Lear Automotive Dearborn, Inc.

Lear Corporation

Telcontar

Ut Automotive Dearborn, Inc.

Other

Joseph David King

Geoffrey R Hendrey

Hirohisa A Tanaka

Philip J Koopman, Jr

Ozer M N Teitelbaum

John E McConnell

Timothy S Roddy

Marian O Borzea

Stephen James Learman

LeeAnn Marougi

Philip Koopman

Steven R Keyes

A SCUBA diving flag/float assembly is used to support a GPS antenna on the surface of the water for use by divers in performing underwater navigation. An associated GPS receiver is integrated with a dive flag line take-up mechanism such as a spool or SCUBA diving line reel. The dive flag line and cable interconnecting the GPS receiver to the GPS antenna is integrated within a single assembly, or in an alternate embodiment, braided together forming a single tether. Alternate embodiments include optional sensors such as a flowmeter, compass, tiltmeter, depth gauge and diver techniques to compensate for navigational errors due to a water current pushing a dive flag/float away from a diver. Alternatively, a GPS receiver may be mounted on or in the dive flag/float assembly and navigational information relayed to the diver under the water.

Integrated dive flag/float and GPS navigation system for scuba divers

A blind spot detection system includes a transmitter directing a circularly polarized signal into a blind spot adjacent a vehicle. A receiver also mounted on the vehicle receives a reflection of the circularly polarized signal which is oppositely circularly polarized. An indicator indicates to the driver of the vehicle when the reflected signal is detected, thereby indicating the presence of an object in the blind spot. An indicator is also directed toward the blind spot generating a warning when the presence of an object in the blind spot is detected and an indication of a turn or lane change by the vehicle is detected, such as turn signal switch activation.

Polarametric blind spot detector with steerable beam

A vehicle wireless transmitter system includes a collision avoidance sensor in a wireless transmitter. The wireless transmitter generates a wireless signal, such as a garage door opener signal, based upon information from the collision avoidance sensor. The wireless transmitter generates a garage door opener signal when the collision avoidance sensor determines that the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the garage. The wireless transmitter generates a garage door opener signal when the collision avoidance sensor determines that the vehicle is in the garage, the engine is no longer running and no motion is detected around the vehicle for a predetermined period of time.

Passive garage door opener using collision avoidance system

A trainable transmitter comprises a transmitter, code-generation circuitry and a removable, plug-in data module. The data module includes information necessary for generating a code for a specific security system, such as a garage door opener. Preferably, the data includes a cryptographic algorithm and the frequency at which the wireless signal is to be generated. The code-generation circuitry accesses the data in the data module to generate a code, which is then transmitted by the transmitter. A variety of data modules are provided. A user installs a data module which corresponds to the security system to be accessed.

Reconfigurable universal trainable transmitter

A method and system for connecting proximately located telecommunications units are disclosed. The method and system may be used in a location aware telecommunications system that can determine the location of a telecommunications unit (TU) being used within the system. A user of a mobile telecommunications unit (MU) is connected to a TU when the MU is within a predetermined distance of a predetermined geographic location meeting predefined criteria. The TU to which the MU is connected may be automated or manually operated. In some embodiments, multiple MUs are connected when they are within a predetermined proximity to each other and a predefined criteria is met.

Method and system for automatically initiating a telecommunications connection based on distance

A method and system for connecting proximately located telecommunications units are disclosed. The method and system may be used in a location aware telecommunications system that can determine the location of a telecommunications unit (TU) being used within the system. A user may be connected to one or more other users when they have compatible attributes and when they are located within a predetermined distance of each other. The connection may be established between TUs of two or more users, based on attribute and distance information maintained by a server computer, upon the request of an initiating user's TU.

Method and system for connecting proximately located mobile users based on compatible attributes

A method and system for selectively connecting proximately located telecommunications units are disclosed. The method and system may be used in a location aware telecommunications system that can determine the location of a telecommunications unit (TU) being used within the system. A first TU may be connected to a second TU when the first and second TUs are within a predetermined distance of each other and when a first user associated with the first TU may be connected to a second user associated with the second TU on a graph representing individual relationships, such as an acquaintance graph or genealogical tree. The connection may further be based on whether the first and second users have a less than a maximum threshold degree of separation within the relationship graph.

Method and system for connecting mobile users based on degree of separation

A vehicle wireless transmitter system includes a portable fob and a repeater mounted in the vehicle headliner. The portable fob includes user actuated buttons and code generation circuitry for a remote keyless entry system, garage door opener system, and home security system. When the user activates the garage door opener button on the portable fob from within the vehicle, the code generated by the portable fob is repeated by the repeater mounted in the vehicle headliner and retransmitted in a more powerful signal directed through the windshield. Thus, the portable fob insures that the code generation circuitry is removed from the vehicle with the user, while the repeater insures that the transmitted signal has enough power to provide satisfactory range.

Integrated remote keyless entry and garage door opener using a universal repeater

A safety warning system includes a safety warning transceiver which retransmits safety warning signals received by the safety warning transmitter in order to extend the range of safety warning transmitter systems. The safety warning transceiver also functions as a trainable garage door opener and interacts with the remote keyless entry system of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the safety warning transceiver can be installed and selectively removed from a docking station in the vehicle in order to prevent theft or install the safety warning transceiver into another vehicle.

Safety warning transceiver

A dome switch ( ) of an electrically operated product ( ) includes an electrically conductive dome switch member ( ) having a central dimple ( ) and a peripheral portion ( ) that is secured by two retainers ( ) which permit sliding alignment of the dome switch member. A switch actuator ( ) of the dome switch ( ) has an alignment button ( ) received by the dimple ( ) of the dome switch member ( ) so as to provide sliding of the dome switch member on a circuit board ( ) and thereby providing alignment with first and second contacts ( ) to provide effective switch closing.

Dome switch

A collision warning system warns vehicles traveling behind a vehicle when it initiates deceleration. A receiver on trailing vehicles receives the signal. A transmitter then transmits a signal in response to either the acceleration sensor or the receiver. A brake warning device is also automatically actuated upon reception of the signal, and the signal is retransmitted to the rear of a trailing vehicle. A warning provided in this manner allows operators several vehicles in back of the lead vehicle to be simultaneously notified that the lead vehicle is decelerating, independently of whether the intervening vehicles have manually applied their brakes.

Fast braking warning system

A vehicle navigation system includes an update module that provides travel advisory information on a real time basis. The update module receives traffic advisory signals such as intelligent highway system signals, safety warning system signals and specially encoded traffic reports from radio stations. The travel advisory signals are utilized by the navigation system to provide a route guidance strategy to a driver that is not limited by the information from a prestored map database. While travelling, the update module continues to provide information that is utilized to generate an updated route as appropriate. Additionally, the vehicle navigation system preferably includes the ability to generate a beacon signal indicating that the vehicle is in a position or condition that presents a potential traffic hazard to other drivers. The beacon signal from the navigation system of this invention is one example of the kind of travel advisory signal that the inventive navigation system uses to generate an updated route guidance strategy.

Vehicle navigation system with route updating feature

The inventive cellular telephone includes a telephone for transmitting outgoing telephone call signals and receiving incoming telephone call signals and a transmitter for producing a wireless control signal to operate a remote device. The remote device may be a remote keyless entry system, a garage door opener, an estate gate opener, a home security system, a home lighting system, or some other system. To reduce cost, a single transmitter may produce both the control signal and the outgoing telephone call signals. In a preferred embodiment, the transmitter may be programmed to reproduce one or more unique control signals to operate several remote devices.

Integrated cellular telephone with programmable transmitter

A passive garage door opener system includes a sensor for determining the position of the vehicle relative to the receiver. When the vehicle is within a predetermined area near the receiver, the transmitter sends the signal to open the garage door. Other conditions of the vehicle, such as speed and heading, may also be monitored to determine when and whether to send the signal.

Passive garage door opener

A passive remote keyless entry system includes a plurality of sensors each associated with a door of the vehicle. Each sensor detects the presence and distance of a key fob from the sensor. By monitoring the distance of the key fob from the sensor, the sensor determines if the key fob is approaching or moving away from the associated door. If the sensor determines that the key fob is approaching, an interrogation signal is sent from the security system to the key fob. If the proper code is returned by the key fob, the associated door is unlocked. If the sensor determines that the key fob is moving away from the associated door, the doors are locked. The sensors can also determine whether the key fob is simply passing by, in which case the driver probably does not wish to enter the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Hudson, NH, United States of America

Joseph David King