# US 2019/0168682 A1 · In-vehicle fixing structure

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2019/0168682 A1
- Document ID: US20190168682A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/201,630
- Filed: 2018-11-27
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; DENSO TEN Limited
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; DENSO TEN Limited
- Inventors: Masanobu WASHIO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168682A1

## CPC

- B60R 11/02: for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
- B65G 13/065: {with displacement of the roller}
- B65G 39/18: for guiding loads
- G06F 1/1626: {with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]}
- G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations}
- G06F 1/1633: {Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626}
- B60R 2011/0005: {Dashboard}
- B60R 2011/0075: {using a containment or docking space}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An in-vehicle fixing structure for a small information terminal includes an insertion portion, a housing accommodating, and a controller. The controller controls the conveying roller to automatically convey the small information terminal to the normal position in a case where the small information terminal abuts the stopper, controls the shutter to close the insertion slot in a case where the sensor detects that the small information terminal has been automatically conveyed to the normal position after the automatic conveyance of the small information terminal by the conveying roller is started, and controls the connector connection device to connect the small information terminal and the external device to each other by moving the connector of the external device toward the connector of the small information terminal and fitting the connector of the external device to the connector of the small information terminal after the shutter closes the insertion slot.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An in-vehicle fixing structure for a small information terminal, the in-vehicle fixing structure comprising:
an insertion portion including an insertion slot into which the small information terminal is inserted, the insertion portion including a shutter configured to selectively close and open the insertion slot;
a housing that accommodates the small information terminal inserted from the insertion slot, the housing including a guide rail, a stopper, a conveying roller, a sensor, and a connector connection device inside the housing, the guide rail being configured to guide the small information terminal, the stopper being configured to regulate manual pushing of the small information terminal, the conveying roller being configured to automatically convey the small information terminal to a predetermined normal position, the sensor being configured to detect whether the small information terminal has been automatically conveyed to the normal position, the connector connection device being configured to move a connector of an external device to a connector of the small information terminal, selectively fit the connector of the external device to the connector of the small information terminal, and separate the connector of the external device from the connector of the small information terminal; and
a controller configured to
control the conveying roller to automatically convey the small information terminal to the normal position in a case where the small information terminal abuts the stopper,
control the shutter to close the insertion slot in a case where the sensor detects that the small information terminal has been automatically conveyed to the normal position after the automatic conveyance of the small information terminal by the conveying roller is started, and
control the connector connection device to connect the small information terminal and the external device to each other by moving the connector of the external device toward the connector of the small information terminal and fitting the connector of the external device to the connector of the small information terminal after the shutter closes the insertion slot.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The in-vehicle fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to
control the connector connection device to separate the connector of the external device from the small information terminal in a case where an instruction to release the connection between the small information terminal and the external device is received,
control the shutter to open the insertion slot in a case where the connector of the external device is separated from the small information terminal, and
control the conveying roller to eject the small information terminal from the insertion slot after the insertion slot is opened.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The in-vehicle fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to
output an error message in a case where the connection between the small information terminal and the external device fails,
control the shutter to open the insertion slot in a case where the connector of the external device is separated from the small information terminal, and
control the conveying roller to eject the small information terminal from the insertion slot after the insertion slot is opened.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The in-vehicle fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein:
the guide rail is configured to selectively hold both side surfaces and an upper surface of the small information terminal toward a center of the housing; and
the controller is configured to control the guide rail to hold the both side surfaces and the upper surface of the small information terminal toward the center of the housing in a case where the small information terminal abuts the stopper.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The in-vehicle fixing structure according to claim 4, wherein the guide rail includes a pair of guides having an inverted L-shape in a sectional view.