Abstract: Method and apparatus providing supplementary navigation data to be used w a vehicular navigation system. The supplementary navigation data can be superimposed over primary navigation data on a navigation system display or can be presented as a split-screen display. The supplementary navigation data may contain information such as locations of local facilities, local road information, types of local facilities. The supplementary navigation data is received by the vehicle when the vehicle is coupled to a station, such as a battery recharging or a refueling station, and is transmitted to the navigation system. An on-board controller can store the data and/or display the data. The navigation system could use the supplementary data to determine routes or locations for specific local facilities selected by the user. In an interactive or two-way communications system, the user can select predetermined types of supplementary data to be received.

Abstract: An Operational Analog to Digital (SYMAD) Convertor cell for converting an analog signal into a discrete binary code. An analog signal is processed by sample and hold circuitry and then compared to a reference voltage by a comparator. The comparator output is the converted digital output. This output is coupled back to the control input of an analog switch which selects either the reference voltage or a predetermined potential, typically zero volts, to couple to an inverting input of an operational amplifier. The analog signal input is also coupled to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier. The operational amplifier is configured as a differential amplifier with a gain of two. If the digital output of the comparator is a logic 1, then the operational amplifier output is two times the difference between the analog signal and the reference voltage. If the digital output of the comparator is a logic 0, then the output of the operational amplifier is two times the analog signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for inputting messages and other infotion, such as advertisements, to a vehicle while the vehicle is coupled to a local station, such as a recharging station or a refueling station. The messages can be selected in accordance with information received from the vehicle, including information that selectively identifies one, some, or all of: (a) a characteristic of an occupant of the vehicle (e.g., name, account number, address, etc.); (b) a characteristic of the vehicle (e.g., make, model, year, class, registration number, marker number, odometer reading, owner, etc.); (c) a destination of the vehicle (entered through a data entry console and optionally stored within a vehicle memory); and (d) any other characteristic of interest.

Abstract: An Operational Analog to Digital (SYMAD) Convertor cell for converting an analog signal into a discrete binary code. An analog signal is processed by sample and hold circuitry and then compared to a reference voltage by a comparator. The comparator output is the converted digital output. This output is coupled back to the control input of an analog switch which selects either the reference voltage or a predetermined potential, typically zero volts, to couple to an inverting input of an operational amplifier. The analog signal input is also coupled to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier. The operational amplifier is configured as a differential amplifier with a gain of two. If the digital output of the comparator is a logic 1, then the operational amplifier output is two times the difference between the analog signal and the reference voltage. If the digital output of the comparator is a logic 0, then the output of the operational amplifier is two times the analog signal.

Abstract: A method for preparing a material so as to exhibit second harmonic generan for optical radiation that passes through the material. The method includes a first step of providing a bulk glass comprised of substitutionally doped silica and a charge transfer dopant. The bulk glass is prepared for frequency doubling in accordance with a method that includes a step of irradiating the bulk glass with optical radiation having a first wavelength and a second wavelength, the bulk glass being irradiated for a period of time sufficient to obtain a desired amount of conversion efficiency of the first wavelength into the second wavelength. The silica is substitutionally doped with an element selected from the group consisting of Ge and Al, and the charge transfer dopant is selected from the group consisting of Ce.sup.3+, Nd.sup.3+, and Eu.sup.2+. In another embodiment of the invention the silica is substitutionally doped with Ge and the charge transfer dopant is comprised of naturally existing Ge defects.