Abstract: A method for remotely starting an engine of a vehicle includes the steps of assessing a state of charge of the vehicle battery, providing a first type of remote start request to the vehicle if the state of charge of the vehicle battery is greater than a predetermined threshold, and providing a second type of remote start request to the vehicle if the state of charge of the vehicle battery is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle transceiver module is provided for use in a synchronous communication system including the vehicle transceiver module and one or more key fobs, each of the key fobs including a key fob transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals. The vehicle transceiver module includes transceiver circuitry, a controller, a storage device and power control circuitry. The transceiver circuitry receives the signal transmitted by the key fob transceiver and provides it to the controller. The controller is coupled to the transceiver for determining an offset value associated with one of the key fobs in response to an offset time duration between a reception time of the signal from the key fob and a first expected reception time of the signal from the key fob. The storage device is coupled to the controller for receiving the offset value associated with the key fob from the controller and stores the offset value along with information identifying the key fob.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting an intruder inside a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a load sensor coupled to the vehicle, and a processor. The processor is coupled to the load sensor and is configured to monitor the load in the vehicle after the vehicle is vacated and locked and to determine if the load in the vehicle changes by more than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems for indicating the location of a vehicle to a user are provided. An alert is generated with a device onboard the vehicle when a distance between an electronic device and the vehicle is less than a predetermined distance. A property of the alert is varied to indicate the location of the vehicle to the user.

Abstract: A portable cellular communication device and system is provided for finding the current location of a vehicle on demand by a user. The portable cellular communication device can direct the user to a parked vehicle utilizing location data of the portable cellular communication device provided by a GPS transmitter or a wireless node, and current vehicle location information provided by accessing a vehicle location database.

Abstract: A seatbelt monitoring system is provided for use onboard a vehicle having a seat assembly including at least one seat and corresponding seatbelt. The seatbelt monitoring system includes a wireless seatbelt status detector and a vehicle seatbelt status indicator. The wireless seatbelt status detector includes a seatbelt latch sensor, a first wireless transceiver, and a controller coupled to the seatbelt latch sensor and to the wireless sensor. The controller is configured to send a seatbelt latch signal via the first wireless transceiver when the seatbelt latch sensor indicates a change in seatbelt latch status. The vehicle seatbelt status indicator includes a second wireless transceiver and a processor coupled to the second wireless transceiver. The processor is configured to send a receipt signal to the wireless seatbelt status detector after receiving the seatbelt status signal via the second wireless transceiver.

Abstract: An electronic device configured to be carried on a user's person is provided for directing the user to a parked vehicle. The electronic device utilizes node location data provided by at least one local wireless node and vehicle location information provided by the vehicle. The electronic device includes a network receiver and a controller coupled thereto. The network receiver is configured to receive the node location data from the at least one local wireless node. The controller is configured to store the vehicle location information, to estimate the location of the electronic device from the received node location data, and to determine the position of the vehicle relative to the electronic device.

Abstract: A keypad assembly for use on a vehicular keyless entry system comprises a selectively concealable keypad coupled to a processor and accessible from the exterior of the vehicle and through which an access code may be manually entered. A mirror assembly is mounted on an exterior surface of the vehicle and includes a base fixedly coupled to the exterior surface and a mirror compartment rotatably coupled to the base and capable of being rotated between an extended, operational position and a folded, retracted position. The keypad is mounted on the base so as to be visible and accessible when the mirror compartment is in its folded retracted position and hidden and inaccessible when the mirror compartment is in it's extended, operational position.

Abstract: A seat belt status monitoring system for use with one or more seat belts of an automotive vehicle. The system includes a status monitor incorporated into the seat belt buckle and has a receiver and operator signaling device located in the instrument panel. The status monitor utilizes a piezoelectric element to generate an electrical signal that is fed to a transmitter to generate a wireless signal from the buckle. A mechanical sensing member is used to activate the piezoelectric element to generate its electrical signal by imparting a mechanical force on the piezoelectric during insertion and removal of the seat belt tongue from the buckle. A microswitch in the buckle is used by the transmitter to determine whether the seat belt is latched or unlatched, and this information is conveyed by the transmitted wireless signal.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a plurality of vehicle cockpit devices via a two-part process that utilizes device position constraints to determine candidate arrangements and then, ultimately, recommended arrangements of the vehicle cockpit devices to determine a desired setting of the various devices. The position constraints are determined using positioning data obtained from an occupant. An exploratory search routine is used to determine the candidate arrangements with the cockpit devices being moved to each candidate arrangement so that the occupant can be queried concerning the desirability of each such arrangement. The occupant's responses are then stored for later retrieval. Thereafter, a plurality of recommended arrangements of the cockpit devices are determined using a meta-heuristic pattern search along with a neural network search accelerator that permits screening of each recommended arrangement.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a plurality of vehicle cockpit devices via a two-part process that utilizes device position constraints to determine candidate arrangements and then, ultimately, recommended arrangements of the vehicle cockpit devices to determine a desired setting of the various devices. The position constraints are determined using positioning data obtained from an occupant. An exploratory search routine is used to determine the candidate arrangements with the cockpit devices being moved to each candidate arrangement so that the occupant can be queried concerning the desirability of each such arrangement. The occupant's responses are then stored for later retrieval. Thereafter, a plurality of recommended arrangements of the cockpit devices are determined using a meta-heuristic pattern search along with a neural network search accelerator that permits screening of each recommended arrangement.

Abstract: A seat belt status monitoring system for use with one or more seat belts of an automotive vehicle. The system includes a status monitor incorporated into the seat belt buckle and has a receiver and operator signaling device located in the instrument panel. The status monitor utilizes a piezoelectric element to generate an electrical signal that is fed to a transmitter to generate a wireless signal from the buckle. A mechanical sensing member is used to activate the piezoelectric element to generate its electrical signal by imparting a mechanical force on the piezoelectric during insertion and removal of the seat belt tongue from the buckle. A microswitch in the buckle is used by the transmitter to determine whether the seat belt is latched or unlatched, and this information is conveyed by the transmitted wireless signal.

Abstract: In a vehicle with a radio, a transmission, a brake, a throttle, a vehicle speed and a power antenna, a method of controlling the power antenna comprising the steps of: (a) determining whether the radio is in an on state; (b) determining if the transmission is one of: (i) in a neutral state and (ii) in an unengaged state; (c) determining if the brake is in an off state; (d) determining if the throttle is in an idle state; (e) determining if the vehicle speed is below a predetermined threshold; and (f) responsive to the determinations, if the radio is in the on state, the transmission is in one of: (i) the neutral state and (ii) the unengaged state, the brake is in the off state, the throttle is in the idle state and the speed is below the predetermined threshold, automatically retracting the power antenna, thereby preventing possible damage to the antenna by the automatic car wash.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a sensor for sensing a signal indicative of vehicle travel, a reset button, a display, a computer controller coupled to the sensor, the reset button and the display, the computer controller including a memory, an input device for receiving the sensed signal, program control for updating and storing trip distance traveled responsive to the received signal, an input device for receiving a reset signal from the reset switch and program control for retroactively resetting the trip distance traveled to a value equal to distance travelled since a last vehicle ignition on responsive to the reset signal; and an output device for controlling the display to display the trip distance traveled.