Patents by Inventor John Bortell

John Bortell 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: 12559053
    Abstract: In an example, a vehicle seat sensor system includes a vehicle seat, a flexible seat sensor, and an electronics unit. The vehicle seat includes a seat surface. The flexible seat sensor is disposed within a deformable distance from the seat surface and includes one or more signal electrodes, one or more ground electrodes, one or more dielectric layers, and one or more capacitors. Each capacitor is formed by a combination of a corresponding signal electrode and a corresponding ground electrode with a corresponding dielectric layer positioned between the corresponding signal electrode and the corresponding ground electrode. The electronics unit is connected to the flexible seat sensor and is configured to electrically communicate with the flexible seat sensor. The flexible seat sensor is configured to provide a capacitive output proportional to an amount of pressure applied to the flexible seat sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignees: NITTO, INC., NITTO DENKO CORPORATION, NITTO BEND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Omote, Benedicto Delos Santos, Juma Belknap, John Bortell, Colton Allen Ottley, Jared K. Jonas, Colin D. Eichinger, Nathan C. Briggs
  • Patent number: 12379286
    Abstract: In an example, a vehicle tire includes a tread portion, a sidewall portion, and a sensor module for estimating one or more parameters of the tire. The sensor module includes a detector patch that includes one or more capacitors, each of which has an electrostatic capacity that is variable due to at least deformation of each capacitor. The sensor module also includes an electronics unit connected to each capacitor and configured to control the sensor module. The detector patch is adhered to an inside of at least one of the tread portion or the sidewall portion. At least one of the capacitors is located on the inside of the at least one of the tread portion or the sidewall portion. The electronics unit is configured to estimate at least one of the parameters based on the electrostatic capacity of each capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignees: NITTO, INC., NITTO DENKO CORPORATION, NITTO BEND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Omote, Benedicto Delos Santos, Martin John McCaslin, John Bortell, Sean Sousa, Colton Allen Ottley, Jared K. Jonas, Colin D. Eichinger, Nathan C. Briggs
  • Publication number: 20240198943
    Abstract: In an example, a vehicle seat sensor system includes a vehicle seat, a flexible seat sensor, and an electronics unit. The vehicle seat includes a seat surface. The flexible seat sensor is disposed within a deformable distance from the seat surface and includes one or more signal electrodes, one or more ground electrodes, one or more dielectric layers, and one or more capacitors. Each capacitor is formed by a combination of a corresponding signal electrode and a corresponding ground electrode with a corresponding dielectric layer positioned between the corresponding signal electrode and the corresponding ground electrode. The electronics unit is connected to the flexible seat sensor and is configured to electrically communicate with the flexible seat sensor. The flexible seat sensor is configured to provide a capacitive output proportional to an amount of pressure applied to the flexible seat sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Toshihiko OMOTE, Benedicto DELOS SANTOS, Juma BELKNAP, John BORTELL, Colton Allen OTTLEY, Jared K. JONAS, Colin D. EICHINGER, Nathan C. BRIGGS
  • Publication number: 20230008775
    Abstract: In an example, a vehicle tire includes a tread portion, a sidewall portion, and a sensor module for estimating one or more parameters of the tire. The sensor module includes a detector patch that includes one or more capacitors, each of which has an electrostatic capacity that is variable due to at least deformation of each capacitor. The sensor module also includes an electronics unit connected to each capacitor and configured to control the sensor module. The detector patch is adhered to an inside of at least one of the tread portion or the sidewall portion. At least one of the capacitors is located on the inside of the at least one of the tread portion or the sidewall portion. The electronics unit is configured to estimate at least one of the parameters based on the electrostatic capacity of each capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Toshihiko OMOTE, Benedicto DELOS SANTOS, Martin John MCCASLIN, John BORTELL, Sean SOUSA, Colton Allen OTTLEY, Jared K. JONAS, Colin D. EICHINGER, Nathan C. BRIGGS
  • Patent number: 9322454
    Abstract: A crankshaft can include a pendulum absorber and a retention arrangement. The pendulum absorber can include a carrier, a pendulum and a pin. The carrier can be coupled to a lobe and can have an opening. The pendulum can have an opening and the pin can be received in the openings to couple the pendulum to the carrier. The retention arrangement can include a retention flange and a retention pin. The retention flange can extend from the carrier or lobe. The retention pin can be coupled to the pendulum. The retention arrangement can maintain the retention pin in spaced relation to the retention surface during movement of the pendulum when the pin maintains the pendulum coupled to the carrier, and can retain the pendulum relative to the carrier through engagement of the retention pin and retention surface in an absence of the pin maintaining the pendulum coupled to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Ian S Glanfield, Bruce Geist, John Bortell, Edward A Luibrand
  • Publication number: 20150090073
    Abstract: A crankshaft can include a pendulum absorber and a retention arrangement. The pendulum absorber can include a carrier, a pendulum and a pin. The carrier can be coupled to a lobe and can have an opening. The pendulum can have an opening and the pin can be received in the openings to couple the pendulum to the carrier. The retention arrangement can include a retention flange and a retention pin. The retention flange can extend from the carrier or lobe. The retention pin can be coupled to the pendulum. The retention arrangement can maintain the retention pin in spaced relation to the retention surface during movement of the pendulum when the pin maintains the pendulum coupled to the carrier, and can retain the pendulum relative to the carrier through engagement of the retention pin and retention surface in an absence of the pin maintaining the pendulum coupled to the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Ian S Glanfield, Bruce Geist, John Bortell, Edward A Luibrand