Patents by Inventor Richard E. Parsons

Richard E. Parsons 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: 8000856
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for a vehicle comprises a refueling indicator module and a diagnostic module. The refueling indicator module selectively indicates when a refueling event occurs. The diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in a fuel door position sensor when the fuel door position sensor indicates that a fuel door is in one of an open position for less than a first predetermined period when the refueling event occurs and a closed position for greater than a second predetermined period when the refueling event occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventors: John F. Larsen, Zhong Wang, Michael Pickett, Lan Wang, Richard E. Parsons, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090216400
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for a vehicle comprises a refueling indicator module and a diagnostic module. The refueling indicator module selectively indicates when a refueling event occurs. The diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in a fuel door position sensor when the fuel door position sensor indicates that a fuel door is in one of an open position for less than a first predetermined period when the refueling event occurs and a closed position for greater than a second predetermined period when the refueling event occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: John F. Larsen, Zhong Wang, Michael Pickett, Lan Wang, Richard E. Parsons, JR.
  • Patent number: 6857987
    Abstract: An idle speed compensation system for a vehicle includes an idle speed control system that varies airflow to an engine at idle and a transmission driven by the engine. A controller communicates with the idle speed control system, the engine, and the transmission. The controller generates an idle speed compensation signal based on a transmission load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Aldrich, III, Glenn P. O'Connell, Michael L. Velliky, Leonard G. Wozniak, Richard E. Parsons Jr.
  • Patent number: 5382120
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device that is hand held and independent of a drill, either hand held or powered by electricity. This device consists of a tubular housing with a turn screw plunger shaft and a scale for measurement in inches on one side and metric on the other side of a liner window opening on one side of said tubular housing The user selects the depth of the hole to be drilled, sets the turn screw to that depth as indicated on the outside scale. The leading end of a drill bit is then inserted in the receiving end opening in the tubular housing that is opposite to the turn screw plunger. Thereafter, a collar with a set screw is placed over the flat end of the bit and secured by the set screw to the bit at the receiving end wall of the device of the present invention. The bit, on which the set screw collar is secured, may then be inserted in any type of drill and when used will drill only to the depth of the collar as measured and set by the device of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Inventor: Richard E. Parsons
  • Patent number: 4360230
    Abstract: Coupling mechanism (11) for engaging and lifting a load (12) has a housing (19) with a guide passage (18) for receiving a knob (13) which is secured to the load (12) through a neck (15) of smaller diameter. A hollow ball (23) in the housing (19) has an opening (27) which receives the knob (13) and the ball (23) is then turned to displace the opening (27) from the housing passage (18) and to cause the neck (15) to enter a slot (29) in the ball (23) thereby securing the load (12) to the coupling mechanism (11) as elements (49) of the housing (19) block travel of the neck (15) back into the opening (27) when the ball (23) is turned to the load holding orientation. As engagement of the load (12) and locking of the coupling mechanism are accomplished simultaneously by the same ball (23) motion, operation is simplified and reliability is greatly increased. The ball (23) is preferably turned by a motor (32) through worm gearing (36) and the coupling mechanism (11) may be controlled from a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Richard L. Wood, Alan B. Casamajor, Richard E. Parsons