Patents by Inventor Anthony B. McDonald

Anthony B. McDonald has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7241034
    Abstract: A structure and method for operating a directional control system for vehicle headlights that is capable of altering the directional aiming angles of the headlights to account for changes in the operating conditions of the vehicle. One or more operating condition sensors may be provided that generate signals that are representative of a condition of the vehicle, such as road speed, steering angle, pitch, suspension height, rate of change of road speed, rate of change of steering angle, rate of change of pitch, and rate of change of suspension height of the vehicle. A controller is responsive to the sensor signal for generating an output signal. An actuator is adapted to be connected to the headlight to effect movement thereof in accordance with the output signal. The controller can include a table that relates values of sensed operating condition to values of the output signal. The controller is responsive to the sensor signal for looking up the output signal in the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Anthony B. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20030114974
    Abstract: A structure and method for operating a directional control system for vehicle headlights that is capable of altering the directional aiming angles of the headlights to account for changes in the operating conditions of the vehicle. One or more operating condition sensors may be provided that generate signals that are representative of a condition of the vehicle, such as road speed, steering angle, pitch, suspension height, rate of change of road speed, rate of change of steering angle, rate of change of pitch, and rate of change of suspension height of the vehicle. A controller is responsive to the sensor signal for generating an output signal. An actuator is adapted to be connected to the headlight to effect movement thereof in accordance with the output signal. The controller can include a table that relates values of sensed operating condition to values of the output signal. The controller is responsive to the sensor signal for looking up the output signal in the table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Anthony B. McDonald, Douglas A. Courtney
  • Publication number: 20030107898
    Abstract: A structure and method for operating a directional control system for vehicle headlights that is capable of altering the directional aiming angles of the headlights to account for changes in the operating conditions of the vehicle. One or more operating condition sensors may be provided that generate signals that are representative of a condition of the vehicle, such as road speed, steering angle, pitch, suspension height, rate of change of road speed, rate of change of steering angle, rate of change of pitch, and rate of change of suspension height of the vehicle. A controller is responsive to the sensor signal for generating an output signal. An actuator is adapted to be connected to the headlight to effect movement thereof in accordance with the output signal. The controller can include a table that relates values of sensed operating condition to values of the output signal. The controller is responsive to the sensor signal for looking up the output signal in the table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Anthony B. McDonald
  • Patent number: 6059691
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the operation of a clutch in a partially or fully automated mechanical transmission which is responsive to the actual speed of the vehicle engine for varying the engagement rate of release bearing during reengagement of the clutch. The apparatus includes an electronic controller which initially sets a desired speed for the vehicle engine during the shifting process, determines a rate of engagement movement of a release bearing of the clutch, and actuates appropriate valves to initiate the gradual engagement of the clutch. The electronic controller sets a first lower engine speed threshold and a second lower engine speed threshold. The magnitude of the first lower engine speed threshold may vary with the amount of depression of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle. If the actual speed of the engine remains above both the first lower engine speed threshold and the second lower engine speed threshold, the engagement process is continued without interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Transmisiones TSP, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Anthony B. McDonald, Anand C. Patel, Peter T. Szymanski, James A. Wheeler