Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of managing vehicle electrical power that includes determining that there is at least one low emission zone along a route, determining a required power capacity a vehicle electric power source needs to propel the vehicle through the at least one low emission zone, determining a remaining power capacity of the vehicle electric power source and controlling use of electrical power on the vehicle to preserve at least a portion of the remaining power capacity corresponding to the required power capacity for use in propelling the vehicle through the at least one low emission zone.

Abstract: An illustrative example vehicle navigation system includes a controller and a user interface. The user interface receives user input regarding at least one criterion of interest to the user and a desired area within which to identify a location satisfying the at least one criterion. The user interface provides an indication of the user input to the controller. The controller determines a current position and direction of a vehicle associated with the system. The controller identifies a place of potential interest as any location that satisfies the at least one criterion and is within the desired area relative to the current position of the vehicle. The controller causes the user interface to provide an output at least on a display screen. The output includes an indication of the desired area and any identified place of potential interest.

Abstract: An illustrative example vehicle navigation system includes a controller and a user interface. The user interface receives user input regarding at least one criterion of interest to the user and a desired area within which to identify a location satisfying that criterion. The controller determines a current vehicle position and direction. The controller identifies a place of potential interest as any location that satisfies the at least one criterion and is within the desired area relative to the current position of the vehicle. The controller determines a travel time from the current position of the vehicle to an identified place of potential interest. The controller determines if the place of potential interest will be accessible to the user based on the travel time. The user interface provides an output at least on a display screen including an indication whether the identified place of potential interest is accessible to the user.

Abstract: An illustrative example system includes a user interface configured to provide information to an individual in a vehicle. A controller is configured to estimate a remaining power capacity of a source of electric power that will remain after travelling along an identified route to an identified destination. The controller determines whether the estimated remaining power capacity will be sufficient for travelling from the identified destination to at least one known location where increasing the power capacity of the source is possible. The user interface provides an indication of at least one recommendation regarding increasing the power capacity of the source prior to reaching the identified destination when the estimated remaining power capacity will not be sufficient for travelling from the identified destination to the at least one known location.

Abstract: A system for use on a vehicle includes a user interface, such as a display and a speaker. A controller determines a remaining power capacity of a vehicle electrical power source and a required power capacity to travel along an identified route to an identified destination based on at least one characteristic of the identified route, which has an effect on electrical power use. The controller determines when a relationship between the remaining power capacity and the required power capacity satisfies at least one predetermined criterion. The system provides an indication of options based on at least one of the remaining power capacity, the determined relationship, or the predetermined criterion. The options may include an alternative route that consumes less power and an alternative destination where power is available for the electrical power source.

Abstract: An illustrative example vehicle navigation system includes a user interface having at least a display screen for providing a display output to a user. A controller, which includes at least one processor and memory associated with the processor, determines an area represented by the display. The controller determines at least one safety characteristic of at least one portion of the area represented by the display. The controller causes the user interface to include an indication of the determined safety characteristic with the display.

Abstract: An illustrative example vehicle navigation system includes a user interface having at least a display screen for providing a display output to a user and a controller, which includes at least one processor and memory associated with the processor. A first user input indicates a direction of user attention exterior to the vehicle. A second user input is different than the first user input. The controller determines that the first user input and the second user input indicate a desire for information regarding an object or location in the direction of user attention. The controller identifies at least one object or location in a vicinity of the vehicle based at least on the first user input. The user interface provides information regarding the identified object or location.

Abstract: Deployment apparatus (10) including a deployment object (12), a deployment arm (16) with a first end (22) coupled to the deployment object and a second end (24) having a pivot (26), and a hinge assembly (18) rotatably attached to the pivot of the deployment arm. The hinge assembly (18) includes an enclosure (44) and a friction stop device (82) disposed within the enclosure such that the friction stop device includes a friction portion (80) configured to be pressed against a lateral surface of the pivot (26) of the deployment arm such that the friction portion provides a predetermined torque. The predetermined torque may be calculated based on maintaining a deployed angle of the deployment arm (16) such that the deployment object (12) is held in a raised deployed position.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a system includes object detecting means for providing an indication of an object in a vicinity of a vehicle; at least one indicator means for providing an indication regarding the detected object to a driver; gaze detecting means for providing an indication of the vehicle driver's gaze; brain activity detecting means for providing an indication of the driver's brain activity; and control means for controlling any indication from the indicator means regarding the detected object based upon an indication from the gaze detecting means and the brain activity detecting means corresponding to an estimation of driver awareness of the detected object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collision system in a vehicle that uses a three dimensional imaging device to map a three dimensional object external to the vehicle. A positioning module will superimpose the position of the body of the vehicle onto the mapped object in dependence of the potential impact location. The positioning module will communicate the impact location to a collision avoidance aid such as an audio or visual warning.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collision system in a vehicle that uses a three dimensional imaging device to map a three dimensional object external to the vehicle. A positioning module will superimpose the position of the body of the vehicle onto the mapped object in dependence of the potential impact location. The positioning module will communicate the impact location to a collision avoidance aid such as an audio or visual warning.

Abstract: A vehicle door access system configured to control access to a vehicle via the vehicle door, the vehicle door access system comprising an image capture device configured to capture a first image of a user external to the vehicle and a second moving image of the user external to the vehicle; a comparator module configured to compare the first captured image of the user with a first user identifier and to compare the second captured image with a second user identifier which is a moving image of the user; and a door lock control module configured to control the lock status of the vehicle door if both the first and second captured images, respectively, correspond to the first and second user identifiers.

Abstract: A system and method for instructing rendering of a video sequence, the method being carried out on a first device and comprising: receiving video content from a camera; determining a video sequence, the video sequence comprising a selection of the received video content and one or more video assets, wherein each video asset is associated with an identifier; determining instructions for generating the video sequence, the instructions comprising the identifiers of the one or more video assets; and sending the instructions and the selection of the received video content to a second device, wherein the second device is arranged to render the video sequence.

Abstract: An audio system for reproducing audio signals comprising a signal processor, the signal processor having at least two processing channels and thereby the signal processor being configured to receive at least two separate audio signals and the signal processor configured to automatically select, in dependence upon the identity of each of the at least two audio signals assigned to the at least two processing channels, processing settings appropriate for each of the at least two audio signals assigned to the at least two processing channels that are for use by the signal processor in independently processing each of the at least two audio signals in each of the processing channels prior to combining said at least two audio signals and the audio system being configured to change the processing settings for a processing channel in response to a change in the identity of the audio signal assigned to that processing channel.

Abstract: An audio system for reproducing audio signals comprising a signal processor, the signal processor having at least two processing channels and thereby the signal processor being configured to receive at least two separate audio signals and the signal processor configured to automatically select, in dependence upon the identity of each of the at least two audio signals assigned to the at least two processing channels, processing settings appropriate for each of the at least two audio signals assigned to the at least two processing channels that are for use by the signal processor in independently processing each of the at least two audio signals in each of the processing channels prior to combining said at least two audio signals and the audio system being configured to change the processing settings for a processing channel in response to a change in the identity of the audio signal assigned to that processing channel.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a floor underlayment material comprising a film sheet having an inner surface attached to a foam sheet and an outer surface including a plurality of recesses formed therein. The plurality of recesses define one or more fluid pathways through which a fluid may migrate across the outer surface of the film layer. The underlayment material may be used in a flooring system to help prevent or limit the accumulation of a fluid between the floor and the subfloor. In one embodiment, the underlayment material may be disposed between a subfloor and floor with the outer surface of the film layer being disposed adjacent to the underside of the floor. The one or more fluid pathways provide channels through which a fluid such as moisture vapor may escape from within a flooring system and thereby reduce the accumulation of moisture in the flooring system.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a floor underlayment material comprising a film sheet having an inner surface attached to a foam sheet and an outer surface including a plurality of recesses formed therein. The plurality of recesses define one or more fluid pathways through which a fluid may migrate across the outer surface of the film layer. The underlayment material may be used in a flooring system to help prevent or limit the accumulation of a fluid between the floor and the subfloor. In one embodiment, the underlayment material may be disposed between a subfloor and floor with the outer surface of the film layer being disposed adjacent to the underside of the floor. The one or more fluid pathways provide channels through which a fluid such as moisture vapor may escape from within a flooring system and thereby reduce the accumulation of moisture in the flooring system.

Abstract: The invention is a foam blend comprising a polyethylene, polypropylene, and a rubber component. The foam blend has improved flexibility at sub-zero temperatures without sacrificing the desirable physical characteristics that are commonly associated with polypropylene foams. As a result, the foam is particularly useful for producing articles that require flexibility at temperatures approaching and below 0° F. In some embodiments, the foam blend may have at least 50 percent by weight polypropylene and up to about 45 percent by weight polyethylene. The rubber component in the blend may be from about 3 to 10 weight percent, with 5 weight percent being particularly useful. The foam blends are suitable for producing a variety of articles where it is desirable to have improved flexibility at cold temperatures. In a particularly useful application, the foam blend may be used in concrete expansion joint fillers or totes.