Denso International America, Inc.

Denso Corporation

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Justin McBride

Michael Wiegand

Thomas J Keeling

Christopher M Kurpinski

Martin Nespolo

Toshihiro Wakamatsu

Sibu Varughese

Tanemichi Chiba

Kyle Golsch

Keiichi Aoyama

Yu Zhang

Vikas Upmanue

Cary Horvath

Laith Daman

Thomas Krzyzak, Jr

Hiroto Uesaka

Gareth Webb

Minoru Sasaki

Bo Sun

Silviu Pala

Stephen Holcomb

Akira Sakashita

Carolina Rigney

Akio Nakano

Pietro Buttolo

Cynthia M Neubecker

Yoshihisa Sato

Hirohiko Yanagawa

Christian Arthur Trager

Masato Okuda

Christopher Alan Arms

Jeffry Allen Greenberg

Parrish F Hanna

Seishi Yoshida

Lisa Marie Brown

Jeffrey Edward Angeliu

Hiroki Matsui

Daniel Paul Tran

Nhi Van Pham

Vending device

A method of objectively measuring a driver's ability to operate a motor vehicle user interface. The method includes objectively measuring the driver's ability to perform each one of a plurality of calibration tasks of various degrees of difficulty including an easy task, a medium task, and a difficult task; generating a scale with which to evaluate the driver's ability to operate the user interface, the scale customized for the driver based on the objective measurements of the driver's ability to perform each calibration task; objectively measuring the driver's ability to operate a function of the motor vehicle user interface; and objectively evaluating the driver's ability to operate the function of the motor vehicle user interface using the scale to determine if the user interface is appropriate for the driver.

Method to determine driver workload function and usage of driver workload function for human-machine interface performance assessment

Haptic control knob

A human machine interface (HMI) system controls operation of a graphical user interface (GUI) being displayed on a display located in a vehicle. The HMI system includes an interface device, an interface operation module, and a device selection module. The interface device is operable to control the GUI and includes a knob member and a touchpad. The interface operation module receives input data from the interface device in response to an operation of the interface device. The device selection module designates at least one of the knob member or the touchpad as an active device based on a device selection criteria. The interface operation module transmits data from an active device to a display module controlling the GUI and disregards data from an inactive device.

Human machine interface system for controlling vehicular graphical user interface display

An alert system for a vehicle includes a tracking device, lighting system, control module, and sensor that can detect hazards. The tracking device can detect a driver's line-of-sight. The lighting system can be disposed about the vehicle and can emit light visible to the driver. The control module can determine a location of the hazard relative to the line-of-sight, and to operate the lighting system in a first mode in response to the hazard being outside of an angular threshold of the line-of-sight, and a second mode in response to the hazard being within the angular threshold. When in the first mode, a first region of the lighting system that corresponds to a general direction of the hazard can be illuminated. When in the second mode, a second region of the lighting system that corresponds to a specific location of the hazard is illuminated.

Visual alert system

A system for informing a driver of a vehicle of a surrounding hazard and road position of the vehicle. The system includes at least one sensor configured to identify location of the hazard relative to the vehicle. A controller is configured to: receive inputs from the at least one sensor regarding location of the hazard; determine a threat potential of the hazard based on at least one of location of the hazard relative to the vehicle, speed of the vehicle, and heading of the vehicle; and send commands to a display for visually displaying the hazard to the driver based on the determined threat potential of the hazard.

Situation awareness assistant for vehicle control

A smart device interface for a vehicle. The smart device interface includes a transmitter/receiver and a controller. The transmitter/receiver is configured to communicate with a first smart device of a driver and a second smart device of a passenger. The controller is configured to permit the passenger to perform tasks on behalf of the driver using the second smart device. The tasks include responding to messages received by the first smart device of the driver, entertainment system operation, and navigation system operation.

Method for off-loading driver wireless activities to passengers via the vehicle wireless interface

A method for monitoring operation of a vehicle. The method includes the following: setting a gravitational force (g-force) threshold for operation of the vehicle; measuring a g-force onboard the vehicle; and conveying to an operator of the vehicle that operation of the vehicle has resulted in the measured g-force exceeding the g-force threshold.

Method for monitoring operation of a vehicle and graphically conveying G-force to a driver

A control system for a vehicle includes first and second modules. The first module receives input from an operator of the vehicle via an input device, wherein the operator input includes a change to an operating parameter of a vehicle system. The second module selectively adjusts a resistance of the input device based on the operator input and a predetermined threshold. A method for controlling a vehicle includes receiving input from an operator of the vehicle via an input device, wherein the operator input includes a change to an operating parameter of a vehicle system, and selectively adjusting a resistance of the input device based on the operator input and a predetermined threshold.

Systems and methods for haptic feedback control in a vehicle

An apparatus for changing the state of a vehicle closure is disclosed. The apparatus includes a primary mobile unit, a secondary mobile unit, and a detection device. The detection device is operable to automatically detect whether the primary mobile unit is within a first range of the detection device, and whether the secondary mobile unit is within a second range of the detection device. The apparatus further includes a controller operable to change the state of the vehicle closure when the detection device detects that the secondary mobile unit is within the second range while the primary mobile unit is detected within the first range.

Apparatus for automatically changing state of vehicle closure

A system is provided that may mark and communicate a location to a navigation system via a portable device. The portable device may include a user interface, a first GPS device, a first memory device and a transmitter. The user interface may selectively allow the first GPS device to acquire geographical coordinates of a current location of the portable device and store the geographical coordinates in the first memory device. The navigation system may include a second GPS device, a second memory device, a receiver, and a display. The transmitter of the portable device may communicate the geographical coordinates to the receiver of the navigation system.

Navigation location mark by cell phone

A method of processing image data is provided. The method includes determining an overlap area based on image data from a first image sensor and image data from a second image sensor; computing a first weight and a second weight based on a relative position of the image data in the overlap area; and generating a final image by blending the image data from the first image sensor and the second image sensor based on the first weight and the second weight.

Weighted average image blending based on relative pixel position

An apparatus for automatically initiating a plurality of vehicle functions is disclosed. The apparatus includes a mobile unit and a detection device operable to automatically detect whether the mobile unit is within a first zone. The detection device is further operable to automatically detect whether the mobile unit is within a second zone. The first zone and the second zone are outside the vehicle, and the first zone encompasses the second zone. The apparatus further includes a controller that is operable to initiate a first vehicle function when the detection device detects that the mobile unit is within the first zone. The controller is also operable to initiate a second vehicle function when the detection device detects that the mobile unit is within the second zone.

Apparatus for automatically initiating sequence of vehicle functions

A system for locating a vehicle may include a hand-held device and a communication device on-board the vehicle. The hand-held device may include a screen, and may be adapted to import a map and display a present location of the hand-held device on the map. The communication device on-board the vehicle may be adapted to communicate a present location of the vehicle to the hand-held device. The hand-held device may be capable of displaying the location of the vehicle and the location of the hand-held device on the map at the same time.

Car finder by cell phone

Growing community of inventors

West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

Justin McBride