Abstract: A volume-filling mechanical structure for modifying a crash including: a bolster system defined by an outer bolster and an inner bolster; a honeycomb celled material expandable from a dormant state to a deployed state, the honeycomb celled material disposed intermediate the outer and inner bolsters cooperatively positioned with the honeycomb celled material to cover surfaces defining the honeycomb celled material in the deployed and dormant states; a means for deploying the honeycomb celled material from the dormant state to the deployed state causing the outer bolster to translate away from the inner bolster; and a tether operably connecting one end of the honeycomb celled material to the means for deploying the honeycomb celled material from the dormant state to the deployed state.

Abstract: A volume-filling mechanical structure for modifying a crash includes a bolster system defined by an outer bolster and an inner bolster, a honeycomb celled material expandable from a dormant state to a deployed state, the honeycomb celled material disposed intermediate the outer and inner bolsters cooperatively positioned with the honeycomb celled material to cover surfaces defining the honeycomb celled material in the deployed and dormant states, and a means for deploying the honeycomb celled material from the dormant state to the deployed state causing the outer bolster to translate away from the inner bolster.

Abstract: An instrument panel for a vehicle defines a cavity. A storage console is selectively movable within the cavity to provide enhanced accessibility of stored items within the storage console. In an exemplary embodiment, the storage console is a drawer that is selectively movable from a stowed position inside the cavity to an extended position outside the cavity for access by a vehicle user in a passenger compartment. In another exemplary embodiment, the console is movable between an elevated position in which the console occupies space inaccessible to a vehicle user, and a lowered position in which the console is accessible through an opening in the instrument panel.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a portable lighting assembly for an automotive vehicle having a container that includes a moveable door operable to close the container, a light housing mount, and at least one electrical contact connected to a vehicle electric system. The portable lighting assembly includes a light housing having a light and an element for operatively engaging the at least one electrical contact in the container and a power source disposed in the housing that is selectively electrically connected to the light and the element in the light housing. The light housing is removably mounted to the housing mount and has a switch operatively engaging the power source. The switch is operable to deenergize the light when the door is in a closed position and energize the light when the door is in an open position.

Abstract: A work stand comprises a base having top and bottom sides and a tubular support member extending downwardly from said bottom side. Three legs are spaced apart about the support member and have upper ends pivotally attached to the base and lower ends below the support member for engaging an underlying surface to support the base above said surface. A collar is slidable on the tubular support member between upper and lower positions relative to the base, and links between the collar and legs provide for displacing the legs between extended and retracted positions relative to the support member when the collar is moved along the support member. A handle is mounted on the sleeve for displacing the sleeve and thus the legs between the extended and retracted positions thereof and for carrying the stand in the retracted position of the legs. A latch on the base and a keeper provided by the handle interengage in the retracted position of the legs to releasably hold the legs in the retracted position.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for adjusting a clock time setting in a vehicle. The system includes a global positioning system that is in communication with a vehicle control module and has a memory that stores geographical data corresponding to time settings for regional time zones. The method includes the steps of determining in which of the regional time zones the vehicle is located, detecting a difference between the vehicle clock time setting and the time setting for the regional time zone in which the vehicle is located, adjusting the vehicle clock time setting if the control module is configured to automatically adjust the vehicle clock time setting, and sending a clock adjustment prompt to a vehicle operator interface if the control module is not configured to automatically adjust the vehicle clock time setting.

Abstract: A light activation system is provided for automatically illuminating a compartment in an automobile. The system comprises a light adapted to illuminate the compartment, a lighting circuit that activates and deactivates the light, and a distance sensor, electrically coupled to the lighting circuit, and adapted to cause the light to be activated when a person is within a predetermined distance from the compartment. A method is also provided for automatically illuminating a compartment in an automobile having a light that is adapted to illuminate the compartment, and a lighting circuit that activates and deactivates the light. The method comprises the step of activating the light when a person is within a predetermined distance from the compartment using a distance sensor that is electrically coupled to the lighting circuit.

Abstract: A method is provided for distributing a recall notification to an automobile equipped with an in-vehicle communications system. The method comprises the steps of providing a telematics service center with identification information corresponding to the automobile, matching the identification information with the corresponding in-vehicle communications system, and wirelessly transmitting the recall notification to the in-vehicle communications system. A system for distributing a recall notification to a vehicle, and a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle communications system are also provided to carry out the method.

Abstract: Methods and an apparatus are provided for producing owners manual information related to operation of a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a display system, an input device configured to generate a control signal in response to actuation by an operator of the vehicle, and a control module that is configured to sense an event of the vehicle and generate an output signal corresponding to the event. In addition, the apparatus further comprises a display control module configured to receive the control signal generated by the input device and the output signal generated by the control module. The display control module is further configured to control the display system in order to produce a visual representation of the owners manual information related to operation of the vehicle in response to the control signal and the outputsignal.

Abstract: A method and a media system of/for presenting an information item from a first set of information items. The media system can be a Web-TV, a browser or a Web device. In the method and the media system each information item of the first set of information items is accessible by a reference (link, an URL Web or Wap address), where each reference for a given information item comprises a second set of preferences, and where each preference of the second set is having a predetermined value. The preferences can be set to present the media content item with no content at all, with sound, with images, with no text, with audio, with a generated speech, with links, an alert to an incoming call or a SMS received.

Abstract: In a DSM-CC receiver (12), a signal comprising a periodically repeated plurality of data sections is received. Storage means (14) is provided for caching the data sections included in the signal, and said storage means incorporates a file management mechanism based on file names. Each data section is received (100) under a corresponding file name, and the received file names are modified (140) within the receiver to distinguish between previous or subsequent versions of the same data sections of the signal that are stored in said storage means. Files currently in use are not overwritten, but are marked (135) for later deletion (155). Individual files can be extracted from DSM-CC modules and cache. In this case, individual file names are modified by reference to version information received for the module as a whole.

Abstract: Handheld display devices have often limited display capabilities. In order to view a full HTML page (200), a method is provided that splits the original page into less complex units (210, 206, 208, 204, 212, 214, 202) so that they can be best displayed on these small devices. The document is parsed into a tree structure and the complexity of the tree is calculated. Depending on the complexity it is decided which part of the document must be displayed onto a new page.

Abstract: A thin film piezoelectric material employs a metallic backer plate to provide high output, non-resonant ultrasonic transmissions suitable for quantitative ultrasonic measurement and/or imaging.

Abstract: A thin film piezoelectric material employs an array of metallic backer plates to provide high output, non-resonant ultrasonic transmission and reception suitable for ultrasonic measurement and/or imaging.

Abstract: A container for a manually operable oil dispenser for use with metal working machines comprises a bucket providing a reservoir for oil to be dispensed and a pan in the bucket for catching oil and chips dropping thereinto and for returning the oil to the bucket. The bucket has a bottom, a sidewall and an annular upper end, and the pan has an apertured bottom spaced above the bottom of the bucket, a sidewall inwardly of the sidewall of the bucket and an upper end overlying and slidable circumferentially relative to the upper end of the bucket. The bucket and pan have locking members interengaging during relative sliding displacement therebetween to releasably interengage the bucket and pan against separation. The bottom and sidewall of the bucket are contoured to minimize the volume of oil necessary in the reservoir area for continual operation of the dispenser, and the bucket is provided with a bulkhead fitting for attachment to a dispensing pump hose at an angle of 45° to horizontal.

Abstract: A spray head or spray head insert is provided for use in at least one of a shower head, an industrial spray head and an agricultural spray head including a plurality of groups of nozzles, each group of nozzles having at least two nozzles that are suitable for issuing jets of fluid from a surface of the spray head or spray head insert and are dimensioned and oriented, at least in use, so that fluid exiting the said at least two nozzles under pressure collides, interacts substantially unimpeded by surrounding structures and breaks into droplets.

Abstract: In a DSM-CC receiver (12), a signal comprising a periodically repeated plurality of data sections is received. Storage means (14) are provided for catching the data sections included in the signal (13) where the act of accessing a data section results in a reference being created, this reference being removed when no longer being accessed. A reference count is kept for each data section such that a data section is marked for deletion if its reference count falls to zero. There is a further aspect where the storage means (14) are defragmented by noting the data sections that are being referenced and then, in any order, compacting these referenced data sections by relocating them together in one part of the storage means (14) and updating the values of pointers that referred to the moved cells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for tracking a signal source using an antenna with a predetermined beamwidth. The method includes the steps of measuring a signal level from the signal source along an arc within the beamwidth of the antenna, determining a rate of change of the measured signal level along the arc and solving for a position on the arc where the determined rate of change of the signal level substantially equals zero.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for tracking a signal source using an antenna with a predetermined beamwidth. The method includes the steps of measuring a signal level from the signal source along an arc within the beamwidth of the antenna, determining a rate of change of the measured signal level along the arc and solving for a position on the arc where the determined rate of change of the signal level substantially equals zero.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reclaiming memory space allocated to data structures comprising data objects linked by identifying pointers. A repetitious cycle is performed including the following steps of traversing the data structures to identify and mark active data objects, deleting data objects that were marked as garbage during the previous cycle, marking data objects not marked as active as garbage, and executing the finalizer of any data object marked as garbage having a finalizer.