Sensations evoked by thermal stimulation (temperature-related sensations) can be divided into two categories, "temperature sensation" and "thermal comfort." Although several studies have investigated regional differences in temperature sensation, less is known about the sensitivity differences in thermal comfort for the various body regions. In the present study, we examined regional differences in temperature-related sensations with special attention to thermal comfort. Healthy male subjects sitting in an environment of mild heat or cold were locally cooled or warmed with water-perfused stimulators. Areas stimulated were the face, chest, abdomen, and thigh. Temperature sensation and thermal comfort of the stimulated areas were reported by the subjects, as was whole body thermal comfort. During mild heat exposure, facial cooling was most comfortable and facial warming was most uncomfortable. On the other hand, during mild cold exposure, neither warming nor cooling of the face had a major effect. The chest and abdomen had characteristics opposite to those of the face. Local warming of the chest and abdomen did produce a strong comfort sensation during whole body cold exposure. The thermal comfort seen in this study suggests that if given the chance, humans would preferentially cool the head in the heat, and they would maintain the warmth of the trunk areas in the cold. The qualitative differences seen in thermal comfort for the various areas cannot be explained solely by the density or properties of the peripheral thermal receptors and thus must reflect processing mechanisms in the central nervous system.

https://www.physiology.org/doi/pdf/10.1152/japplphysiol.90466.2008

Regional differences in temperature sensation and thermal comfort in humans

One embodiment of the present subject matter includes a battery mounted to a vehicle, with a charge state circuit located in the electric vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charge state circuit configured to provide a charge state signal indicative of the charge state of the battery. The embodiment includes a charging coupler port located proximate to a user accessible exterior of the electrical vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charging coupler port to conduct charging energy to the battery and to provide a charger connection signal indicative of a connection to an external power source. The embodiment also includes a lighting circuit coupled to the charging coupler port and the charge state circuit to control the brightness and color of an illuminated indicator responsive to the charge state signal and the charger connection signal.

Charge state indicator for an electric vehicle

A method, computer-readable medium, system, and apparatus for improving energy transfer with a vehicle are disclosed.

Energy transfer with vehicles

The invention is an improved method and system to monitor vehicle operation state and operator requests. It combines into a single gauge information indicating current vehicle operating state and ability to increase power assist using a display of instantaneous rate of consumption usage superimposed over available rate of power consumption limits. The invention can display whether an operator is requesting power assist, regenerative braking or battery charging while also displaying the available amount of each under present operating conditions. A vehicle system controller (VSC) or similar type controller is connected to the gauge, which can limit instantaneous rate of consumption usage or charge to the available rate of power consumption or charge limits. The invention can use analog needles or LEDs in various configurations as well as adding warning lamps or chimes when the instantaneous rate of consumption usage approaches or exceeds the available rate of power consumption limits.

Rate of consumption gauge with variable rate of consumption limits

A part tester can be configured to prevent part warranty fraud by requiring the input of unique part identifying information into a part tester prior to initiation of the testing. By configuring the tester and the information input correctly, warranty fraud can be minimized.

Part tester and method

An apparatus for displaying the charging of the battery of an electric vehicle has a charging connector mounted on an outer panel of a vehicle body of the electric vehicle, a lid openably mounted on the panel in covering relation to the charging connector and a cavity defined in the outer panel, and a display panel disposed in the cavity for displaying a period of time required until the battery is fully charged and/or a charged capacity of the battery. The driver of the electric vehicle can easily recognize the remaining time required until the battery is fully charged and a percentage of the fully charged capacity of the battery to which the battery is presently charged, from outside of the electric vehicle. The driver is not required to confirm the state of charge of the battery with an indicator on a battery charger or within the passenger's compartment of the electric vehicle, but can easily confirm the state of charge of the battery from outside of the electric vehicle.

Apparatus for displaying battery charging of electric vehicle

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging-state displaying device for electric vehicles whereby the charging state of a battery can be grasped in detail by an easy means from the outside of a vehicle. SOLUTION: A charging-state displaying device for electric vehicles comprises a battery charging connector 20 provided on the outer surface of the body of an electric car, a lid 22 provided openably in the position to cover the battery charging connector 20, and a display panel 24 provided in a chamber 18 covered with the lid 22 and for displaying the time required to charge fully the foregoing battery and/or its charged-off capacity. Also, in the displaying device, there is provided with a selecting means for selecting the displaying contents of the displaying panel 24 to display in the panel 24 according to the purpose either one of the time required to charge the battery or its capacity to be charged.

Charging display device for electric vehicle

A parking lock releasing apparatus includes a manipulator element operable to select a parking range of an automatic transmission, a sensor operable to detect a selection by the manipulator element, an actuator operable to operate a parking lock mechanism of the automatic transmission based on a detection by the sensor, and a manual lever operable to manually release an operation of the parking lock mechanism. The manual lever is operable on condition that a parking brake device is in operation.

Parking lock releasing apparatus

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a visual recognition device for a front pillar dead angle, enabling a driver to have visibility for front pillar dead angle without making a driver feel odd. SOLUTION: This device is comprised of a first mirror 4 for reflecting a front view of a vehicle and a second mirror 5 for reflecting the light incident on the first mirror 4 to the driver side. The first mirror 4 and the second mirror 5 are comprised of a concave mirror and a convex mirror, respectively. The second mirror 5 is mounted along a front pillar 1 at the height level including at least the driver's eye level. At least either of the first mirror 4 and the second mirror 5 is set to be adjustable for an angle so that an image recognized by the driver through the driver's direct visibility areas on both side of the front pillar 1 and an image reflected on the second mirror 5 may be in consecutive order. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Visual recognition device for front pillar dead angle

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a proper image obtained by picking up the image of the external world of a vehicle on the display picture of a remote controller for remotely controlling a vehicle. SOLUTION: A display control part 64 sets the display priority of a plurality of image data on the basis of the data of vehicle status quantity received from a vehicle controller 10a through a communication device 61, and sets the display configurations of the image data at a display device 66 according to the number of regions of an image data display region where the image data are displayable in a display device 66. The display configurations of the image data at the display device 66 is set. The display control part 64 issues reminder or warning on the display picture of a remote controller 10b according to a decision result corresponding to a time difference (Tb-Ta) between an image pickup side time Ta and a display side time Tb from a time deciding part 63. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Naoki Osawa

Papers

Apparatus for displaying battery charging of electric vehicle

Charging display device for electric vehicle

Parking lock releasing apparatus

Visual recognition device for front pillar dead angle

Vehicle control system