Media device interface system and method for vehicle information systems

A user interface system suitable for use with a vehicle entertainment system being suitable for installation aboard a passenger vehicle and being in communication with a content source, comprising:

• a passenger control system for selecting among viewing content available from the content source and for controlling a presentation of the selected viewing content, said passenger control system being disposed upon an interface system housing;
• a presentation system for presenting the selected viewing content and being disposed upon the interface system housing;
• and
• a break-away connector system being disposed within a recessed region of said interface system housing, said break-away connector system for enabling a peripheral device to be coupled with, and readily separated from, said interface system housing, said break-away connector system including a system communication connector for providing a flat surface-to-surface coupling with a peripheral communication connector of the peripheral device, said system communication connector and said peripheral communication connector having identical flat contacts on each surface and not being concaved.

A method for manufacturing a vehicle information system, comprising:

• providing a headend system for providing overall system control functions for the vehicle information system and for communicating with a content source;
• providing an interface system housing;
• disposing a passenger control system on said interface system housing, said passenger control system for selecting among viewing content available from the content source and for controlling a presentation of the selected viewing content;
• disposing a presentation system on said interface system housing, said presentation system for presenting the selected viewing content;
• disposing a break-away connector system on said interface system housing, said break-away connector system for enabling a peripheral device to be coupled with, and readily separated from, the interface system housing, said break-away connector system including a system communication connector for providing a flat surface-to-surface coupling with a peripheral communication connector of the peripheral device, said system communication connector and said peripheral communication connector having identical flat contacts on each surface and not being concaved, the break-away connector system further including a system magnet system for providing a magnetic coupling with a peripheral magnet system of the peripheral communication connector;
• and
• coupling said presentation system with said headend system via a distribution system.