Delco Electronics Corporation

Electronic Data Systems Corporation

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Peter A Thayer

Morgan Daniel Murphy

Steven J Enyart

Paul S Phillips

Leonid Shlayen

Brian M Pruzan

Duane Donald Fortune

William W Fultz

Dennis P Griffin

Charles A Gray

Stuart Stites Sullivan

David R Little

Robert Allan Perisho, Jr

Phillip E Kaltenbacher, Ii

Pamela Ann Roe

Dale Horan

Douglas Allen Nunan

Cunkai Wu

Ronald D Freiberger

Chiutsun Albert Lee

Timothy A Hans

Jack C Turner

Diane M Wills

A system and method for sending high fidelity sound between wireless units include the capability to receive audible sounds at a wireless unit and generate signals that represent the audible sounds. The system and method also include the capability to encode a first portion of the signals and encode a second portion of the signals. The system and method further include the capability to transmit the first encoded portion over a first synchronous channel and transmit the second encoded portion over a second synchronous channel.

System and method for sending high fidelity sound between wireless units

A system and method for managing wireless vehicular communications include a system and method for vehicle protocol conversion. The system and method for vehicle protocol conversion have the ability to receive messages through a vehicle bus connector according to a vehicle bus protocol, analyze the messages to determine whether they should be transmitted, and transmit the messages over a wireless link if they should be transmitted.

System and method for managing wireless vehicular communications

A system and method for managing wireless vehicular communications include the ability to detect a message relating to a vehicle bus at a remote system and determine whether the message is a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement. The system and method also include the ability to generate a command for a protocol converter if the message is a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement and form a wireless message containing the command. The system and method further include the ability to transmit the wireless message over a wireless communication link and receive vehicle bus data over the wireless communication link.

An improved IR occupant position detection system that provides accurate and reliable classification and position information at a speed sufficient to timely inhibit or otherwise control deployment of occupant restraints. A two-dimensional array of IR emitters is selectively activated to periodically illuminate two or more of predetermined viewing planes in the vicinity of a passenger seating area, and the reflected IR energy is detected by a photo-sensitive receiver and analyzed to detect the presence of an occupant, to classify the occupant, and to identify and dynamically track the position of the occupant's head/torso relative to predefined zones of the passenger compartment. Modulating the intensity of the emitted IR beams with a known carrier frequency, band-pass filtering the received signal, and synchronously detecting the filtered signal distinguishes the reflected IR energy from other signals picked up by the IR receiver. Additionally, a two stage adaptive control mechanism compensates for the variation in intensity of the reflected energy with distance between the emitter and the occupant. The emitter is implemented with orthogonal anode and cathode power rails with individual IR LED elements placed at each anode-cathode intersection. Optical dispersion within the package is greatly reduced by an opaque cover layer that effectively forms a well for each LED element.

Infrared occupant position detection system and method for a motor vehicle

An improved weight-based occupant characterization method that can inexpensively and reliably distinguish between a child or small adult and a tightly cinched child seat. When the sensed weight is in a specified range that could be produced by a tightly cinched child seat, the system characterizes the occupant based on a detected variation in sensed weight during movement of the vehicle. If the variance of the sensed weight is below a threshold for a predetermined interval, the occupant is characterized as a child seat, since a tightly cinched seat belt severely restricts variance. If the variance exceeds the threshold for a predetermined interval, the occupant is characterized as a child or small adult. A correlative factor that can be used in distinguishing between a child seat and a child or small adult is determined by computing a slope reversal rate, or frequency, of the measured weight. In this case, a child seat is indicated by the combination of low variance and a high frequency, whereas a child or small adult is indicated by the combination of high variance and a low frequency. Additionally, movement of the vehicle can be detected when the variance of the sensed weight is within a predetermined range for at least a predetermined interval.

Vehicle occupant characterization method based on sensed occupant weight

An adaptive learning system for adapting the frequency setting and volume level of a vehicle radio in response to a vehicle operator's preference of radio stations and volume levels for a particular time of day. A microprocessor is responsive to the frequency settings and volume level of the radio as set by the vehicle operator with respect to specific time intervals of the day. The microprocessor will establish a list of priority radio stations dependent on how often the vehicle operator selects the radio frequencies during each specific interval and an average volume level of the radio. The system will then automatically set the radio frequency and volume level based on the vehicle operator's priorities at vehicle start-up with respect to the current time of day.

Adaptive system for determining radio frequency at vehicle start-up

An adaptive instrument display brightness control system that automatically controls the instrument display brightness of a vehicle based on a vehicle operator's changes to the display brightness and particular ambient light conditions. An ambient light intensity sensor sends an ambient light intensity signal to a microprocessor which then selects a brightness look-up value from a look-up table based on the light intensity to illuminate the instrument display. If the vehicle operator adjusts the instrument display brightness, and the change to the brightness is within a learning range of the system, the microprocessor will set an adaptive timer to validate the change. After the timer has expired, the microprocessor will adjust the look-up value to a predetermined percent of the difference between the original look-up value and a new look-up value coinciding with the new illumination setting.

Adaptive instrument display brightness control system

An infrared sensor for determining the temperature of a car interior includes a thermistor and a thermopile in a can and a protective window which exposes the thermopile to the thermal energy of the car interior. The combined outputs of these thermally sensitive elements represents the interior radiant temperature. The effectiveness of the thermopile changes if the window gets dirty to change its output. A resistive heater on the can is used to heat the sensor during calibration. A microprocessor receiving the outputs of the sensor has an algorithm for adjusting a gain which compensates for sensor changes. When the interior temperature is stable, the sensor is heated and thermistor values before and after heating the sensor are used as a basis for adjustment of the gain.

Method and apparatus for calibration of comfort control IR sensor

An air temperature sensor and an infrared sensor are used along with an outside temperature sensor to control an HVAC system. During vehicle operation the IR sensor views an occupant seating area and realistically determines the thermal comfort level and the air temperature adds stability to that determination to control the air output. For dual zone systems two IR sensors separately monitor the two zones for accurate control of each zone air output. When the vehicle is not operating, the internal temperature is monitored and compared to a threshold and to outside temperature to turn on ventilation for limiting the internal temperature, subject to sufficient battery voltage.

Automotive climate control with infra-red sensing

An adaptive electronic climate control (ECC) system for a vehicle that allows adjustments to the temperature setting and blower speed controls of the ECC system to teach the system to automatically be set to the vehicle operator's comfort level. If the vehicle operator adjusts the temperature set point at a particular ambient air temperature, the system will store this change for that ambient air temperature. Once the change has been validated, the next time the system encounters that ambient air temperature, the system will automatically provide the appropriate air mixture as previously set by the vehicle operator. Further, when the vehicle operator adjusts the blower speed, the system will gradually adapt the blower speed to that which is set by the vehicle operator for a particular set of vehicle parameters that affect the climate within the vehicle.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Peter A Thayer