Vehicle computer system

A vehicle computer system comprising:

• a housing of a size suitable to be mounted in a vehicle dashboard, the housing having first and second support structures that can be physically connected to, or separated from, one another;
• a first processing unit mounted to the first support structure of the housing to provide first processing and control capabilities;
• a second processing unit mounted to the second support structure of the housing to provide second processing and control capabilities;
• a busing subsystem to electrically interconnect the first and second processing units when the first and second support structures are physically connected to one another;
• and
• the first processing unit, the second processing unit, and the busing subsystem being arranged within the housing so that the vehicle computer system conforms to a form factor for mounting in the vehicle dashboard.

An vehicle computer system comprising:

• a housing having a base unit and a faceplate;
• a support module mounted to the base unit, the support module having a communications bus and first and second interfacing slots to provide access to the communications bus;
• a first processor mounted to the faceplate to form a faceplate module, the faceplate module being compatibly connected to the first interfacing slot of the support module;
• a computer module having a second processor, the computer module being compatibly connected to the second interfacing slot of the support module;
• and
• the communications bus electronically interconnecting the faceplate module, the computer module, and the support module.

A vehicle entertainment/communication system comprising:

• a base unit of a size suitable to be mounted in a vehicle dashboard;
• a faceplate detachably connected to the base unit;
• an entertainment player;
• a processor mounted to the faceplate to form a faceplate module, the processor being configured to control the entertainment player when the faceplate module is attached to the base unit;
• and
• an RF receiver provided in the faceplate module and operatively coupled to the processor, the faceplate module being operable as a portable RF receiving device to receive RF signals when the faceplate module is detached from the base unit.

A vehicle computer system comprising:

• a housing of a size suitable to be mounted in a vehicle dashboard;
• a computer mounted within the housing;
• a graphical display monitor separate and remotely located from the housing, but electrically coupled as a peripheral to the computer, the computer controlling graphical data output to the graphical display monitor;
• and
• the graphical display monitor having an automatic override switch that is activated when the display is viewable by the driver to prevent display of non-driving related information.

A portable RF electronics device for use in conjunction with a vehicle entertainment system, the vehicle entertainment system having a base unit sized to be mounted in a vehicle dashboard and a player mounted in the base unit, the portable RF electronics device comprising:

• a faceplate having a physical coupling assembly which enables the faceplate to be attached to or detached from the base unit of the vehicle entertainment system;
• a processor mounted to the faceplate to form a faceplate module, the faceplate module having an electrical interface which compatibly couples to an interface on the base unit to permit data communication from the faceplate module to the player, the processor being configured to control the player device when the faceplate module is electrically coupled to the base unit;
• and
• an RF receiver provided in the faceplate module and operatively coupled to the processor, the faceplate module being operable as a portable RF receiving device to receive RF signals when the faceplate module is physically detached from the base unit.