Abstract: An apparatus and a method for an automotive lamp are provided. The apparatus includes a housing made of plastic having an impact groove formed on a surface of the housing, wherein the impact groove is designed as a function of a depth, a width, a desired force, a cross section, and a profile to cause a designed rupture upon application of an applied force.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium for providing three-dimensional stereo sound to a vehicle to promote active safety and awareness to hazards. For instance, the present disclosure describes a method for providing three-dimensional stereo sound comprising receiving data signals from sensors positioned around an exterior of a vehicle, detecting a hazard based on the received data signals, determining characteristics of the detected hazard, generating an alert based on the determined characteristics of the detected hazard, and outputting the generated alert as the three-dimensional stereo sound via speakers arranged around an interior of the vehicle, the outputted alert communicating to a driver of the vehicle the determined characteristics of the detected hazard.

Abstract: A sensor-cleaning apparatus includes an upper piece, a lower piece fixed to the upper piece, a plurality of inserts inserted into the upper piece, and a plurality of nozzles. The upper piece and the lower piece form a tubular segment that is elongated along an arc of circle and encloses a chamber. Each nozzle is formed of the upper piece and one of the inserts. Each nozzle includes a deflection surface and a tunnel from the chamber to the deflection surface, and each tunnel is partially formed of the upper piece and partially formed of the respective insert.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium that modulate a composition of an audio output in accordance with a noise level of an environment. For instance, the present disclosure describes a method for modulating an audio output of a microphone array, comprising receiving two or more audio signals from two or more microphone capsules in the microphone array, each audio signal comprising an electrical noise of a corresponding microphone capsule and a response to acoustic stimuli in an environment perceived by the microphone capsule, estimating an acoustic contribution level of the environment based on the received audio signals, and determining, by processing circuitry, a composition of the audio output of the microphone array based on the estimated acoustic contribution level of the environment, the composition being based on at least a relationship between acoustic noise and directivity indices of each of a plurality of beamformers.

Abstract: A fastener comprising: a fastener body comprising: a connection body that is movable within the fastener body between a locked position and a locking position to connect to assembly parts together and an alignment tab that is separate from and movable relative to the connection body and is movable within the fastener body and is configured to bias the fastener against one or more of the assembly parts so that the fastener is configured to self-align itself relative to the assembly parts, configured to align the assembly parts relative to one another, or both.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a sensor lens defining an axis, a first nozzle and a second nozzle positioned a same perpendicular direction from the axis and spaced along a direction parallel to the axis, and an air source fluidly connected to the nozzles. The nozzles are oriented to emit respective airstreams intersecting the axis and directed apart at an acute angle.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for performing a braking operation of a vehicle when an object is detected in front of the vehicle. The method includes acquiring at least one image of an external environment of the vehicle, determining a road condition of a road of the external environment of the vehicle based on the acquired at least one image, obtaining, based on the determined road condition and from memory, a braking table of one or more braking tables including distances and corresponding vehicle speeds at which the braking operation is performed, acquiring a speed of the vehicle and a distance between a preceding object and the vehicle, comparing the acquired speed of the vehicle and the acquired distance between the preceding object and the vehicle to the braking table, and sending, based on the comparison, an instruction to perform the braking operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: Techniques are described for tracking a trailer, including obtaining a sequence of images from a camera positioned in rear of a vehicle, detecting the trailer and a tow-ball in the first image of the sequence of images using a trained learning model based on the first image and at least one scaled version of the first image, estimating an area of interest using a tracking algorithm and locations of the detected trailer and the tow-ball in the first image, estimating a distance between the vehicle and the trailer based on the detected location of the trailer in the first image, and upon determining that the distance between the vehicle and the trailer is less than a second threshold, continuously detecting locations of the trailer, tow-ball and a coupler in each image of the sequence of images using the learning model and the estimated area of interest, and updating the estimated area of interest to correspond to an area of interest in the following image, and actuating an action of the vehicle based on the de

Abstract: An IR illuminator for providing infrared radiation for a digital camera having a camera lens with a camera field of view, including equidistant mounting substrates arranged adjacent to the digital camera, IR LEDs mounted to each of the mounting substrates, and a cover lens positioned to cover the IR LEDs. The shape of the free form cover lens is such that an emission pattern of radiation is emitted without entering into the camera lens and the emission pattern of IR radiation has an asymmetric field of view. Two IR illuminators adjacent to the camera are tilted at an angle from the camera optical direction. The cover lens may be a Fresnel lens, or include a diffractive layer or a collimator to shift radiation emitted from the LED to an asymmetric distribution.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a plurality of fiber optic panels coupled to respective light sources. The fiber optic panels include a set of optical fibers configured to emit light transversely to the optical axis thereof to form respective illumination regions in the fiber optic panels. A housing is included in the lighting apparatus to have an internal chamber and at least one window formed therein by which the internal chamber is in optical communication with the exterior of the housing. Additionally, an optical system such as a reflector or lens can subtend the light from the distal ends of the fibers within the chamber. Fiber optic panels are optically coupled to the housing assembly to convey light into the internal chamber while the illumination regions extend from the housing to perform a lighting function of an automotive vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical arrangement system for an automotive headlamp that includes a first low-beam module adapted to generate a first luminous intensity distribution with a kink or elbow feature where the low-beam module includes: a high luminous source to emit light along an optical axis; a reflector for reflecting the light emitted from the at least one high luminous source forward; a projection lens having a height of about 10 mm that is arranged in operative relationship with the reflector; a folder arranged in an optical path between the reflector and the projection lens where the folder includes a bump feature to facilitate the first luminous intensity distribution generation with application of the kink or elbow feature; and where the reflector has a reflection surface which features an elliptical surface whose center axis is not aligned with the optical axis.

Abstract: A split heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The split HVAC includes a first sub-assembly comprising an evaporator and a first airflow space, a second sub-assembly comprising a second airflow space, a single sealing element located between a wall and one of the first sub-assembly or the second-sub-assembly, and a first interfacing element that directly connects the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly. The single sealing element and the first interfacing element prevent any airflow leakage from both the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly, and one of the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly extends partially into the other of the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly.

Abstract: A Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning unit for a vehicle is provided. The HVAC unit comprises a housing, a first inlet, a second inlet first flap, and a third door. The first flap having a first door and a second door, attached to the first inlet. The first door is angularly movable with respect to the second door and adapted to move between a first position and a second position to open and close the first inlet. Further, the second door is angularly movable with respect to the first door and adapted to move between the first position and a third position to open and close air passage between the first inlet and the second inlet. The third door rotatably connected in the second inlet, and is movable between a closed position where the second inlet is closed and at least partially open position where the second inlet is partially open.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) assembly for supplying different mixed air flows simultaneously is disclosed. The assembly includes first blend kinematics configured for allowing passage of a first air flow, second blend kinematics configured for allowing passage of a second air flow, obtaining means configured to obtain a temperature command indicating a target temperature for two different locations outside the HVAC assembly, identifying means configured to identify a pattern for the first blend kinematics and the second blend kinematics for modifying the first air flow and the second air flow based on the temperature command, and coordinating means configured to coordinate each of the first blend kinematics and the second blend kinematics simultaneously.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly, a reflector for the headlamp assembly, and a method for generating a supplementary beam using the reflector are provided. The vehicle headlamp assembly includes a light source and a reflector. The reflector includes a plurality of facets. Each facet of the plurality of facets is configured to contribute to a section of a beam pattern of a light beam of the headlamp assembly by reflecting light emitted by the light source.

Abstract: A configurable vehicle lighting module system includes a shared lens that provides a first light pattern for a first vehicle lighting function and a second light pattern for a second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens includes a mounting axis as a reference for mounting on a vehicle. First internal optics direct light toward the shared lens to provide the first light pattern; second internal optics direct light toward the shared lens to provide the second light pattern. A coupling system joins the shared lens with either the first internal optics to form a first module configuration for the first vehicle lighting function or with the second internal optics to form a second module configuration for the second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens conceals physical differences between internal optics configurations such that the first and second light module configurations appear the same when viewed along the shared lens.

Abstract: A thin aspect lighting system and method are shown. The system and method include at least one module having a reflector that is generally elliptical in one cross-section and generally parabolic in another cross-section. Each module is adapted to generate at least one of a flat beam pattern, a high beam pattern or a low beam pattern, such as a low beam pattern with a kink or elbow. Also shown is a headlamp assembly having a plurality of modules that generate the same or a different light beam pattern. Manipulation and variation of facets and/or positions of various components, such as at least one light source, have been found to provide improved characteristics in one or more of the light beam patterns.

Abstract: A heat exchange interface (100) includes a thermally conductive substrate (10), at least one blister of dielectric material (20) and an adhesive layer (30). The thermally conductive substrate (10) includes at least one of channel and tubes (12) configured on a first mating surface (14) thereof. The at least one blister of dielectric material (20) includes at least one mating surface (24) that is complimentary to and that mates with the first mating surface (14) of the thermally conductive substrate (10). The adhesive layer (30) is applied to the mating surface (14, 24) of either one of the thermally conductive substrate (10) and the at least one blister of dielectric material (20) after increasing surface tension thereof to configure connection between the mating surfaces (14,24) of the thermally conductive substrate (10) and the at least one blister of dielectric material (20).

Abstract: A thin aspect lighting system and method are shown. The system and method include at least one module having a reflector that is generally elliptical in one cross-section and generally parabolic in another cross-section. Each module is adapted to generate at least one of a flat beam pattern, a high beam pattern or a low beam pattern, such as a low beam pattern with a kink or elbow. Also shown is a headlamp assembly having a plurality of modules that generate the same or a different light beam pattern. Manipulation and variation of facets or positions of various components, such as at least one light source provides improved characteristics in one or more of the light beam patterns.

Abstract: An IR illuminator used during the operation of autonomous vehicles, which provides improvement in the performance of cameras used in the vehicle at night time. An optical design of an outer lens of the IR illuminator is selected so that the outer lens forms a beam pattern for the output light from the IR light source, and also acts as a light guide for light emitted from a secondary visible light source, which is located in the same module as the IR light source, and which may be positioned on the same or a different printed circuit board as the IR light source. The material of outer lens is opalescent including scattering bodies. The optical design of the outer lens allows for improved field of view of the IR illuminator.