Modular unit identification in a modular upgradeable vehicle infotainment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016297301-A1
Application number	US-201615089789-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 4, 2016
Priority date	Apr 7, 2015
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An infotainment arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a non-permanent upgradeable portion non-permanently installed in the vehicle and replaceable in the vehicle. The non-permanent upgradeable portion has an electrical characteristic unique to a type or model of the non-permanent upgradeable portion. A permanent portion is in electronic communication with the non-permanent upgradeable portion. The permanent portion includes a plurality of non-upgradeable electronic components. The permanent non-upgradeable portion is permanently installed in the vehicle. The permanent non-upgradeable portion senses the unique electrical characteristic and thereby identifies the type or model of the non-permanent upgradeable portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An infotainment arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a non-permanent upgradeable portion configured to be non-permanently installed in the vehicle and to be replaceable in the vehicle, the non-permanent upgradeable portion having an electrical characteristic unique to a type or model of the non-permanent upgradeable portion; and a permanent portion in electronic communication with the non-permanent upgradeable portion, the permanent portion including a plurality of non-upgradeable electronic components, the permanent portion being configured to:
be permanently installed in the vehicle; and
sense the unique electrical characteristic and thereby identify the type or model of the non-permanent upgradeable portion.

2 . The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the non-permanent upgradeable portion is connected to the permanent portion by at least one cable or connector.

3 . The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the electrical characteristic of the non-permanent upgradeable portion comprises a resistance value of a resistor of the non-permanent upgradeable portion.

4 . The arrangement of claim 3 wherein the resistor of the non-permanent upgradeable portion comprises a first resistor, the permanent portion including a second resistor connected in series with the first resistor, the permanent portion being configured to sense the resistance value of the first resistor by determining a voltage drop across the second resistor.

5 . The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the non-permanent upgradeable portion is configured to be removed from the vehicle by pulling the non-permanent upgradeable portion out of the vehicle in a first single, linear motion in a first direction, and the non-permanent upgradeable portion is configured to be installed in the vehicle by pushing the non-permanent upgradeable portion into a recess of the vehicle in a second single, linear motion in a second direction opposite to the first direction until the non-permanent upgradeable portion snaps into place.

6 . The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the electrical characteristic of the non-permanent upgradeable portion comprises a level of current output of a current source of the non-permanent upgradeable portion.

7 . The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the electrical characteristic of the non-permanent upgradeable portion comprises a level of voltage output of a voltage source of the non-permanent upgradeable portion.

8 . A method of maintaining an infotainment system in a motor vehicle, comprising:
non-permanently installing a non-permanent upgradeable portion of the infotainment system in the vehicle, the non-permanent upgradeable portion including an electrical characteristic unique to a type or model of the non-permanent upgradeable portion; permanently installing a permanent portion of the infotainment system in the vehicle, the permanent portion including a plurality of non-upgradeable electronic components; performing electronic communication between the permanent portion and the non-permanent upgradeable portion; sensing the unique electrical characteristic; and identifying the type or model of the non-permanent upgradeable portion based on the sensing.

9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the electrical characteristic of the non-permanent upgradeable portion comprises a resistance value of a resistor of the non-permanent upgradeable portion.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the resistor of the non-permanent upgradeable portion comprises a first resistor, the permanent portion including a second resistor connected in series with the first resistor, the method further comprising using the permanent portion to sense the resistance value of the first resistor by determining a voltage drop across the second resistor.

11 . The method of claim 8 further comprising connecting the non-permanent upgradeable portion to the permanent portion by at least one cable or connector.

12 . The method of claim 11 further comprising:
communicatively coupling the non-permanent upgradeable portion to a personal electronic device; and
using a processor in the personal electronic device to perform a majority of processing required by the system.

13 . The method of claim 8 further comprising:
removing the non-permanent upgradeable portion from the vehicle by pulling the non-permanent upgradeable portion out of the vehicle in a first single, linear motion in a first direction; and
installing the upgraded non-permanent portion in the vehicle by pushing the upgraded non-permanent portion into a recess of the vehicle in a second single, linear motion in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

14 . The method of claim 8 wherein the electrical characteristic of the non-permanent upgradeable portion comprises a level of current output of a current source of the non-permanent upgradeable portion.

15 . The method of claim 8 wherein the electrical characteristic of the non-permanent upgradeable portion comprises a level of voltage output of a voltage source of the non-permanent upgradeable portion.

16 . The method of claim 8 wherein the permanent portion performs the sensing.

17 . A method of maintaining an infotainment system in a motor vehicle, comprising:
non-permanently installing a non-permanent upgradeable portion of the infotainment system in the vehicle, the non-permanent upgradeable portion including a resistor having a resistance unique to a type or model of the non-permanent upgradeable portion; permanently installing a permanent portion of the infotainment system in the vehicle, the permanent portion including a plurality of non-upgradeable electronic components; connecting the non-permanent upgradeable portion to the permanent portion; sensing a voltage and/or a current associated with the resistor; and identifying the type or model of the non-permanent upgradeable portion based on the sensing.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the non-permanent upgradeable portion is connected to the permanent portion by at least one cable or connector.

19 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:
communicatively coupling the non-permanent upgradeable portion to a personal electronic device; and
using a processor in the personal electronic device to perform a majority of processing required by the system.

20 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:
removing the non-permanent upgradeable portion from the vehicle by pulling the non-permanent upgradeable portion out of the vehicle in a first single, linear motion in a first direction; and
installing the upgraded non-permanent portion in the vehicle by pushing the upgraded non-permanent portion into a recess of the vehicle in a second single, linear motion in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

21 . The method of claim 17 wherein the resistor comprises a first resistor, the permanent portion including a second resistor electrically connected to the first resistor, the voltage associated with the first resistor comprises a voltage across the second resistor.

22 . The method of claim 17 wherein the permanent portion performs the sensing.

23 . The method of claim 17 further comprising performing electronic communication between the permanent portion and the non-permanent upgradeable portion.

Assignees

• Panasonic Automotive Systems Co America Division Of Panasonic Corp North America

Inventors

• Troemel Jr Hans A
• Burns Thomas R
• Riazantsev Volodymyr
• Postulga Sergii

Classifications

• G06F8/65 Primary

  Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) · CPC title

• G01S19/13 Primary

  Receivers · CPC title

• B60R2300/8066

  for monitoring rearward traffic · CPC title

• B60K35/00 Primary

  Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles · CPC title

• B60R1/00

  Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles · CPC title