Abstract: Objects and their placement within a particular scene may be characterized using structured light with no or minimal manual intervention or calibration to the scene. The structured light pattern may be rendered with visible light, yet imperceptible to users, by generating a set of opposing excursions in one or more image properties for durations which are shorter than the integration time of the human eye. A set of assumptions and ongoing testing of those assumptions against physical objects identified within the environment allows characterization of the scene and the objects therein.

Abstract: A glass LED bulb, which includes a body of glass, the body having at least one hollow portion, and at least one LED contained within the at least one hollow portion. A thermally conductive material is preferably included within the at least one hollow portion. The body of glass can be bulb-shaped or alternatively shaped like an incandescent bulb.

Abstract: Multiple disparate wireless units sharing of antennas are described herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes, but is not limited to, a first wireless communication unit of a first wireless communication standard, where the first standard includes selecting one of two antennas provided. The apparatus further includes a second wireless communication unit of a second wireless communication standard, where a first antenna and a second antenna are shared by the first and second communication units. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A vehicle communication system providing, in one embodiment, wirelessly transmitting and receiving messages regarding the status of parking spaces, such as empty or occupied. Only vehicles belonging to a predetermined set are able to decrypt such messages, in one embodiment. Message formats to comprise a group of parking spaces are described. An embodiment includes a communication mode specific for vehicles in a parking lot. An embodiment includes messages describing the shape and size of vehicle entering or leaving a parking space. Efficient methods of coding vehicle type are described. Methods of improving the operational efficiency of a vehicle communication system, including passive RF reflectors, audio and video messages, safety, courtesy and social messages, and compliance with vehicle restrictions are in some embodiments.

Abstract: A device for use in, and system for, a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and safety system that uses a hybrid combination of TDMA and CSMA protocols. The synchronized TDMA frame is partitioned into three prioritized time interval classes with differing priorities and dynamically changing sizes based on demand of higher-priority messages. The TDMA portions of a repeating time interval uses self-assigned dense time slots for high-priority safety messages, with one portion for emergency vehicles and road-side units. The CSMA protocol uses remaining available time for lower-priority and overflow messages. The higher-priority time interval classes change size dynamically based on the number of current transmissions. Modulation schemes, but not data link formats, use existing Standards. Embodiments include optimized traffic flow and signal timing.

Abstract: Device, system and method, in a vehicle communication system, to transmit wirelessly the position, heading and speed of a vehicle or other moving object. In a key embodiment the vehicle is other than the transmitting vehicle. Some embodiment use local sensors on a first vehicle, such as cameras, sonar, radar or LIDAR to identify the relative position, heading and speed of a second vehicle relative to the first, transmitting, vehicle. An embodiment uses the location of the vehicle whose information is being transmitted as the identification of the same vehicle. Embodiments also receive these messages. Embodiments use this information as warning and safety information to avoid or minimize vehicle collisions. A unique feature of some embodiments is that the messages are free of IP and MAC addresses.

Abstract: A method of optimizing a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system is described. One embodiment uses a set of desired and defined metrics of success, combined with pre-recorded operating histories, combined with a series of simulations to optimize certain specific parameters in the vehicle-to-vehicle communication protocol.

Abstract: Device, system and method of implementing a wireless vehicle-to-vehicle anti-collision system. Details of message formats are described, particularly efficient formats using flags and compressed data, expressing distances, both in the horizontal and vertical directions. Details of protocols are described. Details of encoding locations, headings and speed are described. In one embodiment messages are free of IP addresses and MAC addresses. Roadway elevation is included in some embodiments.

Abstract: A device and vehicle for use in, and system for, a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and safety system that uses TDMA communication architecture with a self-synchronized TDMA time base. The time base starts with a GPS and internal clock, then fine-tunes by averaging the time bases of all vehicles within radio range. In the described algorithms, all vehicles within a communication range rapidly converge on a common time base to high precision. The regularly broadcast safety messages themselves are used for time base synchronizing, eliminating the need for separate time stamps or transmissions. A range group of vehicles, first converges itself, then converges the group on a UTC time via GPS. Embodiments include use of vehicle distances in time computations. Applications anti-collision systems, optimized traffic flow and signal timing.

Abstract: A transceiver in a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and safety system that regularly broadcasts safety messages, comprising location, heading and speed, of a subject vehicle, that are free of MAC and IP addresses. The V2V system uses the location of the subject vehicle for vehicle identification, in place of a pre-assigned vehicle ID. Some embodiments broadcast safety message in self-assigned time slots in a synchronized TDMA broadcast architecture, with unusually short inter-message gaps and unusually short messages. The TDMA frame is partitioned into three prioritized time interval classes with differing priorities and dynamically changing sizes based on demand of higher-priority messages. Time slot selection uses weighted algorithms. Selected time slots are held until either a message collision or a timeout occurs. A transceiver equipped vehicle may proxy a different subject vehicle. Embodiments include optimized traffic flow and signal timing.

Abstract: Device, system and method, in a vehicle communication system, to transmit wirelessly a message comprising the position, heading and speed of a vehicle or other moving object, wherein the transmission is repeated at regular intervals in a temporarily fixed time slot within a predetermined basic time interval. In a key embodiment the message duration is equal to or less than a predetermined time slot duration. Embodiments use generally the same time slot in a contiguous sequence of basic time intervals. Algorithms are described to resolve wireless interference within a time slot. Embodiments divide the basic time interval in multiple durations, “class regions,” for different message classes. Embodiments use different wireless bandwidth allocation algorithms for the class regions.

Abstract: A computing device that includes a host processor and a service processor is provided. The host processor is configured to interact with a first user interface. For example, the host processor may be a microprocessor for the device and the first user interface may be a display device. A service processor is provided and can interact with a second user interface. In some cases, the service processor may interact with the second user interface without communicating with the host processor. Accordingly, the service processor can perform functions without relying on the host processor. Using the service processor conserves processing power and also may allow the reduction in size of the device as the service processor may perform the functions previously performed by discrete hardware and the host processor.

Abstract: A method for selectively controlling allocation of one or more computing resources for a process. The method includes providing a user option to execute a process using local or remote computing resources and then executing the process using a selected option. A more specific method includes predetermining two or more allocation options; displaying a plurality of the predetermined allocation options, wherein each option indicates a different allocation of resources between at least one resource on a local computing system and at least one resource on a remote computing system, wherein the resources; determining, by using the local computing system, a function to be performed; accepting a signal from a user-input device to select one of the plurality of options in association with performing the function; allocating the resources in accordance with the selected option; and then using the selected resource allocation to accomplish a task.

Abstract: A single line docking station characteristic identifier is disclosed. In one embodiment, a portable computing device can include a dock detector circuit having an interface pin configured to be coupled to a docking station via a single line dock connection, where the dock detector circuit is configured to determine a characteristic of the docking station using a passive component in the docking station when the portable computing device is connected to the docking station via the single line dock connection. The dock detector circuit can include a resistor and a Schmitt trigger, while the passive component in the docking station can include a capacitor, for example.

Abstract: A method enables power savings in an OLED display by reducing the size of the screen in an OLED display when the screen is not in use. For example, if the OLED display receives no input from the user for a predefined time period, the size of the screen is reduced in order to decrease the power consumption of the OLED display.

Abstract: An antenna is provided. The antenna includes a dielectric material including a plurality of layers defined a first set of electrodes of a first polarity and a second set of electrodes of a second polarity, wherein the first set of electrodes and second set of electrodes alternate in position to form the plurality of layers; a first interconnect coupled to the first set of electrodes, the first interconnect coupled to a ground; a second interconnect coupled to the second set of electrodes, the second interconnect coupled to a voltage source, wherein a voltage is applied to the second interconnect to generate an electric field.

Abstract: An antenna 1 for a hand held or small radio communication device such as a cellular radio handset, laptop computer or hand held computer, or GPS device. The antenna has a resonating element 12 over a ceramic material 14, comprised of a high dielectric ceramic, such as barium strontium titanate, for example. The ceramic 14 is in contact with a ground plane 15 such as a grounded metal plate or grounded thin film that is formed on a substrate, such as an FR4 PCB substrate. The ceramic 14 is biased by a voltage source applied through an electrode plate 13 that is connected to a high voltage source 16 with respect to ground plate 15. The voltage applied through the conductor or electrode 13 is controlled to provide a predetermined bias voltage that changes the electrostatic field of the ceramic 14.

Abstract: A transfer function is provided for use with computer pointing devices such as trackpads. The transfer function includes a first component having characteristics of a positional transfer function and a second component having characteristics of a velocity-based transfer function. The first (positional) component and the second (velocity-based) component of the transfer function are blended so that the transfer function exhibits purely positional behavior in response to a first range of inputs and exhibits combined positional and velocity-based behavior in response to a second range of inputs. The first range of inputs may, for example, correspond to a region in the input coordinate space that is bounded by a circle having a predetermined threshold radius.

Abstract: A electronic device is disclosed in which substantially all of the electronic components of the device reside within a connector suitable for coupling to a port on a computing device. The device, referred to as a “dongle,” may therefore have an overall volume that is less than that of other devices for performing the same function. The dongle may, for example, perform the function of an encryption key to protect the computing device against unauthorized use. The dongle may be mated with the computing device port, thereby enveloping substantially all of the dongle within the port. The dongle does not extend appreciably from the port to which it is mated, thereby not adding appreciably to the volume of the computing device, and thereby making it easier to transport the computing device while the dongle is coupled to it.

Abstract: A single line docking station characteristic identifier is disclosed. In one embodiment, a portable computing device can include a dock detector circuit having an interface pin configured to be coupled to a docking station via a single line dock connection, where the dock detector circuit is configured to determine a characteristic of the docking station using a passive component in the docking station when the portable computing device is connected to the docking station via the single line dock connection. The dock detector circuit can include a resistor and a Schmitt trigger, while the passive component in the docking station can include a capacitor, for example.