Patents by Inventor Melvin Diaz

Melvin Diaz 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).

  • Patent number: 10887556
    Abstract: A rear-view camera and light system for a vehicle having a rear-view camera, a back light, and a brake light and an attachment structure that attaches the system to a center hub of a spare tire at the back of the vehicle. The rear-view camera and light system includes a mounting base having a plate like shape and configured to attach to a mounting bracket provided on about a center of a back of a vehicle for mounting a spare tire, a mounting post having a cylindrical shape with a hollow therethrough and configured to attach to the mounting base at one end, and a camera/light unit having circular shape and configured to attach to another end of the mounting post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin Diaz, Milan Rabrenovic, Akitoshi Kitazawa
  • Publication number: 20180178723
    Abstract: A rear-view camera and light system for a vehicle having a rear-view camera, a back light, and a brake light and an attachment structure that attaches the system to a center hub of a spare tire at the back of the vehicle. The rear-view camera and light system includes a mounting base having a plate like shape and configured to attach to a mounting bracket provided on about a center of a back of a vehicle for mounting a spare tire, a mounting post having a cylindrical shape with a hollow therethrough and configured to attach to the mounting base at one end, and a camera/light unit having circular shape and configured to attach to another end of the mounting post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Melvin Diaz, Milan Rabrenovic, Akitoshi Kitazawa
  • Patent number: 9075823
    Abstract: A method of sharing a preset table between a vehicle infotainment system including a vehicle tuner, memory for storing a first preset table and a broadcast signal receiver that receives a broadcast signal based on the first preset table, and an external device coupled to the vehicle infotainment system, includes storing the first preset table in the memory, the first preset table including first regional information and at least one combination of first station identification information and a first tuning frequency corresponding to the first station identification information, receiving a second preset table from the external device, the second preset table including second regional information and at least one combination of second station identification information and a second tuning frequency corresponding to the second station identification information, comparing the first preset table with the second preset table, and making the first preset table and the second preset table identical, if the first pr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Teguh, Melvin Diaz
  • Publication number: 20140278042
    Abstract: A method of sharing a preset table between a vehicle infotainment system including a vehicle tuner, memory for storing a first preset table and a broadcast signal receiver that receives a broadcast signal based on the first preset table, and an external device coupled to the vehicle infotainment system, includes storing the first preset table in the memory, the first preset table including first regional information and at least one combination of first station identification information and a first tuning frequency corresponding to the first station identification information, receiving a second preset table from the external device, the second preset table including second regional information and at least one combination of second station identification information and a second tuning frequency corresponding to the second station identification information, comparing the first preset table with the second preset table, and making the first preset table and the second preset table identical, if the first pr
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Chris Teguh, Melvin Diaz
  • Publication number: 20080021634
    Abstract: The latch apparatus for portable display devices has a pin portion and an actuator. The latch apparatus has an opening into which the pin portion is inserted to secure the display device in a device mount. The actuator applies force to release the pin to remove the display device from the device mount. Both the actuator and the pin portion have ramps that are designed to make contact with each other and slide as force is exerted to the actuator. Due to the ramps, the pin portion moves to withdraw from the opening of the display device as force is applied to the actuator. Biasing means maintains the position of the pin such that the pin portion securely holds the display device in the device mount unless the actuator is pressed for releasing the pin portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventor: Melvin Diaz
  • Publication number: 20070203646
    Abstract: The image correction method and system for navigation device with portable navigation unit converts an image based on projection to a first display into a suitable image on a second display such that the area of the second display is used economically and efficiently while maintaining some elements of the image in substantially common aspect ratio between the images on the first display and on the second display. The image correction method determines the ratio of the second display, determines if image correction is required, and checks a correction table and performs image correction according to correction rules to generate the corrected image for projecting on the second display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Melvin Diaz, Tsutomu Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20070203641
    Abstract: A navigation system includes an in-vehicle portion and a removable navigational unit, where the removable navigation unit is a portable device with navigation capability on its own. The removable navigation unit is capable of being connected to the in-vehicle portion through an navigation interface to perform the navigation function in combination with the in-vehicle portion. The removable navigation unit seamlessly integrates with the in-vehicle portion of the vehicle to provide portability of navigation function when used independently from the in-vehicle portion, and taking advantage of the components of in-vehicle portion when used in conjunction with the in-vehicle portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Melvin Diaz, Tsutomu Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20070204240
    Abstract: A display control and antenna positioning apparatus for a display device is capable of detecting positions of a navigation antenna that receives GPS signals. The navigation antenna is moveable such that a user is able to move it to an open position that is suitable for GPS signal reception, or to a closed position not suitable for GPS signal reception. When the navigation antenna is in the open position, the apparatus enables navigational functions while prohibiting non-navigational functions. When the navigation antenna is in the closed position, the apparatus disables navigational functions while allowing the non-navigational functions. A device mount prevents the display device from being received therein when the navigation antenna is in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventor: Melvin Diaz
  • Patent number: 7177738
    Abstract: A vehicle management method and system is able to monitor and manage a fleet of vehicles with high efficiency and low cost. The management method includes the steps of providing a radio transmitter connected to a vehicle navigation system in each vehicle, providing a radio transmitter connected to a facility computer in a vehicle management facility, receiving information regarding use of a vehicle by the vehicle navigation system from the facility computer which is transmitted through the radio transmitters, monitoring usage of the vehicle and storing data thereof in a memory, and sending the stored data to the facility computer through the radio transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Melvin Diaz
  • Patent number: 6816778
    Abstract: An event finder on a remote terminal for finding events such as movies, sports, weather, news and the like through a remote terminal such as a lap top computer, personal digital assistant (PDA) and vehicle navigation system with positioning capability. The event finder includes a display, a data terminal connected to the display for processing data, a navigation system for determining position of a user and a destination, and a transceiver for receiving event data from an event data server through a public communication system. The event data server is a service provider which provides event information including schedules of events to subscribed members of unlimited number. The data terminal associates the event data from the event data server with position information from the navigation system and retrieves event information based on a selection method specified by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc
    Inventor: Melvin Diaz
  • Publication number: 20040204820
    Abstract: An event finder on a remote terminal for finding events such as movies, sports, weather, news and the like through a remote terminal such as a lap top computer, personal digital assistant (PDA) and vehicle navigation system with positioning capability. The event finder includes a display, a data terminal connected to the display for processing data, a navigation system for determining position of a user and a destination, and a transceiver for receiving event data from an event data server through a public communication system. The event data server is a service provider which provides event information including schedules of events to subscribed members of unlimited number. The data terminal associates the event data from the event data server with position information from the navigation system and retrieves event information based on a selection method specified by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2001
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: Melvin Diaz
  • Patent number: 6781519
    Abstract: A method for remotely controlling a vehicle audio system, which is controlled in accordance with an instruction from an infrared remote control unit, uses a radio frequency remote control unit to remotely control the vehicle audio system. A security system receives a command transmitted from the radio frequency remote control unit. In a security control mode, the vehicle security system performs security control based on the command. In an audio control mode, the security system transmits the command to an audio control interface unit. The audio control interface unit converts the command transmitted from the security system into an infrared remote control unit command. Based on the infrared remote control unit command, an infrared emitter is driven to emit infrared rays, thus controlling the vehicle audio system by the infrared rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Melvin Diaz
  • Patent number: 6675006
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted system comprising a security device and an emergency communication service unit has the following features. (1) An LED capable of emitting light in two colors is provided in the security device. (2) The security device and the emergency communication service unit are connected in communication with one another. (3) When a connection to a response center is completely established upon operation of a communication switch, the emergency communication service unit requests the security device to turn on an LED to emit light in a first color (green). (4) When a connection to the response center is completely established upon operation of a panic switch, the emergency communication service unit requests the security device to turn on the LED to emit light in a second color (red). (5) The security device controls the LED to emit light in the requested color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin Diaz, Tsutomu Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20020184062
    Abstract: A vehicle management method and system is able to monitor and manage a fleet of vehicles with high efficiency and low cost. The management method includes the steps of providing a radio transmitter connected to a vehicle navigation system in each vehicle, providing a radio transmitter connected to a facility computer in a vehicle management facility, receiving information regarding use of a vehicle by the vehicle navigation system from the facility computer which is transmitted through the radio transmitters, monitoring usage of the vehicle and storing data thereof in a memory, and sending the stored data to the facility computer through the radio transmitters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Melvin Diaz
  • Patent number: 6337621
    Abstract: A user is notified of an abnormal condition occurring in a vehicle via a Mayday system. A security apparatus which detects an abnormal condition occurring in a vehicle and which issues an alarm and an emergency communication service apparatus which communicates with a response center and which receives services from the response center during an emergency are connected so that information can be transmitted and received between them. When the security apparatus detects an abnormal condition occurring in the vehicle, the security apparatus notifies the emergency communication service apparatus of the occurrence of the abnormal condition, and in response to the notification, the emergency communication service apparatus notifies a user of the occurrence of the abnormal condition via the response center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ogino, Takahiro Katayose, Yoshihide Kobayashi, Tsutomu Ogawa, Melvin Diaz
  • Patent number: D705756
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Kerstein, Chris Teguh, Melvin Diaz
  • Patent number: D859496
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin Diaz, Milan Rabrenovic, Akitoshi Kitazawa