Clark E Mccall, 703355 Yellowstone Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

6993423, Jan 31, 2006

Dec 19, 2002

10/324468

Robert R. Inman - Rochester Hills MI, US
Robin Stevenson - Bloomfield MI, US
Clark E McCall - Ann Arbor MI, US

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

G06F 7/00

701 49, 701 45, 701 46, 701 47, 701 36, 280735, 280734, 2807281, 180271, 180273, 180268, 307 101, 318286, 318466, 318467, 318468

A method for adjusting a plurality of vehicle cockpit devices via a two-part process that utilizes device position constraints to determine candidate arrangements and then, ultimately, recommended arrangements of the vehicle cockpit devices to determine a desired setting of the various devices. The position constraints are determined using positioning data obtained from an occupant. An exploratory search routine is used to determine the candidate arrangements with the cockpit devices being moved to each candidate arrangement so that the occupant can be queried concerning the desirability of each such arrangement. The occupant's responses are then stored for later retrieval. Thereafter, a plurality of recommended arrangements of the cockpit devices are determined using a meta-heuristic pattern search along with a neural network search accelerator that permits screening of each recommended arrangement. The occupant can then select one of the recommended arrangements as a final positioning arrangement of the cockpit devices.

7002457, Feb 21, 2006

Dec 20, 2002

10/325217

Robin Stevenson - Bloomfield MI, US
Clark E McCall - Ann Arbor MI, US

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

B60Q 1/00

3404571, 3406864, 200 6158 B, 2808011, 180286, 24633

A seat belt status monitoring system for use with one or more seat belts of an automotive vehicle. The system includes a status monitor incorporated into the seat belt buckle and has a receiver and operator signaling device located in the instrument panel. The status monitor utilizes a piezoelectric element to generate an electrical signal that is fed to a transmitter to generate a wireless signal from the buckle. A mechanical sensing member is used to activate the piezoelectric element to generate its electrical signal by imparting a mechanical force on the piezoelectric during insertion and removal of the seat belt tongue from the buckle. A microswitch in the buckle is used by the transmitter to determine whether the seat belt is latched or unlatched, and this information is conveyed by the transmitted wireless signal. The wireless signal uniquely identifies the particular seat belt buckle from which it is transmitted so that the receiver can keep track of the status of each of a number of different seat belt buckles within the vehicle.

7327215, Feb 5, 2008

Dec 20, 2004

11/017267

Clark E. McCall - Ann Arbor MI, US
Fred W. Huntzicker - Ann Arbor MI, US

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

H04Q 9/00
B60R 25/10
B60R 1/02
B60R 25/04

340 52, 340 572, 340 554, 340 551, 340 56, 3404255, 34042612, 34042627, 248479, 307 104, 341 33

A keypad assembly for use on a vehicular keyless entry system comprises a selectively concealable keypad coupled to a processor and accessible from the exterior of the vehicle and through which an access code may be manually entered. A mirror assembly is mounted on an exterior surface of the vehicle and includes a base fixedly coupled to the exterior surface and a mirror compartment rotatably coupled to the base and capable of being rotated between an extended, operational position and a folded, retracted position. The keypad is mounted on the base so as to be visible and accessible when the mirror compartment is in its folded retracted position and hidden and inaccessible when the mirror compartment is in it's extended, operational position.

7647908, Jan 19, 2010

Nov 14, 2008

12/271587

William A. Biondo - Beverly Hills MI, US
Clark E. McCall - Ann Arbor MI, US
David T. Proefke - Madison Heights MI, US

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

F02N 11/12
F02D 28/00

1231792, 701113

A method for remotely starting an engine of a vehicle includes the steps of assessing a state of charge of the vehicle battery, providing a first type of remote start request to the vehicle if the state of charge of the vehicle battery is greater than a predetermined threshold, and providing a second type of remote start request to the vehicle if the state of charge of the vehicle battery is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold.

7688226, Mar 30, 2010

Jun 1, 2007

11/756670

Clark E. McCall - Ann Arbor MI, US

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

G08G 1/123

340991, 340993, 34099517

An electronic device configured to be carried on a user's person is provided for directing the user to a parked vehicle. The electronic device utilizes node location data provided by at least one local wireless node and vehicle location information provided by the vehicle. The electronic device includes a network receiver and a controller coupled thereto. The network receiver is configured to receive the node location data from the at least one local wireless node. The controller is configured to store the vehicle location information, to estimate the location of the electronic device from the received node location data, and to determine the position of the vehicle relative to the electronic device.

7760108, Jul 20, 2010

Nov 6, 2008

12/266118

Clark E. McCall - Ann Arbor MI, US
William A. Biondo - Beverly Hills MI, US
David T. Proefke - Madison Heights MI, US

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

G08C 19/00

34082562, 34082569

A method for remotely starting an engine of a vehicle includes the steps of transmitting a first plurality of engine start signals to the vehicle and transmitting a second plurality of engine start signals to the vehicle. Each of the first plurality of engine start signals having a first power level. Each of the second plurality of engine start signals having a second power level that is less than the first power level.

7813856, Oct 12, 2010

Oct 3, 2007

11/866473

Clark E. McCall - Ann Arbor MI, US
Lawrence M. Hallman - Sterling Heights MI, US

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

G05D 1/00

701 45

A seatbelt monitoring system is provided for use onboard a vehicle having a seat assembly including at least one seat and corresponding seatbelt. The seatbelt monitoring system includes a wireless seatbelt status detector and a vehicle seatbelt status indicator. The wireless seatbelt status detector includes a seatbelt latch sensor, a first wireless transceiver, and a controller coupled to the seatbelt latch sensor and to the wireless sensor. The controller is configured to send a seatbelt latch signal via the first wireless transceiver when the seatbelt latch sensor indicates a change in seatbelt latch status. The vehicle seatbelt status indicator includes a second wireless transceiver and a processor coupled to the second wireless transceiver. The processor is configured to send a receipt signal to the wireless seatbelt status detector after receiving the seatbelt status signal via the second wireless transceiver.

7847709, Dec 7, 2010

Aug 28, 2007

11/845836

Clark E. McCall - Ann Arbor MI, US
David T. Proefke - Madison Heights MI, US
Ryan O'Keefe - Clawson MI, US

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

G08G 1/123

340988, 34042613, 34053913, 340937, 701213

A user carried electronic device and method therefore is provided for directing the user to a parked vehicle using several modes of operation. The device includes a display, a memory, an interface for receiving information downloads from the vehicle and a controller coupled thereto for managing operation of the device. The controller stores the downloaded information in the memory and presents RETURN-TO-VEHICLE information on the display in response to a user request. The downloaded information desirably includes photographic information concerning the parked vehicle's environment obtained by vehicle camera(s) or otherwise. Vehicle location information and vehicle location accuracy information may be included. The device desirably includes location tracking elements that, when operating, provide graphical directions back to the vehicle based on vehicle location information in the download. Photo images of the vehicle environment can be included and are presented automatically when the device tracking and/or vehicle location information is not reliable.