Vehicle touchscreen arrangement

Abstract

A vehicle touchscreen arrangement comprising a touchscreen (attached to part 112) and a mount 104 for attachment to a vehicle. A ball and socket joint connects the touchscreen to the mount 104, such t

Description

19 08^5 TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a vehicle touchscreen arrangement. Aspects of the invention relate to a 5 vehicle touchscreen arrangement, and to a vehicle comprising such a touchscreen arrangement. BACKGROUND A vehicle touchscreen arrangement can be provided as an interface in a vehicle, allowing the driver or another occupant change settings, select inputs, and otherwise interact with technical systems of the vehicle. 10 It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a vehicle touchscreen arrangement and a vehicle 15 comprising such a touchscreen arrangement, as claimed in the appended claims. There is described herein a vehicle display screen arrangement comprising: a display screen; a mount for attachment to a vehicle; a ball and socket joint connecting the display screen to the mount, such that a position of the display screen can be manually adjusted relative to the mount, wherein the ball and socket joint comprises: a socket comprising an internal sliding surface; a ball retained within the socket, the ball comprising an external sliding surface, the external sliding surface being complementary with the internal sliding surface; and 25 at least one abutment feature that prevents rotation of the display screen relative to the mount about a first axis while allowing rotation about at least one other axis. The use of a ball and socket joint may allow the display screen to be retained in a particular position by friction while offering the required freedom of movement to enable the user of the screen to reduce glare or other 30 visibility inhibitors acting on the display screen. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle touchscreen arrangement comprising: a touchscreen; 35 a mount for attachment to a vehicle; a ball and socket joint connecting the touchscreen to the mount, such that a position of the touchscreen can be manually adjusted relative to the mount, wherein the ball and socket joint comprises: a socket comprising an internal sliding surface; a ball retained within the socket, the ball comprising an external sliding surface, the external 40 sliding surface being complementary with the internal sliding surface; and 19 08^5 at least one abutment feature that prevents rotation of the touchscreen relative to the mount about a first axis while allowing rotation about at least one other axis. The use of a ball and socket joint may allow the touchscreen to be retained in a particular position by friction 5 while offering the required freedom of movement. Optionally, the internal sliding surface and the external sliding surface may comprise one or more contact surfaces representing points on a sphere. 10 The at least one abutment feature comprises: a guide; and a guide follower; wherein: the guide is disposed on the ball and the guide follower is disposed on the socket, or vice 15 versa; and the guide follower is configured to follow the guide while the touchscreen rotates relative to the mount, such that interaction between the guide and the guide follower prevents the rotation of the touchscreen relative to the mount about the first axis. The use of a guide and guide follower may offer a simple mechanism for achieving the required movement (and movement constraint) of the touchscreen. The guide comprises a pair of spaced apartguide surfaces, and the guide follower comprises a post comprising a portion disposed between the guide surfaces. 25 The use of parallel spaced apart guide surfaces and a post disposed at least partly between them may offer a simple mechanism for achieving the required movement (and movement constraint) of the touchscreen. Optionally, the post may comprise, in cross section, opposing arcuate portions configured to engage the guide 30 surfaces to prevent the rotation of the touchscreen relative to the mount about the first axis while allowing rotation about an axis defined by the post and extending through the ball. The use of a post to engage the guide surfaces may offer the ability to more the touchscreen relative to the mount in two axes, while offering the required movement constraint. 35 The portion of the post is, in section though the axis defined by the post, frusto-conical, and the guide surfaces define engagement portions that are complementary in section with the frusto-conical portion of the post. The use of a frusto-conical post may offer a larger engagement portion between the post and the guide 40 surfaces, which may reduce point loads and / or improve stability. Optionally, the vehicle touchscreen arrangement may comprise at least one stop for constraining rotation about at least one axis other than the first axis. The use of at least one stop may offer a further useful constraint on touchscreen movement. 5 Optionally, the at least one stop may comprise first stop features defined on the ball and / or socket, such that interaction of the first stop features during relative movement between the touchscreen and the mount constrains the rotation about at least one axis other than the first axis. 10 The use of stop features on the ball and / or socket may offer a simple and effective mechanism for imposing a further useful constraint on touchscreen movement. Optionally, the at least one stop may comprise second stop features defined on the touchscreen and / or the mount, such that interaction of the second stop features during relative movement between the touchscreen 15 and the mount constrains the rotation about at least one axis other than the first axis. The use of second stop features on the touchscreen and / or mount may offer a simple and effective mechanism for imposing a further useful constraint on touchscreen movement. Optionally, the vehicle touchscreen arrangement may comprise a plurality of the stops for constraining rotation about two axes other than the first axis. The provision of multiple stops may offer a further useful constraint on touchscreen movement. 25 According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle comprising the vehicle touchscreen arrangement of the preceding aspect. Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and / or in the following description and 30 drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be combined in anyway and / or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. 35 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 40 Figure 1 shows a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 19 08^5 19 08^5 Figures 2 to 4 show plan views of a vehicle touchscreen arrangement, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figures 5 to 7 show a detailed cross-section through a post forming part of embodiments of a vehicle touchscreen arrangement; Figure 8 shows a front perspective view of a vehicle touchscreen arrangement in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 shows a rear perspective view of the vehicle touchscreen arrangement of Figure 8; Figure 10 shows a front perspective view of the vehicle touchscreen arrangement of Figures 8 and 9, with the display removed; Figure 11 shows a section through the vehicle touchscreen arrangement of Figures 8 to 10, through the centre of the ball and socket joint in a plane parallel with the touchscreen; Figure 12 shows a section through the vehicle touchscreen arrangement of Figures 8 to 11, just forward of the centre of the ball and socket joint in a plane parallel with the touchscreen; Figure 13 shows a generally horizontal section through the vehicle touchscreen arrangement of Figures 8 to 12, through the centre of the ball and socket joint; Figure 14 shows a vertical section through the housing of the vehicle touchscreen arrangement of Figures 8 to 13; Figure 15 shows a horizontal section through the vehicle touchscreen arrangement of Figures 8 to 14, through the centre of the ball and socket joint; and Figure 16 shows a lower perspective view of the ball from the ball and socket joint of the vehicle touchscreen arrangement of Figures 8 to 15. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Vehicle touchscreen arrangements in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to the Figures. Such vehicle touchscreen arrangements can be installed in a vehicle 200, as shown in Figure 1. Although vehicle 200 is shown as a road-going car, other embodiments may be used in different vehicle types, including off-road vehicles, trucks, and motorcycles, for example. Figures 2 to 4 show schematic views of a vehicle touchscreen arrangement 100 comprising a touchscreen 102. Touchscreen 102 is a display capable of presenting information to, and receiving control inputs from, a user of the vehicle in which arrangement 100 is installed. Touchscreen 102 includes a display component (not 19 08^5 shown), such as an OLED display, and a touch-sensitive component (not shown), such as a capacitive layer overlaying the OLED display. The user can interact with icons and other interface elements (not shown) to control media, access and change vehicle settings, and perform other activities, in a manner known to the skilled person. The following description focusses on a touchscreen 102 of a vehicle, but the skilled person 5 will acknowledge that a vehicle display screen also displays the same features as a touchscreen, and as such the embodiments discussed are equally applicable to a display screen. Arrangement 100 includes a mount 104 for attachment to a vehicle, such as vehicle 200. Mount 104 takes the form of an elongate member that can be attached to an interior mounting point within the vehicle. For example, 10 mount 104 can attach to a mounting point within a vehicle dashboard such that touchscreen 102 is supported for viewing by the driver and / or front seat passenger. The skilled reader can envisage many ways in which the mount 104 is attached to the vehicle, and thus further details are omitted. Arrangement 100 includes a ball and socket joint 106 connecting touchscreen 102 to mount 104. Ball and 15 socket joint 106 comprises a socket 108 and a ball 110 retained within socket 108. Socket 108 is defined within a housing 112 that is attached to a rear 114 of touchscreen 102. Socket 108 defines an internal sliding surface 120 that, in the implementation of Figures 2 to 4, takes the form of a part-spherical surface. It will be appreciated that the socket need not define a contiguous spherical (or part-spherical) surface. It is sufficient, or indeed can be desirable in some implementations, that internal sliding surface 120 comprises contact surfaces representing points on, or regions of, a sphere. For example, internal sliding surface 120 can comprise a plurality of contact points or regions that are spaced apart from each other. Ball 110 is disposed at an end of mount 104, distal the point at which mount 104 is attached to the vehicle. 25 That end of mount 104 extends through a slot 158 in housing 112, allowing relative rotation between ball 110 and socket 108, with optional constraints provided by stops as described in more detail below. Ball 110 comprises an external sliding surface 122 that, in the implementation of Figures 2 to 4, takes the form of a part spherical surface that is complementary with the part spherical surface of internal sliding surface 120. 30 Again, it will be appreciated that external sliding surface 122 need not define a contiguous spherical (or part-spherical) surface. It is sufficient, or indeed can be desirable in some implementations, that external sliding surface 122 comprises contact surfaces representing points on, or regions of, a sphere. For example, external sliding surface 122 can comprise a plurality of contact points or regions that are spaced apart from each other. 35 Arrangement 100 includes at least one abutment feature that prevents rotation of touchscreen 102 relative to mount 104 about a first axis while allowing rotation about at least one other axis. In the implementation of Figures 2 to 4, the at least one abutment feature comprises a guide in the form of a pair of spaced apart guide surfaces 124,126, defined by a slot 128 formed in housing 112 (and hence in socket 108). Figures 2 to 4 show a completely through socket 108 for clarity, but in other implementation, slot 128 can be blind (i.e., is not 40 accessible from the outside of housing 112). 19 08^5 The at least one abutment feature also comprises a guide follower in the form of a post 130, a portion of which is disposed between guide surfaces 124, 126. A cross-sectional diameter of post 130 is slightly less than the distance between guide surfaces 124,126, allowing post 130 to slide along and within slot 128 while minimising lateral movement of post 130 within slot 128. This sliding of post 130 within slot 128 allows rotation of socket 5 108 (and thereby touchscreen 102) relative to ball 110 (and thereby mount 104) about an axis 132 that is disposed horizontally and extends generally laterally across vehicle 200 when arrangement 100 is installed within vehicle 200. Another way of describing this rotation is a pitching motion of socket 108 (and hence touchscreen 102) relative to ball 110. There will be some minor yawing of axis 132 as the touchscreen is moved side-to-side (as discussed in more detail below), but assuming reasonable constraints on side-to-side 10 movement, axis 132 will generally extend laterally across vehicle 200. The circular cross-section of post 130 where it engages guide surfaces 124, 126 allows socket 128 (and therefore touchscreen 102) to rotate within slot 128 around an axis 134 defined by post 130. Axis 134 is disposed generally vertically relative to vehicle 200 when arrangement 100 is installed within vehicle 200. 15 Another way of describing this rotation is a yawing motion of socket 108 (and hence touchscreen 102) relative to ball 110. There will be some minor pitching of axis 134 as the touchscreen is moved up-and-down (as discussed in more detail below), but assuming reasonable constraints on up-and-down movement, axis 134 will generally extend vertically relative to vehicle 200. The interaction of post 130 with guide surfaces 124, 126 prevents rotation, relative to ball 110, of socket 108 (and hence touchscreen 102) about an axis 136 that extends generally along the direction of forward travel of vehicle 200. Another way of describing the rotation that is prevented is a rolling motion of socket 108 (and hence touchscreen 102) relative to ball 110. A small amount of rolling motion may indirectly be introduced as the touchscreen is moved up-and-down and left-and-right, but assuming reasonable constraints on these 25 movements, only a relatively small amount of roll will be introduced. For example, other than minimal amounts of roll that may arise due to tolerances in the fit of post 130 within slot 128, substantially all of any such incidental roll may be caused by up-and-down and left-and-right movement about axes 132 and 134. Although only a single post 130 and slot 128 are shown in Figures 2 to 4, a similar post and slot arrangement 30 can optionally be disposed on the opposite side of the ball and socket arrangement. The use of guides and guide followers on opposite sides of the ball and socket joint 106 provides improved stability compared to only providing a guide and guide follower on one side. Figures 2 to 4 show examples of the rotational positions of touchscreen 102 allowed by arrangement 100. 35 Figure 2 shows arrangement 100 with touchscreen 102 in a first position. In this first position, arrangement 100 is adjusted such that touchscreen 102 is about halfway between its most upward-facing and downwardfacing positions, and about halfway between its leftmost and rightmost positions. In this ball 110 and socket 108 holes touchscreen in place. The size of ball 110 and socket 108, the amount of overlapping internal sliding surface 120 and external sliding surface 122 (and the relative surface roughness of those surfaces), and 40 materials can be selected to provide an appropriate level of friction. 19 08^5 Alternatively, or in addition, an optional brake (not shown) can be provided to selectively lock touchscreen 102 in place. For example, such a brake can selectively lock ball 110 within socket 108 after adjustment of the position of touching 102. 5 Figure 3 shows arrangement 100 with touchscreen 102 moved to its most upward-facing position. This can be achieved by a user manually moving touchscreen 102 upwards. As touchscreen 102 moves from the position in Figure 2 to the position in Figure 3, slot 128 (and hence touchscreen 102) is guided by the interaction of guide surfaces 124, 126 and post 130. 10 Figure 4 shows arrangement 100 with touchscreen 102 move to its rightmost position. This can be achieved by a user manually moving touchscreen 102 rightwards. As touchscreen 102 moves from the position in Figure 2 to the position in Figure 4, socket 108 (and hence touchscreen 102) rotates around axis 134 defined by post 130. 15 While not illustrated, it will be appreciated that touchscreen 102 can be moved from the first position of Figure 2 in a downward direction and a leftward direction. Additionally, any combination of upward, downward, leftward, and rightward movements can be made to suit the user’s requirements for visibility, glare / reflection reduction, etc. Arrangement 100 comprises optional stops for constraining rotation about at least one axis other than the first axis. The implementation of Figures 2 to 4 comprises first stop features in the form of rounded end portions 146, 148 of slot 128 and stop portions 142, 144 of post 130. End portions 146, 148 are optionally generally 25 complementary in shape with the corresponding stop portions 142, 144. Interaction of rounded end portions 146, 148 and stop portions 142, 144 during relative movement between touchscreen 102 and mount 104 constrains rotation about axis 132. For example, as shown in Figure 3, rounded end portion 148 engages with stop portion 144 as touchscreen 102 is moved in an upward direction. This engagement prevents further rotation in the upward direction. Similar engagement between rounded end portion 146 and stop portion 142 30 constraints movement of touchscreen 102 in the downward direction. The implementation of Figures 2 to 4 also comprises second stop features in the form of outer edge portions 150, 152 of mount 104 adjacent ball 110 and corresponding inner edge portions 154, 156 of slot 158. Interaction of outer edge portions 150,152 with inner edge portions 154,156 constrains rotation of socket 108 35 (relative to ball 110) about axis 134. For example, as shown in Figure 4, outer edge portion 152 engages inner edge portion 156 as touchscreen 102 is moved in a rightward direction. This engagement prevents further rotation in the rightward direction. Similar engagement between outer edge portion 150 and inner edge portion 154 constrains movement of touchscreen 102 in the leftward direction. 40 It will be appreciated that other forms of stop(s) may be provided instead of, or in addition to, those illustrated in Figures 2 to 4. For example, instead of upward and downward movement of touchscreen 102 being 19 08^5 constrained by the ends of slot 128, additional edge portions of slot 158 can be configured to engage corresponding edge portions of mount 104 adjacent ball 110. Many other forms of stop will suggest themselves to the skilled person in the art. 5 It will be appreciated that other forms of guide and guide follower can be used. For example the guide can take the form of one or more rails or slots and the guide follower can take the form of one or more wheels, tabs, posts, or other elements arranged to follow the rail(s) or slot(s). If necessary or desired, the guide follower can include a pivot element, such as a wheel, hinge, or the like, which allows rotation relative to the guide, and thereby relative rotation between the ball and the socket. 10 Additionally, the relative positions of the guide and guide follower can be swapped. For example, the guide (e.g., slot 128) can be disposed on or in ball 110 instead of socket 108, and the guide follower (e.g., guide surfaces 124, 126) can be disposed on or in socket 108 instead of ball 110. Similar comments apply where a different guide and / or guide follower is employed. 15 Although post 130 is circular in cross-section, it will be appreciated a full circular cross-section is not required. In other implementations, and as shown in Figures 5 to 7 for example, post 130 can comprise, in cross-section, opposing arcuate portions 138, 140. Arcuate portions 138, 104 are configured to engage guide surfaces 124, 126 to prevent the rotation of touchscreen 102 about axis 136 relative to mount 104. Arcuate portions 138, 140 only extend to the extent required by the freedom of rotation offered about axis 134. For example, if only +1- 5° rotation about axis 134 is allowed, arcuate portions 138, 140 need only extend around +1- 5°. The stop portions 142,144 between arcuate portions 138,140 can take any suitable shape. For example, they can be flat, as shown in Figure 5. Optionally, they can define one or more of the stop features for constraining 25 rotation. For example, in Figures 6 and 7, stop portions 142, 144 include stop tabs 160, 162, extending (in cross section) either side of post 130 into slot 128. As shown in Figure 7, stop tabs 160, 162 are configured such that, as socket 108 (and hence touchscreen 102) rotates about axis 14, the stop tabs engage guide surfaces 124, 126, which prevents further rotation. 30 Figures 8 to 16 show a further implementation of a vehicle touchscreen arrangement 300. Several of the features of arrangement 300 correspond with those of arrangement 100, and like reference signs are used to refer to such corresponding features. In arrangement 300, touchscreen 102 is mounted to a support frame 118, which defines an opening 116. 35 Wiring for power and data pass through mount 104 and then through opening 116. One difference between arrangement 300 and arrangement 100 is that, in arrangement 300, at least arcuate portions 138, 140 are, in section through axis 134, frusto-conical, and guide surfaces 124, 126 define engagement portions that are complementary in section with the frusto-conical portion of post 130. This is best 40 shown in Figure 11. In addition, arrangement 300 includes upper and lower posts 130, ratherthan just the upper post 130 of Figures 2-7. The upper and lower posts 130 are positioned at diametrically opposite positions relative to ball 110. The use of upper and lower posts 130 may improve stability and accuracy of movement between socket 108 and ball 110. 5 Another difference is that arrangement 300 uses different stops. For example, rotation about axis 132 (allowing up and down movement of touchscreen 102) is also constrained by interaction between upper and lower edges 164, 166 (see Figure 14) of slot 158 and corresponding portions of mount 104. 10 As shown in Figure 16, ball 110 includes stop features in the form of radially outwardly extending portions 168, which define ledges 170 (only the ledges 170 on the closest side to the viewer of Figure 16 are visible). As shown in Figure 15, socket 108 includes corresponding stop features in the form of ledges 172. Rotation about axis 134 (allowing left to right movement of touchscreen 102) causes adjacent ledges 170 and 172 to interact with each other, preventing further rotation. In Figure 15 (which is a horizontal section through arrangement 15 300), touchscreen 102 is rotated to the left, showing how inner edge 154 and outer edge portion 150 interact to provide an additional stop on further rotation. Any other suitable combination of stop features can be employed to provide the required constraints on rotation. It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present application. 25 19 08^5

Claims

1. A vehicle touchscreen arrangement comprising:a touchscreen;a mount for attachment to a vehicle;5 a ball and socket joint connecting the touchscreen to the mount, such that a position of thetouchscreen can be manually adjusted relative to the mount, wherein the ball and socket joint comprises:a socket comprising an internal sliding surface;a ball retained within the socket, the ball comprising an external sliding surface, the external sliding surface being complementary with the internal sliding surface; and10 at least one abutment feature that prevents rotation of the touchscreen relative to the mountabout a first axis while allowing rotation about at least one other axis, wherein the at least one abutment feature comprises:a guide; anda guide follower;15 wherein:the guide is disposed on the ball and the guide follower is disposed on the socket, or vice versa; andthe guide follower is configured to follow the guide while the touchscreen rotates relative to the mount, such that interaction between the guide and the guide follower prevents the rotation of the touchscreen relative to the mount about the first axis, wherein the guide comprises a pair of parallel spaced apart guide surfaces, and the guide follower comprises a post comprising a portion disposed between the guide surfaces, wherein the portion of the post is, in section though the axis defined by the post, frusto-conical, and the guide surfaces define engagement portions that are complementary in section with the frusto-conical portion of the post..

252. The vehicle touchscreen arrangement of claim 1, wherein the post comprises, in plan, opposing arcuate portions configured to engage the guide surfaces to prevent the rotation of the touchscreen relative to the mount about the first axis while allowing rotation about an axis defined by the post and extending through the ball.

303. The vehicle touchscreen arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one stop for constraining rotation about at least one axis other than the first axis.

4. The vehicle touchscreen arrangement of claim 3, wherein the at least one stop comprises first 35 complementary stop features defined on the ball and / or socket, such that interaction of the first complementary stop features during relative movement between the touchscreen and the mount constrains the rotation about at least one axis other than the first axis.

5. The vehicle touchscreen arrangement of claim 3 or 4, wherein the at least one stop comprises second 40 complementary stop features defined on the touchscreen and / orthe mount, such that interaction of the secondcomplementary stop features during relative movement between the touchscreen and the mount constrains the rotation about at least one axis other than the first axis.

6. The vehicle touchscreen arrangement of any one of claims 3 to 5, comprising a plurality of the stops 5 for constraining rotation about two axes other than the first axis.

7. A vehicle comprising the vehicle touchscreen arrangement of any preceding claim.1019 08 25

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