Patents by Inventor Douglas C. Martin

Douglas C. Martin 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).

  • Publication number: 20140341535
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a video playback control system for a vehicle having a front cabin and a rear cabin. The apparatus can include at least one first display located in the front cabin, and at least one second display located in the rear cabin. The apparatus can also include a source of video data for display on the at least one first display and the at least one second display. The apparatus can include a control module that outputs a single still video frame or series of still video frames from a continuous video stream provided by the source of video data for display on the at least one first display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David R. Petrucci, Douglas C. Martin, Charles A. Massoll, Mark P. Friedrich, Charlene A. Goike
  • Publication number: 20140341545
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a video playback control system for a vehicle. The method can include receiving a source of video data and accessing a data store for a run script associated with the playback of the video data. The method can also include if no run script exists in the data store, generating a log of user input received for the playback of the video data. The method can include storing the log in the data store as a run script associated with the playback of the video data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David R. Petrucci, Douglas C. Martin, Charles A. Massoll, Mark P. Friedrich, Charlene A. Goike
  • Publication number: 20140317648
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring video content provided to a vehicle. In one embodiment a method includes: receiving video content at the vehicle; monitoring the video content based on guidelines data stored in a datastore; and selectively modifying the video content based on the monitoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David R. PETRUCCI, Douglas C. MARTIN, Charles A. MASSOLL
  • Patent number: 8738368
    Abstract: A system for and method of speech processing for a vehicle. Speech is received from at least one vehicle occupant via a plurality of microphones corresponding to the plurality of zones in the vehicle, wherein the microphones convert the speech into speech signals. At least one active communication zone is determined in which the at least one vehicle occupant corresponding to the active communication zone is speaking Speech processing is modified in response to the determined active communication zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jesse T. Gratke, Gary M. Buch, Nathan D. Ampunan, Douglas C. Martin, Bassam S. Shahmurad
  • Publication number: 20140120892
    Abstract: Speech recognition in a vehicle through an extrinsic device includes detecting, via the vehicle, a presence of a mobile communications device that is configured with a speech recognition component. A vehicle processor encodes data lists stored in the vehicle and transmits the data lists and a vehicle identifier to the mobile communications device. In response to receiving a request to initiate a voice recognition session, the vehicle transmits the request and the vehicle identifier to the mobile communications device that causes activation of the speech recognition component. The mobile communications device retrieves the data lists via the identifier. In response to a voice command received by the speech recognition component, the speech recognition component interprets the voice command, determines an action by evaluating the voice command in view of the data lists, and transmits an instruction to the vehicle processor directing the vehicle to implement the action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Douglas C. Martin, Nathan D. Ampunan
  • Publication number: 20140055306
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting whether an antenna mast is coupled to an antenna. In one embodiment, a method of monitoring an antenna having a removable detection mechanism is provided. The method includes: monitoring voltage standing wave radio (VSWR) measurement data of the antenna; and selectively determining whether at least one of the detection mechanism and an antenna mast is installed based on the VSWR measurement data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David R. PETRUCCI, Gregg R. KITTINGER, Duane S. CARPER, Douglas C. MARTIN
  • Publication number: 20140055320
    Abstract: An antenna is provided. The antenna includes an antenna base; and a detection mechanism removably coupled to the antenna base that generates a detection signal for detecting whether an antenna mast is coupled to the antenna base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David R. PETRUCCI, Gregg R. KITTINGER, Duane S. CARPER, Douglas C. MARTIN, Laurence G. EKSTROM
  • Publication number: 20140055307
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting whether at least one of an antenna mast and a detection mechanism is installed to an antenna. In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring at least one of amplitude modulation (AM) band data and direct current (DC) power data of the antenna; and selectively determining whether at least one of the antenna mast and the detection mechanism is installed based on the at least one of the AM band data and the DC power data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David R. PETRUCCI, Gregg R. KITTINGER, Duane S. CARPER, Douglas C. MARTIN
  • Publication number: 20130344788
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus to control climate in multiple zones of a passenger cabin of a vehicle are provided. The system includes a control unit having a receiving unit configured to receive signals from a plurality of microphones associated with each zone of the multiple zones. A determining unit is configured to determine an active microphone from the plurality of microphones based on from which microphone a strongest of the signals was received and to determine an active zone as the zone with which the active microphone is associated. The control unit further includes a fan operating unit configured to control a plurality of fans of the climate control system and to reduce a speed of the at least one fan associated with the active zone in response to the signal received from the active microphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gary M. Buch, Jesse T. Gratke, Nathan D. Ampunan, Douglas C. Martin, Bassam S. Shahmurad
  • Publication number: 20130337762
    Abstract: A method and system for providing call center emergency services to one or more occupants of a vehicle having a plurality of listening zones within a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The method involves detecting a potential emergency condition, sending an emergency notification to a call center, receiving a listening zone control signal identifying at least one of a plurality of listening zones in the vehicle, and supplying audio received from the identified listening zones(s) to the call center via a voice call between the vehicle and call center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: Gary M. Buch, Jesse T. Gratke, Nathan D. Ampunan, Douglas C. Martin, Bassam S. Shahmurad
  • Publication number: 20130211828
    Abstract: Speech processing for a vehicle, including receiving speech from a user via at least one speech microphone that converts the speech into a speech signal, receiving vehicle noise via at least one active noise control microphone that converts the noise into a vehicle noise signal, and processing the speech signal in response to the vehicle noise signal to reduce vehicle noise in the speech signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: Jesse T. Gratke, Nathan D. Ampunan, Gary M. Buch, Bassam S. Shahmurad, Douglas C. Martin
  • Publication number: 20120197637
    Abstract: A system for and method of speech processing for a vehicle. Speech is received from at least one vehicle occupant via a plurality of microphones corresponding to the plurality of zones in the vehicle, wherein the microphones convert the speech into speech signals. At least one active communication zone is determined in which the at least one vehicle occupant corresponding to the active communication zone is speaking Speech processing is modified in response to the determined active communication zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Jesse T. Gratke, Gary M. Buch, Nathan D. Ampunan, Douglas C. Martin, Bassam S. Shahmurad
  • Patent number: 5528314
    Abstract: A vehicle antenna comprises a transparent, electrically conducting, film between the inner and outer glass sheets of a vehicle window. The film comprises a horizontally elongate principal element substantially parallel to and spaced from the upper edge portion of the window aperture and having an effective horizontal length of an odd multiple of one quarter of a predetermined wavelength and an impedance matching element. The impedance matching element comprises a main portion having a peripheral edge with a horizontal upper portion spaced below the principal element and a remainder spaced from the remaining edge portion of the window aperture so as to form a slot transmission line having an effective length of one half the wavelength, which is preferably in the commercial FM band. The impedance matching element further comprises a narrow vertical portion connecting the main portion to the principal element, so that the slot transmission line is parasitically coupled to the principal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, Delco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Louis L. Nagy, Mark Bellinger, Douglas C. Martin
  • Patent number: D391130
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Penetrator Tool Company
    Inventor: Douglas C. Martin