Lie down and catch up on some calls.
BMW has filed a patent for a new device that can adjust the angle of a touchscreen interface in relation to the seating position, CarBuzz has discovered. The patent was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
It's a remarkably straightforward patent, and BMW already mass produces 50% of the components required to make it work. According to the patent, a car needs an adjustable seat, a removable display, an evaluation unit, and a drive device.
The seat relates to any seat you'd find in a modern BMW, whether manually or power-adjustable. The removable touchscreen is a staple in luxury cars these days. BMW mentions the units mounted in the front seatbacks for rear-seat entertainment, but a tablet-like screen mounted in the door car work just as well.
All that's missing are the evaluation and drive devices.
United States Patent and Trademark Office/CarBuzz United States Patent and Trademark Office
The sketch of the display mounted between the seats is for display purposes only. BMW says that this particular mount, which is for the drive device (the motor that controls the inclination of the screen), can be placed in several areas around the cabin. The placement will most likely depend on the model and where its screens are found. When stowed, these mounting points will be hidden to keep the interior neat and tidy.
The second noteworthy part is the evaluation unit. This is basically a computer that measures the angle of the seatback, which the drive device then uses to automatically adjust the touchscreen, keeping it in clear view of the user. BMW says it can use predetermined values for these angles, but the system is much more intelligent than that.
The evaluation unit will also have access to interior cameras so it can assess the height of the passenger using the display, ensuring the screen is easily legible for persons of any build. These calculations can be stored for future use.
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The advantages of a system like this are pretty obvious at this point. BMW says the removable touchscreen will have access to all the usual functions, like the telephone, navigation, and, crucially, infotainment. If you have to charge your iX electric SUV, you can use the 30-odd minutes to lie down, make a few phone calls, or catch up on the latest sports.
Further down the line, when drivers are no longer required to keep their eyes on the road, the driver can put the seatback in a resting position and do the same. This particular scenario is no longer science fiction, as Mercedes-Benz already has permission for its famous Level 3 Drive Pilot to take over in certain conditions. Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous driving can't be too far behind.
With that in mind, we expect to see this system feature in future Bimmers with Munich's own Level 3 autonomous driving assistant.
United States Patent and Trademark Office United States Patent and Trademark Office
Keyword: BMW's New Infotainment Screen Will Move As The Driver's Seat Reclines