Vehicle panel and viewing screen
A method and apparatus includes a vehicle panel that is moveable between a closed position and an open position and a viewing screen that is supported relative to an inner surface of the vehicle panel. The viewing screen is moveable between an internal viewing position and an external viewing position when the vehicle panel is in the open position.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a vehicle panel moveable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the vehicle panel has an external surface and an internal surface; and
a viewing screen supported relative to an inner surface of the vehicle panel, wherein the viewing screen is moveable between an internal viewing position and an external viewing position when the vehicle panel is in the open position, and wherein the viewing screen faces the internal surface of the vehicle panel when the vehicle panel is in the closed position.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , including a coupling mechanism to attach the vehicle panel to a vehicle structure such that, when the vehicle panel is in the open position, the vehicle panel is moveable to a first position for the internal viewing position and a second position for the external viewing position, the first position being different than the second position.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the coupling mechanism includes a first coupler on one side of the vehicle panel and a second coupler on an opposite side of the vehicle panel.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first coupler and the second coupler comprise linkage assemblies with one or more power strut actuators.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , including a screen pivot coupling the viewing screen to the vehicle panel such that the viewing screen is moveable amongst a plurality of viewing positions.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
when in the internal viewing position, the viewing screen is moveable via the screen pivot between at least an upright position and a reclined position that is non-parallel with the upright position, and
when in the external viewing position, the viewing screen is moveable via the screen pivot to an outward facing position.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein, when in the internal viewing position, the viewing screen has a lower edge, and wherein when the viewing screen is pivoted from the upright position to the outward facing position the lower edge of the viewing screen becomes an upper edge.
8 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
occupant height is measured, and wherein screen tilt angle and/or occupant location position is automatically adjusted to align the viewing screen with an occupant face, or
screen tilt angle is automatically adjusted to align the viewing screen with an occupant face in response to detecting a reclined position for an occupant.
9 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the screen pivot comprises a powered actuator.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle panel encloses a compartment when in the closed position.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle panel comprises a trunk or frunk.
12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the inner surface of the vehicle panel comprises a non-reflective surface, and/or wherein a surface area of the compartment is coated with a liner material that withstands external weather conditions.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , including a rigid cover overlapping a viewing surface of the viewing screen when the vehicle panel is in the closed position, and wherein the rigid cover is selectively removeable when the vehicle panel is in the open position.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle panel extends from one edge of a vehicle to an opposite edge of the vehicle and wherein the viewing screen is completely covered by the vehicle panel when the vehicle panel is in the closed position.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , including a securement mechanism that is connected to the vehicle panel to hold the vehicle panel in place during travel and to steady the viewing screen in response to road inputs when the vehicle panel is in the closed position.
16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle panel comprises an outer panel attached to an inner panel that includes reinforcements providing a load path between screen mounting structures and the securement mechanism.
17 . A method comprising:
moving a vehicle panel between a closed position and an open position, wherein the vehicle panel has an external surface and an internal surface;
supporting a viewing screen relative to an inner surface of the vehicle panel;
selectively moving the viewing screen between an internal viewing position and an external viewing position when the vehicle panel is in the open position; and
positioning the viewing screen to face the internal surface of the vehicle panel when the vehicle panel is in the closed position.
18 . The method of claim 17 , including coupling the vehicle panel to a vehicle structure, the method further including:
moving the vehicle panel to a first open position to provide the internal viewing position, and
moving the vehicle panel to a second open position to provide the external viewing position, the first open position being different from the second open position.
19 . The method of claim 18 , including coupling one side of the vehicle panel to the vehicle structure with a first coupling mechanism and coupling an opposite side of the vehicle panel to the vehicle structure with a second coupling mechanism.
20 . The method of claim 17 , including coupling the viewing screen to the vehicle panel with a screen pivot that allows the viewing screen to be pivoted at least 90 degrees relative to an inner surface of the vehicle panel to provide a plurality of different viewing positions.
21 . The method of claim 17 , including:
measuring occupant height, and automatically adjusting screen tilt angle and/or automatically adjusting occupant location position to align the viewing screen with an occupant face, or
automatically adjusting screen tilt angle to align the viewing screen with an occupant face in response to detecting a reclined position for an occupant.
22 . The method of claim 21 , including covering the inner surface of the vehicle panel with a non-reflective material, and/or coating a surface of a storage compartment area associated with the viewing screen with a liner material that withstands external weather conditions.
23 . The method of claim 17 , including overlaying a rigid cover over a viewing surface of the viewing screen when the vehicle panel is in the closed position, and selectively removing the rigid cover when the vehicle panel is in the open position.
24 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the vehicle panel extends from one edge of a vehicle to an opposite edge of the vehicle, and including completely covering the viewing screen with the vehicle panel when the vehicle panel is in the closed position.
25 . The method of claim 17 , including connecting a securement mechanism to the vehicle panel to hold the vehicle panel in place during travel and to steady the viewing screen in response to road inputs when the vehicle panel is in the closed position.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the vehicle panel comprises an outer panel attached to an inner panel that includes reinforcements providing a load path between screen mounting structures and the securement mechanism.