Patents by Inventor Daniel M. King

Daniel M. King 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: 9002569
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a plurality of control module structures. A first control module structure is configured for determining a current motive mode of the vehicle. A second control module structure is configured for determining information indicating that a driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in a motive-enabled mode. A third control module structure is configured for causing a secure idle mode to be implemented as a function of determining the information indicating that the driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in the motive-enabled mode. Implementing the secure idle mode can include inhibiting the vehicle from being driveable until a driver access code is successfully received and authenticated by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Filip Tomik, Kirk Pebley, William David Treharne, Kevin Thomas Hille, Daniel M King
  • Publication number: 20140350825
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a plurality of control module structures. A first control module structure is configured for determining a current motive mode of the vehicle. A second control module structure is configured for determining information indicating that a driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in a motive-enabled mode. A third control module structure is configured for causing a secure idle mode to be implemented as a function of determining the information indicating that the driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in the motive-enabled mode. Implementing the secure idle mode can include inhibiting the vehicle from being driveable until a driver access code is successfully received and authenticated by the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Filip Tomik, Kirk Pebley, William David Treharne, Kevin Thomas Hille, Daniel M. King
  • Patent number: 8838325
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a plurality of control module structures. A first control module structure is configured for determining a current motive mode of the vehicle. A second control module structure is configured for determining information indicating that a driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in a motive-enabled mode. A third control module structure is configured for causing a secure idle mode to be implemented as a function of determining the information indicating that the driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in the motive-enabled mode. Implementing the secure idle mode can include inhibiting the vehicle from being driveable until a driver access code is successfully received and authenticated by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Filip Tomik, Kirk Pebley, William David Treharne, Kevin Thomas Hille, Daniel M King
  • Publication number: 20130066525
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a plurality of control module structures. A first control module structure is configured for determining a current motive mode of the vehicle. A second control module structure is configured for determining information indicating that a driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in a motive-enabled mode. A third control module structure is configured for causing a secure idle mode to be implemented as a function of determining the information indicating that the driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in the motive-enabled mode. Implementing the secure idle mode can include inhibiting the vehicle from being driveable until a driver access code is successfully received and authenticated by the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Filip Tomik, Kirk Pebley, William David Treharne, Kevin Thomas Hille, Daniel M. King
  • Patent number: 6711481
    Abstract: A system 10 for controlling automatic headlamps within a vehicle which allows an operator of a vehicle to selectively program the amount of time that the exterior headlamps of the vehicle remain illuminated after the vehicle's ignition switch 18 is turned to the “OFF” position or the “exit delay” of the system 10. System 10 utilizes a controller 22 to monitor the positions of ignition switch 18 and headlamp switch 16. If the positions of switches 16 and 18 match a certain sequence within a predetermined period of time, system 10 initiates an “exit delay” programming period which is selectively terminated by a user. Controller 22 uses the programming period as the new “exit delay” for the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel M. King, Ronald P. Brombach
  • Patent number: 6501374
    Abstract: A secondary seat belt warning system for a motor vehicle includes at least one control module for activating at least one secondary warning signal. The secondary seat belt warning system also includes a driver seat belt sensor for producing an input signal indicative of a state of a driver seat belt between a buckled and unbuckled condition. The secondary seat belt warning system includes at least one passenger seat belt sensor for producing an input signal indicative of a state of at least one passenger seat belt between a buckled and unbuckled condition. The at least one control module communicates with the driver seat belt sensor and the at least one passenger seat belt sensor for activating the at least one secondary warning signal to alert a corresponding occupant of the motor vehicle if the state of at least one of the driver seat belt and the at least one passenger seat belt is the unbuckled condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. King, Keith Z. Doorenbos, Scott Howard Gaboury, Steven Yellin Schondorf, Thomas M. McQuade, Thomas A. Spoto
  • Patent number: 6278358
    Abstract: A secondary seat belt warning system for alerting a vehicle occupant when a seat belt is unbuckled. The secondary seat belt warning system includes an ignition switch for generating a signal indicating an ignition in an on position, a seat belt sensor for generating a signal indicating that the seat belt is unbuckled, and a seat belt indicator for producing an audible and visible indicator to the vehicle occupant. The secondary seat belt warning system also includes a control module to activate the seat belt indicator in response to the input from the ignition switch and seat belt sensor. The secondary seat belt warning system further includes a vehicle speed sensor to activate the secondary seat belt warning system when the control module receives a signal above a predetermined threshold from the speed sensor indicative of the vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Anthony Spoto, Daniel M. King, Mark Anthony Cuddihy, Rouaa Nakhieh, Thomas Michael McQuade