Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080215202 | Method and System for Guiding a Person to a Location - Method and system for guiding a person to a location includes providing a processor, coupling an operator control such as a user interface to the processor to enable the person to enter a phone number which is provided to the processor, the processor being arranged to determine a physical location associated with the entered phone number, and guiding the person to the physical location associated with the entered phone number as determined by the processor. The method may be implemented in a vehicle context whereby the processor is arranged on a vehicle and the person is guided to the physical location by controlling a steering system, a throttle and/or brakes of the vehicle to automatically guide the vehicle to the physical location. Alternatively, the person may be guided to the physical location by providing audible and/or visual directions to the person operating the vehicle. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215231 | Method for Obtaining Information about Objects Outside of a Vehicle - Method and system for obtaining information about traffic-related devices providing variable information includes providing a vehicle with a map database including the location of the devices, determining the location of the vehicle, as the location of the vehicle is determined to be approaching the location of each device, as known in the database, obtaining an image of the device, and analyzing the image to determine the status of the device. The vehicle may be controlled based on the status of the device, which is optionally displayed to the driver or other occupant of the vehicle. For example, when the device is a stoplight, the method can detect if the driver of the vehicle is slowing the vehicle when the stoplight is red, and if not, automatically cause the vehicle the slow down or stop. | 09-04-2008 |
20080216567 | Tire Monitoring System - Vehicular tire monitoring system includes an energy providing system arranged on the tire, and a sensor system arranged on the tire and coupled to the energy providing system to be provided with energy by the energy providing system. The sensor system obtains data about at least one property of the tire, such as pressure, and converts the data into signals. An communication system is arranged on a frame of the vehicle and wirelessly communicates with the sensor system to receive the signals from the sensor system and derives, from the signals, the data obtained by the sensor system. A reactive system on the frame of the vehicle may be responsive to the data obtained by the sensor system, e.g., a display to display the data about the tire such as its pressure, or a communications system which transmits data about the tire to a remote site. | 09-11-2008 |
20080234899 | Vehicular Occupant Sensing and Component Control Techniques - Method and system for obtaining information about a category of an occupying item in a volume of a passenger compartment of a vehicle in which the occupying item is situated during use of the vehicle and controlling one or more vehicular components. A time-varying signal is directed into the volume from at least one location. A modification of the directed signal arising from a property of any occupying items in the volume is detected, different occupying items causing different modifications of the same directed signal. A distinction is made between different occupying items of the volume or between parts of an occupying item based on the detected modification to the directed signal and each component, e.g., an inflatable airbag, is controlled based on the distinction between the occupying items or parts thereof. | 09-25-2008 |
20080236275 | Remote Monitoring of Fluid Storage Tanks - Arrangement and method for monitoring a fluid storage tank which includes a housing defining an interior receivable of a removable fluid. An interior sensor system is arranged on the housing to obtain information about any fluid in the interior of the housing different than the location of the tank. A location determining system is arranged on the housing to monitor the location of the tank, and a communication system is coupled to the interior sensor system and the location determining system and which is arranged to transmit the information about the fluid in the interior of the housing and the location of the tank to one or more remote facilities. The communication system may be arranged on the housing itself, which is especially applicable when the housing is movable, for example, such as the housing of a Frac tank. The location and condition of the fluid in the tank can thus be known at all times. | 10-02-2008 |
20080250869 | Remote Monitoring of Fluid Pipelines - Pipeline including a system for monitoring fluid flowing through the pipeline includes a conduit defining an interior and at least one sensor assembly arranged in the interior. Each sensor assembly includes an energy generating system and at least one flow measuring device coupled to the energy generating system to be powered thereby. The flow measuring device provides information about flow of fluid in the conduit. The information may be transmitted to a remote monitoring location via a telematics or communications unit connected to each sensor assembly. | 10-16-2008 |
20080262646 | Package Tracking Techniques - Method and system for tracking packages including readable indicia in a movable cargo container includes mounting at least one scanner to an interior surface of the container capable of reading the indicia on, in or associated with the packages, operatively reading the indicia from the packages, converting the read indicia into an identification of the packages, and transmitting the package identifications to a remote facility. Each scanner may be controlled to read the indicia at predetermined times, upon command from the remote facility or upon detection of an event which could result in a change in the contents of the container. A positioning system may be arranged on the container to determine its location and the location of the container transmitted with the package identifications. This provides an entity managing the delivery or transport of the packages with an efficient way to track its package in real-time. | 10-23-2008 |
20080270076 | Remote Monitoring of Operating Parts of Assets - Method and system for monitoring a movable asset including an operating part for maintaining an environment in an interior space of the asset conducive to transport of objects includes incorporating a diagnostic module into the asset for diagnosing the operating part, obtaining a diagnosis via the diagnostic module of the operating condition of the operating part, determining whether the diagnosis indicates an abnormal operating condition of the operating part, and when the determination of the diagnosis indicates an abnormal operating condition, transmitting a signal indicative of the abnormal operating condition in association with an identification of the asset to a remote facility. The operating part may be a refrigeration unit and the asset may be a cargo container, e.g., a reefer. In this case, determining whether the diagnosis indicates an abnormal operating condition of the operating part may entail determining whether refrigerant is leaking from the refrigeration unit. | 10-30-2008 |
20080272906 | Vehicle Monitoring Using Cellular Phones - Method and system for using a cell phone or PDA includes coupling the cell phone or PDA to a vehicle-resident computer, using the cell phone or PDA to provide information and providing the information from the cell phone or PDA to the vehicle-resident computer to enable the vehicle-resident computer to use the information. It can establish communications between the cell phone or PDA and a remote location to provide information obtained via the cell phone or PDA to the remote location. The cell phone or PDA can monitor received sounds at the cell phone or PDA, e.g., via a microphone, and analyze the received sounds and transmit a signal indicative of the received sounds to a remote facility. The cell phone or PDA may be trained to recognize the sounds of accidents and transmit an accident indication signal to the remote facility. | 11-06-2008 |
20080272923 | Monitoring of an Asset for Chemicals - Chemical monitoring system and method for an asset including a frame defining an interior space. One or more chemical sensors are arranged in connection with the frame to determine the presence of a chemical in the interior space and a reactive or responsive system is arranged to react to the determined presence of the chemical in the interior space. The monitoring system can serve as an electronic nose which detects potentially harmful chemical and prevents exposure of people in the interior space and those handling, e.g., by providing a warning about the chemical presence, or notifying a remote facility about the chemical (which may be indicative of a leak in the cargo in the asset). | 11-06-2008 |
20080276191 | Vehicular Heads-Up Display System - Heads-up display arrangements for vehicles including a seat in which an occupant sits, a system for forming an image of text and/or graphics in a field of view of the occupant, a determination arrangement for determining a position of the occupant (or a part thereof) and an adjustment system for adjusting the seat based on the occupant's determined position to thereby change the orientation of the occupant relative to the image. Change of the orientation of the occupant relative to the image may entail adjusting the seat and/or adjusting the image forming system, which is often a heads-up display system. Adjustment of the seat may involve moving the seat forward or backward and/or up or down, or any other direction or way possible given the construction of the seat. | 11-06-2008 |
20080282817 | Remote Monitoring of Fixed Structures - Arrangement and method for monitoring a structure at a fixed location, e.g., a house, parked boat or parked airplane, includes a monitoring or sensor system arranged to obtain information about the structure, an exterior of the structure and/or an interior of the structure different than the location of the structure, and a communication system coupled to the sensor system and being provided with a location of the structure. The communication system transmits the information about the structure obtained by the sensor system and the location of the structure to a remote facility. The remote facility can therefore monitor the structure, and take steps to ensure the integrity of the reservoir and the fluid therein. To enable wireless and powerless monitoring, a power source independent of a power grid extending outside of the fixed structure may be provided to supply power to the sensor system and the communications unit. | 11-20-2008 |
20080284575 | Vehicle Diagnostic Techniques - Vehicle with diagnostic capability includes different vehicle-resident sensors, each providing a measurement related to a state of the sensor or a measurement related to a state of the mounting location of the sensor, a vehicle-resident diagnostic processor coupled to the sensors and arranged to receive data from the sensors and process the data to generate an output indicative or representative of a state of the vehicle or a state of a component of the vehicle, and a communications device coupled to the diagnostic system and arranged to automatically establish a communications channel between the vehicle and a remote facility without manual intervention and wirelessly transmit the output of the diagnostic system to the remote facility. The processor may embody a pattern recognition algorithm trained to generate the output from the data received from the sensors. | 11-20-2008 |
20080294315 | System and Method for Controlling Vehicle Headlights - Control system and method for automatically controlling headlights of a vehicle includes an optical system for imaging external sources of light within a predetermined field of view and an image processing system for processing images from the optical system and providing a control signal for controlling the headlights as a function of the processed images. Processing the images may entail identifying a source of radiation in the images, the control signal being provided to dim the headlights when a source of radiation in the images is identified as a headlight or taillight of another vehicle. To this end, the image processing system may include a trained pattern recognition system for processing the images to identify the source of radiation, e.g., a pattern recognition algorithm generated from data of possible sources of radiation including headlights and taillights of vehicles and patterns of received radiation from the possible sources. | 11-27-2008 |
20090015400 | Shipping Container Monitoring Based on Door Status - Remotely monitorable shipping container assembly including a shipping container including at least one door, a door status sensor for monitoring the open or closed status of the door(s) and a communications device mounted on the container and wirelessly transmitting information to one or more remote facilities including the status of the door(s) as monitored by the door status sensor. The remote facility may be for example, a facility interested in ensuring the integrity of the contents of the container, a facility which is charged with preventing theft of the contents of the containers, a law enforcement facility which is responsible for preventing transport of illegal cargo, and the like. A positioning system may be arranged on the container for determining a position thereof. The communications device is coupled to the positioning system and transmits the determined position of the container with the open or closed status of the door(s). | 01-15-2009 |
20090030605 | Positioning System - System for determining accurate position of an object such as a vehicle includes a GPS positioning system arranged to communicate with one or more satellites to obtain GPS signals therefrom, a correction unit coupled to the positioning system and arranged to receive or derive positional corrections for positional data derived from the GPS signals to thereby improve accuracy of the position of the object provided by the positioning system, and a notification system for notifying a person concerned with the position of the object about the current position of the object. The correction unit may be a DGPS-based correction unit arranged to communicate with satellites to receive positional corrections therefrom and/or communicate with ground base stations to receive positional corrections therefrom. | 01-29-2009 |
20090033540 | Accident Avoidance Systems and Methods - Accident avoidance system for a host vehicle includes a global positioning system residing on the host vehicle for determining the host vehicle's location as the host vehicle travels, a communication system residing on the host vehicle operative to receive signals including information received directly from other vehicles indicating the locations thereof and traffic information received from an infrastructure-based station indicating the locations of other vehicles, and a navigation system residing on the host vehicle coupled to the global positioning system and the communication system. The navigation system displays images representing a vicinity associated with the host vehicle and showing indications of the locations of the other vehicles within the vicinity derived from the information received directly from the other vehicles and the traffic information received from the infrastructure-based station to thereby reduce the likelihood of a collision occurring between the host vehicle and the other vehicles. | 02-05-2009 |
20090039625 | Vehicular Occupant Protection Method Using Airbags - Method for protecting an occupant of a vehicle using an inflatable airbag includes sealing sheets of film to form a sealed airbag having interconnected compartments receivable of inflating gas and a port through which the compartments are inflated, and positioning the airbag, when in an uninflated state, into a recessed portion alongside the passenger compartment. The airbag is positioned to extend, when inflated, across a side of the passenger compartment between occupant seating positions on that side of the vehicle and a portion of the vehicle defining the passenger compartment. A pressurized gas source inflates the airbag so that when an accident is sensed and a determination is made to inflate the airbag, gas enters into and inflate the airbag through the port thereby causing the airbag to extend across the side of the passenger compartment. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043506 | Method and System for Controlling Timing of Vehicle Transmissions - Method and system for controlling timing of wireless transmissions from vehicles to other vehicles or to infrastructure includes arranging a clock on each vehicle, transmitting positioning signals including a time, arranging a receiver on the vehicle to receive the positioning signals, recalibrating the clock based on the positioning signals to obtain an accurate time, and controlling transmissions from a transmitter on the vehicle based on the accurate time provided by the clock after recalibration. The clock may be recalibrated after each reception of a positioning signal or only at specific timed intervals or based on specific occurrences. | 02-12-2009 |
20090046538 | Apparatus and method for Determining Presence of Objects in a Vehicle - Vehicle including a first substructure and a second substructure arranged such that an interior space is defined by or between the first and second substructures, and an arrangement for determining whether an object is present in the interior space. The arrangement includes ultrasonic transducers arranged on the second substructure and to transmit ultrasonic waves toward the first substructure and receive any waves reflected by objects in the interior space and a processor coupled to the ultrasonic transducers and arranged to determine whether an object is present in the interior space based on reception of waves by the ultrasonic transducers. If the vehicle is an automobile and the interior space is the passenger compartment therein, the first substructure can be the passenger seat and the second substructure can be the A-pillar, in which case, the processor determines the presence or absence of a passenger in the passenger seat. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048750 | Vehicle-Traffic Control Device Communication Techniques - Method and arrangement for controlling vehicular traffic via traffic control devices includes establishing communications between the traffic control devices and vehicles approaching the traffic control devices, and providing information about travel of the vehicle to the traffic control devices to enable the traffic control devices to operate based on the provided information and/or providing information about a status of the traffic control devices to the vehicles to enable the vehicles to operate based on the provided information. The traffic control devices can be constructed to determine whether an approaching vehicle is speeding and if so, direct a communication to the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is speeding. A warning may be provided to an occupant of the vehicle when the vehicle is provided with a communication from a traffic control device indicating that the vehicle is speeding. | 02-19-2009 |
20090058593 | Hazardous Material Transportation Monitoring Techniques - Method and arrangement for monitoring transport of hazardous materials includes arranging at least one sensor capable of detecting hazardous materials on a vehicle, transmitting information about the detection of hazardous materials by each sensor upon approach of the vehicle to infrastructure regulating the transport of the hazardous materials, and regulating the transit of the vehicle relative to the infrastructure based on whether any sensor provides information about the presence of hazardous materials on the vehicle. When the vehicles are trucks having trailers, each sensor can be arranged to detect hazardous materials in the trailer. When transit of hazardous materials through or over the infrastructure is prohibited, regulating the transit of the vehicle relative to the infrastructure may entail preventing the vehicle from passing through or over the infrastructure, e.g., by interposing a barrier to the vehicle's passage through or over the infrastructure. | 03-05-2009 |
20090066065 | Optical Occupant Sensing Techniques - Vehicular system for determining the presence of an object in a passenger compartment of the vehicle includes a first image receiver arranged at a first location for obtaining a first two-dimensional view of a portion of the compartment, and a second image receiver arranged at a second location for obtaining a second two-dimensional view of the same portion of the compartment, the second image receiver being arranged relative to the first image receiver such that three dimensions of the portion of the compartment are encompassed by the first and second views. A processor receives images from the first and second image receivers and determines whether an object is present in the compartment based on the images. A reactive system, such as an airbag assembly, may be coupled to the processor and controlled thereby based on the determination of whether an object is present in the imaged portion of the compartment. | 03-12-2009 |
20090092284 | Light Modulation Techniques for Imaging Objects in or around a Vehicle - Method and system for obtaining information about an object in a compartment in a vehicle includes directing illumination into the compartment, spatial or temporally modulating the illumination, receiving light reflected from an object in the compartment, and analyzing the reflected light to obtain information about the object. The compartment may be a passenger compartment of an automobile, the trunk of an automobile or the interior of a trailer of a truck. The illumination may be directed from a light source and the reflected light received at a receiver spaced apart from the light source. Analysis of the reflected light may therefore entail applying a triangulation calculation to enable a determination of a distance between the light source and illuminated point on the object. The same method and system can be adapted for monitoring the environment around the vehicle. | 04-09-2009 |
20090132129 | Side Impact Sensor Systems - Vehicle including an occupant protection apparatus for protecting an occupant in the event of an impact into a side of the vehicle and an electronic side impact crash sensor for detecting the side impact and which includes a sensor housing positioned to cause lateral movement of the sensor housing responsive to the side impact, a movable sensing mass within the sensor housing and move laterally relative to the sensor housing in response to the side impact, and a control unit connected to the crash sensor for activating the occupant protection apparatus. The crash sensor generates a signal representative of the movement of the sensing mass. The control unit includes a micro-processor and an algorithm processed by the micro-processor and configured to analyze the signal representative of the movement of the sensing mass and generate a deployment signal based thereon to initiate deployment of the occupant protection apparatus. | 05-21-2009 |
20090140887 | Mapping Techniques Using Probe Vehicles - Method for mapping terrain including one or more roads includes equipping a probe vehicle with cameras, accurate RTK DGPS and appropriate illumination including at least one laser pointer, obtaining images using the cameras when illuminating an area being imaged using the laser pointer(s), obtaining position information using the DGPS while the camera is obtaining images, and converting the images to a map at a remote location apart from the vehicle using the position information. Infrared illumination in the eye-safe portion of the spectrum is directed into the area being imaged in conjunction with the cameras such that the cameras obtained images of illuminated areas. | 06-04-2009 |
20090143923 | Arrangement and Method for Monitoring Shipping Containers - Arrangement for monitoring the weight of a shipping container includes a strain gage-based sensor system arranged to obtain information about the weight of a container and comprising one or more strain gage weight sensors for measuring weight at a mounting location, a wireless communication system arranged to receive the weight measured by the weight sensors and process the received weight into an indication of the weight of the shipping container or the weight of contents therein, and a wireless interrogator controlled by a processor to initiate a transmission of the weight measured by the weight sensors to the communication system. | 06-04-2009 |
20090261979 | Driver Fatigue Monitoring System and Method - Method and system for monitoring a vehicle driver includes an optical imaging system that obtains images of the driver, and a processor coupled to the optical imaging system and arranged to analyze the images obtained by the optical imaging system to locate a head of the driver in the images and monitor the driver's head or a part thereof over time. The processor also determines, based on the monitoring of the driver's head or part thereof, whether the driver has lost the ability to operate the vehicle. A reactive component is affected by the processor's determination that the driver has lost the ability to operate the vehicle, and requires action by the driver to indicate regaining of the ability to operate the vehicle or exerting control over the vehicle to slow the vehicle and bring it to a stop. | 10-22-2009 |
20100052945 | Vehicular Communication Arrangement and Method - Accident avoidance system using an infrastructure system to convey location information between vehicles includes at least two vehicles approaching or traveling on a roadway and each having onboard, a position determining system onboard that receives satellite positioning signals from a plurality of satellites and determines location information based on the satellite positioning signals, a transmitter that transmits the location information for the vehicle to an infrastructure system, a receiver that receives location information for another vehicle from the infrastructure system, and an accident risk warning system that alerts its operator of a risk of an accident based on the location information for any other vehicles and map data representing the roadway including edges or lane boundaries of the roadway. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057305 | Exterior Airbag Deployment Techniques - Externally deployed airbag system for a vehicle including one or more inflatable airbags deployable outside of the vehicle, an anticipatory sensor system for assessing the probable severity of an impact involving the vehicle based on data obtained prior to the impact and initiating inflation of the airbag(s) in the event an impact above a threshold severity is assessed, and an inflator coupled to the anticipatory sensor system and the airbag for inflating the airbag when initiated by the anticipatory sensor system. The airbag may be housed in a module mounted along a side of the vehicle, in a side door of the vehicle (both for side impact protection), at a front of the vehicle (for frontal impact protection) or at a rear of the vehicle (for rear impact protection). Also, the externally deployed airbag can be deployed to cushion a pedestrian's impact against the vehicle. | 03-04-2010 |
20100141435 | ASSET MONITORING USING THE INTERNET - Asset including an arrangement for monitoring objects in an interior of the asset includes a sensor system arranged on or in the asset to obtain data about the asset or an object in the asset and a communication system arranged on the asset and coupled to the sensor system. The communication system transmits the data obtained by the sensor system to a remote facility via the Internet. A data reception system is arranged on the asset arranged to obtain data to enable the position of the asset to be determined, i.e., at the remote facility, and is coupled to the communication system which transmits the data to enable the remote facility to determine the location of the asset. The sensor system may be integrated with a cell phone or PDA. | 06-10-2010 |
20100169009 | Accident Avoidance System - Accident avoidance system onboard a host vehicle includes a position determining system for determining position information for the host vehicle based on signals received from a plurality of satellites, a transmitter for broadcasting the position information for the host vehicle to locations remote from the host vehicle, a receiver for receiving a traffic information broadcast from an infrastructure system including vehicle position information received from position-reporting vehicles and vehicle position information received from an active position determining system that acquires position information for non-position-reporting vehicles. and an accident risk warning system. The risk warning system alerts an operator of the host vehicle of a risk of an accident involving the host vehicle based on the vehicle position information for the host vehicle and map data representing a roadway that the host vehicle is approaching or traveling on including edges or lane boundaries of the roadway. | 07-01-2010 |
20100268423 | Occupant Protection Systems Control Techniques - Control system for controlling at least one occupant protection system of a vehicle includes a plurality of preferably electronic sensor systems mounted at different locations on the vehicle, each sensor system providing a measurement related to a state thereof system or a measurement related to a state of the mounting location. A processor is coupled to the sensor systems and diagnoses the state of the vehicle based on the measurements of the sensor systems. The processor controls each occupant protection system based at least in part on the diagnosed state of the vehicle. The occupant protection system may be a deployable airbag whose deployment is controlled by the processor based on the diagnosed state of the vehicle. The diagnosis of the state of the vehicle may be a diagnosis of the overall condition of the vehicle with respect to its stability or a diagnosis of the vehicle itself. | 10-21-2010 |
20100280751 | Road physical condition monitoring techniques - Arrangement and method for managing information about the condition of travel lanes on which vehicles travel includes a sensor system arranged in each vehicle for obtaining information about the maintenance state of the travel lane, a communication system arranged in each vehicle and coupled to a respective sensor system for communicating the obtained information to a control station, and a transmission system arranged at or coupled to the control station for transmitting the obtained information to vehicles other than the one which provided the obtained information. A positioning system may be arranged on each vehicle to determine its position and the communication systems transmit the position of each vehicle along with the obtained information. | 11-04-2010 |
20100283626 | Coastal Monitoring Techniques - Method and system for monitoring coastlines includes arranging sensors proximate the coastline, obtaining data about the coastline via the sensors, analyzing the data to determine the presence of a reportable condition relating to passage of an object proximate the coastline, and transmitting the data or a signal indicative of the analysis, optionally with an identification or location of the sensors, to a monitoring facility. The sensors may be spaced apart from one another along the coastline and programmed to wake-up upon detection of a predetermined condition in order to obtain data. If the location of each sensor is not programmed into the sensor or otherwise known by the monitoring facility, each sensor may be arranged to determine its location so that each sensor provides its location when transmitting data or the signal to the monitoring facility. | 11-11-2010 |
20110042929 | FILM AIRBAGS - Inflatable airbag for a vehicle which is deployed in the event of an accident involving the vehicle to provide protection for an occupant of the vehicle includes a plurality of ribbons coupled together to define an enclosed, fluid-retaining space and a layer of film laminated on at least one of an outer side of the woven ribbons and an inner side of the ribbons. The ribbons each have a width of less than about 3 mm and preferably about 0.5 to about 1 mm. The ribbons may be made from polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester or polyamide and the layers of film may be made from polyethylene, polyurethane, polyester or polyamide. The ribbons and layers of film may be made of the same or different materials. | 02-24-2011 |
20110095940 | Asset Monitoring Using Micropower Impulse Radar - Arrangement and method for monitoring inanimate objects in an interior thereof includes a sensor system arranged to obtain data about the object by applying micropower impulse radar (MIR) transmissions into the interior of the asset, i.e., container volume monitoring using MIR, a location determining system arranged on the asset to monitor the location of the asset, and a communication system arranged on the asset and coupled to the sensor system and the location determining system. The communication system transmits the data about each object obtained by the sensor system and the location of the asset provided by the location determining system to one or more remote facilities, these remote facilities being those interested in the information about the objects in the asset being monitored. | 04-28-2011 |
20120001463 | ARRANGEMENT FOR SENSING WEIGHT OF AN OCCUPYING ITEM IN A VEHICULAR SEAT - In or for a vehicle, an arrangement for measuring weight of an occupant of a seat connected to a floor of the vehicle via a slide mechanism, the floor, in part, defining a passenger compartment of the vehicle. A support structure extends between the slide mechanism and the seat. A force sensing device is coupled to the support structure and configured for measuring force in the support structure indicative of weight applied by the occupant to the seat. The weight may be used for component control. | 01-05-2012 |
20120018989 | METHOD FOR DEPLOYING A VEHICULAR OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM - Method for protecting an occupant seated on a seat of a vehicle which includes an airbag arranged to deploy to protect the occupant in the event of a crash involving the vehicle, a first sensor system for detecting presence of the occupant, a second sensor system connected to the seatbelt for obtaining information about seatbelt spool out, and a processor coupled to the first and second sensor systems and arranged to control deployment of the airbag based on the presence of the occupant and the information about seatbelt spool out. The second sensor system may be arranged to measure a length of the seatbelt pulled out of a seatbelt retractor and include an encoder arranged on a shaft around which the seatbelt is wound and a receptor arranged to generate a signal when a line on the encoder passes by the receptor. | 01-26-2012 |
20120028680 | SMARTPHONE-BASED VEHICULAR INTERFACE - Method for enabling interaction with a vehicle including coupling a smartphone to the vehicle via a coupling element whereby the smartphone is removable from the coupling element and thus removable from the vehicle, and transferring data between the smartphone and the vehicle while the smartphone is coupled to the vehicle via the coupling element. The data transfer enables a large number of operations to be performed when the smartphone is coupled to the vehicle, including vehicle ignition authorization, accident prediction, collision avoidance, vehicular diagnostics and prognostics, remote communication capabilities, and optimization of emergency response personnel. | 02-02-2012 |
20120089299 | WIRELESS TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR VEHICULAR COMPONENT CONTROL AND MONITORING - Vehicle with wireless sensors includes a frame, at least one sensor assembly fixed to the frame and each including a sensor arranged to obtain data about a condition or property of the vehicle or part thereof or an environment in or around the vehicle, and a wireless transmission component coupled to the sensor for wirelessly transmitting a signal derived from the data obtained by the sensor, a receiver fixed to the frame arranged to receive signals from the wireless transmission component, and a reactive component for performing an action based on the data obtained by the sensor and transmitted from the wireless transmission component to the receiver. The data can be displayed as an indication to the driver or other occupant of the vehicle, relayed the data to a remote location for analysis or response and/or used to determine adjustment or control a component in the vehicle. | 04-12-2012 |
20120209505 | Vehicle Airbag System and Method - Method and arrangement for setting a speed limit for vehicle travelling on a road includes monitoring conditions of the road, determining a speed limit for travel of vehicles on the road based on the monitored conditions, and transmitting the determined speed limit to the vehicles to thereby notify operators of the vehicles of the determined speed limit. Monitoring conditions of the road may entail monitoring weather conditions around the road, monitoring visibility for operators of the vehicles on the roads, monitoring traffic on the road, monitoring accidents on the road or emergency situations of vehicles on the road and/or monitoring the speed of vehicles travelling on the road and a distance between adjacent vehicles. | 08-16-2012 |
20120264376 | Information Transmittal Techniques for Vehicles - Method for transmitting information to a vehicle in which, at a location separate and apart from the vehicle, a determination is made by a processor whether a condition relating to transmission of information to the vehicle is satisfied and only when the condition is determined to be satisfied, the information is transmitted to the vehicle using a transmitter. The condition may be a weather pattern, for example, snow in which case, the information being transmitted may be road icing information. | 10-18-2012 |
20120296567 | Vehicle component control methods and systems - Control system for controlling at least one part of a vehicle includes a plurality of sensor systems mounted at different locations on the vehicle, each sensor system providing a measurement related to a state thereof system or a measurement related to a state of the mounting location. A processor is coupled to the sensor systems and diagnoses the state of the vehicle itself and optionally its dynamic motion based on the measurements of the sensor systems. The processor controls each part based at least in part on the diagnosed state of the vehicle. | 11-22-2012 |
20120299344 | Arrangement for Sensing Weight of an Occupying Item in Vehicular Seat - Vehicle including a seat support structure, a cushion arranged thereon and having an upper surface for supporting an occupying item and that deflects downward as a function of weight of the occupying item, and a sensor system including a force-measuring device that responds to downward deflection of the cushion. An interrogator sends a signal to the force-measuring device and the force-measuring device transmits, after receipt of the signal from the interrogator, a return signal to the interrogator related to the response of the force-measuring device to the downward deflection of the cushion. In a method for obtaining an indication of weight of an occupying item of the seat, a signal is transmitted from the interrogator on the vehicle to the force-measuring device and from the force-measuring device, the transmitted return signal related to the response of the force-measuring device to the downward deflection of the cushion is received. | 11-29-2012 |
20120323474 | Intra-Vehicle Information Conveyance System and Method - System and method for conveying data between vehicles includes a data generating system arranged on a first vehicle to obtain or generate information about the first vehicle or conditions around the first vehicle, a first communications system arranged on the first vehicle and coupled to the data generating system for communicating with a wireless Internet service provider (ISP) and a second communications system arranged on a second vehicle and communicating with an ISP. The first communications system enables the information obtained or generated by the data generating system to be transmitted via the Internet to the second communications system. The first and second communications systems can communicate with the same ISP or different ISPs linked to one another. | 12-20-2012 |
20130002443 | REMOTE MONITORING OF MATERIAL STORAGE CONTAINERS - Arrangement and method for monitoring a material storage container which includes a housing defining an interior receivable of removable material. An interior sensor system is arranged on the housing to obtain information about any material in the interior of the housing different than the location of the container. A location determining system is arranged on the housing to monitor the location of the container, and a communication system is coupled to the interior sensor system and the location determining system and transmits information about the material in the housing and the location of the container to one or more remote facilities. The communication system may be arranged on the housing itself, which is especially applicable when the housing is movable, for example, such as the housing of a Frac tank. The location and condition of the material in the container can thus be known at all times. | 01-03-2013 |
20130010116 | Universal Tolling System and Method - System and method for tolling includes a location determining system arranged in a vehicle to determine its location during vehicular travel, a memory device that stores data about predetermined locations, and a processor coupled to the location determining system and that compares the location of the location determining system to data in the memory device to determine whether a transmission of the location is necessary and if so, directs the transmission to a remote site via the Internet. The memory device and/or processor may also be arranged on the vehicle, i.e., to provide a completely vehicle-resident system that may be installed on the vehicle during manufacture or retrofit to the vehicle. | 01-10-2013 |
20130033381 | CARGO THEFT PREVENTION USING TEXT MESSAGING - Method for monitoring a cargo container in which a transmitter is arranged on the container and periodically transmits messages to a remote site or location according to a schedule of messages. When a message is not received according to the schedule, which may be the result of tampering with the transmitter or another nefarious action involving the container, it may be considered that the container has been stolen. A rate of transmission of the messages may be modified based on a condition of the vehicle, such as the presence of a driver inside the vehicle, a distance between a driver inside the vehicle and the vehicle, the vehicle being at rest after motion of the vehicle stops, a location of the vehicle, biometric identification of a driver of the vehicle and deviation of the vehicle from an expected route, and/or based on current time and weather around the vehicle. | 02-07-2013 |
20130035901 | ATMOSPHERIC MONITORING - Method and arrangement for monitoring an atmosphere includes a sensor system arranged to obtain data about the atmosphere at its location and a communications system coupled to the sensor system for providing data obtained by the sensor system to a monitoring facility, e.g., by wireless transmits, which monitors the atmosphere. A location determining system may be arranged in connection with the sensor system for determining the location thereof. The communication system is coupled to the location determining system and transmits the location of the sensor system along with the data obtained by the sensor system to the remote facility. | 02-07-2013 |
20130062866 | Airbag System - Low cost airbag system ( | 03-14-2013 |
20130078968 | TECHNIQUES FOR OBTAINING INFORMATION ABOUT OBJECTS - Techniques for obtaining information about an object on which a radio-frequency transceiver device is mounted when in a space defined by a vehicular frame. A request is generated at a telecommunications device for the object's location and received at an interrogator on the frame. In response to receipt of the request, the interrogator directs antennas to transmit RF signals into the space. The transceiver device returns a signal if and when it receives any signal or a signal having a particular identification from the antenna(s). Return signals from the transceiver device are received at each antenna and a processor, on the vehicle or the telecommunications device, derives information about the object based on the return signals. The derived information includes a location of the object in the space and/or an identification of the object, and may be displayed on a display of the telecommunications device. | 03-28-2013 |
20130211976 | Asset Monitoring Using the Internet - Method for monitoring assets that include a sensor system that obtains data about contents thereof, a processor that derives information about the contents from the sensor data, and a communication system that, when linked to a communications network, wirelessly transmits the information derived by the processor via the Internet. The information is received at a data processing and storage facility, associated with a unique identification code for each asset, and stored in association with the identification code. Access to the stored information is effected via the Internet. | 08-15-2013 |
20130250112 | TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING SAFE OPERATION OF A VEHICLE - Vehicle control system and method in which restrictions on travel of the vehicle are determined based on an indication of the visibility of a driver and information about objects moving in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the vehicle are considered. The travel restrictions include preventing a passing maneuver on a two-lane road when an oncoming vehicle precludes safely initiating or completing an already-initiated passing maneuver. A warning system is provided to warn a driver about the travel restrictions so that the driver will, hopefully, not attempt an unsafe maneuver. | 09-26-2013 |
20130267194 | Method and System for Notifying a Remote Facility of an Accident Involving a Vehicle - Method and system for notifying a remote facility of a vehicular accident includes obtaining information about the accident using a crash sensor system on the vehicle, obtaining information about position of the vehicle using a position determining system, obtaining information about occupancy of the vehicle by animate occupants using an occupant sensing system on the vehicle, generating at least one data packet derived from information obtained by the crash sensor system and information obtained by the occupant sensing system and directing the data packet(s), using a communications system on the vehicle, from the vehicle directly to the remote facility without involving an intermediary. The information about position of the vehicle obtained by the position determining system is provided to the remote facility to be associated with the data packet(s). | 10-10-2013 |
20130275008 | Vehicular Door Control Systems - System for controlling vehicular doors includes an initiation system that initiates door opening or closing based on action by an individual that controls vehicular access, and a door control system associated with each door. At least one of the door control systems opens or closes the associated door in response to detection of an action by the individual. The initiation system may include an interrogator that detects the presence of a key fob unique to the vehicle, and the door control systems open or close the doors only when the key fob is determined to be within a threshold distance to the vehicle for a threshold duration. The interrogator may be configured to direct each door control system to open or close the associated door based on a direction of a responsive signal from the key fob such that the door closest to the key fob is controlled. | 10-17-2013 |
20130293716 | MOBILE MAPPING SYSTEM FOR ROAD INVENTORY - Vehicle for obtaining data for road mapping including a first camera system mounted on the vehicle and positioned to obtain images in a substantially vertical plane of at least part of the road lane and adjacent area, a second camera system mounted on the vehicle adjacent the first camera system and positioned to obtain images in a substantially vertical plane of substantially the same portion of the road lane and adjacent area as the first camera system, a source of structured light emanating from a location apart from the second camera system but illuminating the ground in the field of view of the second camera system and at least one GNSS module containing a GPS receiver and an inertial navigation system. | 11-07-2013 |
20130325323 | VEHICLE SOFTWARE UPGRADE TECHNIQUES - A method for maintaining vehicle-resident map information may include, in a vehicle with at least one communications processor integrated within the vehicle, the at least one communications processor being operable to receive wireless transmissions including map information from a remote location separate and apart from the vehicle, obtaining GPS information relating to the vehicle. The map information received by the at least one communications processor may be downloaded from the remote location. A map corresponding to the map information, and an indication of the current vehicle location may be displayed within the map, based on the GPS information. The map information may correspond to the GPS information. Road information may be wirelessly transmitted to one or more locations based on the GPS information. | 12-05-2013 |
20140012431 | WIRELESS SENSING AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR TRAFFIC LANES - Wireless sensing and communication system including sensors located in the roadway or in the vicinity of the roadway and which provide information which is transmitted to one or more interrogators in the vehicle by a wireless radio frequency mechanism. Power to operate a particular sensor is supplied by the interrogator or the sensor is independently connected to either a battery, generator, vehicle power source or some source of power external to the vehicle. The sensors can provide information about the exterior environment, about the roadway, ambient atmosphere, travel conditions and/or external objects. The sensors arranged on the roadway or ancillary structures include pressure sensors, temperature sensors, moisture content or humidity sensors, and friction sensors. | 01-09-2014 |
20140063255 | Techniques for Improving Safe Operation of a Vehicle - Vehicle control system and method in which restrictions on travel of the vehicle are determined based on an indication of the visibility of a driver and information about objects moving in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the vehicle are considered. The travel restrictions include preventing a passing maneuver on a two-lane road when an oncoming vehicle precludes safely initiating or completing an already-initiated passing maneuver. A warning system is provided to warn a driver about the travel restrictions so that the driver will, hopefully, not attempt an unsafe maneuver. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067284 | STRUCTURAL MONITORING - System for monitoring a structure includes at least one monitoring arrangement attached at a respective location to the structure, each monitoring arrangement having at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU) that measures acceleration and/or angular motion in any direction and rotation about any axis, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver that determines its location, and a wireless communication system that transmits information derived from acceleration and/or angular motion measured by the IMU and a location determination by the GNSS receiver. Further, each monitoring arrangement may include a microphone, chemical sensor, a visual or IR light sensor, a radiation sensor, a magnetic sensor, and/or a strain sensor. As an alternative, the monitoring arrangements may include only IMUs or only GNSS receivers. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067313 | CARGO MONITORING METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT - Method and arrangement for monitoring cargo includes coupling an inertial measurement unit to the cargo such that accelerations of the cargo are detected by the inertial measurement unit, monitoring, using a processor, the accelerations of the cargo as detected by the inertial measurement unit, and generating a warning based on the monitoring of the accelerations. The warning may be generated when the detected acceleration is excessive in magnitude, duration or frequency and/or when integration of the detected acceleration is indicative of excessive velocity, angular velocity or angular displacement. | 03-06-2014 |
20140070943 | Atmospheric and Chemical Monitoring Techniques - Monitoring method and arrangement includes sensor systems arranged at different locations and that detect or measure a property of air at its location, at least one of which is situated on a fixed asset, a monitoring facility, and a communication system coupled to each sensor system and which generates a signal indicative of data provided by the sensor system and sends the signal to the monitoring facility. Data provided by the sensor systems and sent via the communication system is analyzed at the monitoring facility in association with a location of each sensor system, provided for example, by a location determining system associated with each sensor system or the communication system. An alert system may be coupled to the monitoring facility and generates an alert based on the data analysis. One or more of the sensor systems may be incorporated into a cell phone or personal digital assistant. | 03-13-2014 |
20140081813 | Asset Monitoring Using the Internet - Method for monitoring assets that include a sensor system that obtains data about contents thereof, a processor that derives information about the contents from the sensor data, and a communication system that, when linked to a communications network, wirelessly transmits the information derived by the processor via the Internet. The information is received at a data processing and storage facility, associated with a unique identification code for each asset, and stored in association with the identification code. Access to the stored information is effected via the Internet. | 03-20-2014 |
20140097957 | DRIVER FATIGUE MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - Method and system for monitoring a driver during movement of the vehicle includes an information obtaining system that obtains information about a driver who traveled the same road at a previous time, and a processor that analyzes the obtained information and vehicle movement to determine whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle. The loss of ability to continue to control the vehicle arises from the driver falling asleep or otherwise being incapable of controlling the vehicle after initially having been awake or otherwise capable of controlling the vehicle. A reactive component is affected by the processor's determination that the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle, and preferably requires action by the driver to indicate regaining of the ability to operate the vehicle or exerting control over the vehicle to slow the vehicle and bring it to a stop. | 04-10-2014 |
20140104051 | VEHICULAR ANTICIPATORY SENSOR SYSTEM - System and method for preventing collisions between a vehicle and objects in a path of the vehicle includes a laser system arranged to direct at least one laser beam outward therefrom and which is in an eye-safe portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, an imaging receiver for receiving at least one laser beam reflected from objects in the path of the laser beam, a processor coupled to the receiver and arranged to receive signals derived from the received laser beam and process the signals to determine a distance between the laser system and the objects from which the laser beam has been reflected, and one or more reactive systems coupled to the processor. The processor controls the reactive system to indicate the presence of objects at specific distances from the vehicle. This indication may be used to take preventive action to avoid the collision, either manually or automatically. | 04-17-2014 |
20140152422 | VEHICLE ACCESS AND SECURITY BASED ON BIOMETRICS - Method for interacting with a vehicle includes controlling interaction with the vehicle based on receipt of a signal by a component on the vehicle, and generating the signal based on biometric data entered via a portable communications device proximate the vehicle. The entered biometric data may be verified as biometric data of a driver of the vehicle prior to generating the signal. The biometric data may be a fingerprint, a palm print, a hand print, a facial image, and/or a voiceprint, all of which may be obtained using the communications device, e.g., a smartphone. The controlled interaction with the vehicle may be maintaining a brake lockout mechanism coupled to at least one brake of the vehicle in a locked state until the signal is received and/or maintaining at least one door of the vehicle in a locked state until the signal is received. | 06-05-2014 |
20140152823 | Techniques to Obtain Information About Objects Around a Vehicle - Method for monitoring an area surrounding a host vehicle or objects external of the vehicle includes projecting light into an area of interest external to the vehicle from one or more light sources on the vehicle, detecting reflected light at at least one camera on the vehicle at a position different than the position from which the light is projected and at a position from which light reflected from any objects in the area of interest in the exterior of the vehicle is received and analyzing the reflected light relative to the projected light to obtain information about a distance between the vehicle and objects located in the area of interest and/or motion of the objects located in the area of interest. Then, one or more actions are undertaken on the vehicle based on the information about the distance and motion of the external object. | 06-05-2014 |
20140202800 | Cargo Theft Prevention System and Method - Arrangement and method for monitoring a structure at a fixed location, e.g., a house, parked boat or parked airplane, includes a monitoring or sensor system arranged to obtain information about the structure, an exterior of the structure and/or an interior of the structure different than the location of the structure, and a communication system coupled to the sensor system and being provided with a location of the structure. The communication system transmits the information about the structure obtained by the sensor system and the location of the structure to a remote facility. The remote facility can therefore monitor the structure, and take steps to ensure the integrity of the reservoir and the fluid therein. To enable wireless and powerless monitoring, a power source independent of a power grid extending outside of the trailer may be provided to supply power to the sensor system and the communications unit. | 07-24-2014 |
20140210644 | Inter-Vehicle Information Conveyance System and Method - Method and system for managing data about a road condition and providing the data to vehicles includes generating information using a sensor system at a first vehicle about a condition of a surface on which the first vehicle is travelling, wirelessly communicating the surface condition information to an off-vehicle location using a first communications system on the first vehicle, and determining a position of the first vehicle using a position determining system, e.g., on the first vehicle. The surface condition information from the first vehicle is associated with the determined position of the first vehicle, to know the location at which the surface condition information is pertinent. Via a second communications system on a second vehicle, the surface condition information from the off-vehicle location is received based on location of the second vehicle, so that the operator of the second vehicle is thereby notified of a potentially hazardous road surface condition. | 07-31-2014 |
20140253345 | Travel information sensing and communication method and system - Driving condition monitoring system for a vehicle on a travel surface includes stationary mounting structures arranged proximate the travel surface, and sensors located in the mounting structures in a vicinity of the travel surface and apart from the travel surface. The sensors generate information about the travel surface or an environment around the travel surface. An arrangement on the vehicle or associated with the sensors initiates a transmission of the information generated by each sensor to the vehicle when the vehicle is proximate the sensor. | 09-11-2014 |
20140276090 | DRIVER HEALTH AND FATIGUE MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD USING OPTICS - Method and arrangement for optically monitoring a driver of a vehicle in which a portion of the driver is illuminated with electromagnetic radiation in an infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum using at least one illumination device, images of the illuminated driver are obtained using at least one image obtaining device and the images are analyzed to derive a measure of flow of blood in at least one blood vessel, capillary and vein in the face of the occupant. The blood flow over time is analyzed to determine whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle. The loss of ability to continue to control the vehicle exemplifies the driver becoming drowsy, falling asleep or otherwise being incapable of controlling the vehicle after initially having been awake or otherwise capable of controlling the vehicle. | 09-18-2014 |
20140336868 | VEHICLE SOFTWARE UPGRADE TECHNIQUES - System and method for maintaining functionality of software includes initially providing the vehicle with software resident on computer-readable medium to enable it to operate and interact with components thereof and updating the vehicle software by receiving a wireless transmission from one or more remote locations, e.g., a location maintained by a dealer or manufacturer of the vehicle. The software may be diagnostic software for a diagnostic module which diagnoses operability of components of the vehicle. Different remote locations may be responsible for different portions of the vehicle-resident software and may therefore provide different software upgrades, based on need. | 11-13-2014 |
20140358361 | VEHICLE SOFTWARE UPGRADE TECHNIQUES - System and method for maintaining functionality of software includes initially providing the vehicle with software resident on computer-readable medium to enable it to operate and interact with components thereof and updating the vehicle software by receiving a wireless transmission from one or more remote locations, e.g., a location maintained by a dealer or manufacturer of the vehicle. The software may be diagnostic software for a diagnostic module which diagnoses operability of components of the vehicle. Different remote locations may be responsible for different portions of the vehicle-resident software and may therefore provide different software upgrades, based on need. | 12-04-2014 |
20140358362 | VEHICLE SOFTWARE UPGRADE TECHNIQUES - System and method for maintaining functionality of software includes initially providing the vehicle with software resident on computer-readable medium to enable it to operate and interact with components thereof and updating the vehicle software by receiving a wireless transmission from one or more remote locations, e.g., a location maintained by a dealer or manufacturer of the vehicle. The software may be diagnostic software for a diagnostic module which diagnoses operability of components of the vehicle. Different remote locations may be responsible for different portions of the vehicle-resident software and may therefore provide different software upgrades, based on need. | 12-04-2014 |
20140361522 | Steering Wheel Mounted Aspirated Airbag System - Aspirator for an airbag deploying into a vehicle passenger compartment in order to protect a driver of the vehicle during an accident, includes a housing having an innermost and an outermost wall and defining an outlet at a distal end leading to an airbag and coaxial flow passages between the innermost and outermost walls into which air from a passenger compartment flows to inflate the airbag. An aspiration system is coupled to the housing and configured to direct gas into the flow passages to mix with the air from the passenger compartment in the flow passages. The aspiration system includes openings on an inner side of the outermost wall and on an outer side of the innermost wall. These openings are configured such that the gas is directed therefrom into the flow passages in a direction substantially parallel to a flow direction of air into the flow passages. | 12-11-2014 |
20150037781 | MONITORING DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR REMOTE TEST TAKING - Arrangement for remote transaction session for use with a computer having an operating system, including a support structure, at least one audio sensor for detecting sound and arranged on the support structure, at least one radio frequency communication detecting sensor arranged on the support structure, at least one optical imaging device that obtains images of an area including the computer or the user and arranged on the support structure, at least one biometric sensor that receives data about or from a user using the computer to participate in an remote session, and at least one motion sensor system for detecting motion in an area around the user. A processing unit is coupled to the sensors and receives and analyzes data therefrom to (1. verify the identity of the user as the intended, registered participant in an remote session, (2. verify that the user is present within the remote session environment throughout the entirety of the remote session, and (3. verify that the user complies with remote session rules of behavior set by the administrator or institution. | 02-05-2015 |