Patents by Inventor Nathaniel C. Ellis

Nathaniel C. Ellis 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: 10269260
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided to coach a driver of a vehicle as to the location of a reference brake point on a roadway, such as a race track, including determining a present location of a vehicle on a roadway, determining a distance between the present location of the vehicle and a reference brake point, and communicating of an indication of the distance between the present location of the vehicle and the reference brake point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nathaniel C. Ellis
  • Patent number: 9623879
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a control system, a selector, and a display. The selector is operable in one of a first selection mode and a second selection mode for selecting respective ones of a first driving mode and a second driving mode for the vehicle. The control system is configured to detect an improper vehicular condition for the second driving mode. When the vehicle is in the first driving mode and the selector is transitioned from the first selection mode to the second selection mode during the occurrence of the improper vehicular condition for the second driving mode, the control system is configured to facilitate display of a warning message on the warning display indicating the improper vehicular condition for the second driving mode and inhibit the vehicle from transitioning from the first driving mode to the second driving mode. A method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nathaniel C. Ellis, Nicholas A. Scheufler, Andrew M. Bucci
  • Publication number: 20170039870
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided to coach a driver of a vehicle as to the location of a reference brake point on a roadway, such as a race track, including determining a present location of a vehicle on a roadway, determining a distance between the present location of the vehicle and a reference brake point, and communicating of an indication of the distance between the present location of the vehicle and the reference brake point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventor: Nathaniel C. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20150232096
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a control system, a selector, and a display. The selector is operable in one of a first selection mode and a second selection mode for selecting respective ones of a first driving mode and a second driving mode for the vehicle. The control system is configured to detect an improper vehicular condition for the second driving mode. When the vehicle is in the first driving mode and the selector is transitioned from the first selection mode to the second selection mode during the occurrence of the improper vehicular condition for the second driving mode, the control system is configured to facilitate display of a warning message on the warning display indicating the improper vehicular condition for the second driving mode and inhibit the vehicle from transitioning from the first driving mode to the second driving mode. A method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nathaniel C. Ellis, Nicholas A. Scheufler, Andrew M. Bucci
  • Patent number: 8933798
    Abstract: An electronic display comprises a graphical lap information display portion that comprises a lap time differential indicator and an illuminated portion. The lap time differential indicator is configured to display a differential time value. The illuminated portion is configured to selectively illuminate a portion of the graphical lap information display portion in a plurality of different lighting modes. The illuminated portion is operable in the plurality of different lighting modes in response to a rate of change of the differential time value. A vehicle and method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nathaniel C. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20140240116
    Abstract: An electronic display comprises a graphical lap information display portion that comprises a lap time differential indicator and an illuminated portion. The lap time differential indicator is configured to display a differential time value. The illuminated portion is configured to selectively illuminate a portion of the graphical lap information display portion in a plurality of different lighting modes. The illuminated portion is operable in the plurality of different lighting modes in response to a rate of change of the differential time value. A vehicle and method are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nathaniel C. Ellis
  • Patent number: 8290669
    Abstract: A system for controlling an engine of a vehicle can include: an engine, a transmission, a coupling, and a controller. The controller can be configured to adjust a speed of the engine output shaft based on a comparison of a shaft speed of the input shaft with a shaft speed limit when an operator of the vehicle changes from a first one of the plurality of speed ratios to a second one of the plurality of speed ratios. This control can occur during a downshift, for example, when the second one of the plurality of speed ratios is numerically greater than the first one of the speed ratios. Thus, the controller can be configured to protect the engine and the vehicle from shift shock when a sensor in the control system for the transmission has failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nathaniel C. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20120173100
    Abstract: A system for controlling an engine of a vehicle can include: an engine, a transmission, a coupling, and a controller. The controller can be configured to adjust a speed of the engine output shaft based on a comparison of a shaft speed of the input shaft with a shaft speed limit when an operator of the vehicle changes from a first one of the plurality of speed ratios to a second one of the plurality of speed ratios. This control can occur during a downshift, for example, when the second one of the plurality of speed ratios is numerically greater than the first one of the speed ratios. Thus, the controller can be configured to protect the engine and the vehicle from shift shock when a sensor in the control system for the transmission has failed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventor: Nathaniel C. ELLIS