Network access device faceplate
The front side of a vehicle infotainment system head unit is provided with a removable faceplate that carries a network access device such as a cell phone or GPS receiver and an associated antenna. A removable user-interface display panel, also referred to herein as a display screen, is also carried by the faceplate. When the head unit and faceplate are assembled into a vehicle dashboard, a removable bezel conceals the network access device, antenna and provides access to the display panel. The network access device and its antenna are thus readily accessible by simply removing the bezel.
1. Apparatus comprising:
a faceplate circuit board;
a front side of the faceplate circuit board configured to face into a vehicle passenger compartment;
a rear side of the faceplate circuit board configured to be attached to a vehicle entertainment system head unit that is installed further into a vehicle dashboard than the faceplate circuit board;
a network access device attached to the front side of the faceplate circuit board, the network access device being configured to be able to provide two-way wireless communications;
an antenna attached to the front side of the faceplate circuit board, the antenna being electrically coupled to the network access device via an electrical conductor on the faceplate circuit board and concealed by a bezel, the bezel being configured to allow radio frequency signals to readily pass through the bezel such that neither an external antenna nor an external-antenna connector are needed; and
a display screen attached to the front side of the faceplate circuit board and electrically coupled to the network access device via electrical conductors on the faceplate circuit board, the display screen providing a user interface for the network access.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network access device is removably attached to the faceplate circuit board.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the network access device is removably attached to the faceplate circuit board via plug-in connectors.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a removably-attached bezel configured to conceal the network access device and enable access to the display screen.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network access device comprises a cellular telephone transceiver and wherein the display screen comprises a touch-sensitive display screen that provides a user interface for the cellular telephone transceiver and a user interface for the vehicle entertainment system.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is a ceramic patch antenna, configured to extend away from the front side of the faceplate circuit board.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a latch configured to engage a detent coupled to at least one of the head unit and the vehicle, wherein engagement of the detent by the latch removably affixes the faceplate circuit board.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a detent configured to engage a latch coupled to the head unit, wherein engagement of the detent by the latch removably affixes the faceplate circuit board.
9. A method of coupling a network access device to a head unit of a motor vehicle, the head unit being configured to receive and be controlled from a user interface that is attached to a faceplate circuit board that is attached to the head unit, the faceplate circuit board having a front side that faces into the motor vehicle passenger compartment and a rear side that faces the head unit, the method comprising:
mechanically attaching a network access device to the front side of the faceplate circuit board;
electrically coupling the network access device to the user interface on the faceplate circuit board via electrical conductors on the faceplate circuit board;
mechanically and electrically connecting the faceplate circuit board, with the network access device and user interface, to the head unit, the head unit being configured to be installed further into a vehicle dashboard than the faceplate circuit board;
mechanically attaching an antenna to the front side of the faceplate circuit board and electrically coupling the antenna to the network access device via electrical conductors on the faceplate circuit board, the antenna projecting away from the faceplate circuit board and into a space formed in a back side of a bezel, the bezel being configured to avow radio frequency signals to readily pass through the bezel such that neither an external antenna nor an external-antenna connector are needed; and
operating the network access device using a touch-sensitive display screen.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the steps of removably attaching a bezel to the head unit and concealing the network access device behind the bezel.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the user interface is a touch-sensitive display screen.
12. The method of claim 1 - 11 , wherein the antenna is a ceramic patch antenna, configured to extend away from the front side of the faceplate circuit board and into a space formed in a back size of the bezel.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the head unit comprises a latch configured to engage a detent on the faceplate circuit board, wherein engagement of the detent by the latch removably affixes the faceplate circuit board with the network access device and antenna to the head unit and electrically connects the network access device to the head unit.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the head unit comprises a detent configured to engage a latch on the faceplate circuit board, wherein engagement of the detent by the latch removably affixes the faceplate circuit board with the network access device and antenna to the head unit and electrically connects the network access device to the head unit.