FR3070934B1 - WELCOME STATION FOR MOBILE ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND VEHICLE INTERIOR TRIM COMPRISING SUCH A RECEPTION STATION - Google Patents

Abstract

The docking station is provided for a mobile electronic device (6), such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet or a personal electronic assistant. The docking station includes a receiving surface (12) configured to receive the mobile electronic device (6), a lock assembly (22) comprising a locking member (24) and an ejecting member (26) movably together selectively between a locking configuration in which the locking member (24) presses the mobile electronic device (6) against the receiving surface (12) to hold the mobile electronic device (6) stationary, and a ejection configuration in which the ejection element (26) pushes the mobile electronic device (6) out of the docking station, and an actuator (34) arranged to move the lock assembly (22) between the lock configuration and the eject configuration.

Description

Docking station for mobile electronic device and vehicle interior trim including such a docking station

The present invention relates to the field of docking stations for a mobile electronic device, such as a mobile phone, a smartphone (or "smartphone" in English), a digital tablet or a personal electronic assistant, including such a station. home for a motor vehicle.

One of the aims of the invention is to propose a docking station which makes it possible to maintain a mobile electronic device reliably and which is easy to use, in particular the insertion and the extraction of the mobile electronic device in and out of the docking station. For this purpose, the invention proposes a docking station for a mobile electronic device, such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, an electronic tablet or a personal electronic assistant, the mobile electronic device having a front face and a face rear opposing, the docking station comprising: - a reception surface configured to receive the mobile electronic device supported, by one of its front face and its rear face, on the receiving surface, - a locking assembly comprising a locking element and an ejection element movable together selectively between a locking configuration in which the locking element urges the mobile electronic device against the receiving surface to hold the mobile electronic device stationary, and a configuration in which the ejection element pushes the mobile electronic device out of the and an actuator arranged to move the lock assembly between the lock configuration and the ejection configuration.

The docking station may furthermore comprise one or more of the following optional features, considered individually or in any technically possible combination: in the ejection configuration, the ejection element pushes the mobile electronic device so as to slide on the reception area outside the docking station; - The docking station comprises an ejection command whose actuation controls the actuator for ejection of the mobile electronic device from the docking station; - The locking assembly is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation; the locking assembly is configured so that in the locking configuration, the locking element bears on the other one of the front face and the rear face of the mobile electronic device; the locking assembly is configured such that, in the ejection position, the ejection element bears on an edge of the mobile electronic device; the locking assembly comprises an elastic return member arranged to bias the locking element in the direction of a pressure on the mobile electronic device in the locking configuration of the locking assembly; the docking station includes a presence detector configured to detect the presence of a mobile electronic device on the docking surface, and an electronic control unit configured to control the actuator to move the lock assembly into configuration locking on detection of a mobile electronic device by the presence detector; - The locking assembly has an intermediate configuration for inserting a mobile electronic device into the docking station. The invention also relates to a vehicle interior trim comprising a docking station as defined above.

In a particular embodiment, the interior lining comprises an armrest, the docking station being disposed under the armrest and having an opening for the insertion of a mobile electronic device into the docking station, the opening being located along an edge of the armrest. The opening is for example located along a side edge of the armrest. The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the description which will follow, given solely by way of nonlimiting example, and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a view from above of FIG. an interior trim of a motor vehicle comprising a docking station for a mobile electronic device; - Figures 2 to 4 are schematic sectional views of the interior trim, illustrating the docking station in three different configurations; and - Figure 5 is a perspective and sectional view of the docking station, in one of the configurations. The inner lining 2 of Figure 1 is a vehicle interior lining intended to be mounted inside a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The inner lining 2 comprises a docking station 4 configured to receive a mobile electronic device 6, removably. The docking station 4 is configured for insertion or extraction of the mobile electronic device 6 into or out of the docking station 4.

In the example illustrated, the inner lining 2 comprises an armrest 8. The inner lining 2 is for example a seat armrest device, a door or a central console configured to be mounted between two seats of the vehicle, for example between the two front seats of the vehicle.

The docking station 4 is arranged under the armrest 8. The docking station 4 is for example visually masked by the armrest 8. This makes it possible to integrate the docking station in an aesthetic manner into the interior trim 2 The mobile electronic device 6, also called nomadic electronic device or portable electronic device, is for example a mobile electronic device such as a mobile phone, a smartphone (or "smartphone" in English), a digital tablet or an electronic assistant staff. The mobile electronic device 6 has an opposite front face and a rear face, forming the largest faces of the mobile electronic device 6, framed by edges connecting the front face and the rear face. The front face of the mobile electronic device 6 carries for example a display screen. The rear face defines the back of the mobile electronic device 6.

The edges of the mobile electronic device 6 define for example a contour of generally rectangular shape. The mobile electronic device 6 then comprises four edges joining together forming four corners, which can be rounded.

As in the illustrated example, in option, the inner lining 2 comprises a display screen 10. The display screen 10 is for example a touch screen. The display screen 10 is here disposed at the front end of the armrest 8, in the extension of the armrest 8, so that a user having his forearm resting on the armrest 8 can interact with the armrest 8. 10 touch screen display with his hand.

Optionally, the inner liner 2 is configured to pair the display screen 10 with a mobile electronic device 6 received in the docking station 4 so that the user can interact with the mobile electronic device 6 via the display screen 10.

For example, the display screen 10 can exchange data with the mobile electronic device 6, display data from the mobile electronic device 6 and / or record data in the mobile electronic device 6. The exchange data is for example via a wireless connection, for example according to a WIFI or Bluetooth type protocol.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the docking station 4 comprises a reception area 12 configured to receive the mobile electronic device 6 when the latter is inserted in the docking station 4.

The docking station 4 is configured so that the mobile electronic device 6 received in the docking station 4 rests on one of its faces (i.e. among its front face and its rear face) on the reception surface 12.

The reception surface 12 is inclined at a non-zero angle with respect to a horizontal plane, so that the mobile electronic device 6 placed on the reception surface 12 tends to slide in the direction of insertion into the docking station 4.

The docking station 4 here comprises an abutment surface 14 positioned and inclined so that the mobile electronic device 6 placed on the reception surface 12 tends to abut against the abutment surface 14

The docking station 4 comprises, for example, a base 16 carrying the reception surface 12, and, where appropriate, the abutment surface 14. The base 16 is here under the armrest 8.

The docking station 4 here has a housing 18 for receiving the mobile electronic device 6. The mobile electronic device 6 received in the docking station 4 is inserted in the housing 18.

The housing 18 is delimited by the receiving surface 12, and, where appropriate, the abutment surface 14. The receiving surface 12 defines a lower wall of the housing 18.

The docking station 4 comprises an opening 20 for inserting and extracting the mobile electronic device 6 in and out of the docking station 4. The reception area 12 extends from the opening 20. The opening 20 opens here into the housing 18. The opening 20 is here located along a lateral edge of the armrest 8.

The docking station 4 is configured for automated locking and ejecting of the mobile electronic device 6 in and out of the docking station 4.

The docking station 4 comprises a lock assembly 22 configured to selectively hold the stationary mobile electronic device 6 inside the docking station 4 (FIG. 3) or eject the mobile electronic device 6 out of the station. Hospitality 4 (Figure 4). The lock assembly 22 is configured to hold the mobile electronic device 6 stationary by pressing it against the receiving surface 12 and ejecting the mobile electronic device 6 by pushing it so as to slide it on the surface of the mobile electronic device 6. 12 The lock assembly 22 includes a movable locking member 24 and ejection member 26, the locking assembly 22 being selectively movable between a locking configuration (FIG. ) in which the locking element 24 presses the mobile electronic device 6 against the reception surface 12, and an ejection configuration (Figure 4) in which the ejection element 26 pushes the mobile electronic device 6 out of the docking station 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the locking configuration, the locking element 24 comes into contact with one of the front face or the rear face of the mobile electronic device 6 received on the reception surface 12 and presses the mobile electronic device 6 against the reception surface 12. The ejection element 26 is disengaged from the mobile electronic device 6. The ejection element 26 thus extends at a distance from an edge of the mobile electronic device 6.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the ejection configuration, the locking element 24 is moved away from the mobile electronic device 6 and the ejection element 26 bears against an edge of the mobile electronic device 6 for slide it on the home surface 12 and push it out of the docking station 4.

Preferably, the ejection element 26 is configured to push the mobile electronic device 6 by an edge of the mobile electronic device 6, so that an opposite edge of the mobile electronic device 6 leaves the station. 4, here through the opening 20, and can be entered by a user.

Optionally, the ejection element 26 is arranged to come into contact with the mobile electronic device 6 offset from the middle of the edge of the mobile electronic device 6 against which the ejection element 26 is supported, so that the mobile electronic device 6 is ejected by pivoting, a corner of the mobile electronic device 6 coming out of the docking station 4, here through the opening 20, and allowing the entry of the mobile electronic device 6 by the user. The locking assembly 22 has here an intermediate configuration (FIG. 2), allowing the insertion of a mobile electronic device 6 without the latter being pressed by the locking element 24 or pushed out of the docking station by the ejection element 26. The locking assembly 22 is here rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation A. The locking assembly 22 passes from one configuration to another by rotation around the rotation axis A. The locking assembly 22 pivots in one direction to enter the locking configuration (clockwise in FIGS. 2 to 4), and in the opposite direction to enter the ejection configuration (counterclockwise in Figures 2-4).

As best seen in Figure 5, the lock assembly 22 is mounted on a shaft 28 extending along the axis of rotation A, the shaft 28 being pivotally mounted about the axis of rotation A.

In the example illustrated, the locking element 24 is mounted on the shaft 28 with the possibility of angular deflection on a limited angular sector, for example between 5 ° and 45 °, the locking assembly 24 comprising an elastic member return valve 30 arranged to return the locking element 24 in the direction of the application of pressure against a mobile electronic device 6 received on the reception surface 12.

The angular displacement and the elastic return member 30 allow to receive mobile electronic devices 6 of different thicknesses while ensuring effective maintenance without damaging the mobile electronic devices 6.

In the illustrated example, the ejection element 26 is fixed in rotation on the shaft 28. It can be integral with the shaft 28 or mounted fixed in rotation on the shaft 28. The return member resilient 30 is here arranged to bear on the ejection element 26 and to bias the locking element 24. The elastic return member 30 is for example a torsion spring.

Optionally, the locking element 24 is provided with a compressible gasket 32 through which the locking element 24 comes into contact with a mobile electronic device 6 received in the docking station 4, in the configuration of FIG. locking.

The compressible gasket 32 avoids damaging a face of the mobile electronic device 6 with which the locking element comes into contact in the locking configuration. The compressible lining 32 may for example be of foam, elastomeric material (EPDM type) or silicone. The ejection element 26 can also be provided with a compressible gasket, which avoids damaging the mobile electronic device 6 when the ejection element 26 comes into contact with the mobile electronic device 6.

The docking station 4 comprises a control device 33 for controlling the displacement of the locking assembly 22 in the various configurations thereof.

The controller 33 includes an actuator 34 arranged to move the lock assembly 22 between the various configurations thereof. The actuator 34 is for example a rotary actuator, in particular an electric motor.

In the illustrated example, the actuator 34 is here coupled to the shaft 28 by a transmission 36 to gear.

Returning to FIGS. 2 to 4, the control device 33 comprises an electronic control unit 38 for controlling the actuator 34, and thus the holding and ejection of the mobile electronic device 6.

Optionally, the control device 33 comprises a presence detector 40 for detecting the presence of a mobile electronic device 6 in the docking station 4.

The presence detector 40 is arranged to detect the presence of a mobile electronic device 6 during its insertion.

The presence detector 40 is for example mounted on the ejection element 26, more particularly on a contact portion of the ejection element 26 intended to come into contact with the mobile electronic device 6 during the ejection . In a variant, the presence detector 40 is mounted on a fixed part of the docking station 4, for example on the reception surface 12 or on the abutment surface 14.

The presence detector 40 is for example an optical sensor, a contact sensor, a Hall effect sensor, a capacitive sensor. In a variant, the presence detector 40 is a Near Field Communication (NFC) device capable of establishing communication with a mobile electronic device 6 equipped with a radio communication device in the field. The establishment of a near-field communication between the presence detector 40 and the mobile electronic device 6 is interpreted as the presence of a mobile electronic device 6 in the station. welcome 4.

When the presence detector 40 is a near-field radio communication device, it can also be used for the exchange of data between the mobile electronic device 6 and the display screen 10. The electronic control unit 38 is connected to the presence detector 40 to receive the signal provided by the presence detector 40. The electronic control unit 38 is configured to control the actuator 36 according to the signal provided by the presence detector 40. The electronic unit of control 38 is configured to control the actuator 34 to move the lock assembly 22 in a lock configuration when a mobile electronic device 6 is inserted into the docking station 4. Inserting a mobile electronic device 6 is for example detected in case of detection of an absence of mobile electronic device 6 followed by the presence of an elec The electronic control unit 38 is configured to control the actuator 34 so as to return the locking assembly 22 in the intermediate configuration when the extraction of a mobile electronic device 6 is detected.

The detection of such an extraction corresponds, for example, to detected detection of the presence of a mobile electronic device 6 followed by detection of the absence of the mobile electronic device 6.

The control device 33 optionally comprises a user-actuable ejection control 42 for controlling the ejection of a mobile electronic device 6 received in the docking station 4.

The ejection control 42 is connected to the electronic control unit 38. When the ejection control 42 is actuated, the electronic control unit 38 controls the actuator 34 to move the locking assembly 22 into the control configuration. 'ejection.

The ejection command 42 is for example a mechanical button, for example a push button or a lever button, or a touch button, for example a resistive or capacitive button.

The ejection control 42 is here arranged under the base 16 so that the user can actuate the ejection control 42 when he places his hand opposite the opening 20. The mobile electronic device 6 is thus ejected directly in the hand of the user which is particularly ergonomic.

In operation, initially, the docking station 4 is empty and the lock assembly 22 is in the intermediate waiting configuration of a mobile electronic device 6. Alternatively, if the lock assembly 22, does not have intermediate configuration, it can be in ejection configuration. The user inserts his mobile electronic device 6 into the docking station 6. In the illustrated example, he does so by inserting it in the housing 18 through the opening 20. In doing so, the mobile electronic device 6 is received on the reception area 12.

When the electronic control unit 38 detects the insertion of the mobile electronic device 6, for example because the presence detector 40 detects that a mobile electronic device 6 is now present, the electronic control unit 38 controls the actuator 34 for moving the lock assembly 22 in the lock configuration. The lock assembly 22 pivots (here clockwise in FIGS. 2 through 4) to enter the lock configuration (FIG. 3). The locking element 24 bears on one side of the mobile electronic device 6 and presses the mobile electronic device 6 against the reception surface 12. The mobile electronic device 6 is thus held stationary between the 24 and the receiving surface 12. The locking element 24 comes into contact with the mobile electronic device 6 via its compressible seal 32, which avoids damaging the mobile electronic device 6. L locking assembly 22 moves until the locking element 24 is pressed against one of the faces of the mobile electronic device 6 with a deformation of the elastic return member 30.

To retrieve his mobile electronic device, the user actuates the ejection command 42. When the ejection command 42 is actuated, the control unit 38 controls the actuator 34 to move the locking assembly 22 in a configuration of 'ejection. The latch assembly 22 pivots (counterclockwise in FIGS. 2 to 4) to enter the ejection configuration. The locking element 24 deviates from the mobile electronic device 6 and the ejection element 26 pushes an edge of the mobile electronic device 6, to push the mobile electronic device 6 out of the station. Home.

The edge of the mobile electronic device 6 opposite to that pushed by the ejection element 26 then protrudes from the docking station 4 and can be grasped by the user to recover the mobile electronic device 6.

The docking station 4 allows an efficient and reliable maintenance of the mobile electronic device 6, which, in the locking configuration of the locking assembly 22, is pressed or pinched according to its thickness between the reception surface 12 and the locking element 24.

The docking station 4 furthermore makes it easy to use because of the control device which makes it possible to selectively block or eject the mobile electronic device 6 with little or no intervention by the user.

The docking station 4 allows in particular to maintain a mobile electronic device reliably during the phases of use of the vehicle including in case of shock.

In the illustrated example, the user intervenes only to insert the mobile electronic device 6 in the docking station 4 and to actuate the ejection command 42. The actual maintenance and ejection are performed automatically.

The contact surface between the locking element and the mobile electronic device can be point, line or surface.

Claims (10)

1. - Docking station for a mobile electronic device (6), such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet or a personal electronic assistant, the mobile electronic device having an opposite front face and a rear face, the docking station comprising: - a reception surface (12) configured to receive the mobile electronic device (6) supported, by one of its front face and its rear face, on the reception surface (12) a locking assembly (22) comprising a locking element (24) and an ejection element (26) movable together selectively between a locking configuration in which the locking element (24) presses the mobile electronic apparatus (6) against the receiving surface (12) to hold the mobile electronic device (6) stationary, and an ejection configuration in which the ejection element (26) pushes the mobile electronic device (6) out of the docking station, and - an actuator (34) arranged to move the lock assembly (22) between the lock configuration and the ejection configuration. 2. - Docking station according to claim 1, comprising an ejection command (42) whose actuation controls the actuator (34) for ejection of the mobile electronic device (6) out of the station of 'Home. 3. - Docking station according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the locking assembly (22) is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation (A). 4. Docking station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking assembly (22) is configured so that in locking configuration, the locking element (24) bears on the another of the front face and the rear face of the mobile electronic apparatus (4). 5. Docking station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking assembly (22) is configured so that in the ejection position, the ejection element (26) comes into abutment. on an edge of the mobile electronic device (6). 6. - Docking station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking assembly (22) comprises an elastic return member (30) arranged to bias the locking element (24) in the direction of a pressure on the mobile electronic device (6) in locking configuration of the locking assembly (22). The docking station of any preceding claim, comprising a presence detector (40) configured to detect the presence of a mobile electronic device (6) on the reception surface (12), and a an electronic control unit (38) configured to control the actuator (34) to move the lock assembly in a latching configuration to the detection of a moving electronic device by the presence detector (40). 8. Docking station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking assembly (22) has an intermediate configuration for insertion of a mobile electronic device (6) into the docking station ( 4). 9. - Vehicle interior trim comprising a docking station according to any one of the preceding claims. 10. - interior vehicle trim according to claim 9, comprising an armrest (8), the docking station (4) being disposed under the armrest (8) and having an opening (20) for the insertion of a mobile electronic device (6) in the docking station (4), the opening being located along an edge of the armrest (8), in particular a side edge of the armrest (8).