Patents by Inventor Mark L. Zeinstra

Mark L. Zeinstra 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: 10306422
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operability and functionality of an electronic device with an electronic device detection system begins by determining whether an electronic device is located within the vehicle and proximate to an operator of the vehicle. The electronic device detection system defines a restricted zone in which electronic device use is partially or fully prohibited and a safe zone in which all or some of the functionality of electronic devices is enabled. Once it is determined that an electronic device is in use and within a restricted zone, a determination is made as to whether any usage prohibition conditions are satisfied. If usage prohibition conditions are satisfied, then particular functions of the electronic device may be disabled in a restricted zone. If prohibition conditions are not met, the electronic device may be totally enabled, partially enabled to allow certain functions, or the electronic device is never disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark L. Zeinstra, Philip J. Vanderwall
  • Patent number: 10284652
    Abstract: A method for providing network-based content to an in-vehicle telematics system is shown and described. The method includes include establishing a communications link between communications electronics of the vehicle telematics system and a remote content management server in communication with a plurality of remote content providers. The method further includes using the communications link to communicate with the remote content management server using an application programming interface. The processing electronics receives content from the plurality of remote content providers via the application programming interface. The communication between the remote content management server and at least one of the plurality of remote content providers is conducted according to a protocol for which the vehicle telematics system does not have an interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: VISTEON GLOBALTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Brian L. Douthitt, Mark L. Zeinstra, David T. Dembinski, Kaloyan Tenchov
  • Patent number: 9370041
    Abstract: A system for communicating information facilitates wireless communication between electronic devices. The system includes a transceiver provided in a vehicle. The transceiver communicates with an electronic device located external to the transceiver using a Bluetooth communications standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Kurt A. Dykema, Steven L. Geerlings, Mark L. Zeinstra
  • Patent number: 9318017
    Abstract: A wireless control system for use in a vehicle and for use with a remote electronic system is provided. The wireless control system includes a transceiver for mounting in the vehicle. The transceiver is configured to communicate according to a Bluetooth communications standard. The transceiver is further configured to provide a control signal to the remote electronic system. The transceiver is also trainable to provide a carrier frequency and control information for the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Kurt A. Dykema, Steven L. Geerlings, Mark L. Zeinstra, Robert F. Buege
  • Publication number: 20150339031
    Abstract: A method for contextually reconfiguring a user interface in a vehicle includes receiving context information for the vehicle, determining a vehicle context including at least one of a location of the vehicle and a condition of the vehicle based on the context information, determining one or more control options based on the vehicle context, and causing the user interface to display one or more selectable icons. The icons are displayed in response to the determined vehicle context and selecting an icon initiates one or more of the context-based control options.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Mark L. Zeinstra, Scott A. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20150311935
    Abstract: A system for communicating information facilitates wireless communication between electronic devices. The system includes a transceiver provided in a vehicle. The transceiver communicates with an electronic device located external to the transceiver using a Bluetooth communications standard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Todd R. WITKOWSKI, Kurt A. Dykema, Steven L. Geerlings, Mark L. Zeinstra
  • Patent number: 8897708
    Abstract: A system for communicating information facilitates wireless communication between electronic devices. The system includes a transceiver provided in a vehicle. The transceiver communicates with an electronic device located external to the transceiver using a Bluetooth communications standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Kurt A. Dykema, Steven L. Geerlings, Mark L. Zeinstra
  • Publication number: 20140184393
    Abstract: A wireless control system for use in a vehicle and for use with a remote electronic system is provided. The wireless control system includes a transceiver for mounting in the vehicle. The transceiver is configured to communicate according to a Bluetooth communications standard. The transceiver is further configured to provide a control signal to the remote electronic system. The transceiver is also trainable to provide a carrier frequency and control information for the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Kurt A. Dykema, Steven L. Geerlings, Mark L. Zeinstra, Robert F. Buege
  • Publication number: 20140164579
    Abstract: A method for providing network-based content to an in-vehicle telematics system is shown and described. The method includes include establishing a communications link between communications electronics of the vehicle telematics system and a remote content management server in communication with a plurality of remote content providers. The method further includes using the communications link to communicate with the remote content management server using an application programming interface. The processing electronics receives content from the plurality of remote content providers via the application programming interface. The communication between the remote content management server and at least one of the plurality of remote content providers is conducted according to a protocol for which the vehicle telematics system does not have an interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2011
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Brian L. Douthitt, Mark L. Zeinstra, David T. Dembinski, Kaloyan Tenchov
  • Patent number: 8634888
    Abstract: A wireless control system for use in a vehicle and for use with a remote electronic system is provided. The wireless control system includes a transceiver for mounting in the vehicle. The transceiver is configured to communicate according to a Bluetooth communications standard. The transceiver is further configured to provide a control signal to the remote electronic system. The transceiver is also trainable to provide a carrier frequency and control information for the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Kurt A. Dykema, Steven L. Geerlings, Mark L. Zeinstra, Robert F. Buege
  • Publication number: 20130295908
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operability and functionality of an electronic device with an electronic device detection system begins by determining whether an electronic device is located within the vehicle and proximate to an operator of the vehicle. The electronic device detection system defines a restricted zone in which electronic device use is partially or fully prohibited and a safe zone in which all or some of the functionality of electronic devices is enabled. Once it is determined that an electronic device is in use and within a restricted zone, a determination is made as to whether any usage prohibition conditions are satisfied. If usage prohibition conditions are satisfied, then particular functions of the electronic device may be disabled in a restricted zone. If prohibition conditions are not met, the electronic device may be totally enabled, partially enabled to allow certain functions, or the electronic device is never disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Mark L. Zeinstra, Philip J. Vanderwall
  • Publication number: 20130285796
    Abstract: A system for communicating information facilitates wireless communication between electronic devices. The system includes a transceiver provided in a vehicle. The transceiver communicates with an electronic device located external to the transceiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Todd R. WITKOWSKI, Kurt A. Dykema, Steven L. Geerlings, Mark L. Zeinstra
  • Publication number: 20130285603
    Abstract: A wireless charging system includes a primary inductive coil configured to transfer electromagnetic energy to a secondary inductive coil of a portable electronic device. The wireless charging system also includes a coil driver electrically coupled to the primary inductive coil and configured to adjust an output signal of the primary inductive coil. The wireless charging system further includes a receiver configured to receive an input signal from the portable electronic device, and a controller communicatively coupled to the receiver and to the coil driver. The controller is configured to establish a wireless charging protocol based on the input signal, and to automatically regulate the output signal based on the established wireless charging protocol and the input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Mark L. Zeinstra, Sam J. Galioto, Gunnar J. Bracelly, Wolfgang Ziegler, Jens Ohler, Benjamin Algera, Jeffrey N. Golden, Thomas Wright
  • Patent number: 8494449
    Abstract: A system for communicating information facilitates wireless communication between electronic devices. The system includes a transceiver provided in a vehicle. The transceiver communicates with an electronic device located external to the transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Kurt A. Dykema, Steven L. Geerlings, Mark L. Zeinstra
  • Publication number: 20130130626
    Abstract: A system for communicating information facilitates wireless communication between electronic devices. The system includes a transceiver provided in a vehicle. The transceiver communicates with an electronic device located external to the transceiver using a Bluetooth communications standard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Todd R. WITKOWSKI, Kurt A. Dykema, Steven L. Geerlings, Mark L. Zeinstra
  • Patent number: 8380251
    Abstract: A system for communicating information facilitates wireless communication between electronic devices. The system includes a transceiver provided in a vehicle. The transceiver communicates with an electronic device located external to the transceiver using a Bluetooth communications standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Kurt A. Dykema, Steven L. Geerlings, Mark L. Zeinstra
  • Patent number: 8311584
    Abstract: A method is provided for creating a phonebook for a hands-free telephone system in a vehicle using phonebook entries retrieved from a remote phonebook of a mobile phone over a wireless communication link between a control module of the hands-free telephone system and the mobile phone. The method includes receiving a remote phonebook from the mobile phone, the remote phonebook including a plurality of entries, each entry including text data and numeric data, identifying the text data in each entry, generating an acoustic baseform for each entry based on the text data for each entry, storing the acoustic baseform for each entry in a baseform list, and storing the plurality of entries in a mobile phonebook associated with the baseform list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Brian L. Douthitt, Steven G. Schultz, Ted W. Ringold, Jeffrey N. Golden, Mark L. Zeinstra
  • Publication number: 20120009877
    Abstract: A control module for a wireless communication system in a vehicle having a plurality of operational settings includes a memory, a control circuit and a radio frequency transceiver. The memory is configured to store a plurality of performance characteristics associated with at least one mobile wireless communication device. The control circuit is coupled to the memory and is configured to retrieve at least one performance characteristic for a mobile wireless communication device associated with a vehicle occupant and used in conjunction with the wireless communication system. The control circuit is further configured to adjust at least one operational setting of the wireless communication system based on the at least one performance characteristics of the mobile wireless communication device. The radio frequency transceiver is coupled to the control circuit and is configured to communicate with the mobile wireless communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Mark L. Zeinstra, Michael A. Supanich, Walter M. Eadelman
  • Publication number: 20110227698
    Abstract: A wireless control system for use in a vehicle and for use with a remote electronic system is provided. The wireless control system includes a transceiver for mounting in the vehicle. The transceiver is configured to communicate according to a Bluetooth communications standard. The transceiver is further configured to provide a control signal to the remote electronic system. The transceiver is also trainable to provide a carrier frequency and control information for the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Todd R. WITKOWSKI, Kurt A. Dykema, Steven L. Geerlings, Mark L. Zeinstra, Robert F. Buege
  • Patent number: 8005473
    Abstract: A control module for a wireless communication system in a vehicle having a plurality of operational settings includes a memory, a control circuit and a radio frequency transceiver. The memory is configured to store a plurality of performance characteristics associated with at least one mobile wireless communication device. The control circuit is coupled to the memory and is configured to retrieve at least one performance characteristic for a mobile wireless communication device associated with a vehicle occupant and used in conjunction with the wireless communication system. The control circuit is further configured to adjust at least one operational setting of the wireless communication system based on the at least one performance characteristics of the mobile wireless communication device. The radio frequency transceiver is coupled to the control circuit and is configured to communicate with the mobile wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Mark L. Zeinstra, Michael A. Supanich, Walter M. Eadelman