Patents by Inventor Steven Christopher Tengler

Steven Christopher Tengler 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).

  • Input/output device for mounting in vehicle
    Patent number: 6717287
    Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for restricting the ability to input information into an input/output device mounted within a vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, an output of an input/output device is movable between first and second positions. When the output is in the second position, the input of the device is preferably enabled, allowing an occupant of the vehicle to enter information into the device. When the output is not in the second position, however, the input of the device is preferably disabled such that information cannot be entered into the device. The device preferably determines the position of the output relative to a driver and/or passenger seat of the vehicle to determine whether disablement of the input is appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Christopher Tengler, John P. Weiss, James Peter Foley
  • Input/output device for mounting in vehicle
    Publication number: 20020175564
    Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for restricting the ability to input information into an input/output device mounted within a vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, an output of an input/output device is movable between first and second positions. When the output is in the second position, the input of the device is preferably enabled, allowing an occupant of the vehicle to enter information into the device. When the output is not in the second position, however, the input of the device is preferably disabled such that information cannot be entered into the device. The device preferably determines the position of the output relative to a driver and/or passenger seat of the vehicle to determine whether disablement of the input is appropriate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Christopher Tengler, John P. Weiss, James Peter Foley