# US 9,434,255 B2 · Method and apparatus for varying a position of at least one component of an infotainment system in the interior of a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,434,255 B2 - Document ID: US9434255B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/618,236 - Filed: 2015-02-10 - Published: 2015-08-13 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-12 - Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Volkswagen AG - Inventors: Lennart Bendewald; Linn Hackenberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434255B2 ## CPC - B60N 2/02: the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable (adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806) - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/223: {Flexible displays} - B60K 35/29: Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions - B60K 35/55: Instruments with parts that can change their shape or position to configure an active screen, e.g. by folding or by rolling - B60N 2/06: slidable (B60N2/12 {, B60N2/2209} take precedence) - B62D 1/181: with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory - B62D 15/00: Steering not otherwise provided for - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60K 2360/1868: according to driving situations - B60K 2360/195: Blocking or enabling display functions - B60N 2/0272: {using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts} - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A method for altering a position of at least one component of an infotainment system in the interior of a vehicle. The method involves ascertaining whether the vehicle is in a first travel mode or a second travel mode, wherein the first travel mode involves the vehicle being driven by a person and/or the second travel mode involves the vehicle not being driven by a person. If the vehicle is in a second travel mode, a first vehicle component is moved from a first position to a third position in the interior of the vehicle and the component of the infotainment system is moved from a second position to a fourth position in the interior of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for altering a position of a touch screen of an in-vehicle infotainment system in a vehicle interior with a person in a driver seat of the vehicle interior, the method comprising: ascertaining a travel mode of the vehicle of a plurality of travel modes comprising a first travel mode and a second travel mode, wherein the first travel mode involves the vehicle being driven by the person in the driver seat and the second travel mode involves the vehicle not being driven by the person in the driver seat; determining, by a control device, that the person switches the travel mode of the vehicle from the first travel mode to the second travel mode; ascertaining, by the control device, that a steering wheel of the vehicle is in a first position in the vehicle interior; ascertaining, by the control device, that the touch screen is in a second position, wherein the second position of the touch screen is located in a combination instrument panel of the vehicle interior, wherein the first position of the steering wheel is closer in proximity to the person than the second position of the touch screen; and in response to ascertainment that the vehicle is in the second travel mode, by the control device, moving the steering wheel from the first position to a third position in the vehicle interior, moving the touch screen with a movement device from the second position to a fourth position in the vehicle interior through an opening in the steering wheel such that the fourth position of the touch screen is moved closer in proximity to the person than the third position of the steering wheel, wherein, in response to the touch screen being moved to the fourth position through the opening of the steering wheel, a size of the touch screen is altered by the control device such that the touch screen at the fourth position is within a manual reach of the person in the driver seat without a need of reaching the steering wheel which is at the third position behind the touch screen and is out of reach from the person in the second travel mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: moving a second vehicle component from a fifth position to a sixth position in the vehicle interior when the vehicle is in the second travel mode; and ascertaining a direction of movement of the second vehicle component, wherein a direction of movement of the touch screen is dependent on the ascertained direction of movement of the second vehicle component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the second vehicle component is the driver seat which is movable between a rear position and a front position, wherein the fifth position is the driver seat front position and the sixth position is the driver seat rear position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 further comprising tracking the movement of the touch screen to the movement of the driver seat until the fourth position of the touch screen and the sixth position of the driver seat maintain a preset distance between the fourth position of the touch screen and the sixth position of the driver seat such that the touch screen is within manual reach of the person in the driver seat. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein, the size alteration of the touch screen is implemented by laterally extending additional modules on at least one side of the touch screen so as to provide an expanded operating space that is within a manual reach of the person in the driver seat without a need of reaching the steering wheel which is positioned behind the touch screen and is out of reach of the person in the second travel mode. ### Claim 6 A system for altering a position of a touch screen of an in-vehicle infotainment system in a vehicle interior with a person in a driver seat of the vehicle interior, the system comprising: a steering wheel movable from a first position to a third position in the vehicle interior; a movement device that moves the touch screen from a second position to a fourth position in the vehicle interior in response to a signal indicating that the vehicle has been controlled to change from a first travel mode to a second travel mode, wherein the first travel mode involves the vehicle being driven by the person in the driver seat and the second travel mode involves the vehicle not being driven by the person in the driver seat; and a control device that moves the steering wheel from the first position to the third position, and actuates the movement device to move the touch screen from the second position to the fourth position, wherein when the touch screen is moved from the second position to the fourth position, the touch screen moves through an opening in the steering wheel such that the touch screen is closer in proximity to the person in the driver seat than the steering wheel when the steering wheel is in the third position, wherein, in response to the touch screen being moved to the fourth position through the opening of the steering wheel, a size of the touch screen is altered by the control device such that the touch screen at the fourth position is within a manual reach of the person in the driver seat without a need of reaching the steering wheel which is at the third position behind the touch screen and is out of reach from the person in the second travel mode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the control device moves a second vehicle component from a fifth position to a sixth position in the vehicle interior when the vehicle is in the second travel mode, wherein a direction of movement of the touch screen is dependent on an ascertained direction of movement of the second vehicle component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein a display area of touch screen, at the fourth position in the vehicle interior expands by additional modules on at least one side. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the second vehicle component is the driver seat which is movable between a rear position and a front position, wherein the fifth position is the driver seat front position and the sixth position is the driver seat rear position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the control device tracks the movement of the touch screen to the movement of the driver seat until the fourth position of the touch screen and the sixth position of the driver seat maintain a preset distance between the fourth position of the touch screen and the sixth position of the driver seat such that the touch screen is within manual reach of the person in the driver seat.