Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090051194 | VEHICLE UNGUIDED FOUR-BAR REAR DOOR ARTICULATING AND SLIDING MECHANISM - A vehicle rear door articulating and sliding mechanism including an articulating hinge assembly having a hinge arm pivotally mounted to a vehicle C-pillar at one end thereof, and a vehicle rear door pivotally and slidably mounted to the hinge arm at an opposite end of the hinge arm. A guide track may be mounted to the rear door, and a slide block may be pivotally mounted to the hinge arm and slidably attached to the guide track. The hinge arm may be disposed at first and second angular positions relative to the guide track when the rear door is respectively disposed in closed and opened positions, and the slide block may be disposed at first and second positions along a length of the guide track when the rear door is respectively disposed in the closed and opened positions, to thus provide articulating and sliding movement of the rear door. | 02-26-2009 |
20090070960 | VEHICLE 180 DEGREE REAR DOOR ARTICULATING MECHANISM - A vehicle rear door unsequenced articulating mechanism including one or more articulating hinge assemblies having one or more hinge arms pivotally mounted to a vehicle C-pillar at one end thereof via a C-pillar hinge mount and pivotally mounted to a vehicle rear door at another end thereof via a door hinge mount. The hinge arm may include a generally U-shaped profile between the ends thereof for permitting unsequenced articulation of the rear door up to 180° from a rear door closed position. The door hinge mount may include a door check engageable with a stop on the hinge arm, for limiting pivotal movement of the vehicle rear door to a first intermediate open position from the rear door closed position, upon pivotal movement of the door check relative to the hinge arm. | 03-19-2009 |
20090072582 | VEHICLE UNSEQUENCED REAR DOOR ARTICULATING MECHANISM - A vehicle rear door unsequenced articulating mechanism including one or more articulating hinge assemblies having one or more hinge arms pivotally mounted to a vehicle C-pillar at one end thereof via a C-pillar hinge mount and pivotally mounted to a vehicle rear door at another end thereof via a door hinge mount. The hinge arm may include a generally J-shaped profile between the ends thereof for permitting unsequenced articulation of the rear door up to approximately 180° from a rear door closed position. The door hinge mount may include a door stop engageable with a stop surface on the hinge arm for limiting pivotal movement of the vehicle rear door. | 03-19-2009 |
20090072583 | VEHICLE DUAL HINGE REAR DOOR ARTICULATING AND SLIDING SYSTEM - A vehicle rear door articulating and sliding mechanism including an articulating hinge assembly having a hinge arm pivotally mounted to a vehicle C-pillar at one end thereof, and a vehicle rear door pivotally and slidably mounted to the hinge arm at an opposite end of the hinge arm. A guide track may be mounted to the rear door, and a slide block may be pivotally mounted to the hinge arm and slidably attached to the guide track. The hinge arm may be disposed at first and second angular positions relative to the guide track when the rear door is respectively disposed in closed and opened positions, and the slide block may be disposed at first and second positions along a length of the guide track when the rear door is respectively disposed in the closed and opened positions, to thus provide articulating and sliding movement of the rear door. | 03-19-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110144548 | PATIENT SUPORT WITH IMPROVED CONTROL - A patient support apparatus includes a frame, a patient support surface supported in the frame, and a plurality of functional components associated with the patient support surface or the frame. The apparatus further includes a control system, with a controller, incorporated into the patient support surface or the frame and in operative communication with at least one of the functional components for controlling the component. The control system further includes a touch-screen in communication with the controller for controlling the functional component, which is positioned in the barrier around the patient support surface, and accessible at the exterior or interior surface of the barrier for access by a user. The touch-screen is configured to allow the user to select one or more of the functional components and control a parameter associated with the selected functional component. In addition, an icon is generated at the touch-screen representative of the parameter associated with the selected functional component, and with icon changing in response to the user adjusting the parameter associated with the selected functional component wherein the change in the icon gives the user feedback on the degree of change made by the user to the parameter associated with the selected functional component. | 06-16-2011 |
20110289691 | PATIENT/INVALID HANDLING SUPPORT - A patient support for a patient includes a mattress with at least one air operated component and a cushioning layer forming a patient support surface. The mattress has a recessed portion beneath the patient support surface at the foot end of the mattress with an enclosure housed in the recess. The enclosure houses therein at least one pump for directing air to the air operated component and a controller for operating the pump. The enclosure has a central section and two side sections, with each of the sections having an upper side. The side sections are located on opposed sides of the central section and at opposed sides of the mattress at the foot end. The upper side of the central section is recessed below the upper sides of the side sections wherein the depth of the cushioning layer at the foot end between the side sections is maintained generally constant at least along the central portion of the mattress extending from the head end to the foot end. | 12-01-2011 |
20110296623 | PATIENT/INVALID HANDLING SUPPORT - A patient support for a patient includes an inflatable mattress with at least one inflatable bladder. The bladder comprises a top panel formed from a different material than its side wall panel or panels. | 12-08-2011 |
20110296624 | PATIENT/INVALID HANDLING SUPPORT - A patient support for supporting a patient includes an inflatable mattress having at least one bladder forming at least part of a patient support surface, a pneumatic system for inflating the inflatable mattress, and a control system. The control system including at least one sensor, which includes an emitter and a receiver, with the emitter directing light into the bladder. The receiver receives a reflection from the light directed into the bladder, and the control system detects the immersion of a patient into the mattress based on the reflection received by the receiver. | 12-08-2011 |
20110301516 | PATIENT/INVALID HANDLING SUPPORT - A patient support for supporting a patient includes an inflatable mattress defining a support surface and a pneumatic system for inflating the inflatable mattress. The pneumatic system includes a pressurized reservoir for holding pressurized air and selectively releases pressurized air from the reservoir to the mattress. | 12-08-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110296037 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR INTERFACING WITH A VEHICLE COMPUTING SYSTEM OVER MULTIPLE DATA TRANSPORT CHANNELS - In one or more embodiments, two or more devices may interface with a computing system over multiple communication channels. A connection may be established between a computing system and two or more devices communicating data using different communication protocols. The communication protocol of the two or more devices may be determined and a general transport protocol for communicating data with the two or more devices based on the respective communication protocols may be imposed on the communication protocol of the two or more devices. Data may be communicated with the two or more devices based on the general transport protocol. An event may be performed at the vehicle computing system or the two or more devices based on the data. | 12-01-2011 |
20120122525 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING PRIVACY MODE OPERATION IN A VEHICLE - In at least one embodiment an apparatus that includes a communication module is provided. the communication module is configured to enable a driver to control the operation of a portable occupant communication device (OCD) in a hands free mode and to transmit a first command to the portable OCD to disable the hands free mode and to activate a privacy mode for enabling the driver to control the OCD via switches positioned on the OCD. The communication module is further configured to receive a driver performance signal that is indicative of the driver's performance while the privacy mode is active and to transmit a second command to the portable OCD to deactivate the privacy mode and to reactivate the hands free mode based on the driver performance signal. | 05-17-2012 |
20120157069 | Selective Alert Processing - A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a vehicle computing system, a notification that an incoming communication is being sent to a wireless device in communication with the vehicle computing system. The method also includes determining that a do not disturb function is active in the vehicle computing system and blocking a notification to a driver regarding the incoming communication. Finally, this method includes sending a command from the vehicle computing system to the wireless device to silence any notification that the wireless device provides in conjunction with the incoming communication. | 06-21-2012 |
20120221169 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CELL PHONE RESTRICTION - In at least one embodiment, a vehicle system comprising a vehicle communication module is provided. The vehicle communication module is configured to receive first global positioning system (GPS) data indicative of a location of a vehicle and to receive a first signal indicative of the vehicle being in a drive state. The vehicle communication module is further configured to transmit the first GPS data to an occupant communication device (OCD) in response to the first signal to restrict at least a portion of the operation of the OCD and to reduce power consumption of the OCD. | 08-30-2012 |
20120232742 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR LOST CONNECTION HANDLING - A computer-implemented method, executable by a vehicle computing system (VCS), includes determining that a connection between a wireless device and a VCS has been lost. The method further includes determining if a driver is present in the vehicle, upon a lost link detection. The method additionally includes waiting until an enter-event occurs and then attempting to re-establish a connection between the wireless device and the VCS. This last step may be conditional upon a determination that a driver is not present. | 09-13-2012 |
20120289215 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY ENABLING A CAR MODE IN A PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE - In one embodiment, a system for transmitting information to a personal communication device (PCD) is provided. The system includes a communication module for being positioned in a vehicle. The communication module is configured to generate a vehicle status signal indicative of the vehicle being in a moving state and to generate a device name signal indicative of an identity of the communication module in the vehicle. The communication module is further configured to transmit the vehicle status signal and the device name signal to the PCD for limiting the operation of the PCD. | 11-15-2012 |
20120329445 | Methods and Apparatus for Bluetooth Functionality Verification - A testing method includes pairing a BLUETOOTH device and a vehicle computing system (VCS) and setting the device to a preferred device. The method also includes streaming audio from the device to the VCS, such that the audio is played by the VCS. The method includes suspending the VCS and verifying that the VCS and the device are disconnected, then resuming the suspended VCS. The method further includes instructing the audio to play from the VCS, if the audio does not resume play. The method additionally includes instructing the audio to move to a next track, using the VCS in conjunction with an audio video remote control profile (AVRCP). Also, the method includes validating the operability between the device and the VCS contingent at least on the discontinuation of audio playback when the VCS is suspended and the establishment of an audio connection resulting in audio playback upon resumption of the suspended VCS. | 12-27-2012 |
20140031016 | Selective Alert Processing - A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a vehicle computing system, a notification that an incoming communication is being sent to a wireless device in communication with the vehicle computing system. The method also includes determining that a do not disturb function is active in the vehicle computing system and blocking a notification to a driver regarding the incoming communication. Finally, this method includes sending a command from the vehicle computing system to the wireless device to silence any notification that the wireless device provides in conjunction with the incoming communication. | 01-30-2014 |
20140039723 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING STATIC AND DYNAMIC INFORMATION TO A PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE IN A VEHICLE - In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for transmitting vehicle information to a portable personal communication device (PCD) is provided. The apparatus comprises a communication module positioned in the first vehicle. The communication module is configured to transmit a first signal including static information and dynamic information to the first PCD. The static information includes one of a first vehicle serial number and a vehicle type and the dynamic information includes one of a connect status, a driver alert rating, and a silent alarm. The first PCD is arranged to control operation thereof based on at least one of the static information and the dynamic information. | 02-06-2014 |
20140128129 | Method and Apparatus for Passing Voice Between a Mobile Device and a Vehicle - A system includes a processor configured to receive a request to activate a voice input responsive function on a mobile device. The processor is further configured to send indicia of an incoming call to a vehicle computing system (VCS), responsive to the request. Also, the processor is configured to receive access to an open voice channel originating at the VCS as part of a VCS hands-free call handling for a virtual phone call established by sending the indicia and receive voice input over the hands-free call channel. The processor is additionally configured to pass the voice input to the voice input responsive function. The processor is also configured to receive output from the voice input responsive function and pass the output to the VCS for output to the user. | 05-08-2014 |
20140203926 | A SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MASK INCOMING CALLS FOR A COMMUNICATION DEVICE CONNECTED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE TELEMATICS SYSTEM - In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for masking an in-coming call from a portable communication device (PCD) in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus comprises a controller that is configured to receive a driver status signal indicative of a driver being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver. The controller is further configured to transmit a first signal to a PCD to block a notification of an incoming call in the event the driver status signal indicates that the driver is the secondary driver. | 07-24-2014 |
20140207465 | Method and Apparatus for Incoming Audio Processing - A system includes a processor configured to receive a verbal request to active an audio playback application on a remote device wirelessly connected to the processor. The processor is also configured to relay the request to the remote device for handling. The processor is further configured to receive a request from the remote device for audio playback. The processor is also configured to select a source channel for incoming audio. The processor is additionally configured to receive incoming audio from the remote device over the selected source channel and playback the incoming audio over a vehicle output. | 07-24-2014 |
20140220948 | Method and System of Outputting in a Vehicle Data Streamed by Mobile Applications - A system for outputting visual data from a mobile device application on a mobile computing device to a vehicle display, the system comprising a wireless transceiver for communicating signals between a mobile computing device and a vehicle computing system having a graphical display. The vehicle computing system is configured to receive caller identification from the mobile computing device identifying a mobile device application configured to operate with the vehicle computing system. The vehicle computer system is also configured to receive a signal from the mobile computing device representative of a visual indication to be displayed on the vehicle display. The vehicle computer system may determine a location to display the visual indication on the display and output the visual indication on the vehicle display at the determined location. | 08-07-2014 |
20140221033 | System and Method of Arbitrating Audio Source Streamed by Mobile Applications - A system for attenuating vehicle audio for mobile application audible statements, the system comprising a vehicle computing system having one or more processors for playing audio in the vehicle from a plurality of different audio sources. The system also includes a wireless transceiver for communicating signals from a mobile computing device for processing by the vehicle computing system. The vehicle computing system is configured to receive a wireless signal from the mobile computing device representative of an audible statement to be played in the vehicle. If the vehicle computing system is playing audio in the vehicle at the time the wireless signal is received from the mobile computing device, determine an amount to attenuate the audio based on the source of the audio. Attenuate the audio and play the audible statement based on the determination. | 08-07-2014 |
20140277932 | Method and System for Supervising Information Communication Based on Occupant and Vehicle Environment - A vehicle computer system includes one or more processors configured to receive context data representative of a vehicle's environment from one or more modules. The one or more processors are programmed and configured to receive the context data from one or more modules, determine an attention demand value utilizing the context data and a workload value corresponding to the context data, and output an indicator to activate or adjust a do not disturb feature based on the attention demand value. | 09-18-2014 |
20140281756 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRACKING DEVICE INTERACTION INFORMATION - A system includes a processor configured to attempt to establish communication with a wireless device. The processor is also configured to store instances of connection failure and related error data. Further, the processor is configured to perform interaction with a connected device. The processor is additionally configured to store interaction failures related error data. The processor is also configured to determine that a remote network connection has been established and report all stored data that has not previously been reported relating to the connection failures and errors and interaction failures and error data to a remote network | 09-18-2014 |
20140308936 | Selective Alert Processing - A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a vehicle computing system, a notification that an incoming communication is being sent to a wireless device in communication with the vehicle computing system. The method also includes determining that a do not disturb function is active in the vehicle computing system and blocking a notification to a driver regarding the incoming communication. Finally, this method includes sending a command from the vehicle computing system to the wireless device to silence any notification that the wireless device provides in conjunction with the incoming communication. | 10-16-2014 |
20140370815 | Methods and Apparatus for Lost Connection Handling - A computer-implemented method, executable by a vehicle computing system (VCS), includes determining that a connection between a wireless device and a VCS has been lost. The method further includes determining if a driver is present in the vehicle, upon a lost link detection. The method additionally includes waiting until an enter-event occurs and then attempting to re-establish a connection between the wireless device and the VCS. This last step may be conditional upon a determination that a driver is not present. | 12-18-2014 |