System for storing at least one terminal device in a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for storing at least one terminal device (12) in a vehicle, wherein the system has a module (6) rotatable about an axis (10), wherein the module (6) has a front with a display field (5) and a rear with at least one interface (7) for temporarily and releasably attaching the at least one terminal device (12) to the rear of the module (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a system and a method for storing and / or storing at least one terminal device in a vehicle.

[0002] A stowage arrangement for stowing a mobile device on the instrument panel of a vehicle is known from publication DE 10 2020 216 492 A1.

[0003] From publication DE 10 2023 002 206 B3, a holding device for the interior of a motor vehicle for holding and electrically charging a mobile device is known.

[0004] A display device for a vehicle is known from publication US 2013 / 0 076 496 A1.

[0005] A device for holding objects in the interior of a motor vehicle is described in the publication DE 10 2008 057 914 A1.

[0006] Publication DE 10 2020 131 587 A1 shows a display for freestanding arrangement on a control panel of a motor vehicle.

[0007] The publication DE 10 2015 012 927 A1 describes a motor vehicle with a holding device for a mobile device, wherein the holding device is designed to rotate the mobile device about at least one axis of rotation and to change the orientation of the mobile device in relation to at least one vehicle occupant.

[0008] From the publication DE 20 2011 109 873 U1, a holding device for attaching an electronic device in the interior of a motor vehicle is known. This device comprises a base element on which a housing for the electronic device is arranged, pivotably mounted about a pivot axis.

[0009] A holding device for attaching a mobile communication device to a vehicle component is known from the publication DE 11 2014 006 411 B4, wherein the holding device has a drawer element which is designed as an interchangeable frame for positively locking the communication device.

[0010] Against this background, the challenge was to find a suitable way to store a mobile device in a vehicle.

[0011] This problem is solved by a system and a method with the features of the independent claims. Embodiments of the system and the method are described in the dependent claims and the description.

[0012] The system according to the invention is designed for storing, stowing, and / or placing at least one typically mobile and / or portable terminal device in a vehicle, for example, a motor vehicle, i.e., in the vehicle's interior. The system comprises a module, typically located in the interior and rotatable about an axis. This module has a front face with a display field or screen for showing content on, in, and / or across its front. Furthermore, the module has a rear face with at least one interface, typically with a retaining element, on, in, and / or across its rear face for temporarily and releasably mechanically attaching, connecting, and / or temporarily fixing the at least one terminal device to and / or across the rear face of the module. This module, or its rear face, can also be designed and / or designated as a storage area for the at least one terminal device.

[0013] The at least one interface is designed to temporarily and releasably attach the at least one terminal device to and / or on the rear surface by magnetic attraction. The at least one magnetic interface comprises at least one magnetic element, such as a permanent magnet and / or electromagnet, which attracts the at least one terminal device to the at least one interface and thus to the rear surface. The at least one terminal device is magnetically fixed and / or docked to the at least one interface and / or via the at least one interface on the rear surface. A magnetic surface connection and / or centering mechanism can be used to fix the terminal device to the interface. Such a temporary connection and / or fixation can be used to center several terminal devices, for example.Two inductive interfaces are used for energy transmission, with the magnetic interfaces transmitting energy, e.g., synchronously, to multiple end devices. Furthermore, the at least one mechanical interface can be designed, for example, as a screw connection, a clip connection, or a vacuum connection that includes at least one suction cup.

[0014] The system, module, and / or interface includes at least one receiver amplifier, e.g., an additional antenna, for the at least one terminal device. This receiver amplifier amplifies signals for radio communication between the at least one terminal device and at least one communication device outside the vehicle, both when stationary and while the vehicle is in motion. The module and / or its display field is / are typically rectangular, e.g., square. A rectangular module and / or a rectangular display field has a long and a short axis of symmetry, with either the long or the short axis of symmetry typically arranged and / or oriented upright, and usually largely horizontally, within the vehicle's interior, at least when stowed.

[0015] The module and / or the at least one interface includes at least one inductive charger for the at least one terminal device, wherein an electrical energy storage device, e.g., a battery, of the at least one terminal device is inductively charged by the at least one charger during a charging process. The at least one terminal device can communicate with the module and / or the at least one interface, wherein the module and / or the at least one interface detects, by means of a sensor provided for this purpose and / or automatically, that the at least one terminal device is being or has been positioned at the at least one interface, e.g., manually, thereby activating a magnetic attraction for the at least one terminal device, which is then attracted to the module and temporarily attached to the module.Furthermore, at least one terminal device can transmit the current state of charge of its energy storage to the module and / or the at least one interface, whereby the charging process is automatically started and carried out when the state of charge is at least as low as a minimum threshold provided and / or set for this purpose, and where the charging process is automatically terminated when the state of charge is at least as high as a minimum threshold provided and / or set for this purpose, e.g. 100%.

[0016] The method according to the invention is provided for storing and / or placing at least one terminal device in the interior of a vehicle, generally using an embodiment of the system described above. The system comprises a module rotatable about an axis. The module has a front face with a display field arranged on, in, and / or at the front face. Furthermore, the module has a rear face opposite the front face with at least one interface arranged on, in, and / or at the front face, which typically includes, for example, a magnetic and / or mechanical retaining element with which the at least one terminal device is temporarily and releasably attached and / or fixed to and / or at the rear face of the module.

[0017] On the back of the module with the display field or screen, at least one terminal device, e.g., designed and / or designated as a smartphone, can be magnetically attached and / or held in place, charged via an inductive and / or electrical charging process, and / or its reception and transmission of signals via electromagnetic waves can be amplified by at least one receiver amplifier of the system, e.g., a router, either within the module or outside the module in the vehicle, wherein the at least one terminal device communicates with the receiver amplifier, e.g., via Bluetooth and / or WLAN, and the receiver amplifier communicates with the at least one communication device outside the vehicle, wherein the at least one terminal device communicates indirectly via radio with the at least one external communication device, supported by the at least one receiver amplifier.

[0018] The display on the front can be touch-sensitive and, for example, designed as a vehicle control touch display, with at least one end device, such as a smartphone or multiple smartphones, being placed behind the display on the back of the module and / or temporarily attached to it. The module can also serve as a housing for the display and include controls for the content displayed by the display. The display content of the end device can also be transferred to the display in the module via the at least one interface, with automatic mirroring of the end device's display content. The mirrored display content of the end device can be operated via a touch display and / or a control element of the module and / or the vehicle.This process typically involves the transmission of video information and / or user interface information between the device and the module. Data, such as display content, remains on the device and is rendered there.

[0019] In this embodiment of the method, the module can be rotated around the axis and automatically rotated and positioned in various orientations and / or positions. The system typically includes a shaft, a kinematic mechanism, and / or a drive, such as an actuator, for automatically and / or manually rotating the module, by which it is rotatably mounted to a component in the vehicle around the axis. The axis is usually oriented horizontally or, alternatively, vertically. If the axis is horizontally oriented, it can pass through the center of the module, through a lower or upper section or edge of the module. The axis, for example,The axis of rotation of the module and / or for the module may run along a designated position at a height of the module if the axis is horizontally aligned and / or oriented, or along a designated position at a width of the module if the axis is vertically aligned and / or oriented.

[0020] When in a stowed position, the module shades and cools the at least one device from direct sunlight shining through a window of the vehicle, such as a windshield. The axis around which the device rotates can be aligned and / or oriented parallel to a transverse axis of the vehicle (usually horizontal), parallel to a longitudinal axis (usually horizontal), parallel to the vehicle's forward direction of travel, or parallel to a vertical axis (usually vertical). Depending on the interior design, such as that of a cockpit, this can facilitate access to the at least one device and / or its storage location.Additionally, it is possible that the module and / or the axis can be moved as a component of the system in the interior along the transverse axis, along the longitudinal axis and / or along the vertical axis via a sliding mechanism.

[0021] One position for the module relative to the vehicle's interior is a stowed position for the system, the module, and / or the at least one attached terminal device. In this position, the display field on the front of the module is rotated forward and oriented towards the vehicle's interior, while the at least one terminal device attached to the rear is concealed by the module. Another position for the system, the module, and / or the at least one terminal device is a release position. In this position, the at least one interface on the rear of the module is rotated upward and / or forward and oriented towards the vehicle's interior, making the at least one terminal device and / or its display field visible and freely accessible within the vehicle's interior.

[0022] If a user, such as the driver, enters the stationary vehicle, the module automatically rotates into the release position for the user or any occupant, if it is not already in this position. The rear side, with its at least one interface, remains freely accessible, allowing the occupant to manually place a device at the interface. The device is then recognized and attached, typically by magnetic attraction. Once the device is attached, and / or at the start of the vehicle's journey, it is automatically rotated into the stowed position by the module.As soon as the journey ends and / or the vehicle is stopped and / or parked, the at least one terminal device is automatically rotated into the release position by the module when the vehicle stops and / or parks, whereby it can be manually detached, removed and / or taken out from the at least one interface, whereby in an embodiment it is possible that the magnetic attraction and / or a corresponding force, which is set for temporarily attaching and / or attracting the at least one terminal device, is reduced by the at least one interface and that detaching the at least one terminal device from the back of the module is facilitated.

[0023] Rotating the module and the at least one attached terminal device between the release position and the stowed position can be done manually or automatically, depending on the situation, user behavior, and / or the occupant's habits. Before leaving the stopped and / or parked vehicle, the at least one terminal device is preferably rotated automatically from the stowed position to the release position and made available to the occupant and / or released for use. The rotatable module is typically flat and has sufficient thickness to accommodate the display and, if applicable, the at least one interface, provided it is at least partially located within the module. Rotating the module into the stowed position tidies up and / or stows the at least one terminal device within the vehicle.

[0024] The system is designed for storing, placing, and / or stowing at least one mobile communication and / or data processing device as an end device in the vehicle. This end device can be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a watch for communication and / or data processing (e.g., a smartwatch), or VR or XR glasses, which can be stored and inductively charged within the vehicle using the system. The module can be positioned centrally in front of or within the vehicle's center console. Because the end device is concealed and / or covered by the module when stowed, the driver, as a passenger, is no longer distracted by the device's display.If at least one terminal device has and / or can perform a telephone and / or notification function, the display content of the terminal device in the stowed position can be automatically shown on the module's display panel if a telephone call and / or message is received. If the display panel is touch-sensitive, the terminal device can be operated manually via the display panel when it is in the stowed position, with control commands being forwarded from the manually operated display panel of the module to the terminal device.

[0025] By placing and / or docking the at least one terminal device at the at least one interface, it is automatically mechanically and / or magnetically connected to it, attracted to it, and / or held in place. Furthermore, the at least one terminal device is communicatively connected to the at least one interface, and thus also to the vehicle connected to the at least one interface, for the purpose of wireless signal exchange. This is done, for example, via Bluetooth. ® (BT) and / or near field communication (NFC) is possible, whereby BT and / or NFC can be used as a trigger for activating special functions, such as pairing at least one end device with the vehicle via BT.

[0026] It is possible that an embodiment of the presented system is configured to carry out an embodiment of the presented method, wherein the embodiment of the presented method is carried out with the embodiment of the presented system.

[0027] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without leaving the scope of the present invention.

[0028] The invention is schematically illustrated with reference to embodiments in the drawing and is described schematically and in detail with reference to the drawing.

[0029] Fig. 1a, Fig. 1b, Fig. 1c, Fig. Figure 1d shows in schematic representation an embodiment of the system according to the invention when carrying out an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0030] The figures are described in a coherent and comprehensive manner. The same reference symbols are assigned to the same components.

[0031] The Fig. 1a, Fig. 1b, Fig. 1c and Fig. Figure 1d each shows a section of the interior of a vehicle, here designed as a motor vehicle, in which a steering wheel 2 and a center console 4 are arranged. The figures shown are... Fig. 1a and Fig. 1c shows the interior and the system along a transverse axis of the vehicle, starting from a front seat in the vehicle in a top view. Fig. 1b and Fig. Figure 1d shows the interior and the system in a sectional view along a longitudinal axis or a forward direction of travel of the vehicle.

[0032] The system comprises a flat module 6 with a front and a back, the front of which incorporates a display field 5. An interface 7 is located on the back of the module 6. The module 6 is rotatably mounted on a component in the vehicle, centrally located next to the steering wheel 2 and in the forward direction in front of the center console 4, via a shaft 8, about a horizontally oriented axis 10. The shaft 8, and thus the module 6, is driven by a kinematic mechanism (not shown) and can be rotated about the axis 10 between different positions.

[0033] In the embodiment of the method according to the invention, two mobile devices 12, here so-called smartphones, are fixed to or on the back of the module 6 and arranged temporarily and releasably. The mobile devices 12 are attracted to this attachment by at least one magnetic element of the interface 7 on the back.

[0034] Furthermore, module 6 is / is located here in the Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b During vehicle travel, the module is automatically rotated into a stowed position in which the front of module 6 faces the interior and the display field 5 located therein is visible. In the Fig. 1c and Fig.1d, when the vehicle stops, is parked and / or comes to a standstill, the front of the module 6 is rotated downwards into a release position, with an upper edge of the module 6 resting on the center console 4 and the rear of the module 6 with the interface 7 arranged therein being rotated upwards, with the terminal devices 12 attached to the rear being oriented upwards in the interior.

[0035] In the release position, when the rear of module 6 is freely accessible, an end device 12 can be manually positioned on or attached to the rear, where it is detected by interface 7 and automatically attracted. An end device 12 that is already temporarily attached to the rear can be manually detached and / or released from interface 7 by overcoming an attractive magnetic force and can still be removed from the vehicle.

[0036] If a terminal device 12 is temporarily attached to the rear, the method allows for the inductive charging of the terminal device's electrical energy storage device via interface 7, with electrical energy being transferred from interface 7 to the energy storage device. Furthermore, interface 7 includes a receiver amplifier for radio communication between the terminal device 12 and the terminal device.

[0037] In the system shown here, the rectangular module 6 and the rectangular display 5 are arranged vertically, at least in the stowed position. Alternatively, the module 6 and the display 5 can be arranged horizontally inside the unit. In this case, the display 5 has a smaller surface area than the module 6, which also serves as the housing for the display 5. It is also possible for the display 5 and the module 6 to have the same surface area, with the display 5 completely covering the front of the module 6. REFERENCE MARK: 2 Steering wheel 4 Center console 5 Display field Module 6 7 Interface 8 wave 10-axis 12 End device

Claims

System for storing at least one terminal device (12) in a vehicle, wherein the system has a module (6) rotatable about an axis (10), the module (6) having a front with a display field (5) and a rear with at least one interface (7) for temporarily and releasably attaching the at least one terminal device (12) to the rear of the module (6). System according to claim 1, wherein the at least one interface (7) is configured to attach the at least one terminal device (12) to the rear by magnetic attraction. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the module (6) has at least one receiver amplifier for the at least one terminal device (12). System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the module (6) has at least one charger for the at least one terminal device (12). Method for storing at least one terminal device (12) in a vehicle with a system comprising a module (6) rotatable about an axis (10), wherein the module (6) has a front with a display field (5) and a rear with at least one interface (7) by which the at least one terminal device (12) is temporarily and detachably attached to the rear of the module (6). Method according to claim 5, wherein in a stowed position of the system the display field (5) is rotated forward and oriented towards an interior of the vehicle and wherein in a release position of the system the at least one interface (7) is rotated upward and oriented towards the interior of the vehicle. Method according to claim 6, wherein the module (6) is rotated into the stow position and arranged in the stow position during a journey of the vehicle and wherein the module (6) is rotated into the release position and arranged in the release position during a stop of the vehicle. Method according to one of claims 5 to 7, for storing a mobile communication and / or data processing device as an end device (12).

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