Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090160607 | VEHICLE KEY FOB HAVING A COMMUNICATIONS CIRCUIT - A vehicle key fob for communicating information between one or more electronic devices, such as a personal or laptop computer, and a wireless-enabled vehicle. In one embodiment, a wired communications link is established between the electronic device and the vehicle key fob over a wired connection, such as a USB cable. A separate wireless communications link is established between a wireless interface located in the vehicle key fob, such as a wireless adapter, and the wireless-enabled vehicle so that information can be sent from the electronic device to the vehicle, and vice-versa, in a secured manner. | 06-25-2009 |
20090243828 | VEHICLE EMAIL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method provides vehicle information to an interested party, such as a vehicle owner or driver, regarding the operation of a vehicle. The method includes the step of measuring a parameter of operation produced by the vehicle. A level based on the parameter measured is then calculated. A notification message that includes information concerning the level is constructed. The method then sends the notification message to the interested party via an electronic messaging system. The electronic messaging system can be an email communication system. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248235 | AUTOMATED, TARGETED DIAGNOSTIC PROBE USING A VEHICLE TELEMATICS UNIT - A system and method for providing diagnostic assistance to a driver of a vehicle when calling a call center following a diagnostic warning being displayed on the vehicle instrument panel. Upon establishing the call, indicator data representative of the warning is automatically sent to the call center where it is used to select one or more diagnostic tests targeted to particular vehicle systems associated with the warning. The test is carried out at the vehicle and the resulting diagnostic data sent back to the call center. The call is then switched to an advisor at the call center and the received diagnostic data is used to aid the advisor in providing the diagnostic assistance to the driver. | 10-01-2009 |
20100152960 | ON-LINE VEHICLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An on-line vehicle management system includes a vehicle group having a plurality of vehicles and an in-vehicle telematics unit in each vehicle. A call center is in selective operative communication with each telematics unit and an Internet-enabled program. The call center receives vehicle data from each vehicle in response to a predetermined trigger, and stores the received data in a database. The Internet-enabled program includes a Gregorian calendar with spreadsheet functionality. The Internet-enabled program automatically receives at least some of the stored data from the call center, and inputs the received data into predetermined calendar cells. The Internet-enabled program is also configured, in response to a predetermined user request, to i) render the received data accessible to an authorized user associated with the vehicle group, ii) generate reports based on the received data, and iii) at least one of derive or calculate information from the received data. | 06-17-2010 |
20110140871 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISABLING A VEHICLE - Systems and methods are provided for disabling a vehicle. An exemplary system includes, but is not limited to an antenna that is adapted to be attached to the vehicle. The antenna is configured to transmit and receive communication transmissions. A telematics unit is communicatively connected to the antenna. The telematics unit is adapted for attachment to the vehicle and is configured to communicatively connect to a necessary sub-system of the vehicle, to receive telecommunications from a user through the antenna, and to disable the necessary sub-system in response to receiving an instruction from the user to disable the vehicle. | 06-16-2011 |
20110288721 | PRE-FILLING VEHICLE DATA CHECK - A pre-filling vehicle data check method and system are disclosed herein. One example of the method includes receiving, at a financial institution, an authorization request from a filling station for initiating a filling event, where the authorization request includes a financial code. Via a computing device at the financial institution, the financial code is recognized as being associated with at least one of a vehicle identification number or a station identification associated with a vehicle, thereby identifying the vehicle. At least one parameter of the identified vehicle is identified via the computing device at a data center in selective communication with the vehicle and the financial institution, and an authorization or denial of the at least one filling event based at least upon the at least one parameter is transmitted from the computing device at the data center. | 11-24-2011 |
20120029763 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ALERTING A DRIVER TO A CONDITION OF A VEHICLE - A system for alerting a driver to a condition of a vehicle is disclosed herein. The system includes, but is not limited to, a telematics unit that is mounted to the vehicle and that is configured to receive a fault notification from a subsystem on board the vehicle when a fault in the subsystem is detected. A call center is remotely located from the vehicle and is communicatively connected to the telematics unit. The telematics unit is configured to provide the fault notification to the call center. The call center is configured to initiate communication with the driver if the fault falls within a first category of faults and to set a trigger in the telematics unit to initiate contact with the call center upon a next ignition actuation of the vehicle if the fault falls within a second category of faults. | 02-02-2012 |
20120140688 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NOTIFYING BACK OFFICE PRIOR TO END OF TELEMATICS UNIT STANDBY PERIOD - The described method and system provide for notification to network applications by a telematics unit in standby mode of when the telematics unit is switching away from standby mode and will be come unavailable for communication with the network applications. The network application may include mobile applications for mobile devices (such as smartphones) and web applications accessible through web pages. The telematics unit may communicate with the back office(s) of the network applications. If the vehicle is a plug-type vehicle, the telematics unit or network application may further extend the standby period of the telematics unit or vehicle when the vehicle is plugged in. | 06-07-2012 |
20130325249 | AUTOMATED, TARGETED DIAGNOSTIC PROBE USING A VEHICLE TELEMATICS UNIT - A system and method for providing diagnostic assistance to a driver of a vehicle when calling a call center following a diagnostic warning being displayed on the vehicle instrument panel. Upon establishing the call, indicator data representative of the warning is automatically sent to the call center where it is used to select one or more diagnostic tests targeted to particular vehicle systems associated with the warning. The test is carried out at the vehicle and the resulting diagnostic data sent back to the call center. The call is then switched to an advisor at the call center and the received diagnostic data is used to aid the advisor in providing the diagnostic assistance to the driver. | 12-05-2013 |
20150073649 | MANAGING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES IN A VEHICLE - A method of managing diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) in a vehicle includes generating at a vehicle a plurality of DTCs output from one or more diagnostic subtasks; assigning an ordinal number to each DTC independent of time based on the order in which the DTC occurred at the vehicle; and wirelessly transmitting to a central facility the plurality of DTCs along with the ordinal numbers assigned to each DTC. | 03-12-2015 |
20160055116 | DYNAMIC VEHICLE BUS SUBSCRIPTION - A method of controlling access at a vehicle to information communicated over a vehicle bus includes: storing one or more electronic control unit (ECU) identities in a central gateway module (CGM) that is communicatively linked with a vehicle bus; associating one or more message permissions for receiving messages via the vehicle bus with one of the ECU identities in the CGM that represents an ECU communicatively linked with the vehicle bus; wirelessly receiving a computer-readable instruction at the vehicle directing the CGM to change one or more message permissions associated with the ECU identity; and storing the changed message permissions in the CGM. | 02-25-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100141161 | HOLIDAY LED LIGHTING SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE - The present disclosure provides a decorative light string system comprising a light string comprising a plurality of lighting bulbs arranged electrically in series, wherein each light bulb comprises at least two LED chips, wherein half of said LED chips are connected in parallel and wherein half of said LED chips are connected in reverse parallel; and a switch box, and a switchbox comprising a switch having at least a first position and a second position, wherein when the switch is in the first position, a first pole is engaged allowing passage of a positive waveform lighting the LEDs connected in parallel, and wherein when the switch is in a second position, a second pole is engaged allowing passage of a negative waveform lighting the LEDs connected in reverse parallel; as well as methods of using said decorative light string system. | 06-10-2010 |
20110210677 | HOLIDAY LED LIGHTING SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE - The present disclosure provides a decorative light string system comprising a light string comprising a plurality of lighting bulbs arranged electrically in series, wherein each light bulb comprises at least two LED chips, wherein half of said LED chips are connected in parallel and wherein half of said LED chips are connected in reverse parallel; and an adapter comprising a rectifier, wherein when the plug of the light string is plugged into the outlet adapter in a first orientation, the rectifier allows passage of a half-rectified wave lighting the LEDs connected in parallel, and wherein when the plug of the light string is plugged into the outlet adapter in a second orientation, the rectifier allows passage of a half-rectified wave lighting the LEDs connected in reverse parallel. Also included are methods of using said adapter and said decorative light string system. | 09-01-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100101625 | Terrestrial Solar Tracking Photovoltaic Array - The terrestrial solar tracking photovoltaic array includes a longitudinal support that may be constructed of discrete sections. The overall length of the array may be adjusted depending upon the necessary size of the array. A drive may be configured to rotate the longitudinal support in first and second directions about a first axis. Solar cell modules are positioned along the longitudinal support and may each include a rectangular case with a plurality of lenses that are positioned over corresponding receivers. Linkages may be connected to the solar cell modules and are axially movable along the longitudinal support to rotate the solar cell modules within second planes that each orthogonal to the first plane to further track the sun during the course of the day. The array may be configured to facilitate rotation about the first axis. The array may be constructed with a center of gravity of the array to extending through the longitudinal support. | 04-29-2010 |
20110289750 | Methods and Devices for Assembling a Terrestrial Solar Tracking Photovoltaic Array - Methods and devices for assembling a terrestrial solar tracking photovoltaic array. The methods may include securing a torque tube to an alignment fixture by positioning a flange at an end of the torque tube over a shelf on the alignment fixture and positioning a section of the torque tube inward from the flange into a receptacle on the shelf of the alignment fixture. The method may include aligning and mounting a mount to the torque tube at a point along the torque tube inward from the end of the torque tube. The method may include aligning and mounting a solar cell module to the mount with the solar cell module including an array of lenses positioned over a set of corresponding receivers that include one or more III-V compound semiconductor solar cells. The method may include removing the torque tube from the alignment fixture after the solar cell module is mounted to the mount. The method may include aligning and mounting the torque tube to an end of a longitudinal support with the torque tube being coaxial with the longitudinal support and the solar cell module being able to rotate with the torque tube about a first axis that extends through the torque tube and the longitudinal support and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. | 12-01-2011 |
20120160991 | TERRESTRIAL SOLAR TRACKING PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY WITH CHAIN DRIVE - The terrestrial solar tracking photovoltaic array includes a longitudinal support that may be constructed of discrete sections. The overall length of the array may be adjusted depending upon the necessary size of the array. A drive may be configured to rotate the longitudinal support in first and second directions about a first axis. Solar cell modules are positioned along the longitudinal support and may each include a rectangular case with a plurality of lenses that are positioned over corresponding receivers. Linkages may be connected to the solar cell modules and are axially movable along the longitudinal support to rotate the solar cell modules within second planes that each orthogonal to the first plane to further track the sun during the course of the day. The array may be configured to facilitate rotation about the first axis. The array may be constructed with a center of gravity of the array to extending through the longitudinal support. | 06-28-2012 |
20150013608 | CERAMIC HEATER - An electrically conductive ceramic heating element for use in a reactor for depositing a film of material onto a semiconductor wafer, said reactor comprising a reactor chamber, a radiative heating device disposed within the reactor chamber including the heating element and operative for heating said wafer to a temperature of greater than 1100 degrees C., a wafer carrier disposed within the reactor chamber and adjacent to the radiative heating device, the wafer carrier having at least one wafer cavity for supporting a semiconductor wafer for having a film of material be deposited thereon. | 01-15-2015 |