Patents by Inventor Scott Whitten
Scott Whitten 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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Patent number: 9447612Abstract: A system and method for controlling an automatic operation of a power door of a vehicle is presented. An actuation of an interior switch by a user is detected and, upon detecting the actuation of the interior switch, whether at least one door of the vehicle is locked is determined. When the at least one door of the vehicle is locked, whether a vehicle security is set is determined. When the at least one door of the vehicle is locked and the vehicle security is set, the automatic operation of the power door is prohibited. When the at least one door of the vehicle is not locked or the vehicle security is not set, the automatic operation of the power door is permitted.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2014Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michael D. Oakley, Craig T. Kline, Dean A. Scott, Jr., Hideaki Arai, Joseph P. Whinnery, Saeed Namakydoost, Yoshitomo Ihashi, Trevor Scott Whitten, Makoto Watanabe
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Patent number: 9425729Abstract: A system and method for preventing thermal damage to an electric motor in a vehicle includes arrangements for monitoring the motor and detecting a cycle of the motor. If the cycle occurred within a predetermined increment time, a cycle count is incremented. If no cycle occurs for a predetermined decrement time, the cycle count is decremented if the cycle count is greater than zero. If the cycle count is at least equal to a cycle limit, power operation of the motor is deactivated for at least the decrement time. The method may include continuously calculating energy consumed by the motor and, if the energy consumed exceeds one or more allowable energy thresholds, setting the cycle count equal to the cycle limit. The method may further include detecting a failure condition and setting the cycle count equal to the cycle limit when the failure condition is detected.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michael D. Oakley, Dean A. Scott, Jr., Trevor Scott Whitten
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Publication number: 20150033630Abstract: A system and method for controlling an automatic operation of a power door of a vehicle is presented. An actuation of an interior switch by a user is detected and, upon detecting the actuation of the interior switch, whether at least one door of the vehicle is locked is determined. When the at least one door of the vehicle is locked, whether a vehicle security is set is determined. When the at least one door of the vehicle is locked and the vehicle security is set, the automatic operation of the power door is prohibited. When the at least one door of the vehicle is not locked or the vehicle security is not set, the automatic operation of the power door is permitted.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Michael D. Oakley, Craig T. Kline, Dean A. Scott, JR., Hideaki Arai, Joseph P. Whinnery, Saeed Namakydoost, Yoshitomo Ihashi, Trevor Scott Whitten, Makoto Watanabe
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Patent number: 8872447Abstract: A system and method for controlling an operation of a power door of a vehicle are presented. An activation of a user interface device associated with the power door is detected. A cue is provided using a notification device after detecting the activation of the user interface device. In one implementation, the notification device includes an audible alarm. When the user interface device is activated for greater than a predetermined time period, the power door is caused to be in a power mode of operation, and the notification device is used to indicate a current operational mode of the power door. In one implementation, when the user interface device is deactivated within the predetermined time period, the power door is caused to be in a manual mode of operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2012Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michael D Oakley, Craig T Kline, Dean A. Scott, Jr., Hideaki Arai, Joseph P Whinnery, Saeed Namakydoost, Yoshitomo Ihashi, Trevor Scott Whitten, Makoto Watanabe
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Publication number: 20140265978Abstract: A system and method for preventing thermal damage to an electric motor in a vehicle includes arrangements for monitoring the motor and detecting a cycle of the motor. If the cycle occurred within a predetermined increment time, a cycle count is incremented. If no cycle occurs for a predetermined decrement time, the cycle count is decremented if the cycle count is greater than zero. If the cycle count is at least equal to a cycle limit, power operation of the motor is deactivated for at least the decrement time. The method may include continuously calculating energy consumed by the motor and, if the energy consumed exceeds one or more allowable energy thresholds, setting the cycle count equal to the cycle limit. The method may further include detecting a failure condition and setting the cycle count equal to the cycle limit when the failure condition is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Michael D. Oakley, Dean A. Scott, JR., Trevor Scott Whitten
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Publication number: 20140041301Abstract: A system and method for controlling an operation of a power door of a vehicle are presented. An activation of a user interface device associated with the power door is detected. A cue is provided using a notification device after detecting the activation of the user interface device. In one implementation, the notification device includes an audible alarm. When the user interface device is activated for greater than a predetermined time period, the power door is caused to be in a power mode of operation, and the notification device is used to indicate a current operational mode of the power door. In one implementation, when the user interface device is deactivated within the predetermined time period, the power door is caused to be in a manual mode of operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Inventors: Michael D. Oakley, Craig T. Kline, Dean A. Scott, JR., Hideaki Arai, Joseph P. Whinnery, Saeed Namakydoost, Yoshitomo Ihashi, Trevor Scott Whitten, Makoto Watanabe
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Patent number: 8457831Abstract: A safety locking system is provided to detect an open fault or a ground fault condition. The safety locking system includes a central processing unit with an input and an output, and a safety switch electrically connected to the input of the central processing unit. The input receives a low signal when the safety switch is in an enabled state and a pulsed signal when the safety switch is in a disabled state. The central processing unit detects an open fault condition when the input receives a high signal for a time period greater than a threshold time period, and a ground fault condition when the input receives the low signal and the safety switch operates as if the safety switch is in the disabled state.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mike Oakley, Scott Whitten
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Patent number: 8433456Abstract: A system and method for controlling power windows of a vehicle includes a receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving an open window request signal wirelessly from a portable device, at least one exterior condition sensor mounted on the vehicle for detecting an adverse exterior condition relative to the vehicle, and a controller mounted on the vehicle for communicating with the receiver and the at least one exterior condition sensor. The controller commands opening of the one or more power windows when the receiver receives the open window request signal provided the at least one exterior condition sensor does not detect an adverse exterior condition relative to the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2010Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: David G. Peterson, Brian K. Lickfelt, John Sgueglia, Trevor Scott Whitten
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Publication number: 20120016550Abstract: A safety locking system is provided to detect an open fault or a ground fault condition. The safety locking system includes a central processing unit with an input and an output, and a safety switch electrically connected to the input of the central processing unit. The input receives a low signal when the safety switch is in an enabled state and a pulsed signal when the safety switch is in a disabled state. The central processing unit detects an open fault condition when the input receives a high signal for a time period greater than a threshold time period, and a ground fault condition when the input receives the low signal and the safety switch operates as if the safety switch is in the disabled state.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2010Publication date: January 19, 2012Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Mike Oakley, Scott Whitten
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Publication number: 20110190962Abstract: A system and method for controlling power windows of a vehicle includes a receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving an open window request signal wirelessly from a portable device, at least one exterior condition sensor mounted on the vehicle for detecting an adverse exterior condition relative to the vehicle, and a controller mounted on the vehicle for communicating with the receiver and the at least one exterior condition sensor. The controller commands opening of the one or more power windows when the receiver receives the open window request signal provided the at least one exterior condition sensor does not detect an adverse exterior condition relative to the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2010Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: David G. Peterson, Brian K. Lickfelt, John Sgueglia, Trevor Scott Whitten
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Patent number: 6580992Abstract: A control system for a vehicle passenger side view mirror for tilting the mirror to permit the driver to see the curb upon shifting of the automobile into reverse. When the passenger side mirror is at an extreme inboard or extreme outboard position, and the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the mirror is tilted horizontally to be within predetermined limits, and then is tilted vertically to permit visualization of the ground adjacent the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2001Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Scott Whitten, Hirohide Suda, Mathew Hargett
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Publication number: 20020052680Abstract: A control system for a vehicle passenger side view mirror for tilting the mirror to permit the driver to see the curb upon shifting of the automobile into reverse. When the passenger side mirror is at an extreme inboard or extreme outboard position, and the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the mirror is tilted horizontally to be within predetermined limits, and then is tilted vertically to permit visualization of the ground adjacent the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2001Publication date: May 2, 2002Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Scott Whitten, Hirohide Suda, Mathew Hargett
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Patent number: D399467Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 1998Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Two Brothers Racing, Inc.Inventors: Craig Alan Erion, Jeffrey Scott Whitten