Patents by Inventor Donald R. Gignac

Donald R. Gignac 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: 10688881
    Abstract: A communication module is configured to obtain, from a first computing device associated with an energy receiver, an energy request. The energy request includes a location of the energy receiver and an amount of energy requested. A selection module is configured to generate a list of energy sources available to satisfy the energy request. The communication module is further configured to: transmit the list of energy sources to the first computing device for display; receive, from the first computing device, a selection of one energy source from the list of energy sources; and transmit, to the first computing device and a second computing device associated with the selected one energy source, a location at which the energy request is to be fulfilled. An energy transfer module is configured to selectively enable an electrical energy transfer from the selected one energy source to the energy receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Steven A. Tarnowsky, Goro Tamai, Anthony J. Corsetti, Kunaal Verma, Donald R. Gignac, Freddy V. Rayes, Apral S. Hara, Allan K. Lewis, William Marsh
  • Publication number: 20200108725
    Abstract: A communication module is configured to obtain, from a first computing device associated with an energy receiver, an energy request. The energy request includes a location of the energy receiver and an amount of energy requested. A selection module is configured to generate a list of energy sources available to satisfy the energy request. The communication module is further configured to: transmit the list of energy sources to the first computing device for display; receive, from the first computing device, a selection of one energy source from the list of energy sources; and transmit, to the first computing device and a second computing device associated with the selected one energy source, a location at which the energy request is to be fulfilled. An energy transfer module is configured to selectively enable an electrical energy transfer from the selected one energy source to the energy receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steven A. TARNOWSKY, Goro Tamai, Anthony J. Corsetti, Kunaal Verma, Donald R. Gignac, Freddy V. Rayes, Apral S. Hara, Allan K. Lewis, William Marsh
  • Patent number: 10594958
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling camera images for a camera of a vehicle are provided. In certain examples, a vehicle includes a camera, an input unit, and a processor. The input unit is configured to obtain data pertaining to a light pattern in proximity to the vehicle. The processor is configured to at least facilitate: (i) determining the light pattern in proximity to the vehicle using the data; and (ii) providing instructions for selectively binning the camera images based on the light pattern, the selectively binning including binning first pixels together for a particular image or portion thereof, but leaving second pixels for the particular image un-binned, based on the light pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mohannad Murad, Joseph G. Machak, Donald R. Gignac
  • Patent number: 10582136
    Abstract: A camera apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an image sensor, an electrochromic filter element, an infrared illuminator, and a controller configured to activate at least one from among the electrochromic filter element and the infrared illuminator based on a feature of an image of a scene captured by the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. Gignac, Allan K. Lewis, Mohammad Naserian, Norman J. Weigert
  • Patent number: 10577852
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that prevent a collision with a hitch accessory are provided. The method includes: detecting an input to open a gate or detecting a gate opening motion, determining whether hitch accessory is present in a path of the gate opening motion, and in response to determining that the hitch accessory is absent from the path, opening the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Allan K. Lewis, Derek L. Patterson, Donald R. Gignac, Mohammad Naserian
  • Publication number: 20190297277
    Abstract: A camera apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an image sensor, an electrochromic filter element, an infrared illuminator, and a controller configured to activate at least one from among the electrochromic filter element and the infrared illuminator based on a feature of an image of a scene captured by the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Donald R. Gignac, Allan K. Lewis, Mohammad Naserian, Norman J. Weigert
  • Publication number: 20190249479
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that prevent a collision with a hitch accessory are provided. The method includes: detecting an input to open a gate or detecting a gate opening motion, determining whether hitch accessory is present in a path of the gate opening motion, and in response to determining that the hitch accessory is absent from the path, opening the gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: ALLAN K. LEWIS, DEREK L. PATTERSON, DONALD R. GIGNAC, Mohammad Naserian
  • Publication number: 20190124275
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling camera images for a camera of a vehicle are provided. In certain examples, a vehicle includes a camera, an input unit, and a processor. The input unit is configured to obtain data pertaining to a light pattern in proximity to the vehicle. The processor is configured to at least facilitate: (i) determining the light pattern in proximity to the vehicle using the data; and (ii) providing instructions for selectively binning the camera images based on the light pattern, the selectively binning including binning first pixels together for a particular image or portion thereof, but leaving second pixels for the particular image un-binned, based on the light pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mohannad Murad, Joseph G. Machak, Donald R. Gignac
  • Patent number: 10160274
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that provide position indicators for features of a towable object. The method includes obtaining position information corresponding to a feature of a towable object, converting the position information to feature display information corresponding to a position of the feature on a display, and displaying an element indicating the position of the feature on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. Gignac, Allan K. Lewis