Multipurpose dashboard for use in a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10583740-B2
Application number	US-201715784410-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2017
Priority date	Oct 16, 2017
Publication date	Mar 10, 2020
Grant date	Mar 10, 2020

Abstract

A multipurpose dashboard for use in a vehicle includes an instrument panel disposed within the vehicle. The multipurpose dashboard also includes driving controls mounted to the instrument panel. The driving controls are configurable into a driving position for a user driving mode and configurable into a non-driving position for a non-driving mode. The non-driving position is disposed away from the driving position. The multipurpose dashboard also includes a workstation mounted to the instrument panel. The workstation is configurable into an accessible position during the non-driving mode and configurable into a stowed position during the user driving mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multipurpose dashboard for use in a vehicle, the multipurpose dashboard comprising:
an instrument panel having a cross member, the instrument panel disposed within the vehicle;
driving controls mounted to a housing slidably mounted on the cross member of the instrument panel in the lateral direction of the vehicle, the driving controls configurable into a driving position for a user driving mode and configurable into a non-driving position for a non-driving mode, the non-driving position being disposed away from the driving position in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the vehicle; and
a workstation mounted to the instrument panel, the workstation configurable into an accessible position during the non-driving mode and configurable into a stowed position during the user driving mode.

2. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is controlled by a user during the user driving mode and the vehicle is controlled by a vehicle control system during the non-driving mode.

3. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 2 , wherein the driving controls are disposed directly in front of a vehicle seat and accessible by the user in the vehicle seat when in the driving position.

4. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 3 , wherein the driving controls are not accessible by the user in the vehicle seat when in the non-driving position.

5. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1 , wherein the driving controls are centered on the instrument panel when in the driving position.

6. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 5 , wherein the driving controls are disposed to a side of the instrument panel when in the non-driving position.

7. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1 , wherein the instrument panel includes a member, the driving controls are mounted to the member, and the driving controls are configured to translate along the member between the driving position and the non-driving position.

8. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1 , wherein the driving controls include a steering member, an accelerator pedal, and a brake pedal.

9. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1 , wherein the workstation is stored in a space located above a wheel arch area of the vehicle when in the stowed position.

10. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1 , wherein the workstation is accessible to a user in a vehicle seat when in the accessible position.

11. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1 , wherein the workstation is rotatable and translatable from one configuration to another configuration when in the accessible position.

12. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1 , wherein the workstation is housed within the instrument panel when in the stowed position.

13. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1 , wherein the workstation includes an articulating arm operable to pivot from the stowed position into the accessible position.

14. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 13 , wherein the articulating arm is connected to a pivot assembly that includes a ball detent spring mechanism to provide preset detent positions of the articulating arm.

15. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 13 , wherein the articulating arm includes a front surface having an electronic user interface and a back surface, the front and back surfaces opposite one another, the articulating arm rotatable for access to the front surface and the back surface.

16. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1 , wherein the workstation includes a work surface extending from the instrument panel when in the accessible position and stored within the instrument panel when in the stowed position.

17. The multipurpose dashboard of claim 1 , wherein the instrument panel at least partially surrounds a vehicle seat in the vehicle.

18. A multipurpose dashboard for use in an autonomous vehicle, the multipurpose dashboard comprising:
an instrument panel having a cross member, the instrument panel disposed within the autonomous vehicle;
driving controls mounted to a housing slidably mounted on the cross member of the instrument panel in the lateral direction of the vehicle, the driving controls configurable into a driving position for a user driving mode and configurable into a non-driving position for an autonomous driving mode, the non-driving position being disposed away from the driving position in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the vehicle;
wherein the driving controls are disposed directly in front of a vehicle seat and accessible by the user in the vehicle seat when in the driving position; and
wherein the driving controls are not accessible by the user in the vehicle seat when in the non-driving position; and
a workstation mounted to the instrument panel, the workstation configurable into an accessible position during the autonomous driving mode and configurable into a stowed position during the user driving mode, the workstation including a work surface extending from the instrument panel when in the accessible position, the work surface stored within the instrument panel when in the stowed position.

19. A multipurpose dashboard for use in an autonomous vehicle, the multipurpose dashboard comprising:
an instrument panel having a cross member, the instrument panel being disposed within the autonomous vehicle, the instrument panel at least partially surrounding a vehicle seat in the autonomous vehicle;
driving controls mounted to a housing slidably mounted on the cross member of the instrument panel in the lateral direction of the vehicle, the driving controls configurable into a driving position for a user driving mode and configurable into a non-driving position for an autonomous driving mode, the non-driving position being disposed away from the driving position in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the vehicle; and
a workstation mounted to the instrument panel, the workstation configurable into an accessible position during the autonomous driving mode and configurable into a stowed position housed within the instrument panel during the user driving mode, the workstation being rotatable and translatable from one configuration to another configuration and including a work surface extending from the instrument panel when in the accessible position, the work surface stored within the instrument panel in a space located above a wheel arch area of the autonomous vehicle when in the stowed position, the workstation further including an articulating arm operable to pivot from the stowed position into the accessible position, the articulating arm connected to a pivot assembly that includes a ball detent spring mechanism to provide preset detent positions of the articulating arm, the articulating arm including a front surface having an electronic user interface and a back surface, the front and back surfaces opposite one another, the articulating arm rotatable for access to the front surface and the back surface.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Ory Fabien

Classifications

• B60N3/001 Primary

  of tables or trays · CPC title

• B60N2/14

  rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/10 {, B60N2/2869} take precedence) · CPC title

• B60N3/002 Primary

  of trays · CPC title

• B60K37/06 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60K2370/70

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic