Motor vehicle equipped with a modular docking station to house a portable communication device

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (1) equipped with a mounting unit (2) integrated into the vehicle's cockpit to house a portable communication device. The mounting unit comprises a housing (4) containing an electronic circuit configured for radio frequency communication with a communication device located in a specific area of ​​the housing, a first support element (5) mounted on top of the housing, and a second support element (6) movable relative to the first support element between at least a first and a second position. Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle equipped with a modular housing unit for a portable communication device. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicle interiors. In particular, the invention relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a mounting system integrated into the vehicle's cockpit to house a portable communication device. The mounting system comprises a housing containing an electronic circuit configured for radio frequency communication with a communication device located in a specific area of ​​the housing, a first support element mounted on top of the housing, and a second support element movable relative to the first support element between at least a first and a second position. The invention is particularly applicable to cars. Prior art

[0002] It is known that motor vehicles were formerly unlocked and started using an ignition key. Nowadays, instead of traditional ignition keys, vehicles are generally unlocked and started using portable communicating devices that can take various forms, such as a card, a transmitter or connected key, also called a key fob, or even a smartphone for some of the most modern vehicles. To interact with these devices, manufacturers have had to develop means of storing them in the passenger compartment, particularly to allow interaction with them at the time of starting, generally using near-field communication technology.However, due to the diversity of available communication devices, particularly the various smartphone models on the market, for which the placement of components enabling near-field communication can differ from one smartphone to another, and also because vehicle owners may choose to prioritize one communication device over another, the methods manufacturers have thus far devised for housing communication devices in the passenger compartment remain ergonomically flawed. Indeed, some vehicles are equipped with a slot or mount designed to interact with a connected card or dongle, but this is not suitable for using a smartphone. Conversely, other vehicles have a slot or mount that allows interaction with a smartphone, but this is incompatible with interacting with a connected card or dongle. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention aims to solve these problems. In particular, it aims to provide a solution for housing within the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle all the types of communicating devices listed above that can currently be used to interact with vehicle starting systems. In this way, the invention aims to enable the provision of more ergonomic motor vehicles.

[0004] To achieve these goals, the invention relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a mounting assembly integrated into the vehicle's cockpit to house a portable communication device, the mounting assembly comprising a housing containing an electronic circuit configured for communication by radio frequency signals with a communication device placed in a zone of the housing, a first support element which surmounts the housing and a second support element movable relative to the first support element between at least a first position and a second position, the second support element comprising a first pad formed and positioned to slide in a first rail cut into a first fixed guide of the mounting assembly and a second pad formed and positioned to slide in a second rail cut into the first guide,The second pad is shaped to fit into a first notch in the second rail of the first guide when the second support element is in the first position, and into a second notch in the second rail of the first guide when the second support element is in the second position. The second pad is flexible so that a force applied to the second support element causes it to be extracted from either the first or second notch of the second rail of the first guide.

[0005] According to one variant, the receiving element may include a second immobilized guide and the second support element may include a third stud formed and positioned to slide in a first rail cut into the second guide and a fourth stud formed and positioned to slide in a second rail cut into the second guide, the fourth stud being formed to fit into a first notch made in the second rail of the second guide when the second support element is in the first position and into a second notch made in the second rail of the second guide when the support element is in the second position, the fourth stud being flexible so that a force exerted on the second support element causes it to be extracted from the first notch or the second notch of the second rail of the second guide.

[0006] According to another variant, the reception unit can be integrated within the central console of the vehicle.

[0007] According to yet another variant, the first guide and the second guide can be immobilized by an element, a trim and / or a structure of the center console.

[0008] According to yet another variant, the first guide and the second guide can be integral with the first support element which can be fixed to the central console.

[0009] According to yet another variant, the first support element may include a parallelepiped-shaped cavity.

[0010] According to yet another variant, the second support element can form a reception surface having a U-shaped profile.

[0011] According to yet another variant, the second support element can overcome the first support element.

[0012] According to yet another variant, the housing, the first support element, the second support element, the first guide and the second guide can be inclined towards the front of the vehicle.

[0013] According to yet another variant, the receiving assembly may include an electric motor to exert a force on the second support element. Brief description of the figures

[0014] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying figures, in which:

[0015] [Fig-1] represents a view of part of the cockpit of a motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0016] [Fig.2] represents views of a motor vehicle reception assembly according the invention;

[0017] [Fig.3] represents a view of a housing and a view of a first support element of a reception assembly of a motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0018] [Fig.4] represents a first view and a second view of a second element support for a vehicle mounting assembly according to the invention; and

[0019] [Fig.5] represents a first view and a second view of one or more guides of a reception assembly of a motor vehicle according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0020] Figure 1 illustrates a view of a portion of the cockpit of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. Advantageously, this cockpit includes a housing 2 for a portable communication device used for identification purposes, particularly when starting the vehicle. Preferably, the housing 2 is integrated into the center console 3 of the vehicle 1. Alternatively, it is integrated into another element of the vehicle 1's cockpit.

[0021] The receiving assembly 2 includes a housing 4 which contains an electronic circuit configured for communication by radio frequency signals, preferably using near-field communication technology, with a communicating device positioned in an area of ​​the housing 4, preferably located at its upper part. It also includes a first support element 5 which is mounted on top of the housing 4 and a second support element 6 which is movable relative to the first support element 5 between at least a first and a second position. The second support element 6 is guided by at least one guide 7.

[0022] According to the preferred embodiment, the second support element 6 is mounted on top of the first support element 5. Alternatively, the positions of these elements are reversed. Furthermore, it can be seen that the housing 4, the first support element 5, the second support element 6, and the first guide 7 are preferably inclined towards the front of the vehicle. This allows for greater stability of a communicating device mounted on the first 5 and / or the second support element 6.

[0023] Figure 2 shows two detailed views of the cradle assembly 2, in particular on the left a view when the second support element 6 is in the first position, which, when the interaction area of ​​the electronic circuit integrated into the housing 4 is located in the upper part of the housing 4, allows interaction by radio frequency signals with a connected key or a card placed on the second support element 6 and, on the right, a view when the second support element 6 is in the second position, which allows interaction by radio frequency signals with a smartphone placed on the second support element 6. As will be seen below, the position of the second support element 6 can advantageously be changed by applying a slight force to it, preferably manually or possibly by means of an electric motor (not shown) which is integrated into the cradle assembly 2.As can be seen, the reception assembly 2 preferentially includes a second guide 8 which allows the guidance of the second support element 6. To allow this guidance, the first 7 and the second guide 8 are immobilized by an element, a trim and / or a structure of the center console 3. Alternatively, they are integral with the first support element 5, which is itself fixed to the center console 3, possibly via the housing 4.

[0024] In [Fig.3], on the left, the housing 4 of the reception assembly is seen and, on the right, the first support element 5. The housing 4 preferably includes a first fixing tab 9a and a second fixing tab 9b which allow it to be fixed to the central console 3 or to the first support element 5. The first support element 5 forms a cavity 10, preferably parallelepiped in shape in order to stably house a smartphone as well as a connected card or key.

[0025] Figure 4 shows, on the left, a view of the second support element 6 and, on the right, a detail of its upper right part. As can be clearly seen here, the second support element 6 forms a receiving surface having a U-shaped profile. This contributes to the improved stability of a communicating device mounted on the second support 6. Furthermore, the second support element 6 comprises at least one first pad 11 and at least one second pad 12 formed on its upper right side, intended to cooperate with the first guide 7. Alternatively, it comprises identical pads in its lower right part, as seen in the left-hand view. In addition, on the opposite side, similar pads are preferentially formed in its upper and lower parts, so as to interact with the second guide 8.

[0026] Figure 5 shows, on the left, the guides in which these supports slide. In particular, the left-hand view shows the first guide 7 in which the first support 11 and the second support 12 slide. The right-hand view of this figure shows the detail of the first guide 7, specifically a first rail 13 in which the first support 11 slides and a second rail 14 cut parallel to the first rail 13. The second rail 14 has a notch 15 at its upper end into which the second support 12 is inserted when the second support element 6 is in the first position. The second rail 14 also has a second notch at its lower end into which the second support 12 is inserted when the second support element 6 is in the second position. Thanks to these notches, the second support element 6 is held in either the first or second position. Furthermore, the second support 12 is flexible due to its dimensions.This is how its extraction from the first or second notch is enabled when a force is applied to the second support element 6, whether manually or by means of an electric motor. Thus, the primary guidance of the second support element 6 is actually ensured by the first lug 11, which slides in the first rail 13, while the retention of the second support element 6 in its first or second position is ensured by the second lug 12, the first notch 15, and the second notch of the second rail 14. Obviously, the invention is not limited to two notches, and a greater number of notches can be considered, depending on the number of predetermined positions desired.Furthermore, these features that apply to the first guide 7 apply in the same way to the second guide 8, the latter also being provided with a first rail 16 and a second rail 17, the latter cooperating with the flexible pad(s) located opposite the second pad 12 and also being provided with a first notch 18 and a second notch 19 (or more). Thus, thanks to the guides and the flexible pads, the assembly of the mounting bracket 2 is made completely modular so that it can accommodate all the communicating devices mentioned in the preamble and thus advantageously allow their use for starting the vehicle 1 according to the invention.

[0027] Thus, thanks to the invention, a solution exists for housing in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle all types of communicating devices that can currently be used to interact with a vehicle's starting systems for identification purposes when the vehicle is started. In this way, the invention enables the provision of more ergonomic motor vehicles.

Claims

1.

2. Demands Motor vehicle (1) equipped with a mounting assembly (2) integrated into the vehicle cockpit to house a portable communication device, the mounting assembly comprising a housing (4) which contains an electronic circuit configured for communication by radio frequency signals with a communication device placed in an area of ​​the housing, a first support element (5) which surmounts the housing and a second support element (6) movable relative to the first support element between at least a first position and a second position, characterized in that the second support element comprises a first pad (11) formed and positioned to slide in a first rail (13) cut into a first guide (7) fixed to the mounting assembly and a second pad (12) formed and positioned to slide in a second rail (14) cut into the first guide,the second stud being formed to fit into a first notch (15) provided in the second rail of the first guide when the second support element is in the first position and into a second notch provided in the second rail of the first guide when the second support element is in the second position, the second stud being flexible so that a force exerted on the second support element (6) causes it to be extracted from the first (15) or the second notch of the second rail (14) of the first guide (7). A vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving element (2) comprises a second immobilized guide (8) and the second support element (6) comprises a third stud formed and positioned to slide in a first rail (16) cut into the second guide and a fourth stud formed and positioned to slide in a second rail (17) cut into the second guide, the fourth stud being formed to fit into a first notch (18) provided in the second rail of the second guide when the second support element is in the first position and into a second notch (19) provided in the second rail of the second guide when the support element is in the second position, the fourth stud being flexible such that a force exerted on the second support element causes it to be extracted of the first notch or the second notch of the second rail of the second guide.

3. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reception assembly (2) is integrated within the central console (3) of the vehicle.

4. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the first guide (7) and the second guide (8) are immobilized by an element, a trim and / or a structure of the center console (3).

5. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the first guide (7) and the second guide (8) are integral with the first support element (5) which is fixed to the central console (3).

6. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first support element (5) has a parallelepiped-shaped cavity (10).

7. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second support element (6) forms a reception surface having a U-shaped profile.

8. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second support element (6) surmounts the first support element.

9. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (4), the first support element (5), the second support element (6), the first guide (7) and the second guide (8) are inclined towards the front of the vehicle.

10. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving assembly (2) includes an electric motor for exerting a force on the second support element (6).

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