Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes an imaging device having an imaging sensor, a camera microcontroller, a display device having a display element, a display microcontroller, and at least one user input selectively actuatable by a user. The imaging device communicates an image signal to the display device via a communication link. The display microcontroller affects the image signal in response to the at least one user input. The camera microcontroller monitors the image signal on the communication link and adjusts a function of the imaging device in response to a detection of the affected image signal. The vision system may adjust a display or sensor of the system in conjunction with a distance detecting system.

Abstract: A method of assembling pallets 14, 20, 28 containing first stock units 50 for use in the fulfillment of stock orders, the method comprising the steps of providing a plurality of first pallets 14 each containing a quantity of the first stock units 50 and moving a portion of the first stock units 50 from at least one of the first pallets 14 onto one or more second pallets 20 in establishing desired quantities of the first stock units 50 in the first and second pallets 14, 20 for use in the fulfillment of the stock orders. In one form, the sequence of order fulfillment is controlled to increase the quantity of first stock units on the first pallets used in fulfilling the stock orders. A distribution system and control system is also disclosed.

Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging array sensor and a control. The image array sensor comprises a plurality of photo-sensing pixels and is positioned at the vehicle with a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The imaging array sensor is operable to capture an image exterior of the vehicle. The control may process the captured images and may determine that the imaging array sensor is not aligned within a desired tolerance when the imaging array sensor is positioned at the vehicle. The control, responsive to a determination of a misalignment of the imaging array sensor at the vehicle, may adjust at least one of the captured images or an image data set and the image processing to at least partially compensate for the determined misalignment of the imaging array sensor.

Abstract: A document holder is provided for a vehicle such as a cart, and especially a shopping cart having a back panel. The document holder includes a writing portion and a bracket portion. A securing member is provided at the writing portion to secure a piece of paper such as a grocery list or coupons. Preferably, the bracket portion has a forward bracket member spaced from a rearward bracket member to define a channel for receiving an upper portion of the back panel to support the holder. The securing member may be configured to hold a writing instrument. An advertisement holder may be positioned on the holder to hold and protect advertisements, store announcements, pictures, or the like while also providing a writing surface thereon. In a preferred embodiment, a document holder includes a flexible, resilient frame or bumper, and/or a two-piece bracket portion for attachment to a shopping cart.

Abstract: A predictive suspension system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor, and energy source and a control. The imaging sensor is disposed at a vehicle and has a generally downward field of view, with the field of view encompassing an area forward of a tire of the vehicle. The energy source is operable to emit illumination in at least one linear pattern so that the linear pattern is projected onto a portion of the area forward of the tire of the vehicle that is encompassed by the field of view of the imaging sensor. The control processes image data captured by the imaging sensor and detects surface irregularities on a surface in front of the vehicle tire in response to the image processing.

Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle includes an interior assembly and an in-vehicle communication control that is located in the vehicle remote from the interior assembly. A human-machine interface is located at the interior assembly and is connected to the in-vehicle communication control via a connective link to communicate at least one human-machine interface signal between the human-machine interface and the in-vehicle communication control. A global positioning system control in the vehicle communicates at least one GPS-derived signal to one of the interior assembly and the in-vehicle communication control via the connective link and the at least one human-machine interface signal and the at least one GPS-derived signal share the connective link such that the connective link comprises a shared common connective link between the in-vehicle communication control and the interior assembly.

Abstract: A vehicular signal mirror includes a reflective mirror element comprising a mirror reflector on a light-transmitting substrate. The visible light reflectance is at least about 40% for visible light incident upon the front side of the reflective mirror element. A turn signal light display and/or a blind-spot indicator light display is disposed to the rear of the reflective mirror element and configured so that the light emitted by the light display passes through the reflective mirror element to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of the reflective mirror element. The light display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 60 foot lamberts as measured with the light display placed behind, and emitting light through, the reflective mirror element.

Abstract: A container loader includes a loading ram and a side wall protector device for protecting side walls of a container, such as a trailer or a shipping container. The side wall protector device includes a pair of spaced-apart movable side plates with at least one actuator connected to the side plates. The side plates are selectively extendable into spaces adjacent the container side walls by the actuator and are retractable therefrom, such that the side wall protector device substantially contains a loading pressure within the container and substantially prevents the pressure from exerting force upon the container side walls.

Abstract: A load dump protection system is operable to provide protection for power transistors used to drive a blower motor of a vehicle. The load dump protection system includes circuitry for detecting an over-voltage transient. The circuitry adjusts a drive transistor into a saturation mode in response to a detection of an over-voltage transient. The circuitry lowers the power dissipated by the drive transistor when the drive transistor is in the saturation mode.

Abstract: An article sortation system includes a plurality of transport units which are movable along a conveying path between induction stations and discharge stations along each side of the conveying path. Each transport unit has side by side loading and support capability and is operable to receive packages from induction stations and discharge the packages at an appropriate discharge station. The system includes a control which determines the destination of articles and resolves blocking conditions between articles at the induction stations or at the transport units. The system may include a reinduction station for receiving an article from a transport unit and reinducting the article onto a transport unit, in order to resolve a blocking condition between a pair of articles on the respective transport unit.

Abstract: A sensor and method of determining the orientation of an object, such as the alignment characteristics of a tire and wheel assembly mounted on a vehicle, includes projecting a plurality of light planes from a first light projector onto a tire and wheel assembly to form a plurality of generally parallel illumination lines on a tire of the tire and wheel assembly, receiving a reflected image of at least some of the illumination lines with a photo electric device reflected from the tire at an angle relative to a projecting angle of the first light projector, and determining a plane defined by spatial coordinates from a selected point located on each illumination line imaged by the photo electric device, with the plane representing the orientation of the tire and wheel assembly.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror reflective element includes a front substrate connected with a rear substrate via a perimeter seal, whereby, when so connected, at least a portion of a circumferential outer edge of the rear substrate is inward of a circumferential outer edge of the front substrate and no portion of the rear substrate substantially protrudes beyond the front substrate. A first electrical connection establishes electrical connection to an electrically conductive layer at the second surface of the front substrate and a second electrical connection establishes electrical connection to a mirror reflector at the third surface of the rear substrate. A perimeter band is disposed around a border region of the front substrate and substantially hides the seal and the electrical connections from view by a driver normally operating the vehicle and viewing the reflective element when the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides an air bearing pallet comprising a network of tethers oriented and connected between the upper and bottom sheets of a plenum chamber, which cause a system of indentations to become formed in the bottom sheet when the plenum chamber is inflated. Perforations in the bottom sheet enable air to escape thereby generating an air film below the chamber within the predefined system of indentations. The size, shape, depth, bottom surface tension/stiffness, airflow through, quantity and location of the indentations can be varied in order to optimize lifting performance and efficiency and reduce system level losses over irregularities and gaps in the support surface.

Abstract: A patient bed includes a patient support, with a headboard, a footboard, and a plurality of side rails. One or more surfaces of the side rails or of the headboard or of the footboard includes a gap and a sealing cover for sealing the gap to facilitate cleaning and disinfection of the patient bed. For example, the cover may comprise a membrane that is applied to the surface, for example, by an adhesive. The adhesive may be releasable so that the membrane may be removed for replacement or to provide access to the gap for example, where the gap is formed between a control interface that is located in the surface.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly including a reflective element having a transparent substrate and a multi-zone mirror reflector established at a surface thereof. The mirror reflector includes at least a first zone and a second zone, and wherein at least one metallic reflective layer is commonly established at the surface and across the first and second zones of the mirror reflector. A display device is disposed behind the second zone of the mirror reflector and, when the display device is operating to emit display information, emitted display information passes through the second zone of the mirror reflector for viewing by a driver operating the equipped vehicle. The second zone has a degree of transmissivity of light therethrough that is greater than a degree of transmissivity of light through the first zone of the mirror reflector.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle equipped with at least two image capture devices. The image capture devices capture an image external of the vehicle and have overlapping fields of view. Outputs of the at least two image capture devices are fed to an image processor. The image processor produces a synthesized image from the outputs of the at least two image capture devices. The vision system may be a night-vision system.

Abstract: A rearview mirror system includes an electro-optic reflective element having a specularly reflecting indicia reflector established at a second surface of a front substrate. The indicia provides a visible contrast between light incident at the mirror reflector and light incident at the indicia reflector so that when the mirror reflective element is in its high reflectance state, indicia information is subtly viewable by a person viewing the reflective element. The indicia may convey information that informs that the rearview mirror assembly is an automatic dimming type, informs of a brand logo and/or informs of a personalization logo. The mirror assembly may include a video display screen and contrast enhancement means for enhancing the viewability of the video display screen when the rearview mirror assembly is operated in high ambient lighting conditions. A control may determine a driver performance in response to a sensing device and a vehicle monitoring device.