Patents by Inventor Kenneth Michael Mathis

Kenneth Michael Mathis 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).

  • Systems and methods for user control of vehicular transmission shift points
    Patent number: 7747372
    Abstract: Systems and methods for user control of vehicular transmission shift points. In one embodiment, a user may control a transmission shift point by adjusting a selector having non-discrete selectable positions. Such selector may generate a signal indicative of its position to a transmission controller. The transmission controller may receive the signal from the selector and determine at least one transmission shift point based upon the selector position. The transmission controller may thereby control the transmission to effectuate a gear change when the shift point is achieved. In some embodiments, the selector may comprise a rotary potentiometer, a rotary encoder, an inline potentiometer, an inline encoder or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Michael Mathis
  • Systems and methods for user control of vehicular transmission shift points
    Publication number: 20090012682
    Abstract: Systems and methods for user control of vehicular transmission shift points. In one embodiment, a user may control a transmission shift point by adjusting a selector having non-discrete selectable positions. Such selector may generate a signal indicative of its position to a transmission controller. The transmission controller may receive the signal from the selector and determine at least one transmission shift point based upon the selector position. The transmission controller may thereby control the transmission to effectuate a gear change when the shift point is achieved. In some embodiments, the selector may comprise a rotary potentiometer, a rotary encoder, an inline potentiometer, an inline encoder or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Kenneth Michael Mathis