Honda Patents Granted

Patents granted to Honda by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7665385
    Abstract: To reduce moment generated at the proximal portion and the supporting portion of a brake pedal and to prevent an increase in weight even when the brake pedal is disposed outside a vehicle body and an operating unit is disposed away from the brake pedal within the vehicle body. A supporting shaft rotates integrally with the brake pedal by being connected with the brake pedal at one end with a supporting member for supporting both ends of the supporting shaft. An operating member is provided for operating an operating unit by rotation of the brake pedal and the supporting shaft by being connected to the other end of the supporting shaft at the position away from the brake pedal are provided. A pedal pad unit includes a flat depressing surface forming portion to be covered by a cover on the front face on which the driver depresses and a mounting portion extending from the depressing surface forming portion in the direction opposite from the cover for being pivotally mounted on the pedal lever unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Misaki, Masamoto Ito, Kenji Nakamura, Seiji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7665790
    Abstract: A partition which can fully prevent a luggage from moving is provided. A partition which divides the luggage room of a vehicle two dimensionally has a main partition member which divides the luggage room in one direction and sub partition members which divide the luggage room in another direction. The main partition member has connection parts detachably connected to respective anchors provided in the luggage room. The sub partition member has a connection part provided at one end thereof, and the other end thereof is coupled to the main partition member. The main partition member has the connection parts at both side ends thereof, and the sub partition members divide the luggage room in a direction orthogonal to the main partition member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Access Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Oino
  • Patent number: 7667760
    Abstract: An output compensating device capable of effectively correcting pixel signals composing an image taken and output by the image sensor having a wide dynamic range to be adaptively displayed with high quality and high contrast on a viewable screen area by using means for detecting a minimal value and a maximal value of sensor (pixel) signals output from the image sensor to be displayed on the screen area, means for offsetting the detected minimal value of the sensor signal to a lower limit value of the screen area and means for adjusting a gain of the sensor signal in such a way that an output width determined by the detected minimal and maximal values of the sensor signals may be equal to the maximal width or a specified width of the screen area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakajima, Sukeyuki Shinotsuka
  • Patent number: 7665795
    Abstract: A side-under spoiler insuring an excellent workability at the time of attaching a side-under spoiler to a lower side of a vehicle body via a bracket. A side-under spoiler 1 is supported by a vehicle body 2 via a bracket 3 provided at a lower side of the vehicle body 2. The side-under spoiler 1 includes a side-under spoiler body 7 supported at the lower part of the bracket 3 by supporting sections 5 of the bracket 3 elongated in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body 2; attaching sections 6 for engaging the side-under spoiler body 7 with the supporting sections 7; and guides 7 fir the attaching section 6 to the supporting sections 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Access Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Shishikura
  • Patent number: 7662740
    Abstract: A fuel cell catalyst comprising platinum, chromium, and copper, nickel or a combination thereof. In one or more embodiments, the concentration of platinum is less than 50 atomic percent, and/or the concentration of chromium is less than 30 atomic percent, and/or the concentration of copper, nickel, or a combination thereof is at least 35 atomic percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignees: Symyx Technologies, Inc., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Konstantinos Chondroudis, Alexander Gorer, Martin Devenney, Ting He, Hiroyuki Oyanagi, Daniel M. Giaquinta, Kenta Urata, Hiroichi Fukuda, Qun Fan, Peter Strasser, Keith James Cendak, Jennifer N. Cendak, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7663472
    Abstract: In an electronic key system for a vehicle which includes a control apparatus mounted on an actual vehicle and an electronic key for transmitting a response signal in response to receiving of a request signal transmitted from the control apparatus through a transmitting antenna, the transmitting antenna is installed on an instrument panel of the actual vehicle. In particular, the instrument panel has various instruments (a speedometer, a direction indicator (left), another direction indicator (right), and so forth) and a board for securing the instruments thereto. Accordingly, the transmitting antenna is installed at a position on the board rather near to a seat (a position of front side of the user when the user is seated on the seat).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Konno
  • Patent number: 7664780
    Abstract: A process data development and analysis system and method is disclosed. In an example embodiment, the system and method are implemented as a web-based tool that supports varied activities for defining and managing all aspects of production line processes used in a manufacturing environment. Software modules provide features and functionality for process and unit management as well as administration and report generation. Manufacturing processes comprise a plurality of units of operation, and a unit of operation comprises one or more working point details (i.e., tasks). Times are associated with each unit of operation so that the manufacturer may understand and analyze the amount of time required to complete the processes and manufacture the product. The process and unit data may be used to create operation standards for use by associates working on the production line. Report generation features allow a user to produce a variety of reports associated with the processes and units of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keith Beachy, William Douglas Brake, Peter Parks, Tonya Russell
  • Patent number: 7664572
    Abstract: A control device of a legged mobile robot, wherein a state amount error (for example, an error of a vertical position of a body 3), which is a difference between an actual state amount and a state amount of a desired gait related to a translational motion in a predetermined direction (for example, a translational motion in a vertical direction) of a legged mobile robot 1, is determined, and then a desired motion of the desired gait is determined such that the state amount error approaches zero. The desired motion is determined using a dynamic model by additionally inputting a virtual external force determined on the basis of the state amount error to the dynamic model for generating desired gaits. At the same time, a desired floor reaction force of the robot 1 is corrected on the basis of a state amount error of zero, and compliance control is carried out to make the motion and the floor reaction force of the robot 1 follow the desired motion and the desired floor reaction force of the desired gait.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Takenaka, Takashi Matsumoto, Takahide Yoshiike, Kazushi Akimoto
  • Patent number: 7659018
    Abstract: The present invention provides a highly efficient fuel cell power supply unit, which is constructed by directly connecting a fuel cell with a capacitor. In this power supply unit, a control device of the unit calculates the output voltage V2 of the fuel cell after the variation of electrical load based on the synthetic current-voltage characteristics of the fuel cell and the capacitor and the predetermined width of the variation of electrical load ?I, calculates the corresponding current Ifc2?, and then calculates the equilibrium reacting gas supply amount Qa1, and supplies an excess amount of the reacting gas exceeding Qa1 before the variation of electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Aoyagi, Hibiki Saeki, Yusuke Hasegawa, Kazuo Kotaka
  • Patent number: 7655100
    Abstract: A raw steel is coated with or surrounded by a boron compound (step S1). A coating film of h-BN is formed on the surface of the raw steel. Then, the raw steel is nitrided by a nitriding gas while being heated (step S2). B from the boron compound and N from the nitriding gas are diffused into the raw steel, turning the raw steel into a steel material containing B and N. Most of B and N are present as an Fe (B, N) solid solution or an Fe (C, B, N) solid solution in the structure of the steel material. The raw steel is heated and nitrided under conditions such that B and N are contained ranging from 7 to 30 ppm by weight and ranging from 10 to 70 ppm by weight, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuo Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 7657412
    Abstract: To provide a method of and an apparatus for displaying a structure optimizing result which are capable of displaying rigidity values calculated on the basis of an initial wall thickness value, an optimum wall thickness value, and a standard wall thickness value in such a manner that a change between two of these rigidity values is clearly indicated. The structure optimizing result is displayed wherein an actual rigidity value of a structure is calculated on the basis of an inputted initial value of a wall thickness of each component of the structure. An optimum value of the wall thickness of each of the components is calculated on the basis of a sensitivity analysis result in order to make the calculated actual rigidity value close to a required rigidity value of the structure and the calculated result is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Honma, Nobu Sasaki, Mijo Itoh
  • Patent number: 7651805
    Abstract: The fuel cell comprises: a membrane electrode assembly having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode side diffusion electrode (an anode electrode, and a second diffusion layer) disposed at one side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a cathode side diffusion electrode (a cathode electrode, and a first diffusion layer) disposed at the other side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane; a pair of separators which hold the membrane electrode assembly; a projecting portion which extends from the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and which projects from the peripheries of the anode side diffusion electrode and the cathode side diffusion electrode; and a seal, provided on the separators, which was liquid sealant at the time of application. The seal makes contact with the projecting portion while the membrane electrode assembly is disposed between the separators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masajiro Inoue, Nobuaki Kimura, Toshihiko Suenaga, Harumi Hatano
  • Patent number: 7647157
    Abstract: There are provided a control device, a control method, a control unit, and an engine control unit, which are capable of controlling a controlled object with relatively large phase delay and dead time, while attaining elimination of lag in control timing between the input and output of the controlled object and improvement of control accuracy at the same time. A state predictor calculates a deviation (output deviation) between an output from an oxygen concentration sensor and a predetermined target value at a predetermined deviation calculation period. Then, a DSM controller calculates a target air-fuel ratio for converging the output from the oxygen concentration sensor to the predetermined target value, according to the calculated deviation, based on any one of a ? modulation algorithm, a ?? modulation algorithm, and a ?? modulation algorithm at a predetermined calculation period shorter than the predetermined deviation calculation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Yasui
  • Patent number: 7641700
    Abstract: There is provided a joint device for an artificial leg, which makes it possible to dramatically achieve reduction of the weight of a power source and an increase in duration of the same, as well as facilitates knee bending/stretching motion, toe-up motion, and kicking motion. The joint device has an above-knee member and an under-knee member spaced from each other. Three expansible links are connected between the above-knee member and the under-knee member, for accumulating energy generated by the weight of a user's body acting on the artificial leg, and operating by releasing the accumulated energy to actuate the under-knee member into joint motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Yasui
  • Patent number: 7635448
    Abstract: A compact is obtained from a mixed powder of a multi-component system ceramics composed of constitutive elements of at least two metal elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, Al, V, Nb, Zr, Hf, Mo, Ta, Cr, and W, N, and optionally C; and Fe, Ni, Co, or an alloy composed of a constitutive element of at least one metal element of Fe, Ni, and Co. A composite material is prepared by sintering the compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kuwabara, Masanori Ohtsuka
  • Patent number: 7635533
    Abstract: An improved metal alloy composition for a fuel cell catalyst containing platinum, manganese, and cobalt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignees: Symyx Solutions, Inc., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushike Kaisha
    Inventors: Qun Fan, Peter Strasser, Alexander Gorer, Martin Devenney, Konstantinos Chondroudis, Daniel M. Giaquinta, Ting He, Hiroyuki Oyanagi, Kenta Urata, Kazuhiko Iwasaki, Hiroichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7632597
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a plurality of fuel cell units. Each fuel cell unit includes an electrode assembly having electrodes and an electrolyte, a pair of separators, and gas sealing members. At least two of the fuel cell units include at least two electrode assemblies and at least three separators. In each of the separators, reaction gas communication ports are provided. In one of the separators of one of the stacked fuel cell units that is located at the end in a direction of stacking, through paths are formed. In one of the separators of one of the stacked fuel cell units that is located at the other end in the direction of stacking, reaction gas communication paths are formed. Both the through paths and the reaction gas communication paths are formed in all separators that are located between two fuel cell units that are located at the ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Kikuchi, Narutoshi Sugita, Yoshihiro Nakanishi, Tadashi Nishiyama, Keisuke Andou
  • Patent number: 7633179
    Abstract: A passenger detection apparatus includes sensors arranged on a seat in a vehicle; shield cables corresponding to the sensors, wherein one end the core wire is connected to the corresponding one of the sensors; a measurement signal output device for outputting a measurement AC signal; a device for detecting a current output from the measurement signal output device; a device for outputting a capacitance canceling AC signal, which has the same phase and the same level as those of the measurement AC signal; a device for selectively applying one of the measurement AC signal and a DC voltage to the other end of each shield cable; and a device for selectively applying one of the capacitance canceling AC signal and a second signal, which has a different waveform from that of the measurement AC signal, to the shield of each shield cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Elesys Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7624993
    Abstract: The invention provides a novel dual-membered suctional gasket which has a reliable function to fit and fix the gasket to an object to be sealed, and also provides an effective suction effect and air venting function. For that purpose, the gasket which has a function to prevent fluid from leaking when compressed, comprises an inner sealing member 1 and outer sealing member 2 arranged on a surface perpendicular to a compressing direction; and a plurality of connecting members 3 for connecting and fixing the inner sealing member 1 and the outer sealing member 2 together. Suction cup structures are formed, when a proper amount of air closed between the inner sealing member and the outer sealing member is vented from the inner sealing member, the outer sealing member or the both sealing members by compressing the dual-membered gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignees: Kokoku Intech Co. Ltd., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Kikuchi, Hirofumi Hino, Masaki Ueno, Masaaki Yamaguchi, Yasuaki Nagai
  • Patent number: 7626607
    Abstract: To contrive a reduction in the overall size of the device in the case of arranging at least two screens, to reduce color shading of a 3-dimensional image, and thereby to give a further absorbedness feeling to the viewer. A 3-dimensional image display device includes a space partitioned by a frame assembled in a box shape, the space accommodating a plurality of viewers, three screens disposed so as to partition the space, three projectors disposed correspondingly to the screens, respectively, and a controller for supplying image data to the projectors and further includes a phase plate disposed between the first projector and the front screen, and further, a phase plate disposed between the third projector and a reflective mirror member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Aoki, Katsunari Yokota, Yukinori Kawaguchi, Toshihiko Kamio
  • Patent number: 7622009
    Abstract: A raw steel is coated with or surrounded by a boron compound (step S1). A coating film of h-BN is formed on the surface of the raw steel. Then, the raw steel is nitrided by a nitriding gas while being heated (step S2). B from the boron compound and N from the nitriding gas are diffused into the raw steel, turning the raw steel into a steel material containing B and N. Most of B and N are present as an Fe (B, N) solid solution or an Fe (C, B, N) solid solution in the structure of the steel material. The raw steel is heated and nitrided under conditions such that B and N are contained ranging from 7 to 30 ppm by weight and ranging from 10 to 70 ppm by weight, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuo Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 7615185
    Abstract: After an alloy powder including W, Cr, at least one of Ti, Zr, and Hf, and at least one of V, Nb, and Ta is produced, the alloy powder, a powdery carbon material, and a catalyst are heat-treated in the presence of a nitrogen gas. The alloy powder is carbonitrided into a multicomponent ceramics powder, and sintered into a sintered body. Alternatively, a powder of a first substance including at least two of Ti, Al, V, Nb, Zr, Hf, Mo, Ta, Cr, and W is molded into a molded body. Then, the surface of the molded body is surrounded by a second substance including a metal element which is not contained in the powder of the first substance, and the molded body is heat-treated in an atmosphere in which N is present. A porous sintered body thus produced is crushed into a multicomponent ceramics powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuo Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 7608560
    Abstract: A fuel cell catalyst comprising platinum, titanium and tungsten. In one or more embodiments, the concentration of platinum is less than 60 atomic percent, and/or the concentration of titanium is at least 20 atomic percent, and/or the concentration of tungsten is at least 25 atomic percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignees: Symyx Technologies, Inc., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Qun Fan, Peter Strasser, Alexander Gorer, Martin Devenney, Ting He, Hiroyuki Oyanagi, Daniel M. Giaquinta, Kenta Urata, Hiroichi Fukuda, Konstantinos Chondroudis, Keith James Cendak
  • Patent number: 7601389
    Abstract: A metal material comprises a Zn—Al—Sn based alloy (ZAS alloy) and Cu diffused in the alloy, wherein Cu is diffused into the inside of the alloy to a depth from the surface of 0.5 mm or more, the concentration of Cu decreases from the surface of the ZAS alloy towards the inside thereof, and there is present no specific interface between Cu and the ZAS alloy; and a method for producing the metal material involves applying, to the surface of the ZAS alloy, an agent comprising a solvent and, dispersed therein, a material containing Cu such as a Cu powder and a Cu—Mn alloy powder and preferably, dispersed or dissolved therein, a reducing agent capable of reducing an oxide film present on the surface of the ZAS alloy, and heating the ZAS alloy having the agent applied thereon, to thereby diffuse Cu into the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kuwabara, Tadashi Okada, Naoji Yamamoto, Masahito Hasuike, Hideo Yoshikawa, Michiharu Hasegawa, Tetsuaki Aoki, Masanori Kogawa, Kazunori Sakamoto, Keizou Tanoue
  • Patent number: 7597395
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle and more particularly a front seat for a vehicle includes a central pillar extending from the floor to the roof of the vehicle, and a center support extending forwardly from the central pillar. A lower rib extends laterally from the center support and supports a seat bottom fixed thereto. Primary and secondary intermediate ribs also extend laterally from the central pillar. A seat back is fixed to and supported by the primary and secondary intermediate ribs. Also, an upper rib is provided which extends laterally from the central pillar above the intermediate ribs. A headrest is fixed to and supported by the upper rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michael Wiedeman, John A. Frye, Frank D. Moburg, Michael Tsay
  • Patent number: 7596861
    Abstract: A vehicular body panel or component part having a reinforcing backing plate reconciled or joined to a part of a blank material at a position wherein a bending formation is implemented. The backing plate has one or more apertures formed in at least one lateral row at a location equivalent to the position of the bending formation. When forming the blank material and the backing plate concurrently by a bending operation, the backing plate becomes intimately associated with the blank sheet to avoid the backing plate from locally separating from the blank material and from forming a gap relative thereto, with a resultant improved product quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruo Kamada, Noriaki Iwanami, Masamitsu Numano, Takashi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7595125
    Abstract: A unit cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, and first and second separators for sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly includes an anode and a cathode having a substantially square shape having a side length L1 in a range of 140 mm to 200 mm. The first and second separators have a substantially square shape having a side length L2 in a range of 200 mm to 300 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoyuki Enjoji, Masaharu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7588064
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a puncture preventive layer formed by windingly sticking a tube having seal material wrapped therein to the tire inner surface circumferentially of the tire and continuously and spirally with its side surfaces closely contacted each other: or a pneumatic tire having a puncture preventive layer formed by sticking micro balloons having seal material wrapped therein to the tire inner surface with their sides closely contacted with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignees: The Yokoham Rubber Co., Ltd., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiji Saito
  • Patent number: 7584684
    Abstract: A man-powered braking apparatus which uses rocking motion to switch over between the braking state and the releasing state, assures smooth operation, and minimizes the reduction in braking force when the braking lever is returned. When the force to the braking lever 20 is removed, the braking state in which the pawl member 40 is engaged with the ratchet plate 12 is maintained. When the force is removed, the power transmission pin 25 is moved, being kept fitted into the cam groove 52 in the transmission link member 50, and is shifted from the force transmission cam groove 53 to the release holding cam groove 54, the transmission link member 50 being turned to the releasing position, and the pawl member 40 is brought into the state in which it is energized in the direction for being disengaged from the ratchet plate 12 while the braking state being maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Otsuka Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Shibui, Fumikage Yamanaka, Takahiko Midori, Satoru Masuda
  • Patent number: 7584211
    Abstract: A parts list system includes a figure generator, a information database, a figure controller, a part table database and a part table controller. The figure generator generates a CAD figure relating to a unit which includes a plurality of parts, the CAD figure containing at least a figure of the unit and first character strings. The information database stores an attribute of at least a second character string relating to each of the plurality of parts. The figure controller extracts a third character string from the first character strings, the third character string corresponding to the attribute of the second character string. The part table database stores a parts list for managing the parts used for the unit. The part table controller registers the third character strings on the parts list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuki Tamaru, Kazunori Suzuki, Masataka Yamamoto, Hideyuki Tanaka, Mikiya Fujita
  • Patent number: 7583807
    Abstract: The controller changes the low vehicle speed region set volume according to an operational input to the volume control switch within a first volume setting range set up in advance when the volume control switch is operated in the low vehicle speed region, and changes the high vehicle speed region set volume according to an operational input to the volume control switch within a second volume setting range set up in advance when the volume control switch is operated in the high vehicle speed region. A lower limit of the second volume setting range is set higher than an upper limit of the first volume setting range. Thus, it is possible to accurately control the volume of the audio system and improve feeling of volume change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Access Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichiro Enomoto, Takeo Tokunaga, Yasuo Oishi, Yuji Aihara
  • Patent number: 7579935
    Abstract: An actuator has a resilient shape memory member 1 with superelasticity, a magnetic body 2, and a magnetic field generator 3. At least one of the magnetic body 2 and the magnetic field generator 3 is fixed to the resilient shape memory member 1 such that one of the magnetic body 2 and the magnetic field generator 3 is stationary while the other is movable, whereby the movable member is moved by a magnetic field provided from the magnetic field generator 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Ohta, Toru Sukigara
  • Patent number: 7574384
    Abstract: A system capable of managing orders of resources so that order quantities of resources for production of products are properly determined with consideration given to various conditions of a person receiving orders. In this system, according to the latest production plan, placed order quantities are corrected based on corrected required quantities for a plurality of periods in “the first predetermined period” and the placed order quantities are modified so as to suppress a fluctuation in the entire order quantity caused by an order quantity fluctuation in the first predetermined period for a plurality of periods in “the second predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Iida, Hidenobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7571952
    Abstract: A protection screen is placed between a cabin and a loading platform and mounted to a vehicle body. The loading platform is placed adjacent to a back surface of the cabin and joined at a rear portion thereof to the vehicle body via a pivot axis so as to be inclined from a horizontal normal position to a dump position where the loading platform is inclined upward to a front. The protection screen includes an upper screen having a width wider than that of seat backs of occupant seats provided in the cabin; a lower screen continuously connected to a lower end of the upper screen and having a width narrower than that of the upper screen; and a bracket connecting the upper and lower screens together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Access Corp.
    Inventors: Kazumichi Hamaguchi, Naoto Ono, Satoshi Fukuda, Shunji Kuroki
  • Patent number: 7572538
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and first and second metal separators for sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. In the membrane electrode assembly, a surface area of a gas diffusion layer is larger than a surface area of a gas diffusion layer. A seal member is provided at a position corresponding to an outer marginal region of the gas diffusion layer. The seal member includes a main seal inserted between a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the first metal separator, and an a flow field wall inserted between the gas diffusion layer and the first metal separator for defining a part of an oxygen-containing gas flow field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Fujii, Seiji Sugiura, Narutoshi Sugita
  • Patent number: 7566511
    Abstract: A cell assembly (10) includes a first unit cell (12) and a second unit cell (14). The first unit cell (12) and the second unit cell (14) are juxtaposed such that electrode surfaces of the first unit cell (12) and electrode surfaces of the second unit cell (14) are aligned in parallel with each other. An oxygen-containing gas flow passage (32) includes a first oxygen-containing gas passage (38) in the first unit cell (12), an oxygen-containing gas connection passage (40) in a connection passage member (16), and a second oxygen-containing gas passage (42) in the second unit cell (14). The first oxygen-containing gas passage (38), the oxygen-containing gas connection passage (40), and the second oxygen-containing gas passage (42) are connected serially from the first unit cell (12) to the second unit cell (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Wariishi, Naoyuki Enjoji, Yoichi Asano, Hiroshi Shinkai
  • Patent number: 7557063
    Abstract: The invention relates to noble metal-free nickel catalysts that exhibit both high activity and selectivity to hydrogen generation and carbon monoxide oxidation. The noble metal-free water gas shift catalyst of the invention comprises Ni in either a supported or a bulk state and at least one of Ge, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Pb, their oxides and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Hagemeyer, Christopher James Brooks, Raymond E. Carhart, Karin Yaccato, Michael Herrmann
  • Patent number: 7556449
    Abstract: A clip attaches a strip member to at least a part of an opening of a groove formed on a panel. The clip for attaching a strip member includes a first portion or car body side joining portion to be attached to a bottom surface of the groove, and a second portion or strip side joining portion to be attached to the strip member. The second portion is connected to the first portion rotatably around an axis line along a groove extending direction. Further, an upright-state holding device is provided between the first and second portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignees: Nifco Inc., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Sasaki, Seiichi Yuda, Norimichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 7556864
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sintered gear composed of a sintered alloy having a metal matrix and pores. The tooth surface (2, 3, 4) of the tooth and the bottom land (5) have a densified layer (11) in which the porosity is reduced to 10% or less from the sintered alloy. The densified layer at the tooth surface is formed with a thickness of 300 to 1,000 microns, and the densified layer at the bottom land is formed with a thickness of 10 to 300 microns. The boundary surface of the densified layer is continuous from the tooth surface side to the bottom land side so as not to have a substantial level difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignees: Hitachi Powdered Metals Co., Ltd., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Yamanishi, Ryoji Sato, Kei Ishii, Tomoaki Arakawa, Jyun-ichi Yamada, Tadayuki Tsutsui, Akira Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7553576
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator is provided which has in a peripheral part (30) gas passages (31, 31) for guiding reaction gases and reaction product passages (33) for guiding a reaction product. The separator (20) is made up of a central part (22) made of metal, a peripheral part (30) made of a resin material, and an elastic member (40) connecting the central part and the peripheral part together. As a result of the peripheral part being made of a resin material, the gas passages and product passages are resistant to corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikihiko Kimura, Shinya Kawachi, Keisuke Andou, Tadashi Nishiyama, Daisuke Okonogi
  • Patent number: 7547481
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack 1 in a fuel-circulating fuel cell system is supplied with fuel and an oxidizing agent to generate electricity. The fuel discharged from the fuel cell stack 1 is supplied to the fuel cell stack 1 again through a fuel-circulating passage 6. In the fuel-circulating passage 6 is provided a fuel pump 3 powered from an outside source to circulate the fuel through the fuel-circulating passage 6 at a predetermined circulation rate. An ECU 4 transmits an output instruction value to the fuel cell stack 1 and regulates a circulation rate of the fuel in the fuel-circulating passage 6 according to the output instruction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Sugawara, Hiroshi Shimanuki
  • Patent number: 7544259
    Abstract: An element such as Cr is caused to dissolve sufficiently in a base-material metal (Cu) in a solid solution state at a high temperature and a material in a supersaturated condition is obtained by performing quenching. After that, a strain is applied to this material and this material is subjected to aging treatment at a low temperature simultaneously with or after the application of this strain. As a result of this, it is possible to obtain a copper alloy having properties desirable as an electrode material, for example, a hardness of not less than 30 HRB, an electrical conductivity of not less than 85 IACS %, and a thermal conductivity of not less than 350 W/(m·K).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Funaki, Hiroki Baba, Shinya Ohyama, Toshiyuki Horimukai
  • Patent number: 7544912
    Abstract: A plurality of attachments having springs hold the outer plate of a fuel tank, and an inner jig positions the inner plate. The attachments are attached to clamp arms which are opened/closed by cylinders. When the overlap portion between the outer and inner plates is welded, the thermal deformation caused by welding is accommodated by the springs. The attachments are spaced from the fuel tank in the order in which the welding point is approached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoji Yamaoka, Yoshimasa Iwaguchi, Takashi Shimada, Setsuo Arai, Toshio Ishii
  • Patent number: 7542948
    Abstract: A genetic design method and apparatus in which desired profiles, such as of an automobile, are broken down into concepts, including the local concepts of surface segments and glue segments, and in which a genetic algorithm is used to evolve parent profiles to produce offspring profiles based on merit values of the concepts. The genetic algorithm includes a probabilistic recombination algorithm which selects for each of the attributes of the concepts at least one of a random value and a value of the attribute associated with one of the parent profiles depending on a non-linear importance function based on the merit values. The combination of the merit values, as represented by the non-linear importance function, reflects the preferences of the designer as the design progresses through various modifications and generations of evolution. A family tree is maintained to identify successive generations of the parent and offspring profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kikuo Hayashi, Mark Ashcraft
  • Patent number: 7540132
    Abstract: In an electric working machine, a scroll portion is provided at one of left and right sides of a machine body, and a relay member functioning as a power switch in which a power on/off key is removably inserted is provided at the other side of the machine body. The relay member is provided between a motor-driving battery and a control section so that the battery and control section can be electrically connected with each other by insertion, in the relay member, of the power on/off key and disconnected from each other by removal, from the relay member, of the power on/off key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenzo Shimada, Takao Kobayashi, Tetsuo Iida, Toshiaki Takizawa, Yasunori Yamamoto, Yoshihisa Hirose
  • Patent number: 7533743
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle prevents a decrease in the total amount of regenerated energy in the entire vehicle while ensuring the stability of the vehicle when the vehicle decelerates. When the vehicle decelerates and regenerated energy is recovered by the regeneration operation of front motor and rear motor, the ECU sets the amount of regeneration, which is transferred from front wheels to rear wheels, depending on the steered angle of the front wheels and on the deceleration state of the vehicle. In addition, the ECU subtracts the amount of regeneration to be transferred from regeneration torque command value for rear wheels demanding from the rear motor, and adds the same amount of regeneration to regeneration torque command value for front wheels demanding from the front motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kitano, Tetsurou Hamada
  • Patent number: 7527889
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided with an outlet side oxygen-containing gas communication hole. First and second oxygen-containing gas flow passage grooves are provided in the direction of the gravity while meandering in the horizontal direction on a surface of a first separator. The second oxygen-containing gas flow passage grooves communicate with the outlet side oxygen-containing gas communication hole via second oxygen-containing gas connecting flow passages. The lowest position of the second oxygen-containing gas flow passage grooves 44 in the direction of gravity is higher than the bottom of the outlet side oxygen-containing gas communication hole 38b by the height h.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Komura, Narutoshi Sugita, Shigeru Inai
  • Patent number: 7527882
    Abstract: A reference electrode is provided adjacent to an anode of a membrane electrode assembly. The potential difference between the reference electrode and the anode is measured by a control unit. The control unit compares the measured value and a map of the anode potential difference stored in the control unit. When the measured value indicates a relation line which is different from a reference line indicating that the fuel gas is sufficient, it is judged that shortage of the fuel gas occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Inai, Chikara Iwasawa, Shinya Watanabe, Masahiko Sato, Yoshikazu Murakami
  • Patent number: 7526441
    Abstract: A parts list system used for part number management is composed of a parts table database and a parts list controller. The parts table database includes a parts list which stores a state data and a part number data. The state data indicates a progress state of a part. And the part number data includes a number of the part as an identifier. The parts list controller inhibits change of the part number data, when the state data indicates prohibition of the change of the part number data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mamoru Nakajima, Masataka Yamamoto, Naoki Saitou, Katsunori Taguchi
  • Patent number: D600838
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichiro Kuboshima, Yumio Shibata