Reconfigurable dashboard assembly for military vehicles

Abstract

A modular dashboard assembly for a vehicle, such as a tactical vehicle, is described. In some cases, the dashboard assembly includes a smart back plane and removably attachable front modules. The back plane may facilitate communications between components within the front modules and systems with the vehicle, or between components.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A dashboard assembly for use in a tactical vehicle, the dashboard assembly comprising:
 a back plane having an integral control system, wherein the back plane communicates with a control network within the vehicle; and   a plurality of front modules removably attached to the back plane, wherein at least one of the front modules includes two or more dashboard components associated with components within the control network within the vehicle.   
     
     
         12 . The dashboard assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the tactical vehicle includes is configured for use in an identified type of mission, and the tactical vehicle carries at least one mission-specific component related to the identified type of mission, and wherein back panel is coupled to the at least one mission-specific component, and at least one of the plurality of front modules includes a dashboard component operatively coupled to the at least one mission-specific component via that back panel. 
     
     
         13 . The dashboard assembly of  claim 11 , wherein one of the two or more dashboard components controls one of the components within the control network via a communications link in the control system of the back plane. 
     
     
         14 . The dashboard of  claim 12 , wherein one of the two or more dashboard components displays information associated with one of the components within the control network via data received from the one component via a communications link in the control system of the back module. 
     
     
         15 . A modular dashboard assembly for use in a vehicle used in connection with an intended mission, the dashboard assembly comprising:
 a back portion that communicates with a control network within the vehicle and is fixedly attached to the vehicle;   a first module removably attached to the back portion, wherein the first module includes two or more dashboard components associated with components within the control network within the vehicle;   a second module removably attached to the back portion, wherein the second module includes at least one dashboard component associated with a functionality specific related to the intended mission of the vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The dashboard assembly of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first and second modules includes a display component. 
     
     
         17 . The dashboard assembly of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first and second modules includes at least a portion of a communications system. 
     
     
         18 . The dashboard assembly of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first and second modules includes a storage component. 
     
     
         19 . The dashboard assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a third module removably attached to the back portion and having dashboard components configured to display information received from the control network. 
     
     
         20 . A dashboard assembly for use in a tactical vehicle configured for use in an identified type of mission, and the tactical vehicle carries at least one mission-specific component related to the identified type of mission, the dashboard assembly comprising:
 a back plane, wherein the back panel with an integral control system that communicates with a control network within the vehicle; and   a plurality of front modules removably attached to the back plane, wherein at least one of the front modules includes two or more dashboard components associated with components within the control network within the vehicle, wherein the dashboard components are configured to communicate with the mission-specific component of the vehicle.   
     
     
         21 . The dashboard assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of front modules includes at least a first front module having first dashboard components useable in connection with the identified type of mission, and a second front module having second dashboard components in communication with the first dashboard components via the back panel. 
     
     
         22 . The dashboard assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising a third front module that has functionality different that the first front module and wherein the third front module is interchangeable on the back panel with the first front module. 
     
     
         23 . The dashboard assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising a fourth front module that has functionality different that the second front module and wherein the fourth front module is interchangeable on the back panel with the second front module. 
     
     
         24 . A method of manufacturing a dashboard assembly for a tactical vehicle, the method comprising:
 fixedly attaching a smart back plane to a structural component of a vehicle;   removably attaching a first module to the smart back plane, wherein the first module includes one or more dashboard components associated with a controller network within the vehicle; and   removably attaching a second module to the smart back plane, wherein the second module includes one or more dashboard components associated with a type of the vehicle.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 removing the second module from the smart back plane; and   removably attaching a third module to the smart back plane in a location from which the second module was removed.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first module includes a component capable of controlling one of the one or more components of the second module.