Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080242498 | HYBRID VEHICLE INTEGRATED TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - A transmission for an alternatively powered vehicle includes an accessory unit selectively powered by at least one of an engine and a motor associated with the transmission. Clutches are used to selectively engage and disengage the engine and motor with the accessory unit. | 10-02-2008 |
20080297136 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DETECT, IN A VEHICLE, BLOCKAGE OF AN AIRFLOW PASSAGE TO A POWER STORAGE UNIT - A driver of a vehicle is alerted if an air passage from an air source to a battery becomes blocked. The determination as to whether the air passage is blocked may be based on the temperature of the battery, the airflow through the air passage, and the power to a fan used to move air through the air passage. | 12-04-2008 |
20080312862 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING A FUEL USAGE OF A FIRST VEHICLE AND A COMPARATOR VEHICLE - A fuel usage of a comparator vehicle is calculated and compared to a fuel usage of a vehicle being driven. The fuel usage of the comparator vehicle is determined based on parameters of the vehicle being driven. | 12-18-2008 |
20090076696 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING A POWERTRAIN IN A VEHICLE - A vehicle include a first disconnect disposed between a prime mover of the vehicle and a certain one of the vehicle drive wheels. The first disconnect is operable to connect and disconnect the prime mover to and from the certain one of the drive wheels. A second disconnect is disposed between the powertrain and the certain one of the drive wheels, and is operable to connect and disconnect the certain one of the drive wheels to and from the powertrain when the first disconnect is engaged. A control system and method are configured to control operation of at least the first and second disconnects. Through selective control of the disconnects, the system can be automatically placed in a four-wheel-drive mode based on predetermined criteria, or the desirability of the four-wheel-drive mode can be indicated to the vehicle operator in a passive version of the control system and method. | 03-19-2009 |
20130154870 | INTERNAL MULTI-AXIS G SENSING USED TO ALIGN AN AUTOMOTIVE FORWARD RADAR TO THE VEHICLE'S THRUST AXIS - A motor vehicle includes a vehicle floor, a tilt sensor attached to the vehicle floor and having an output, and a forward looking radar module attached to the vehicle. The radar module includes a radar, an accelerometer; and an output from the accelerometer, and a controller that averages the tilt sensor output and the accelerometer output and determines a difference between the output averages, the controller reporting when the differences changes more than a predetermined amount. A method of calibrating the forward looking radar module, when attached to a vehicle, comprises placing the vehicle on a flat surface to determine the accelerometer pitch. | 06-20-2013 |
20130154871 | TILT SENSING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE RADAR - The present disclosure describes a method of aligning a forward looking radar module mounted to a vehicle. The forward looking radar module includes a radar, a tilt sensor, attached to the radar module, and a tilt sensor output. The method uses the tilt sensor output to check the radar's alignment with the vehicle's horizontal thrust direction. | 06-20-2013 |
20140062114 | RADAR COMPATIBLE AUTOMOTIVE BADGE AND FASCIA - A vehicle with a front fascia and a decorative badge integrated with the fascia. A rear surface of the badge is attached to a front portion of the fascia. The portion of the fascia to which the badge is attached is the badge mounting region, and the fascia's portion surrounding the badge mounting region is the fascia surrounding region. A radar system mounted behind the fascia emits radar beams in forward direction, which are intercepted by the fascia and the badge in the badge mounting region, and by the fascia, in the fascia surrounding region The rear surface of the fascia in the badge mounting region is indented the amount of the badge's average thickness, and the cumulative average thickness of the badge and the fascia material in the badge mounting region remains uniform throughout, equal to the average thickness of the fascia in the fascia surrounding region. | 03-06-2014 |
20140111370 | BUMPER INTEGRATED FORWARD RADAR MOUNTING SYSTEM - A bumper integrated forward radar mounting system for use with a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a radar module, a bumper attachment bracket and a bumper extension. The radar module is attached to the bumper attachment bracket. The radar module may comprise one or both of a medium range radar component and a long range radar component. The bumper attachment bracket may be composed of a metal or of a polymerized material selected from one of several plastics, fiberglass or nylon. The bumper extension fitted over the radar module extends from the existing bumper. Radio waves emitted from and received by the radar module must be able to readily pass through the bumper extension without being altered. To be suitable for covering the radar module the bumper extension must be of a uniform thickness, fairly flat and non-metallic with no metal or chrome to interfere with its beam patch. | 04-24-2014 |
20140299644 | RADAR MOUNTING DEVICE - An exemplary radar mounting device for attaching a component to a vehicle body may include a resilient grommet secured within an opening formed in the component. The device may also have a stud for attachment to the vehicle body. The stud may have a ball portion received within the resilient grommet for attaching the component to the stud. In addition, the device may have a nut fastened to the stud to secure the component to the stud. | 10-09-2014 |
20140361904 | AUTOMOBILE LOCATION DETECTOR - A system includes a receiver configured to receive a signal representing a sequence of user inputs to a portable electronic device and an audible device configured to generate a sound based at least in part on the sequence of user inputs. A duration and volume of the sound is based at least in part on the sequence of user inputs received within a predetermined time interval. A method includes receiving the signal provided to the portable electronic device within a predetermined time interval and generating the sound based at least in part on the sequence of user inputs. | 12-11-2014 |