# US 12,009,851 B2 · Aftermarket head unit installation kit for use with salvaged original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicle controls > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,009,851 B2 - Document ID: US12009851B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/069,550 - Filed: 2020-10-13 - Published: 2021-01-28 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-03 - Assignees: AAMP of Florida, Inc. - Applicants: AAMP of Florida, Inc. - Inventors: Brett D. Riggs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009851B2 ## CPC - H04B 1/3822: specially adapted for use in vehicles (H04B1/3827 takes precedence) - B60R 11/0205: {for radio sets (B60R11/0211 takes precedence)} - G06F 3/0362: with detection of one-dimensional [1D] translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts - B60R 2011/0005: {Dashboard} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method of installing an aftermarket head unit for an aftermarket radio in a vehicle. The method includes removing an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) autosound head unit from the vehicle, removing a plurality of OEM knob assemblies from the removed OEM head unit, installing in the vehicle an aftermarket head unit, wherein the aftermarket head unit includes a panel having a plurality of apertures for receiving and engaging the plurality of OEM knob assemblies, and installing each of the plurality of OEM knob assemblies in an individual one of the plurality of apertures of the aftermarket head unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of installing a replacement head unit in a vehicle, the method comprising: removing an original head unit from the vehicle, the original head unit including an original circuit board; removing a plurality of original knob assemblies from the removed original head unit; installing in the vehicle the replacement head unit, wherein the replacement head unit includes a panel having a plurality of apertures for receiving and engaging the plurality of original knob assemblies, wherein installing the replacement head unit includes installing a replacement circuit board configured to replicate the functionality of the original circuit board; installing each of the plurality of original knob assemblies in an individual one of the plurality of apertures of the replacement head unit; and operatively coupling the plurality of original knob assemblies directly to the replacement circuit board to enable the replacement circuit board to receive an input from one of the plurality of original knob assemblies upon actuation of the one of the plurality of original knob assemblies. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the replacement circuit board receives the input in response to rotation of at least one of the original knob assemblies, and wherein, in response to the input, the replacement circuit board is configured to send signals to the vehicle via at least one from the group consisting of a data bus, a hardwired connection, and a wireless connection. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the removed original head unit includes an original display, and wherein installing the replacement head unit further includes installing a replacement display unit, the replacement display unit being a single DIN size, and wherein the method further includes installing a pocket configured to occupy additional space not occupied by the replacement display unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising removing a plurality of detent retainers from the original head unit; and installing each of the plurality of detent retainers in the replacement head unit, wherein the replacement head unit includes a plurality of detent retainer seats for receiving and engaging the plurality of detent retainers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the replacement circuit board includes a front-on profile that is less than a front-on profile of the original circuit board. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the removed original head unit includes an original display, and wherein installing the replacement head unit further includes installing a replacement display unit, the replacement display unit being larger than the original display unit, and wherein the replacement circuit board is sized and shaped to accommodate the larger replacement display unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the original display is a single DIN size and the replacement display unit is a double DIN size. ### Claim 8 A method of installing a replacement head unit in a vehicle any time after removal of an original head unit in the vehicle, the original head unit including a plurality of original knob assemblies and an original circuit board configured to receive signals from the original knob assemblies, the method comprising: installing a panel within the vehicle, the panel including a plurality of apertures, each of the plurality of apertures configured to receive one of the plurality of original knob assemblies; installing a replacement circuit board within the vehicle, the replacement circuit board configured to replicate functionality of the original circuit board; installing the plurality of original knob assemblies within the plurality of apertures of the panel; operatively coupling the plurality of original knob assemblies directly to the replacement circuit board to enable the replacement circuit board to receive an input from one of the plurality of original knob assemblies upon actuation of the one of the plurality of original knob assemblies; and installing a replacement display unit within the panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the replacement display is a single DIN size, and wherein the method further includes installing a pocket configured to occupy additional space not occupied by the replacement display unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the replacement circuit board receives the input in response to rotation of at least one of the original knob assemblies. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein installing the plurality of original knob assemblies within the panel includes installing a plurality of detent members configured to rotatably engage the original knob assemblies within the apertures of the panel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of detent members include a plurality of detent retainers removed from the original head unit and a plurality of detent seats configured to receive and engage the plurality of detent retainers within the replacement head unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the replacement circuit board includes a front-on profile that is less than a front-on profile of the original circuit board. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the replacement display unit is larger than an original display unit, and wherein the replacement circuit board is sized and shaped to accommodate the larger replacement display unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the original display is a single DIN size and the replacement display unit is a double DIN size. ### Claim 16 A method of installing a replacement head unit in a vehicle any time after removal of an original head unit in the vehicle, the original head unit including a plurality of original knob assemblies, an original circuit board configured to receive signals from the original knob assemblies, and an original display, the method comprising: installing a panel within the vehicle, the panel including a plurality of circular apertures and a rectangular aperture, each of the plurality of circular apertures configured to receive one of the plurality of original knob assemblies; installing a replacement circuit board within the vehicle, the replacement circuit board configured to replicate functionality of the original circuit board; installing the plurality of original knob assemblies within the plurality of circular apertures of the panel; operatively coupling the plurality of original knob assemblies directly to the replacement circuit board to enable the replacement circuit board to receive an input from one of the plurality of original knob assemblies upon actuation of the one of the plurality of original knob assemblies; configuring the replacement circuit board to send signals from the plurality of original knob assemblies to the vehicle via at least one from the group consisting of a data bus, a hardwired connection, and a wireless connection; and installing a replacement display unit within the rectangular aperture of the panel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the replacement circuit board has a front-on profile that is less than 60% of a front-on profile of the original circuit board. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the replacement display unit is a double DIN size and the original display unit is a single DIN size.