Patents by Inventor Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio
Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio 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).
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Patent number: 11725723Abstract: A rotary shifter having a knob bi-directionally and biasingly supported upon a housing in a monostable and return-to-center orientation. A printed circuit board assembly is incorporated into the housing and includes a sensor and a processor. A spur gear is rotatably supported within the housing and actuated by the knob, the spur gear supporting a magnet in proximity to the sensor. Rotation of the knob causing rotational displacement of the magnet relative to the sensor in order for the processor to instruct a change in shifter position. The knob incorporating a graphical display for indicating a current shifter position of the assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.Inventors: Calogero Alu, Christopher Soave, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio
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Patent number: 11651914Abstract: A vehicle shifter assembly having a housing rotatably supporting a monostable toggle knob accessible to a vehicle operator. A processor enabled printed circuit board is incorporated into the housing and, upon actuation of the knob, instructs a gear shift condition to a display component. The housing can be incorporated into any of a variety of locations accessible to the vehicle operator, including being integrated into the steering wheel so that, and upon rotation of the wheel, the housing or display is continuously reoriented so as to maintain an upright position as viewed by the operator.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.Inventors: Brian Andrew Mayville, Calogero Alu, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Thorsten Dirk Connemann
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Patent number: 11282446Abstract: A graphical display integrated into a rotary knob vehicle shifter assembly including a surface display located outside of the knob which can incorporate any of transistor LCD or organic LED interior components, such as which can be presented into either of segmented or OLED/TFT pixelated image display variants. In either instance, a connector end of an associated harness or ribbon cable extends from the graphical display and, when connected to a remote PCB board integrated into the shifter assembly, is configured to provide variable display options not limited to shifter position and including variable supporting graphics and other designs.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2020Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Edward Curtis, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Brian Andrew Mayville
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Patent number: 11273710Abstract: A graphical display integrated into a linear gate vehicle shifter assembly including a surface display which can incorporate any of transistor LCD or organic LED interior components, such as which can be presented into either of segmented or OLED/TFT pixelated image display variants. In either instance, a connector end of an associated harness or ribbon cable extends from the graphical display and, when connected to a remote PCB board integrated into the shifter assembly, is configured to provide variable display options not limited to shifter position and including variable supporting graphics and other designs.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2020Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Edward Curtis, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Brian Andrew Mayville
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Publication number: 20210265121Abstract: A vehicle shifter assembly having a housing rotatably supporting a monostable toggle knob accessible to a vehicle operator. A processor enabled printed circuit board is incorporated into the housing and, upon actuation of the knob, instructs a gear shift condition to a display component. The housing can be incorporated into any of a variety of locations accessible to the vehicle operator, including being integrated into the steering wheel so that, and upon rotation of the wheel, the housing or display is continuously reoriented so as to maintain an upright position as viewed by the operator.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2021Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Brian Andrew Mayville, Calogero Alu, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Thorsten Dirk Connemann
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Publication number: 20210190202Abstract: A rotary shifter having a knob bi-directionally and biasingly supported upon a housing in a monostable and return-to-center orientation. A printed circuit board assembly is incorporated into the housing and includes a sensor and a processor. A spur gear is rotatably supported within the housing and actuated by the knob, the spur gear supporting a magnet in proximity to the sensor. Rotation of the knob causing rotational displacement of the magnet relative to the sensor in order for the processor to instruct a change in shifter position. The knob incorporating a graphical display for indicating a current shifter position of the assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2020Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Calogero Alu, Christopher Soave, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio
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Patent number: 11010120Abstract: A graphical display subassembly integrated into a vehicle shifter assembly including a surface display which can incorporate any of transistor LCD or organic LED interior components, such as which can be presented into either of segmented or OLED/TFT pixelated image display variants. In either instance, a connector end of an associated harness or ribbon cable extends from the graphical display and, when connected to a remote PCB board integrated into the shifter assembly, is configured to provide variable display options not limited to shifter position and including variable supporting graphics and other designs.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Edward Curtis, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Brian Andrew Mayville
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Publication number: 20210086615Abstract: A graphical display integrated into a linear gate vehicle shifter assembly including a surface display which can incorporate any of transistor LCD or organic LED interior components, such as which can be presented into either of segmented or OLED/TFT pixelated image display variants. In either instance, a connector end of an associated harness or ribbon cable extends from the graphical display and, when connected to a remote PCB board integrated into the shifter assembly, is configured to provide variable display options not limited to shifter position and including variable supporting graphics and other designs.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: Kuster North America, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Edward Curtis, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Brian Andrew Mayville
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Publication number: 20210082342Abstract: A graphical display integrated into a rotary knob vehicle shifter assembly including a surface display located outside of the knob which can incorporate any of transistor LCD or organic LED interior components, such as which can be presented into either of segmented or OLED/TFT pixelated image display variants. In either instance, a connector end of an associated harness or ribbon cable extends from the graphical display and, when connected to a remote PCB board integrated into the shifter assembly, is configured to provide variable display options not limited to shifter position and including variable supporting graphics and other designs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Christopher Edward Curtis, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Brian Andrew Mayville
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Patent number: 10731750Abstract: A rotary shifter having a housing with a bezel cover. A knob is rotatably secured to the housing and is selectively rotatable between each of Reverse Neutral and Drive positions. A push button is configured within the rotary knob and, upon depressing, communicates with a sensor and switch within the housing for establishing the Park position. In a related variant, a Sport position lock ring is secured to a stem of the knob in a normally biasing engagement with an underside of the bezel cover to prevent shifting to the Sport position, the knob being vertically depressed in a counter direction to the bias in order to vertically unseat the lock ring and to permit subsequent rotation to the Sport position. A Sport position spring can also be provided supporting an underside of the plunger housing locker forming a portion of the plunger housing subassembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.Inventors: Yong Qiang Wang, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio
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Publication number: 20200097242Abstract: A graphical display subassembly integrated into a vehicle shifter assembly including a surface display which can incorporate any of transistor LCD or organic LED interior components, such as which can be presented into either of segmented or OLED/TFT pixelated image display variants. In either instance, a connector end of an associated harness or ribbon cable extends from the graphical display and, when connected to a remote PCB board integrated into the shifter assembly, is configured to provide variable display options not limited to shifter position and including variable supporting graphics and other designs.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Inventors: Christopher Edward Curtis, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Brian Andrew Mayville
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Publication number: 20180259063Abstract: A rotary shifter having a housing with a bezel cover. A knob is rotatably secured to the housing and is selectively rotatable between each of Reverse Neutral and Drive positions. A push button is configured within the rotary knob and, upon depressing, communicates with a sensor and switch within the housing for establishing the Park position. In a related variant, a Sport position lock ring is secured to a stem of the knob in a normally biasing engagement with an underside of the bezel cover to prevent shifting to the Sport position, the knob being vertically depressed in a counter direction to the bias in order to vertically unseat the lock ring and to permit subsequent rotation to the Sport position. A Sport position spring can also be provided supporting an underside of the plunger housing locker forming a portion of the plunger housing subassembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2018Publication date: September 13, 2018Inventors: Yong Qiang Wang, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio