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).
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Publication number: 20240051561Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2022Publication date: February 15, 2024Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Scott W. Shopoff, Michael U. Frank, Keita Okamoto, Luis Miyar Alvarez
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Patent number: 11492052Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 31, 2021Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Adam D. Holmstrom, Ryan C. Harris, Scott W. Shopoff
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Publication number: 20220315132Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2021Publication date: October 6, 2022Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Adam D. Holmstrom, Ryan C. Harris, Scott W. Shopoff
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Patent number: 11322132Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 17, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Michael U. Frank, Scott W. Shopoff, Keita Okamoto, Shigeki Yoshida
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Publication number: 20220051653Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2020Publication date: February 17, 2022Inventors: Michael U. Frank, Scott W. Shopoff, Keita Okamoto, Shigeki Yoshida
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Publication number: 20140035309Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2012Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Mingher Fred Shen, Scott W. Shopoff
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Patent number: 8585126Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 5, 2012Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Mingher Fred Shen, Scott W. Shopoff