Patents by Inventor Michael U. Frank

Michael U. Frank 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).

  • Engine sound enhancement during towing
    Patent number: 12091032
    Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and apparatuses for a sound enhancement system. The sound enhancement system includes a trailer brake control unit placed on the vehicle and an electronic control unit coupled to the trailer brake control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to determine the vehicle is operating in a tow mode based on the trailer brake status, determine a magnitude of an audio signal that mimics or enhances engine sound based on the tow mode, and generate the audio signal. The sound enhancement system further includes an audio device configured to output the audio signal based at the determined magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Scott W. Shopoff, Michael U. Frank, Keita Okamoto, Luis Miyar Alvarez
  • ENGINE SOUND ENHANCEMENT DURING TOWING
    Publication number: 20240051561
    Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and apparatuses for a sound enhancement system. The sound enhancement system includes a trailer brake control unit placed on the vehicle and an electronic control unit coupled to the trailer brake control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to determine the vehicle is operating in a tow mode based on the trailer brake status, determine a magnitude of an audio signal that mimics or enhances engine sound based on the tow mode, and generate the audio signal. The sound enhancement system further includes an audio device configured to output the audio signal based at the determined magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Scott W. Shopoff, Michael U. Frank, Keita Okamoto, Luis Miyar Alvarez
  • Engine sound enhancement
    Patent number: 11322132
    Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and apparatuses for a sound enhancement system. The sound enhancement system includes an airflow sensor. The airflow sensor is configured to measure an airflow into an engine of the vehicle. The sound enhancement system includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is coupled to the airflow sensor. The electronic control unit is configured to determine a time of when to output an audio signal that mimics or enhances engine sound based on the airflow into the engine of the vehicle. The electronic control unit is configured to generate the audio signal based on the airflow into the engine of the vehicle. The sound enhancement system includes an audio device. The audio device is configured to output the audio signal based on the timing of when to output the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael U. Frank, Scott W. Shopoff, Keita Okamoto, Shigeki Yoshida
  • ENGINE SOUND ENHANCEMENT
    Publication number: 20220051653
    Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and apparatuses for a sound enhancement system. The sound enhancement system includes an airflow sensor. The airflow sensor is configured to measure an airflow into an engine of the vehicle. The sound enhancement system includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is coupled to the airflow sensor. The electronic control unit is configured to determine a time of when to output an audio signal that mimics or enhances engine sound based on the airflow into the engine of the vehicle. The electronic control unit is configured to generate the audio signal based on the airflow into the engine of the vehicle. The sound enhancement system includes an audio device. The audio device is configured to output the audio signal based on the timing of when to output the audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Michael U. Frank, Scott W. Shopoff, Keita Okamoto, Shigeki Yoshida