Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Delco Electronics Corporation

Santa Barbara Research Center

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Aptiv Technologies Limited

Michel Farid Sultan

David Kay Lambert

Dale Lee Partin

Charles Robert Harrington

Todd P Oman

Craig Arnold Tieman

Michael James O'Rourke

John Robert Smith

Taeyoung Han

Frederick F Kuhlman

Dwadasi H R Sarma

Andrzej Marian Pawlak

Laci J Jalics

Ming-Cheng Wu

Zhibo Zhao

Robert W Schumacher

Thaddeus Schroeder

Bruce Alan Myers

Da Yu Wang

Thomas Hubert Van Steenkiste

Michael D Jack

John Richard Troxell

Stephen Joel Harris

Gail M Sylvester

Galen Bruce Fisher

Gerald J Witt

Bryan A Gillispie

Mark K Krage

Marie I Harrington

Dwight L Schwarz

Antonio B Catalan

Harry Zhang

Francis E Szczublewski

Xinhua He

Kris R Stark

Andrew P Harbach

John W Hile

Bradley R Knigga

Clayton L Nicholas

Mark E Myers

Xinhua (Sam) He

Stephen J Swarin

Maged Radamis

Joseph L Kenty

Paul J Ainslie

Dwadasi HR Sarma

A method of measuring a chemical vapor concentration is provided. A chemical vapor sensor measures a chemical species of interest with high sensitivity and chemical specificity. In an aspect, an ethanol vapor sensor is provided, sized for being inconspicuous and on-board a vehicle, having a passive measurement mode and an active breathalyzer mode, for detecting a motor vehicle driver that exceeds a legal limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), for use with vehicle safety systems. For the passive mode, a vapor concentrator is utilized to amplify a sampled vapor concentration to a detectable level for use with an infrared (IR) detector. In an aspect, ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin is passively measured and if a predetermined ethanol level is measured, a countermeasure is invoked to improve safety. In an aspect, an active breathalyzer is used as a countermeasure. The active breathalyzer can be imposed for a number of vehicle trips or for a predetermined time period.

Method of measuring a chemical vapor concentration

A heads-up display system is configured for use in a vehicle. The system includes a standard vehicle window (i.e. no special coatings), an image projector, and a vehicle dashboard equipped with a faceted reflective surface. The image projector is configured to project an image onto the faceted reflective surface. The faceted reflective surface is configured to reflect the image from the image projector onto a window surface of the standard vehicle window. The window surface is oriented to reflect the image from the faceted reflective surface toward an occupant. The faceted reflective surface may be disposed within a plurality of troughs separated by a plurality of diffuse reflecting partitions. The plurality of troughs may be configured to shield the occupant from extraneous reflections. The faceted reflective surface may include a plurality of electrically controlled facets. The plurality of electrically controlled reflective facets may be an array of electrowetting cells.

Heads-up display system utilizing controlled reflections from a dashboard surface

A system to selectively display a symbol at a location on a vehicle window. The system includes an arrangement of a fluorescent material at the location, wherein the fluorescent material: a) is sufficiently transparent in the absence of ultraviolet (UV) light, b) fluoresces when illuminated with UV light, c) and has a shape corresponding to the symbol, and a UV light source configured to illuminate the location with UV light to display the symbol. Such a system may use unfocused UV light sources to illuminate the symbol shaped fluorescent material as opposed to focused UV light sources such as UV lasers.

System and method of using fluorescent material to display information on a vehicle window

A method to avert an unlawfully intoxicated driver from operating a vehicle is provided. The method utilizes a passive ethanol vapor sensor to measure ethanol vapor concentration in air from a vehicle cabin and imposes a safety response when the passive ethanol vapor sensor detects that a sample of vehicle cabin air indicates that a vehicle occupant exceeds the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for a motor vehicle driver. The ethanol vapor sensor may have a passive measurement mode and an active breathalyzer mode. Ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin may be passively measured and if a predetermined ethanol level is measured, a countermeasure is invoked to improve safety. An active breathalyzer may be used as a countermeasure. The active breathalyzer can be imposed for a number of vehicle trips or for a predetermined time period.

Method to avert an unlawfully intoxicated driver from operating a vehicle by passive measurement of an ethanol vapor concentration in air

A thermal-protection apparatus disposed in a vehicle cabin or storage compartment includes a housing enveloping a chamber in which a thermally-sensitive consumer electronic device is received, a thermoelectric module mounted in a wall of the housing, and a remote electronic controller and power source coupled to the housing via an electrical cable for activating the thermoelectric module, and optionally the consumer electronic device, in a manner to prevent the temperature in the chamber from exceeding a prescribed maximum operating temperature of the consumer electronic device or falling below a prescribed minimum operating temperature of the consumer electronic device.

Thermally-protected chamber for a temperature-sensitive consumer electronic device

Long-range remote communication and control of a vehicle is achieved with primary and secondary cellular devices provided by the vehicle user. The primary cellular device is retained by the user, while the secondary cellular device is dedicated to the vehicle and placed in a docking station provided in a vehicle instrument panel or console. The vehicle docking station is equipped with typical cell phone electrical interfaces to supply battery charging current and to establish a bi-directional data communication link between the secondary cellular device and an on-board vehicle computer. The secondary cellular device remains activated, and provides a low-cost remotely accessible communication link between the on-board vehicle computer and the primary cellular device or any other phone, provided that specified security conditions are satisfied.

Method and apparatus for remote vehicle communications and control

A communications system utilizing a portable communications device for controlling functions in a vehicle includes a first display for controlling vehicle operating functions and a first transceiver connected to the first display device. A multifunctional control switch is connected to the first display device, while a second transceiver is used for communicating with either the first transceiver or a remote keyless entry (RKE) receiver depending upon whether the second transceiver is located inside or outside the vehicle. The second transceiver operates to configure operational parameters of the display device when those controls have not been readily integrated into the vehicle center stack.

Dual purpose wireless device, wherein vehicle controls depend on device location

A motor vehicle includes control apparatus for establishing an interactive human-machine interface (HMI) between a vehicle driver and an on-board communication system that is wirelessly coupled to a nomadic communication device carried by the driver. The on-board communication system has the ability to activate the nomadic communication device to check for messages, and the interactive HMI includes a configurable display through which check-message inquiries are selectively communicated to the driver, and an input device selectively manipulated by the driver to accept a check-message inquiry. An HMI controller responsive to sensed vehicle operating condition data and driver manipulation of the input device determines if and when a check-message inquiry should be communicated to the driver.

Interactive phone message control apparatus for a motor vehicle

A breath analyzer system and method for determining an estimate of blood alcohol concentration of a person. A light source projects light into a sampling region where breath from the person is expected. A first light detector and a second light detector are configured to detect light intensity of light having certain wavelengths at a first time and a second time. Signals from the light detectors at the first time and the second time are used to determine an estimate of the blood alcohol concentration of the person by determining a ratio of a first light detector signal change to a second light detector signal change.

Breath analyzer system and method of operating the same

A dual view display system that displays two different images in different directions using a single display device. The dual view display includes a first optical element overlaying a first portion of the pixels and configured to direct light emitted from the first portion of the pixels toward a first direction, a second optical element overlaying a second portion of the pixels and configured to direct light emitted from the second portion of the pixels toward a second direction distinct from the first direction, and an optical barrier arranged between the first optical element and the second optical element effective to prevent light from propagating therebetween.

Dual view display system

Long-range remote communication and control of a vehicle is achieved with primary and secondary cellular devices provided by the vehicle user. The primary cellular device is retained by the user, while the secondary cellular device is dedicated to the vehicle and placed in a docking station provided in the vehicle passenger compartment. The vehicle docking station is equipped with typical cell phone electrical interfaces to supply power and to establish a bi-directional data communication link between the secondary cellular device and an on-board vehicle computer. The secondary cellular device remains activated, and provides a low-cost remotely accessible communication link between the on-board vehicle computer and the primary cellular device or any other phone, provided that specified security conditions are satisfied.

A universal infrared analyzer that includes a tunable optical filter capable of being tuned to one of a selectable set of wavelengths of radiation by a controller accessing a database of a plurality of function specific settings and function specific signatures. The plurality of function specific settings includes settings for al least one of intruder detection, chemical detection, structural integrity detection, medical applications detection, and gas detection. The analyzer also includes a user input interface, for manually selecting one of the function specific settings and one of the function specific signatures. The controller tunes the tunable optical filter to one of the selectable set of wavelengths of radiation based upon the selected one of the function specific settings and a focal plane array generates a signature based upon a target detected by the focal plane array.

Method and apparatus for a universal infrared analyzer

A vehicle location reminder system having a vehicle positioning system operable to provide an approximate location of a vehicle and record the approximate location of the vehicle. A status check system monitors use of the vehicle and sends a signal to the vehicle positioning system to record the approximate location of the vehicle when the vehicle is no longer in use. A memory system is connected to the status check system and the vehicle positioning system, the memory system being adapted to determine if the approximate location of the vehicle, when no longer in use, is in a familiar location. An alert system is connected to the memory system. The alert system prompts a vehicle user to record data on a mobile device pertaining to the approximate location of the vehicle when the location of the vehicle, when no longer in use, is not in a familiar location. A replay system is adapted to replay the recorded data.

Vehicle location reminder system and method

Medium-range remote communication and control for a vehicle is achieved with a wireless vehicle telematics unit, a medium-range wireless portable fob, and an unmodified wireless personal communication device. The portable fob includes a medium-range RF transceiver for bi-directional communication with the telematics unit and a short-range wireless transceiver for bi-directional communication with the personal communication device. The fob communicates with the vehicle telematics unit in a conventional manner, and also relays information between the telematics unit and the personal communication device. Communication can be initiated by the telematics unit or by the operator via the fob or personal communication device. Once communication is initiated, the fob relays: (1) menu options and status information from the telematics unit to the personal communication device; and (2) menu selections from the personal communication device to the telematics unit. No cellular network service or special programming is required for the personal communications device.

Apparatus for medium-range vehicle communications and control

A configurable gauge apparatus includes a flat panel display (FPD) for displaying a user-defined gauge face, a transparent panel spaced from the FPD through which the displayed gauge face is viewed, and a mechanical pointer disposed between the FPD and the transparent panel for indicating a current value of a parameter of interest. The pointer includes a stem and a hub that rotatably supports the stem, and the hub is mounted on the FPD or the transparent panel. Pointer position is regulated either magnetically with a pointer magnet and a magnetic field generator disposed behind the FPD, or electrically with a motorized hub activated with transparent conductors formed on the FPD or transparent panel. The stem of the pointer is illuminated by either the FPD, or a hub-mounted LED activated with transparent conductors. Transparent conductors are also used to form a sensor array for detecting pointer position.

Configurable gauge apparatus including a flat panel display and a mechanical pointer

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Troy, MI, United States of America

Michel Farid Sultan