Patents by Inventor Norm Kerr

Norm Kerr 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).

  • Methods and systems for adjusting the position of vehicle outside mirrors
    Patent number: 8087791
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an outside mirror of a vehicle includes providing at least one seat position sensor, a driver position detector and a mirror actuator. The position of the driver's seat is determined with the at least one seat position sensor. An angular orientation of the outside mirror is adjusted with the mirror actuator based on the determined position of the driver's seat such that a rear of the vehicle is visible in the outside mirror. Thereafter, a location of a driver's head may be determined with the driver position detector when the driver is seated in the driver's seat. The angular orientation of the outside mirror is readjusted with the mirror actuator based on the detected position of the driver's head such that a rear of the vehicle is visible in the outside mirror when the driver is seated in the driver's seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Masato Okuda, Norm Kerr
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF VEHICLE OUTSIDE MIRRORS
    Publication number: 20100265600
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an outside mirror of a vehicle includes providing at least one seat position sensor, a driver position detector and a mirror actuator. The position of the driver's seat is determined with the at least one seat position sensor. An angular orientation of the outside mirror is adjusted with the mirror actuator based on the determined position of the driver's seat such that a rear of the vehicle is visible in the outside mirror. Thereafter, a location of a driver's head may be determined with the driver position detector when the driver is seated in the driver's seat. The angular orientation of the outside mirror is readjusted with the mirror actuator based on the detected position of the driver's head such that a rear of the vehicle is visible in the outside mirror when the driver is seated in the driver's seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Manufacturing and Engineering North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Masato Okuda, Norm Kerr