Abstract: A navigation system includes a portable receiver unit that can be carried about by hand and used by an individual to determine position information through a global positioning system. The portable receiver is supported within a housing that is selectively received by and removable from a docking station that is permanently mounted within a vehicle. The housing supports a first display that provides an indication of position information to an individual utilizing the portable receiver unit. A second display is provided within the vehicle to provide an indication of vehicle position information whenever the housing is received within the docking station in the vehicle. An electronic controller associated with the vehicle preferably controls the activation states of the first and second displays when the receiver housing is received within the docking station.

Abstract: A vehicle computer system provides a firewall between an auto PC and its application software and the vehicle bus and vehicle components. The firewall prevents unauthorized access by software in the auto PC to the vehicle bus and vehicle components. Preferably, the firewall utilizes encryption technology within the handshake between the auto PC software and firewall.

Abstract: The inventive cellular telephone includes a telephone for transmitting outgoing telephone call signals and receiving incoming telephone call signals and a transmitter for producing a wireless control signal to operate a remote device. The remote device may be a remote keyless entry system, a garage door opener, an estate gate opener, a home security system, a home lighting system, or some other system. To reduce cost, a single transmitter may produce both the control signal and the outgoing telephone call signals. In a preferred embodiment, the transmitter may be programmed to reproduce one or more unique control signals to operate several remote devices.

Abstract: A vehicle display system includes a display which is selectively movable between a first position in which it is viewable by a driver and a second position in which it is viewable by the rear passengers but not the driver. In the first position, the display provides a rear view from a camera mounted at the rear of the vehicle. In the second position, the display provides entertainment to the passengers in the rear seats.

Abstract: A method for welding electronic components (13) to a circuit board (10) having two conductive layers (12) includes the steps of inserting an electronic component (13) into a first surface of circuit board (10), welding the electronic component (13) to a first conductive face of the circuit board (10) using a first welding material (20), and subsequently welding the electronic component (13) to a second conductive face of the circuit board (10) using a second welding material (22) having a melting point lower than that of the first welding material (20).

Abstract: A connector 10 for making electrical terminal connections facilitates making relatively easy and secure lateral insertions of one or more terminals. The connector 10 includes a pair of lateral supports 12 at opposite ends of a plurality of generally aligned walls 14. The walls 14 define a plurality of cells 20 between them. Each of the walls 14 supports a protuberance 15 on one side of the walls preferably at a generally central location along the length of the walls. One end of the walls includes a tab 18 supported on each side of the walls such that each of the cells 20 includes one protuberance 15 and two tabs 18. The protuberances facilitate proper terminal placement while each set of two tabs cooperate to form a wire holding portion within each cell. The lateral supports 12 and walls 14 are supported by first and second lateral bases 13, 11 that are configured and positioned to allow easy lateral insertion of terminals and further secure the position of the terminals within the connector.

Abstract: A radio frequency transmitter circuit including a user input switch for producing an input signal, an oscillator for producing a frequency signal having a first frequency, an antenna connected to the oscillator for broadcasting the frequency signal, a coupling circuit disposed a predetermined distance from the antenna, and a microprocessor for enabling the oscillator and activating the coupling circuit in response to the input signal. When the coupling circuit is activated, a reflected impedance, derived from a change in inductance, is reflected from the coupling circuit upon the antenna thereby shifting the frequency signal to a second frequency. Sequentially activating and deactivating the coupling circuit modulates the frequency signal.

Abstract: A passive garage door opener system includes a sensor for determining the position of the vehicle relative to the receiver. When the vehicle is within a predetermined area near the receiver, the transmitter sends the signal to open the garage door. Other conditions of the vehicle, such as speed and heading, may also be monitored to determine when and whether to send the signal.

Abstract: A method of controlling the brightness level of a screen display having a matrix of pixels that each have a brightness level controlled by a first and second voltage includes maintaining the first voltage of each pixel at a preselected voltage level. The second voltage level is controlled and adjusted depending on the ambient light conditions. The second voltage is increased during daytime conditions to increase the brightness of the screen display and decreased during nighttime conditions to decrease the brightness of the display. The ambient light conditions are determined by using a light-sensitive sensor or a manually adjustable control.

Abstract: A display system generally comprises an ELD including a plurality of pixels each activated by a voltage across an inner and outer electrode. A controller applies voltages to each of the pixels via the inner and outer electrodes at a refresh rate to illuminate the pixels. The controller varies the voltage and refresh rates of each of the plurality of pixels in order to provide varying levels of brightnesses of the pixels.

Abstract: A mirror apparatus for displaying a supplemental turn signal includes a housing, a reflective mirror glass, and a display section. The display section is positioned to direct a chevron-like display having a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes which produce a light signal such as a flashing turn signal through the mirror glass. By locally removing selective portions of the reflective surface, the mirror glass provides a reflective view in the conventional manner and the transparent portion allows direct transmission of the light signal from the display section. In another embodiment the mirror apparatus takes advantage of a flexible circuit board to conform the LEDs to the shape of the housing such that the light signal is displayed adjacent to the mirror glass.

Abstract: An interior trim attachment apparatus for an automotive vehicle includes a fastener and a bezel secured together in a screw free manner by rotating one of the components relative to the other. An interior trim member is sandwiched between the fastener and bezel. In another aspect of the present invention, a sun visor is attached to either or both of the fastener and bezel components.

Abstract: A passive remote keyless entry system includes a plurality of sensors each associated with a door of the vehicle. Each sensor detects the presence and distance of a key fob from the sensor. By monitoring the distance of the key fob from the sensor, the sensor determines if the key fob is approaching or moving away from the associated door. If the sensor determines that the key fob is approaching, an interrogation signal is sent from the security system to the key fob. If the proper code is returned by the key fob, the associated door is unlocked. If the sensor determines that the key fob is moving away from the associated door, the doors are locked. The sensors can also determine whether the key fob is simply passing by, in which case the driver probably does not wish to enter the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a system for selectably oscillating at a first or a second oscillating frequency. The system comprises an oscillator for providing an oscillating output. Moreover, the system comprises a switching device for selecting a first or a second impedance in response to a select signal having a voltage. Each of the first and second impedances is fixed independently of the select signal voltage such that the oscillating output oscillates at the first oscillating frequency when the first impedance is provided and oscillates at the second oscillating frequency when the second impedance is provided.

Abstract: A vehicle visor assembly is mounted to a vehicle structure for pivotal, rotational, and sliding movement relative thereto and includes a single-piece visor blade and cartridge assembly. The single-piece visor blade includes a first mounting portion with a pair of grooves integrally formed along a top edge of the visor blade. The cartridge assembly includes a rod for attachment to the vehicle structure, a sleeve molded onto the rod, a detent supported on the sleeve, and a housing for mounting the rod and detent to the visor blade. The housing includes a second mounting portion with a pair of inwardly extending tongues that slidably engage the grooves on the first mount. An end cap is fastened to the visor blade to fix the housing to the blade. The visor can slide along the rod to a plurality of extended positions and the detent can hold the visor at any of various rotational positions relative to the vehicle structure.

Abstract: A vehicle display system includes an electroluminescent display showing images of a plurality of control switches within the vehicle. Whenever one of the control switches is accessed by a vehicle operator, a controller alters the image of that control switch. The altered image can be highlighted or have a different color, for example. The visual indication of which switch is being accessed provides the vehicle operator visual confirmation of which switch is being accessed so that the operator need not look directly at the switch.

Abstract: An instrument panel top cover is provided with an integrally molded foam underside. The integrally molded foam underside provides a number of components that have been supplied separately in the prior art. The use of the integrally molded foam underside thus eliminates the need for many separate components and improves upon the instrument panel top covers of the prior art.

Abstract: A wire harness grommet assembly which is assembled by connecting together a rigid outer member to compress a resilient inner member around a portion of the wire harness accommodated therein. The resilient inner member provides a sealing surface between the rigid outer member and the wire harness. Accordingly, the resilient inner member is compressed when sandwiched between the locked together rigid outer members. Preferably, the rigid outer member is a two piece assembly comprising two identical rigid outer members having integrally molded connectors which allow the grommet assembly to be “snapped” together around the harness.

Abstract: A unique headliner includes a pair of spaced polyester fiber mat layers. The polyester fiber layers are preferably felt layers which are needled and consist of a mixture of low and high melt polyester fiber pieces. The low melt fiber pieces are provided with an adhesive sheathing that melts at a low temperature to bond the fiber pieces together. The polyester layers are spaced on opposed side of a polyurethane foam central layer. The combined headliner construction has good strength and acoustic characteristics.

Abstract: An improved method for forming a vehicle trim panel, such as a headliner, utilizes a zig zag path to deposit fibrous pieces onto a fibrous layer to form part of the trim panel. In one method, the fibrous pieces are laid down in a zig zag pattern that does not extend across the entire lateral width of the layer. In this way, the designer can easily achieve selected areas having a greater amount of fibrous pieces. This allows the designer to achieve selected high density or thicker portions in the layer without requiring the entire layer to have the same amount of fibrous pieces. This results in greater control over the design of the layer, and also reduces the amount of fiber which must be utilized to form the layer.