Abstract: A parking sensor and observation system for a vehicle, including: an elongated housing, wherein the housing has a front side with first to third openings and a back side with an elongated opening, the first and third openings are adjacent to opposite ends of the housing, the second opening is located at a center portion of the housing; a first parking sensor disposed within the housing and having its proximity detector disposed in the first opening; a second parking sensor disposed within the housing and having its proximity detector disposed in the third opening; a camera disposed within the housing and having its lens disposed in the second opening; and a backing plate disposed at the back side of the housing to seal the elongated opening.

Abstract: A console for a vehicle comprises an assembly housing capable of being mounted in an interior of the vehicle, a wireless receiver, houseable in the assembly housing, adapted to wirelessly receive audio and video data from at least one input device, a recording device, houseable in the assembly housing for recording the audio and video data received from the at least one input device, and a wireless transmitter, houseable in the assembly housing, adapted to wirelessly transmit the audio and video data to at least one receiving device.

Abstract: An antenna device includes a housing defining an interior cavity, and an RF antenna situated within the housing. The RF antenna receives high definition television signals broadcast over the air. An MHL connector is mounted on the housing. An external audio or video streaming signal device is coupleable to the MHL connector. An MHL to HDMI converter circuit situated within the interior cavity of the housing receives signals from the external audio or video streaming signal device and processes these signals into an HDMI signal format. The HDMI signals are provided on an HDMI output connector mounted on the housing. RF signals from the RF antenna are provided to an RF coaxial cable connector also mounted on the housing.

Abstract: A USB wall plate charger for charging an external electronic device is mountable to a common 120 volt AC wall outlet, and includes a power supply to convert the 120 volts AC to +5 volts DC, and a charging profile configuration circuit. A charging profile selection switch is provided for the user to select a desired charging profile that is compatible with the electronic device to be charged.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system includes a tablet unit and a cradle. The tablet unit includes a display and a touch screen input device disposed on a front surface, a first electrical connection, a first mounting mechanism, and a wireless receiver. The wireless receiver is configured to receive media data from a wireless network and the touch screen input device is configured to receive input from a user. The cradle is disposed in a headrest in a vehicle and includes a second electrical connection and a second mounting mechanism. The tablet unit is electrically connected to the cradle via the first and second electrical connections, and is physically coupled to the cradle via the first and second mounting mechanisms upon mounting the tablet unit to the cradle.

Abstract: A broadband, low profile, ultra-thin and flexible, planar wire antenna includes an inverted triangular section and a horizontal bar section centered at the apex of the triangular section. Tab elements are provided on opposite ends of the bar section to increase the end effect of the antenna. Furthermore, 45 degree tabbed elements are joined to the top corners of the triangular section and extend in opposite directions therefrom. The tabbed elements added to the triangular section and to the bar section increase the overall electrical length of the antenna to simulate a physically larger size antenna.

Abstract: A capture device includes a microphone, a camera, a memory, and a processor. The microphone is configured to record audio data, the camera is configured to capture image data, the memory is configured to store the recorded audio data and the captured image data, and the processor is configured to link the recorded audio data with the captured image data based on a timestamp of the image data, and store the linked audio data and image data in a same record in the memory.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle including: a bluetooth receiver configured to be installed in a vehicle and connected with an electronic system of the vehicle; and a phone including a long-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from a cellular network and a bluetooth transmitter configured to communicate with the bluetooth receiver in the vehicle within a predetermined range.

Abstract: An electronic amplifier device amplifies magnetic audio signals emanating from a portable electronic device placed thereon. The electronic amplifier device includes a housing having a designated area for placement of the portable electronic device thereon, an amplifier circuit, and at least one loudspeaker electrically coupled to the amplifier circuit. A wireless audio coupler circuit situated within the electronic amplifier device includes a magnetic signal pick-up coil which is situated in close proximity to the designated area on the housing. The magnetic signal pick-up coil senses magnetic signals emanating from the portable electronic device placed on the designated area of the housing, and the electronic amplifier device amplifies these signals and provides them to the loudspeaker.

Abstract: A media system for a vehicle comprises a housing mounted to an overhead portion of the vehicle, and a media unit that is capable of being coupled to the housing, wherein the housing includes a receiving portion that pivots with respect to the housing and receives the media unit in the receiving portion.

Abstract: An electronic amplifier device amplifies magnetic audio signals emanating from a portable electronic device placed thereon. The electronic amplifier device includes a housing having a designated area for placement of the portable electronic device thereon, an amplifier circuit, and at least one loudspeaker electrically coupled to the amplifier circuit. A wireless audio coupler circuit situated within the electronic amplifier device includes a magnetic signal pick-up coil which is situated in close proximity to the designated area on the housing. The magnetic signal pick-up coil senses magnetic signals emanating from the portable electronic device placed on the designated area of the housing, and the electronic amplifier device amplifies these signals and provides them to the loudspeaker.

Abstract: A nightlight charger for charging an external electronic device is mountable to a common 120 volt AC wall outlet, and includes a power supply to convert the 120 volts AC to +5 volts DC, and a charging profile configuration circuit. A charging profile selection switch is provided for the user to select a desired charging profile that is compatible with the electronic device to be charged. The nightlight includes a housing having a side wall, a portion of which is translucent. A light emitting device within the housing emits light that passes though the translucent portion of the side wall.

Abstract: A key fob including: a long-range transceiver communicating with a vehicle when the fob is within range of a long-range transceiver of the vehicle; and a short-range transceiver communicating with a mobile device when the fob is within range of a short-range transceiver of the mobile device, wherein when the short-range transceiver of the mobile device is out of range of a short-range transceiver of the vehicle, information is transmitted from the mobile device to the vehicle over a short-range link between the mobile device and the fob and is relayed from the fob to the vehicle over a long-range link between the fob and the vehicle, and information is transmitted from the vehicle to the mobile device over the long-range link between the vehicle and the fob and is relayed from the fob to the mobile device over the short-range link between the fob and the mobile device.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system (1) is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle. It has a mounting bracket (2) adapted for coupling to a dashboard of a vehicle, a vehicle seat, its headrest if present, or mounting posts for such a headrest, or into an arm-rest for a vehicle seat. A mounting arm (7) is mounted for rotation relative to the mounting bracket about a main axis (6) arranged in use to extend generally horizontally. A monitor unit (3) has a front side (5) and a rear side (29). The monitor unit has at least one structure enabling access to entertainment for a user. The structure may be at least one of a monitor screen on the front side, controls for an audio system on the front side, controls for an audio system on the rear side, and a slot (30) adapted for a tablet computer to dock therein both physically and electronically with the screen of the tablet computer (35) exposed on the rear side.

Abstract: A vehicle passenger is provided with a console for mounting an entertainment apparatus, the console being coupled to the back of a more forwardly located seat by headrest retaining clips of the kind adapted to hold posts of a height adjustable headrest for the seat at a height selected position. In one arrangement, the console is sandwiched between the headrest retaining clips and the top of the seat back. In an alternative arrangement, the console incorporates integral headrest retaining clips that replace the conventional headrest retaining clips.

Abstract: A video system attachable to a docking station includes a display capable of displaying video data received from the docking station, and a media player, wherein the video system is capable of operating when removed from the docking station. The video system is capable of connecting to at least one of a battery and an adapter for a power supply.

Abstract: A loudspeaker system includes a speaker enclosure having an opening in a front wall, and a speaker manifold mounted within the speaker enclosure and communicating with the opening. The speaker manifold includes a pair of substantially parallel side walls, a back wall, and top and bottom walls, defining a manifold chamber. The wall opposite the back wall is substantially open to define a manifold opening and to permit the communicating. The manifold opening is substantially in alignment with the front wall opening. A woofer is mounted on a first wall of the speaker manifold. An acoustic vent is mounted on a second wall of the manifold, such that the woofer and the acoustic vent face each other at one of about a 180 degree angle or about a 90 degree angle.

Abstract: A current selectable USB charger includes a USB (universal serial bus) connector, a crossover switch, a pair of voltage dividers and a power supply. The power supply provides preferably a +5 volt DC voltage to the pair of voltage dividers. The pair of voltage dividers includes a first voltage divider and a second voltage divider, each being formed of a pair of series-connected resistors. The voltage on the junction of the series-connected resistors of the first voltage divider is selectively provided, through the crossover switch, to one of the D? pin and the D+ pin of the USB connector. The voltage on the junction of the series-connected resistors of the second voltage divider is selectively provided, through the crossover switch, to one of the D+ pin and the D? pin of the USB connector.