Synchronized display system
View Patent ↗A system and method of use is provided that monitors the position of a vehicle seat and automatically adjusts the location of a vehicle display based on the current seat position, thereby helping to alleviate the eye strain, fatigue, neck and back pain that often accompany the improper use of a monitor for an extended period of time.
1. A display positioning system, comprising:
a flat panel display screen mounted within and to a vehicle, wherein said flat panel display screen is mounted to a roof portion of said vehicle, wherein said flat panel display screen is adjustable within a range of display positions;
a display positioning system coupled to said flat panel display screen;
a vehicle seat adjustable within a range of seat positions, wherein said range of seat positions includes a first range corresponding to fore-aft seat positions, a second range corresponding to seat height positions, and a third range corresponding to seat recline positions;
a vehicle seat position sensor, wherein said vehicle seat position sensor outputs seat position data corresponding to a current seat position, wherein said current seat position is within said range of seat positions;
a memory, wherein stored within said memory is a look-up table providing a plurality of compatible display positions, wherein each of said plurality of compatible display positions correspond to a specific seat position within said range of seat positions, wherein said plurality of compatible display positions maintains a flat panel display screen viewing distance throughout said range of seat positions, wherein said plurality of compatible display positions maintains a flat panel display screen viewing height throughout said range of seat positions, and wherein said plurality of compatible display positions maintains a flat panel display screen viewing angle throughout said range of seat positions; and
a control system coupled to said display positioning system and to said vehicle seat position sensor and to said memory, wherein said control system monitors said seat position data and utilizes said look-up table to select a current display position from said plurality of compatible display positions based on said current seat position, and wherein said control system automatically adjusts said flat panel display screen with said display positioning system to said current display position within said range of display positions in response to said current seat position.
2. The display positioning system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface coupled to said control system, wherein said control system is configured to accept a set of display settings input via said user interface, wherein said set of display settings include at least one of said flat panel display screen viewing distance, said flat panel display screen viewing height, and said flat panel display screen viewing angle, and wherein said control system adjusts said plurality of compatible display positions to maintain said set of display settings throughout said range of available seat positions.
3. The display positioning system of claim 1 , said display positioning system further comprising an electro-mechanical positioning system.
4. The display positioning system of claim 1 , said display positioning system further comprising a hydraulic positioning system.
5. The display positioning system of claim 1 , further comprising a linkage assembly controllable by said display positioning system, wherein said flat panel display screen is mounted to said roof portion of said vehicle with said linkage assembly, and wherein said display positioning system and said control system utilizes said linkage assembly to adjust said flat panel display screen to said current display position.
6. The display positioning system of claim 5 , said linkage assembly further comprising a track mounted to said roof portion of said vehicle, wherein a link of said linkage assembly slides within said track, wherein a position of said link within said track is controlled by said display positioning system, and wherein said display positioning system and said control system utilizes said link of said linkage assembly to adjust said flat panel display screen to said current display position.
7. The display positioning system of claim 5 , said linkage assembly further comprising a telescoping link, wherein a link length corresponding to said telescoping link is controlled by said display positioning system, and wherein said display positioning system and said control system utilizes said telescoping link of said linkage assembly to adjust said flat panel display screen to said current display position.
8. The display positioning system of claim 5 , said linkage assembly further comprising a first link and a second link, wherein a first end portion of said first link is pivotably coupled to said flat panel display screen, wherein a first end portion of said second link is pivotably coupled to a second end portion of said first link, and wherein a second end portion of said second link is pivotably coupled to said vehicle, and wherein said display positioning system and said control system utilizes said linkage assembly to adjust said flat panel display screen to said current display position.
9. The display positioning system of claim 8 , said linkage assembly further comprising a track mounted to said roof portion of said vehicle, wherein said second end portion of said second link slides within said track, and wherein a position of said second end portion of said second link within said track is controlled by said display positioning system.
10. A method of positioning a flat panel display screen mounted to a roof portion of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
determining a current seat position of a vehicle seat, wherein said current seat position is within a range of available seat positions, wherein said range of available seat positions includes a first range corresponding to fore-aft seat positions, a second range corresponding to seat height positions, and a third range corresponding to seat recline positions;
providing said current seat position of said vehicle seat to a control system;
selecting a display position from a plurality of compatible display positions based on said current seat position, wherein said plurality of compatible display positions are stored in a memory coupled to said control system and correspond to said range of available seat positions, wherein said plurality of compatible display positions is preset to maintain a flat panel display screen viewing distance regardless of said current seat position within said range of available seat positions, wherein said plurality of compatible display positions is preset to maintain a flat panel display screen viewing height regardless of said current seat position within said range of available seat positions, and wherein said plurality of compatible display positions is preset to maintain a flat panel display screen viewing angle regardless of said current seat position within said range of available seat positions, and wherein said step of selecting said display position is performed automatically by said control system; and
moving said flat panel display screen to said display position selected by said control system, wherein said step of moving said flat panel display screen to said display position is performed automatically by a display positioning system controlled by said control system.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of determining when a video source coupled to said flat panel display screen is activated and moving said flat panel display screen from a storage position to said display position when said video source is activated, wherein said step of moving said flat panel display screen from said storage position to said display position is performed automatically by said display positioning system controlled by said control system.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of determining when a video source coupled to said flat panel display screen is deactivated and moving said flat panel display screen from said display position to a storage position when said video source is deactivated, wherein said step of moving said flat panel display screen from said display position to said storage position is performed automatically by said display positioning system controlled by said control system.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of determining when said flat panel display screen is activated and moving said flat panel display screen from a storage position to said display position when said flat panel display screen is activated, wherein said step of moving said flat panel display screen from said storage position to said display position is performed automatically by said display positioning system controlled by said control system.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of determining when said flat panel display screen is deactivated and moving said flat panel display screen from said display position to a storage position when said flat panel display screen is deactivated, wherein said step of moving said flat panel display screen from said display position to said storage position is performed automatically by said display positioning system controlled by said control system.
15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of determining when said vehicle is turned off and moving said flat panel display screen from said display position to a storage position when said vehicle is turned off, wherein said step of moving said flat panel display screen from said display position to said storage position is performed automatically by said display positioning system controlled by said control system.
16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of determining when a drive system of said vehicle is placed into park and moving said flat panel display screen from said display position to a storage position when said drive system of said vehicle is placed into park, wherein said step of moving said flat panel display screen from said display position to said storage position is performed automatically by said display positioning system controlled by said control system.
17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of accepting a set of display settings for a particular seat position, wherein said set of display settings includes said display viewing distance, said display viewing height, and said display viewing angle, and wherein said set of display settings are input by a user, and wherein said control system adjusts said plurality of compatible display positions to maintain said set of display settings throughout said range of available seat positions.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein said display positioning system is comprised of a linkage assembly coupling said flat panel display screen to said roof portion of said vehicle, and wherein said step of moving said flat panel display screen to said display position further comprises the step of manipulating said linkage assembly.