Patents by Inventor Mark E. Burns

Mark E. Burns 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).

  • Automotive fault tolerant serial communication
    Patent number: 5534848
    Abstract: A fault tolerant automotive serial communication network includes a central communication node directly connected to a plurality of automotive electronic devices through corresponding interface circuitry including fault tolerant circuitry for detecting a serial communication fault in the corresponding device and for rapidly and substantially unintrusively removing the device from the network for the duration of the detected fault to minimize the impact of the fault on network operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Steele, Mark E. Burns, David M. Felden
  • Switch having combined light pipe and printed circuit board
    Patent number: 5521342
    Abstract: An illuminated elastomeric keypad switch assembly has an optical conductor on which a printed circuit is printed via electrically conductive ink and a keypad provided with translucent areas for passage of light. The optical conductor has recesses located adjacent the key caps whose width and depth progressively increases proceeding from the closest to the farthest key cap from a light source so that a uniform amount of light is transmitted through the key caps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Bartley, Michael S. Zwolinski, Mark E. Burns