Abstract: A display module for use as a front dashboard, a center console, a passenger entertainment display, or an instrument panel is described. The display module includes a display assembly that is joined to a cover lens via an optically clear adhesive layer. The display assembly is arranged as a flat planar device, and the cover lens is arranged as a curved planar surface that includes an inner laminate sheet that is joined to an outer laminate sheet via a second adhesive layer.

Abstract: A business system and process which utilizes an improved method of providing accounting methods for entering, updating and posting financial events, as well as an improved method for updating simultaneously a plurality of ledgers and sub-ledgers according to a preselected set of parameters or rules, which provides improved real time reporting capabilities to management, staff, partners and others. The improved system and method manipulates, stores, and reports on ledger items including, but not limited to: statutory cash ledgers, cash and accrual ledgers, and management cash ledgers and similar accounting ledgers commonly utilized in the relevant art of professional time, record and accounting keeping.

Abstract: A method of forming a display article includes dispensing a material onto a first substrate, and pre-curing the material to form a dam. The method includes depositing a liquid optically clear adhesive in a first pattern onto the first substrate such that the first pattern is spaced apart from the dam to form a coated first substrate. The method includes depositing the adhesive in a second pattern onto a second substrate to form a coated second substrate, and flipping the coated second substrate upside down. The method includes translating the coated first and second substrates towards one another to eliminate an air gap, contacting the first pattern and the second pattern at a plurality of single points, and compressing the first pattern and the second pattern to eliminate the air gap and air entrained between the coated first and second substrates.

Abstract: A method of forming a curved, rigid display article includes providing a first substrate having a first initial geometry and a second substrate having a second initial geometry, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are bendable at room temperature. The method includes optically bonding the first substrate and the second substrate together with a layer of optical bonding material to form an initial workpiece having a geometry that matches one of the first initial geometry and the second initial geometry. The method also includes shaping the initial workpiece to form a shaped workpiece having a radius of curvature of at least 0.1 mm. The method also includes structurally bonding together the shaped workpiece and a curved frame that is not flexible and has a final radius of curvature of from 0.1 mm to 300 mm with an adhesive to thereby form the curved, rigid display article.

Abstract: Various displays may benefit from suitable lenses. For example, certain vehicle displays may benefit from a curved, segmented, active-dimmable lens. According to certain embodiments, a system may include a segmented indium-tin-oxide layer. The system may also include a rigid lens disposed over the segmented indium-tin-oxide layer. The rigid lens may be curved.

Abstract: A safety joint having threads with a first handedness, for example right-handed threads, to connect the safety joint to an upper drill pipe portion and a lower drill pipe portion. The safety joint includes a releasable threaded connection having a second handedness inverse of the first handedness. The safety joint also includes a hydraulically actuated piston sleeve that locks rotation across the releasable threaded connection. Disconnecting the upper drill pipe portion from the lower drill pipe portion is achieved by moving the piston sleeve to a position wherein the piston sleeve does not transmit rotation across the releasable threaded connection, and rotating the upper drill pipe portion in the first handedness direction to unscrew the releasable threaded connection.

Abstract: A system includes first and second light sensors, first and second electronic displays and a control circuit. The first light sensor may face a first direction and generates a first light intensity signal by logarithmic light sensing. The first electronic display may face the first direction and has a first brightness responsive to a first brightness signal. The second light sensor may face a second direction and generates a second light intensity signal by logarithmic light sensing. The second direction may be substantially opposite the first direction. The second electronic display may face the second direction and has a second brightness responsive to a second brightness signal. The control circuit may be configured to generate the first and second brightness signals that automatically adjust the first and second brightness of the first and second electronic displays using the first light intensity signal and the second light intensity signal.

Abstract: A system and method for the selective illumination of a display backlight, the system including a plurality of light sources configured in an array, a plurality of switches electrically connected to the plurality of light sources, and at least one substrate configured to receive the plurality of light sources and the plurality of switches, wherein the plurality of switches are configured to operate at least a portion of the plurality of light sources based upon a control signal, and wherein the at least one substrate includes a power supply connection.

Abstract: A touch screen device includes a display screen having a touch surface, an input knob, and a microcontroller programmed to execute a method. The knob has a stationary member with conductive base pads facing the surface and a moveable member. The knob lacks a direct electrical connection to the surface. The microcontroller receives encoder signals as the moveable member moves with respect to the stationary member, with the signals being indicative of discrete touch events between the moveable member and the screen, e.g., via an intervening switch. The microcontroller processes the encoder signals to determine a direction of movement of the knob, and derives a true position of a center point of the knob using a position of each of the base pads. The microcontroller then controls an operation of the touch screen device.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting the display of light-based content of a display system includes a display unit. The display unit includes a first layer cooperating with a backlight, a second layer disposed proximate the first layer and a third layer disposed proximate the second layer. At least one microcontroller in communication with the display unit includes a first processing unit configured to receive a dimming level value and a second processing unit. The second processing unit evaluates the dimming level value against a threshold value and adjusts one or more properties of the display unit in response to the measured values.

Abstract: A vehicle interior panel assembly includes a trim panel, a grab handle supported by the trim panel and rotatable relative to the trim panel between a retracted position and a grabbable position, a spring biasing the grab handle to the retracted position, and a pyrotechnic actuator fixing the grab handle in the grabbable position and dischargeable to release the grab handle from the grabbable position.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to load predefined point of interest (POI) parameters, defining when a POI should be displayed and associated with the POI, from a user profile associated with a known vehicle occupant. The processor is also configured to examine an upcoming navigation route and populate a navigation route display with POIs identified by the parameters, based on the parameters associated with a given POI being met by a present set of conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating multiple vehicle communications in response to an event include a vehicle having a first embedded modem, a second embedded modem, and a processor. The processor is configured to identify occurrence of a predetermined event. Responsive to occurrence of the predetermined event, the processor is configured to wirelessly transmit a vehicle location offboard the vehicle via a voice call established by the first embedded modem and via a data call established by the second embedded modem for a remote monitoring service.

Abstract: A display with local dimming backlight and an active privacy mode. The display may include a backlight source, lenses, a passive diffuser, an active diffuser and a transmissive display. The backlight source may define a two-dimensional matrix of light sources configured to generate an initial light. The lenses may be mounted adjacent to the backlight source, aligned with the light sources, and configured to generate a collimated light. The passive diffuser may be mounted adjacent to the lenses and configured to spatially spread the collimated light. The active diffuser may be mounted adjacent to the passive diffuser, configured to generate an intermediate light in response to the collimated light, and configured to change a diffusive property of the intermediate light in response to a scattering signal. The transmissive display may be mounted adjacent to the active diffuser and configured to generate multiple visible images by modulating the intermediate light.

Abstract: A mirror assembly for a vehicle may be a multi-mode electronic mirror. The mirror assembly may include an active polarizer. The active polarizer may be an active absorptive polarizer. A reflective polarizer may be disposed adjacent to the active polarizer and configured to reflect a first polarization component of light back through the active polarizer. A mirror element may be disposed adjacent to the reflective polarizer and opposite of the active polarizer. The reflective polarizer may be secured to the mirror element. The mirror element may be a partially reflective mirror. A display may be disposed adjacent to the mirror element and distal to the active polarizer.

Abstract: A parking availability system and method are provided. The system includes a vehicle information module that may be cloud-based to store characteristics of the vehicle and/or the driver/occupant(s). A parking module that may be cloud-based receives a selected destination and receives the characteristics of the vehicle and/or driver/occupant(s) from the vehicle information module. An infrastructure communication module receives the selected destination from the parking module and communicates with the selected destination to request parking availability information. The parking module determines, based on the parking availability information and the characteristics, whether there is parking available for the vehicle at the selected destination.

Abstract: An electronic display system includes a display disposed in a housing. An electronic lens assembly is disposed in the housing proximate to and cooperating with the display. The electronic lens assembly includes one or more layers including a mirror element layer, a reflective polarizer layer cooperating with the mirror element layer, a rotator cell layer cooperating with the reflective polarizer layer, and a linear polarizer layer cooperating with the rotator cell layer and disposed opposite the reflective polarizer layer. A controller cooperates with the display and the electronic lens assembly and is configured to adjust the rotator cell layer of the electronic lens assembly between a reflective state in a first mode and a semi-transparent display state in a second mode.

Abstract: A head-up display system includes a display device, a liquid crystal cell and a driver circuit. The display device is configured to generate multiple images at a frame rate. Each image includes multiple image segments with an initial polarization. The liquid crystal cell includes multiple addressable segments. The addressable segments are aligned with the image segments. The addressable segments are individually controllable to selectively adjust the initial polarization of the image segments between two different polarizations. The driver circuit is in communication with the display device and the liquid crystal cell. The driver circuit is configured to control the addressable segments to pass each image segment that has visible content to a user with the initial polarization switched between the two different polarizations at a frequency greater than the frame rate of the images and attenuate sunlight incident on the display device at each image segment that has blank content.

Abstract: A method, and device, for enhancing speech generated from bone and tissue conduction of a user of an In-ear device in a noisy environment, the Intra-aural device having an in-ear microphone adapted to be in fluid communication with the ear canal of the user and an outer-ear microphone adapted to be in fluid communication with the environment outside the ear. The method comprises applying an adaptive filter on the in-ear microphone signal, using the outer-ear microphone signal as a reference for the ambient noise and interrupting the application of the adaptive filter to the In-ear microphone signal upon detecting speech by the user.

Abstract: A display system includes a backlight configured to project light including a housing and one or more light emitting elements received in the housing and one or more reflective portions disposed on the housing. A first display unit is disposed proximate the backlight includes a liquid crystal layer and at least one reflective polarizer. A second display unit is disposed proximate the first display unit. The second display unit includes a TFT display layer and at least one linear polarizer. At least one microcontroller is in communication with one or more of the backlight, the first display unit and the second display unit. The at least one microcontroller executes instructions to adjust the liquid crystal layer of the first display unit between a first transmissive state and a second transmissive state.