Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for communication of infrastructure information to a vehicle via ground penetrating radar. A vehicle comprising an antenna positioned to broadcast radio waves below the vehicle, a ground penetrating radar system, and an active safety module. The ground penetrating radar system determines types of reflectors and a spatial relationship between the reflectors based on radar cross-sections detected by the antenna, and generates a signature based on the shapes and the spatial relationship. The active safety module determines environmental data based on the signature, and autonomously control the vehicle based on the environmental data.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for communication of infrastructure information to a vehicle via ground penetrating radar. A vehicle comprising an antenna positioned to broadcast radio waves below the vehicle, a ground penetrating radar system, and an active safety module. The ground penetrating radar system determines types of reflectors and a spatial relationship between the reflectors based on radar cross-sections detected by the antenna, and generates a signature based on the shapes and the spatial relationship. The active safety module determines environmental data based on the signature, and autonomously control the vehicle based on the environmental data.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for communication of infrastructure information to a vehicle via ground penetrating radar. A vehicle comprising an antenna positioned to broadcast radio waves below the vehicle, a ground penetrating radar system, and an active safety module. The ground penetrating radar system determines types of reflectors and a spatial relationship between the reflectors based on radar cross-sections detected by the antenna, and generates a signature based on the shapes and the spatial relationship. The active safety module determines environmental data based on the signature, and autonomously control the vehicle based on the environmental data.

Abstract: Data related to a person outside of a vehicle can be collected by a computer in the vehicle. The collected data is used to generate a virtual map of one or more targets, including at least the person, proximate to the vehicle. A display is provided based on the virtual map that includes information about a location of the person.

Abstract: A method and system for managing tire pressure in a vehicle are disclosed. The system is a tire pressure monitoring system associated with the tire pressure sensors. The method includes the general steps of informing the operator that air pressure in a tire is below a desired level, causing the sensor to undertake a rapid sampling of pressure of the tire during an interim state while the vehicle is being driven, advising the operator to manually add pressure to the tire in discrete increments of, for example, between 5 and 10 seconds, causing the sensor to undertake a rapid sampling of tire pressure while air is being manually added to the tire, and causing the sensor to transmit tire air pressure data until the operator stops adding air. The method may also include the step of providing the operator with feedback when a predetermined tire air pressure is reached.

Abstract: A method and system for managing tire pressure in a vehicle is disclosed. The system is a tire pressure monitoring system associated with the tire pressure sensors. The method includes the general steps of informing the operator that air pressure in a tire is below a desired level, causing the sensor to undertake a rapid sampling of pressure of the tire during an interim state while the vehicle is being driven, advising the operator to manually add pressure to the tire in discrete increments of, for example, between 5 and 10 seconds, causing the sensor to undertake a rapid sampling of tire pressure while air is being manually added to the tire, and causing the sensor to transmit tire air pressure data until the operator stops adding air. The method may also include the step of providing the operator with feedback when a predetermined tire air pressure is reached.

Abstract: A method for setting a warm placard tire pressure threshold for a motor vehicle tire pressure monitoring system that initiates a learn mode in the tire pressure monitoring system, starts a timer upon determining a vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed threshold, stops the timer upon determining the vehicle speed is less than or equal to the predetermined speed threshold or a predetermined period of time has expired, detects a plurality of tire pressures for a tire location while the timer is timing, stores the plurality of tire pressures, averages the plurality of tire pressures to determine a warm placard tire pressure threshold upon the predetermined period of time expiring, and sets the warm placard tire pressure threshold in the tire pressure monitoring system.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for providing a space management alert for a host vehicle is provided. The apparatus comprises a controller configured to determine whether a first vehicle positioned ahead of the host vehicle is in a first detection zone and to determine whether a second vehicle positioned on one of a left side and a right side of the host vehicle is in a second detection zone. The controller is further configured to determine that the host vehicle is in a high density traffic condition (HDTC) if the first vehicle is in the first detection zone and the second vehicle is in the second detection zone and to selectively disable a space management alert when the host vehicle is in the HDTC.

Abstract: A method of operating a tire pressure monitoring system on a vehicle comprising tracking number of burst transmissions sent by a sensor, building a pareto of potential sensor identifications based on the greatest number of burst transmissions received from the sensor associating a potential sensor identification to a respective tire location on the vehicle and storing the associated sensor identification in memory.

Abstract: A method for setting a warm placard tire pressure threshold for a motor vehicle tire pressure monitoring system that initiates a learn mode in the tire pressure monitoring system, starts a timer upon determining a vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed threshold, stops the timer upon determining the vehicle speed is less than or equal to the predetermined speed threshold or a predetermined period of time has expired, detects a plurality of tire pressures for a tire location while the timer is timing, stores the plurality of tire pressures, averages the plurality of tire pressures to determine a warm placard tire pressure threshold upon the predetermined period of time expiring, and sets the warm placard tire pressure threshold in the tire pressure monitoring system.

Abstract: A system and method that, upon connection of a trailer to a tow vehicle, recognizes the trailer and applies a stored trailer configuration in a controller. In one embodiment, tire pressure sensors transmit RF signals that are received by the tire pressure monitoring system. Transmissions from the sensors are decoded in a controller and processed to identify, or create a particular trailer configuration as well as implement tire pressure monitoring automatically calibrated to the particular trailer configuration based on the sensor identifications for the tire pressure sensors. In another embodiment, the trailer configuration includes a pulse width modulated gain control for the trailer brakes.

Abstract: A system and method that, upon connection of a trailer to a tow vehicle, a trailer brake controller informs a tire pressure monitoring system to begin monitoring information at the TPMS and at the same time, activates the initiators, i.e., the electromagnets. Sensors respond to the electromagnetic field that is generated by electric brake magnets. As a result, the sensors transmit RF signals that are received by the tire pressure monitoring system. Transmissions from the sensors are decoded in a controller and processed as necessary for tire pressure monitoring automatically calibrated to the tire pressure monitoring system and the system can request the pressure data from the sensors by way of the low frequency field generated by the electric brakes.

Abstract: A method and system for eliminating cross talk in a tire pressure monitoring system that ranks potential sensor identifications based on the number of times the sensors respond to an initiator. Upon determination of a sufficient separation between second and third ranked sensors, an assignment of the first and second ranked potential sensor identifications is made to the tire locations expected to respond to the initiator signal.

Abstract: A vehicle parking assist system for assisting a driver of the vehicle in parking such vehicle in a garage located at a preselected global position. The system includes: a global positioning system mounted to the vehicle having stored therein the global position of the garage, for determining actual global position of the vehicle and providing a signal indicating when the vehicle is proximate the location of the garage; a range sensor for detecting a wall of the garage in front of a direction of motion of the vehicle into the garage; and a processor, responsive to the global positioning system provided by the global positioning system indicating when the vehicle is proximate the garage; the range sensor, for indicating when the vehicle has parked in the garage such that front of the vehicle is forward of the wall while enabling a door of the garage to be closed without striking the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method that, upon connection of a trailer to a tow vehicle, recognizes the trailer and applies a stored trailer configuration in a controller. In one embodiment, tire pressure sensors transmit RF signals that are received by the tire pressure monitoring system. Transmissions from the sensors are decoded in a controller and processed to identify, or create a particular trailer configuration as well as implement tire pressure monitoring automatically calibrated to the particular trailer configuration based on the sensor identifications for the tire pressure sensors. In another embodiment, the trailer configuration includes a pulse width modulated gain control for the trailer brakes.

Abstract: A method and system for eliminating cross talk in a tire pressure monitoring system that ranks potential sensor identifications based on the number of times the sensors respond to an initiator. Upon determination of a sufficient separation between second and third ranked sensors, an assignment of the first and second ranked potential sensor identifications is made to the tire locations expected to respond to the initiator signal.

Abstract: A system and method that, upon connection of a trailer to a tow vehicle, a trailer brake controller informs a tire pressure monitoring system to begin monitoring information at the TPMS and at the same time, activates the initiators, i.e., the electromagnets. Sensors respond to the electromagnetic field that is generated by electric brake magnets. As a result, the sensors transmit RF signals that are received by the tire pressure monitoring system.

Abstract: A method of operating a tire pressure monitoring system on a vehicle comprising tracking number of burst transmissions sent by a sensor, building a pareto of potential sensor indentifications based on the greatest number of burst transmissions received from the sensor associating a potential sensor identification to a respective tire location on the vehicle and storing the associated sensor identification in memory.

Abstract: A vehicle parking assist system for assisting a driver of the vehicle in parking such vehicle in a garage located at a preselected global position. The system includes: a global positioning system mounted to the vehicle having stored therein the global position of the garage, for determining actual global position of the vehicle and providing a signal indicating when the vehicle is proximate the location of the garage; a range sensor for detecting a wall of the garage in front of a direction of motion of the vehicle into the garage; and a processor, responsive to the global positioning system provided by the global positioning system indicating when the vehicle is proximate the garage; the range sensor, for indicating when the vehicle has parked in the garage such that front of the vehicle is forward of the wall while enabling a door of the garage to be closed without striking the vehicle.

Abstract: A device (20) for an automotive vehicle (10) is provided to indicate the buckled and unbuckled status of a seatbelt (24). The device (20) has a self-powered wireless switch assembly (22) that is coupled to the seatbelt (24). It provides power to power a wireless transmitter (44) to transmit a wireless signal (45) corresponding to the buckled and unbuckled state of the seatbelt (24). The self-powered wireless switch assembly (22) harvests energy from the mechanical action of the seatbelt (24). The device (20) transmits a wireless signal (45) indicating the seatbelt (24) status. The receiver (18) located in the automotive vehicle (10) receives the wireless signal (45). The wireless signal (45) is processed by a safety information system (12) and then visually and audibly displayed by an indicator (16) to alert the driver of the seatbelt (24) status.