Patents by Inventor Heath D. Zietz

Heath D. Zietz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240056625
    Abstract: A data transmission method to transmit data contained in k independent data streams to k receivers with a data transmission device, wherein specific data stream identifiers are attached to the independent data streams and then multiplexed into I multiplexed data streams. The multiplexed data streams are then transmitted via I UARTs to k microcontrollers which demultiplex the multiplexed data streams and select one of the contained independent data streams via an allocation protocol. The allocation protocol is identical on all microcontrollers and utilizes the specific data stream identifiers to allocate the k independent data streams to exactly one of the k receivers. The microcontrollers then send their selected independent data stream to an allocated receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicants: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH, Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Goldmann, Heath D Zietz
  • Patent number: 10605979
    Abstract: A latitudinal color gradient light guide emits colored light having a color gradient that changes continuously from a base of the light guide to a top or apex of the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotiove Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Heath D. Zietz, Vyacheslav Birman, Curt Ollila
  • Publication number: 20190346617
    Abstract: A latitudinal color gradient light guide emits colored light having a color gradient that changes continuously from a base of the light guide to a top or apex of the guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Heath D. Zietz, Vyacheslav Birman, Curt Ollila
  • Patent number: 9916014
    Abstract: A display module includes an electronic display screen and a sensor operable to detect radiation reflected to a surface of the electronic display screen. A method of detecting an object is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Heath D. Zietz
  • Publication number: 20160031369
    Abstract: An instrument cluster assembly includes at least a first and a second light-emitting diode package, each having at least a first-colored light and a second-colored light. The light-emitting diode packages are reconfigurable to display a first color and a second color. The first light-emitting diode package is configured to display a first intensity of the first color. The second light-emitting diode package is configured to display a second intensity of the first color simultaneously with the display of the first intensity of the first color by the first light-emitting diode package. The second intensity of the first color is less than the first intensity of the first color to provide an appearance of a gradient between the first and second light-emitting diode packages. A system for illuminating an instrument cluster assembly and a non-transitory machine-readable medium are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventor: Heath D. Zietz
  • Publication number: 20150293611
    Abstract: A display module includes an electronic display screen and a sensor operable to detect radiation reflected to a surface of the electronic display screen. A method of detecting an object is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventor: Heath D. Zietz
  • Patent number: 8967839
    Abstract: An instrument cluster includes a housing that provides a chamber. A light source is in communication with the chamber. A non-opaque display element is in communication with the chamber and has an exterior surface. An indicium is etched interiorly of the exterior surface without the indicium providing a portion of the exterior surface. The light source is configured to illuminate the indicium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Heath D. Zietz
  • Publication number: 20130314851
    Abstract: An instrument cluster includes a housing that provides a chamber. A light source is in communication with the chamber. A non-opaque display element is in communication with the chamber and has an exterior surface. An indicium is etched interiorly of the exterior surface without the indicium providing a portion of the exterior surface. The light source is configured to illuminate the indicium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Heath D. Zietz
  • Publication number: 20100083894
    Abstract: An instrument cluster includes a gauge with selectively and visually variable features to communicate vehicle information to a vehicle operator. A border is illuminatable by colored LED assemblies to provide an indication of the range of a vehicle operating condition. A pointer assembly is also selectively illuminatable to provide a visual reference of a specific operating condition that is responsive and varies depending on a specific current operating condition. A digital display within the gauge includes telltales that are also selectively illuminatable and visually variable, responsive to specific operating conditions to communicate not only a problem or an issue with a specific feature but also a range or magnitude of alert to the vehicle operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS US, INC.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Marcus Moll, Ronald A. Struck, Werner Eckardt, Heath D. Zietz