Abstract: A vehicle system may include a plurality of wireless transmitters carried by a vehicle and configured to transmit wireless signals, at least one indicator carried by the vehicle, and a portable device moveable relative to the vehicle and configured to receive the wireless signals from the plurality of wireless transmitters. The system may further include a controller carried by the vehicle and configured to wirelessly communicate with the portable device, and determine a predicted zone the portable device is located in adjacent to the vehicle based upon the received wireless signals, with the predicted zone being one of a plurality of different zones adjacent the vehicle having respective vehicle functions associated therewith. The controller may be further configured to cause the at least one indicator to provide an indication that the portable device has entered the predicted zone, and enable the respective vehicle function associated with the predicted zone.

Abstract: A vehicle system may include a plurality of wireless transmitters carried by a vehicle and configured to transmit wireless signals, at least one indicator carried by the vehicle, and a portable device moveable relative to the vehicle and configured to receive the wireless signals from the plurality of wireless transmitters. The system may further include a controller carried by the vehicle and configured to wirelessly communicate with the portable device, and determine a predicted zone the portable device is located in adjacent to the vehicle based upon the received wireless signals, with the predicted zone being one of a plurality of different zones adjacent the vehicle having respective vehicle functions associated therewith. The controller may be further configured to cause the at least one indicator to provide an indication that the portable device has entered the predicted zone, and enable the respective vehicle function associated with the predicted zone.

Abstract: A vehicle system may include a plurality of wireless transmitters carried by a vehicle and configured to transmit wireless signals, at least one indicator carried by the vehicle, and a portable device moveable relative to the vehicle and configured to receive the wireless signals from the plurality of wireless transmitters. The system may further include a controller carried by the vehicle and configured to wirelessly communicate with the portable device, and determine a predicted zone the portable device is located in adjacent to the vehicle based upon the received wireless signals, with the predicted zone being one of a plurality of different zones adjacent the vehicle having respective vehicle functions associated therewith. The controller may be further configured to cause the at least one indicator to provide an indication that the portable device has entered the predicted zone, and enable the respective vehicle function associated with the predicted zone.

Abstract: A passenger presence detection system may include radar detectors arranged in spaced relation and directed toward a plurality of rows of passenger seats in a bus. Each radar detector may include a radar transmitter(s), radar receiver(s), and a radar processor cooperating with the radar transmitter(s) and radar receiver(s) to determine passenger presence data based upon a first movement threshold having a first determination time and a second movement threshold having a second determination time. The first movement threshold may be smaller than the second movement threshold and being capable of detecting movement less than 5 millimeters (for example) which is indicative of at least one of passenger respiration and passenger heartbeat, and the first determination time may be larger than the second determination time. The system may further include a controller configured to generate a passenger presence indication based upon the passenger presence data.

Abstract: A vehicle system may include a plurality of wireless transmitters carried by a vehicle and configured to transmit wireless signals, at least one indicator carried by the vehicle, and a portable device moveable relative to the vehicle and configured to receive the wireless signals from the plurality of wireless transmitters. The system may further include a controller carried by the vehicle and configured to wirelessly communicate with the portable device, and determine a predicted zone the portable device is located in adjacent to the vehicle based upon the received wireless signals, with the predicted zone being one of a plurality of different zones adjacent the vehicle having respective vehicle functions associated therewith. The controller may be further configured to cause the at least one indicator to provide an indication that the portable device has entered the predicted zone, and enable the respective vehicle function associated with the predicted zone.

Abstract: A vehicle system may include a wireless transmitters carried by a vehicle at spaced apart locations and configured to transmit wireless signals, and a portable device moveable relative to the vehicle and configured to receive the wireless signals from the wireless transmitters. A controller may be carried by the vehicle and configured to wirelessly communicate with the portable device, determine a predicted zone the portable device is located in from among a plurality of zones relative to the vehicle based upon the received wireless signals and training data, with the zones having respective vehicle functions associated therewith, and enable the respective vehicle function associated with the predicted zone.

Abstract: A vehicle system may include a wireless transmitters carried by a vehicle at spaced apart locations and configured to transmit wireless signals, and a portable device moveable relative to the vehicle and configured to receive the wireless signals from the wireless transmitters. A controller may be carried by the vehicle and configured to wirelessly communicate with the portable device, determine a predicted zone the portable device is located in from among a plurality of zones relative to the vehicle based upon the received wireless signals and training data, with the zones having respective vehicle functions associated therewith, and enable the respective vehicle function associated with the predicted zone.

Abstract: A universal transponder interface including: a compartment configured to store a vehicle ignition key; a docking station configured to receive a databus cartridge, wherein the databus cartridge includes codes to support a plurality of different types of databus communication; a first interface configured to connect the universal transponder interface to a vehicle databus; and a second interface configured to connect the universal transponder interface to a vehicle security or remote start system.

Abstract: A device for connecting a phone to a vehicle, the device including: a case, the case including: a long-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver for communication with a control device in a vehicle via a long-range wireless link; and a short-range bluetooth (BT) transceiver for communicating with a smartphone via a short-range wireless link, wherein the case is configured to be attached to an external surface of the smartphone, and wherein the device is configured to relay commands from the smartphone to the vehicle.

Abstract: A device for connecting a phone to a vehicle, the device including: a case, the case including: a long-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver for communication with a control device in a vehicle via a long-range wireless link; and a short-range bluetooth (BT) transceiver for communicating with a smartphone via a short-range wireless link, wherein the case is configured to be attached to an external surface of the smartphone, and wherein the device is configured to relay commands from the smartphone to the vehicle.

Abstract: A charge air cooler includes a plurality of coolant passages spaced from one another and in communication with an inlet port and an outlet port. A plurality of air cooling fins are disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of coolant passages, wherein the charge air cooler defines a first region wherein the air cooling fins have a first fin density and a second region wherein the air cooling fins have a second fin density different than the first fin density. The air cooling fins can also be provided with different louver shapes or designs in order to tailor, improve or unify the heat transfer rate at different regions of the charge air cooler.

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: A universal transponder interface including: a compartment configured to store a vehicle ignition key; a docking station configured to receive a databus cartridge, wherein the databus cartridge includes codes to support a plurality of different types of databus communication; a first interface configured to connect the universal transponder interface to a vehicle databus; and a second interface configured to connect the universal transponder interface to a vehicle security or remote start system.

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: 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: A method for extending a reception range of a vehicle remote control system includes: receiving, at a repeater, a first radio frequency (RF) signal having inbound data packets indicating a vehicle function to be performed from a remote transmitter; generating, at the repeater, a second RF signal by placing outbound data packets indicating the vehicle function to be performed between the inbound data packets until reception of the first RF signal is complete; and transmitting, from the repeater, the second RF signal to a reception module of a vehicle remote control system.

Abstract: A method for extending a reception range of a vehicle remote control system includes: receiving, at a repeater, a first radio frequency (RF) signal having inbound data packets indicating a vehicle function to be performed from a remote transmitter; generating, at the repeater, a second RF signal by placing outbound data packets indicating the vehicle function to be performed between the inbound data packets until reception of the first RF signal is complete; and transmitting, from the repeater, the second RF signal to a reception module of a vehicle remote control system.

Abstract: A method for extending a reception range of a vehicle remote control system includes: receiving, at a repeater, a first radio frequency (RF) signal having inbound data packets indicating a vehicle function to be performed from a remote transmitter; generating, at the repeater, a second RF signal by placing outbound data packets indicating the vehicle function to be performed between the inbound data packets until reception of the first RF signal is complete; and transmitting, from the repeater, the second RF signal to a reception module of a vehicle remote control system.

Abstract: A vehicle control system communication method, including: receiving, at an in-vehicle unit (IVU), a command message from a hand-held unit (HHU), wherein the command message includes a first command frame and a second command frame; and sending, from the IVU, a response message to the HHU, wherein the response message includes a first response frame, wherein the first response frame is sent in a time period between the reception of the first command frame and the reception of the second command frame.

Abstract: A vehicle control system communication method, including: receiving, at an in-vehicle unit (IVU), a command message from a hand-held unit (HHU), wherein the command message includes a first command frame and a second command frame; and sending, from the IVU, a response message to the HHU, wherein the response message includes a first response frame, wherein the first response frame is sent in a time period between the reception of the first command frame and the reception of the second command frame.