Patents by Inventor Frank Breker

Frank Breker 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).

  • System and method for displaying control information to the vehicle operator
    Patent number: 8055412
    Abstract: Vehicle control information is displayed to a vehicle operator in a central display area. In one embodiment, a sensor associated with a vehicle control is configured to detect an approaching operator. A graphical representation of the vehicle control may be displayed in a central display area and, in one embodiment, is displayed with a varying physical characteristic representative of the distance between the vehicle operator and the vehicle control itself. A second graphical representation of the vehicle control may be displayed in the central display area in response to detecting that the vehicle operator has contacted the vehicle control. In one embodiment, the second graphical representation includes a current control value for the vehicle control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Passaro, Frank Breker, Dale Alan Herigstad, Alec Bernstein
  • System and method for displaying control information to the vehicle operator
    Publication number: 20080300756
    Abstract: Vehicle control information is displayed to a vehicle operator in a central display area. In one embodiment, a sensor associated with a vehicle control is configured to detect an approaching operator. A graphical representation of the vehicle control may be displayed in a central display area and, in one embodiment, is displayed with a varying physical characteristic representative of the distance between the vehicle operator and the vehicle control itself. A second graphical representation of the vehicle control may be displayed in the central display area in response to detecting that the vehicle operator has contacted the vehicle control. In one embodiment, the second graphical representation includes a current control value for the vehicle control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Robert PASSARO, Frank BREKER, Dale Alan HERIGSTAD, Alec BERNSTEIN