Patents Represented by Attorney David L. Terrell
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Patent number: 7308359Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for an improved navigational route planning device which provides more understandable, accurate and timely information for negotiating a decision point along a route. The navigational aid device includes a processor adapted to communicate with a memory. The memory has cartographic data and a route to a desired destination stored therein. The cartographic data includes data indicative of thoroughfares of a plurality of types. A display is provided which is adapted to communicate with the processor and the memory and which is capable of displaying the cartographic data. The device processes travel along the route. The device recognizes when the device is approaching a decision point in the route and provides to the display an overlay screen on top of any presently displayed screen, the overlay screen adapted to display a preview of a decision point.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2004Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: Jay Dee Krull, Mark D. Tompkins, Shane R. Runquist
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Patent number: 7283905Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for estimating an impedance through a node at an intersection between roads in a roadway network. The impedance may be measured in time or distance, for example. Characteristic information describes at least one feature of the intersecting roads. One or more pieces of characteristic information may impact the impedance of traffic through an intersection and are used to estimate the impedance through the node. Examples of characteristic information are speed information, road-type, network routing level, intersection angle information, one-way, and cross traffic turn information. An impedance factor, or a cost, is assigned to each piece of characteristic information. The cost may be positive if the characteristic information adds impedance to the node, or negative if the characteristic information subtracts impedance from the node.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2007Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: Darin J. Beesley, Michael Childs
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Patent number: 7277794Abstract: PDA systems, devices and methods are provided to account for insignificant route segments to enhance a route guidance experience. A PDA is provided according to one aspect. The PDA includes a processor and a memory adapted to communicate with the processor. The processor and memory are adapted to cooperate to provide route guidance that accounts for insignificant route segments. According to various embodiments, insignificant route segments are accounted for by nullifying and/or modifying route guidance maneuvers associated with the insignificant route segments. Other aspects are provided herein.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2004Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: Michael E. Childs, Darin J. Beesley
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Patent number: 7269508Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided to account for insignificant route segments to enhance a route guidance experience. An electronic navigational aid device is provided according to one aspect. The device includes a processor and a memory adapted to communicate with the processor. The processor and memory are adapted to cooperate to provide route guidance that accounts for insignificant route segments. According to various embodiments, insignificant route segments are accounted for by nullifying and/or modifying route guidance maneuvers associated with the insignificant route segments. Other aspects are provided herein.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2004Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: Michael Childs, Darin J. Beesley
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Patent number: 7268703Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for marine navigation and course calculation for avoiding preselected conditions. An electronic marine navigation device with marine course calculation capabilities includes a processor connected to a memory that includes cartographic data. A potential waypoint can be identified and a marine route calculation algorithm can be preformed to calculate a course between a first location and the potential waypoint in view of preselected conditions. Performing the marine route calculation algorithm includes analyzing the cartographic data for the area between the first location and the potential waypoint with a preference for providing a course that avoids preselected conditions. A display is connected to the processor and is capable of displaying the calculated course and cartographic data. The device is also adapted to dynamically analyze an area surrounding the first location for preselected conditions and display the results of the analysis.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2003Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: Darrin W. Kabel, Steven J. Myers
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Patent number: 7257469Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for updating information resident on an avionics device. One avionics device embodiment includes a processor, a memory, and a receiver. The memory can be in communication with the processor. The receiver can receive radio signals including update information. The device can update information resident on the device based upon the update information received.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2003Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Garmin International, Inc.Inventor: Cliff A. Pemble
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Patent number: 7256985Abstract: A mounting system for electronic equipment is described which includes a mounting rack, a connector plate, and a retention device. The connector plate is hingedly mounted to a rear of the mounting rack and the connector plate is configured for the mounting of connectors that mate with the connectors of the electronic equipment. The retention device is configured to hold the connector plate against a rear of the mounting plate.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2006Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: Jeffrey L. Beseth, Daniel J. Cool, Stephen M. Reid
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Patent number: 7245254Abstract: An electronic device (10) comprising a location determining component (12), such as a global positioning system (“GPS”) device, a pedometer (14), and a computing device (16) is operable to determine a distance traveled by a user. The pedometer (14) is operable to sense a step taken by the user, and the location determining component (12), when accessible, is operable to determine a distance between two positions and supply such information to the computing device (16) for continuous calculation of an accurate step size of the user. When the location determining component (12) is inaccessible, the computing device (16) determines the distance traveled using the accurate step size information. In additional embodiments, a housing (132) is provided for storing a location determining component (112), a pedometer (114), and a computing device (116), and an accelerometer (242) is provided for also determining the step size of the user.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2006Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: Garmin LtdInventor: Mark J. Vogt
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Patent number: 7243025Abstract: A multi-function, portable, electronic device includes a housing, a processor located within the housing and a memory in communication with the processor. The electronic device includes a display in communication with the processor and positioned on a surface of the housing. The electronic device includes an apparatus for performing a first function, and an apparatus for performing a second function. One of the functions includes a navigational component. The navigational component includes an antenna attached to the housing and movable between a stowed position and a signal acquisition position. A deployment indicator indicates the antenna is in the signal acquisition position. An operational component of the navigational component is activated in response to the deployment indicator indicating the antenna is in the signal acquisition position.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2006Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: Christopher J. Hanshew, Richard J. Haigh, Thomas H. Walters
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Patent number: 7228225Abstract: Methods and Systems are provided for interfacing to navigation operations. An application programming interface (API) library is provided having navigation modules, guidance modules, routing modules, and mapping modules. The API is accessible to customized modules operating on a portable electronic device. The customized modules are operable to selectively access and process a number of the modules using the API library while the customized modules are processing on the portable electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2006Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: Thomas H. Walters, Cliff A. Pemble
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Patent number: 7219867Abstract: A mounting assembly for portable electronic devices includes a mount (12) with a mounting ball (16) that mates with a socket assembly (22) formed in a housing (18) of an electronic device (20). The socket assembly includes an orifice (32) formed in the back of the housing, a seat (34) positioned in the orifice for matingly receiving the ball, and a spring element (36) partially surrounding the seat. The seat includes a concave center portion (38) and a plurality of flexible, interconnected arms (40,42,44) extending from the concave center portion. The spring element substantially encircles the flexible arms to allow the flexible arms to flex outward when receiving the ball and to then contract inwardly to contact the ball when the ball is seated fully in the seat.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2005Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Inventors: Robert M. Kalis, Joshua C. Reeson, Dale R. Langner, Paul E. Skelton
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Patent number: 7215279Abstract: A navigation system (10) comprising a portable navigational device (12) and a remote control for remotely controlling the navigational device (12) is provided in a first preferred embodiment. The navigational device (12) is sized and configured to mount on a dashboard or in an overhead console of a vehicle. A second preferred embodiment provides a navigational device (212) substantially similar to the navigational device (12) of the first preferred embodiment and further including an internal hard drive (84) and a heating element (86) associated with the hard drive (84) and operable to warm the hard drive (84) for facilitating operating performance of the hard drive (84) in cold temperatures. A third preferred embodiment provides a navigation system (310) including a navigational device (312) substantially similar to the navigational device (212) of the second preferred embodiment and a remote control (314) substantially similar to the remote control (14) of the first preferred embodiment.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2004Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: Brian N. Poindexter, Scott J. Brunk, Seth A. Forshee
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Patent number: D543875Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2006Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: Paul E. Skelton, Dale R. Langner, Jonathan C. Burrell, Joshua C. Reeson
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Patent number: D543876Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2006Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: Robert M. Kalis, Warren R. Stevens, David F. Lammers-Meis, Paul E. Skelton, Stephen P. Waite
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Patent number: D544381Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2006Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: David F. Lammers-Meis, Robert M Kalis, Paul E. Skelton, Stephen P. Waite
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Patent number: D545699Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2006Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: John J. Mudd, Jeffrey D. Minelli, David J. Laverick
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Patent number: D549602Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2006Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: John P. Oberrieder, Paul E. Skelton, Warren R. Stevens, Brian M. Sandefur, David F. Lammers-Meis
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Patent number: D549603Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2006Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: David F. Lammers-Meis, Robert M. Kalis, Paul E. Skelton, Stephen P. Waite
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Patent number: D550105Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2006Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: John P. Oberrieder, Paul E. Skelton, Warren R. Stevens, Brian M. Sandefur, David F. Lammers-Meis
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Patent number: D554110Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: John B. Whiteside, James P. Ross, Warren R. Stevens