Patents by Inventor Douglas T. Patterson

Douglas T. Patterson 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: 10427592
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling exterior lights on a vehicle. The method includes receiving an input indicative of a desired mode of operation of the exterior lights from a user-selectable input device. The user-selectable input device includes an on-setting, an off-setting, and an automatic-setting. The method further includes receiving sensor data indicative of a level of visibility outside the vehicle, comparing the sensor data to a threshold, and generating, by an electronic processor, a notification indicative of an improper positioning of the user-selectable input device when the sensor data indicates that the level of visibility is less than the threshold and the user-selectable input device is positioned in the off-setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Wolfgang Kearney, Douglas T. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20190118701
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling exterior lights on a vehicle. The method includes receiving an input indicative of a desired mode of operation of the exterior lights from a user-selectable input device. The user-selectable input device includes an on-setting, an off-setting, and an automatic-setting. The method further includes receiving sensor data indicative of a level of visibility outside the vehicle, comparing the sensor data to a threshold, and generating, by an electronic processor, a notification indicative of an improper positioning of the user-selectable input device when the sensor data indicates that the level of visibility is less than the threshold and the user-selectable input device is positioned in the off-setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Norbert Wolfgang Kearney, Douglas T. Patterson
  • Patent number: 6390133
    Abstract: A hydraulic accumulator assembly for a hydraulic brake system. The accumulator assembly includes a pump housing having therein at least one accumulator bore. The accumulator bore has an axis and an inner wall. A piston is movable within the accumulator bore and divides the accumulator bore into an accumulator chamber, which is communicable with the hydraulic brake system, and a spring chamber. There is a spring in the spring chamber for biasing the piston in the direction of the accumulator chamber. A passageway in the pump housing is closely spaced from the inner wall so as to form a relatively thin wall thickness between the passageway and the inner wall. A vent bore is punched in the inner wall and communicates between the spring chamber and the passageway. The vent bore is punched in a direction away from the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas T. Patterson, Gerd A. Baur, Paul H. Hanson
  • Patent number: 5366355
    Abstract: A rotor rides on the shaft end and is eccentric with respect to the rotational axis of the shaft. The rotor rotates in the bore of a pivot ring and coacts therewith in the nature of a double action pumping such that there are two pumping cycles per revolution of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Inventor: Douglas T. Patterson