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).

  • Patent number: 11725723
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Calogero Alu, Christopher Soave, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio
  • Patent number: 11651914
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Andrew Mayville, Calogero Alu, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Thorsten Dirk Connemann
  • Patent number: 11282446
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Curtis, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Brian Andrew Mayville
  • Patent number: 11273710
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Curtis, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Brian Andrew Mayville
  • Publication number: 20210265121
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Brian Andrew Mayville, Calogero Alu, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Thorsten Dirk Connemann
  • Publication number: 20210190202
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Calogero Alu, Christopher Soave, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio
  • Patent number: 11010120
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Curtis, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Brian Andrew Mayville
  • Publication number: 20210086615
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: Kuster North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Curtis, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Brian Andrew Mayville
  • Publication number: 20210082342
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Curtis, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Brian Andrew Mayville
  • Patent number: 10731750
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Qiang Wang, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio
  • Publication number: 20200097242
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Curtis, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Brian Andrew Mayville
  • Publication number: 20180259063
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Yong Qiang Wang, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio