Patents by Inventor Christopher T. Thibodeau

Christopher T. Thibodeau 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).

  • Team-oriented HVAC system
    Patent number: 9632666
    Abstract: A team-oriented heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system, for use in support of operations of a vehicle. The system includes instructions that cause a processor to perform operations including communicating, to a human user, via a vehicle-user interface, a request to participate regularly, actively, and collaboratively as a member of a collaborative HVAC team, to include the system, in an ongoing team relationship of cooperation regarding operating the team-oriented HVAC system over time. The operations further include providing, to the user, a commitment communication advising the user that the system will be dedicated to participating regularly, actively, and collaboratively as a team member. The operations also include receiving, from the user, an agreement communication to participate as a member of the collaborative HVAC team. And the operations include forming, responsive to receiving the agreement communication, the collaborative HVAC team including the user and team-oriented HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Claudia V. Goldman-Shenhar, Asaf Degani, Omer Tsimhoni, Christopher T. Thibodeau
  • Vehicle systems activation methods and applications
    Patent number: 9126545
    Abstract: A method of communicating with a vehicle is provided. The method includes: initiating a communication with a vehicle activation application of a vehicle using a personal handheld device; authenticating, using a processor, the personal handheld device based on the communication; and selectively activating one or more components of a vehicle network based on the authenticating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nathan D. Ampunan, Richard H. Lieblein, Christopher T. Thibodeau
  • VEHICLE SYSTEMS ACTIVATION METHODS AND APPLICATIONS
    Publication number: 20120221173
    Abstract: A method of communicating with a vehicle is provided. The method includes: initiating a communication with a vehicle activation application of a vehicle using a personal handheld device; authenticating, using a processor, the personal handheld device based on the communication; and selectively activating one or more components of a vehicle network based on the authenticating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Nathan D. Ampunan, Richard H. Lieblein, Christopher T. Thibodeau
  • Electrical connector, and housing and contacts therefor
    Patent number: 5032085
    Abstract: An electrical connector with three rows of contacts undergoing right angle bends to form two columns suitable for joining to a printed circuit board. The distal portions of the contacts are retained in a contact receiving wall provided with contact receiving slots equipped with spring back guards. This feature allows the resilience of the contact material to aid in maintaining contact alignment. Provision is made with the connector body to receive an environment sealing compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignees: GTE Products Corp., Ford Motor Corp.
    Inventors: K. Troy Alwine, Frederick H. Rider, Christopher T. Thibodeau, Manfred W. Wippich