Patents by Inventor Keith Joseph Rodrigues

Keith Joseph Rodrigues 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: 11473678
    Abstract: An electronic parking pawl actuator which uses a smaller motor and higher gear ratio has the ability to configure a rooster comb to engage with various park detents, and reduces the mechanical and software design complexity. Furthermore, the electronic park actuator limits the amount of back drivable range (unable to perform an external park to neutral shift) for theft deterrence, and also allows operation (speed performance) and a lower motor peak current. The electronic parking pawl actuator includes an electric motor, a drive gear, the drive gear operable for being driven by the electric motor, and a drive mechanism, the drive mechanism is operable for being driven by the drive gear. The drive mechanism is engaged with an output shaft of a gear selector of a transmission, and the drive mechanism is rotatable relative to the drive gear, allowing the output shaft to be located in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES USA, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D Merwin, Keith Joseph Rodrigues, Edward Hribar
  • Publication number: 20190383391
    Abstract: An electronic parking pawl actuator which uses a smaller motor and higher gear ratio has the ability to configure a rooster comb to engage with various park detents, and reduces the mechanical and software design complexity. Furthermore, the electronic park actuator limits the amount of back drivable range (unable to perform an external park to neutral shift) for theft deterrence, and also allows operation (speed performance) and a lower motor peak current. The electronic parking pawl actuator includes an electric motor, a drive gear, the drive gear operable for being driven by the electric motor, and a drive mechanism, the drive mechanism is operable for being driven by the drive gear. The drive mechanism is engaged with an output shaft of a gear selector of a transmission, and the drive mechanism is rotatable relative to the drive gear, allowing the output shaft to be located in a desired position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Powertrain USA, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Merwin, Keith Joseph Rodrigues, Edward Hribar
  • Publication number: 20190199163
    Abstract: A motor retainer includes a base and at least one arm. The base has an inner surface and an outer surface and includes a washer having at least one concave wave adjacent to at least one convex wave. The at least one arm extends away from the inner surface of the base and tapers towards a center of the motor retainer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James D Baer, Edward Hribar, Timothy J Trento, Keith Joseph Rodrigues