Abstract: Vehicle park assist systems and a method of operating a vehicle including an operably attached trailer. The vehicle park assist system includes a transmitter arrangement to produce incident energy on an obstacle, and a sensor arrangement to detect reflected energy from the obstacle. A controller determines an obstacle status based on the reflected energy, and detects attachment of a trailer to the vehicle. A warning apparatus operably coupled to the controller indicates the obstacle status. The warning apparatus is regulated based on the attachment of the trailer to the vehicle. The method includes providing a vehicle park assist system, detecting the attachment of the trailer to the vehicle, and regulating the vehicle park assist system based on the attachment of the trailer to the vehicle.

Abstract: A convertible top position sensing system uses rear view mirror mounted compass electronics to detect the position of a convertible top. The sensing system includes a measurement device for measuring a magnetic field intensity, and a filtering module for filtering an artificial magnetic field intensity from the measured magnetic field intensity. The artificial magnetic field intensity is produced by the convertible top. A processing module determines a convertible top position based on the artificial magnetic field intensity. Magnetic field variance information is used in filtering the artificial magnetic field intensity from the measured magnetic field intensity. The sensing system is used in a sound control system for a convertible top vehicle, where a body control module adjusts a radio output parameter such as volume or equalization based on the convertible top position. Using pre-existing compass electronics eliminates the need for additional top position switching components.

Abstract: A wake-up circuit is provided for a vehicle control module interconnected via a bus network to a vehicle data communication system of a motor vehicle. The wake-up circuit includes an input voltage source; a bus detection stage for detecting bus activity on the bus network, an input stage for supplying the input voltage, and an output stage for supplying an output voltage to the vehicle control module. In operation, the bus detection stage provides an input signal in response to detecting bus activity on the bus network. In response to receiving the input signal from the bus detection stage, the input stage supplies a voltage from the input stage to the output stage. The output stage in turn regulates the output voltage to the vehicle control module.

Abstract: A trip computer is incorporated into a rearview mirror assembly for displaying trip information to the driver of a motor vehicle. The mirror assembly includes a reflective element, a housing for the reflective element, a trip computer for determining vehicle trip information, and a display device for displaying the vehicle trip information, where the display device is electrically connected to the trip computer and embedded within the reflective element.