Patents by Inventor David Toppenberg

David Toppenberg 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: 11766993
    Abstract: A power door system for a vehicle including a plurality of power-operated doors is provided. The system includes a passive remote entry device configured to emit a signal to one or more cooperating vehicle receivers and a controller configured to cause the power door system to open the at least one power-operated door when the passive remote entry device signal is received and an individual is detected in a predefined activation zone for a predetermined period of time. The system further includes a vehicle-mounted user detection device. The passive remote entry device may be selected from the group consisting of a key fob, a smart key, a key card, a cellular telephone or smartphone configured with a phone-as-a-key function, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized cellular telephone, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartphone, and a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartwatch. Methods for controlling a power door system for a vehicle are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Paul Tsvi Linden, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Onoyom Essien Ekanem, Laura Viviana Hazebrouck, David Toppenberg
  • Publication number: 20220048466
    Abstract: A power door system for a vehicle including a plurality of power-operated doors is provided. The system includes a passive remote entry device configured to emit a signal to one or more cooperating vehicle receivers and a controller configured to cause the power door system to open the at least one power-operated door when the passive remote entry device signal is received and an individual is detected in a predefined activation zone for a predetermined period of time. The system further includes a vehicle-mounted user detection device. The passive remote entry device may be selected from the group consisting of a key fob, a smart key, a key card, a cellular telephone or smartphone configured with a phone-as-a-key function, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized cellular telephone, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartphone, and a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartwatch. Methods for controlling a power door system for a vehicle are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Howard Paul Tsvi LINDEN, John Robert VAN WIEMEERSCH, Onoyom Essien EKANEM, Laura Viviana HAZEBROUCK, David TOPPENBERG
  • Patent number: 11192523
    Abstract: A power door system for a vehicle including a plurality of power-operated doors is provided. The system includes a passive remote entry device configured to emit a signal to one or more cooperating vehicle receivers and a controller configured to cause the power door system to open the at least one power-operated door when the passive remote entry device signal is received and an individual is detected in a predefined activation zone for a predetermined period of time. The system further includes a vehicle-mounted user detection device. The passive remote entry device may be selected from the group consisting of a key fob, a smart key, a key card, a cellular telephone or smartphone configured with a phone-as-a-key function, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized cellular telephone, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartphone, and a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartwatch. Methods for controlling a power door system for a vehicle are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Paul Tsvi Linden, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Onoyom Essien Ekanem, Laura Viviana Hazebrouck, David Toppenberg
  • Patent number: 10486532
    Abstract: A system comprising a vehicle control device that includes a body fittable to a vehicle receptacle. An engagement pin is mounted to a side of the body, releasably lockable to a receptacle hole. A first electrical connector, mounted to a first end of the body, is mateable to an electrical connector, mounted to the receptacle, when the engagement pin is engaged. A steering wheel is releasably and rotatably engagable by a second end of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Chapman, David Toppenberg
  • Publication number: 20180236972
    Abstract: A power door system for a vehicle including a plurality of power-operated doors is provided. The system includes a passive remote entry device configured to emit a signal to one or more cooperating vehicle receivers and a controller configured to cause the power door system to open the at least one power-operated door when the passive remote entry device signal is received and an individual is detected in a predefined activation zone for a predetermined period of time. The system further includes a vehicle-mounted user detection device. The passive remote entry device may be selected from the group consisting of a key fob, a smart key, a key card, a cellular telephone or smartphone configured with a phone-as-a-key function, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized cellular telephone, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartphone, and a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartwatch. Methods for controlling a power door system for a vehicle are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Howard Paul Tsvi Linden, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Onoyom Essien Ekanem, Laura Viviana Hazebrouck, David Toppenberg
  • Publication number: 20180208210
    Abstract: A system comprising a vehicle control device that includes a body fittable to a vehicle receptacle. An engagement pin is mounted to a side of the body, releaseably lockable to a receptacle hole. A first electrical connector, mounted to a first end of the body, is mateable to an electrical connector, mounted to the receptacle, when the engagement pin is engaged. A steering wheel is releaseably and rotatably engagable by a second end of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Chapman, David Toppenberg