公开(公告)号：US06608399B2

公开(公告)日：2003-08-19

申请号：US09825229

申请日：2001-04-03

申请人： John E. McConnell ,  Michael N. Maass ,  William M. Jarocha ,  Christos T. Kyrtsos ,  Pawel W. Sleboda

发明人： John E. McConnell ,  Michael N. Maass ,  William M. Jarocha ,  Christos T. Kyrtsos ,  Pawel W. Sleboda

IPC分类号： H02G300

CPC分类号： B60R11/02 ,  B60R2011/0003 ,  B60R2011/0028 ,  B60R2011/0036 ,  B60R2011/0045 ,  B60R2011/0073 ,  B60R2011/0288 ,  B60R2011/0294

摘要： A smart, universal vehicle docking station is provided for receiving one or more plug-in feature modules. The docking station includes a personality module arranged to receive the feature modules. The feature modules are of uniform dimensions and include a standardized docking station coupler. Some of the feature modules can be operated separately from the docking station, and are completely interchangeable within the docking station. The personality module is removable so that an entire personality module can be removed from a vehicle for security reasons, as well as to transplanted from one vehicle to another to provide immediate vehicle customization. A gateway located in the docking station allows integration and appropriate signal translation of signals between the modules and a vehicle irrespective of make or model of the vehicle. The present invention allows different features to be easily added or upgraded in a vehicle.