Patents by Inventor Patrick Powell
Patrick Powell 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).
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Publication number: 20120234414Abstract: A fuel pump module may include a reservoir, a flange, and a rod. The reservoir may be configured to contain fuel. The flange may be configured to rest on a surface about a hole in a fuel tank, and the flange may include a groove disposed on an underside surface of the flange. The rod may be inserted into the groove and may couple the flange to the reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2011Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Patrick Powell
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Publication number: 20120222655Abstract: A fuel supply system for a vehicle includes a fuel pump module with a fuel pump module flange at a surface thereof. A lock ring is removably secured to the fuel pump module flange and to a fuel tank for retaining the fuel pump module to the fuel tank. An extension member is secured to the lock ring and extends a distance from the fuel pump module. A fuel pump controller is in communication with the vehicle and the fuel pump module for relaying signals therebetween. The fuel pump controller is fixedly secured to the extension member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2011Publication date: September 6, 2012Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Patrick Powell
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Patent number: 8078388Abstract: An oxygen sensor device and method for a motor vehicle having an electrode within an outer shell for measuring oxygen in exhaust gas exiting the vehicle. A communication device, powered by a capacitor, wirelessly transmits the measured amount of oxygen from the electrode to a powertrain control module. Vibration transmitting from the motor vehicle shakes a magnet, wound inside a coil, for generating the electrical current used by the capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2009Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.Inventor: Patrick Powell
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Patent number: 8073612Abstract: An oxygen sensor for a motor vehicle having an electrode within an outer shell measures oxygen in exhaust gas exiting the vehicle and generates a signal based on the oxygen measurement. A communication device, powered by a battery or capacitor, wirelessly transmits the measured amount of oxygen from the electrode to a powertrain control module. The flow of exhaust gas through the exhaust system spins blades to spin a generator in a rotational power generation device to generate electrical current to be stored and used by the battery or capacitor. The rotational power generation device may be located in the exhaust pipe, such as through an exhaust pipe wall, and either be connected to the oxygen sensor shell or separate and connected only with electrical wires between the generator and the battery or capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2009Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.Inventor: Patrick Powell
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Patent number: 8042388Abstract: A fuel level measuring system for a liquid fuel tank may utilize a primary sender gage assembly employing at least a primary sender gage, a primary sender arm, and a primary sender float. The system may further utilize a secondary sender gage assembly employing at least a secondary sender gage, a secondary sender arm, and a secondary sender float. A dash indicator may display a fuel level of fuel within the fuel tank based upon resistances from the sender gages. The primary sender float and the secondary sender gage are contained within a single unit that is buoyant in liquid fuel. The fuel tank may have a top dome portion and a bottom dome portion that the secondary sender float is capable of occupying while the sender gages transmit a signal corresponding to fuel levels in the tank.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2009Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.Inventor: Patrick Powell
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Publication number: 20110239993Abstract: A fuel system of a vehicle that delivers fuel to an engine includes a fuel tank, a main fuel pump that pumps fuel to the engine, and a fuel supply line through which fuel flows from the fuel tank to the main fuel pump. Moreover, the fuel system includes a boost pump assembly providing variable pumping of fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel supply line toward the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Patrick Powell
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Publication number: 20110240249Abstract: A fluid temperature stabilization system may employ an exterior casing defining an internal cavity, one or more phase change material may be located within the internal cavity. A fluid inlet may be located at a first end of the casing providing access into the internal cavity, and an outlet may be located at a second end of the casing providing fluid access from the internal cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2010Publication date: October 6, 2011Inventors: Patrick Powell, Robert Cardno
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Publication number: 20110168135Abstract: A fuel pump module flange assembly includes a flange member with an outer surface, an inner surface, and an external boss protruding from the outer surface. The external boss defines an external cavity, and the flange member is monolithic. The assembly also includes an electrically conductive wire that extends through the flange member. The wire has a first portion that protrudes away from the inner surface, and the wire also includes a terminal end that is disposed within the external cavity of the external boss. The wire is monolithic from the terminal end to the first portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: DENSO International America, Inc.Inventor: PATRICK POWELL
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Publication number: 20110162624Abstract: An apparatus in a fuel path to assist in delivering fuel to an engine, the apparatus comprising: a fuel tank to contain a fuel and define a first end of the fuel path; a fuel rail to receive fuel and define a second end of the fuel path; a vacuum fuel pump to draw the liquid fuel from the fuel tank; a fuel injection pump to increase a pressure of the liquid fuel to an elevated fuel pressure before delivery of the fuel to the engine; and a check valve in the fuel path to retain fuel at the elevated fuel pressure in the fuel path. A fuel reservoir located between the vacuum fuel pump and the fuel injection pump in the fuel path, the check valve located within the fuel reservoir. The fuel injection pump is located downstream of the fuel reservoir. The fuel reservoir further comprises a fuel inlet and the check valve is located at the fuel inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Patrick Powell
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Publication number: 20110146628Abstract: A fuel pump module mounted to a fuel tank may employ a flange on a top surface of the fuel tank, a fuel inlet pipe that passes through the flange, a fuel reservoir situated near a bottom interior surface of the fuel tank, and a fuel diffuser, which may be attached to the fuel inlet pipe, that protrudes away from the flange into an interior volume of the reservoir. A fuel cylinder may surround at least part of a longitudinal length of the fuel diffuser to control passage of fuel and bubbles and may have a first end that is open and a second end that is attached to a top surface of a bottom wall of the reservoir. Alternatively, the fuel cylinder may be attached at a first end to the fuel inlet pipe and define a second end that is open such that the fuel cylinder and a reservoir bottom define a gap therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicants: DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, INC., DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Patrick Powell, J. Blair Miller
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Patent number: 7950372Abstract: A fuel system that supplies fuel to an engine of a vehicle. The fuel system includes a pump that pumps fuel and a controller that selectively changes operation of the pump between an electronic returnless fuel system mode and a mechanical returnless fuel system mode. In the electronic returnless fuel system mode, the outlet of the pump is varied, and in the mechanical returnless fuel system mode, output of the pump is maintained approximately constant.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.Inventor: Patrick Powell
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Publication number: 20110030929Abstract: A heat transferring apparatus may employ a heat exchanger with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and be coupled to a power exchange unit, which employs a driving fan fluid inlet, a series of inner fan blades to receive the fluid from the driving fan fluid inlet, and a rotable driving fan unit. The inner fan blades are attached to the rotable driving fan unit along with driving magnets. A rotatable driven fan unit has numerous outer fan blades and a series of imbedded driven magnets. The fluid drives the inner fan blades and flows into the heat exchanger. The outer fan blades force air through the heat exchanger and cools the fluid. A power transfer wall located between the inner magnets and the outer magnets transfers magnetic fields from the inner magnets to the outer magnets to impart rotation in the driven fan unit and outer fan blades.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2009Publication date: February 10, 2011Applicant: DENSO International America, Inc.Inventor: Patrick Powell
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Publication number: 20100242597Abstract: A fuel level measuring system for a liquid fuel tank may utilize a primary sender gage assembly employing at least a primary sender gage, a primary sender arm, and a primary sender float. The system may further utilize a secondary sender gage assembly employing at least a secondary sender gage, a secondary sender arm, and a secondary sender float. A dash indicator may display a fuel level of fuel within the fuel tank based upon resistances from the sender gages. The primary sender float and the secondary sender gage are contained within a single unit that is buoyant in liquid fuel. The fuel tank may have a top dome portion and a bottom dome portion that the secondary sender float is capable of occupying while the sender gages transmit a signal corresponding to fuel levels in the tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: DENSO International America, Inc.Inventor: Patrick Powell
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Publication number: 20100199637Abstract: An oxygen sensor for a motor vehicle having an electrode within an outer shell measures oxygen in exhaust gas exiting the vehicle and generates a signal based on the oxygen measurement. A communication device, powered by a battery or capacitor, wirelessly transmits the measured amount of oxygen from the electrode to a powertrain control module. The flow of exhaust gas through the exhaust system spins blades to spin a generator in a rotational power generation device to generate electrical current to be stored and used by the battery or capacitor. The rotational power generation device may be located in the exhaust pipe, such as through an exhaust pipe wall, and either be connected to the oxygen sensor shell or separate and connected only with electrical wires between the generator and the battery or capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2009Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: DENSO International America, Inc.Inventor: Patrick Powell
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Publication number: 20100174455Abstract: An oxygen sensor device and method for a motor vehicle having an electrode within an outer shell for measuring oxygen in exhaust gas exiting the vehicle. A communication device, powered by a capacitor, wirelessly transmits the measured amount of oxygen from the electrode to a powertrain control module. Vibration transmitting from the motor vehicle shakes a magnet, wound inside a coil, for generating the electrical current used by the capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: DENSO International America, Inc.Inventor: Patrick Powell
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Publication number: 20090235994Abstract: A pressure relief mechanism may utilize a casing that defines an internal cavity, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet. A first valve may reside within the internal cavity to permit fluid flow in one direction and further utilize a first valve carriage and a first valve spring that forces the first valve carriage against a first end of the casing internal cavity, over the fluid inlet. The first valve spring may reside against a second end of the casing cavity. A second valve may reside within the internal cavity and utilize a second valve carriage, a second valve body, and a second valve spring that biases the second valve body against the first valve body, the second valve permitting fluid flow opposite to the flow of the first valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2009Publication date: September 24, 2009Applicant: DENSO International America, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Lubinski, Patrick Powell
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Publication number: 20090194075Abstract: A fuel system that supplies fuel to an engine of a vehicle. The fuel system includes a pump that pumps fuel and a controller that selectively changes operation of the pump between an electronic returnless fuel system mode and a mechanical returnless fuel system mode. In the electronic returnless fuel system mode, the outlet of the pump is varied, and in the mechanical returnless fuel system mode, output of the pump is maintained approximately constant.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2008Publication date: August 6, 2009Applicant: DENSO International America, Inc.Inventor: Patrick Powell
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Publication number: 20090145212Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a fuel tank, a supply line, a fuel injection rail and a number of fuel injectors. The fuel tank includes a fuel tank module which houses a fuel pump. The fuel pressure within the fuel injection system is monitored by a pressure sensor which is integrated into a quick connector between the fuel supply line and the fuel tank module.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2007Publication date: June 11, 2009Applicant: DENSO International America, Inc.Inventor: Patrick Powell
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Publication number: 20090139494Abstract: A fuel pump for an automotive application includes two separate pumping chambers within each of which a piston is reciprocated in order to pump fuel to an engine for the automobile. The dual cylinder arrangement increases the output capacity of the fuel pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2007Publication date: June 4, 2009Applicant: DENSO International America, Inc.Inventor: Patrick Powell
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Publication number: 20080273435Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to architectures and/or mechanisms that can facilitate issuing, embedding and verification of an optical DNA (o-DNA) signature. A first mechanism is provided for obtaining a set of manufacturing errors inherent in an optical media instance. These errors can be encoded into the o-DNA that can be cryptographically signed with a private key, then embedded into the source optical media instance. A second mechanism is provided that can decrypt the o-DNA with a public key and compare the authenticated errors to the observed errors to ascertain whether the optical media instance is authentic as opposed to a forgery or counterfeit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2007Publication date: November 6, 2008Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Darko Kirovski, Estrada T. Colon, David L. Lewis, Thomas Patrick Powell, Deepak Vijaywargiay