Abstract: A vehicle interior panel includes a thermoelectric air conditioner capable of providing conditioned air locally within a passenger cabin of the vehicle. Air is drawn from the passenger cabin through an intake port in the panel, conditioned locally along a back side of the panel by a thermoelectric device, and discharged back into the cabin through a discharge port in the panel. Additional air flows along a waste side of the thermoelectric device and can be discharged outside the passenger cabin. The panel can be an interior door panel from which the waste side air is discharged within a B-pillar of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A vehicle interior panel includes a thermoelectric air conditioner capable of providing conditioned air locally within a passenger cabin of the vehicle. Air is drawn from the passenger cabin through an intake port in the panel, conditioned locally along a back side of the panel by a thermoelectric device, and discharged back into the cabin through a discharge port in the panel. Additional air flows along a waste side of the thermoelectric device and can be discharged outside the passenger cabin. The panel can be an interior door panel from which the waste side air is discharged within a B-pillar of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A door module is equipped with an inflatable bladder configured to move an interior trim panel away from the door and toward a vehicle occupant in the event of a collision. The result is reduced occupant movement, additional absorption of kinetic energy, and distribution of remaining energy over an increased surface area. The bladder can have an accordion-like configuration that unfolds when changing from a deflated state to an inflated state, and more than one bladder can be used to control which portions of the trim panel move relative to each other.

Abstract: A cupholder assembly for storing waste in a vehicle. The cupholder assembly includes a cup compartment having a cup supporting surface configured to support a cup stored in the cup compartment. The cup supporting surface includes an opening area which provides access to a storage compartment for waste. The storage compartment is slidably stowable beneath the cup compartment. The storage compartment can include a waste bag attachment mechanism for convenient storage and removal of waste. The cupholder assembly may be integrated with a vehicle center console.

Abstract: A door module is equipped with an inflatable bladder configured to move an interior trim panel away from the door and toward a vehicle occupant in the event of a collision. The result is reduced occupant movement, additional absorption of kinetic energy, and distribution of remaining energy over an increased surface area. The bladder can have an accordion-like configuration that unfolds when changing from a deflated state to an inflated state, and more than one bladder can be used to control which portions of the trim panel move relative to each other.

Abstract: A cupholder assembly for storing waste in a vehicle. The cupholder assembly includes a cup compartment having a cup supporting surface configured to support a cup stored in the cup compartment. The cup supporting surface includes an opening area which provides access to a storage compartment for waste. The storage compartment is slidably stowable beneath the cup compartment. The storage compartment can include a waste bag attachment mechanism for convenient storage and removal of waste. The cupholder assembly may be integrated with a vehicle center console.

Abstract: A decorative covering for a vehicle interior panel is made from two sheets of material joined together at a seam. The sheets of material have matching alignment features along respective edges to aid in visual alignment during the joining operation. The alignment features are spaced along the edge of a decorative layer, and cutouts are formed along a corresponding edge of an attached backing layer such that each alignment feature is visible through one of the cutouts when viewed from the back side. The cutouts are larger than the alignment features and formed before the two layers are laminated together, effectively increasing allowable tolerances during lamination. This construction is particularly useful with leather, which is often subjected to cut-and-sew operations and used with a backing layer.

Abstract: A decorative covering for a vehicle interior panel is made from two sheets of material joined together at a seam. The sheets of material have matching alignment features along respective edges to aid in visual alignment during the joining operation. The alignment features are spaced along the edge of a decorative layer, and cutouts are formed along a corresponding edge of an attached backing layer such that each alignment feature is visible through one of the cutouts when viewed from the back side. The cutouts are larger than the alignment features and formed before the two layers are laminated together, effectively increasing allowable tolerances during lamination. This construction is particularly useful with leather, which is often subjected to cut-and-sew operations and used with a backing layer.

Abstract: A data gathering system associated with a machine operating at a worksite is provided. The data gathering system includes a base station located at the worksite and an unmanned aerial device (UAD) in communication with the base station and the machine. The UAD includes an image capturing unit for capturing images of an area around the machine and a controller in communication with the image capturing unit. The controller receives a first input from the machine indicative of one or more machine parameters, and receives a second input from the image capturing unit indicative of the images of the area around the machine. The controller further determines multiple operational parameters associated with an operation of the machine based on the first input and the second input, and transmits the determined multiple operational parameters to at least one of the machine and the base station.

Abstract: A data gathering system associated with a machine operating at a worksite is provided. The data gathering system includes a base station located at the worksite and an unmanned aerial device (UAD) in communication with the base station and the machine. The UAD includes an image capturing unit for capturing images of an area around the machine and a controller in communication with the image capturing unit. The controller receives a first input from the machine indicative of one or more machine parameters, and receives a second input from the image capturing unit indicative of the images of the area around the machine. The controller further determines multiple operational parameters associated with an operation of the machine based on the first input and the second input, and transmits the determined multiple operational parameters to at least one of the machine and the base station.

Abstract: An emergency-use-only cellular phone provides for contacting and establishing full-duplex voice communication with emergency personnel at either a public emergency response service or a private roadside assistance service. The phone automatically places a cellular call to the public emergency response service with a single press of a first activation button, and to the private roadside assistance service with a single press of a second activation button. When either activation button is pressed, the following functions are initiated: (1) electrical power from a power supply is provided to a cellular transmitter and receiver, (2) the cellular receiver is activated to search for an available channel from among A or B cellular system channels, (3) an emergency telephone number corresponding to the selected service is accessed from memory, and (4) the cellular transmitter is activated to establish communication with the selected emergency response service.

Abstract: An emergency-use-only cellular phone provides for contacting and establishing full-duplex voice communication with emergency personnel at either a public emergency response service or a private roadside assistance service. The phone automatically places a cellular call to the public emergency response service with a single press of a first activation button, and to the private roadside assistance service with a single press of a second activation button. When either activation button is pressed, the following functions are initiated: (1) electrical power from a power supply is provided to a cellular transmitter and receiver, (2) the cellular receiver is activated to search for an available channel from among A or B cellular system channels, (3) an emergency telephone number corresponding to the selected service is accessed from memory, and (4) the cellular transmitter is activated to establish communication with the selected emergency response service.

Abstract: An emergency-use-only cellular phone provides for contacting and establishing full-duplex voice communication with emergency personnel at either a public emergency response service or a private roadside assistance service. The phone automatically places a cellular call to the public emergency response service with a single press of a first activation button, and to the private roadside assistance service with a single press of a second activation button. When either activation button is pressed, the following functions are initiated: (1) electrical power from a power supply is provided to a cellular transmitter and receiver, (2) the cellular receiver is activated to search for an available channel from among A or B cellular system channels, (3) an emergency telephone number corresponding to the selected service is accessed from memory, and (4) the cellular transmitter is activated to establish communication with the selected emergency response service.

Abstract: An emergency-use-only cellular phone provides for contacting and establishing full-duplex voice communication with emergency personnel at either a public emergency response service or a private roadside assistance service. The phone automatically places a cellular call to the public emergency response service with a single press of a first activation button, and to the private roadside assistance service with a single press of a second activation button. When either activation button is pressed, the following functions are initiated: (1) electrical power from a power supply is provided to a cellular transmitter and receiver, (2) the cellular receiver is activated to search for an available channel from among A or B cellular system channels, (3) an emergency telephone number corresponding to the selected service is accessed from memory, and (4) the cellular transmitter is activated to establish communication with the selected emergency response service.

Abstract: A thermostat system for controlling activation of a temperature management system is operable in an energy-savings mode for enhancing energy savings and in a comfort mode for enhancing comfort, where the operating mode is selectable by a user. The thermostat system has operating mode control circuitry which includes (1) a manual mode control operable to cause the operating mode control circuit to switch between the energy-savings and the comfort states when pressed by the user, (2) a wireless receiver for receiving a wireless mode switching signal that causes the operating mode switching circuitry to switch between the energy-savings and the comfort states, and (3) telephone communication circuitry for receiving a telephonic mode switching signal that causes the operating mode switching circuitry to switch between the energy-savings and the comfort states. Thus, the present invention offers at least three convenient ways for the user to switch between energy-savings and comfort modes of operation.