Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Mitsuba Corporation

John W Vilkinofsky

Andrew T Goeppner

Ross Cameron Miller

Jason Dutter

Nathaniel W Diedrich

Michael Andrew Pilgrim

Aaron Michael Ambrose

Kiyohumi Nakayama

Yasunobu Onozato

Shinichi Kubozuka

Hiroshi Kawagishi

Aaron Ambrose

Jason A Dutter

A system and method for managing an on board entertainment system is disclosed. The system and method can wirelessly receive music files from a computer and store those music files on an on board unit associated with a motor vehicle. The system and method can also include provisions to associate music information with a received music file and can include provisions to manage the music collection on board a motor vehicle.

System and method for managing an on-board entertainment system

A system and method for optimizing digital audio playback is disclosed. The system and method can prevent playback of a digital audio file in an enhanced mode if the digital audio file does not meet a predetermined criterion, such as a particular bit rate. One example of an enhanced mode is a simulated multi-channel surround sound mode.

System and method for optimizing digital audio playback

A power management system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The power management system can track one or more usage parameters to insure that electrical accessories or resources do not fully drain a battery and leave enough battery life to conduct at least one cold start. In some cases, the power management system can track one or more of the following usage parameters: the amount of time of one or more hands free telephone systems are used, the number of attempts to contact a computer, and/or the amount of time used to conduct wireless communications with a computer that is physically separate from the motor vehicle.

Motor vehicle power management system

A system and method for selecting an audio source is disclosed. The system and method can be used to prevent the selection of a hard disk drive as an audio source if the local ambient pressure in which the motor vehicle is operating is less than a predetermined pressure. The system may obtain ambient pressure data from various different types of sensors including a barometric pressure sensor or an engine combustion sensor. In some cases, the system and method can compute the ambient pressure using global positioning system (GPS) information.

Method of selecting an audio source

A system and method for transferring information to a motor vehicle is disclosed. The system and method can send music files from a computer to an on board unit associated with a motor vehicle. The music files can be sent in a variety of different ways, including wirelessly. In some cases, the on board music collection can also be remotely managed from a computer in wireless communication with the on board unit.

System and method for transferring information to a motor vehicle

A partitioned audio system for an automobile having front speakers and rear speakers wherein a transition phase is provided when the system is switched between single source and dual source modes. When switching from single source mode to dual source mode, the front speaker output gradually increases while the rear speaker output gradually decreases. Similarly, when switching from dual source mode to single source mode, the rear speaker output gradually increases while the front speaker output gradually decreases. In either case, the sound pressure level after switching modes is generally identical to the sound pressure level prior to switching modes.

Volume stability control for partitioned audio system

A protection circuit protects from overheating a switching transistor that delivers current from a power source to a daytime running light on a vehicle. The protection circuit of the present invention open-circuits the switching transistor from the power source when the temperature at the switching transistor is sensed to be above a predetermined temperature. In this manner, excessive current is prevented from flowing through the switching transistor. In contrast, prior art protection circuits control only the gate of a MOSFET or base of a BJT switching transistor. In that case, if damage to the transistor results in an effective resistance, constant flow of current through such an effective resistance results in excessive overheating or even a fire. The protection circuit of the present invention open-circuits the conductive path from the power source through the effective resistance such that current does not flow through the effective resistance. Furthermore, a latching circuit in the protection circuit of the present invention maintains the switching transistor to be open-circuited from the power source once the temperature at the switching transistor reaches the predetermined temperature. Thus, the traffic hazard or degradation of the switching transistor, which may result from the daytime running light flashing on and off, are also avoided with the protection circuit of the present invention.

Protection from overheating of a switching transistor that delivers

A protection circuit prevents, from a short load, excessive current flow through a field effect transistor that delivers current to a daytime running light on a vehicle. The present invention uses commonly available devices, such as resistors and transistors, and a low number of such devices for low cost. Furthermore, the present invention includes a latching circuit for maintaining the switching transistor to be turned off once the current level through the switching transistor reaches an excessive level to prevent the daytime running light from flashing on and off. A voltage, which develops across a resistor that is coupled to the field effect transistor, is an indication of the current level through the field effect transistor. This voltage turns on a first transistor which couples the gate of the field effect transistor to a ground node when the current level through the field effect transistor is greater than a predetermined level. The field effect transistor turns off when the gate of the field effect transistor is coupled to the ground node to prevent excessive current flow through the field effect transistor. A second transistor is configured in a latching configuration with the first transistor to maintain the first transistor to be turned on once the current level through the field effect transistor is greater than a predetermined level and until the power source is reapplied to the field effect transistor.

Growing community of inventors

Columbus, OH, United States of America

John W Vilkinofsky