Abstract: A thermostat and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, multiple wireless transceivers are located within a housing, which also interconnectively includes a processor, memory, and a camera. To improve convenience, the thermostat may establish a pairing with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device having a display. Virtual remote control functionality for various amenities may then be provided. To improve safety, the thermostat may be incorporated into a geolocation and safety network and, under certain conditions, the thermostat may provide a video feed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laminate material having a polyester film and a web of polyester fibers cohesively bonded directly thereto, such that portions of the fibers are bonded to the polyester film and portions of the fibers are free from the polyester film. The invention may also include a glass reinforced polymer layer formed on the laminated facer where the polymer of the glass reinforced polymer layer is commingled with the nonwoven of the laminated facer. The laminate may further include a second polymer layer having a thickness joined to the fiber layer and/or a layer of hot melt adhesive applied to the polyester fibers. Also presented is a composite material having a polyester film, a layer of polyester fibers bonded to the second polymer layer; a second polymer layer joined to the polyester film; and a glass reinforced polymer layer formed on the laminated facer, where the polymer of the class reinforced polymer layer is commingled with the nonwoven of the laminated facer.

Abstract: A cruise control system is provided with the ability to inhibit operation of a cruise control resume function which returns a vehicle to a target vehicle speed. The resume inhibition is inhibited when values of vehicle parameters exceed threshold values, such as a road wheel angle being greater than a threshold angle, detection of an object such as another vehicle adjacent to the vehicle, and/or a vehicle speed being lower than a threshold speed. The ability to inhibit the cruise control resume function enhances safety by avoiding unexpected or otherwise undesired vehicle acceleration when the steering wheels turned at a large angle and an adjacent object is present, thereby minimizing the chances of the turning vehicle colliding with the adjacent object.

Abstract: A vehicle lane management system and a method of operating a vehicle lane management system is provided. The lane management system minimizes unnecessary driver warnings regarding lane departure and/or vehicle operation intervention actions to alter lane position when a vehicle is to be operated in a turn in conditions where the driver is or will be intentionally placing wheels of the vehicle outside of lane boundaries. The conditions for suppressing lane departure warnings and/or interventions include a vehicle speed being below a threshold speed and an upcoming turn radius being below a predetermined minimum turn radius.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a method and apparatus for an air charging system controller for an air braked vehicle are disclosed. The air charging system controller comprises an input for receiving conditions of the vehicle, an output for controlling a compressor in a normal mode and in a high demand mode and control logic. The control logic determines whether the vehicle meets a predetermined condition and controls the compressor in the high demand mode in response to the vehicle meeting the predetermined condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laminate material having a polyester film and a web of polyester fibers cohesively bonded directly thereto, such that portions of the fibers are bonded to the polyester film and portions of the fibers are free from the polyester film. The invention may also include a glass reinforced polymer layer formed on the laminated facer where the polymer of the glass reinforced polymer layer is commingled with the nonwoven of the laminated facer. The laminate may further include a second polymer layer having a thickness joined to the fiber layer and/or a layer of hot melt adhesive applied to the polyester fibers. Also presented is a composite material having a polyester film, a layer of polyester fibers bonded to the second polymer layer; a second polymer layer joined to the polyester film; and a glass reinforced polymer layer formed on the laminated facer, where the polymer of the class reinforced polymer layer is commingled with the nonwoven of the laminated facer.

Abstract: A system, method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium are provided for creating a freeform field of view mask for a camera in a vehicle to increase the field of view of the camera during operation of the vehicle. The camera captures an image of a portion of the vehicle in front of a calibration screen. A processor includes logic that applies a blurring filter to the captured image to create a blurred image, determines a freeform boundary of a field of view of the camera in the blurred image, creates a field of view mask based on the freeform boundary; and applies the field of view mask to the camera for maximizing the field of view of the camera during operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A brake controller in a vehicle determines braking profiles that may be exercised while operating the vehicle in autonomous or semi-autonomous conditions to decelerate the vehicle based on received commands or that may be exercised automatically in the event of a failure in a communication network of the vehicle or in other systems or components of the vehicle. The braking profiles decelerate the vehicle according to a deceleration profile. The execution of the deceleration profile may be initiated by a single command message received by the brake controller or it may be determined by the brake controller based on vehicle information. A safe state deceleration profile may be preselected by the controlling devices before the occurrence of a failure or an emergency situation, and then executed by the brake controller upon the occurrence of a failure or emergency.

Abstract: A composite board with a multilayer laminated facer is presented having a nonwoven, a first polymer layer, and a second polymer layer. The laminate may be printed on the nonwoven, on the upper surface of the first polymer layer or inverted printed on the backside of an applied film. A number of configurations for the polymer layers are disclosed. The laminate may include exposed fibers on the lower surface or the nonwoven may be saturated. A removable peel-ply may be included. By controlling the placement and thickness of the polymer layers it is possible to tailor additive in the polymers such as colorants, opacifiers, UV stabilizers, and fire retardants to improve quality and reduce costs. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a first polymer layer is applied to the topside of the nonwoven and the second polymer is laminated to the first polymer layer as a preformed film. The laminated facer is thermally or adhesively bonded to the composite board.

Abstract: A system for controlling wheel brakes in a first vehicle platooning with a second vehicle includes a transceiver in the first vehicle that receives a brake command from the second vehicle to apply a wheel brake in the first vehicle. A controller in the first vehicle generates, responsive to the brake command, a first set of control signals that control delivery of fluid pressure to the wheel brake and implement a braking event. The controller may further detect a wheel slip condition indicative of slip in a wheel of the first vehicle during the braking event and generate, when the condition occurs, a second set of control signals to control delivery of fluid pressure to the wheel brake. The control signals are generated in accordance with braking profiles that differ from braking profiles used by the controller during braking events occurring in the absence of the brake command.

Abstract: A brake controller in a vehicle determines braking profiles that may be exercised while operating the vehicle in autonomous or semi-autonomous conditions to decelerate the vehicle based on received commands or that may be exercised automatically in the event of a failure in a communication network of the vehicle or in other systems or components of the vehicle. The braking profiles decelerate the vehicle according to a deceleration profile. The execution of the deceleration profile may be initiated by a single command message received by the brake controller or it may be determined by the brake controller based on vehicle information. A safe state deceleration profile may be preselected by the controlling devices before the occurrence of a failure or an emergency situation, and then executed by the brake controller upon the occurrence of a failure or emergency.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a method and apparatus for an air charging system controller for an air braked vehicle are disclosed. The air charging system controller comprises an input for receiving conditions of the vehicle, an output for controlling a compressor in a normal mode and in a high demand mode and control logic. The control logic determines whether the vehicle meets a predetermined condition and controls the compressor in the high demand mode in response to the vehicle meeting the predetermined condition.

Abstract: When a vehicle experiences an instability event, an instability event trigger (e.g., a failed modulator, unexpected yaw or lateral acceleration, unexpected steering wheel position change, etc.) is monitored and the magnitude thereof is compared to a corresponding predetermined threshold above which corrective action is initiated. Depending on the magnitude and type of instability trigger, one or more wheel ends are identified as candidates for brake activation. Braking force at the identified wheel ends is gradually increased until the vehicle becomes stable or comes to a stop.

Abstract: A system for controlling wheel brakes in a first vehicle platooning with a second vehicle includes a transceiver in the first vehicle that receives a brake command from the second vehicle to apply a wheel brake in the first vehicle. A controller in the first vehicle generates, responsive to the brake command, a first set of control signals that control delivery of fluid pressure to the wheel brake and implement a braking event. The controller may further detect a wheel slip condition indicative of slip in a wheel of the first vehicle during the braking event and generate, when the condition occurs, a second set of control signals to control delivery of fluid pressure to the wheel brake. The control signals are generated in accordance with braking profiles that differ from braking profiles used by the controller during braking events occurring in the absence of the brake command.

Abstract: A system, method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium are provided for creating a freeform field of view mask for a camera in a vehicle to increase the field of view of the camera during operation of the vehicle. The camera captures an image of a portion of the vehicle in front of a calibration screen. A processor includes logic that applies a blurring filter to the captured image to create a blurred image, determines a freeform boundary of a field of view of the camera in the blurred image, creates a field of view mask based on the freeform boundary; and applies the field of view mask to the camera for maximizing the field of view of the camera during operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A controller comprises an electronic communication line configured to receive a system brake request control signal representing a requested system brake application and an identified urgency.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling wheel brakes on a trailer in a tractor-trailer are provided. Upon receiving a command to apply a trailer wheel brake, the system determines a speed of the tractor-trailer responsive to a speed signal generated by a vehicle speed sensor. The system also estimates a threshold speed based on a level of friction between the tractor-trailer and a road surface on which the tractor-trailer is travelling. The system then generates a control signal to control delivery of fluid pressure to the trailer wheel brake. The control signal causes delivery of a first fluid pressure to the trailer wheel brake when the speed meets a predetermined condition relative to the threshold speed and a second fluid pressure, less than the first fluid pressure, when the speed does not meet the predetermined condition.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for a vehicle having a driven rear axle and an undriven rear axle. The apparatus comprises a data storage device arranged to store a slip threshold at which a powertrain braking function is disabled, a first sensor for detecting speed of a wheel on the driven rear axle and providing a first signal indicative thereof, a second sensor for detecting speed of a wheel on the undriven rear axle and providing a second signal indicative thereof, a third sensor for detecting a condition of the vehicle and providing a third signal indicative thereof, and an electronic controller arranged to (i) process at least the first and second signals to provide a fourth signal indicative of an amount of slip, and (ii) modify the stored slip threshold value based on a combination of the third and fourth signals.

Abstract: A composite board with a multilayer laminated facer is presented having a nonwoven, a first polymer layer, and a second polymer layer. The laminate may be printed on the nonwoven, on the upper surface of the first polymer layer or inverted printed on the backside of an applied film. A number of configurations for the polymer layers are disclosed. The laminate may include exposed fibers on the lower surface or the nonwoven may be saturated. A removable peel-ply may be included. By controlling the placement and thickness of the polymer layers it is possible to tailor additive in the polymers such as colorants, opacifiers, UV stabilizers, and fire retardants to improve quality and reduce costs. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a first polymer layer is applied to the topside of the nonwoven and the second polymer is laminated to the first polymer layer as a preformed film. The laminated facer is thermally or adhesively bonded to the composite board.

Abstract: When detecting a maladjusted brake component on a commercial vehicle, wheel end temperature is determined as a function of resistance measured by a wheel speed sensor at a wheel end. The measured temperature is compared to low and high temperature thresholds defined by a thermal model, as well as to one or more other wheel speed sensor temperatures. If the measured temperature is below the low temperature threshold and substantially different than the one or more other wheel speed sensors, the brake is determined to be under-adjusted and brake force at the under-adjusted brake is increased. If the measured temperature is above the high temperature threshold and substantially different than the one or more other wheel speed sensors, then the brake is determined to be over-adjusted, and brake force is reduced or modulated at the over-adjusted brake to prevent overheating.