Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120226483 | MOTOR TEMPERATURE ESTIMATION BASED ON THERMAL MODEL - A vehicle includes a power source, a motor, and a computing device. The power source provides electrical energy to the motor, and the motor generates rotational motion from the electrical energy received. The computing device is configured to estimate a temperature of the motor in real time based at least in part on a thermal model of the motor. The thermal model includes a plurality of nodes and at least one thermal resistance. Each node represents a region of the motor and each thermal resistance represents a heat transfer path between at least two of the nodes. A method includes solving one or more energy balance equations to determine a temperature change at each node and estimating the temperature of the motor in real time based at least in part on the temperature change at each node and at least one of the thermal resistances in the thermal model. | 09-06-2012 |
20120271606 | VEHICLE MOTOR TEMPERATURE DETERMINATION - Methods and systems are provided for determining a temperature of a motor of a vehicle having an ignition when the ignition is turned on following a period of time in which the ignition had been turned off. An amount of time for which the vehicle had been turned off is determined. A motor temperature model is run using a time step to simulate the amount of time for which the vehicle had been turned off to determine an initial value of the temperature of the motor. | 10-25-2012 |
20130090791 | VEHICLE MOTOR TEMPERATURE DETERMINATION - Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided pertaining to the determination of a temperature of a vehicle motor having an ignition when the ignition is turned on following a period of time in which the ignition had been turned off. A memory stores a function having a boundary condition that comprises a prior temperature from when the ignition was turned off. A processor is coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to determine an amount of time for which the ignition has been turned on and determine the temperature of the motor using the function if the amount of time for which the ignition has been turned on is less than a predetermined threshold. | 04-11-2013 |
20140210392 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC MOTOR EMPLOYED TO POWER A FLUIDIC PUMP - An electric motor powers a fluidic pump fluidly connected to a hydraulic circuit. Operating the electric motor includes determining a heat transfer coefficient for the electric motor based upon a temperature of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit. A temperature of the electric motor is determined based upon the heat transfer coefficient. Operation of the electric motor is controlled based upon the temperature of the electric motor. | 07-31-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090002145 | Method And System For Emergency Notification - Method and apparatus for notifying an emergency responder of a vehicle emergency. Communication is established with a cellular telephone located within the vehicle. The communication link is monitored and the vehicle occupant is notified of link loss. The apparatus monitors vehicle safety systems for detection of an emergency condition. Upon detection, the occupant is notified that an emergency call will be made. If no cancellation is received, vehicle location information is obtained from a global position system, synthesized into voice signals, and communicated to an emergency responder using the cellular telephone. A plurality of occupant and vehicle emergency information may also be provided. Emergency responders may be provided with a touch tone menu to select among the available information. Vehicle and occupant information may be communicated to the apparatus from external sources, such as a web server database via cellular telephone connection, or removable memory. | 01-01-2009 |
20100191463 | Method and Apparatus for Providing a Navigation Summary - A route between locations includes a detailed set of directions to get from a present location to a destination. A route summary is provided, showing a subset of the roads needed to be traveled to go from the present location to the destination. The route summary is determined at least in part based on a set of rules for evaluating the roads in the route for inclusion in the route summary. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191535 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERRUPTING AN INSTRUCTIONAL PROMPT TO SIGNAL UPCOMING INPUT OVER A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION LINK - A voice interactive session includes detection of an input signaling an interrupt to the session. When the interrupt is detected, instructional and or informational output is interrupted and detection of voice input begins. The voice input is not detected until the output is interrupted. Upon detection of a voice input (or other sound-based input), a determination may be made if the input was valid. If the input was valid, the input is processed, otherwise, instructional and/or informational output may be relayed again and/or the voice input may be redetected. | 07-29-2010 |
20100227582 | Method and System for Emergency Call Handling - A vehicle communication system includes a computer processor in communication with persistent and non-persistent memory. The system also includes a local wireless transceiver in communication with the computer processor and configured to communicate wirelessly with a cellular telephone located at the vehicle. The system further includes a backup power circuit comprising a charge storage device such as a local battery or capacitor having enough charge to power the computer processor and local wireless transceiver long enough to send an emergency call signal to the cellular telephone, and an emergency call command signal is sent from the local wireless transceiver to the cellular telephone in the event a vehicle emergency is detected at the computer processor and vehicle power is lost. The signal causes the cellular telephone to place or continue an emergency call to an emergency responder or agency over the cellular telephone network. | 09-09-2010 |
20100240337 | System and Method for Automatic Storage and Retrieval of Emergency Information - A vehicle communication system may retrieve “in case of emergency” (ICE) information from a wireless device. The ICE information may include contact information, medical information, etc., and may be transferred to an emergency provider, if the vehicle communication system places an emergency call. The information may also be retrieved at some point before an emergency call is placed and stored in a memory circuit of the vehicle communication system. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241342 | DYNAMIC TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING - A vehicle communication system is capable of calculating a plurality of routes between two locations. The system can also overlay traffic data for each route to determine a “real time” travel estimate. Then, one or more optimal routes can be presented to a user along with traffic data. | 09-23-2010 |
20110098017 | Method And System For Emergency Notification - Method and apparatus for notifying an emergency responder of a vehicle emergency. Communication is established with a cellular telephone located within the vehicle. The communication link is monitored and the vehicle occupant is notified of link loss. The apparatus monitors vehicle safety systems for detection of an emergency condition. Upon detection, the occupant is notified that an emergency call will be made. If no cancellation is received, vehicle location information is obtained from a global position system, synthesized into voice signals, and communicated to an emergency responder using the cellular telephone. A plurality of occupant and vehicle emergency information may also be provided. Emergency responders may be provided with a touch tone menu to select among the available information. Vehicle and occupant information may be communicated to the apparatus from external sources, such as a web server database via cellular telephone connection, or removable memory. | 04-28-2011 |
20120029805 | Vehicle Navigation System and Method - An efficient route-defining method includes determining a route to a destination. The exemplary method also includes determining a wireless device to server connection type and assigning a tolerance in accordance with a connection type. The tolerance is usable to determine if a vehicle is off-route, and the tolerance is increased or decreased inversely corresponding to the speed of the connection type. According to the illustrative method, the assigned tolerance is used to determine points defining the route, such that the roads comprising the route are within a bounded area. The bounded area may be defined by the tolerance in conjunction with a plurality of lines connecting successive points along the route. Finally, the method includes delivering the determined points to a vehicle computing system in communication with the server. | 02-02-2012 |
20120029806 | Efficient Navigation Data Downloading - A packetization method includes preparing data comprising driving instructions for delivery to a vehicle. The illustrative method also includes determining a portion of the data to deliver in a first packet to a vehicle computing system in communication with a server executing the method, based at least in part on when the first packet, containing at least a first driver action instruction, is needed in the vehicle. The method further includes adding the determined portion of data to the packet and delivering the first packet of data to a vehicle computing system in communication with the server. Finally, the method includes repeating the steps of determining, adding and delivering, until no data remains for delivery, such that packets arrive at a vehicle and are processed for output prior to a first driver action instruction of each packet being needed in the vehicle, the repetition contingent on data remaining for delivery. | 02-02-2012 |
20120029807 | Vehicle Navigation Method and System - A vehicle based computing system processor is operable to receive the coordinates from a GPS and transmit the coordinates to a remote network. The processor is operable to receive map data pertaining to a route to be traveled by the vehicle, including a recommended starting road. The processor is able to audibly announce the recommended starting road name on which the vehicle is not presently traveling and to determine if the vehicle has reached that road. The processor is operable to output at least initial instructions for the route to be traveled. | 02-02-2012 |
20120221246 | Vehicle Navigation System and Method - An efficient route-defining method includes determining a route to a destination. The exemplary method also includes determining a wireless device to server connection type and assigning a tolerance in accordance with a connection type. The tolerance is usable to determine if a vehicle is off-route, and the tolerance is increased or decreased inversely corresponding to the speed of the connection type. According to the illustrative method, the assigned tolerance is used to determine points defining the route, such that the roads comprising the route are within a bounded area. The bounded area may be defined by the tolerance in conjunction with a plurality of lines connecting successive points along the route. Finally, the method includes delivering the determined points to a vehicle computing system in communication with the server. | 08-30-2012 |
20120232784 | Vehicle Navigation System and Method - An efficient route-defining method includes determining a route to a destination. The exemplary method also includes determining a wireless device to server connection type and assigning a tolerance in accordance with a connection type. The tolerance is usable to determine if a vehicle is off-route, and the tolerance is increased or decreased inversely corresponding to the speed of the connection type. According to the illustrative method, the assigned tolerance is used to determine points defining the route, such that the roads comprising the route are within a bounded area. The bounded area may be defined by the tolerance in conjunction with a plurality of lines connecting successive points along the route. Finally, the method includes delivering the determined points to a vehicle computing system in communication with the server. | 09-13-2012 |
20140024334 | Method and System for Emergency Notification - An apparatus for use within a vehicle to notify an emergency responder of a vehicle emergency, comprising an electrical interface configured to receive vehicle information from a vehicle data bus in communication with one or more vehicle modules. The apparatus also includes a wireless transceiver capable of establishing a wireless communication link with a mobile phone and capable of sending vehicle information to the mobile phone. The apparatus also includes an accelerometer capable of determining acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus also includes a processor configured to detect a vehicle emergency occurring at or near the vehicle based on the accelerometer, output a wireless signal to the mobile phone to instruct the mobile phone to dial an emergency responder and establish communication with the emergency responder upon detection of the vehicle emergency; and to communicate with a pre-defined emergency contact other than the emergency responder. | 01-23-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120297593 | Tissue Preservation Fluid - An improved non-formaldehyde-based preservative fluid is provided, comprising deionized water, an antimicrobial quaternary material, a food-grade preservative, selected from the group consisting of sodium erythorbate and stereoisomers of ascorbic acid; and a humectant, selected from the group consisting of glycerin, glycerol, propylene glycol, glyceryl triacetate, and similar hygroscopic materials. Optional lanolin, dyes, or fragrances may be added as desired. Use of the improved fluid results in a more life-like appearance of the body, better tissue preservation, low odor, and a safer and environmentally sound alternative to conventional preservation fluids. | 11-29-2012 |
20130251663 | Tissue Preservation Fluid - An improved non-formaldehyde-based preservative fluid is provided, comprising deionized water, a food-grade preservative, selected from the group consisting of sodium erythorbate and stereoisomers of ascorbic acid; and a humectant, selected from the group consisting of glycerin, glycerol, propylene glycol, glyceryl triacetate, and similar hygroscopic materials. Optional lanolin, dyes, or fragrances may be added as desired. Use of the improved fluid results in a more life-like appearance of the body, better tissue preservation, low odor, and a safer and environmentally sound alternative to conventional preservation fluids. | 09-26-2013 |