Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve projecting an interactive scene onto a surface from a projecting object. In one particular embodiment, the interactive scene is projected from a vehicle and may be utilized by the vehicle to provide a scene or image that a user may interact with through various gestures detected by the system. In addition, the interactive scene may be customized to one or more preferences determined by the system, such as user preferences, system preferences, or preferences obtained through feedback from similar systems. Based on one or more user inputs (such as user gestures received at the system), the projected scene may be altered or new scenes may be projected. In addition, control over some aspects of the vehicle (such as unlocking of doors, starting of the motor, etc.) may be controlled through the interactive scene and the detected gestures of the users.

Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide localization systems and methods using surface imaging. In one implementation, a raw image of a target surface is captured using at least one imager. The raw image is encoded into a template using at least one transform. The template specifies a course direction and an intensity gradient at one or more spatial frequencies of a pattern of the target surface. The template is compared to a subset of reference templates selected from a gallery stored in one or more storage media. A location of the target surface is identified when the template matches a reference template in the subset.

Abstract: Lighting may be provided using light sources such as lighting systems with arrays of light-emitting diodes. A lighting system may be integrated into a seat, a door panel, a dashboard, or other interior portions of a system such as a vehicle. The interior portions of the vehicle may be illuminated using lighting systems to provide ambient light, to provide custom surface textures and other decorative patterns, to provide icons, text, and other information, and to provide custom gauges and other illuminated regions. Illuminated regions may overlap sensors such as capacitive touch sensors, force sensors, and other sensors. The light-emitting diodes in a lighting system may supply light that passes through openings in a cover layer. The layer may be formed from fabric, leather, or other materials. Lens structures may guide light through the openings.

Abstract: A lighting system may include one or more light sources and one or more light guides. A lighting system may be integrated into a window, a skylight, an exterior light such as a headlight, a tail light, or a high center-mounted stop light, or other exterior or interior portions of a system such as a vehicle. The light guide may be embedded in an adhesive layer in a vehicle structure. The light guide may be index-matched to the adhesive layer so that unilluminated portions of the light guide are indistinguishable from the vehicle structure. The light guide may be formed from optical fibers. The optical fibers may include a light-scattering optical fiber that scatters light out of the vehicle structure. The light-scattering optical fiber may be fused to a non-scattering optical fiber that guides light from a light source to the light-scattering optical fiber.

Abstract: A method of unlocking a locked device includes receiving a device identifier over a wireless communication protocol, determining if the device identifier is associated with a list of trusted devices, transmitting a request to generate an acoustic signal over the wireless communication protocol based on the determination, receiving the acoustic signal as an audio sound generated external to the locked device, estimating a distance between a source of the audio sound and the locked device, and unlocking the locked device based on the estimation.

Abstract: A retroreflector system including an outer body panel coupled to a vehicle, wherein the outer body panel is configured to allow a radar signal originating from an external radar device to pass through the outer body panel. The retroreflector system also includes a plurality of retroreflectors embedded in the vehicle, where the plurality of retroreflectors is configured to reflect the signal to the external signal source as a reflected signal, and where the plurality of retroreflectors is configured to have a peak reflectivity for a radar wavelength range or a light detection and ranging (lidar) wavelength range.

Abstract: A lighting system may include one or more light sources and one or more light guides. A lighting system may be integrated into a window, a skylight, an exterior light such as a headlight, a tail light, or a high center-mounted stop light, or other exterior or interior portions of a system such as a vehicle. The light guide may be embedded in an adhesive layer in a vehicle structure. The light guide may be index-matched to the adhesive layer so that unilluminated portions of the light guide are indistinguishable from the vehicle structure. The light guide may be formed from optical fibers. The optical fibers may include a light-scattering optical fiber that scatters light out of the vehicle structure. The light-scattering optical fiber may be fused to a non-scattering optical fiber that guides light from a light source to the light-scattering optical fiber.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including determining a current state of a vehicle, the current state determined based on information from sensors, receiving a lighting control signal based on the information received from the sensors, and activating an adjustable and controllable spotlight based on the lighting control signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a transparent structure. The structure may include at least one light source, a transparent light-carrying guide layer optically coupled with the at least one light source. The structure may include refractive layers where a light absorbing feature is operably associated with the light-carrying guide layer to absorb any light not internally reflected in the light guide layer, at least adjacent the light source.

Abstract: A retroreflector system including an outer body panel coupled to a vehicle, wherein the outer body panel is configured to allow a radar signal originating from an external radar device to pass through the outer body panel. The retroreflector system also includes a plurality of retroreflectors embedded in the vehicle, where the plurality of retroreflectors is configured to reflect the signal to the external signal source as a reflected signal, and where the plurality of retroreflectors is configured to have a peak reflectivity for a radar wavelength range or a light detection and ranging (lidar) wavelength range.

Abstract: A vehicle may have a head-up display that produces a display output allowing a viewer in the vehicle to observe two-dimensional or three-dimensional content. The head-up display may include a display unit that produces the display output and an optical combiner on a vehicle window that directs the display output towards the viewer. The optical combiner may be a holographic or diffractive optical element or may be an array of angled reflectors such as micromirrors embedded in an index-matching material. Optical combiners formed from holographic elements may be configured to reflect light at an angle of reflection that is different than the angle of incidence, thereby allowing light to reach a viewer's eyes even when the head-up display reflects light off of a side window on a vehicle door. A holographic optical element may include volume holographic media such as photopolymers or holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including determining a current state of a vehicle, the current state determined based on information from sensors, receiving a tinting control signal based on the current state of the vehicle, and adjusting a voltage level of an adjustable tint film to control a tinting level of an exterior facing surface of the vehicle based on the tinting control signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a method for determining the location of a device. The current disclosure presents a technique for identifying the location of the device using a secondary device. In one embodiment, the secondary device retrieves the location of a parked vehicle. Using the location of the parked vehicle in conjunction with its own location, the secondary device is able to determine a route to the parked vehicle. Sensors are used to parametric data. Wireless networks are also used to obtain localization information.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide an autonomous navigation system which enables autonomous navigation of a vehicle along one or more portions of a driving route based on monitoring, at the vehicle, various features of the route as the vehicle is manually navigated along the route to develop a characterization of the route. The characterization is progressively updated with repeated manual navigations along the route, and autonomous navigation of the route is enabled when a confidence indicator of the characterization meets a threshold indication. Characterizations can be updated in response to the vehicle encountering changes in the route and can include a set of driving rules associated with the route, where the driving rules are developed based on monitoring the navigation of one or more vehicles of the route. Characterizations can be uploaded to a remote system which processes data to develop and refine route characterizations and provide characterizations to one or more vehicles.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, devices, and the like, for controlling the projection of an array of lights or an image from a headlight of a vehicle in response to information provided by one or more sensors or user inputs. The projection may be utilized to highlight an object in or near the path of travel of a vehicle. In another example, the headlight may be controlled to adjust the contrast across the field of view of the headlight. In addition, the system may project one or more images onto an object or surface either in the path of the vehicle or within the field of view of the headlight, projecting a “next step” in a series of navigation instructions onto the road, and/or projecting an indication of a movement of the vehicle to warn people around the vehicle of the movement of the vehicle. One or more visual effects may also be incorporated into the system to enhance the visibility of objects.

Abstract: A system such as a vehicle system, building, or electrical equipment may be provided with one or more optical components. The optical components may include a near-infrared camera or other components that operate at near-infrared wavelengths. A visible-light-reflecting-and-infrared-light-transmitting layer may overlap the optical component. The visible-light-reflecting-and-infrared-light-transmitting layer may have an infrared-transparent substrate. A polymer layer may be formed on the substrate and may contain plasmonic nanoparticles that reflect white light. Colorant may be incorporated into the polymer layer or into an additional polymer coating to impart a desired color to the reflected white light and thereby provide the visible-light-reflecting-and-infrared-light-transmitting layer with a desired appearance.

Abstract: Systems are presented for improving side mirror functionality of a vehicle. In one embodiment, the systems involve a side mirror with an adjustable profile. The systems include an actuator for altering the adjustable profile of a mirror in response to signals from a sensor (e.g., a camera). The mirror is coupled to a side of the vehicle through the actuator. In another embodiment, the systems involve an integrated side mirror. The systems include a first transmissive optic, a second transmissive optic, and at least one optical element that enable a field of view to be seen through a portion of the vehicle. In an additional embodiment, the systems involve a display system for integrating side-mirror functionality into a display image. The display system includes an image processing unit and a display unit for forming a display image at a location visible to a driver. The display image includes a field of view imaged by a sensor. Other systems are presented.

Abstract: A window or other component may have glass layers and an interposed polymer layer in which a textured light-scattering layer with a diffuse reflectivity is embedded. The textured light-scattering layer may have a textured polymer carrier film coated with a partially reflective layer such as a metal layer. The polymer carrier film may be textured to cause gaps to form within the partially reflective layer. The gaps may be patterned to form ohmic heating current paths or other signal paths through the partially reflective layer. The partially reflective layer may also serve as an electrode in a light modulator such as a liquid crystal light modulator or other light modulator. Images may be projected onto the textured light-scattering layer. The light-scattering layer may also help extract light from a light guiding layer adjacent to the partially reflective layer.

Abstract: A system such as a vehicle system, building, or electrical equipment may be provided with one or more optical components. The optical components may include a near-infrared camera or other components that operate at near-infrared wavelengths. A visible-light-reflecting-and-infrared-light-transmitting layer may overlap the optical component. This overlapping layer may have first and second index-matched layers and an interposed textured layer. The textured layer may be a thin-film interference filter or other coating that is configured to reflect visible light while transmitting infrared light. The transmitted infrared light may pass to the optical component with minimal wavefront distortion due to the index matching of the first and second layers. The texture of the textured layer may cause visible light to reflect diffusely and thereby provide the visible-light-reflecting-and-infrared-light-transmitting layer with a matte appearance.

Abstract: Lighting may be provided using light sources such as lighting systems with arrays of light-emitting diodes. A lighting system may be integrated into a seat, a door panel, a dashboard, or other interior portions of a system such as a vehicle. The interior portions of the vehicle may be illuminated using lighting systems to provide ambient light, to provide custom surface textures and other decorative patterns, to provide icons, text, and other information, and to provide custom gauges and other illuminated regions. Illuminated regions may overlap sensors such as capacitive touch sensors, force sensors, and other sensors. The light-emitting diodes in a lighting system may supply light that passes through openings in a cover layer. The layer may be formed from fabric, leather, or other materials. Lens structures may guide light through the openings.