Abstract: A head up display arrangement is for a motor vehicle having a human occupant. A light source emits a light field. An infrared camera detects infrared energy. A combiner is positioned and configured to reflect the light field such that the light field can be viewed by the human occupant as a virtual image. The combiner has a region configured to reflect infra-red energy emitted by a face of the occupant such that the infrared energy is received by the infrared camera.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a window and a body having a storage space with an opening facing toward the window. A flexible electronic display is movable from a first position overlying the window and a second position within the storage space. The window may be a windshield, and the storage space may be within a roof of the vehicle.

Abstract: A visual signal system for a vehicle projects a shaped light symbol onto the ground. For example, a visual signal system for a vehicle can include a light source configured to project light outside of a vehicle. In an example, the visual signal system can also include a ground projection adjustor configured to adjust the light source to be a projection of light on the ground. In an example, the visual signal system can also include a connection interface configured to transmit instructions to the ground projection adjustor and the light source.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a head up display projector producing a light field based upon image data such that the light field is reflected off of a windshield of the motor vehicle and is then visible to a driver of the motor vehicle as a virtual image. First means determines locations of physical objects visible to the driver through the windshield. Second means determines locations of eyes of the driver. An electronic processor receives first data indicative of the determined locations of the physical objects, and receives second data indicative of the determined locations of the eyes of the driver. The electronic processor produces the image data dependent upon the first data and the second data such that a symbol in the virtual image appears to be in a predetermined position relative to a selected one of the physical objects.

Abstract: A wireless connectivity arrangement for an infotainment system of a motor vehicle includes a user profile manager storing associations between users of the motor vehicle and respective personal electronic devices. A wireless connection manager is communicatively coupled to the user profile manager. The wireless connection manager detects that a personal electronic device is in a vicinity of the vehicle, and refers to the user profile manager to determine whether the personal electronic device is a primary personal electronic device of a current user of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a camera capturing an image of a road sign associated with a road that the vehicle is traveling on. A first processing device is communicatively coupled to the camera and recognizes text characters in the captured image. A second processing device is communicatively coupled to the first processing device and converts the recognized text characters into an electronic speech signal. A loudspeaker is communicatively coupled to the second processing device and converts the electronic speech signal into audible speech that can be heard by the driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: A head up display mirror holder arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a picture generation unit producing a light field. A mirror reflects the light field such that the light field is visible to the driver as a virtual image. A mirror holder has two opposite ends and an activation feature. The two opposite ends are aligned alone a rotational axis of the mirror. The mirror holder retains the mirror. Each of two bushings is coupled to a respective opposite end of the mirror holder. A calibration switch has minimum proximity to the activation feature of the mirror holder.

Abstract: A loudspeaker arrangement in a motor vehicle includes a collision sensor transmitting a collision signal in response to detecting that the motor vehicle has been in a collision. An audio system transmits an audio signal. A loudspeaker includes an air bag connected thereto. The loudspeaker is coupled to the audio system and produces audible sounds based on the audio signal. The air bag is coupled to the collision sensor and is activated in response to the collision sensor transmitting the collision signal.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a rearview mirror display system with a visible surface and having a mirror mode and a display mode. The visible surface functions as a mirror in the mirror mode. The visible surface displays an electronically produced image in the display mode. An electronic processor is communicatively coupled to the rearview mirror display system. The electronic processor detects that the display mode is not operating properly, and, in response to the detecting, automatically switches the rearview mirror display system from the display mode to the mirror mode.

Abstract: A method of validating a design for a graphical user interface of a motor vehicle includes creating a tentative design, and/or a few drafts or prototype for the graphical user interface. A blurred version of the tentative graphical user interface design is produced. The blurred version of the tentative graphical user interface design is tested for readability and whether the overall GUI design is suited to be perceived at a glance. If it is determined that the blurred version of the tentative graphical user interface design is not readable or understandable, then the graphical user interface is redesigned and the producing and testing steps are repeated for the redesigned graphical user interface. After the blurred graphical user interface design has been determined to be readable, then a higher fidelity graphical user interface is made.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a bi-directional inverter of a vehicle. The bi-directional inverter may include an alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) inverter configured to receive AC power from a power grid and generate DC power on a DC bus operatively coupled to a vehicle battery. The bi-directional inverter may also include a DC to AC inverter configured to receive DC power from the DC bus and generate AC power delivered to the power grid. The bi-directional inverter may also include an energy management system operatively coupled to the AC to DC inverter and the DC to AC inverter and configured to selectively operate the bi-directional inverter in a charging mode or a generation mode. Additionally, the bi-directional inverter may include a power line communications (PLC) coupler configured to transfer electronic data between the energy management system and a power plant network through the power grid.

Abstract: On-board equipment in a motor vehicle includes a C-V2X communication device receiving a first signal from road side equipment having a known position. The C-V2X communication device transmits a second signal having content that is dependent upon a length of time in which the first signal traveled from the road side equipment to the C-V2X communication device. A GPS device is communicatively coupled to the C-V2X communication device and receives the second signal from the C-V2X communication device. The GPS device estimates a position of the vehicle. The estimating is dependent upon the second signal from the C-V2X communication device.

Abstract: An AC capable power amplifier arrangement is realized that includes a buck converter with a power inductor, two buck switches, and alternately a buck-boost converter using four switches, each driving an output polarity steering set of four switches. The polarity steering switches convey the converter output current to output terminals that connect to a load with a capacitor connected in parallel. A differential receiver is connected to the output terminals to provide negative feedback. A mixer receives an input voltage signal, an output of the differential receiver, and output from a triangle wave generator. A set of two comparators for buck amplifier conversion, or four comparators for buck-boost amplifier conversion, each receives an output of the mixer. Each of the comparators produces a respective output for driving the converter switches through simple steering logic interfaces between the comparators, the converter components and a polarity steering output stage.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a left side view camera attached to the left lateral side of the body and having a field of view in a rearward direction. A right side view camera is attached to the right lateral side of the body and has a field of view in a rearward direction. There is a right back up camera and a left back up camera. An optics module receives resulting video signals and produces light fields such that the light fields are reflected off of windows of the motor vehicle and are then visible to a driver of the motor vehicle as virtual images.

Abstract: A combined head up display and instrument cluster arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a substantially planar liquid crystal display having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A first area of the liquid crystal display is viewable as an instrument cluster display by a human viewer who is disposed closer to the first side than to the second side. A backlight is disposed closer to the first side than to the second side. The backlight is aligned with a second area of the liquid crystal display such that a light field is emitted by the backlight through the second area. Head up display optics are positioned to receive the light field.

Abstract: A power amplifier arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a printed circuit board disposed between a housing on a first side of the printed circuit board and a heat sink on a second side of the printed circuit board. A power amplifier is mounted on the second side of the printed circuit board. A bracket is supported by the housing. A clamping spring is supported by the bracket such that the clamping spring is in biased engagement with the first side of the printed circuit board, and such that the power amplifier is pressed into engagement with the heat sink.

Abstract: A docking system is for docking an electronic device in a motor vehicle. The docking system includes a cradle having a pivotable arm with an internal channel carrying first electrical conductors electrically connected to the electronic device. The cradle securely retains the electronic device. A dock housing includes a recess receiving the arm of the cradle such that the first electrical conductors may be electrically connected to second electrical conductors in the motor vehicle. A latch releasably latches the arm of the cradle within the recess of the dock housing.

Abstract: Various embodiments are provided for evaluating a focus status of a camera. A reference image is stored in a memory based on first image data received from the camera. Second image data is received from the camera in accordance with a predetermined schedule. A focus status of a test image of the second image data is classified, and it is determined whether the camera is in a state of focus based on the focus status of the test image. A focus of the camera is changed when the camera is determined not to be in the state of focus. A new reference image is stored in the memory based on third image data received from the camera, with the third image data being received after changing the focus of the camera.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes at least one camera capturing images of an environment outside of the motor vehicle. A proximity sensor detects an object disposed adjacent to the motor vehicle. An electronic processor receives the images captured by the at least one camera, and receives a proximity signal from the proximity sensor. The proximity signal is indicative of whether an object is disposed adjacent to the motor vehicle. The electronic processor determines, based upon the images captured by the at least one camera and the proximity signal, whether the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure. The electronic processor receives an engine start request signal that has been wirelessly transmitted by a user. In response to receiving the engine start request signal, the electronic processor causes the engine start system to start an engine of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is not disposed within an enclosure.

Abstract: A head up display arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a head up display projector including a lens with a polarizer. The head up display projector emits a linearly polarized light field via the lens. A windshield reflects the light field such that the reflected light field is visible to a human driver of the motor vehicle as a virtual image. The windshield includes an outer plastic layer sandwiched between a half-wave plate and an outer glass layer. An inner plastic layer is sandwiched between the half-wave plate and an inner glass layer.