CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/379,617, filed on August 25, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure is related to a system and method of using a remote control interface of a rear seat entertainment system to control an audio device in a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Video screens have been mounted in the headrests of vehicle seats to play videos that provide entertainment while in the vehicle. These video screens are connected to video players located, for example, in the center stack of the vehicle, where the data pertaining to the audio and video is transmitted from the center stack to the video screen.

SUMMARY

[0004] The present disclosure provides a rear seat entertainment (RSE) system for controlling an audio device within a vehicle to change an audio characteristic output by the audio device. The RSE system includes a display device and a remote control interface. The display device includes a display screen, i.e., a touchscreen display, configured to display an image thereon. The remote control interface is operatively attached to the display device and is configured to be in operatively communication with the audio device. The remote control interface includes at least one control configured be actuated such that the actuated control transmits an electrical control signal to the audio device to change an audio characteristic, in response to actuating the control. [0005] In another aspect of the disclosure, a method of controlling an audio device with a remote control interface of rear seat entertainment (RSE) system is provided to change an audio characteristic output by the audio device. The method includes operatively connecting the remote control interface to an input port of the audio device and electrically connecting the remote control interface to at least one control, wherein the at least one control corresponds to a desired change to the at least one audio characteristic of the audio device within the vehicle.

[0006] The above noted and other features and advantages of the present disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a schematic, diagrammatic top view of a vehicle having a rear seat entertainment system including a remote control interface in operative

communication with an audio device located in a center stack, where the remote control interface is configured to remotely control the audio device.

[0008] Figure 2 is a schematic front view of the rear seat entertainment system, including the remote control interface.

[0009] Figure 3 is a schematic, diagrammatic view of the remote control interface is in operative communication with the audio device for controlling audio characteristics of the audio device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numbers correspond to like or similar components throughout the several figures, Figure 1 shows a vehicle 10 having a rear seat entertainment (RSE) system 12 including a remote control interface 14 in operative communication with an audio device 16 located in a center stack 18, where the remote control interface 14 is configured to remotely control the audio device 16, from a location that is remote from the audio device 16 and the center stack 18.

[0011] In the example configuration described herein, the RSE system 12 of the present disclosure is depicted as a single display device, operatively attached to a seatback 22 of a front seat 24 of the vehicle 10, for illustrative clarity. The RSE system 12 may include more display devices 10 attached to other seats of the vehicle 10, without departing from the intended inventive scope.

[0012] The vehicle 10 may be an automobile, bus, boat, train, car, semi-truck, airplane, support structure, and the like, wherein the following discussion may be similarly applied to these various types of seats 24 of the vehicle, without departing from scope of the present teachings. In addition, while the following discussion refers to mounting the RSE system 12 to the seatback 22 of the front seat 24 of the vehicle 10, the discussion may also be applied to other various component features of the front seats 24 of the vehicle 10, without departing from the scope of the present teachings. It should be appreciated that the RSE system 12 may be configured for attachment to other supportive structures, without departing from the intended inventive scope.

[0013] With reference to Figure 2, the RSE system 12 includes a touchscreen display 20 configured such that videos and/or photographs are displayed thereon. The touchscreen display 20 may be used to provide video and audio entertainment to a passenger P seated in the rear seat 28 of the vehicle 10. The touchscreen display 20 may provide a touchscreen interface 20A that displays selectable icons 23C. A bezel 26 surrounds the perimeter of the touchscreen display 20. The remote control interface 14 may also be incorporated in the bezel 26 of the RSE system 12. As part of the bezel 26, the remote control interface 14 may also include controls 17 for controlling the operation audio components 15, resident within the audio device 16, or the RSE system 12 itself. The controls 17 may be physical switches 23 A, push buttons 23B, and/or selectable icons 23C presented on the touchscreen display 20. As selectable icons 23C, the icons 23C function as part of the touchscreen interface. Selecting one of the icons 23C by the passenger P may result in a change in the audio characteristics 30B which are output from the audio device 16, via the speaker(s) 30A of the vehicle 10.

[0014] A variety of selectable icons 23C may be displayed on the touchscreen display 20, where some of the icons 23C may not be limited to changing the audio characteristics 30B which are output from the audio device 16. Instead, one or more of the icons 23C may pertain to operation of the RSE system 12, e.g., selection of a video or photographs for display on the touchscreen display 20, changing a volume output by the RSE system 12, selection a mode of operation for the RSE system 12, etc.

[0015] Likewise, the physical switches 23A and/or push buttons 23B may not be limited to changing the audio characteristics 30B which are output from the audio device 16, via the speaker(s) 30A of the vehicle 10. The physical switches 23A and/or push buttons 23B may also allow the passenger P change characteristics of the RSE system 12 itself, e.g., to power on/off the RSE system 12, select an input source into the RSE system 12, change a volume being output from the RSE system 12, and the like.

[0016] Referring again to Figure 1, the audio device 16 may be a receiver, a head unit, and the like which is configured to provide a unified hardware interface for various components of an electronic media system, e.g., AM/FM radio, satellite radio, CD player, MP3 device, and the like. As such the audio device 16 provides a user of the vehicle 10 with control over features, including audio functions, such as, volume, band, frequency, speaker balance, and other like functions. Additionally, the audio device 16 may give a user control over a component mode (e.g., AM/FM, radio, satellite, CD player, MP3, etc.). The audio device 16 includes at least one audio input port 19 and at least one audio output port 20. The audio device 16 may also be configured to generate an audio signal V20 (i.e., sound, such as music) that is transmitted through the audio output port 20, to be broadcast from one or more speakers 30A, as the audio characteristic 30B. The audio input port 19 is configured to receive and process an audio command signal V19, via a wired connection. The wired connection may be a wired connection to a body controller 60.

[0017] The audio device 16 may be a factory installed audio device 16. As used herein, the factory installed audio device 16 means that the audio device 16 is hard- wired into the vehicle 10 at the time of construction. Factory installed may also include a replacement audio device 16 that merely replaces the factory installed audio device 16, e.g., in the event of repair. The audio device 16 includes, or is otherwise in operative communication with, an input audio controller 21, configured to receive, recognize, and process the audio command signal V 19 received at the audio input port 19, from the RSE system 12. [0018] The audio command signals V 19 correspond to a desired change in an audio characteristic 30B, to be broadcast through the speakers 30A. By way of a non-limiting example, the desired change to the audio characteristic may include, but should not be limited to, changing the volume of the audio which is output by the speakers 30A;

searching for a next station in an AM/FM/satellite radio mode or a next track in a CD mode; mode switching between AM, FM, satellite radio, CD, etc.; selecting an auxiliary ("AUX") mode to control other features within the vehicle; and the like. In response to receiving the audio command signal V 19 at the audio input port 19, the audio controller 21 modifies the audio command signal V 19 and subsequently generates the audio output signal V20, thus incorporating the desired change to the audio characteristic, which is broadcast through the speakers 30A. The input audio controller 21 may generate change to the audio output signal V20 , the audio output signal V20 commanding a change to the volume of the audio which is output by the speaker(s) 30A, increment/decrement a station in the AM/FM/Satellite radio or CD track or playlist, switch modes between AM, FM, satellite, CD, podcasts, and the like, or change any other feature of the audio device 16 that pertains to the audio output characteristic 30B output by the speaker(s) 30 A.

[0019] The audio device 16 may be located in the center stack 18, in spaced relationship to rear seats 28. Since a passenger in the rear seats 28 does not have access to the audio device 16, like the driver and passenger have when seated in the front seats 24, placement of the remote control interface 14 on the RSE system 12 provides the passenger in the corresponding rear seat 28 with access to the audio device 16, without having to strain and reach.

[0020] The RSE system 12 may be operatively connected to the vehicle's electrical system, such that power is supplied to the RSE system 12 by virtue of the connection to the electrical system. As such, the audio device 16 and the RSE system 12 may also be operatively connected to a power supply (not shown) such as a conventional 12-volt battery, a 6-volt battery, and the like. The power supply may be configured to supply power to the audio device 16. However, it should be appreciated that any power source known to those of skill in the art may also be used.

[0021] The RSE system 12 is electrically and operatively connected to the audio device 16, at the audio input port 19. As used herein, electrically connected means a physical connection between conductors, using an electrically-conductive material, such as brass or copper. The RSE system 12 may receive power from the power supply via the operative connection to the audio input port 19, an operative connection to the power supply, or via connection to another power supply.

[0022] Referring to Figure 3, the RSE system 12 is shown schematically. The RSE system 12 includes a central processing unit 40 (CPU) and a memory 42. The CPU 40 includes a memory 42 and a processor 44. An algorithm 100 (or computer program), includes a set of instructions, which are shown schematically as residing in the memory 42, or are otherwise accessible by the processor 44. The memory 42 includes, but should not limited to, tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media such as read only memory (ROM), optical memory, solid state flash memory, and the like, as well as random access memory (RAM), electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, etc., and circuitry including but not limited to a high-speed clock, analog-to-digital (A/D) circuitry, digital-to-analog (D/A) circuitry, a digital signal processor or DSP, transceivers, and the necessary input/output (I/O) devices and other signal conditioning and/or buffer circuitry, for causing the processor 44 to implement the functions embodied within the algorithm 100.

[0023] With continuing reference to Figure 3, the CPU 40 carries out the instructions of the algorithm 100, by performing basic arithmetic, logical, control and input/output (I/O) operations specified by the instructions. The RSE system 12 may be in operative communication with the audio device 16 via a CAN Bus 61, through a body controller 60, such as a body control module ("BCM"). In this configuration, RSE system 12 communicates an audio command signal (arrow V 19) to the BCM 60, through the CAN Bus 61. The BCM 60, in turn, determines the audio command signal (arrow V19) is intended for the audio device 16 and subsequently transmits the audio command signal (arrow V 19) to an audio input port 19, resident in the audio device 16.

Alternatively, the RSE system 12 may be in direct communication with the audio input port 19 of the audio device 16, via a wired connection, to transmit the audio command signal (arrow V 19) thereto.

[0024] The RSE system 12 may also receive an audio status signal V32 from the input audio controller 21. The audio status signal V32 provides the RSE system 12, i.e., the CPU 40, with information relating to the current audio characteristic of the audio device 16. The information may pertain to a volume, channel, mode, power state (on/off), and the like. The CPU 40 may process the audio status signal V32 , and display the current audio characteristic on the touchscreen display 20 of the RSE system 12, to provide this information to the passenger P.

[0025] The RSE system 12 may be configured to be pre-programmed with the requisite algorithm 100 (programs), configured to transmit the appropriate audio command signal V 19 that corresponds to the desired change to an audio characteristic 30B of the audio device 16. As such, the input audio controller 21 of the audio device 16 is configured to receive the audio command signal V19 and subsequently generate an audio output signal V20 that incorporates the desired changes to the audio characteristics, to be broadcast through the speaker(s) 30 A. As such, the audio device 16 requires no additional programming, as the desired change to the audio characteristic 30B is generated in the RSE system 12 and transmitted to the audio device 16 as an audio command signal V 19, readily recognizable by the audio input controller 21 of the audio device 16.

[0026] Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle 10 may also include at least one steering wheel remote system 34 attached to a steering wheel 36. The steering wheel remote system 34 may also include multiple switches 38, operatively attached to the steering wheel 36. The switches 38 are also electrically connected to the audio input port 19 of the audio device 16, either directly, or via the CAN Bus 61 and BCM 60.

[0027] While the best modes for carrying out the many aspects of the present teachings have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which these teachings relate will recognize various alternative aspects for practicing the present teachings that are within the scope of the appended claims.