Patents by Inventor John Stephen Viggers

John Stephen Viggers 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: 8483904
    Abstract: The automobile described herein is configured with a system for capturing subjective and objective data related to automobile performance events. The automobile may comprise or be configured with a drivability evaluation system. This drivability evaluation system may be configured to capture subjective driver responses, monitor driver commands, and monitor automobile performance based on the driver commands. Moreover, the system may be employed in real world driving scenarios, where a driver's commands and the associated automobile responses are indicative of actual every day driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John Stephen Viggers
  • Publication number: 20130079989
    Abstract: The automobile described herein is configured with a system for capturing subjective and objective data related to automobile performance events. The automobile may comprise or be configured with a drivability evaluation system. This drivability evaluation system may be configured to capture subjective driver responses, monitor driver commands, and monitor automobile performance based on the driver commands. Moreover, the system may be employed in real world driving scenarios, where a driver's commands and the associated automobile responses are indicative of actual every day driving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: John Stephen Viggers
  • Patent number: 6240910
    Abstract: A compressed natural gas-fueled automotive vehicle is disclosed in which the fail-safe control operation is performed thereby to secure the safety of the vehicle when the gas pressure drops. If the remaining amount of the gas is very small, an engine misfire occurs. If the catalyst temperature is high, the uncombusted gas begins to burn on contact with the high-temperature catalyst in the catalyst unit. In view of this, upon detection of both a gas pressure drop and the vehicle moving condition or upon detection of both a gas pressure drop and an increased catalyst temperature, the fuel supply is stopped or the vehicle speed is reduced to thereby reduce the catalyst temperature. As a result, uncombusted gas is not burnt in the catalyst unit and the catalyst unit is prevented from being destroyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignees: Fujitsu Ten Limited, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki, Toyota Technical Center
    Inventors: Masahiro Maekawa, Kohei Igarashi, Hiroki Matsuoka, John Stephen Viggers