Vehicle systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10521179-B2
Application number	US-201715856344-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2017
Priority date	Dec 28, 2016
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle includes an interior cabin and a plurality of modular docking stations fixedly disposed in the interior cabin. Each modular docking station is configured to removably receive one or more modular components. The one or more modular components interchangeably connect to the plurality of modular docking stations to enable relocation of each modular component of the one or more modular components in a desired modular docking station of the plurality of docking stations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle interior cabin having an arrangement configured for upgrading one or more modular components provided therein, comprising:
a plurality of modular docking stations fixedly disposed in the interior cabin, each modular docking station configured to removably receive the one or more modular components;
wherein the one or more modular components interchangeably connect to each of the plurality of modular docking stations to enable relocation of each modular component of the one or more modular components in a desired modular docking station of the plurality of docking stations, and
wherein the one or more modular components include a first type of modular component having a plurality of upgradable classes, each upgradable class of the plurality of upgradable classes including a different version of the first type of modular component, thereby enabling a vehicle user to upgrade or modify the vehicle interior with the different version of the first type of modular component to provide a unique user-defined vehicle interior arrangement.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first type of modular component is display screens.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of upgradable classes comprises display screen size.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first type of modular component is a central controller for the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of upgradable classes comprises at least one of processor speed and storage size.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first type of modular component is smart climate controls.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first type of modular component is smart lighting.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first type of modular component is at least one of smart buttons and slides.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first type of modular component is a camera.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first type of modular component is a sensor.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first type of modular component is a universal device support configured to hold various different portable electronic devices; and
wherein the universal device support is configured to establish signal communication with the various portable electronic devices upon each of such devices being positioned in the universal device support.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a vehicle dashboard between a driver's seat and a front of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a central location of a vehicle dashboard between opposite sides of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in an instrument panel display.

15. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a vehicle dashboard between a front passenger seat and a front of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a roof of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a support arm extending from a roof of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in an interior surface of a door of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a seat back.

20. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a central controller in electrical and signal communication with each docking station of the plurality of docking stations, the central controller configured to enable signal communication between the one or more modular components docked with the plurality of docking stations.

21. A vehicle comprising:
an interior cabin;
a plurality of modular docking stations fixedly disposed in the interior cabin, each modular docking station configured to removably receive one or more modular components;
wherein the one or more modular components interchangeably connect to the plurality of modular docking stations to enable relocation of each modular component of the one or more modular components in a desired modular docking station of the plurality of docking stations;
a dashboard; and
a charge rail system disposed in the dashboard and configured to couple to a portable electronic device for charging thereof, the charge rail system enabling the coupled electronic device to slide along a length of the charge rail system to a desired location while charging the electronic device.

22. The vehicle of claim 21 , wherein the charge rail system comprises:
an attachment member slidably coupled to the dashboard;
an inductive charging interface configured to removably couple to the electronic device; and
a pivot assembly coupled between the attachment member and the inductive charging interface to enable selective positioning of the inducting charging interface and coupled electronic device.

23. A vehicle comprising:
an interior cabin;
a dashboard;
a plurality of modular docking stations fixedly disposed in the interior cabin, each modular docking station configured to removably receive one or more modular components;
wherein the one or more modular components interchangeably connect to the plurality of modular docking stations to enable relocation of each modular component of the one or more modular components in a desired modular docking station of the plurality of docking stations;
wherein the modular components include a first type of modular components having a plurality of upgradable classes, the first type of modular components including at least one of display screens, a central controller for the vehicle, smart climate controls, smart lighting, one or more smart buttons and/or slides, a camera, a sensor, and a universal device support configured to hold various different portable electronic devices;
wherein a first docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in the dashboard between a driver's seat and a front of the vehicle;
wherein a second docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a central location of a vehicle dashboard between opposite sides of the vehicle;
wherein a third docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in an instrument panel display;
wherein a fourth docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in the dashboard between a front passenger seat and the front of the vehicle;
wherein a fifth docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a roof of the vehicle;
wherein a sixth docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a support arm extending from the roof of the vehicle;
wherein a seventh docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in an interior surface of a door of the vehicle;
wherein an eighth docking station of the plurality of modular docking stations is located in a seat back; and
a charge rail system disposed in the dashboard and configured to couple to a portable electronic device for charging thereof, the charge

Assignees

• Monroe Jason
• Welch Christopher S
• Zhang Lei
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Monroe Jason
• Welch Christopher S
• Zhang Lei

Classifications

• B60Q3/12

  lighting onto the surface to be illuminated · CPC title

• B60Q3/233

  Seats; Arm rests; Head rests · CPC title

• B60Q3/51

  for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor · CPC title

• B60R2011/0021

  Doors · CPC title

• B60R11/04

  Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle · CPC title