Patents by Inventor Ron Heft

Ron Heft 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: 8843292
    Abstract: An adaptive speed control device includes a posted speed change detecting section, a notification section, a set speed signal receiving section, and an adaptive speed control section. The posted speed change detecting section is configured to detect an upcoming change to a posted speed limit at. The notification section is configured to control a user interface device to notify a new posted speed limit at a prescribed notification timing before the vehicle reaches a transition point. The set speed signal receiving section is configured to accept a set speed signal from a user input device. The adaptive speed control section is configured to change a set speed of the vehicle according to the new posted speed limit and to automatically change a speed to the set speed upon receiving the set speed signal at or after a prescribed activation timing that occurs simultaneously with or after the prescribed notification timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Heft, Hiroshi Tsuda, Hiroshi Kawazoe, Masahide Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100217494
    Abstract: An adaptive speed control device includes a posted speed change detecting section, a notification section, a set speed signal receiving section, and an adaptive speed control section. The posted speed change detecting section is configured to detect an upcoming change to a posted speed limit at. The notification section is configured to control a user interface device to notify a new posted speed limit at a prescribed notification timing before the vehicle reaches a transition point. The set speed signal receiving section is configured to accept a set speed signal from a user input device. The adaptive speed control section is configured to change a set speed of the vehicle according to the new posted speed limit and to automatically change a speed to the set speed upon receiving the set speed signal at or after a prescribed activation timing that occurs simultaneously with or after the prescribed notification timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ron HEFT, Hiroshi TSUDA, Hiroshi KAWAZOE, Masahide NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 7439853
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a traffic condition of a vehicle includes receiving status information of a plurality of vehicles, the status information including at least a speed of the respective vehicle. An average speed is determined according to the speed included in the status information of a first group of vehicles among the plurality of vehicles satisfying a first condition. An indication of the determined average speed is provided to a driver of a first vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Tengler, Ron Heft
  • Patent number: 7437232
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a speed of a vehicle includes detecting whether a cruise control setting of a first vehicle is active and receiving, at the first vehicle, position information of a second vehicle, the position information of the second vehicle including an elevation of the second vehicle. A value is determined that is representative of a difference in elevation between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the received position information of the second vehicle and an elevation of the first vehicle. A speed setting of the first vehicle is adjusted based on the determined value if the detected cruise control setting of the first vehicle is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Tengler, Ron Heft
  • Publication number: 20060226968
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a traffic condition of a vehicle includes receiving status information of a plurality of vehicles, the status information including at least a speed of the respective vehicle. An average speed is determined according to the speed included in the status information of a first group of vehicles among the plurality of vehicles satisfying a first condition. An indication of the determined average speed is provided to a driver of a first vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Inventors: Steve Tengler, Ron Heft
  • Publication number: 20060224295
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a speed of a vehicle includes detecting whether a cruise control setting of a first vehicle is active and receiving, at the first vehicle, position information of a second vehicle, the position information of the second vehicle including an elevation of the second vehicle. A value is determined that is representative of a difference in elevation between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the received position information of the second vehicle and an elevation of the first vehicle. A speed setting of the first vehicle is adjusted based on the determined value if the detected cruise control setting of the first vehicle is active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: Steve Tengler, Ron Heft
  • Patent number: 7005977
    Abstract: A vehicle and a method for controlling headlight status in a first vehicle includes receiving status information from at least one vehicle other than the first vehicle located in a communication area surrounding the first vehicle, the status information including a headlight status of the at least one other vehicle. A headlight status of the first vehicle is determined, and an action is initiated in the first vehicle based on the determined headlight status of the first vehicle and the received vehicle status of the at least one vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Tengler, Ron Heft