An aftermarket vehicle head unit integration cartridge for use with an aftermarket head unit is provided. The aftermarket head unit preferably includes a dedicated slot for insertion of the cartridge. The cartridge preferably supports communication between a plurality of electronic components in the aftermarket head unit and a plurality of electronic components in the vehicle. The plurality of electronic components in the aftermarket head unit may include, for example, an audio processing system, a video processing system, an analog I/O and/or a digital I/O. and/or a plurality of electronic components. The plurality of electronic components in the vehicle may include an audio system, an analog I/O, a digital I/O/databus, and/or a steering wheel control unit. The cartridge may include a flashable memory for use in reconfiguring the cartridge. The cartridge may be configured to capture and condition the signals from at least one of the plurality of the vehicle-based electronic components. The conditioned signals from the vehicle-based electronic components may be conditioned for use by the aftermarket head unit.

A vehicular heads-up-display system includes an apparatus having a base configured to receive and maintain a pico-projector case in combination with a handheld electronic device, and to output optical transmissions from the pico-projector case to an at least partially reflective surface to form a heads-up display. The partially reflective surface may be a combiner and/or mirror coupled to a base comprising the holder. The handheld electronic device may be a smartphone. For example, the system can be used to cause a pico-projector to project information from a smartphone to a partially reflective mirror for viewing by a vehicle operator.

A hardware system and method for mounting a tablet computing device in a vehicle dash. The invention makes use of an inventory of prior art mounting kits that are configured to mount standardized aftermarket stereo head units in a vehicle dash while smoothly blending the aftermarket head unit into the surrounding dash to create a finished appearance.

A holder device includes a first joint portion, and a second joint portion. One of the first joint portion and the second joint portion is movable in a directions toward and away from the other of the first joint portion and the second joint portion, and the one of the first joint portion and the second joint portion is urged by an urging member to a side where the one of the first joint portion and the second joint portion contacts the other of the first joint portion and the second joint portion. The one of the first joint portion and the second joint portion is provided with an operating portion that moves the one of the first joint portion and the second joint portion in the direction away from the other of the first joint portion and the second joint portion against an urging force of the urging member.

An aftermarket vehicle head unit integration cartridge for use with an aftermarket head unit is provided. The aftermarket head unit preferably includes a dedicated slot for insertion of the cartridge. The cartridge preferably supports communication between a plurality of electronic components in the aftermarket head unit and a plurality of electronic components in the vehicle. The plurality of electronic components in the aftermarket head unit may include, for example, an audio processing system, a video processing system, an analog I/O and/or a digital I/O. and/or a plurality of electronic components. The plurality of electronic components in the vehicle may include an audio system, an analog I/O, a digital I/O/databus, and/or a steering wheel control unit. The cartridge may include a flashable memory for use in reconfiguring the cartridge. The cartridge may be configured to capture and condition the signals from at least one of the plurality of the vehicle-based electronic components. The conditioned signals from the vehicle-based electronic components may be conditioned for use by the aftermarket head unit.

A hardware system and method for mounting a tablet computing device in a vehicle dash. The invention makes use of an inventory of prior art mounting kits that are configured to mount standardized aftermarket stereo head units in a vehicle dash while smoothly blending the aftermarket head unit into the surrounding dash to create a finished appearance.

An aftermarket vehicle head unit integration cartridge for use with an aftermarket head unit is provided. The aftermarket head unit preferably includes a dedicated slot for insertion of the cartridge. The cartridge preferably supports communication between a plurality of electronic components in the aftermarket head unit and a plurality of electronic components in the vehicle. The plurality of electronic components in the aftermarket head unit may include, for example, an audio processing system, a video processing system, an analog I/O and/or a digital I/O. and/or a plurality of electronic components. The plurality of electronic components in the vehicle may include an audio system, an analog I/O, a digital I/O/databus, and/or a steering wheel control unit. The cartridge may include a flashable memory for use in reconfiguring the cartridge. The cartridge may be configured to capture and condition the signals from at least one of the plurality of the vehicle-based electronic components. The conditioned signals from the vehicle-based electronic components may be conditioned for use by the aftermarket head unit.

A hardware system and method for mounting a tablet computing device in a vehicle dash. The invention makes use of an inventory of prior art mounting kits that are configured to mount standardized aftermarket stereo head units in a vehicle dash while smoothly blending the aftermarket head unit into the surrounding dash to create a finished appearance.

A holder device includes a first joint portion, and a second joint portion. One of the first joint portion and the second joint portion is movable in a directions toward and away from the other of the first joint portion and the second joint portion, and the one of the first joint portion and the second joint portion is urged by an urging member to a side where the one of the first joint portion and the second joint portion contacts the other of the first joint portion and the second joint portion. The one of the first joint portion and the second joint portion is provided with an operating portion that moves the one of the first joint portion and the second joint portion in the direction away from the other of the first joint portion and the second joint portion against an urging force of the urging member.

A hardware system and method for mounting a tablet computing device in a vehicle dash. The invention makes use of an inventory of prior art mounting kits that are configured to mount standardized aftermarket stereo head units in a vehicle dash while smoothly blending the aftermarket head unit into the surrounding dash to create a finished appearance.