Patents by Inventor Trevor Scott Whitten
Trevor 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: 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: 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