Patents by Inventor Carl Gifford

Carl Gifford 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: 8067914
    Abstract: An anti-pinch assembly is used for a closure panel movable between open and closed positions on a motor vehicle. A controller operably connected to the closure panel controls operation thereof. A position sensor connected to the controller indicates the position of the closure panel between the open and closed positions. A capacitive sensor mounted on the vehicle and connected to the controller provides an output signal to the controller indicative of the presence of a foreign object in the path of the closure panel. The controller varies the function of the capacitive sensor through a plurality of threshold levels as a function of the position of the closure panel as indicated by the position indicator. In a critical zone of travel with the closure panel nearing the closed position, the capacitive sensor can be utilized in either a contact mode or a non-contact mode or a combination of both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Closures Inc
    Inventors: Carl Gifford, Mirko Pribisic, Leslie Marentette, Jan Majewski, Andrew R. Daniels, Thomas P. Frommer
  • Publication number: 20090322504
    Abstract: An anti-pinch assembly is used for a closure panel movable between open and closed positions on a motor vehicle. A controller operably connected to the closure panel controls operation thereof. A position sensor connected to the controller indicates the position of the closure panel between the open and closed positions. A capacitive sensor mounted on the vehicle and connected to the controller provides an output signal to the controller indicative of the presence of a foreign object in the path of the closure panel. The controller varies the function of the capacitive sensor through a plurality of threshold levels as a function of the position of the closure panel as indicated by the position indicator. In a critical zone of travel with the closure panel nearing the closed position, the capacitive sensor can be utilized in either a contact mode or a non-contact mode or a combination of both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Intier Automotive Closures Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Gifford, Mirko Pribisic, Leslie Marentette, Jan Majewski, Andrew Ralph Daniels, Thomas P. Frommer
  • Publication number: 20070051177
    Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a structure having a coating on at least one surface is provided. The system includes at least one ultrasonic sensor positioned proximate to the structure. Each sensor is capable of transmitting a shear wave toward the structure and receiving return signals in response thereto, wherein the shear wave comprises at least one of a reference beam and an interrogating beam. The system further includes a data acquisition system in communication with the sensor for generating information indicative of the coating based on at least one return signal associated with the reference beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: Carl Gifford, Jeffrey Kollgaard
  • Publication number: 20060072692
    Abstract: Apparatus are provided for a communication signal processing apparatus having a channel estimator configured to generate a first channel estimation at a first time point, a linear predictor coupled to the channel estimator, and an adaptive filter coupled with the linear predictor. The linear predictor is configured to predict a second channel estimation based on a second time point and a channel frequency. The second time point is concurrent or subsequent to the first time point. The second channel estimation includes a first coefficient. The linear predictor includes a first predictor having a sample time point. The first predictor is configured to generate the first coefficient of the second channel estimation based on the sample time point and the second time point. The sample time point is prior to the second time point. The adaptive filter is configured to recursively determine the second channel estimation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Carl Gifford, John Kleider, Chad Bergstrom, Jeffery Chuprun, Bruce Fette
  • Publication number: 20060061357
    Abstract: Techniques for detecting defects in the proximity of a hole of a laminate structure include inserting a generally cylindrical body portion into a hole such that a first coil of wire will reside in a plane substantially parallel to a first electrically conductive layer of the laminate material. A magnetic field produced by the first coil of wire will produce eddy-currents in the conductive layer in the plane of the first conductive layer, but damaged laminate materials will fail to produce similar eddy-currents. As the differences in eddy-currents between damages and undamaged laminate layers can be measured, damage to such laminate materials can be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Clyde Uyehara, James Kennedy, Carl Gifford
  • Publication number: 20050012484
    Abstract: An anti-pinch assembly is used for a closure panel supported by the motor vehicle. The closure panel is movable between an open position and a closed position. A controller is operably connected to the closure panel for controlling the operation of the closure panel. A position sensor is connected to the controller for indicating the position of the closure panel as the closure panel moves between the open and closed positions. A capacitive sensor is mounted on the frame of the vehicle and connected to the controller for providing an output signal to the controller indicative of the presence of a foreign object in the path of the closure panel. The controller varies the function of the capacitive sensor through a plurality of threshold levels as a function of the position of the closure panel as indicated by the position indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Inventors: Carl Gifford, Mirko Pribisic, Leslie Marentette, Jan Majewski
  • Patent number: 6237737
    Abstract: The present application discloses a power actuator that has a motor having a rotatable motor output member and a clutch assembly. A stamped, cup-shape ferromagnetic coil casing has a generally radially extending base wall and an annular side wall extending generally axially from the base wall. An annular ferromagnetic flux intensifying washer is positioned adjacent to the base wall of the coil casing. An annular coil of electroconductive material is disposed within the casing with the side wall extending in surrounding relation with respect to the coil such that the field generated by the coil flows generally radially through the base wall and generally axially through said side wall. A ferromagnetic armature is in sliding relation with the annular coil and movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Atoma International Corp.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Jorgensen, Douglas G. Overbury, Carl Gifford, Roman Cetnar, Peter L. Oxley, Kathryn Petroff
  • Patent number: 5155403
    Abstract: A method of winding a motor armature includes providing a sub-assembly comprising a shaft having an armature core and a commutator mounted thereon, the commutator having commutator bars spaced apart about the shaft with each bar having leading and trailing wire connection devices angularly spaced apart with respect to said shaft. A first wire is connected to a leading wire connection device and a second wire is connected to a leading connection device on the other side of the commutator. The successive coils are separately wound on the armature core from the first and second wires with connection of each wire to a different leading connection device between successive coils. Thereafter further successive coils are separately wound on the core from the wires but now with connection of the wires between successive coils to trailing connection devices until the commutator bars have pairs of electrically parallel coils connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Dyke, Carl Gifford
  • Patent number: 5044065
    Abstract: A method of winding a motor armature includes providing a sub-assembly comprising a shaft having an armature core and a commutator mounted thereon, the commutator having commutator bars spaced apart about the shaft with each bar having leading and trailing wire connection devices angularly spaced apart with respect to said shaft. A first wire is connected to a leading wire connection device and a second wire is connected to a leading connection device on the other side of the commutator. The successive coils are separately wound on the armature core from the first and second wires with connection of each wire to a different leading connection device between successive coils. Thereafter further successive coils are separately wound on the core from the wires but now with connection of the wires between successive coils to trailing connection devices until the commutator bars have pairs of electrically parallel coils connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Dyke, Carl Gifford