Abstract: Various embodiments of exchanges are described. Methods and other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A wireless mobile device is used to control an HVAC temperature setpoint in a police vehicle containing a police dog. A wireless signal specifying a commanded temperature setting is checked to prevent malicious adjustments by a hacker. The commanded temperature setting is rejected when it is outside a predetermined range between an absolute minimum and an absolute maximum. When an outside ambient temperature is below a cold-day threshold, then the commanded temperature setting is rejected when it requests a temperature decrease. When the outside ambient temperature is above a hot-day threshold, then the commanded temperature setting is rejected when it requests a temperature increase. Otherwise, when the commanded temperature setting is not rejected as being outside the predetermined range, as being a decrease when below the cold-day threshold, or as being an increase when above the hot-day threshold, then the temperature setpoint is set to match the commanded setting.

Abstract: A power door system for a vehicle including a plurality of power-operated doors is provided. The system includes a passive remote entry device configured to emit a signal to one or more cooperating vehicle receivers and a controller configured to cause the power door system to open the at least one power-operated door when the passive remote entry device signal is received and an individual is detected in a predefined activation zone for a predetermined period of time. The system further includes a vehicle-mounted user detection device. The passive remote entry device may be selected from the group consisting of a key fob, a smart key, a key card, a cellular telephone or smartphone configured with a phone-as-a-key function, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized cellular telephone, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartphone, and a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartwatch. Methods for controlling a power door system for a vehicle are described.

Abstract: A vehicle having powered door assist includes a plurality of powered doors, each powered door having an actuator for moving the door between closed and open door positions, and a plurality of sensors located on the vehicle for sensing objects proximate to the vehicle including one or more potential passengers expected to enter the vehicle and for sensing an obstacle within or proximate to a swing path of at least one of the plurality of powered doors. The vehicle also includes a controller determining an estimated weight of the one or more potential passengers, detecting expected height of the plurality of powered door with the estimated weight added to the vehicle, detecting height of a sensed obstacle within the swing path of one of the powered doors and determining whether the expected height of the one powered door will interfere with the sensed obstacle in the swing path.

Abstract: A vehicle handle assembly includes, among other things, an attachment bracket secured to a powered closure assembly of a vehicle, a handle core that is mounted to the attachment bracket, and a switch mounted to the handle core. The switch is configured to transition from a first state to a second state in response to a user grasping the handle core. The powered closure assembly can move between a first position and a different, second position in response to a transition of the switch.

Abstract: A vehicle having powered door assist includes a plurality of powered doors, each powered door having an actuator for moving the door between closed and open door positions, and a plurality of sensors located on the vehicle for sensing objects proximate to the vehicle including one or more potential passengers expected to enter the vehicle and for sensing an obstacle within or proximate to a swing path of at least one of the plurality of powered doors. The vehicle also includes a controller determining an estimated weight of the one or more potential passengers, detecting expected height of the plurality of powered door with the estimated weight added to the vehicle, detecting height of a sensed obstacle within the swing path of one of the powered doors and determining whether the expected height of the one powered door will interfere with the sensed obstacle in the swing path.

Abstract: A powered latch system for motor vehicles includes at least one powered latch that can be controlled based, at least in part, on vehicle operating conditions. The system may be configured to control unlatching of the vehicle doors utilizing data relating to the vehicle speed and/or the existence of a crash event. The powered latch system can be configured as required for various vehicles, and to accommodate specific operating requirements with respect to child locks in various geographic jurisdictions.

Abstract: A wireless mobile device is used to control an HVAC temperature setpoint in a police vehicle containing a police dog. A wireless signal specifying a commanded temperature setting is checked to prevent malicious adjustments by a hacker. The commanded temperature setting is rejected when it is outside a predetermined range between an absolute minimum and an absolute maximum. When an outside ambient temperature is below a cold-day threshold, then the commanded temperature setting is rejected when it requests a temperature decrease. When the outside ambient temperature is above a hot-day threshold, then the commanded temperature setting is rejected when it requests a temperature increase. Otherwise, when the commanded temperature setting is not rejected as being outside the predetermined range, as being a decrease when below the cold-day threshold, or as being an increase when above the hot-day threshold, then the temperature setpoint is set to match the commanded setting.

Abstract: A wireless mobile device is used to control an HVAC temperature setpoint in a police vehicle containing a police dog. A wireless signal specifying a commanded temperature setting is checked to prevent malicious adjustments by a hacker. The commanded temperature setting is rejected when it is outside a predetermined range between an absolute minimum and an absolute maximum. When an outside ambient temperature is below a cold-day threshold, then the commanded temperature setting is rejected when it requests a temperature decrease. When the outside ambient temperature is above a hot-day threshold, then the commanded temperature setting is rejected when it requests a temperature increase. Otherwise, when the commanded temperature setting is not rejected as being outside the predetermined range, as being a decrease when below the cold-day threshold, or as being an increase when above the hot-day threshold, then the temperature setpoint is set to match the commanded setting.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a door assembly for a motor vehicle. An example door assembly includes a door free of moveable exterior door handles. Further, the door is mounted relative to an opening in a body of the motor vehicle such that the door is moveable between a fully closed position, a fully open position, and a partially open position between the fully closed and fully open positions. The assembly further includes a switch assembly including a mechanical switch configured to generate a signal when pressed, and a door presenter assembly configured to move the door from the fully closed position to the partially open position in response to the signal from the mechanical switch.

Abstract: A vehicle ridesharing system includes a user interface used to interact with rideshare passengers. The interface matches a selected user identifier with a PIN index and sends the PIN index to a vehicle body control module (BCM) of the vehicle through an unsecure communication channel. The BCM uses the PIN index to select a salt value and a nonce associated with a unique user associated with the PIN index, and sends a salt and a nonce back to the interface through the unsecure channel. The user enters a PIN value into the interface to authenticate their identity for the rideshare service. The interface generates a first hash result by hashing the PIN value with the salt and the nonce received from the BCM, and sends the hashed result back to the BCM for authentication.

Abstract: An automatic door system for a vehicle may comprise a hinged door in connection with the vehicle configured to selectively enclose a continuous opening formed between a first and a second pillar of the vehicle, wherein the sliding door and the hinged door are configured to enclose the continuous opening without an intermediate support pillar. The system may also comprise the hinged door in a hinged position and controlled by a first power actuator. The system may also comprise the sliding door in connection with the vehicle configured to selectively enclose the continuous opening, wherein a second power actuator controls a sliding position of the sliding door. The system may further comprise proximity sensors and interference sensors to detect interfering obstructions, objects, and/or persons located within the interference zone.

Abstract: A power door system for a vehicle including a plurality of power-operated doors is provided. The system includes a passive remote entry device configured to emit a signal to one or more cooperating vehicle receivers and a controller configured to cause the power door system to open the at least one power-operated door when the passive remote entry device signal is received and an individual is detected in a predefined activation zone for a predetermined period of time. The system further includes a vehicle-mounted user detection device. The passive remote entry device may be selected from the group consisting of a key fob, a smart key, a key card, a cellular telephone or smartphone configured with a phone-as-a-key function, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized cellular telephone, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartphone, and a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartwatch. Methods for controlling a power door system for a vehicle are described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enriching metadata are disclosed. For example, the method implemented via a processor monitors metadata associated with a first webpage of a plurality of webpages, the first webpage having been determined to be similar to a second webpage of the plurality of webpages, detects a change to the metadata associated with the first webpage, determines whether the change to the metadata associated with the first webpage invokes an update to a metadata associated with the second webpage, and processes the update of the metadata associated with the second webpage when the change invokes the update to the metadata associated with the second webpage.

Abstract: A power door system for a vehicle including a plurality of power-operated doors is provided. The system includes a passive remote entry device configured to emit a signal to one or more cooperating vehicle receivers and a controller configured to cause the power door system to open the at least one power-operated door when the passive remote entry device signal is received and an individual is detected in a predefined activation zone for a predetermined period of time. The system further includes a vehicle-mounted user detection device. The passive remote entry device may be selected from the group consisting of a key fob, a smart key, a key card, a cellular telephone or smartphone configured with a phone-as-a-key function, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized cellular telephone, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartphone, and a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartwatch. Methods for controlling a power door system for a vehicle are described.

Abstract: A vehicle ridesharing system includes a user interface used to interact with rideshare passengers. The interface matches a selected user identifier with a PIN index and sends the PIN index to a vehicle body control module (BCM) of the vehicle through an unsecure communication channel. The BCM uses the PIN index to select a salt value and a nonce associated with a unique user associated with the PIN index, and sends a salt and a nonce back to the interface through the unsecure channel. The user enters a PIN value into the interface to authenticate their identity for the rideshare service. The interface generates a first hash result by hashing the PIN value with the salt and the nonce received from the BCM, and sends the hashed result back to the BCM for authentication.

Abstract: An automatic door system for a vehicle may comprise a hinged door in connection with the vehicle configured to selectively enclose a continuous opening formed between a first and a second pillar of the vehicle, wherein the sliding door and the hinged door are configured to enclose the continuous opening without an intermediate support pillar. The system may also comprise the hinged door in a hinged position and controlled by a first power actuator. The system may also comprise the sliding door in connection with the vehicle configured to selectively enclose the continuous opening, wherein a second power actuator controls a sliding position of the sliding door. The system may further comprise proximity sensors and interference sensors to detect interfering obstructions, objects, and/or persons located within the interference zone.

Abstract: A cooling tower (2) for cooling a liquid (4) with a gas (6), which cooling tower (2) comprises: (i) a vessel (8) for receiving the gas (6) passing upwardly and the liquid (4) passing downwardly, with the liquid (4) being hotter than the gas (6); (ii) a gas outlet (4) which is at a top portion (16) of the vessel (8) and which is for allowing the gas (6) to pass out of the vessel (8), (iii) a support member (20) which is positioned across a bottom portion (22) of the vessel (8): (iv) a plurality of apertures (24) which are in the support member (20) and through which the gas (6) and the liquid (4) are able to pass; (v) a fluidised bed (26) of packing elements (28) on the support member (20); (vi) liquid emitting means (30) which is positioned in the vessel (8) above the fluidised bed (26), and which is for emitting alas liquid (4) to be cooled such the liquid (4) passes downwardly towards the fluidised bed (26); (vii) pump means (32) for pumping the liquid to the liquid emitting means (30); and (viii) a fan (34

Abstract: A vehicle handle assembly includes, among other things, an attachment bracket secured to a powered closure assembly of a vehicle, a handle core that is mounted to the attachment bracket, and a switch mounted to the handle core. The switch is configured to transition from a first state to a second state in response to a user grasping the handle core. The powered closure assembly can move between a first position and a different, second position in response to a transition of the switch.

Abstract: This disclosure details illuminating vehicle closure member systems for selectively producing various exterior lighting effects. Exemplary closure member systems may include a closure member and a discrete illuminating section secured relative to the closure member and including a lighting module that is configured to produce at least one of a beltline lighting effect, a motion path lighting effect, or an operation status lighting effect at or near the closure member. A control module may control the various lighting effects emitted by the illuminating closure member system.