Patents by Inventor Christopher Levay

Christopher Levay 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: 10879022
    Abstract: A toggle switch system for a vehicle control panel includes a first electrical switch, a toggle body, and a rocker arm. The first electrical switch is configured to activate a first vehicle function. The toggle body has a proximal end and a distal end. The toggle body is configured to pivot along an axis that is between the proximal and distal ends. The toggle has upper and lower surfaces that define a slot that extends inward from the distal end. The rocker arm has a protrusion that extends into the slot between the upper and lower surfaces. The rocker arm also has a heel that is configured to rotate, engage, and activate the first electrical switch in response to the toggle body moving in a first direction to engage the protrusion with the toggle body within the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignees: Denso International America, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Levay, Javon Tucker, Praveenkumar Hanakuntimath
  • Patent number: 10720287
    Abstract: A push button for a control panel. The push button includes a button body and a reflector molded as a single, monolithic piece with links extending between the button body and the reflector. A divider of the button body is between a first light source of a printed circuit board and an indicator light guide of the button body. The divider restricts light from the first light source from illuminating the indicator light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Levay, Spenser Pawlik, Javon Tucker, Murali Daruri, Jesse Moellers, Yuki Matsumoto, Brian Steele
  • Patent number: 10513183
    Abstract: A control dial for inputting commands to a human-machine interface (HMI). The control dial includes a base dial mounted to a base configured to support the base dial at a neutral position, a first tilted position tilted in a first direction from the neutral position, and a second tilted position tilted in a second direction from the neutral position. The second direction is opposite to the first direction. An outer dial is rotatably mounted to the base dial such that the outer dial is rotatable to enter commands to the HMI at each one of the neutral position, the first tilted position, and the second tilted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Guzman, Christopher Levay, Javon Tucker, Jesse Moellers, Murali Daruri, Homare Shirai, Yuki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20190378665
    Abstract: A push button for a control panel. The push button includes a button body and a reflector molded as a single, monolithic piece with links extending between the button body and the reflector. A divider of the button body is between a first light source of a printed circuit board and an indicator light guide of the button body. The divider restricts light from the first light source from illuminating the indicator light guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher LEVAY, Spenser PAWLIK, Javon TUCKER, Murali DARURI, Jesse MOELLERS, Yuki MATSUMOTO, Brian STEELE
  • Patent number: 10479166
    Abstract: A toggle button assembly for a human-machine interface (HMI). The toggle button assembly includes a circuit board. A first switch and a second switch are mounted to the circuit board. A toggle body is rotatable about a toggle body rotation axis. A first switch actuator is between the toggle body and the first switch, and a second switch actuator is between the toggle body and the second switch. Upon actuation of the toggle body from a center position to a first position, the toggle body rotates about the toggle body rotation axis and presses the first switch actuator against the first switch to actuate the first switch. Upon actuation of the toggle body from the center position to a second position, the toggle body rotates about the toggle body rotation axis and presses the second switch actuator against the second switch to actuate the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Javon Tucker, Christopher Levay
  • Patent number: 10437092
    Abstract: A display assembly including a first display surface in a first plane and a second display surface in a second plane. The second plane overlaps and is vertically offset from the first plane. A control device is mounted over the first display surface and includes the second display surface. The display assembly is configured to simultaneously project images onto both the first display surface and the second display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Guzman, Christopher Levay, Shunji Yamauchi, Gareth Webb, Marc Arceo, Cary Horvath, Michael Lozano
  • Patent number: 10395863
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a rotary dial assembly having a holder and a dial portion rotatably coupled to the holder. A plurality of dial magnets are fixed to the dial portion. A holder magnet is on a side of the holder opposite to the dial portion. The holder magnet is configured to attract or repel the plurality of dial magnets as the dial portion is rotated to resist rotation of the dial portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Levay, Christopher Guzman
  • Publication number: 20190202257
    Abstract: A toggle button assembly for a human-machine interface (HMI). The toggle button assembly includes a circuit board. A first switch and a second switch are mounted to the circuit board. A toggle body is rotatable about a toggle body rotation axis. A first switch actuator is between the toggle body and the first switch, and a second switch actuator is between the toggle body and the second switch. Upon actuation of the toggle body from a center position to a first position, the toggle body rotates about the toggle body rotation axis and presses the first switch actuator against the first switch to actuate the first switch. Upon actuation of the toggle body from the center position to a second position, the toggle body rotates about the toggle body rotation axis and presses the second switch actuator against the second switch to actuate the second switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Javon TUCKER, Christopher LEVAY
  • Publication number: 20190164705
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a rotary dial assembly having a holder and a dial portion rotatably coupled to the holder. A plurality of dial magnets are fixed to the dial portion. A holder magnet is on a side of the holder opposite to the dial portion. The holder magnet is configured to attract or repel the plurality of dial magnets as the dial portion is rotated to resist rotation of the dial portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher LEVAY, Christopher GUZMAN
  • Publication number: 20180170185
    Abstract: A control dial for inputting commands to a human-machine interface (HMI). The control dial includes a base dial mounted to a base configured to support the base dial at a neutral position, a first tilted position tilted in a first direction from the neutral position, and a second tilted position tilted in a second direction from the neutral position. The second direction is opposite to the first direction. An outer dial is rotatably mounted to the base dial such that the outer dial is rotatable to enter commands to the HMI at each one of the neutral position, the first tilted position, and the second tilted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher GUZMAN, Christopher LEVAY, Javon TUCKER, Jesse MOELLERS, Murali DARURI, Homare SHIRAI, Yuki MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 9922784
    Abstract: A rotary dial assembly including a dial portion and a base portion. The dial portion has a knob extending from a first side of the dial portion. An outer detent profile and an inner detent profile are on a second side of the dial portion that is opposite to the first side. The inner detent profile is closer to a center of the dial portion than the outer detent profile. The outer detent profile includes a plurality of outer detents, and the inner detent profile includes a plurality of inner detents. The base portion includes an outer detent engaging member movable to selectively engage the outer detent profile, and an inner detent engaging member movable to selectively engage the inner detent profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Levay, Christopher Guzman, Gareth Webb, Cary Horvath, Marc Arceo, Michael Lozano
  • Publication number: 20180005780
    Abstract: A rotary dial assembly including a dial portion and a base portion. The dial portion has a knob extending from a first side of the dial portion. An outer detent profile and an inner detent profile are on a second side of the dial portion that is opposite to the first side. The inner detent profile is closer to a center of the dial portion than the outer detent profile. The outer detent profile includes a plurality of outer detents, and the inner detent profile includes a plurality of inner detents. The base portion includes an outer detent engaging member movable to selectively engage the outer detent profile, and an inner detent engaging member movable to selectively engage the inner detent profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher LEVAY, Christopher GUZMAN, Gareth WEBB, Cary HORVATH, Marc ARCEO, Michael LOZANO
  • Patent number: 9728356
    Abstract: A knob device includes a knob body, a graphic plate, and a light source. The knob body has a hollow space and has an end equipped with a screen. The graphic plate has multiple graphic windows including graphic symbols, respectively. The light source is configured to emit light through both at least one of the graphic windows and the hollow space to project at least one of the graphic symbols on the screen. The graphic plate is movable to switch the at least one of the graphic symbols to another of the graphic symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Levay, Christopher Guzman
  • Publication number: 20170052399
    Abstract: A display assembly including a first display surface in a first plane and a second display surface in a second plane. The second plane overlaps and is vertically offset from the first plane. A control device is mounted over the first display surface and includes the second display surface. The display assembly is configured to simultaneously project images onto both the first display surface and the second display surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher GUZMAN, Christopher LEVAY, Shunji YAMAUCHI, Gareth WEBB, Marc ARCEO, Cary HORVATH, Michael LOZANO
  • Publication number: 20160079013
    Abstract: A knob device includes a knob body, a graphic plate, and a light source. The knob body has a hollow space and has an end equipped with a screen. The graphic plate has multiple graphic windows including graphic symbols, respectively. The light source is configured to emit light through both at least one of the graphic windows and the hollow space to project at least one of the graphic symbols on the screen. The graphic plate is movable to switch the at least one of the graphic symbols to another of the graphic symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher Levay, Christopher Guzman