Brian M Finn

US Patent:

7193509, Mar 20, 2007

Filed:

Aug 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/927991

Inventors:

Arne Bartels - Braunschweig, DE
Falk Beil - Braunschweig, DE
Brian Finn - East Palo Alto CA, US
Klaus Schaaf - Braunschweig, DE

Assignee:

Volkswagen AG - Wolfsburg

International Classification:

B60Q 1/00

US Classification:

340436, 701301, 318466

Abstract:

A door system for a motor vehicle includes a door, an environmental sensor for detecting an obstacle in the vicinity of the motor vehicle, a door sensor for outputting an output signal as a function of the initiation of the opening of the door, and a control unit for detecting an imminent collision between the door and the obstacle as a function of an output signal of the environmental sensor and for triggering a warning device such that a warning may be output by the warning device in response to the detection of an imminent collision between the door and the obstacle. During the triggering of the warning device, the control unit distinguishes between at least two selectable warning stages, a first warning stage and a second warning stage, and the selection of a warning stage by the control unit is a function of the output signal of the door sensor.

US Patent:

7467084, Dec 16, 2008

Filed:

Feb 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/360889

Inventors:

Brian Michael Finn - East Palo Alto CA, US
Shawn K. Steenhagen - Cottage Grove WI, US

Assignee:

Volkswagen AG - Wolfsburg
Audi AG - Ingolstadt

International Classification:

G10L 21/00

US Classification:

704224, 381 56

Abstract:

A method and a device are for operating a voice-enhancement system, such as a communication and/or intercom/two-way intercom or duplex telephony device in a motor vehicle. The device includes at least one microphone and at least one loudspeaker for reproducing a signal generated by the microphone, as well as a bandpass filter configured between the microphone and the loudspeaker. The bandpass filter is adjusted as a function of a comparison between the power of the signal generated by the microphone at a test frequency, and the power of the signal generated by the microphone at an at least substantially integral multiple of the test frequency, or as a function of a comparison between the power of the signal generated by the microphone at a test frequency, and the power of the signal generated by the microphone at the test frequency at at least an earlier point in time.

US Patent:

7643017, Jan 5, 2010

Filed:

Dec 16, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/303536

Inventors:

Jackie Lai - Mountain View CA, US
Brian Finn - East Palo Alto CA, US
Philippe Alessandrini - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Volkswagen AG - Wolfsburg

International Classification:

G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345184, 345156, 345157

Abstract:

A servosystem, in particular a servosystem for a motor vehicle, includes a display showing a list of clickable menu items, a rotary knob with a rotary element to operate the rotary knob, with a number of mechanical detents to alternately increase the rotary momentum necessary for rotating the rotary element, with a brake to brake the rotary element and with a rotation sensor to measure the rotation of the rotary element with a resolution that is the least four times, in particular at least six times, and with particular preference at least eight times the number of mechanical detents per rotation of the rotary element, and a control for converting the rotation of the rotary element into a scrolling motion through a list and for activating the brake when the last clickable menu item of the list is reached or the first clickable menu items of the list is reached.

US Patent:

7711472, May 4, 2010

Filed:

Dec 30, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/323914

Inventors:

Brian Finn - East Palo Alto CA, US
Carly Williams - Mountain View CA, US

Assignee:

Volkswagen AG - Wolfsburg

International Classification:

G01C 21/34
G01C 21/00

US Classification:

701200, 701211, 34099519, 707 3

Abstract:

A navigation system for a vehicle includes a man-machine interface to enter at least one key word for characterization of a point of interest and to enter a geometric figure and a search module to search for at least one of the points of interest assigned to the key word within a geographic area defined by the geometric figure.

US Patent:

7912228, Mar 22, 2011

Filed:

Jul 18, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/623286

Inventors:

Brian Michael Finn - East Palo Alto CA, US
Shawn K. Steenhagen - Cottage Grove WI, US

Assignee:

Volkswagen AG - Wolfsburg
Audi AG - Ingolstadt

International Classification:

H04B 1/00
H04B 15/00
H04R 3/00
H04R 27/00
H03B 29/00
G10L 19/14
H04M 1/00

US Classification:

381 86, 381 92, 381 83, 381 93, 381122, 381 714, 381 941, 700 94, 704224, 704205, 4555692

Abstract:

In a method and equipment for operating a voice-supported system, such as a communications and/or intercom/two-way intercom device in a motor vehicle, using at least one microphone and at least one loudspeaker to reproduce a signal generated by the microphone, as well as a bandpass filter configured between the microphone and the loudspeaker, a power of the signal as a function of a frequency is determined, and the bandpass filter is adjusted as a function of at least one local maximum of the power of the signal as a function of the frequency.

US Patent:

8078359, Dec 13, 2011

Filed:

Feb 19, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/708547

Inventors:

Evan Small - Palo Alto CA, US
Brian Finn - Palo Alto CA, US
Dan Adams - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Tesla Motors, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/01
G06F 7/00

US Classification:

701 36, 701 1, 715702

Abstract:

A method for configuring and personalizing a vehicle user interface is provided, the user interface utilizing a touch screen display mounted within the vehicle. User configurable aspects of the user interface include the number of zones within the touch screen display, the size of each zone, the subsystem interface assigned to each zone, the style and information contained within each subsystem interface, display brightness levels for the overall display or per zone, and the assignment and location of persistent soft buttons.

US Patent:

20050122317, Jun 9, 2005

Filed:

Sep 16, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/942715

Inventors:

Klaus Schaaf - Braunschweig, DE
Arne Stoschek - Palo Alto CA, US
Brian Finn - East Palo Alto CA, US
Michael Prados - Millbrae CA, US

International Classification:

G09G005/00

US Classification:

345173000

Abstract:

A display device includes touch screen for the visual display of information and for the input of command and an actuator for moving the touch screen in a direction substantially perpendicular to the touch screen. The touch screen is movable by the actuator by more than 2 mm in the direction substantially perpendicular to the touch screen.

US Patent:

20080030045, Feb 7, 2008

Filed:

Aug 7, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/500247

Inventors:

Jackie Lai - Mountain View CA, US
Brian Finn - East Palo Alto CA, US
Philippe Alessandrini - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Volkswagen of America, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60J 5/00

US Classification:

2961461

Abstract:

A door system for a motor vehicle is provided. The door system includes a door for closing the interior space of a motor vehicle, a sensor for determining an opening angle of the door, a man-machine interface for inputting a desired maximum opening angle of the door, a brake device for arresting the door, and a door control for arresting the door through the use of the brake device if the opening angle of the door reaches the set maximum opening angle of the door or if an opening speed of the door falls below a limit value. A method for operating a door system is also provided.