Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm S. Koehler
  • Patent number: 6390542
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle includes a frame mounted around a roof opening, a movable closure element connected thereto, and driving means for said closure element, which are mounted on said frame. The frame includes a lower frame present on the underside of the roof and an upper frame present on the upper side of the roof, which lower frame and which upper frame include fixing elements for fixing the two frames together while confining the edges of the roof opening. The driving means for the closure element are mounted on said lower frame. Said driving means are mounted on the lower frame largely outside the projection of the roof opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Wilhelmus Maria Nabuurs, Marcel Johan Christiaan Nellen, Joseph Petrus Johannes Sanders
  • Patent number: 6390544
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof comprises a frame with stationary guide rails extending on either side of the roof opening and operating mechanisms which are movable therein. Each operating mechanism comprises a driving slide which is connected to the panel of the open roof construction and which can come into engagement with a movable link slide so as to enable the sliding movement of the panel, in such a manner that said driving slide and said link slide move jointly during sliding movement of the closure element, and the driving slide moves relative to the substantially stationary link slide during movement in vertical direction of the closure element. The link slide includes a locking member for locking the link slide in position relative to the guide rail during movement in vertical direction of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries, B. V.
    Inventors: Peter Christiaan Leonardus Johannes Manders, Marcel Johan Christiaan Nellen
  • Patent number: 6375253
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in a fixed roof comprises a frame to be fitted in the opening of the fixed roof. The frame includes a part which extends under the roof of the vehicle, and a cover strip for covering said frame in the interior of the vehicle. The cover strip includes a fixing part of a first material, which is provided with snap portions for fixation to the frame, and an adaptation part of a second, more flexible material, which is connected to said fixing part by a connection, and which is provided on the side remote from the roof opening with a projecting flap whose free end can be brought into engagement with the roof trim of the vehicle. The connection between the mounting element and the adaptation part is provided at a location inwardly of an outer circumference of said fixing part. The adaptation part covers the fixing part completely, seen from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Verkaik, Erich Altorf, Joseph Petrus Johannes Sanders
  • Patent number: 6364406
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in the fixed roof comprises a frame to be fixed to the roof and an adjustable panel supported by the frame and being adjustable between a closed position closing the roof opening and an open position in which it releases the roof opening on the front side. There is provided a sun screen slidably guided with its side edges within guide groves in guide rails, which are open in a direction to the sun screen. This guiding is effected by means of sliding shoes which are biased outwardly with respect to the sun screen by means of spring members. Two sliding shoes on both sides of a fixing point to the sun screen are connected to the sun screen and are pre-tensioned by a respective spring member. There are provided means for loading the spring members in vertical direction, symmetrically with respect to the fixing point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Erwin Jacobus Christian Leonardus Hermsen, Alphonsus Theodorus Bernardus Rooijakkers, Peter Christiaan Leonardus Johannes Manders, Martinus Wilhelmus Maria Nabuurs
  • Patent number: 6353354
    Abstract: A circuit for providing a current through a load includes a first bridge circuit connectable to the load. The first bridge circuit selectively applies a voltage across the load. A second bridge circuit is connected to the first bridge circuit and is connectable to a power supply. The second bridge circuit selectively applies voltage to terminals of the first bridge circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Detweiler, Jerry K. Goff
  • Patent number: 6343833
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof comprises a frame to be fixed to the roof and a closure element supported by the frame. Said closure element is adjustable between a closed position, in which it closes the roof opening, and an open position, in which it releases the roof opening at least partially. An operating mechanism for adjustably supporting said closure element includes a drivingly movable driving element and an arm connected thereto by means of a pivot, which arm engages the movable driving element asymmetrically and which effects an adjustment of the closure element by means of said driving element by moving said driving element. The driving element and the arm include mating contacting surfaces formed concentrically about the pivot, at least some of which extend substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement during operation of the operating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Peter Christiaan Leonardus Johannes Manders
  • Patent number: 6325452
    Abstract: A folding roof for a vehicle having an opening (2) in its fixed roof (1) comprises a stationary part (3) to be fixed to the roof, an adjustable cover (5) supported by said stationary part, which functions as the closure element. The cover is adjustable between a closed position, in which it closes the roof opening, and an open position, in which it releases the roof opening on the opening side. An operating beam (6) is provided on the opening side of the cover, on which cables (10) engage for adjusting the operating beam. A tensioning device (11) is mounted between said operating beam and said stationary part for tensioning the cover during the last part of the closing movement. The tensioning device can be operated by the cables and cooperates with a counter-element (17), which is adjustable in the direction of the movement of the operating beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Joseph Petrus Johannes Sanders, Renatus Arnoldus Teunissen
  • Patent number: 6322137
    Abstract: A folding roof for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof comprises a stationary part to be fixed to the roof, which includes guide rails disposed at the longitudinal edges of the opening. An adjustable closure element supported by the frame is adjustable between a closed position, in which it closes the roof opening, and an open position, in which it releases the roof opening on the opening side. The closure element includes an operating beam extending in a transverse direction, which is connected to a drive device on the opening side, and a foldable cover attached thereto. The cover is supported by vertically adjustable second supporting bows, which are adjustably supported at their ends by connecting members. Tensioning elements are guided along said guide rails, which engage said second supporting bows via at least one point of engagement and which are connected to the drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Paulus Johannes Wilheminus Munsters
  • Patent number: 6310785
    Abstract: A DC-DC power converter includes input terminals and a rectifier circuit. An additional circuit is connected to the input terminals and the rectifier. The latter circuit is adapted to generate a varying voltage at output terminals of the rectifier that varies in amplitude from a maximum voltage value to a non-zero voltage value between the maximum voltage value and zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Rajapandian Ayyanar, Ned Mohan
  • Patent number: 6310458
    Abstract: A system and method for calculating the speed of a moving member having an output device providing an output periodic signal as a function of displacement of the moving member includes measuring a time duration for a plurality of first periodic occurrences of the output periodic signal to occur. A number of second periodic occurrences of the output periodic signal is also counted in a selected time period. A speed of the moving member is calculated as a function of the time duration for the plurality of first periodic occurrences to occur and the number of second periodic occurrences to occur in the selected time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Brian J. Fenstermacher
  • Patent number: 6307336
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling energization of an electric motor (rotating or linear). The system and method includes producing a pulse-width modulated command signal to control switching devices that connect the motor to an energization source. A pulse-width modulated duty cycle value is formed as a function of the pulse-width modulated command signal. A leading current with respect to the phase angle of the back EMF is provided to the motor as a function comparing the pulse-width modulated duty cycle value with a selected threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Goff, Jerry K. Goff, Brian J. Fenstermacher
  • Patent number: 6308106
    Abstract: A system controller for a controllable system having an inherent time delay includes a delay module that receives a command input and provides a first output signal delayed in time from the command input. A feed-forward module also receives the command input, or a function thereof, and provides a second output signal intended to drive the system to a desired state. A first summer receives the delayed output signal and a feedback signal from the controllable system. The first summer combines the delayed signal and the feedback signal to provide a third output signal. A compensator module receives the third output signal and provides a fourth output signal. A second summer receives the second output signal and the fourth output signal. The second summer combines the second output signal and the fourth output signal to provide an input signal for the controllable system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Masoud Ameri, Donald A. Yost
  • Patent number: 6296040
    Abstract: A roller screen includes a gauze screen, a roll-up mechanism for the gauze screen, a pull beam connected to the free end of the gauze screen, guides for guiding the pull beam and the side edges of the gauze screen. Furthermore spring hooks are used which cooperate with cams present on the ends of the pull beam. The spring hooks are mounted in the ends of the guides remote from the roll-up mechanism on a base which fits in the end of a guide. The spring hooks extend substantially in a longitudinal direction of the guides. The spring force of the hooks can be adjusted by an adjusting screw mounted in the base. The adjusting screw extends substantially perpendicularly to the hook and is accessible via an opening formed in a side wall of the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Hamstra-Weesp B.V.
    Inventor: Henk Schaap
  • Patent number: 6296302
    Abstract: With a method for opening and closing an open roof construction of a vehicle having a roof opening (2) in its fixed roof (1), which comprises at least three movably supported louvres (3, 3′, 3″) for selectively closing or at least partially opening said roof opening, said louvres are moved between their closed position, in which they abut in a substantially flat manner against each other, and their open position, in which they are positioned close together, one behind the other, in an obliquely upwardly pivoted position. In order to open the roof from the front side or the rear side, the louvre (3) present at the rear end, seen in the opening direction, pivots upwards and slides to the open position first, and the adjacent louvres (3′, 3″) are successively opened by being operated by the preceding louvre. The invention also comprises an open roof construction for use with such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Petrus Christiaan Martinus Lenkens
  • Patent number: 6294844
    Abstract: The invention relates to an installation comprising windmills (1) which are mounted in a frame (5, 6, 7) said frame is provided with float bodies (15), and it is capable of rotation about a vertical axis in order to turn the windmills towards the wind. In order to keep the windmills upright, supporting means, for example a body (16) which is anchored to the bottom, are disposed some distance away from the plane of the windmills. Furthermore, means are provided for improving or simplifying maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Lagerwey Windturbine B.V.
    Inventor: Hendrik Lambertus Lagerwey
  • Patent number: 6285972
    Abstract: A method and system for generating an improved nonlinear system model includes generating a linear system model and using a response therefrom to generate the nonlinear system model. A method and system for generating drive signals for a test system uses the improved nonlinear system model or a conventional nonlinear system model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew J. Barber
  • Patent number: 6272545
    Abstract: A system and method of interaction between a computer, such as a desktop computer, and a plurality of mobile devices include storing a first identifier on a first mobile device and the computer, and storing a second identifier on a second mobile device and the computer, wherein the second identifier is different than the first identifier. A set of settings are stored in the computer referenced to each stored identifier for each respective mobile device. Upon connection of one of the mobile devices to the computer, the identifier stored in the connected mobile device is compared with the identifier stored on the computer. Interaction between the connected mobile device and the computer is controlled as a function of the stored respective set of settings if corresponding identifiers are found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Flanagin, George Hu, Haresh G. Ved, Charles Wu
  • Patent number: 6257055
    Abstract: A loading assembly used in a vehicle spindle text fixture to apply a lateral force parallel to a spindle axis of a vehicle spindle includes a support frame and a wheel adapter housing mountable to the vehicle spindle. A pair of vertical struts are pivotally joined to the wheel adapter housing. A first actuator is operably coupled to the vertical struts to apply a force along a vertical axis substantially perpendicular to the spindle axis and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A pair of lateral struts are provided. Each lateral strut is pivotally joined to one of the vertical struts. A second actuator is operably coupled to the lateral struts to apply a lateral force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R. Haeg, Ricky L. Zieman
  • Patent number: 6217110
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof, which comprises a frame part to be secured to the roof and an adjustable closing element supported by said frame part, which is adjustable between a closed position and an open position. The closing element comprises at least one rigid plate, which is capable of pivoting movement about a first pivot pin with respect to a part disposed before said rigid plate, which part remains stationary during said pivoting movement. The plate and the part disposed before said plate are fixedly interconnected by means of a flexible sealing element. The plate may make up a wind deflector or part of the closing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Edwin Johannes Richardus Wilhelmus Thijssen
  • Patent number: D451415
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Meyer, David M. Burruss, Michael Gary Schulz, Philip E. Leise