Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Frank McKenzie
  • Patent number: 6774367
    Abstract: A night vision system for a vehicle includes a pulsed light source for illuminating a region proximate the vehicle and a secondary trigger light source operating at a predetermined pulse timing and second wavelength. A light sensor detects light at the second wavelength. The trigger light pulses are used to indicate the pulse timing of each respective vehicle's primary NIR light source. Upon detecting another vehicle's trigger light source, the controller adjusts the pulse phase of the first light source to be exactly out-of-phase with that of the oncoming vehicle since the pulsed timing of the oncoming vehicle's NIR light source is known upon detection of the opposing vehicle's trigger light source. Each vehicle can then adjust its primary light source to be out-of-phase with the other vehicle and, hence, non-interfering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Hammann Stephan, Jeffrey Thomas Remillard
  • Patent number: 6379277
    Abstract: A limited slip differential assembly 100. The differential assembly 100 includes first and second housing portions 104, 106 which are formed by use of a flow-forming or spin-forming process and which respectively include an integrally formed splined inner surface 154, 156. The integrally formed splined inner surfaces 154, 156 are used to mate with clutch plates 146 which cooperate with clutch plates 144 to form clutch packs 150, 152. The novel splined engagement of clutch plates 146 and surfaces 154 and 156 provide improved durability, stiffness and torque capacity relative to prior designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Balacan Victoria, Joseph A. Szuba, Kenneth Paul Lewis
  • Patent number: 5203248
    Abstract: A page turning device for turning over the pages of a music score, periodicals etc. The device uses a battery powered, reversible electric motor. Several torpedo tabs ride on an endless belt to turn the pages. Forward and backward page turning is accomplished, as well as multiple page turning. The device further includes a foot actuated, programmable mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Inventors: Douglas J. Carr, Lincoln Lucero
  • Patent number: 4953091
    Abstract: An electronic control system for operating a torque converter clutch during a transmission gearshift includes a vehicle speed sensor and engine speed sensor, a hydrodynamic torque converter located between the engine and the transmission, a solenoid-operated hydraulic valve, which engages and disengages the torque converter clutch in accordance with the energized and deenergized state of the solenoid in accordance with the logic of the control system. The converter clutch is locked while operating in the original gear ratio, then unlocks during the gearshift, and relocks after the upshift is completed. The speed ratio of the torque converter is rapidly determined in terms of the number of clock ticks occurring between pulses whose frequency is proportional to engine speed. The current speed ratio is determined during interrupts occurring at short intervals during a background pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Paul A. Baltusis, Thomas L. Greene, Bruce J. Palansky
  • Patent number: D543915
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Henrik Fisker, John Paxton, David Woodhouse