Patents by Inventor Brian Finn

Brian Finn 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: 20090298482
    Abstract: A method for managing an ongoing telephone call in a vehicle includes the steps of monitoring signals provided by vehicle systems and monitoring conversational cognitive load indicators for a driver during the telephone call. A current driving situation is assessed by evaluating the signals provided by the vehicle systems and by evaluating the conversational cognitive load indicators. A semantic cue is provided during the telephone call, wherein the semantic cue is indicative of the current driving situation and wherein the semantic cue is audible at least for a caller calling the driver. Methods for managing incoming telephone calls and assisting the driver with outgoing telephone calls are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Corina Yen, Brian Finn, Jo Ann Sison
  • Publication number: 20080210474
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a touch screen, which is disposed in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, for outputting a position signal. The position signal is dependent on the touch screen being touched. An actuator is provided for deflecting the touch screen. A control configuration evaluates the position signal for the purpose of recognizing a handwriting and for controlling the actuator in order to generate a haptic feedback for an operator of the touch screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackie Lai, Zhaoxia Zhang, Brian Finn
  • Publication number: 20080030045
    Abstract: A door system for a motor vehicle is provided. The door system includes a door for closing the interior space of a motor vehicle, a sensor for determining an opening angle of the door, a man-machine interface for inputting a desired maximum opening angle of the door, a brake device for arresting the door, and a door control for arresting the door through the use of the brake device if the opening angle of the door reaches the set maximum opening angle of the door or if an opening speed of the door falls below a limit value. A method for operating a door system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackie Lai, Brian Finn, Philippe Alessandrini
  • Publication number: 20070097091
    Abstract: An input device, especially for a vehicle, includes a first display for optical display of information, at least a second display arranged above the first display for optical display of information and a touchscreen arranged above the second display for entry of commands by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Brian Ng, Philippe Alessandrini, Brian Finn, Arne Stoschek
  • Patent number: 7193509
    Abstract: A door system for a motor vehicle includes a door, an environmental sensor for detecting an obstacle in the vicinity of the motor vehicle, a door sensor for outputting an output signal as a function of the initiation of the opening of the door, and a control unit for detecting an imminent collision between the door and the obstacle as a function of an output signal of the environmental sensor and for triggering a warning device such that a warning may be output by the warning device in response to the detection of an imminent collision between the door and the obstacle. During the triggering of the warning device, the control unit distinguishes between at least two selectable warning stages, a first warning stage and a second warning stage, and the selection of a warning stage by the control unit is a function of the output signal of the door sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Arne Bartels, Falk Beil, Brian Finn, Klaus Schaaf
  • Publication number: 20070057928
    Abstract: An input device, especially for a vehicle, has a housing, a display arranged in the housing for optical display of information, a touchscreen arranged above the display for input of commands by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen and an actuator to move the touchscreen and housing in at least one direction, and in which the housing is movable relative to the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Prados, Brian Finn
  • Publication number: 20060235606
    Abstract: A navigation system for a vehicle includes a man-machine interface to enter at least one key word for characterization of a point of interest and to enter a geometric figure and a search module to search for at least one of the points of interest assigned to the key word within a geographic area defined by the geometric figure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Inventors: Brian Finn, Carly Williams
  • Publication number: 20060143102
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel incentive and compensation plan for motivating and rewarding employees, and a computer system for implementing said plan. It is an object of the present invention to provide a stock-based incentive and compensation plan that rewards employees based on the performance of the company. The present invention provides methods and systems for providing an employee incentive and compensation plan, which include deferring a portion of an employee's compensation for a period of time. The financial performance of the employee's company is evaluated over the selected period of time, and the employee's total deferred compensation is converted into a number of units based on the amount deferred, the average share price of the company stock, and the financial performance of the company. The employee's units are valued based on the average share price of the company stock, and the total compensation is paid to participating employees as an incentive and compensation plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: Brian Finn, Sean Brady, Susan Mink
  • Publication number: 20060132469
    Abstract: A servosystem, in particular a servosystem for a motor vehicle, includes a display showing a list of clickable menu items, a rotary knob with a rotary element to operate the rotary knob, with a number of mechanical detents to alternately increase the rotary momentum necessary for rotating the rotary element, with a brake to brake the rotary element and with a rotation sensor to measure the rotation of the rotary element with a resolution that is the least four times, in particular at least six times, and with particular preference at least eight times the number of mechanical detents per rotation of the rotary element, and a control for converting the rotation of the rotary element into a scrolling motion through a list and for activating the brake when the last clickable menu item of the list is reached or the first clickable menu items of the list is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Jackie Lai, Brian Finn, Philippe Alessandrini
  • Publication number: 20050280518
    Abstract: A door system for a motor vehicle includes a door, an environmental sensor for detecting an obstacle in the vicinity of the motor vehicle, a door sensor for outputting an output signal as a function of the initiation of the opening of the door, and a control unit for detecting an imminent collision between the door and the obstacle as a function of an output signal of the environmental sensor and for triggering a warning device such that a warning may be output by the warning device in response to the detection of an imminent collision between the door and the obstacle. During the triggering of the warning device, the control unit distinguishes between at least two selectable warning stages, a first warning stage and a second warning stage, and the selection of a warning stage by the control unit is a function of the output signal of the door sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventors: Arne Bartels, Falk Beil, Brian Finn, Klaus Schaaf
  • Publication number: 20050122317
    Abstract: A display device includes touch screen for the visual display of information and for the input of command and an actuator for moving the touch screen in a direction substantially perpendicular to the touch screen. The touch screen is movable by the actuator by more than 2 mm in the direction substantially perpendicular to the touch screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Klaus Schaaf, Arne Stoschek, Brian Finn, Michael Prados
  • Publication number: 20050013451
    Abstract: In a method and equipment for operating a voice-supported system, such as a communications and/or intercom/two-way intercom device in a motor vehicle, using at least one microphone and at least one loudspeaker to reproduce a signal generated by the microphone, as well as a bandpass filter configured between the microphone and the loudspeaker, a power of the signal as a function of a frequency is determined, and the bandpass filter is adjusted as a function of at least one local maximum of the power of the signal as a function of the frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Inventors: Brian Finn, Shawn Steenhagen