Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Bedestrian LLC

Shadi Mere

Theodore Charles Wingrove

Kyle Entsminger

Paul O Morris

Michael Eichbrecht

J William Whikehart

Paul Fredrick Luther Weindorf

Douglas Allen Pfau

Steven Christopher Tengler

Dinu Petre Madau

Adam Henry Zysnarski

Christopher Thomas Thibodeau

Thomas J Buckingham

Todd T Bagdonas

Jonathan Weisberg

Alan Weiland

A method for autonomously charging an electric motor vehicle based on a customer order using an autonomous vehicle having electric battery storage includes receiving a request to charge the electric motor vehicle, loading into a memory of the autonomous vehicle a customer profile that includes a location of the electric motor vehicle, a vehicle identifier, and an electric charge amount, autonomously driving to the location of the electric motor vehicle, identifying the electric motor vehicle based on the vehicle identifier, and charging the electric motor vehicle.

Method for autonomous charging of a motor vehicle

The aspects of the present disclosure provide an autonomous vehicle interface for a vehicle and a method of enabling and employing an autonomous vehicle interface for a vehicle. The autonomous vehicle interface may be configured to seamlessly transition driving modes or the vehicle's mode of operation from user controlled to an autonomous controlled driving without the user physically activating the autonomous controlled driving. The autonomous vehicle interface may also be configured to consider active components and environmental conditions employed by the user in activating the autonomous control. The autonomous vehicle interface may further be configured to consider the user's operational state and/or the user's attentiveness to activate the autonomous vehicle mode. Additionally, the autonomous vehicle interface may be configured to change the vehicle's mode of operation from the autonomous controlled to the user controlled driving in response to a positive change to the user's operational state and/or attentiveness.

Autonomous driving interface

An autonomous system for transporting an item from a first location to a second location includes an autonomous vehicle and a trailer. The autonomous vehicle includes a compartment, a vehicle sensor, a vehicle drive mechanism, a vehicle power source, and a vehicle control module for controlling the vehicle drive mechanism. The trailer includes a hitch for connecting the trailer to the autonomous vehicle, an electrical system, a trailer sensor in communication with the electrical system, a trailer power source in communication with the electrical system, a storage space, and a mechanism for autonomously transferring the item from the storage space into the compartment of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle and trailer are configured to transport the item to the first location, the trailer is configured to transfer the item to the autonomous vehicle, and the autonomous vehicle is configured to transport the item to the second location.

Autonomous vehicle with trailer

Systems and methods for integrating audio content presented via an audio playback device with additional digital content are provided herein. The system includes a content retriever configured to retrieve the audio content from a terrestrial radio station, and retrieve the additional digital content from an Internet streaming channel, the terrestrial radio station and the Internet streaming channel being associated with an audio program; and being configured to output the additional digital content. Further included herein is a method for delaying a delivery of additional audio content.

Integrating audio content with additional digital content

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and devices for employing gaze tracking systems with automatic luminance adjustment devices, in particular those commonly used with the Silverstein-method. By employing the aspects disclosed herein, it can been seen that with the disclosed concepts a pupil-size detector may be employed with both a forward looking light sensor, and ambient light sensor, and an adjustment system to utilize the data to determine luminance adjustment.

Adjusting an electronic display based on gaze tracking

The aspects of the present disclosure provide an upgradable vehicle cockpit interface and in particular, to a single or multi-phase upgradable hardware and firmware vehicle cockpit interface. The upgradable vehicle cockpit interface may include one or more hardware and firmware components that may be designed to interface with or connect to one or more corresponding hardware and firmware blocks located within the vehicle cockpit. The hardware and firmware components may be detachable from the hardware and firmware blocks and may be backwards compatible with the vehicle's hardware and firmware blocks. The upgradable vehicle cockpit interface enables an individual to experience the same vehicle over a time period and have the ability to upgrade the vehicle components (i.e. electronics) to ease the vehicle aging process.

Automatic upgrade of a vehicle-based processor based on a physical component change

The aspects of the present disclosure provide an upgradable firmware system and a method of adjusting or upgrading firmware through an upgradable firmware system within a vehicle cockpit. The upgradable firmware system may include a plug & play interface designed to interface with the vehicle cockpit. The plug & play interface may be configured to receive a plug & play card with a set of instructions for performing a task such as, updating one or more hardware and firmware blocks. The plug & play interface may be configured to recognize the plug & play card and adjust one or more hardware and firmware vehicle cockpit blocks based on the hardware and firmware block's configuration.

Upgradable firmware system

A system and method for indicating a transition from a gesture based input to a touch surface is provide herein. The system includes a detection monitor coupled to a detection device to detect the transition; and an alert transmitter to alert an output device based on the detection. The gesture based input is a non-contact interface associated with an electronic system, and a touch surface is a contact interface associated with the electronic system.

Indicating a transition from gesture based inputs to touch surfaces

The aspects of the present disclosure provide a tracking system with associated sensory feedback and method for activating a component and adjusting the component's mode of operation within a vehicle with a tracking system. Sensory feedback may be provided based on the user's gaze or input detected by the tracking system&#x2014;and/or in response to the change in the component's mode of operation. The system and method may further include the ability to control and adjust the component through gesture-based control.

System and method of tracking with associated sensory feedback

A system for adjusting an electronic display is provided herein. The system includes a gaze tracking device to capture an image of a pupil associated with a viewer of the electronic display, and a diameter of the pupil being ascertained via the image of the pupil. In another example, the system may also include an ambient light sensor receiver to logarithmically receive light information from an ambient light sensor; and a display adjuster to adjust a luminance of the electronic display based on a combination of a diameter and the light information.

A system and method for providing information to a driver of a vehicle includes: an image-capture device; a head or eye-gaze tracker; at least one processor; and an output device. The image-capture device captures an image of an environment external to a vehicle. The head or eye-gaze tracker determines an item a driver of the vehicle is viewing. The at least one processor processes the captured image. The at least one processor also translates language contained in the captured image of the item the driver is viewing to a second language, or determines point-of-interest information based on the captured image of the item the driver is viewing. The output device outputs information containing the second translated language of the captured image of the item the driver is viewing, or containing the determined point-of-interest information based on the captured image of the item the driver is viewing.

Vehicle system and method for providing information regarding an external item a driver is focusing on

A method for recording a clean broadcast free of background, such as fade-ins and fade-outs on a receiver includes providing program data associated with an upcoming broadcast, the broadcast being selected by a broadcaster, on the receiver to describe the upcoming broadcast to a user. The receiver records the upcoming broadcast to an internal memory of the receiver in response to either the broadcast being automatically selected based on the user's preferences or the user manually selecting the upcoming broadcast. Start and stop commands, independent of any manual input, are received by the receiver to begin and end the recording of the clean broadcast.

System for downloading audio content

The present invention provides a human-machine interface where control is achieved without the use of buttons. By providing multiple knobs, the audio system maximizes functionality while minimizing cost and space requirements. Each knob is capable of two selection modes: a first selection mode provided by rotating the knob and a second selection mode provided by depressing the knob. The two selection modes correspond to ergonomic selection pairs for controlling the audio system. The reduced area required for controls allows for a larger display area; which provides the user with a more attractive display that can convey more information. When a change in a status, through knob manipulation is sensed by the audio system, the display automatically provides a menu that corresponds to the ergonomic pair assigned to that knob. The automated switching of menus minimizes navigation between screens, while providing full manipulation of that audio system function using a single knob control. The present invention also provides for the display to visually indicate which knob is being used.

Radio human-machine interface using knobs and menu picks

A knob for an instrument panel is provided having a body portion, a first end portion adjacent to the body portion, and a second end portion adjacent to the body portion and defining a generally wave-shaped surface. The wave-shaped surface includes a plurality of peaks and a plurality of troughs, the peaks extending away from the body portion in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body portion. An adjustment assembly may also be provided having a first contact member with a contact portion, a second contact member with a contact portion, and an adjustment member with a plurality of protrusions. The protrusions are configured to selectively engage the contact portion of the first contact member and induce an electrical connection, and to selectively engage the contact portion of the second contact member and induce a second electrical connection.

Knob assembly

A switch assembly comprises a substrate and a multi-way switch mounted on the substrate. A knob is connected to the multi-way switch and has a perimeter. The knob is used for controlling a position (e.g., a shaft position) or corresponding electrical state of the multi-way switch. At least one light source is associated with the substrate. A light diffuser is located at least partially in an optical path between one or more of the light sources and a region about the perimeter of the knob.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Shadi Mere