Media portal for vehicle
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsJing Zhang, Jocelyn J. Lau, Michael H. Thomas, Russell Lewis Ernest Blanchard, Marko Macura
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A media portal for a vehicle includes a structure within a vehicle passenger compartment that defines a cavity. The cavity is selectively variable in size in order to retain a portable electronic device. A sensor is configured to detect the presence of the portable electronic device in the cavity. An inductive charger is positioned to generate a changing magnetic field in the cavity to inductively charge a battery of the portable electronic device. At least one user interface device is included through which data can be received from or transmitted to the portable electronic device.
Claims19
A vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment;
- structure that defines a cavity in the passenger compartment, wherein the cavity is selectively variable in size to retain a portable electronic device;
- a sensor configured to detect the presence of the portable electronic device in the passenger compartment;
- a indicator source configured to generate a signal in response to the sensor detecting the presence of the portable electronic device;
- an inductive charger, wherein the inductive charger is sufficiently positioned to generate a changing magnetic field in the cavity to inductively charge a battery of the portable electronic device, when the portable electronic device is at least partially within the cavity;
- wireless connectivity hardware configured to establish wireless connectivity with the portable electronic device in the cavity;
- and
- at least one user interface device through which data can be received from or transmitted to the portable electronic device via the wireless connectivity hardware.
A media portal for use with a portable device comprising:
- structure that defines a cavity, wherein the cavity is selectively variable in size to retain the portable electronic device;
- a sensor configured to detect the presence of the portable electronic device proximate to the structure;
- an indicator configured to generate a signal in response to the sensor detecting the presence of the portable electronic device;
- an inductive charger, wherein the inductive charger is sufficiently positioned to generate a changing magnetic field in the cavity to inductively charge a battery of the portable electronic device, when the portable electronic device is at least partially within the cavity;
- wireless connectivity hardware configured to establish a wireless connection with the portable electronic device in the cavity;
- and
- at least one user interface device through which data can be received from or transmitted to the portable electronic device via the wireless connectivity hardware.
A method of charging an electronic device comprising:
- providing a structure defining a cavity for receiving the electronic device;
- detecting the presence of the electronic device at least partially within the cavity;
- providing an activation signal in response to detecting the presence of the electronic device;
- adjusting the structure to selectively vary the size of the cavity in response to the activation signal;
- and
- providing an inductive charge to the electronic device in response to the activation signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.