Patents by Inventor Scott W. Shopoff

Scott W. Shopoff 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).

  • 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
  • Patent number: 11492052
    Abstract: A pickup truck includes a passenger cabin including a rear wall. A truck bed includes a front wall that faces the rear wall of the passenger cabin. A space is provided between the rear wall of the passenger cabin and the front wall of the truck bed. A combination absorber and seal member is mounted to the rear wall of the passenger cabin. The combination absorber and seal member includes an extended portion having an elongated dimension extending at an oblique angle to a vehicle lateral direction. The combination absorber and seal member is formed from a sound absorbing material and extends outward from the rear wall of the passenger cabin in a vehicle longitudinal direction toward the front wall of the truck bed providing a clearance of no more than about 15 mm between the extended portion and the front wall of the truck bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam D. Holmstrom, Ryan C. Harris, Scott W. Shopoff
  • Publication number: 20220315132
    Abstract: A pickup truck includes a passenger cabin including a rear wall. A truck bed includes a front wall that faces the rear wall of the passenger cabin. A space is provided between the rear wall of the passenger cabin and the front wall of the truck bed. A combination absorber and seal member is mounted to the rear wall of the passenger cabin. The combination absorber and seal member includes an extended portion having an elongated dimension extending at an oblique angle to a vehicle lateral direction. The combination absorber and seal member is formed from a sound absorbing material and extends outward from the rear wall of the passenger cabin in a vehicle longitudinal direction toward the front wall of the truck bed providing a clearance of no more than about 15 mm between the extended portion and the front wall of the truck bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam D. Holmstrom, Ryan C. Harris, Scott W. Shopoff
  • 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140035309
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for blocking the passage of air through a connection portion of two vehicle body portions. A first vehicle body portion is provided having a generally planar first surface. Expandable foam is mounted to the first surface of the first vehicle body portion. A second vehicle body portion having a generally planar second surface is connected to and overlapping the first surface of the first vehicle body portion thereby fully covering the expandable foam. The expandable foam expands when heated and is operable to expand to fill gaps to prevent the passage of air thereby preventing turbulent mixing of the air flow flowing between the first and second vehicle body portions with the air flow flowing from outside the vehicle. A method is further provided for blocking the passage of air through the connection portion of two vehicle body portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mingher Fred Shen, Scott W. Shopoff
  • Patent number: 8585126
    Abstract: A clip for a vehicle drain hole. The vehicle drain hole is operable to allow liquid to escape from a cavity while simultaneously preventing wind noise or dust particulates from entering the hole. The apparatus includes a first surface and a second surface wherein the first surface includes a first aperture. The apparatus further includes an attachment structure mounted to the second surface wherein the attachment structure is operable to connect to the vehicle drain hole. The attachment structure is spaced apart from the first aperture of the first surface thereby allowing the first surface and the second surface to fully cover the vehicle drain hole. This allows a liquid to escape the vehicle drain hole and preventing or reducing the wind entering the vehicle drain hole thereby preventing noise heard by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mingher Fred Shen, Scott W. Shopoff