Patent attributes
A docking station apparatus interfaces a portable electronic device with one or more electrical systems of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a docking assembly having an internal cavity and configured to hold the electronic device, and a mechanical interface in the cavity and configured to provide a wired or wireless connection to the electronic device. A power supply conversion circuit translates vehicle power levels to electronic device power levels, and one or more support circuits or connectors provide different connectivity functions for the electronic device. The support circuits or connectors can include input audio/video connectors in the docking assembly to provide analog audio/video signals to an analog distribution hub; an audio/video encoder and digital data connectors to provide digitally encoded audio/video signals in a wired or wireless mode to a digital distribution hub; multiplexing circuitry to accept analog audio, composite video, or component video for multiplexing between externally supplied audio/video and locally generated audio/video; and a command and control circuit to provide command and control data, and navigation data, to the electronic device in a wired or wireless mode.
