Abstract: A fluid circulation monitoring system includes a distributed processing system having a first processor located on-premises near a space filled with a circulating fluid and a second processor located off-premises. The first processor and the second processor are in communication with one another. A sensor is operatively connected to the first processor and senses at least one parameter associated with a flow rate of fluid through the circulation system. The distributed processing system is configured to process the at least one parameter and derive a volumetric fluid flow rate through a fluid pump which propels the fluid through the circulation system. Pattern recognition is applied to the at least one parameter to detect maintenance events and predict the need for maintenance events.

Abstract: A driver assistance system suitable for use in a vehicle includes a forward-viewing camera mounted at a front windshield of the vehicle, and an event recorder having an image processor and memory. Based at least in part on processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, a lane departure warning is generated if, when a turn signal of the vehicle is not activated, at least one of (i) the vehicle is heading towards a lane marking and (ii) the vehicle is within a certain distance of an edge of a lane marking for a certain time. Based at least in part on processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, a forward collision alert is generated if the vehicle is heading towards a given object with the separation between the vehicle and the given object being less than a threshold.

Abstract: Systems and method for vehicle-to-vehicle communication are provided. In one example, a vehicle system may include one or more sub-systems, an in-vehicle computing system, and an inter-vehicle communication system. The in-vehicle computing system may be configured to generate and/or update trust scores for the one or more sub-systems based on a functional safety classification of the one or more sub-systems. The trust scores may be transmitted to one or more other vehicles near the vehicle via the inter-vehicle communication system. The in-vehicle computing system may also receive trust scores from the one or more other vehicles. Based on the received trust scores, the in-vehicle computing system may adjust longitudinal and/or lateral control of the vehicle via one or more actuators.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for retrofitting a vehicle are presented. The method relates to a vehicle with a factory-installed first apparatus which communicates with a factory-installed second apparatus through a vehicle data bus using a first message. The method includes electrically disconnecting the vehicle data bus between the first apparatus and the second apparatus and electrically connecting a retrofit apparatus to the vehicle data bus. The method further includes transmitting a second message from the retrofit apparatus to the first apparatus which is indistinguishable from the first message.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for retrofitting a vehicle are presented. The method relates to a vehicle with a factory-installed first apparatus which communicates with a factory-installed second apparatus through a vehicle data bus using a first message. The method includes electrically disconnecting the vehicle data bus between the first apparatus and the second apparatus and electrically connecting a retrofit apparatus to the vehicle data bus. The method further includes transmitting a second message from the retrofit apparatus to the first apparatus which is indistinguishable from the first message.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are provided for placing emergency calls from a vehicle to a Public Safety Answering Point. An emergency call apparatus is configured to detect a trigger condition and, if the trigger condition is detected, send a telephone dial command through a vehicle communication network to a telecommunication apparatus to establish voice communication with the Public Safety Answering Point. A method is provided of retrofitting a vehicle with embedded telecommunication apparatus to enable single button access to emergency services without the need for a fee based subscription.

Abstract: A driver assistance system is presented, including an event detector which comprises a set of rules defining a surprising event based on signals reflecting a vehicle operator input signals from an object detection sensor. An event data file generator is configured to generate an event data file according to rules comprised in the event detector, the event data file comprising a video signal received from a camera, a signal from at least one dynamic vehicle sensor, and target object information received from the object detection sensor. The event data file generator is further configured to initiate data file generation responsive to a surprising event being detected by the event generator, and wherein the contents of the data file are specified by the rules comprised in the event detector. In this way, surprising events may be collected and analyzed off-board in order to generate updates for the driver assistance system.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes at least one camera disposed at the equipped vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle. A control includes an image processor for processing image data captured by the at least one camera. The control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by the image processor, is operable to at least one of (i) control an HVAC system of the equipped vehicle responsive to a type of vehicle detected exterior of the equipped vehicle, (ii) control an HVAC system of the equipped vehicle responsive to a vehicle detected exterior of the equipped vehicle being within a threshold distance of the equipped vehicle and (iii) control an HVAC system of the equipped vehicle responsive to detection of a construction zone.

Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a side-mounted camera mounted at a side portion of vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The side-mounted camera includes a video output configured for transmitting to a control a stream of video captured by an image sensor of the side-mounted camera. The stream of video is transmitted to the control via a serial data bus linking the side-mounted camera to the control. The control includes a serial data interface for communication with at least one electronic device of the vehicle. The control sends instructions to the side-mounted camera via the serial data bus linking the side-mounted camera to the control. The control receives messages from the at least one electronic device of the vehicle via the serial data interface.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes at least one camera disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle. Control circuitry includes an image processor for processing image data captured by the camera. The image processor processes image data captured by the camera for a pedestrian detection system of the vehicle. The control circuitry, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by the image processor, is operable to cause adjustment of the pedestrian detection system of the vehicle from regular sensitivity to higher sensitivity. Adjustment from regular sensitivity to higher sensitivity is at least in part responsive to image processing of captured image data by the image processor determining that the vehicle is in the vicinity of children that a driver of the vehicle should watch out for.

Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a plurality of cameras mounted at a vehicle, with each camera including a respective image sensor and having a respective field of view exterior of the vehicle. The system includes a control and a video output for transmitting a stream of video captured by an image sensor of a camera of the plurality of cameras, and a serial data interface permitting a microcontroller of the control to communicate with at least one electronic device of the vehicle. A switch is openable by the microcontroller to deactivate the video output and closable by the microcontroller to activate the video output. The microcontroller complies with messages received via a serial data bus. The control sends instructions to a camera of the plurality of cameras via the serial data bus and the control receives messages from an electronic device of the vehicle via the serial data bus.

Abstract: A driver assistance system suitable for use in a vehicle includes a forward-viewing camera mounted at a front windshield of the vehicle, and an event recorder having an image processor and memory. Based at least in part on processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, a lane departure warning is generated if, when a turn signal of the vehicle is not activated, at least one of (i) the vehicle is heading towards a lane marking and (ii) the vehicle is within a certain distance of an edge of a lane marking for a certain time. Based at least in part on processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, a forward collision alert is generated if the vehicle is heading towards a given object with the separation between the vehicle and the given object being less than a threshold.

Abstract: A method of obtaining data relating to a driver assistance system installed on a vehicle, including capturing sensory data (such as images) external to the vehicle via a sensor of the driver assistance system, buffering a first group of vehicle signals and storing a pre-event value for a signal of the first group in a pre-event buffer, and analyzing the sensory data to detect one or more types of probability events. After a probability event is detected, the method includes monitoring a second group of vehicle signals for a post-event time period after the occurrence of the detected probability event, and during the post event time period processing signals of the second group with a predetermined function to generate a post-event signal value, and recording data in a memory, with the recorded data including the type of detected probability event, a pre-event signal value and a post-event signal value.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes at least one camera disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle. Control circuitry includes an image processor for processing image data captured by the camera. The image processor processes image data captured by the camera for a pedestrian detection system of the vehicle. The control circuitry, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by the image processor, is operable to cause adjustment of the pedestrian detection system of the vehicle from regular sensitivity to higher sensitivity. Adjustment from regular sensitivity to higher sensitivity is at least in part responsive to image processing of captured image data by the image processor determining that the vehicle is in the vicinity of children that a driver of the vehicle should watch out for.

Abstract: A vehicle vision system includes at least one camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle, and includes a control having an image processor for processing image data captured by the at least one camera. The control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by the image processor, is operable to carry out one or more actions based on the detection of selected elements in the image data captured by the at least one camera. The control may control the operation of an additional component in the vehicle aside from the camera. The vision system may include a forward facing camera, a rearward facing camera and/or a sideward facing camera.

Abstract: A driver active safety control system for a vehicle includes a plurality of image capture sensors, a video display screen, a central driver active safety control module and at least one non-imaging sensor. The control module at least includes an image processor, a vision core and a fusion core. The image processor processes image data captured by and received from at least a forward viewing image capture sensor for at least one of (i) automatic headlamp control, (ii) lane departure warning and (iii) traffic sign recognition. The vision core is operable to manipulate image data captured by and received at least from rearward and sideward viewing image capture sensors to form video images for displaying on the video display screen. The fusion core is operable to process inputs received to enhance control by the control module of a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are provided for placing emergency calls from a vehicle to a Public Safety Answering Point. An emergency call apparatus is configured to detect a trigger condition and, if the trigger condition is detected, send a telephone dial command through a vehicle communication network to a telecommunication apparatus to establish voice communication with the Public Safety Answering Point. A method is provided of retrofitting a vehicle with embedded telecommunication apparatus to enable single button access to emergency services without the need for a fee based subscription.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle. A determination is made as to whether the vehicle requires a service. A determination is also made as to whether the vehicle is proximate a location at which the service can be performed. A notification is provided that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are provided for placing emergency calls from a vehicle to a Public Safety Answering Point. An emergency call apparatus is configured to detect a trigger condition and, if the trigger condition is detected, send a telephone dial command through a vehicle communication network to a telecommunication apparatus to establish voice communication with the Public Safety Answering Point. A method is provided of retrofitting a vehicle with embedded telecommunication apparatus to enable single button access to emergency services without the need for a fee based subscription.

Abstract: A vehicular scalable integrated control system includes a plurality of cameras having respective fields of view exterior of the vehicle. Image data captured by the cameras is processed by an image processor of a vehicular scalable integrated control unit. A display screen for displaying video images derived, at least in part, from captured image data. The system is operable to fuse captured image data with data captured by a radar device, an ultrasonic sensor and/or an infrared sensor. The system is part of an overall active safety sensing system, which includes fusion of outputs from a plurality of sensing devices to achieve environmental awareness at and surrounding the vehicle. The overall active safety sensing system is operable to at least one of (i) at least partially control the vehicle as the vehicle is driven along a road and (ii) provide alert warnings to a driver of the vehicle.