Patents Examined by Arthur D. Donnolly
  • Patent number: 6721637
    Abstract: A point at which an external power supply is installed is registered in map data in a map information device as a base point. An EV running area centered on the base point is registered as map data in the map information device, and EV running is performed when a vehicle is in the EV running area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Abe, Eiji Inada
  • Patent number: 6463378
    Abstract: A brake control device for a vehicle includes a brake pedal, vehicle wheels, wheel brake cylinders, an automatic hydraulic pressure generating device, a pressure control valve unit, and an automatic brake control unit for controlling the pressure control valve unit in response to a vehicle driving condition. The brake control device for the vehicle regulates any of the pressure control valve unit corresponding to the wheels in response to the brake pedal operation when the automatic brake control is performed under the brake pedal being operated. Therefore, the brake control device resembles the brake hydraulic pressure of the wheel brake cylinders corresponding to the controlled pressure control valve to the brake pedal depression. The brake control device generates a vehicle deceleration in response to a brake pedal operation when an automatic brake pressure increase control is performed at any of the vehicle wheels when the brake pedal is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akitaka Nishio
  • Patent number: 6349573
    Abstract: A vehicle anti-theft device includes a frame for securing over a vehicle door. The frame includes one or more support legs each having an upper arm slidably mounted thereon for securing between the top of the vehicle window frame and the vehicle roof. The support leg includes a lower arm for attaching to a vehicle jack rail or similar plate mounted beneath the vehicle. A locking means secures the upper arm at a select position relative to the support leg to tightly fasten the frame about the vehicle door thereby preventing an unauthorized user from opening the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Inventor: Milton Johnson
  • Patent number: 6192315
    Abstract: An electronic compass system of the present invention includes a sensor for detecting the earth's magnetic field and for providing electrical signals representing the direction of the vehicle, a heading indicator for indicating vehicle headings in response to received vehicle heading signals, and a processor coupled to the sensor for receiving the electrical signals and coupled to the heading indicator for supplying the vehicle heading signals to the heading indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Geschke, Thomas R. Olson, Mark Michmerhuizen, Gregory B. Colon
  • Patent number: 6076033
    Abstract: A process for controlling a yaw moment in a vehicle by generating a braking force in one of the left and right wheels of the vehicle and by generating a driving force in the other wheel. When a vehicle is accelerated during the turning thereof, grounding loads of rear wheels are increased in order to generate a yaw moment in a direction opposite from a turning direction. However, such yaw moment can be eliminated in order to enhance the turning performance by bringing one of the hydraulic clutches into an engaged state with a torque which is proportional to a product of longitudinal and lateral accelerations. Consequently, a braking force and a driving force in inner and outer wheels during turning of the vehicle, respectively, are generated. When the vehicle is decelerated during turning thereof, grounding loads of front wheels are increased to a yaw moment in the same direction as the turning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuro Hamada, Yoshihiro Kanamaru, Mitsuhiro Iwata, Naoki Hayashibe, Yoshikazu Konishi, Ryuichi Kawanaka