Patents by Inventor Douglas Field

Douglas Field 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: 12572222
    Abstract: A vehicle system is provided for a modular human-machine interface (HMI). The system includes a configurable display of a vehicle; and an HMI display system of the vehicle, in communication with the configurable display. The HMI display system is configured to, responsive to detection of presence of a modular programmable widget having one or more physical controls, present a user interface to the configurable display for the configuration of the one or more physical controls of the modular programmable widget, receive, via the user interface, input assigning functions to the one or more physical controls, save the function assignment to display settings of the HMI display system, and in a runtime mode, perform an assigned function responsive to user input to the one or more physical controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, Douglas Field, Alan Clarke, Daniel Smith, Henry D. Bernardo, Raul Cenan, Minsung Kim
  • Publication number: 20240361844
    Abstract: A vehicle system is provided for a modular human-machine interface (HMI). The system includes a configurable display of a vehicle; and an HMI display system of the vehicle, in communication with the configurable display. The HMI display system is configured to, responsive to detection of presence of a modular programmable widget having one or more physical controls, present a user interface to the configurable display for the configuration of the one or more physical controls of the modular programmable widget, receive, via the user interface, input assigning functions to the one or more physical controls, save the function assignment to display settings of the HMI display system, and in a runtime mode, perform an assigned function responsive to user input to the one or more physical controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Michael John HARMON, Douglas FIELD, Alan CLARKE, Daniel SMITH, Henry D. BERNARDO, Raul CENAN, Minsung KIM
  • Patent number: 12061750
    Abstract: A vehicle system is provided for a modular human-machine interface (HMI). The system includes a configurable display of a vehicle; and an HMI display system of the vehicle, in communication with the configurable display. The HMI display system is configured to, responsive to detection of presence of a modular programmable widget having one or more physical controls, present a user interface to the configurable display for the configuration of the one or more physical controls of the modular programmable widget, receive, via the user interface, input assigning functions to the one or more physical controls, save the function assignment to display settings of the HMI display system, and in a runtime mode, perform an assigned function responsive to user input to the one or more physical controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, Douglas Field, Alan Clarke, Daniel Smith, Henry D. Bernardo, Raul Cenan, Minsung Kim
  • Publication number: 20240264679
    Abstract: A vehicle system is provided for a modular human-machine interface (HMI). The system includes a configurable display of a vehicle; and an HMI display system of the vehicle, in communication with the configurable display. The HMI display system is configured to, responsive to detection of presence of a modular programmable widget having one or more physical controls, present a user interface to the configurable display for the configuration of the one or more physical controls of the modular programmable widget, receive, via the user interface, input assigning functions to the one or more physical controls, save the function assignment to display settings of the HMI display system, and in a runtime mode, perform an assigned function responsive to user input to the one or more physical controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Michael John HARMON, Douglas FIELD, Alan CLARKE, Daniel SMITH, Henry D. BERNARDO, Raul CENAN, Minsung KIM
  • Patent number: 6929080
    Abstract: A transportation vehicle for transporting an individual over ground having a surface that may be irregular. The vehicle has a support platform for supporting the subject and the support platform is coupled to a ground-contacting module at a pivot. While the ground-contacting module may be statically stable, balance of the support platform with respect to the ground-contacting module is maintained by motion of the ground-contacting module in response to leaning of the support platform. A motorized drive coupled to the ground-contacting module causes locomotion of the vehicle and the subject therewith over the surface, while a control loop, in which the motorized drive is included, dynamically enhances stability in the fore-aft plane by operation of the motorized drive in connection with the ground-contacting module. In the event of failure of the control loop, the pivot connection of the support platform to the ground-contacting module may be locked, thereby ensuring stability of the static assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean L. Kamen, Douglas Field, Richard Kurt Heinzmann
  • Patent number: 6561294
    Abstract: A balancing vehicle that supports a rider on a support such as a seat in a such a manner as to allow the position of the center of gravity of the vehicle to be varied by motion of the support. Motion of the support additionally provides for control of a drive that propels the vehicle in a manner responsive to the position of the center of gravity. The vehicle is thus capable of control by leaning of a seated rider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean L. Kamen, Robert R. Ambrogi, Robert Duggan, Douglas Field, Richard Kurt Heinzmann
  • Patent number: 6543564
    Abstract: A transportation vehicle for transporting an individual over ground having a surface that may be irregular. The vehicle has a support platform for supporting the subject and the support platform is coupled to a ground-contacting module at a pivot. While the ground-contacting module may be statically stable, balance of the support platform with respect to the ground-contacting module is maintained by motion of the ground-contacting module in response to leaning of the support platform. A motorized drive coupled to the ground-contacting module causes locomotion of the vehicle and the subject therewith over the surface, while a control loop, in which the motorized drive is included, dynamically enhances stability in the fore-aft plane by operation of the motorized drive in connection with the ground-contacting module. In the event of failure of the control loop, the pivot connection of the support platform to the ground-contacting module may be locked, thereby ensuring stability of the static assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean L. Kamen, Douglas Field, Richard Kurt Heinzmann
  • Patent number: 6357544
    Abstract: A balancing vehicle having enhanced stability for transporting a payload. The vehicle has two substantially coaxial wheels coupled to a platform. Each wheel rotates about an axis, with the axis of each wheel disposed at a non-zero angle with respect to an axis that is defined by the centers of the respective wheels and that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of forward motion of the vehicle. The vehicle has a motorized drive that provides locomotion of the vehicle in an operating position that is unstable with respect to tipping if the motorized drive is not powered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean L. Kamen, Douglas Field
  • Patent number: 4706405
    Abstract: An elongated fishing lure which has generally flat and parallel sides through most of its length and which includes a through bore extending longitudinally through its length to accommodate a fishing line or leader freely therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Inventor: Douglas Field