Patents by Inventor Lance Norris

Lance Norris 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).

  • Engine control system and method for a marine vessel
    Patent number: 9233744
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a profile storage module, a profile playback module, and a speed control module. The profile storage module stores an acceleration profile specifying a manner of accelerating a marine vessel. The profile playback module, in response to a play command received from a vessel operator, retrieves the acceleration profile and adjusts a desired engine speed based on the acceleration profile. The speed control module controls an engine speed of the marine vessel based on the desired engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, MEDALLION INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Clever, Kevin A. Cansiani, Martin Payne, Christopher A. Koches, Ronald E. Gaskins, Lance Norris
  • Watercraft throttle control systems and methods
    Patent number: 8989928
    Abstract: A system for a watercraft includes memory, a communications module, and a throttle control module. The memory includes a first mapping of measured accelerator position to desired throttle opening. The communications module selectively downloads a second mapping of the measured accelerator position to the desired throttle opening to the memory. The throttle control module generates the desired throttle opening based on the measured accelerator position and a selected one of the first and second mappings. A throttle actuator module opens a throttle valve based on the desired throttle opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Clever, Kevin A. Cansiani, Ronald E. Gaskins, Martin Payne, Christopher A. Koches, Lance Norris
  • WATERCRAFT THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20120191276
    Abstract: A system for a watercraft includes memory, a communications module, and a throttle control module. The memory includes a first mapping of measured accelerator position to desired throttle opening. The communications module selectively downloads a second mapping of the measured accelerator position to the desired throttle opening to the memory. The throttle control module generates the desired throttle opening based on the measured accelerator position and a selected one of the first and second mappings. A throttle actuator module opens a throttle valve based on the desired throttle opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Clever, Kevin A. Cansiani, Ronald E. Gaskins, Martin Payne, Christopher A. Koches, Lance Norris
  • ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MARINE VESSEL
    Publication number: 20120191277
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a profile storage module, a profile playback module, and a speed control module. The profile storage module stores an acceleration profile specifying a manner of accelerating a marine vessel. The profile playback module, in response to a play command received from a vessel operator, retrieves the acceleration profile and adjusts a desired engine speed based on the acceleration profile. The speed control module controls an engine speed of the marine vessel based on the desired engine speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Clever, Kevin A. Cansiani, Martin Payne, Christopher A. Koches, Ronald E. Gaskins, Lance Norris