Patents by Inventor Michael Tefend

Michael Tefend 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).

  • Electronic selector switch
    Patent number: 9964204
    Abstract: An electronic selector switch assembly and method for a vehicle includes a housing and selector knob supported by a shaft. A knob position gear is connected to the selector knob and knob measurement gear is connected to the knob position gear. A first sensor senses an angular position of the selector knob. A rack is rotatable about the shaft and selector knob and a rack measurement gear is connected to the rack. A second sensor senses a position of the rack measurement gear. A drive assembly is connected to the rack, and if the knob position, rack position and transmission gear position do not compare, the drive assembly realigns the rack to match the transmission gear position. The methodology periodically senses selector knob and transmission gear positions to determine if there is a mismatch, and locks the selector knob position and adjusts the rack position if there is a mismatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Kostal of America
    Inventors: Andrew Paul Redwood, Steven R. Hoskins, Michael Tefend