Patents by Inventor Vincent Mercier

Vincent Mercier 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).

  • Dual haptic vehicle control and display system
    Patent number: 6961644
    Abstract: A dual haptic system control system in a vehicle includes a first haptic controller disposed on a steering wheel of a vehicle and a second haptic controller disposed on a console separated from the steering wheel. The first haptic controller is a mini-haptic interface that controls a smaller set of functions than the second haptic controller. Redundancies are built in between the first and second haptic controllers so that at least some of the functions of the first haptic controller are also controlled by the second haptic controller. The steering wheel is devoid of stalk switches, with the first and second haptic controllers, in conjunction with switches and menu keys on the steering wheel controlling these functions. The display illustrates the functions that are operable from the present state of the system as buttons that contain both text (of the button function) and graphics (of the button function and any sub-functions available).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Alps Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Mercier, Ronald William Stencel, James Bruce Dulgerian, Wilhelm Leichtfried, Charles McDowell, Stephen Mezzomo, Eric Strebel, Patrick Ludlow
  • Dual haptic vehicle control and display system
    Publication number: 20040117084
    Abstract: A dual haptic system control system in a vehicle includes a first haptic controller disposed on a steering wheel of a vehicle and a second haptic controller disposed on a console separated from the steering wheel. The first haptic controller is a mini-haptic interface that controls a smaller set of functions than the second haptic controller. Redundancies are built in between the first and second haptic controllers so that at least some of the functions of the first haptic controller are also controlled by the second haptic controller. The steering wheel is devoid of stalk switches, with the first and second haptic controllers, in conjunction with switches and menu keys on the steering wheel controlling these functions. The display illustrates the functions that are operable from the present state of the system as buttons that contain both text (of the button function) and graphics (of the button function and any sub-functions available).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Vincent Mercier, Ronald William Stencel, James Bruce Dulgerian, Wilhelm Leichtfried, Charles McDowell, Stephen Mezzomo, Eric Strebel, Patrick Ludlow
  • Joint prosthesis
    Patent number: 4846840
    Abstract: The joint prosthesis according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises two substantially concentric convex opposite surface portions (1, 2). Preferably the convex surface portions are portions of a sphere which are connected together by a frustoconical portion (3) and one (1) of the convex surface portions has a greater radius of curvature than the other (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Inventors: Sylvain Leclercq, Jacques Aubriot, Vincent Mercier