Patents by Inventor Mitchell J. Hourtienne

Mitchell J. Hourtienne 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).

  • Vehicle compartment occupancy detection system
    Patent number: 6768420
    Abstract: A vehicle compartment occupancy detection system is operable to detect a presence of a person or animal within a vehicle compartment, such as a vehicle cabin or trunk space, by detecting a change in an electric field within the compartment. The detection system includes an electric field generator and an electric field sensor which is operable to detect changes in the electric field generated within the compartment. The detection system may further be operable to activate an accessory in response to one or more inputs and the electric field sensor. The detection system may be operable in response to one or more inputs which are indicative of a hazardous condition within the vehicle compartment. The detection system may then be operable to take corrective action to at least partially alleviate the hazardous condition and/or to communicate to a person exteriorly of the vehicle that the hazardous condition exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin C. McCarthy, Lori L. Burgner, David W. Taylor, Niall R. Lynam, Eugenie V. Uhlmann, Mitchell J. Hourtienne, Kenneth Schofield
  • Vehicle compartment occupancy detection system
    Publication number: 20020080014
    Abstract: A vehicle compartment occupancy detection system is operable to detect a presence of a person or animal within a vehicle compartment, such as a vehicle cabin or trunk space, by detecting a change in an electric field within the compartment. The detection system includes an electric field generator and an electric field sensor which is operable to detect changes in the electric field generated within the compartment. The detection system may further be operable to activate an accessory in response to one or more inputs and the electric field sensor. The detection system may be operable in response to one or more inputs which are indicative of a hazardous condition within the vehicle compartment. The detection system may then be operable to take corrective action to at least partially alleviate the hazardous condition and/or to communicate to a person exteriorly of the vehicle that the hazardous condition exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Kevin C. McCarthy, Lori L. Burgner, David W. Taylor, Niall R. Lynam, Eugenie V. Uhlmann, Mitchell J. Hourtienne, Kenneth Schofield