Modular display assembly for vehicles
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsAntonio E. Sanchez Aguilar, Masatoshi Kubota, Tomoya Hagihara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular display system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of display units that may be arranged along an exterior of the vehicle in different orientations. The system offers a modular, scalable, accessible, and simplified approach to exterior displays for automated and other types of vehicles. The displays, being modular, are not tied to the specific mounting location on the vehicle's exterior. The image data for each display is rotated based on the orientation of the display as installed which is identified by reference to the distinct pin connections of each display's control port.
Claims20
A modular display system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a first port provided along a first portion of the vehicle and a second port provided along a second portion of the vehicle, the second port including a first pin of a first pin type and second pin of the second pin type;
- a plurality of substantially identical display units including a first display unit and a second display unit, wherein:
- the first display unit is mounted on the first port in a first orientation;
- the second display unit is mounted on the second port in a second orientation that differs from the first orientation by a first rotation increment;
- and
- a display control module configured to convey image data to the first display unit and the second display unit, where the image data provided to the second display unit is rotated by the first rotation increment when only the second pin is connected to ground, and no rotation of the image data occurs when both the first pin and the second pin are connected to ground.
A method of displaying image data on an exterior of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- transmitting first image data to a first display mounted at a first orientation on a first portion of the exterior of the vehicle;
- presenting a first image on a screen for the first display based on the first image data;
- transmitting the first image data to a second display mounted at a second orientation on a second portion of the exterior of the vehicle, the second orientation being rotated by a first increment relative to the first orientation;
- automatically rotating the first image data by the first increment before presenting a second image on a screen for the second display, the second image based on the rotated first image data;
- and
- wherein the first image data is automatically rotated in response to detection of a first connection pattern for the second display that is different than a second connection pattern for the first display unit, and the first connection pattern includes one or more ground connections and the second connection pattern has no ground connections.
A vehicle incorporating a modular display system, the vehicle comprising:
- a first control port comprising a first set of pins including a first pin of a first pin type and a second pin of a second pin type that differs from the first pin type formed on a first portion of an exterior of the vehicle;
- a first display unit connected to the first control port;
- and
- a display control module configured to automatically reorient image data for presentation on the first display unit only when either:
- there is no connection to ground by either the first pin or the second pin, or
- only the first pin of the first set of pins is connected to ground, and
- wherein the display control module is otherwise configured to maintain an original orientation of the image data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.