Patents Examined by Felix D. Gruber
  • Patent number: 5168447
    Abstract: An engine trim control unit for monitoring the operational characteristics of one or more gas turbine engines on an aircraft from the cockpit thereof and sequentially adjusting selected ones of a plurality of engine parameters for the engines from the cockpit is comprised of a controller (10) incorporating digital microcircuitry and interfacing with engine-side components via a multiplexer (12); tranducers for generating signals representative of the condition of at least one structurally variable engine component indicative of (i) variable stator vane position (14) and (ii) engine compressor airflow bleed (16); and wherein the multiplexer selectively routes trim command signals to remotely actuable trim head members in operative engagement with engine-mounted trim screws for selectively adjusting at least one variable engine parameter including (i) engine vane and bleed control (70), (ii) engine compressor airflow bleed (72), (iii) approach idle (82), (iv) minimum idle (84) and (v) takeoff power (72), and a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Leland E. Moore
  • Patent number: 5103399
    Abstract: A slip control system monitors variation of engine speed for detecting transition from engine accelerating condition to decelerating condition during slip control mode operation, in which engine speed is adjusted for reducing output torque for reducing magnitude of wheel slippage. Slip control mode operation is terminated when engine transition from the acceleration state to deceleration state is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Toru Iwata, Shinji Katayose, Terukiyo Murakami, Minoru Tamura
  • Patent number: 5099430
    Abstract: For a body rotating on an axis and having a moment of inertia relative to the axis, an apparatus for dynamically suppressing unwanted rotational phenomena occurring relative to the axis of rotation, i.e., phenomena which exhibit themselves in a body only when the body is rotating about the axis, such as, dynamic imbalance and resonance at critical rotational speeds. One or more inertial masses are movably affixed to the body such that they can be selectively moved radially and circumferentially with respect to the axis. Appropriately placed sensors, such as strain gauges, accelerometers, vibration transducers, and the like detect the phenomena and pass pertinent parameters of the phenomena to a controller, preferably a computer, which analyzes the parameters to determine, among other things, the magnitudes of the phenomena.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Inventor: Joseph Hirsch
  • Patent number: 5097428
    Abstract: An apparatus for counting the number of times that each of a large number of digital data patterns are present on a set of signal lines comprises a plurality of random access memories (RAMs) and a feedback means, arranged to form an array of linear feedback shift registers. The data to be analyzed is applied to the address inputs of the RAMs where it selects one of the linear feedback shift registers in the array. A data-valid signal associated with this data causes the selected linear feedback shift register to increment (or decrement) in its pseudo-random count. After the analysis period is over, the value at each address is read out and translated using a lookup table or other translating means from the pseudo-random code of the linear feedback shift register into a meaningful number. This result may then be displayed; for example, in a histogram. An improved feedback path for the linear feedback shift register avoids hang-up states and the need for initialization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip S. Crosby
  • Patent number: 5083277
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine fuel control system comprises a microprocessor based control unit programmed to calculate the total fuel requirement to achieve a demanded engine speed on the basis of a steady state fuel requirement plus an additional overfuelling requirement. The overfuelling element is calculated in accordance with the lowest of a number of limiting variables which ensure continued engine integrity and safety and a minimum level to prevent engine flame-out and in which all variables and datums are related to an equivalent engine speed or rate of change of engine speed. The steady state fuel element is likewise calculated using a theoretical engine model based on engine acceleration characteristics. The overall system confers highly accurate control of engine speed and acceleration and enables the use of a simple fuel metering valve, in which fuel flow is directly proportional to valve position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Arthur G. Shutler
  • Patent number: 5075881
    Abstract: A process for developing a statistical model to forecast the workload of an aircraft pilot (20), in particular that of a commercial airline pilot, as a function of objective flight parameters, wherein, during the course of at least one flight (real or simulated) of the aircraft, under defined flying conditions and flight conditions and stages which constitute the flight parameters, the aircraft pilot is asked to provide a rating of his workload according to a predefined scale, wherein this rating is logged at the same time as the corresponding flight parameters, and, simultaneously, the value of the significant data of the said parameters is measured, wherein, finally, a statistical correlation is established between the workload rating values on the one part and the aforesaid data and flight parameters on the other part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Airbus Industrie
    Inventors: Richard D. Blomberg, Jean-Pierre Fouillot, Jean-Jacques Speyer
  • Patent number: 5062067
    Abstract: A simulator for a levelized logic circuit reduces the number of evaluations required. The simulator associates certain lists of signals, called fences, with each component of a logic circuit. A fence is evaluated to determine whether it is active or inactive. Active fences contain signals which have charged since a previous evaluation. Components for active fences are then evaluated by the simulator. Fences are formed by starting with a seed set of signals. If all of the input signals to a component are in one or more fences, a final fence for a component is formed which is the union of the one or more fences. Only signals which can cause an output change on a component are included in fences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: VLSI Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Schaefer, Robert D. Shur
  • Patent number: 5053960
    Abstract: A microprocessor-based electronic control system for a powershift transmission having at least one proportional actuator, such as a solenoid-operated proportional valve, is disclosed. The controller operates a plurality of on-off solenoid valves and the solenoid-operated proportional valve to provide operator-selected gear shifts in both forward and reverse directions having controlled clutch engagements achieved by modulations of clutch engagement pressure by the proportional valve. The key parameters associated with the gradual clutch engagement are all easily varied by the controller, most under program control during operation, to provide for optimized clutch engagements for smooth gearshifts. The key parameters include: fast-fill clutch delay, initial clutch engagement pressure, rate of increase of clutch engagement pressure, and the length of the reduced pressure clutch engagement interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventors: Kevin L. Brekkestran, John C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5053969
    Abstract: This invention relates to a system including an autopilot, with a simulator, for a fluid borne vehicle, and, in particular, to such a system including novel means to compute, in real time, and for depth keeping, and pitch keeping, purposes, any change of, or `out-of-trim`, heave force, and any change of, or `out-of-trim`, pitching moment, acting on the vehicle. For simplicity the general term out-of-trim forces is used when both are referred to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Ferranti International, plc
    Inventor: Thomas B. Booth
  • Patent number: 5051941
    Abstract: A method of logic simulation for simulating operation of a logic circuit by using basic signal values corresponding to states of output signals of elements of the logic circuit to be simulated and expanded signal values including the basic signal values. The logic circuit to be simulated is divided into a portion to be simulated by using the basic signal values and the expanded signal values and a portion to be simulated by using the basic signal values without using the expanded signal values. The elements for which definition of calculation method for output signal values for the input signal values including the expanded signal values is not easy are included in the latter portion, and other elements are included in the former portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Takamine, Shunsuke Miyamoto, Takayuki Nakagawa, Yoshiharu Kazama, Yoshiaki Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 5051905
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling a vehicle speed to a desired cruise speed for an automatic transmission equipped vehicle are disclosed in which a shift gear position range of the transmission in which the same gear ratio is charged is extended wider than a normal region determined on the basis of an opening angle of an engine throttle valve and vehicle speed during a control of the opening angle of the throttle valve to maintain the vehicle speed at a set vehicle speed so that a shift down and/or shift up which would normally occur at the same condition is not carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5050082
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system for controlling an automatic transmission with which an automotive engine is incorporated. The system comprises a first control unit which controls an ignition timing of the engine in accordance with an octane value of gasoline on which the engine is operated; a second control unit which controls a gear change point of the transmission and controls a line pressure of the transmission in accordance with a given factor of the fuel; and a correcting unit which corrects the line pressure in accordance with the octane value of the gasoline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Kato
  • Patent number: 5050091
    Abstract: An electrical design system is described which integrates many analysis and synthesis tools in an environment of top-down circuit layout. The system allows electrical design in numerous technologies, including nMOS, CMOS, bipolar, printed circuit boards and others. Technologies and analysis or synthesis tools may be added or deleted easily, and different technologies may be employed in a single design. The system includes a database manager which maintains all information regarding the design of the circuit, and which is accessed by all of the analysis and synthesis tools to enable them to examine and modify the design.The database itself is structured as a network of electrically connected and geometrically described components. Each component in the database is considered a node, and connections among components are considered as arcs. Changes are permitted only to nodes, and constraints are imposed only upon arcs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Electric Editor, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Rubin
  • Patent number: 5050084
    Abstract: In the control of the sequential fuel injection in an internal combustion engine, where the engine load is set based on the opening of the throttle valve and the engine revolution number and the quantity of correction of the fuel supply quantity is determined based on the ratio of the change of this engine load and the time up to a predetermined time during the intake stroke, this time is computed for each cylinder and the correction quantity is set individually for the respective cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Japan Electronic Control Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinpei Nakaniwa
  • Patent number: 5047944
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus is provided with a plurality of unit controllers to individually provide control to different control items constructed such that mutual communication of data for diagnosis is effected between the unit controllers, and when one of the unit controllers comes to be abnormal, the other or others change their control mode so as to lead the vehicle to safety, based on the data from the one unit controller having come to be abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Automotive Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Ishikawa, Taiji Hasegawa, Osamu Abe
  • Patent number: 5047935
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, which has a first and a second transmission mechanism, and a testing device for testing for a shifting operation which requires shifting actions of both of the first and second transmission mechanisms. The apparatus further has a determining device for determining, based on a rotary member of the second transmission mechanism, that the shifting action of the second shifting mechanism is completed. The determining device determines that the shifting operation of the transmission is completed, at the time when a predetermined time interval has passed after the detemination that the shifting action of the second shifting mechanism is comleted. The point of time at which the completion of the shifting operation is determined may be utilized for various purposes for controlling the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Toyota Jishoda Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Kashihara
  • Patent number: 5047970
    Abstract: A result of simulation for an object circuit is displayed as a circuit diagram in which respective elements in the object circuit are colored according to the simulation result so that the simulation result can be easily understood. The elements displayed in colors include not only active and passive elements but also signal lines interconnecting them and the branches of the signal lines, so that the result of the simulation can be displayed in detail in color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoko Kamakura
  • Patent number: 5047934
    Abstract: A controlling device for automatic speed change mechanism is disclosed in which acceleration efficiency and fuel economy are simultaneously achieved. The device of the present invention is constructed such that plural sets of predetermined speed change programs are provided for indicating the relationship among the increase of driving power, that is, the opening degree of the throttle valve, the speed of the automobile and the speed change step. Based on the selected program information, the controlling of the speed change is carried out, while automobile height detection devices are provided for emitting electric signals corresponding to the distance between the surface of the road and the body of the automobile. Based on the height of the automobile body detected by the automobile height detecting device, a switch-over to a proper speed change program is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki K.K.
    Inventor: Yoshitami Saito
  • Patent number: 5047940
    Abstract: Slip control is carried out so as to reduce torque applied to the driven wheels by reducing torque generated by the engine when a slip value against the driven wheels on pavement is larger than a predetermined value. A shift characteristic of the automatic transmission interposed between the engine and the driven wheels is set as a first shift characteristic which is a basic characteristic at the time of ordinary running where no slip control is carried out and as a second shift characteristic set so as to become at least unlikely to cause downshifting during slip control compared with said first shift characteristic. As the slip control terminates, a return of the first shift characteristic is prohibited when the torque generated by the engine is large (for example, when a degree of operation of an accelerator is not zero) or when downshifting is caused if based on the first shift characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Onaka, Toshiaki Tsuyama, Kazutoshi Nobumoto, Fumio Kageyama, Akira Sone, Makoto Teshima
  • Patent number: 5046016
    Abstract: A computer aided design (CAD) method for designing circular overmoded waveguide systems having optimal operating characteristics. The CAD method receives selected input waveguide operational, material and structural parameters and computes the resulting waveguide operational characteristics, including power losses for a given waveguide system configuration, including both straight and bent sections. Optimal designs for lined dielectric and sheathed-helix types of circular waveguide and waveguide bends have resulted for both S- and X-band operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Jerry A. Krill, Melrose M. Jesurun, William H. Zinger