Abstract: A vehicle sharing system includes a vehicle having interior transceiver modules associated with different passenger seating areas and a vehicle computing system (VCS) including a processor and a memory in communication with the modules and programmed to detect occupancy status of each seating area based on signals from the modules and to communicate the occupancy statuses to a remote server to facilitate scheduling of ride-sharing passengers for a specified seating area of the vehicle. The reserved seating location may be used to align the seating location/door with a passenger during pick-up, adjust vehicle accessory settings associated with the reserved seating location, and activate a visual indicator to direct the passenger to the assigned/reserved seating location.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to determine the location of a wirelessly-identified device within a vehicle. The processor is also configured to determine a locking schema associated with the device for locking child-lockable vehicle systems and apply the locking schema to corresponding systems in a defined proximity to the determined device location.

Abstract: Responsive to location information received from a positioning system indicating a vehicle location corresponding to a predefined location, a controller of a vehicle broadcasts a notification including the vehicle location. Responsive to receiving a request including a device location from a mobile device having interpreted the broadcast, the controller permits access to the vehicle responsive to a difference between the device location and the vehicle location being less than a predefined threshold distance.

Abstract: A compartment for a vehicle is provided herein. The compartment includes a housing defining an interior volume. A lid is pivotably coupled to the housing and is configured to move between a closed position in which the interior volume is inaccessible and an open position in which the interior volume is accessible. A latch is configured to maintain the lid in a locked and an unlocked state when the lid is disposed in the closed position. A compartment sensing system is operably coupled with the latch. The latch is placed in the locked state when the sensing system detects the presence of an item within the interior volume.

Abstract: A system may include in-vehicle components arranged symmetrically within and delimiting boundaries of a vehicle interior; and a processor programmed to identify signal strength information indicative of distance of a personal device from wireless transceivers of each of the in-vehicle components; and compute, using the signal strength information, a quadrant and diagonal sector including a location of the personal device, and whether the location is within the vehicle interior. A method may include identifying a quadrant of a vehicle including a location of a personal device by comparing signal strength information of pairs of wireless transceivers in adjacent quadrants to signal strength information of wireless transceivers opposite the pairs; and determining a diagonal sector including the location by comparing the signal strength information from the wireless transceiver of the quadrant to the signal strength information from the wireless transceiver in a diagonally-opposite quadrant.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to determine the location of a wirelessly-identified device within a vehicle. The processor is also configured to determine a locking schema associated with the device for locking child-lockable vehicle systems and apply the locking schema to corresponding systems in a defined proximity to the determined device location.

Abstract: A vehicle input knob assembly is provided that includes a stationary knob located in a vehicle and having an outer peripheral surface with a plurality of radial extending surfaces such as ribs and a plurality of proximity sensors located proximate to the knob to detect a user rotating a hand around the knob. The assembly also includes a controller generating a control signal based on the detected rotation of the hand. The knob may further include proximity sensors on a front surface for added user input.

Abstract: A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly and tuning the assembly. The assembly includes proximity switches each having a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field and control circuitry processing the activation field to sense activation. The method of tuning includes generating an activation field with a proximity sensor, generating a signal in response to the activation field, detecting noise associated with the signal, and adjusting a parameter based on the detected noise, wherein the parameter is used to detect a proximity state such as activation of the proximity switch.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of wireless transceivers deployed in a vehicle cabin and a processor configured to receive a relay signal from a transceiver, including a device identification and a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) associated with a device signal. The processor is also configured to use the RSSI and device identification, associated with a single device, included in relay signals from multiple transceivers to determine a device location and store the device location and corresponding possessor identification and location in memory.

Abstract: A vehicle badge is provided herein. The badge includes one or more light sources configured to illuminate in a pseudorandom sequence. Each respective light source illuminates in a first illumination sequence defined by a first set of parameters and a subsequent second illumination sequence defined by a second set of parameters. A controller is operably coupled with the light sources and has a counter therein. The counter determines the subsequent illumination sequence while the first illumination sequence occurs.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of wireless transceivers deployed in a vehicle cabin and a processor configured to receive a relay signal from a transceiver, including a device identification and a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) associated with a device signal. The processor is also configured to use the RSSI and device identification, associated with a single device, included in relay signals from multiple transceivers to determine a device location and store the device location and corresponding possessor identification and location in memory.

Abstract: A vehicle component may operate in a plurality of connectionless functional states including a watchdog state in which the component broadcasts advertisements indicating presence of the vehicle component to personal devices; a notify state in which the component broadcasts cycles of advertisements indicating available features of the component; and a process command state in which the component broadcasts current feature state advertisements responsive to command advertisements received from the personal devices.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to examine one or more vehicle settings having been changed after a driver enters a vehicle. Also, the processor is configured to compare the examined settings to settings associated with currently stored driver profiles and verify the driver as a previously stored primary vehicle driver based at least in part on the comparison.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a request from a mobile device to activate a recognition sequence. The method also includes transmitting a plurality of time-stamped recognition codes to the device, responsive to the request. The method further includes receiving an acknowledgement following transmission of a proper recognition code. The method also includes calculating a time-delay between transmission of the proper recognition code and acknowledgement receipt. The method additionally includes receiving a key-code from the device and comparing the key-code to a code exchanged with the device when the device was previously present within a vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle sensor may indicate heading angle. A plurality of seating zones may each include an orientation sensor indicating seating angle. A component within one of the seating zones may provide interface information descriptive of commands and associated air gestures oriented to the one seating zone, and perform one of the commands responsive to a personal device detecting the corresponding air gesture, accounting for the heading angle and seating angle. Gesture input from a personal device may be adjusted to create acceleration data in a reference frame of an in-vehicle component in a seating zone using orientation of the device, vehicle heading relative to magnetic North, and orientation angle for the seating zone including the device. When the acceleration data matches an air gesture in a library of air gestures, a command may be sent to the component corresponding to the matching air gesture.

Abstract: A pushbutton shifter interface is provided that includes a movable assembly supporting a plurality of pushbutton keys. The pushbutton shifter interface also includes a proximity sensor arrangement configured to sense a user proximate the pushbutton keys and interfacing with one of the keys and an actuator actuating the movable assembly to a use position in response to sensing the user proximate the pushbutton keys. The pushbutton shifter interface further includes a display showing a sensed position of the user relative to the plurality of pushbutton keys.

Abstract: A listing of wireless in-vehicle components installed to a vehicle may be maintained by the vehicle. The listing may include in-vehicle components that are factory-installed to the vehicle as well as add-on in-vehicle components that may be added or removed by a user. A wireless transceiver may scan for changes to the add-on in-vehicle components within the vehicle. A user interface may display a unified interface including both the factory-installed wireless in-vehicle components and the add-on wireless in-vehicle components. A user may review and adjust the configuration of the in-vehicle components of the in-vehicle components using the user interface.

Abstract: A keypad having a plurality of switches identifies a numerical value according to user input to the plurality of switches. The numerical value may be computed as a total count of the plurality of switches that are swiped across in a consistent direction or may be computed as a total count of the plurality of switches that are simultaneously pressed. The keypad may further send the numerical value to a controller configured to facilitate access to vehicle unlock functionality.

Abstract: A pushbutton shifter interface is provided that includes a movable assembly supporting a plurality of pushbutton keys. The pushbutton shifter interface also includes a proximity sensor arrangement configured to sense a user proximate the pushbutton keys and interfacing with one of the keys and an actuator actuating the movable assembly to a use position in response to sensing the user proximate the pushbutton keys. The pushbutton shifter interface further includes a display showing a sensed position of the user relative to the plurality of pushbutton keys.

Abstract: A shifter interface is provided that includes a user interface panel. The shifter interface also includes a plurality of proximity sensors arranged to provide proximity switches on the panel, wherein the proximity switches form fixed input keys that are selectable by a user to enter an operating mode of the vehicle. The shifter interface further includes a controller processing signals generated by the proximity sensors to detect activation of one or more of the proximity sensors.