display system, recited in claim 1, wherein said first entertainment system further comprises a storage device;

wherein said storage device comprises a predetermined amount of storage capacity for storing said digital content.

8. The in-vehicle display system, recited in claim 1, wherein said interior portion of said vehicle is a roof interior;

wherein said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system is an overhead flip-down monitor; and

wherein said overhead flip-down monitor is configured to attach to said roof interior of said vehicle.

9. The in-vehicle display system, recited in claim 1, wherein said first entertainment system further comprises a control panel;

wherein said control panel is configured to allow said user to input one or more commands to control said first entertainment system, said communication tool of said first entertainment system, and said external electronic device; and

wherein said control panel is configured to mirror said digital content displayed on said external electronic device of said user to said at least one display of said first entertainment system.

10. An in-vehicle display system for audio-video distribution, comprising:

a first mounting arrangement;

a second mounting arrangement;

a first entertainment system; and

a second entertainment system;

wherein said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system each comprise a housing, at least one display screen, a communication tool, and one or more connection modules;

wherein said first mounting arrangement is configured to mount said housing of said first entertainment system to a first vehicle headrest;

wherein said second mounting arrangement is configured to mount said housing of said second entertainment system to a second vehicle headrest;

wherein said one or more connection modules are located within said communication tools of said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system;

wherein said communication tools are electrically coupled to said at least one display screens of said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system;

wherein said communication tool of said first entertainment system is configured to communicate with an external electronic device of a user via said one or more connection modules, such that said communication tool of said first entertainment system wirelessly links said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system with said external electronic device in order to establish an interaction between said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system and said external electronic device, such that said user is able to operate and control a digital content displayed on said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system through said external electronic device;

wherein said one or more connection modules of said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system comprise an echo display module;

wherein said echo display module is configured to wirelessly mirror said digital content displayed on said external electronic device of said user to said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system or said at least one display screen of said second entertainment system, such that said digital content displayed on said electronic device is shared and displayed simultaneously on said at least one display screens of said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system without utilizing a physical connection between said external electronic device and said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system;

wherein said first entertainment system is configured to wirelessly connect to said second entertainment system, such that, when at least one display screen of said first entertainment system mirrors said digital content displayed by said external electronic device, said at least one display screen of said second entertainment system also mirrors said digital content displayed on said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system; and

wherein said in-vehicle display system is configured to allow said user to wirelessly operate and control said digital content of said external electronic device by interacting with said at least one display screens of said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system when said digital content is mirrored on said external electronic device and said at least one display screens via said echo display module.

11. The in-vehicle display system recited in claim 10, wherein said one or more connection modules comprises:

a wireless local area network module, a broadband wireless access module, and wireless personal area network module;

wherein said wireless local area network module is configured to wirelessly connect said entertainment system to an Internet;

wherein said broadband wireless access module is configured to wirelessly connect said entertainment system to a high speed Internet; and

wherein said wireless personal area network module is configured to wirelessly connect said external electronic device to said first entertainment system or said second entertainment system, such that said user is able to exchange data between said external electronic device and said first entertainment system or said second entertainment system.

12. The in-vehicle display, recited in Claim 10, wherein said first entertainment system further comprises a control panel;

wherein said control panel is configured to allow said user to input one or more commands to control said first entertainment system, said communication tool of said first entertainment system, and said external electronic device; and

wherein said control panel is configured mirror said digital content from said external electronic device to said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system.

13. The in-vehicle display system, recited in claim 12, wherein said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system is a touch-screen;

and

wherein said touch-screen is configured to allow said user to control said control panel of said first entertainment system and said external electronic device by touching predetermined positions on said display screen.

14. The in-vehicle display system, recited in claim 10, wherein said communication tool of said first entertainment system comprises at least one universal serial bus connection port;

and

wherein said at least one universal serial bus connection port is configured to facilitate said physical connection between said external electronic device and said first entertainment system via said one or more connection modules.

15. The in-vehicle display system, recited in claim 10, wherein said first entertainment system further comprises a built-in multimedia player;

and

wherein said built-in multimedia player is configured to process and play a multimedia material on said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system.

16. The in-vehicle display, recited in claim 10, wherein said first entertainment system further comprises a storage device;

wherein said storage device comprises a predetermined amount of storage capacity for storing said digital content.

17. An in-vehicle display system for audio-video distribution, comprising:

a first mounting arrangement;

a second mounting arrangement;

a first entertainment system; and

a second entertainment system;

wherein said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system, each comprise;

a housing, at least one display screen, a communication tool, one or more connection modules, a control panel, a built in multimedia player, and a storage device;

wherein said first mounting arrangement is configured to mount said housing of said first entertainment system to a first vehicle headrest;

wherein said second mounting arrangement is configured to mount said housing of said second entertainment system to a second vehicle headrest;

wherein said one or more connection modules are located in said communication tools of said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system;

wherein said communication tools are electrically coupled to said at least one display screen;

wherein said communication tool of said first entertainment system is configured to communicate with an external electronic device of a user via said one or more connection modules, such that said communication tool of said first entertainment system links said at least one display screens of said first entertainment system with said external electronic device in order to establish an interaction between said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system and said external electronic device, such that said user is able to operate and control a digital content on said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system through said external electronic device;

wherein said one or more connection modules of said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system comprise;

an echo display module, a wireless local area network module, a broadband wireless access module, and a wireless personal area network module;

wherein said echo display module is configured to wirelessly mirror said digital content displayed on said one or more external electronic devices of said user to said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system or said at least one display screen of said second entertainment system, such that said digital content displayed on said external electronic device is shared and displayed simultaneously on said at least one display screens of said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system without utilizing a physical connection between said external electronic device and said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system;

wherein said first entertainment system is configured to wirelessly connect to said second entertainment system, such that, when said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system mirrors said digital content displayed by said external electronic device, said at least one display screen of said second entertainment system also mirrors said digital content displayed on said at least one display screen of said first entertainment system;

wherein said in-vehicle display system is configured to allow said user to wirelessly operate and control said digital content of said external electronic devices by interacting with said at least one display screens of said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system when said digital content is mirrored on said external electronic device and said at least one display screens via said echo display module;

wherein said wireless local area network module is configured to wirelessly connect said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system to an Internet;

wherein said broadband wireless access module is configured to wirelessly connect said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system to a high speed Internet;

wherein said wireless personal area network module is configured to wirelessly connect said external electronic device to said first entertainment system or said second entertainment system, such that said user is able to exchange data between said external electronic device and said first entertainment system or said second entertainment system;

wherein said control panel is configured to allow said user to input one or more commands to control said first entertainment system, said communication tool of said first entertainment system, and said external electronic device;

wherein said at least one display screens of said first entertainment system and said second entertainment system are a touch-screen;

wherein said touch-screens are configured to allow said user to control said control panel of said first entertainment system and said external electronic device by touching predetermined positions on said at least one display screen;

wherein said communication tool of said first entertainment system comprises at least one universal serial bus connection port;

wherein said at least one universal serial bus connection port is configured to facilitate a physical connection between said external electronic device and said first entertainment system via said one or more connection modules;

wherein said built-in multimedia player is configured to process and play a multimedia material on said at least one display screens;

wherein said storage device comprises a predetermined amount of storage capacity for storing said digital content.