System having a movable display

Abstract

The vehicle may have a vehicle body and one or more displays. The displays may be coupled to a roof portion of the vehicle body with a hinge or other mounting structure, may be mounted in a vehicle armrest, may be attached to a door, or may be otherwise mounted to an interior region of the vehicle body. The displays may be single-sided displays, double-sided displays, displays having touch-sensitive edge portions formed from strip-like pixel arrays extending along a peripheral display sidewall, lenticular displays, or other displays configured to display separate images at different respective vehicle occupant locations, or other suitable displays. The positioning device may rotate, slide, or otherwise move the displays between a stowed position and one or more deployed positions.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 210,900, filed June 15, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0002] This relates generally to systems such as vehicles, and more specifically to vehicles having displays. [Background technology]

[0003] Automobiles and other vehicles have propulsion and steering systems. Displays are used to present visual information to vehicle occupants. Summary of the Invention

[0004] A vehicle may have a vehicle body and one or more displays. The vehicle may have a vehicle body having an interior area in which seats are located. The displays may be coupled to a roof portion of the vehicle body with a hinge or other mounting structure, may be mounted in a vehicle armrest, may be attached to the dashboard, or may be otherwise mounted in the interior area.

[0005] The display may be a single-sided display or a dual-sided display that is viewable from opposing first and second directions by vehicle occupants in opposing forward-facing and rear-facing seats, respectively.

[0006] The display may have a touch-sensitive edge portion formed from a strip-like pixel array extending along a peripheral display sidewall. A vehicle occupant may provide touch input to the edge portion. In some configurations, the vehicle may include a lenticular display or other display configured to display separate images at each different vehicle occupant location. A camera may monitor the vehicle occupant locations to collect gestures or other user input from the different vehicle occupants. The image displayed for each occupant may be adjusted based on the user input from that occupant.

[0007] The positioning device can rotate, slide, or otherwise move the display between a stowed position and one or more deployed positions. The positioning device can adjust the position of the display based on user input, such as a touch input to a touch-sensitive edge portion of the display, based on environmental measurements, based on measurements related to vehicle operation (e.g., information regarding door opening and closing, vehicle movement, etc.), and / or based on other inputs. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary vehicle according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary interior region of a vehicle, according to one embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an exemplary vehicle having a display mounted to a portion of the vehicle body according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary movable display according to one embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary display having a striped pixel array forming a peripheral edge portion of the display according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary display that may be deployed into an interior vehicle area from a roof structure of a vehicle body according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an exemplary vehicle interior having seats and a display according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vehicle structure such as an armrest in an interior region of a vehicle body according to one embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the interior of a vehicle having a retractable display according to one embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an exemplary vehicle interior having a display and sensors, such as cameras, for monitoring vehicle occupants, according to one embodiment. [Figure 11] 4 is a flowchart of example operations associated with operating a vehicle, according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A system, such as a vehicle or other system, may have a display. The display may be implemented in the dashboard, armrest, headrest, door, roof, and / or other portions of the vehicle. In an exemplary configuration, the vehicle may have one or more displays that may be moved between a stowed state and a deployed state. The displays may transition between the stowed and deployed positions in response to input from a user or in response to conditions monitored by sensors within the vehicle, as an example.

[0010] In the stowed position, the display may be flush with an interior surface of the vehicle. When moved from the stowed position to the deployed position, the display may protrude into the interior of the vehicle where the display is accessible to one or more users (vehicle occupants). As an example, the display may be attached to the vehicle using a hinge that allows the display to be folded up and out of the way for storage, or folded up so that the contents of the display can be viewed by a user.

[0011] Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of an exemplary vehicle. In the example of Figure 1, the vehicle 10 is a type of vehicle that may carry passengers (e.g., a car, truck, or other motor vehicle). Configurations in which the vehicle 10 is a robot (e.g., an autonomous robot) or other vehicle that does not carry human passengers may also be used. Vehicles such as cars may be described herein as an example.

[0012] The vehicle 10 may be driven manually (e.g., by a human driver), operated via a remote control, and / or autonomously (e.g., by an autonomous driving system or other autonomous propulsion system). The vehicle 10 may include a body, such as a body 12. The body 12 may include vehicle structures, such as body panels formed from metal and / or other materials, and may include doors, a hood, a trunk, fenders, a chassis to which the wheels are mounted, a roof, etc. The windows 16 may be formed in the doors 18 (e.g., in the sides of the vehicle body 12, the roof of the vehicle 10, and / or other portions of the vehicle 10). The windows 16, the doors 18, and other portions of the body 12 may separate the interior of the vehicle 10 from the exterior environment surrounding the vehicle 10.

[0013] Doors 18 can be opened and closed to allow people to enter and exit vehicle 10. Seats and other structures may be formed inside vehicle body 12. When a vehicle occupant (sometimes referred to as a user) is seated in a seat inside body 12, the user's head may be located in an area such as a head box 20, which allows the user to view opposing sides of display 14 in direction 22 (e.g., in an arrangement in which display 14 is a dual-sided display).

[0014] Display 14 may be a light emitting diode display, a liquid crystal display, or other suitable display. One or more arrays of pixels may be used to form an active display area that displays images. In an exemplary configuration, display 14 may have a shape and size that allows display 14 to be mounted on the roof of vehicle 10 (e.g., on an elongated roof member or other portion of vehicle body 12).

[0015] The display 14 can have first and second opposing sides. The display 14 can be a single-sided display with a pixel array formed on the first side but not on the second side, or a dual-sided display with the first side of the display having a first pixel array for displaying images to a first user and the second side of the display having a second pixel array for displaying images to a second user. The display 14 can also optionally have peripheral sidewalls where the strip-like pixel array forms an edge display area. A touch sensor (e.g., a capacitive touch sensor formed from capacitive touch sensor electrodes) can be overlaid on the pixel array(s) of the display 14 (e.g., the display 14 can be a touch screen display). In some configurations, a display such as the display 14 can be supported by an armrest and / or other interior vehicle structure. The use of a mounting arrangement for the display 14 that allows the display 14 to be suspended from the roof of the vehicle 10, as shown in FIG. 1, is exemplary.

[0016] The vehicle 10 may include components 24. The vehicle 10 may include components 24. The components 24 may include propulsion and steering systems (e.g., manually adjusted and / or autonomous driving systems having wheels coupled to the body 12, steering control, one or more motors for driving the wheels, etc.), and other vehicle systems. The components 24 may include control circuits and input / output devices. The control circuits in the components 24 may be configured to execute software for controlling autonomous driving applications, navigation applications (e.g., applications for displaying maps on the display 14), as well as vehicle environmental control devices, lighting, media playback, window operation, door operation, sensor operation, and / or other vehicle operations. The control circuits may include processing circuits and storage devices, and may be configured to execute operations in the vehicle 10 using hardware (e.g., dedicated hardware or circuits), firmware, and / or software. Software code and other data for executing operations in the vehicle 10 are stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (e.g., a tangible computer-readable storage medium) in the control circuits 18. Software code may also be referred to as software, data, program instructions, computer instructions, instructions, or code. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may include non-volatile memory, such as non-volatile random access memory, one or more hard drives (e.g., magnetic drives or solid state drives), one or more removable flash drives or other removable media, or other storage devices. Software stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may be executed on processing circuitry of component 24. The processing circuitry may include an application specific integrated circuit having processing circuitry, one or more microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs), or other processing circuitry.

[0017] The input / output devices of component 24 may include displays such as display 14, sensors, buttons, light emitting diodes and other light emitting devices, tactile devices, speakers, and / or other devices for collecting environmental measurements, information regarding vehicle operation, and / or user input. The sensors in component 24 may include ambient light sensors, touch sensors, force sensors, proximity sensors, optical sensors such as cameras (e.g., fisheye cameras and / or other cameras) operating at visible, infrared, and / or ultraviolet wavelengths, capacitance sensors, resistive sensors, ultrasonic sensors (e.g., ultrasonic distance sensors), microphones, three-dimensional and / or two-dimensional image sensors, high frequency sensors such as radar sensors, lidar (light detection and ranging) sensors, door opening and closing sensors, seat pressure sensors and other vehicle occupant sensors, window sensors, position sensors for monitoring location, orientation, and movement, speedometers, satellite positioning system sensors, and / or other sensors. The output devices of component 24 may be used to provide tactile output, audio output, visual output (e.g., displayed content, light, etc.), and / or other suitable output to vehicle occupants and the like.

[0018] During operation, the control circuitry of component 24 can collect information, such as lidar data, camera data (images), radar data, and / or other sensor data, from sensors and / or other input / output devices. Cameras, touch sensors, physical controls, and other input devices can be used to collect user input. Using wireless communication with vehicle 10, remote data sources can provide database information (e.g., maps, still and / or video images, audio, etc.) to the control circuitry of component 24. Media, such as images and audio recordings, can also be stored locally on the vehicle 10's storage device. The control circuitry of component 24 can use the sensor data, user input, media from the database, and other data in presenting interactive maps and other features to the user, as well as in presenting videos and other media to the user. Interactive content associated with interactive maps and other applications associated with navigation applications can be displayed on display 14. A user can interact with this interactive content by providing touch input to touch sensors of display 14 and / or by providing user input with other input devices. If desired, the control circuitry of vehicle 10 may use sensor data, user input, information from a remote database, and / or other information in providing driver assistance information to the driver (e.g., information regarding nearby obstacles on the road and / or other environment surrounding vehicle 10) and / or in driving vehicle 10 autonomously.

[0019] During playback of videos and other media, and during presentation of interactive applications to a user, the vehicle 10 (e.g., control circuitry of components 24) may use a display, such as display 14, to present visual content (still and / or moving images). Because the display 14 is not constantly in motion, it may be desirable to provide a motor or other actuator (e.g., a rotary positioner, a robotic arm, a linear actuator, and / or other positioner) that can move the display 14 between different positions. These positions may include, for example, a stowed position in which the display 14 is flush with an interior surface of the vehicle body 12, the display 14 is hidden from the host behind a movable window, the display 14 is received within an armrest or other interior vehicle structure, or the display 14 is otherwise disposed in a stowed location. The different position(s) to which the display 14 may be moved may also include one or more deployed positions in which an image on the display is viewable by one or more users. In the example of FIG. 1, the display 14 has at least first and second active areas formed by first and second respective pixel arrays on first and second opposing faces of the display 14. This allows first and second users facing each other (e.g., users with their heads positioned within their respective head boxes 20) to view first and second corresponding images on the first and second sides of the display 14, respectively.

[0020] Optionally, the vehicle 10 may have an interior area, such as the interior area 26 of FIG. 2, which includes seats 28. The seats 28 may include bucket seats, bench seats, and / or other seats on which vehicle occupants may sit. In the example of FIG. 1, the seats 28 include first and second seats that face each other and allow a user with their head in the head box 20 to view opposing sides of the display 14. The seats 28 may be oriented such that one or more users face forward when the vehicle 10 is driven forward and one or more users face rearward when the vehicle 10 is driven backward. Arrangements in which the seats of the vehicle 10 face sideways, arrangements in which all the seats face forward, arrangements in which the seats can be rotated between forward-facing and rearward-facing and / or other orientations, and / or arrangements in which the seats of the vehicle 10 have other configurations may also be used. The example of FIG. 2, in which the interior 26 has one or more rearward-facing bucket seats and / or bench seats and one or more opposing forward-facing bucket seats and / or bench seats, is illustrative.

[0021] To allow the display 14 to be deployed in a vertical orientation between a rear-facing user and a forward-facing user of the type shown in FIG. 2, the display 14 may be mounted to a roof portion of the vehicle 10 (e.g., an elongated roof member formed from metal, polymer, and / or other material, and / or other roof structure associated with the body 12). As an example, consider the exemplary configuration of the vehicle body 12 shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle body 12 may include an elongated roof member 12M that extends parallel to the length of the vehicle 10 between the front F and rear R of the vehicle 10. The member 12M, sometimes referred to as a longitudinal vehicle body member, vehicle roof member, or vehicle roof spline structure, may form a roof structure that supports the left and right windows 16L and 16R of the vehicle 10. One or more displays, such as the display 14, may be mounted to a roof structure of the vehicle body 12, such as the roof member 12M. 3, for example, display 14 may be mounted such that surface normals n of the front and rear sides of display 14 extend parallel to member 12M and longitudinal axis 30 of vehicle 10 (e.g., when display 14 is deployed for use by occupants of vehicle 10). If desired, an arrangement in which display 14 is mounted to vehicle body 12 with surface normals n facing the left and right sides W of body 12 can also be used.

[0022] A side view of the display 14 and vehicle 10 of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the display 14 may be coupled to the roof member 12M using a hinge 32. A positioning device, such as a rotational positioning device, may be embedded in the hinge 32 and / or otherwise coupled to the display 14 such that control circuitry of the vehicle 10 can move the display 14 about the hinge axis 40. For example, when it is desired to stow the display 14 out of the way (e.g., when the major surface of the display 14 is not in use), the display 14 may be rotated about the axis 34 until the display 14 abuts against the roof of the vehicle 10 (see, e.g., stowed position 36). When it is desired to deploy the display 14 such that the user can view the opposing side of the display 14 in the direction 22, the display 14 may be rotated about the axis 34 to the deployed position 38. In addition to functioning as a display, in some embodiments, the display 14 may be configured to function as a sun visor (e.g., when the display 14 is mounted adjacent the windshield on the dashboard or otherwise adjacent a window of the vehicle 10). Light may be emitted by the display 14, and the display 14 may also be configured to function as an interior light of the vehicle 10 (e.g., the display 14 may be operated in an illumination mode in which little or no discernible patterns are displayed on the pixels of the display 14 such that the light output is uniform and has a desired color to function as interior lighting of the vehicle 10).

[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary display. As shown in FIG. 5, the display 14 may have a first pixel array on a first side of the display 14 (e.g., see side AA-1) and a second pixel array on an opposing second side of the display 14 (e.g., see side AA-2). The two opposing sides of the display 14 may have flat surfaces with rectangular outlines or other suitable shapes. In operation, images (which may be the same or different from one another) may be displayed on the first and second sides of the display 14 (e.g., for viewing by two opposing vehicle occupants). If desired, the display 14 may have a strip-like array of pixels forming a peripheral edge display. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the display 14 may have a peripheral sidewall covered with a display 42. The display 42 may form a long strip of pixels (e.g., a long pixel array) that covers at least a portion of the edge of the display 14. The display 42, which may also be referred to as an edge display, peripheral sidewall display, peripheral edge display, edge display portion, etc., may be used to display icons and other visual content (see, e.g., exemplary image 44). The image 44 may include graphics, such as, by way of example, a vehicle icon on a journey line representing the progression of the vehicle 10 along a route between a start point and an end point, and / or may include other content. Touch sensors may be incorporated on the edge portions of the display 14 (e.g., on the edge display 42 and on faces AA-1 and AA-2 of FIG. 5) so that a user may provide touch input to control interactive visual content on the display 14. Touch input provided to the edge display 42 and / or other surfaces of the display 14 may also be used to instruct control circuitry of the vehicle 10 to move the display 14 from a deployed state to a stowed state.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of display 14 in an exemplary configuration in which display 14 can be moved between a stowed position in which face AA is flush with interior surface 46 of the roof of body 12, and an deployed position (see, e.g., position 48) in which face AA is deployed so that an image of face AA can be viewed in direction 56. Positioning device 50 can have a motor or actuator, such as actuator 52, and a movable support member, such as member 54, that moves in and out of actuator 52 in response to a control signal from control circuitry of component 24. When display 14 is not being used to display images, display 14 operates in an interior lighting mode in which display 14 functions as a light for the interior of vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, rather than displaying text, graphics, video, and other images on the pixel array of face AA (as when display 14 is deployed in normal operation), the pixels of face AA may be uniformly lit to generate white, yellow, and / or other light that functions as interior lighting 58 for objects in interior region 26 when display 14 is stowed. Plane AA may, as an example, include uniform blocks of white pixels when display 14 is operated with interior lighting rather than in its normal display mode (in which video and other images are displayed). The brightness and / or color of the blocks of pixels used to generate interior lighting 58 may be adjusted in response to user input, such as touch sensor input, voice input, and / or other user input at an edge touch display portion of display 14, and / or in response to other sensor data, such as measured door light conditions. For example, a user may adjust a touch screen slider on edge display portion 42 when display 14 is in position 36 of FIG. 4, a user may provide a voice command such as "turn on the lights," or a user may press a button that instructs display 14 to enter its interior lighting mode of operation.

[0025] 7 is a top view of an interior region of vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. 7, seats 28 (e.g., forward-facing seats and opposing rear-facing seats) may be formed within interior region 59 of vehicle body 12. Users of seats 28 can view display 14 in direction 62. When forward-facing and rear-facing users of vehicle 10 are seated opposite each other in seats 28, they can view sides AA-1 and AA-2, respectively, of display 14 (e.g., a forward-facing user can view one side of display 14 and a rear-facing user can view the opposite side of display 14).

[0026] The armrest 60 may be formed between the left and right forward facing seats of the vehicle 10 on the left and right sides, respectively, and between the left and right rear facing seats of the vehicle 10 on the left and right sides, respectively. If desired, one or more displays may be mounted on the armrest 60. FIG. 8 illustrates how displays such as exemplary displays 14A, 14B, and 14C (e.g., single-sided touch screen displays) may be supported by the armrest 60. If desired, storage compartments such as cup holders 64, bins 66, and other structures may be formed in the armrest 60. The displays 14A, 14B, and / or 14C may be fixed to the armrest 60, or one or more of these displays may be removable from the armrest 60. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, the display 14B may be normally in a recess in the armrest 60. When the user wants to hold the display 14B in the user's hand, the user can remove the display 14B from the armrest 60 (see, for example, the removed display location 14B').

[0027] Another exemplary configuration of the armrest 60 is shown in FIG. 9. In the example of FIG. 9, the display 14D is movable between a stored position in which the display 14D is stored in a slot 68 inside the armrest 60 and a deployed position in which the display 14D is pulled out of the slot in a direction 70. In the deployed position 72, the display 14D extends outwardly from the armrest 60 such that an image on face AA of the display 14D may be viewed by a user seated in a nearby seat. If desired, the display 14D may be selectively deployed from the right or left of the armrest 60 such that a user seated to the left or right of the armrest can access the display. The display may also be mounted on a door (e.g., a door handle) and / or other vehicle structure accessible from the interior of the vehicle 10.

[0028] One or more cameras and / or sensors may be used to monitor users within the vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. 10, for example, the interior 79 may include one or more cameras, such as camera 74, that monitor users 76, 78, and 80. Camera 74 may be a two-dimensional or three-dimensional camera operating in ultraviolet, visible, and / or infrared wavelengths. Camera 74 may be used to measure hand gestures and other user inputs related to body movements, to track the direction of eye gaze of users 76, 78, and 80, to determine the head orientation of users 76, 78, and 80, as a vehicle occupant sensor to detect when a user is present inside the vehicle 10, and may otherwise be used to monitor the presence and behavior of users.

[0029] The display 14L of FIG. 10 may be a lenticular display or other display configured to display user-specific content to each user individually. By determining which user is looking at the display 14L, by determining the position of each user, and / or by monitoring the hand movements of each user, the control circuitry of the vehicle 10 may control the display 14L to display user-specific content for each user and may collect user input from each user individually. As an example, the display 14L may display a first image in a direction 82, a second image in a direction 84, and a third image in a direction 86. The first image may remain invisible to users 78 and 80 and be viewable by user 76. The second image may be viewable only by user 78. The third image may be invisible to users 76 and 78 but be viewable by user 80. The camera 74 may collect hand gestures or other user input from each individual user. With this type of arrangement, the vehicle 10 may provide customized user-specific content to each occupant of the vehicle 10. Each user can interact with the customized interactive image on display 14L using hand gesture input or other user-specific input. As with the other displays of vehicle 10, display 14L of FIG. 10 may be mounted inside the roof of vehicle 10, housed in an armrest, mounted in the dashboard, door, or other interior structure, and / or otherwise supported inside vehicle 10 for viewing by occupants of vehicle 10.

[0030] FIG. 11 is a flow chart of an exemplary operation relating to use of vehicle 10. During the operation of block 90, sensors of component 24 may be used to make measurements on the operation of vehicle 10, to collect sensor data from the interior of vehicle 10, to collect information about the external environment surrounding vehicle 10, to collect user input. Examples of information relating to the operation of vehicle 10 that may be collected include information about the state (open or closed) of door 18 from a door sensor, information about the speed, direction of travel, orientation, and attributes of steering and propulsion systems of vehicle 10 (e.g., whether vehicle 10 is parked, whether vehicle 10 is driving autonomously, the speed at which vehicle 10 is traveling, whether vehicle 10 is parked, etc.), etc. Vehicle position information (e.g., geographic location, movement, orientation, etc.) may be collected using an inertial measurement unit of component 24, using a global positioning system of component 24, and / or using other position sensors, as desired. Geographic vehicle location information (e.g., when compared to map data sources or other information sources) may indicate whether the vehicle 10 is in a parking lot, on a highway, near a particular service or road feature, etc. Examples of information that may be collected about the environment in which the vehicle 10 is operating include temperature information, precipitation information, road conditions and other weather information, traffic conditions, ambient light levels, location of nearby pedestrians, road sign text, etc. Examples of internal information that may be collected by sensors in the vehicle 10 include user inputs such as button press inputs, knob rotation inputs, touch sensor inputs (e.g., touch gestures, touch screen menu selections, etc.), air gestures (e.g., hand gestures) input from three-dimensional and / or two-dimensional camera systems, audio inputs collected by microphones, gaze direction information, head position and orientation, other body movements, etc. The sensors in the vehicle 10 may include door sensors that can sense door opening and closing events, seat pressure sensors that can sense which seat is occupied by a user, cameras and other sensors that detect human body temperature, body shape, and / or other user characteristics that enable these sensors to function as vehicle occupant sensors, and / or other sensors that monitor user presence and activity.

[0031] During the operation of block 92, a display, such as display 14, may be moved, media (still images and / or video) may be presented on display 14 (and accompanying audio may be played through speakers), and / or other aspects of operation of display 14 and / or other output devices within vehicle 10 may be adjusted based on the information collected during block 90. ​​As an example, consider a scenario in which display 14 is rotated or otherwise moved to a position abutting the roof of vehicle 10 or into a position within a recess in the roof of vehicle body 12 when vehicle 10 is parked. Vehicle 10 (e.g., control circuitry within vehicle 10) may use a user presence sensor to detect a user as the user enters vehicle 10. Vehicle 10 may, for example, use a door sensor to detect when a user opens a door, may use a seat pressure sensor to detect the arrival of a seated user, may use a camera to detect the presence of a user, or may use other sensors to determine that a user has entered the interior of vehicle 10. Information regarding which seat is occupied by the user may be obtained from a seat presence sensor circuit, one or more cameras, or other sensors, as desired. In response to a determination that one or more users have entered vehicle 10 or provided user input, in response to measurements of operating characteristics of vehicle 10, such as measurements of vehicle speed, parking status, autonomous driving status, etc., in response to conditions in the environment surrounding vehicle 10, and / or in response to conditions within vehicle 10, vehicle 10 (e.g., control circuitry within vehicle 10) may use a positioning device associated with display 14 to move display 14. As an example, vehicle 10 may use the positioning device to rotate display 14 back out of a recess in the roof of vehicle body 12 and / or otherwise deploy display 14 for use by one or more users within vehicle 10.If desired, the user may provide touch input to a touch-sensitive edge display on the display 14 while the display 14 is stored, thereby instructing the vehicle 10 to use a positioning device to rotate the display 14 from its stored position in the roof of the body 12 to a deployed position of the type shown in FIG. 4. Voice commands, hand gestures, button press inputs, and / or other user inputs may also be used as commands to deploy the display 14. These forms of user inputs (touch inputs, voice commands, button press inputs, hand gesture inputs, etc.) may also be used to interact with map applications, navigation applications, applications that control the vehicle environment, media playback applications, and / or other interactive content (interactive images) displayed on the display 14. In addition, this user input may be used to adjust the deployed position of the display 14 and / or may be used as a command to stow the display 14. If desired, the display 14 may be deployed using a positioning device to slide the display 14 out of a storage slot in the armrest 60, as described in connection with FIG. 9.

[0032] In addition to, or instead of, deploying the display 14 based on vehicle occupant detection or user input, the vehicle 10 may deploy (and retract) the display 14 in response to detecting that the vehicle 10 is moving (e.g., in response to detecting a transition from a parked state to a driving state), may be deployed in response to detecting the execution of an autonomous driving mode of the vehicle 10, or may be deployed in response to satisfaction of other criteria (e.g., one or more criteria associated with one or more of the sensor measurements of block 90).

[0033] Content can be displayed on one or both sides of the dual-sided display. For example, if a seat sensor, one or more cameras, or other sensor circuitry determines that only forward-facing users are in the vehicle 10, only the rear-facing side of the display 14 may be activated and used to display visual content. However, if a seat sensor, one or more cameras, or other sensor circuitry determines that both rear-facing and forward-facing users are present, both sides of the display 14 may be activated and used to display content. In some scenarios, the display 14 may be a lenticular display as shown in FIG. 10 (or a parallax barrier display or any other display capable of simultaneously displaying different images for different respective locations). In this type of arrangement, the vehicle 10 may display user-specific content to each detected user by adjusting the content output in the direction of each user on the lenticular display or other display. In general, any type of media may be presented to the users of the vehicle 10 (e.g., audio, still images, video, haptic output, etc.). In an exemplary configuration, moving images and accompanying audio (e.g., streaming video of a movie) may be presented on display 14, interactive application content (e.g., a navigation application, a shopping application, an Internet browser, and / or other application output presented using interactive images) may be presented on display 14, interactive images for vehicle control functions (e.g., climate control menus, navigation and driving menus, etc.) may be presented on display 14, and / or other content may be displayed using display 14.

[0034] During the operation of block 92, the display 14 may be moved to one or more positions (a stowed position and / or an deployed position) and / or other adjustments may be made (e.g., in response to a user command to ensure that content on the display 14 is viewable by a vehicle occupant, etc.). The data collection operations of block 90 may continue to be performed during the operation of block 92, as necessary, to allow the display 14 to be automatically stowed and / or otherwise adjusted (e.g., in response to detecting that a user has exited the vehicle 10, by monitoring a door sensor, a seat pressure sensor, a vehicle occupant monitoring camera, etc.). As an example, the display 14 may be moved into a recess in the roof of the body 12 in response to detecting that the vehicle 10 has been parked or is being driven manually instead of autonomously, in response to detecting that the vehicle 10 has exited a highway, in response to receiving a command from a user, in response to detecting that a door has been opened, in response to detecting the absence of seat pressure in a seat previously occupied by a user, etc.

[0035] As indicated by line 94, the operations of FIG. 11 may be performed continuously during operation of vehicle 10.

[0036] According to one embodiment, a vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle body having facing seats, a dual-sided display configured to be viewed from the facing seats in opposing first and second directions, a sensor configured to collect information, and a positioning device configured to move the dual-sided display in response to the collected information.

[0037] According to another embodiment, the vehicle body has an elongated roof member and a hinge coupling the dual-sided display to the elongated roof member, the positioning device being configured to rotate the dual-sided display about the hinge.

[0038] According to another embodiment, the sensor includes a sensor selected from the group consisting of a door sensor and a seat pressure sensor.

[0039] According to another embodiment, the sensor includes a camera in the interior region of the vehicle body.

[0040] According to another embodiment, a vehicle body has a roof with a recess configured to receive a dual-sided display.

[0041] According to another embodiment, the positioning device is configured to rotate the display between a stowed position in which one side of the dual-sided display is flush with the interior surface of the roof and a deployed position in which first and second opposing sides of the dual-sided display are visible from respective first and second head boxes associated with the facing seats.

[0042] According to another embodiment, the dual-sided display is configured to rotate about a hinge coupled to the vehicle body.

[0043] According to another embodiment, the facing seats include a forward facing seat and an opposing rear facing seat, and the dual sided display is coupled to the vehicle body between the forward facing seat and the opposing rear facing seat.

[0044] According to another embodiment, a dual-sided display has a first pixel array on a first side of the display and a second pixel array on an opposing second side of the display, and has a touch-sensitive edge display portion extending along a peripheral sidewall of the display.

[0045] According to another embodiment, the collected information includes information regarding vehicle operating conditions, and the positioning device is configured to move the dual-sided display in response to the collected information regarding the vehicle operating conditions.

[0046] According to another embodiment, a vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle body having a roof structure, a display coupled to the roof structure, the display having an edge display portion extending along a peripheral sidewall of the display, and a positioning device configured to move the display relative to the roof structure.

[0047] According to another embodiment, the roof structure includes a window separated by an elongated vehicle roof member extending between a front portion of the vehicle body and a rear portion of the body, and the vehicle includes a hinge coupling the display to the elongated vehicle roof member.

[0048] According to another embodiment, the vehicle includes a hinge coupling the display to a roof structure, and the positioning device is configured to move the display about the hinge in response to a touch input to the edge display portion.

[0049] According to another embodiment, the vehicle includes a sensor configured to collect information regarding vehicle movement, and the positioning device is configured to move the display between the stowed position and the deployed position based on the collected information.

[0050] According to another embodiment, the roof structure has a recess and the positioning device includes a movable member configured to move the display between a first position in which the display is received in the recess and a second position in which the display is not within the recess.

[0051] According to another embodiment, the vehicle includes a camera and the positioning device is configured to move the display in response to information collected by the camera.

[0052] According to another embodiment, the display is configured to display the first image at the first vehicle occupant location without displaying the first image at the second vehicle occupant location and is configured to simultaneously display the second image at the second vehicle occupant location without displaying the second image at the first vehicle occupant location.

[0053] According to another embodiment, the display is operable in a first mode in which the display presents video and in a second mode in which the display functions as a light configured to generate interior lighting for an interior area of ​​the vehicle body.

[0054] According to another embodiment, a vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle body having an interior area, first and second seats in the interior area, an armrest between the first and second seats, a display, and a positioning device configured to move the display from an inner side of the armrest to an outer side of the armrest.

[0055] According to another embodiment, the vehicle includes a sensor and the positioning device is configured to move the display in response to information gathered using the sensor.

[0056] According to another embodiment, the sensor includes a microphone and the positioning device is configured to move the display in response to voice commands received at the microphone.

[0057] According to another embodiment, the display is configured to display a first image at a first vehicle occupant location on the first seat without displaying the first image at a second vehicle occupant location on the second seat, and is configured to simultaneously display a second image at the second vehicle occupant location without displaying the second image at the first vehicle occupant location.

[0058] According to another embodiment, the vehicle includes a camera configured to collect a first user input from a first vehicle occupant location and adjust a first image based on the first user input, and to collect a second user input from a second vehicle occupant location and adjust the second image based on the second user input.

[0059] The above is merely illustrative and various modifications may be made to the described embodiments. The above embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Claims

1. A vehicle, A vehicle body having facing seats; a dual-sided display configured to be viewed from the facing seats in opposing first and second directions; A sensor configured to collect information; a positioning device configured to move the dual-sided display in response to the collected information; A vehicle equipped with.

2. 2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle body includes an elongated roof member and a hinge coupling the dual-sided display to the elongated roof member, and the positioning device is configured to rotate the dual-sided display about the hinge.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of a door sensor and a seat pressure sensor.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a camera in an interior region of the vehicle body.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle body has a roof having a recess configured to receive the dual-sided display.

6. 6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the positioning device is configured to rotate the dual-sided display between a stowed position in which one side of the dual-sided display is flush with an interior surface of the roof and a deployed position in which first and second opposing sides of the dual-sided display are visible from respective first and second head boxes associated with the facing seats.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the dual-sided display is configured to rotate about a hinge coupled to the vehicle body.

8. 8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the facing seats include a forward facing seat and an opposing rear facing seat, and the dual sided display is coupled to the vehicle body between the forward facing seat and the opposing rear facing seat.

9. 2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the dual-sided display has a first pixel array on a first side of the display and a second pixel array on an opposing second side of the display, and has a touch-sensitive edge display portion extending along a peripheral sidewall of the display.

10. 10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the collected information comprises information regarding vehicle operating conditions, and the positioning device is configured to move the dual-sided display in response to the collected information regarding vehicle operating conditions.

11. A vehicle, A vehicle body having a roof structure; a display coupled to the roof structure, the display having an edge display portion extending along a peripheral sidewall of the display; a positioning device configured to move the display relative to the roof structure; A vehicle equipped with.

12. 12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the roof structure comprises a window separated by an elongated vehicle roof member extending between a front portion of the vehicle body and a rear portion of the body, the vehicle further comprising a hinge coupling the display to the elongated vehicle roof member.

13. 12. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a hinge coupling the display to the roof structure, the positioning device configured to move the display about the hinge in response to a touch input to the edge display portion.

14. 12. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a sensor configured to collect information regarding vehicle movement, and wherein the positioning device is configured to move the display between a stowed position and a deployed position based on the collected information.

15. 12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the roof structure has a recess, and the positioning device comprises a movable member configured to move the display between a first position in which the display is received in the recess and a second position in which the display is not within the recess.

16. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a camera, the positioning device configured to move the display in response to information gathered by the camera.

17. 12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the display is configured to display the first image at a first vehicle occupant location without displaying the first image at a second vehicle occupant location, and configured to simultaneously display the second image at the second vehicle occupant location without displaying the second image at the first vehicle occupant location.

18. 12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the display is operable in a first mode in which the display presents video and in a second mode in which the display functions as a light configured to generate interior lighting for an interior area of ​​the vehicle body.

19. A vehicle, a vehicle body having an interior region; first and second sheets of the interior region; an armrest between the first and second seats; A display and a positioning device configured to move the display from an inner side of the armrest to an outer side of the armrest; A vehicle equipped with.

20. 20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the vehicle comprises a sensor, and the positioning device is configured to move the display in response to information gathered using the sensor.

21. 20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the sensor comprises a microphone, and the positioning device is configured to move the display in response to voice commands received at the microphone.

22. 20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the display is configured to display the first image at a first vehicle occupant location on the first seat without displaying the first image at a second vehicle occupant location on the second seat, and configured to simultaneously display the second image at the second vehicle occupant location without displaying the second image at the first vehicle occupant location.

23. collecting a first user input from the first vehicle occupant location and adjusting the first image based on the first user input; collecting a second user input from the second vehicle occupant location and adjusting the second image based on the second user input; 23. The vehicle of claim 22, further comprising a camera configured to:

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