Thomson Consumer Electronics Inc.

Yazaki North America, Inc.

Douglas Scott Arrowsmith

Latha Ravi

Douglas Brian Gillespie

Peter Llewellyn

A method of determining a projected area of a component can include acquiring an image file having a component drawing. The component drawing of the image file can be superimposed onto a workspace. One of a component area and a non-component area can be shaded with a first color to create a shaded image file. The other of the component area and the non-component area can have a second color distinct from the first color. A ratio of the first color verses the second color can be calculated. The projected area of the component can be determined based on the ratio calculated.

Method of determining the projected area of a 2-D view of a component

When an RDS or RBDS radio is used to listen to prerecorded media, the tuner monitors an RDS station in the background to determine when a traffic announcement is in progress. A search for selecting an appropriate station for background monitoring is provided which selects a station which is most likely to be in accordance with the individual preferences of the driver. The search method can also be used to find traffic capable stations, weather stations, emergency alert information, and news broadcasts.

Selection of traffic capable station by RDS radio while listening to other media

An autoset or auto-store function for a radio receiver selects stations for storing in association with respective presets according to the stored station format of the normal presets which have been manually set by the radio user for their home area. When activating the autoset feature when traveling out-of-town, the invention ensures consistent station formats at the presets according to the scheme adopted by the user. For any presets that have no station content code stored for them or for which no matching broadcast can be found during the autoset scan, a fill is conducted to associate listenable broadcasts with these remaining presets.

Automatic radio station memory programming

A multi-function RDS button and a menu driven interface for accessing RDS features facilitates easy access to RDS functions with minimal demands upon the attention of the user. Large numbers of push buttons with cryptic labels and unintuitive push-button sequences of prior RDS radio receivers are avoided. Due to a long time-out period provided before automatically exiting the menu, the user can alternate attention between the radio and the road without losing their place in the menu or initiating an unwanted action.

Growing community of inventors

Milford, MI, United States of America

Douglas Scott Arrowsmith