| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090024317 | System for gathering and distributing location information of vehicles - A vehicle has a navigation system including a controller, a display, a wireless transmitter/receiver and a global positioning unit to determine the location of the navigation system. The controller is configured to transmit, to an off-vehicle system the location of the navigation system, a unique identifier of the navigation system and a list of other navigation systems. In addition, the controller is configured to receive, via the transmitter/receiver, the location of any other navigation systems which listed that navigation system and to display the locations of the other navigation systems on the display. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090024707 | Electronic Messaging System and Method For A Vehicle - A vehicle includes a body defining a passenger compartment and a messaging system having a user input device with a display. The input device receives an outgoing communication from an occupant and presents the outgoing communication on the display. The messaging system generates an outgoing e-mail message describing the outgoing communication, and containing a text file corresponding to a speech message and/or a digital image file describing a handwritten trace message, and transmits the outgoing e-mail message to a remote source. A method for exchanging electronic messages between a vehicle and a remote source includes recording an outgoing message using a user input device, generating an outgoing e-mail message by recording a voice message as a first electronic audio or text file and/or recording a handwritten trace of as a second electronic image file, and transmitting the e-mail message to the remote source. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090176122 | METHOD OF FORMING CASTING WITH FRICTIONAL DAMPING INSERT - A method of making a frictionally damped part including providing a frictional damping insert including downwardly extending support legs stamped out of a body portion of the insert. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090314404 | METHODS OF REDUCING TIRE ROLLING RESISTANCE UTILIZING ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION - An adaptive tire employable by a vehicle traveling upon a surface, so as to define a rolling resistance, and including at least one active material element operable to selectively modify the resistance when activated. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090315358 | COVER HAVING COLLAPSIBLE STORAGE BINS - A cover configured to overlay a space and secure at least one item, includes selectively collapsible storage bins, and preferably includes a retraction mechanism operable to stow the cover, and a guide for automatically causing the bins to collapse as the cover is stowed. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100139539 | ADJUSTABLE THREADING UTENSIL AND STRUCTURE UTILIZING SHAPE MEMORY ACTUATION - A selectively and reversibly adjustable utensil, aperture forming structure, and stirrup, and methods of geometrically modifying an eye defined by the utensil, the aperture defined by the structure, and the stirrup, utilizing active material actuation, so as to facilitate entraining a filament within the eye or aperture, and securing the filament once entrained. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100198754 | METHOD OF PROVIDING MODULAR BATTERY PACKS FOR A HYBRID VEHICLE - A method of offering or providing batteries for a hybrid or electric vehicle allows the customer to choose a vehicle electrical battery power rating that will match their expected driving range needs. Specifically, the method includes offering different modular battery packs for an electric or hybrid electric vehicle. Each of the different modular battery packs has a different number of interconnected batteries, a different energy level, and is configured to be operable for providing propulsion power to the vehicle. At least one of the different modular battery packs is installed on the hybrid or electric vehicle. The method may include recharging and/or recycling used battery back modules. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100253688 | SCAN LOOP OPTIMIZATION OF VECTOR PROJECTION DISPLAY - A method for creating an efficient scan loop for displaying a vector projection graphic upon a substantially transparent windscreen head-up display includes determining a plurality of candidate scan loops to create a desired vector projection graphic, determining an efficiency metric for each of the plurality of candidate scan loops, determining the efficient scan loop for displaying the vector projection graphic based upon comparing the efficiency metrics, and utilizing the efficient scan loop to create the desired vector projection graphic upon the substantially transparent windscreen head-up display. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20110024010 | PERFORMANCE ADAPTIVE TIRES UTILIZING ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION - An adaptive tire employable by a vehicle traveling upon a surface includes at least one active material element operable to selectively modify a structural component of the tire, and as a result a performance characteristic, such as the traction between the tire and surface, the ability for the tire to dampen standing waves, or the required mounting force, when activated. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110105004 | FAN SYSTEM FOR VENTING A VEHICLE - A fan system includes a first fluid region having a first temperature and a second fluid region having a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. An energy harvesting system is disposed in contact with each of the first fluid region and the second fluid region. A fan is driven by an energy harvesting system in response to the temperature difference between the first fluid region and the second fluid region. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110109448 | Method and System for Identifying Wet Pavement Using Tire Noise - A wet road surface detection system is provided for a vehicle driving on a road. The wet road surface detection system includes a sound sensing device coupled to the vehicle for capturing noise of the vehicle tires as the vehicle drives on a road surface. A processor processes sounds captured by the audible sensing device. The processor quantifies a variable sound level of the captured noise between a first frequency and a second frequency. The processor determines whether each quantified sound level between the first frequency and the second frequency is above a predetermined sound level threshold below the sound level at the first frequency. The processor determines that the vehicle is driving on a wet road surface in response to each quantified sound level between the first frequency and the second frequency being above a predetermined sound level threshold below the sound level at the first frequency. | 05-12-2011 |
