Patents by Inventor Michael Schmitz

Michael Schmitz 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: 11132391
    Abstract: A system and method, which may be an offline method, extracts relevant image features about listing items in a network-based publication system for enabling image similarity searching of such listing items. When a seller lists an item, an image of the item is uploaded and may be sent to a picture processing service, which generates several digests. The digests are compressed data structures each representing a particular image feature such as edge, color, texture, or words. These digests are then stored in a search database, where the digests can be used to retrieve listings by image similarity at scale. A similar process can be performed for a query listing for searching the search database for items similar to the query listing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Naren Chittar, Sanjay Pundlkrao Ghatare, Ryan McDonald, John Roper, Michael Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20210269011
    Abstract: An enhanced hybrid battery elimination circuit, power control system, and method for R/C vehicles is provided. The system may include a power input from a vehicle battery and a converted power output to vehicle electronics. The system may also include an enhanced hybrid battery elimination circuit (BEC) electrically coupled to the power input and providing the converted power output and including a linear regulator and a switching regulator connected in parallel to the linear regulator between the power input and the converted power output. The enhanced hybrid BEC further includes a linear electrical decoupler provided between the linear regulator and the converted power output and a switching electrical decoupler provided between the switching regulator and the converted power output. Wherein the switching regulator and the linear regulator are either electrically coupled or decoupled from the output power and/or the input power based upon a monitored voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: TRAXXAS, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott Rollin Michael Schmitz, William Huang
  • Patent number: 11084402
    Abstract: An extendible protective element for use in a child safety seat is disclosed. The extendible protective element comprises a first thread component comprising a first external thread and a first internal thread, and a second thread component comprising a second external thread, wherein the first thread component is rotatably connected to the second thread component via the first internal thread of the first thread component and the second external thread of the second thread component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Britax Romer Kindersicherheit GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schmitz, Richard Henseler, Florian Berg
  • Patent number: 11029018
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include an integrated lighting system including a casing configured to detachably couple from a conventional air vent, a motion sensor configured to detect a presence of a person, a light source, and a processor configured to receive, from the motion sensor, an indication in response to the motion sensor detecting the presence of the person, and send, to the light source, an activation signal to activate the light source in response to receiving the indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Cardinal IP Holding, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Steven Uriarte, Peter Michael Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20200398936
    Abstract: A coupling arrangement for coupling members as a gear change coupling in a gear mechanism unit includes a first member and a second member. The first member has a coupling toothing system. At least one locking body arrangement is mounted pivotably on the second member. The locking body arrangement can be pivoted into a coupling position, in the case of which a driving section on the locking body arrangement engages into the coupling toothing system. The locking body arrangement can be pivoted into a release position, in the case of which the driving section of the locking body arrangement does not engage into the coupling toothing system. The locking body arrangement has a locking body carrier which is mounted pivotably on the second member, and has a locking body member which is mounted pivotably on the locking body carrier and on which the driving section is configured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventor: Michael SCHMITZ
  • Publication number: 20200355364
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include an integrated lighting system including a casing configured to detacheably couple from a conventional air vent, a motion sensor configured to detect a presence of a person, a light source, and a processor configured to receive, from the motion sensor, an indication in response to the motion sensor detecting the presence of the person, and send, to the light source, an activation signal to activate the light source in response to receiving the indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Anthony Steven URIARTE, Peter Michael SCHMITZ
  • Publication number: 20200354006
    Abstract: A torque detection arrangement for a vehicle driven by muscle power has an input shaft via which a torque for driving the vehicle can be transmitted. The torque is to be detected. At least one rotary member is mounted on the input shaft and is designed to transmit the torque. The input shaft and the rotary member are resiliently connected in the rotational direction via a torsion spring arrangement. A twisting angle detection arrangement is designed to detect a rotation of the rotary member relative to the input shaft. The input shaft is designed as a hollow shaft. A torsion spring of the torsion spring arrangement is arranged inside the hollow input shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventor: Michael SCHMITZ
  • Patent number: 10766384
    Abstract: A child safety seat includes a base having an attachment point, and a shell having a guiding element mounted on an upper portion of the shell. The child safety seat additionally includes a top tether connected to the attachment point of the base, and the guiding element is configured to abut against and slidably support the top tether when the top tether is secured to an anchoring point of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Britax Römer Kindersicherheit GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schmitz, Richard Henseler
  • Patent number: 10632871
    Abstract: A child safety seat includes a seat shell, a headrest, a guiding component, slidably coupled to the seat shell, for guiding a strap of an integral harness system, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the headrest. The adjustment mechanism includes a coupling element which is configured to be placed in a first and a second configuration, and, when placed in the first configuration, the coupling element couples the headrest with the guiding component such as to allow for movement of the headrest together with the guiding component relative to the seat shell. When placed in the second configuration, the coupling element couples the seat shell with the guiding component to prevent the guiding component from movement relative to the seat shell and to allow for movement of the headrest relative to the seat shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: BRITAX RÖMER KINDERSICHERHEIT GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Schmitz, Richard Henseler
  • Publication number: 20200117685
    Abstract: A system and method, which may be an offline method, extracts relevant image features about listing items in a network-based publication system for enabling image similarity searching of such listing items. When a seller lists an item, an image of the item is uploaded and may be sent to a picture processing service, which generates several digests. The digests are compressed data structures each representing a particular image feature such as edge, color, texture, or words. These digests are then stored in a search database, where the digests can be used to retrieve listings by image similarity at scale. A similar process can be performed for a query listing for searching the search database for items similar to the query listing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Naren Chittar, Sanjay Pundlkrao Ghatare, Ryan McDonald, John Roper, Michael Schmitz
  • Patent number: 10528615
    Abstract: A system and method, which may be an offline method, extracts relevant image features about listing items in a network-based publication system for enabling image similarity searching of such listing items. When a seller lists an item, an image of the item is uploaded and may be sent to a picture processing service, which generates several digests. The digests are compressed data structures each representing a particular image feature such as edge, color, texture, or words. These digests are then stored in a search database, where the digests can be used to retrieve listings by image similarity at scale. A similar process can be performed for a query listing for searching the search database for items similar to the query listing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: eBay, Inc.
    Inventors: Naren Chittar, Sanjay Pundlkrao Ghatare, Ryan McDonald, John Roper, Michael Schmitz
  • Patent number: 10526044
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a shifting device for a gearing unit, in particular for a vehicle driven using muscle force. The shifting device has a shaft for the mounting of a multiplicity of idler gears. A multiplicity of pawls are assigned to the idler gears and are movably mounted on the shaft in order to connect the idler gears rotationally conjointly to the shaft in at least one direction of rotation. A camshaft is assigned to the pawls and is designed to set different gear-speed stages of the gearing unit, wherein the pawls are assigned in each case one actuating element which is mounted so as to be movable relative to the camshaft and relative to the respective pawl and which is designed to actuate the pawl for the purposes of setting the gear-speed stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: PINION GMBH
    Inventor: Michael Schmitz
  • Patent number: 10516277
    Abstract: An improved electrical connector for electrically connecting a rechargeable battery with an electrically powered device as well as methods of operation for use of an electrically powered device comprising the improved connector are provided. The connector may comprise one or more features including: integration of both first terminals for transmitting charging or discharging signals to and from the battery as well as one or more signal terminals for transmitting one or more balancing signals to and from the battery; implementation of communication means allowing for one or more signals comprising battery specific information to be received by the electrically powered device upon making an electrical connection with the battery; and, one or more safety features for preventing unsupported electrical connections between incompatible connector configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: TRAXXAS LP
    Inventors: Casey Christen Jens Christensen, Scott Rollin Michael Schmitz, Otto Karl Allmendinger
  • Publication number: 20190314733
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for connecting an auxiliary device to a model vehicle are provided. The apparatus includes an accessory port connected to an electronic speed controller and an accessory connector connected to the auxiliary device. The system further includes a battery and accessory port connected to an electronic speed controller. An accessory connector connected to the auxiliary device is designed to connect to the accessory port. The electronic speed controller provides control to the auxiliary device. The method includes providing an electronic speed controller connected to an accessory port and connecting an accessory connector to the accessory port. The accessory connector is further connected to the auxiliary device. The method further includes attaching the auxiliary device to the model vehicle and controlling the auxiliary device via the electronic speed controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: TRAXXAS LP
    Inventor: Scott Rollin Michael Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20190225122
    Abstract: An extendible protective element for use in a child safety seat is disclosed. The extendible protective element comprises a first thread component comprising a first external thread and a first internal thread, and a second thread component comprising a second external thread, wherein the first thread component is rotatably connected to the second thread component via the first internal thread of the first thread component and the second external thread of the second thread component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Schmitz, Richard Henseler, Florian Berg
  • Publication number: 20190184863
    Abstract: A child safety seat is disclosed, wherein the child safety seat comprises: a base having an attachment point, a shell having a guiding element mounted on an upper portion of the shell, and a top tether connected to the attachment point of the base, wherein the guiding element is configured to abut against and slidably support the top tether when the top tether is secured to an anchoring point of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Schmitz, Richard Henseler
  • Publication number: 20190070984
    Abstract: The invention relates to a child safety seat comprising a seat shell, a headrest, a guiding component, slidably coupled to the seat shell, for guiding a strap of an integral harness system, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the headrest, comprising a coupling element which is configured to be placed in a first and a second configuration, wherein, when placed in the first configuration, the coupling element couples the headrest with the guiding component such as to allow for movement of the headrest together with the guiding component relative to the seat shell; and wherein, when placed in the second configuration, the coupling element couples the seat shell with the guiding component such as to prevent the guiding component from movement relative to the seat shell and such as to allow for movement of the headrest relative to the seat shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Schmitz, Richard Henseler
  • Patent number: 10100915
    Abstract: A transmission unit for a vehicle driven by muscle power. The transmission unit has one through shaft and one output shaft, as well as at least two sub-transmissions and at least one intermediate shaft. In the transmission unit at least one of the intermediate shafts and the output shaft is formed as a hollow shaft which is arranged coaxially to another shaft of the transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Pinion GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Lermen, Michael Schmitz
  • Patent number: 10100905
    Abstract: A shilling device for a gear unit, having a shaft, on which a plurality of idler gears are mounted, it being possible for the idler gears to be connected to the shaft by means of switching pawls, the switching pawls being mounted rotatably and being capable of being actuated selectively by way of a camshaft, the camshaft being connected to drive means, in order to rotate the camshaft relative to the shaft in order to actuate the switching pawls, the camshaft having a plurality of actuating sections, in order to actuate the switching pawls which are assigned to the respective idler gears, wherein the actuating sections in each case have at least one surface section, and the surface sections which are assigned to the switching pawls of different idler gears have different pitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Pinion GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Schmitz
  • Patent number: 10075001
    Abstract: An improved electrical connector for electrically connecting a rechargeable battery with an electrically powered device as well as methods of operation are provided. The connector may comprise one or more features including: integration of both first terminals for transmitting charging or discharging signals to and from the battery as well as one or more signal terminals for transmitting one or more balancing signals to and from the battery; implementation of communication signals comprising battery specific information to be received by the electrically powered device upon making an electrical connection with the battery; and, one or more safety features for preventing unsupported electrical connections between incompatible connector configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Traxxas, LP
    Inventors: Casey Christen Jens Christensen, Scott Rollin Michael Schmitz, Otto Karl Allmendinger