VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND REPORTING METHOD
Granted: April 26, 2007
Application Number:
20070093947
A system and method for providing user-initiated vehicle diagnostic testing and reporting in a telematics-enabled vehicle. In the method, a request for a vehicle diagnostic test is received from the driver through a user interface of a telematics unit on the vehicle. A simplified initial diagnostic check is made and a first voice message is played for the driver that provides information concerning any detected vehicle problem. The method then undergoes a more complete diagnostic check…
Layered manufactured articles having small-width fluid conduction vents and methods of making same
Granted: January 11, 2007
Application Number:
20070007699
The invention utilizes a layered manufacturing process to produce an article (2) having at least one small-width fluid conduction vent (6) produced during the layered manufacturing process. Such small-width fluid conduction vents (6) may have any desirable cross-sectional shape, orientation, and curvature. The invention also includes articles (2) containing at least one small-width fluid conduction vent (6) wherein the article (2) and the small-width vent or vents (6) are simultaneously…
Stable conductive and hydrophilic fuel cell contact element
Granted: January 4, 2007
Application Number:
20070003813
A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a metal oxide coating that makes the bipolar plate conductive, hydrophilic and stable in the fuel cell environment. Non-limiting examples of suitable doped coatings Ta doped TiO2, Nb doped TiO2 and F doped SnO2. In an alternate embodiment, the metal oxide is a non-stoichiometric metal oxide that includes oxygen vacancies in the lattice structure that provides the conductivity. Non-limiting examples of suitable…
Fuel cell contact element including a TiO2 layer and a conductive layer
Granted: January 4, 2007
Application Number:
20070003815
A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a combination of TiO2 and a conductive material that makes the bipolar plate conductive, hydrophilic and stable in the fuel cell environment. The TiO2 and the conductive material can be deposited on the plate as separate layers or can be combined as a single layer. Either the TiO2 layer or the conductive layer can be deposited first. In one embodiment, the conductive material is gold.
Color Stabilization of Anodized Aluminum Alloys
Granted: November 23, 2006
Application Number:
20060260947
A process is disclosed for stabilizing certain colored anodized coating on aluminum articles against degradation by ultraviolet radiation. Anodized articles colored by an electrolytic or interference process can thereafter be stabilized by heat treating them at temperatures of the order of 350° F. for a period of an hour or so. The process is particularly useful for use on electrolytically colored, anodized vehicular external body panels made from suitably formable sheet metal aluminum…
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY INVENTORYING ELECTRONIC MODULES INSTALLED IN A VEHICLE
Granted: October 19, 2006
Application Number:
20060235579
The invention provides a method and system for remotely inventorying electronic modules installed in a vehicle. A vehicle telematics unit sends an identification request to at least one electronic module. The telematics unit receives at least one electronic module identifier in response to the request. The identifier includes the serial number and software revision for the electronic module. The received identifier is transmitted from the telematics unit to a call center. The call…
Nested bipolar plate for fuel cell and method
Granted: February 9, 2006
Application Number:
20060029840
Between adjacent MEA's is a bipolar plate assembly having a first sub-plate with a flow channel which is open to the anode side of the one of the MEA's. A second sub-plate has a flow channel which is open to the cathode side of the adjacent MEA. The sub-plates are nested together to form a coolant flow channel between the sub-plates. The coolant flow path has a height dimension wherein the distance between the adjacent MEA's is substantially unaffected by the height dimension of the…
Composition and method for surface treatment of oxidized metal
Granted: December 1, 2005
Application Number:
20050267004
The present invention provides an electrically conductive element for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell having low electrical contact resistance and high corrosion resistance. The conductive element comprises a corrosion susceptible metal substrate with a surface, which is preferably treated to activate the surface (i.e. to remove a passivation layer of oxides from the surface) with an acidic treatment solution. The treated surface is then overlaid with an electrically conductive,…
Method for synchronizing clocks in a distributed communication system
Granted: June 30, 2005
Application Number:
20050141565
The invention refers to one of a number of nodes of a communication system. The nodes are connected to a communication media for transmitting data among the nodes. Said one node comprises a communication controller, across which the node is connected to the communication media, and a bus guardian for controlling access of the communication controller to the communication media. In order to provide a cheap but nevertheless reliable way for monitoring the synchronized clock signal of a…
Selective vehicle component control
Granted: December 30, 2004
Application Number:
20040267534
The invention provides a system and method for selective vehicle component control. Receiving a voice recognition engine activation signal activates a voice recognition engine in an in-vehicle telematics unit. A voice command is then received at the voice recognition engine of the in-vehicle telematics unit. A vehicle component control command is sent to a control entity from the in-vehicle telematics unit based on the voice command received. Another aspect of the invention provides a…
Method and system for automatic calling unit replenishment
Granted: December 30, 2004
Application Number:
20040266392
The invention provides a method and system for replenishing calling units for a wireless communications device. The method comprises receiving a calling plan configuration signal at the wireless communication device and setting a predetermined calling termination configuration based on the plan configuration signal. The system includes means for receiving a calling plan configuration signal at the wireless communication device; and means for setting a predetermined calling termination…
System bench wireless mapping board
Granted: December 23, 2004
Application Number:
20040257065
A system for testing electronic modules comprising at least one mapping board box, and at least one harness operably attached to the mapping board box with a harness port is disclosed. The mapping board box comprises pin receptors, wherein the receptors are in communication with a pinned circuit board to comprise a system for testing electronic modules. The mapping board box is pre-wired to receive circuit boards with a variety of pin configurations.
Telematics unit life-cycle management using VDU functionality
Granted: December 23, 2004
Application Number:
20040259524
A system and method for managing a vehicle telematics device subscription service cycle is described. A method according to the invention includes associating a vehicle telematics device with a vehicle telematics subscription service, maintaining subscription service data at the vehicle telematics device, and deactivating the vehicle telematics device at the vehicle at the expiration of the subscription service based on the subscription service data. A computer readable medium is also…
Low contact resistance PEM fuel cell
Granted: December 16, 2004
Application Number:
20040253505
A PEM fuel cell having a current collector comprising a polymer composite and a diffusion media engaging said polymer composite. The polymer composite has a hyperconductive surface layer engaging the diffusion media to reduce the contact resistance therebetween. The hyperconductive surface layer is formed by depositing or smearing an electrically-conductive material on the surface of the polymer composite.
Apparatus for reducing noise entering a vehicle passenger compartment through a pressure relief valve
Granted: December 16, 2004
Application Number:
20040253566
An apparatus (10) includes a pressure relief valve (12) for relieving air pressure from a passenger compartment (76) of a vehicle (66). The pressure relief valve (12) enables airflow from the passenger compartment (76) to atmosphere (78). The apparatus (10) also includes a member (14) for reducing noise entering the passenger compartment (76) as a result of a backflow of air through the pressure relief valve (12) from atmosphere (78) to the passenger compartment (76). The member (14)…
Disabling vehicle with in-vehicle telematics unit
Granted: December 2, 2004
Application Number:
20040239488
The present invention provides a system and method for disabling a mobile vehicle. A data signal for disabling the vehicle is received at an in-vehicle telematics unit, which monitors for a trigger event in response to the receipt of the data signal. A disable command is sent from the telematics unit to a vehicle control module when the trigger event is detected. A computer usable medium with suitable computer program code is employed to disable a mobile vehicle.
Automated voice messaging system
Granted: November 25, 2004
Application Number:
20040234053
A method for delivering voice messages comprising receiving at least one recipient name from a user, locating at least one recipient phone number correlated to the recipient name, receiving at least one message from the user, linking the message to the recipient phone number, receiving a termination code from the user, initiating a telecommunication connection with the recipient responsive to the termination code and transmitting the message upon establishment of the telecommunication…
Context specific speaker adaptation user interface
Granted: November 25, 2004
Application Number:
20040235530
A method for providing a context specific speaker adaptation user interface is disclosed. The method allows a specific user of a voice activated system to train a voice recognition system to understand specific uttered commands by receiving a training sequence initiation input, sending at least one command to be trained, receiving a selection input, prompting a verbal input, recording the verbal input, and linking a voice input with an instruction corresponding with the command input.
METHOD FOR ASSOCIATING REAL-TIME INFORMATION WITH A GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
Granted: November 11, 2004
Application Number:
20040225433
A location of interest is received by a server, and a buffer zone is determined surrounding that location. Real-time spatial events may be continually updated in one or more GIS databases. The database entries may be software spatial objects, which consist of the location and supplemental information pertaining to each event. All locations that are related to a spatial event may be listed in a relationship table. The location of interest is used to query the relationship table for events…
Air deflector for attachment to a lower surface of a vehicle and method for producing same
Granted: November 4, 2004
Application Number:
20040217515
An air deflector for attachment to a lower surface of a vehicle includes a first portion and a second portion attached to and extending downwardly from the first portion. The first portion is adapted to be attached to a lower surface of the vehicle and is formed of a first material having a first durometer value. The second portion is formed of a second material different from the first material. The second portion has a second durometer value less than the first durometer value.
