Tablet computer dock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9690729-B2
Application number	US-201313757199-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2013
Priority date	Feb 1, 2013
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

A tablet computer dock for use in a passenger vehicle is configured to support a tablet computer for use or storage inside the passenger vehicle. The tablet computer dock illustratively includes a tablet receiver that defines a compartment sized to receive a tablet computer. The compartment is accessible through a slot sized to allow the tablet computer to pass into and out of the compartment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tablet computer dock comprising
a tablet receiver defining a compartment sized to receive a tablet computer, the compartment accessible through a slot, and
positioning means for moving a tablet computer removably inserted into the compartment through the slot from a use position in which an interface portion of the tablet computer is exposed outside the compartment and a supported portion of the tablet computer is received in the compartment to a stowed position in which the entire tablet computer is received inside the compartment so that the tablet computer is supported for operation by a user when the positioning means moves the tablet computer to the use position and so that the tablet computer is enclosed in the tablet receiver to discourage theft of the tablet computer when the positioning means moves the tablet computer to the stowed position,
wherein each component of the positioning means is located entirely within the compartment during movement of the tablet computer to each of the insert/eject, use, and stowed positions,
wherein the positioning means includes a controller, a sensor unit coupled to the controller and configured to detect when a tablet computer is inserted through the slot into the compartment, and a drive coupled to the controller, the drive coupled to the tablet receiver and arranged to engage a tablet computer inserted into the compartment through the slot,
wherein the drive includes a drive roller arranged inside the compartment to engage a tablet inserted into the compartment through the slot and a motor coupled to the drive roller,
wherein the sensor unit includes a drive sensor coupled to the motor and configured to detect electrical current in the motor created by rotation of the drive roller in response to a tablet computer being pushed into or pulled out of the compartment by a user.

2. The tablet computer dock of claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit includes an optical sensor configured to detect when a tablet computer is inserted into the compartment through the slot.

3. The tablet computer dock of claim 1 , wherein the tablet receiver includes a frame and a plurality of passive rollers coupled to the frame, the passive rollers arranged inside the compartment and arranged to engage opposing sides of a tablet computer inserted into the compartment through the slot.

4. The tablet computer dock of claim 3 , wherein the frame includes an insert guide coupled to the frame and formed to include a concave surface sized to correspond to a convex back side of a tablet computer.

5. A passenger vehicle comprising
an electrical system configured to communicate with a tablet computer, and
a tablet computer dock for supporting a tablet computer, the tablet computer dock including a tablet receiver defining a compartment sized to receive a tablet computer, the compartment accessible through a slot, and a tablet positioner including a controller, a sensor unit coupled to the controller and configured to detect when a tablet computer is inserted into the compartment through the slot, and a drive coupled to the controller and to the tablet receiver, the drive configured to engage a tablet computer inserted into the compartment through the slot and to move a tablet computer received in the compartment between an insert/eject position wherein an insert portion of a tablet computer is received in the compartment, a use position wherein a support portion, larger than the insert portion of a tablet computer, is received in the compartment, and a stowed position wherein all of a tablet computer is received in the compartment,
wherein the tablet receiver includes a frame and a plurality of passive rollers coupled to the frame, the passive rollers arranged inside the compartment and arranged to engage opposing sides of a tablet computer inserted into the compartment through the slot,
and further wherein the tablet receiver includes a support post is coupled to the frame providing support to the tablet computer while in the use position,
wherein each component of the tablet receiver is located entirely within the compartment during movement of the tablet computer to each of the insert/eject, use, and stowed positions,
wherein the drive includes a drive roller arranged inside the compartment to engage a tablet inserted into the compartment through the slot and a motor coupled to the drive roller,
wherein the sensor unit includes a drive sensor coupled to the motor and configured to detect electrical current in the motor created by rotation of the drive roller in response to a tablet computer being pushed into or pulled out of the compartment by a user.

6. The tablet computer dock of claim 5 , wherein the drive includes a drive roller arranged inside the compartment to engage a tablet inserted into the compartment through the slot and a motor coupled to the drive roller.

7. The passenger vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the sensor unit includes a drive sensor coupled to the motor and configured to detect electrical current in the motor created by rotation of the drive roller in response to a tablet computer being pushed into or pulled out of the compartment by a user.

8. The passenger vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the frame includes an insert guide coupled to the frame and formed to include a concave surface sized to correspond to a convex back side of a tablet computer.

9. The passenger vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the passenger vehicle includes a floor, a dashboard arranged above the floor, and a windshield extending upwardly from the dashboard.

10. The passenger vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the electrical system includes a user interface mounted to the dashboard, the compartment defined by the tablet receiver is inside the dashboard between the windshield and the user interface, and the compartment is arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the floor.

11. The passenger vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the compartment defined by the tablet receiver is inside the dashboard between the floor and the windshield, and the compartment is arranged in a plane substantially parallel to a plane defined by the floor.

12. The passenger vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the passenger vehicle includes a floor and a seat, and the tablet receiver is coupled to the seat.

13. A passenger vehicle comprising
an electrical system, and
a tablet computer dock for supporting a tablet computer, the tablet computer dock including a tablet receiver defining a compartment sized to receive a removable tablet computer, the compartment accessible through a slot, and a tablet positioner including a controller coupled to the electrical system, a sensor unit coupled to the controller, and a drive coupled to the controller, the drive configured to engage a tablet computer inserted into the compartment through the slot and to move the tablet computer between an insert/eject position wherein an insert portion of a tablet computer is received in the compartment, a use position wherein a support portion larger than the insert portion is received in the compartment and supported in this position by a support post coupled to a frame in the tablet receiver, and a stowed position wherein all of a tablet computer is received in the compartment,
wherein the sensor unit is configured to detect when a tablet computer is inserted into the compartment through the slot and to generate a tablet insert signal, the electrical system is configured to generate a vehicle on signal and a vehicle off signal, and the controller is configured to move a tablet computer inserted into the compartment through the slot from the insert/eject position to the use posit

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag
• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Jolda Matthew
• Grossman Jack
• Henze Stefan
• Toggweiler James

Classifications

• G09G2380/10

  Automotive applications · CPC title

• G06F13/36 Primary

  for access to common bus or bus system · CPC title

• G06F1/1626

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title

• G06F1/1632

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• B60R2011/0092

  with motorization · CPC title