CA2324647A1 - Dual panel vehicular display system - Google Patents

A display system for use with a vehicle is provided. The display system typically includes a base configured to be mounted to the vehicle, a driver-oriented display coupled to the base, and a passenger-oriented display coupled to the base. The passenger-oriented display is oriented in a position that is viewable by a passenger seated in the front passenger seat, but not viewable by a driver seated in the driver seat of the vehicle.
Typically, entertainment is displayed on the passenger display, and driving information is displayed on either the driver display or the passenger display.

DUAL PANEL VEHICULAR DISPLAY SYSTEM
Technical Field The present invention relates generally to display devices, and more particularly to display devices for use in vehicles.
Backnround of the Invention Vehicular display devices have become increasingly popular in recent years. Passengers use these devices to view entertainment such as movies and driving information such as maps. However, laws in many regions prohibit displaying entertainment on a display that is viewable by the driver. As a result, current vehicles typically do not come equipped with display devices for entertainment located anywhere forward of the backrest of the driver's seat. This results in a less pleasurable riding experience for the front-seat passenger, because the front-seat passenger is not provided a screen on which to view entertainment.
Summary of the Invention A display system for use with a vehicle is provided. According to one aspect of the invention, the display system includes a base configured to be mounted to the vehicle, a driver-oriented display coupled to the base, and a passenger-oriented display coupled to the base. The passenger-oriented display is oriented in a position that is viewable by a passenger seated in the front passenger's seat, but not viewable by a driver seated in the driver's seat of the vehicle. The system may also include a controller configured to receive signals from a plurality of display sources and to selectively send these signals to the passenger display and driver display. Typically, the controller is co~gured not to send entertainment-related display source signals to the driver display.
The driving-related content may be displayed on the driver display and/or passenger display, and the entertainment-related content is displayed on the passenger display. In addition, infra- or extra-vehicular camera views may be displayed on the driver and/or passenger displays.
The display system typically includes a first display source configured to produce a first output video signal, and a second display source configured to produce a second output video signal. A controller is configured to route the first output video signal from the first display source to the driver display, and the second output signal from the second display source to the passenger display. Alternatively, a signal from a single source may be routed to both the passenger display and driver display.
In one embodiment of the invention, the display system includes a display unit having a base configured to mount to the ceiling of a vehicle adjacent an upper central portion of a front windshield of the vehicle. The driver display is angled to be viewable by a driver sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle. The passenger display is angled to be viewable by a passenger sitting in the front passenger seat of the vehicle.
The driver display and the passenger display typically are positioned to face away from each other. An entertainment-related display source is linked selectively to the passenger display of the display unit. A driving-related display source is linked selectively to the driver display of the display unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a display system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a front side of a display unit of the display system of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a back side of the display unit of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a cutaway side view of a vehicle including the display system of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a cutaway top view of the vehicle of Fig. 4.
Detailed Description Turning initially to Fig. 1, a display system according to the present invention is shown generally at 10. Display system 10 typically includes a display unit 12 including a passenger display 14, and a driver display 16, each linked to a controller 18. Controller 18 is configured to select an input signal source from among display sources 24 to display on each of passenger display 14 and driver display 16.
Typically, passenger display 14 and driver display 16 are flat panel liquid crystal display (LCD) type displays. Alternatively, another suitable display type may be used. For example, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display may be used.
Display unit 12 typically is linked to a passenger display control 20 and a driver display control 22 via controller 18. Passenger display control 20 and driver display control 22 each include respective on/off switches 80, 84 and respective input source selectors 82, 86.

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On/off switches 80, 84 and -input source selectors 82, 86 are typically switches formed on a membrane keyboard. Alternatively, virtually any other form of selector or switch may be used.
On/off switch 80 is configured to activate and deactivate passenger display 14. Input source selector 82 is configured-to select a respective display source signal from display sources 24 to display on passenger display 14. Similarly, on/of~
switch 84 is configured to activate and deactivate driver display 16. Input source selector 86 is configured to select a respective display source signal from display sources 24 to display on driver display 16. Selectors 82, 86 may be adjusted to send signals from different display sources to each of passenger display 14 and driver display 16.
However, it also will be understood that selectors 82, 86 may be adjusted to send a signal from the same display source to both displays.
Input display sources 24 typically include cameras 26, such as front view camera 28, rear view camera 30, front seat passenger view camera 32, driver view camera 34, passenger side rear-seat view camera 36, and driver side rear-seat view camera 38. Input display sources 24 also include source unit 40, which includes entertainment-related display sources 42 and driving-related display sources 44.
Entertainment-related display sources 42 typically include a media player 46, which may be a video player such as a video cassette player (VCP) or a digital video disk (DVD) player configured to play a prerecorded video program.
Entertainment-related display sources 42 also may include a broadcast receiver 48 configured to receive a broadcast signal of a broadcast video program.

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Driving-related display sources 44 typically include a navigation unit 50, vehicle computer 52, and trip computer 54. Navigation unit 50 may be configured to generate a display of a map or other navigation information that is stored on a CD-ROM.
Navigation unit 50 also may include a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, which senses the position of vehicle 11. Using position information from the GPS
receiver and stored map information, unit 50 typically is configured to generate a map of the current surroundings of vehicle 11.
Vehicle computer 52 may be configured to generate a display featuring a vehicle operating parameter, such as vehicle speed, engine ipm, fuel level, engine temperature, oil temperature, oil level, or fuel consumption. Trip computer 54 may be configured to generate a display featuring driving conditions such as exten~al temperature, weather information, andlor road condition information. Each of input display sources 24 is configured to produce a video signal that may be routed via controller 18 to either or both of driver and passenger displays 14, 16. .
Display system 10 further may include a vehicle status sensor 78 configured to sense whether vehicle 11, shown in Figs. 4-5, has a predetermined status.
Typically, the predetermined status is whether vehicle 11 is running, versus being turned off or in accessory mode. This may be detected by sensing the position of an ignition switch on vehicle 11. Alternatively, vehicle status sensor 78 is configured to detect the predetermined status of whether the vehicle is in motion (via, e.g., a speedometer, accelerometer, or optical sensor), or alternatively, whether the vehicle transmission is in gear (e.g., Drive, 1~' speed, 2°d speed, 3'd speed, etc.).

If vehicle 11 is running, or alternatively is in motion or in gear, selector is configured to prohibit entertainment-related content sources 42, such as media player 46 or broadcast receiver 48 from display on driver display 16.
In one embodiment of the invention, system 10 includes the following display sources 24, which controller 18 and selectors 82, 86 are configured to selectively display on the passenger display 14 and driver display 16 in the following manner.
Display Sources Displayable on Passenger Display Dis la Sources Dis layable on Driver Entertainment Media Player 46 Rear View Camera 30 Front Passenger Camera 32 (Vanity Minor) Navigation Unit 50 Rear Seat Cameras 36, 38 Rear Seat Cameras 36, 38 Turning now to Fig. 2, it will be appreciated that display unit 12 typically includes a driver side member 56 and a passenger side member 58 mounted to a central support member 60 facing away from each other at an angle Y, which is greater than 180 degrees. Typically, members 56, 58 are symmetric about longitudinal axis 62 (Fig. 3).
However, it will be appreciated that an asymmetric arrangement may also be used.
As can be seen in Fig. 3, driver side member 56 and passenger side member 58 are angled downward at an angle a from vertical. Typically, angle a is between about 0 and 25 degrees. In one embodiment of the invention, angle a is between about 10 and degrees, and in the depicted embodiment of the invention, is about 12 degrees.
In addition, each of driver side member 56 and passenger side member 58 are swept back at an angle ~i relative to longitudinal axis 62 of display unit 12. Typically, angle (3 is between about 0 and 90 degrees. In one embodiment of the invention, angle ~i 20 is between about 40 and 65 degrees, and in the depicted embodiment is about 55 degrees.

f°h Driver side member 56 and passenger side member 58 are rectangular in shape, but virtually any shape may be used. In addition, while driver side member 56 and passenger side member 58 are mounted in a fixed orientation relative to elongate support member 60, it will be appreciated that hinges or sliders may be provided such that driver side member 56 and passenger side member 58 may rotate horizontally andlor vertically such that angles a and (3 may be adjusted.
Display unit 12 also includes a base, also referred to herein as a ceiling mount 64, configured to mount to a ceiling 11 a of vehicle 11. Ceiling mount 64 is typically mounted, adjacent a central upper portion of windshield l lb.
Ceiling mount 64 typically is attached in a fixed orientation to elongate support member 60, driver side member 56, and passenger side member 58. However, it will be appreciated that an adjustment mechanism may be provided to enable a user to rotate or adjust the angle of elongate support member 60 relative to ceiling mount 64. It will be appreciated that while base 64 typically is configured to mount to the ceiling of vehicle 11, it also may be configured to mount elsewhere on vehicle 11, such as on the dashboard.
Display unit 12 fiuther includes front passenger view camera 32 and driver view camera 34. Typically, camera 32 is mounted in a fixed orientation relative to driver side member 56. Similarly, camera 34 typically is mounted in a fixed orientation relative to passenger side member 58. Cameras 32 and 34 are aimed to view the driver and front-seat passenger, respectively. Alternatively, cameras 32 and 34 may be mounted on an adjustable mount that allows a user to aim the camera. For example, camera 32 or 34 may be mounted on a ball joint allowing the camera to be adjusted up and down and side to side. In addition, cameras 32 and 34 may be- equipped with a zoom mechanism, enabling the user to zoom in and zoom out at the user's command.
Display unit 12 further typically includes dome light 65a and reading lights 65b and 65c. Dome light 65a is operated by a dimmer switch 69 positioned on elongate support member 60. Reading lights 65b and 65c are operated via switches 66, 68, respectively.
Turning now to Figs. 4 and 5, display unit 12 typically is mounted in vehicle 11 in a position forward of and between driver seat 70 and front passenger seat 72. The angle (3 (Fig. 3) at which the passenger side screen is angled away from longitudinal axis 62 typically is selected such that the passenger display 14 is not viewable by the driver when the driver is seated in driver seat 70. Thus, entertainment related content, such as movies, television broadcasts, etc. may be displayed on passenger display 14 without being viewable by the driver.
Typically, display unit 12 is mounted in an overhead position on the ceiling lla of vehicle 11 in a position horizontally centered and adjacent a top portion of windshield l lb. This position usually is occupied by a conventional rear-view mirror on a vehicle. By displaying the image taken from rear-view camera 30 (along field of view 30a) on driver display 16, display unit 12 can function as a rear-view mirror.
In addition, via passenger display control 20 and driver display control 22, the passenger and driver may select to display a field of view 28a, 30~ 32~
34a, 36~ or 38a taken by cameras 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, and 38, respectively, on either or both of driver display 16 and passenger display 14. In this way, the driver and/or front-seat passenger r_v 'L
may look to the display unit to see a field of view forward of the vehicle (28~, rearward of the vehicle (30a), of the front seat passenger (32a), of the driver (34a), or of one of the rear seat passengers (36a; 38J.
The display unit 12 is said to be in Vanity Minor Mode when the driver display is set to display an image of the driver taken by camera 34 (or when the passenger display is set to display an image of the passenger taken by camera 32). In addition, controller 18 may be configured to rotate sequentially through a view of each of a subset of these camera images automatically.
Passenger 74 also may use passenger display control 20 to select entertainment related content sources 42 such as media player 46 or broadcast receiver 48 on passenger display 14. In addition, passenger 74 may use passenger display control 20 to select driving-related content such as a map or other navigation information from navigation unit 50 or a vehicle-operating parameter from vehicle computer 52 or driving condition information from trip computer 54 on passenger display 14.
Typically, images from all of the display sources 24 (including cameras 26, entertainment-related display sources 40, and driving-related display sources 42) may be displayed on the passenger display 14.
Driver 76 also may use driver display control 22 to select from among the various forms of driving-related information provided by navigation unit 50, vehicle computer 52, and trip computer 54. However, driver display control 22 and controller 18 typically are configured to prohibit driver 76 from viewing images from entertainment-related display sources 42 such as media player 46 or broadcast receiver 48 on driver display 16 while vehicle 11 is running or, alternatively, in motion or in gear.
In one embodiment of the invention, controller 18 is configured never to allow the display of entertainment-related display sources 42 on driver display 16. In another embodiment of the invention, controller 18 is linked to a vehicle status sensor 78, which is configured to sense the driving status of the vehicle. The vehicle status sensor is typically configured to sense whether the vehicle's ignition is in accessory mode, via, for example, an ignition circuit of the vehicle. While the vehicle's engine is running, controller 18 typically prohibits entertainment-related content sources 42 from being displayed on driver display 16. However, when the vehicle status sensor senses that the vehicle is in accessory mode, the controller 18 is configured to enable the driver to select entertainment-related content source 42 via display selector 22 for viewing on driver display 16.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, vehicle status sensor 78 may be configured to sense another status of the vehicle, such as whether the vehicle is in motion, and instruct controller 18 to limit display of entertainment-related content on driver display 16 accordingly, as described above.
The present display system may be used to present driving-related display sources and various camera views to the driver, while at the same time enabling a passenger to view entertainment, driving-related display sources, and/or various camera views on a passenger display that is not viewable by the driver.
l0 s...y_ Although the invention has been disclosed in selected forms, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the invention includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the S various elements, features, functions; and/or properties disclosed herein.
No single feature, function, element or property of the disclosed embodiments is essential. The following claims define certain combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties that are regarded as novel and nonobvious. Other combinations and subcombinations may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether they are broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to any earlier claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the invention.