Abstract: A vehicle communication system facilitates hands-free interaction with a mobile device in a vehicle or elsewhere. Users interact with the system by speaking to it. The system processes text and processes commands. The system supports wireless technology for hands-free use. The system handles telephone calls, email, and SMS text messages. The user can customize the device via a user profile stored on an Internet web server. The system also includes a plurality of power conservation features.

Abstract: A vehicle communication system facilitates hands-free interaction with a mobile device in a vehicle or elsewhere. Users interact with the system by speaking to it. The system processes text and processes commands. The system supports Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free use. The system handles telephone calls, email, and SMS text messages. The user can customize the device via a user profile stored on an Internet web server. The system also includes a plurality of power conservation features.

Abstract: A roof-mounted sensor includes two rows of intersecting electrodes that are placed across an area of the vehicle's roof and a method to determine the position and motion of an occupant. This is accomplished by measuring physical values, which depend on the distance between the highest point of an occupant's body to each electrode in the row. Analysis of the physical values is used to derive an occupant's position relative to each row and the distance between the highest point of an occupant's body and the vehicle's roof. By analyzing the change in distances with respect to time, the occupant's motion can be tracked.

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to sense the presence of a seated occupant in a vehicle such as an automobile, plane, train or bus, or in a room or location where it is desirable to detect if seats are occupied. The occupant presence detection device consists of a single seat-mounted electrode, an oscillator circuit, a bridge circuit, a detection circuit and a circuit for processing the detected signals. The oscillator circuit excites the electrode. If an occupant is present on the seat, additional capacitance from the human body is introduced into the bridge via the electrode. This created differences in the voltage and phase of the waveform in each arm of the bridge circuit which are amplified by a differential amplifier. The signal is then converted to a DC voltage that, when above a predetermined threshold, causes the device to outputs a signal that indicates the presence of an occupant.

Abstract: This invention describes an occupant size and weight detection device consisting of a combination of force/load sensors (1), a head position sensor (2, 3), a multidirectional acceleration sensor (5), and a seat position sensor (4) used to determine the weight of an occupant based on weight distribution, body angle and foot position. The goal of the invention is to determine the weight of an occupant who is sitting in the front seat of a vehicle that is subjected to the dynamic forces resulting from the vehicle moving. This technology can be used in applications such as automotive occupant weight and position sensing for use with safety devices such as airbags.

Abstract: A capacitance based human touch activation and switching device includes an electrode adjacent a hand contact area. The electrode is part of a capacitor and is connected to a detection device that monitors the capacitance. When a user hand is near the electrode, the capacitance increases. Based upon the change in capacitance, the device activates a switch, such as a vehicle horn, dome light or other vehicle accessory.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant proximity sensor includes a transmitting electrode in a vehicle seat and an array of receiving electrodes mounted in the vehicle seat. The sensor determines the capacitance at each of the receiving electrodes, which varies based upon the proximity of the occupant to each receiving electrode, thus producing an array of proximity information indicating in two dimensions the position of the occupant.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant proximity sensor includes a transmitting electrode in a vehicle seat and an array of receiving electrodes mounted in a vehicle headliner above the vehicle seat. The sensor determines the capacitance at each of the receiving electrodes, which varies based upon the proximity of the occupant to each receiving electrode, thus producing an array of proximity information indicating in two dimensions the position of the occupant.

Abstract: This invention describes a roof-mounted sensor consisting of two rows of intersecting electrodes that are placed across an area of the vehicle's roof and a method to determine the position and motion of an occupant. This is accomplished by measuring physical values, which depend on the distance between the highest point of an occupant's body to each electrode in the row. Analysis of said physical values is used to derive an occupant's position relative to each row and the distance between the highest point of an occupant's body and the vehicle's roof. By analyzing the change in distances with respect to time, the occupant's motion can be tracked.

Abstract: This invention describes an occupant size and weight detection device consisting of a combination of force/load sensors (1), a head position sensor (2, 3), a multidirectional acceleration sensor (5), and a seat position sensor (4) used to determine the weight of an occupant based on weight distribution, body angle and foot position. The goal of the invention is to determine the weight of an occupant who is sitting in the front seat of a vehicle that is subjected to the dynamic forces resulting from the vehicle moving. This technology can be used in applications such as automotive occupant weight and position sensing for use with safety devices such as airbags.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant proximity sensor includes a transmitting electrode in a vehicle seat and an array of receiving electrodes mounted in a vehicle headliner above the vehicle seat. The sensor determines the capacitance at each of the receiving electrodes, which varies based upon the proximity of the occupant to each receiving electrode, thus producing an array of proximity information indicating in two dimensions the position of the occupant.

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to sense the presence of a seated occupant in a vehicle such as an automobile, plane, train or bus, or in a room or location where it is desirable to detect if seats are occupied. The occupant presence detection device consists of a single seat-mounted electrode, an oscillator circuit, a bridge circuit, a detection circuit and a circuit for processing the detected signals. The oscillator circuit excites the electrode. If an occupant is present on the seat, additional capacitance from the human body is introduced into the bridge via the electrode. This created differences in the voltage and phase of the waveform in each arm of the bridge circuit which are amplified by a differential amplifier. The signal is then converted to a DC voltage that, when above a predetermined threshold, causes the device to outputs a signal that indicates the presence of an occupant.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant proximity sensor includes a transmitting electrode in a vehicle seat and an array of receiving electrodes mounted in a vehicle headliner above the vehicle seat. The sensor determines the capacitance at each of the receiving electrodes, which varies based upon the proximity of the occupant to each receiving electrode, thus producing an array of proximity information indicating in two dimensions the position of the occupant.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant proximity sensor includes a transmitting electrode in a vehicle seat and an array of receiving electrodes mounted in the vehicle seat. The sensor determines the capacitance at each of the receiving electrodes, which varies based upon the proximity of the occupant to each receiving electrode, thus producing an array of proximity information indicating in two dimensions the position of the occupant.

Abstract: A gas turbine arrangement includes a compressor (2) with a compressor rotor (7), a turbine (3) with a turbine rotor (12) and connected with the compressor (2), and a balancing member (18) connected with the turbine rotor (12) and arranged to counteract axial forces generated by the compressor rotor (7) and the turbine rotor (12). The balancing member (18) is arranged to be activated by a pressure fluid. The arrangement includes at least one channel (26) which is arranged to lead at least a part of the pressure fluid used for activation to at least a part of the turbine (3) for influencing the temperature of the turbine part, and where the part of the turbine (3) is a rotor portion (13), wherein the balancing member (18) is attached to that end of the turbine rotor (12) which is located downstream, and where the channel (26) leads to a space (25) which is formed between the end of the turbine rotor (3) and the balancing member (18).

Abstract: The invention refers to a component defining a blade or a vane for a rotary machine having a rotor rotatable about an axis. The component includes an inner space forming a passage for a cooling fluid between first and second walls. First ribs project from the fist wall and extend essentially in parallel to each other to form fist channels for the fluid from a leading part of the inner space to a trailing part of the space. The first ribs extend in a first direction forming a first angle of inclination to the axis in the leading part and in a second direction forming a second angle of inclination to the axis in the trailing part. The first angle is greater than the second angle.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant proximity sensor includes a transmitting electrode in a vehicle seat and an array of receiving electrodes mounted in a vehicle headliner above the vehicle seat. The sensor determines the capacitance at each of the receiving electrodes, which varies based upon the proximity of the occupant to each receiving electrode, thus producing an array of proximity information indicating in two dimensions the position of the occupant.