Vehicle Smartphone Mount With Dynamic Orientation and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for positioning smartphones in vehicles, such as cup holders or trays, obstruct the display and make controls inaccessible, limiting user experience by not allowing optimal orientation or angular positioning for viewing and operation.
Innovation Solution
A movable support system that automatically positions and orients a smartphone based on vehicle status data and content type, using a robotic arm with magnetic and electrical connections to adjust orientation and angular position, and integrates with the vehicle's cooling system for temperature management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the smartphone is positioned in a cup holder, then the smartphone is secured in a fixed location, but the display screen is obstructed and limited to portrait view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a robotic arm with multiple degrees of freedom that can dynamically adjust the smartphone's position and orientation. The arm moves the smartphone between different angular positions (driver-oriented, passenger-oriented, center console) and screen orientations (portrait, landscape) based on vehicle status and content type, transforming a static cup holder solution into a dynamic positioning system.
2Reliability
If the smartphone is positioned in a tray or pocket, then the smartphone is secured, but the controls are inaccessible and the display is at a difficult viewing angle
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm provides dynamic positioning that adjusts the smartphone's angular position and screen orientation based on the operator's needs. The system can position the display at optimal viewing angles and make controls accessible by adjusting the phone's orientation, rather than fixing it at a static, inconvenient position in a tray or pocket.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameters (angular position, height, orientation) of the smartphone based on vehicle status data and content type. The controller adjusts these parameters to optimize viewing angle and control accessibility for different driving conditions and content categories.
3Ease of operation
If a movable support system with robotic arm is implemented, then optimal viewing angles and control accessibility are achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm system is designed to perform multiple functions: positioning the smartphone for different viewing angles, adjusting screen orientation (portrait/landscape), securing the device, and integrating with vehicle systems. This multi-functionality justifies the increased complexity by providing comprehensive control over smartphone positioning and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically determines the target position and orientation based on vehicle status data and content type without requiring manual intervention. The controller autonomously controls the robotic arm's movement, making the system self-regulating and reducing the operational burden on the user despite the increased mechanical complexity.
4Productivity
If the smartphone is used actively, then the smartphone provides functionality and data sharing, but the temperature increases requiring cooling management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the smartphone cooling function with the vehicle's existing climate control system. The HVAC system is integrated with the robotic arm positioning system, allowing the vehicle's cooling infrastructure to serve dual purposes: cabin temperature control and smartphone thermal management. This combination addresses the heating issue without requiring a separate cooling mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances user experience by providing optimal viewing angles and control accessibility, while maintaining the smartphone's temperature through cooled air supply, addressing the limitations of existing solutions.
Implementation Method 1
The movable support includes a connection element configured to connect magnetically and electrically to a portable computing device
Implementation Method 2
The cooling system cooperates with the vent structure to create at least one path of cooled air. The movable support is configured to support a portable computing device in the at least one path of cooled air
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a movable support for orienting and positioning a portable computing device in a vehicle includes supporting the portable computing device with the movable support, and receiving status data based on a status of the vehicle with a controller. The method also includes determining a target orientation of the portable computing device based on the status data with the controller, the target orientation including one of a portrait screen orientation and a landscape screen orientation, and determining a target angular position of the portable computing device based on the status data, the target angular position including one of a driver-oriented position and a passenger-oriented position. The method further includes using the controller to move the movable support to position the portable computing device in the target orientation and the target angular position.