Abstract: A dispensing system in a vehicle comprises a dispensing device 22 enabled to provide a desired scent or antidote, a gas detection unit 24 enabled to detect undesirable gases and odors, and a controller 20 enabled to provide electrical controls to the dispensing device 22.

Abstract: A method for aiding emergency vehicle navigation includes a first step (100) of calculating a travel route for the emergency vehicle from a starting point to a destination point. A next step (102) includes establishing a location of any non-emergency vehicle in proximity to the emergency vehicle. A next step (104) includes determining a likelihood of the non-emergency vehicle and emergency vehicle encountering each other. A next step (106) includes providing navigational information to the non-emergency vehicle to re-route the non-emergency vehicle out of the path of the emergency vehicle if the vehicles are likely to encounter each other. Likelihood can be based on whether the vehicles are on the same navigational road segment or by a time or distance when the vehicles will intercept each other.

Abstract: A dynamic audio control circuit (10) and method receives audio type information (70) or audio information (670) embedded in an audio signal (72, 672) and in response dynamically adjusts the audio signal (72, 672) without user intervention. The dynamic audio control circuit (10) may adjust equalization and time delay parameters based on, for example, an audio spectrum analysis of the received audio information (670) embedded in the audio signal (672). According to one embodiment, the audio type information (70) may be, for example, descriptive information such as station and program information transmitted along with a standard radio, television or satellite broadcast. According to another embodiment, the audio type information (70) may be equalization and time delay settings associated with the audio signal (72).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for detecting a potential collision between a plurality of vehicles and alerting the operator to the potential collision. If the operator fails to heed the alert, the system may also assume control of the vehicle until the dangerous situation is passed. In connection with these systems, each vehicle is equipped with a telematics system that defines a safe perimeter around the vehicle. The safe perimeter is constantly changed in response to the velocity and acceleration of the vehicle. The telematics system is in communication with the telematics systems of other vehicles in the vicinity and the systems exchange data about the current extent of their safe perimeters. If a telematics system detects the impingement of one of the other safe perimeters into its safe perimeter, the alert is triggered.

Abstract: A vehicular adapter system is described having wireless local area network (WLAN) capabilities. The adapter system includes an adapter configured to plug into a cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle. The adapter has a WLAN module contained therein, and is configured to electrically couple the WLAN module to a wireless communication device. The WLAN module is operable to communicate with other WLAN-enabled devices in the vehicle, such as a head unit with another embedded WLAN module. The interoperability of the WLAN modules provide hands-free audio operation of a radiotelephone that is not WLAN-enabled using existing vehicular audio transducers.