Patents Represented by Attorney Alleman Hall McCoy Russell & Tuttle LLP
  • Patent number: 8352877
    Abstract: Various embodiments related to the adjustment of a displayed range of a portion of a content selection are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computing device with an interactive display is configured to display a portion of a content selection and a control associated with the content selection. The control comprises a track and an indicator that indicates a location and a range of the portion of the content selection within the content selection as a whole. A first type of input associated with the control alters the range of the portion of the content selection displayed relative to the content selection as a whole and adjusts an appearance of the indicator, while a second type of touch input associated with the control alters a portion of the content selection displayed and moves the indicator on the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan Beatty, Bogdan Popp
  • Patent number: 8347862
    Abstract: A method for controlling injection timing for a gaseous fuel injector is described. In one example, the fuel injector is opened with a saturating fuel injector at a predetermined crankshaft angular position. In one embodiment, the predetermined crankshaft angular position corresponds to at least one crankshaft angular position where battery voltage increases during engine cranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8348870
    Abstract: A massaging apparatus capable of performing rubbing-massage properly with respect to a body part of a user having various shapes is provided. A massaging apparatus of the present invention includes a first massaging unit including a pair of massaging plates which are disposed at both sides of a body part of a user so as to sandwich the body part, a driving force transmission unit configured to cause the massaging plates to reciprocate in a direction along a side surface of the body part, and air bags which are disposed outside the massaging plates and are expanded and contracted by air supply and exhaust, to change a distance between the pair of massaging plates, wherein the massaging plates are reciprocatable along the side surface of the body part in a state where the air bags are expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Family Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoki Nagamitsu, Nobuhisa Matsuura
  • Patent number: 8352153
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle system including an engine that is selectively deactivated during engine idle-stop conditions and selectively reactivated during engine restart conditions. One example method comprises, during an engine restart from an idle stop, performing a first combustion event in a cylinder with a piston at an engine crankshaft position that is after a crankshaft position at which said cylinder's exhaust valve opens, and before a crankshaft position at which the cylinder's intake valve closes, during a cycle of said cylinder. In this way, inaccuracies in cylinder aircharge estimation may be reduced, thereby also reducing air-fuel ratio errors and improving the quality and repeatability of engine restarts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, John D. Russell, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Gopichandra Surnilla, Donald J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8352162
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving fuel usage while addressing knock by adjusting the use of spark retard and direct injection of a fluid based on engine operating conditions and the composition of the injected fluid. One or more engine parameters, such as EGR, VCT, boost, throttle position, are coordinated with the direct injection to reduce torque and EGR transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 8352159
    Abstract: Methods are provided for operating an engine with a variable fuel blend in a cylinder, where the variable fuel blend varies a peak achievable engine torque for a given operating condition. One example method comprises selectively operating an engine actuator that affects engine torque and engine fuel economy at the given operating condition, and extending operation of the actuator to higher engine torques as a peak engine torque for the given operating condition increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Thomas G. Leone, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 8348807
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for heating transmission fluid in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising an engine and a transmission, the engine including a heat exchanger. One example method comprises, during a first engine running condition, operating an auxiliary transmission fluid pump to generate pressure in the transmission fluid and pump transmission fluid to the heat exchanger, and during a second condition where the engine is not running, operating the auxiliary transmission fluid pump to generate pressure in the transmission fluid and pump transmission fluid to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8347606
    Abstract: A system for controlling performance of an internal combustion engine. The system may include an internal combustion engine having an exhaust system for processing gases exhausted from the internal combustion engine. The exhaust system may be comprised of at least one mixing device, at least one emission control device, and a delivery apparatus for delivering an agent affecting operation of the emission control device into the exhaust system. The at least one mixing device may be located downstream of the internal combustion engine and upstream of the at least one emission control device, and the delivery apparatus may be located upstream of the emission control device. The system may include a controller to adjust at least one engine parameter in relation to an operating condition of the mixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masatsugu Sakimoto, Hiroshi Yamada, Hiroaki Ishida
  • Patent number: 8348032
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a component for the absorption of energy on an impact having a frame as well as having a section located in the frame and connected to the frame, with the section consisting of a multilayer fiber composite or comprising a multilayer fiber composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Jacob Composite GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Johannes D. Jacob, Marco Wacker
  • Patent number: 8352158
    Abstract: A method for compensating for thermal transient conditions of an engine that can cause valve growth or contraction is disclosed. In one example, the method provides cylinder air amount compensation during non-blow-through and blow-through conditions. The approach may improve cylinder air amount estimates, thereby improving engine emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dave G. Hagner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Marcus William Fried
  • Patent number: 8352166
    Abstract: Systems and methods of operating an engine, the engine including an injector configured to directly inject fuel into an engine cylinder. One example method comprises, during an engine cold start, performing compression direct fuel injection, and retarding a timing of the compression injection as a fuel alcohol content of the fuel increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, David Karl Bidner, Peter Charles Moilanen
  • Patent number: 8347611
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine including an emission control system, the emission control system comprising a catalyst downstream of a turbine of a boosting device and a reductant injector upstream of the turbine. In one example, the method comprises injecting reductant into exhaust upstream of the turbine, mixing the injected reductant with exhaust gas via the turbine, and delivering the mixed reductant to the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, William Charles Ruona, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Gopichandra Surnilla, Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Patent number: 8347852
    Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling an engine in response to a pre-ignition event. A pre-ignition threshold and a pre-ignition mitigating action are adjusted based on a rate of change of cylinder aircharge. As a result, pre-ignition events occurring during transient engine operating conditions are detected and addressed different from pre-ignition events occurring during steady-state engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Mancini
  • Patent number: 8347836
    Abstract: A method to start an internal combustion engine having a variable event valvetrain is provided. The method includes increasing the speed of said internal combustion engine during a start from a stopped position after a request to start said internal combustion engine. The method may further include increasing an intake valve lift amount, of at least a cylinder during said start while said internal combustion engine speed is increasing. The method may further include only enabling fuel flow to said cylinder when said intake valve lift amount reaches a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Leone, Robert Stein
  • Patent number: 8347856
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine of a vehicle, the engine having one or more deactivatable cylinders, the method including controlling the stability of a vehicle in response to vehicle acceleration, and reactivating or deactivating combustion in at least a cylinder in response to vehicle acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Donald J. Lewis, Husein Sukaria, Eric Tseng
  • Patent number: 8347624
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling an engine with a turbocharger in a vehicle. One example method comprises, under selected operating conditions, generating an oxidant rich component from engine intake air, storing the oxidant rich component of the intake air, and, under subsequent cold start conditions, injecting an amount of the stored oxidant rich component to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Patent number: 8352160
    Abstract: Engine surge includes oscillations in engine torque resulting in bucking or jerking motion of a vehicle that may degrade driver experience. The present application relates to increasing reformate entering an example engine cylinder in response to engine surge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 8351744
    Abstract: Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, a collimating end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure having a plurality of facets is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian Travis, Timothy Large, Neil Emerton, Steven Bathiche
  • Patent number: 8352164
    Abstract: A method is described for operating an engine of a vehicle, the engine having a combustion chamber. The method may include controlling a stability of the vehicle in response to a vehicle acceleration; and adjusting spark timing in the combustion chamber of the engine in response to a knock indication, and further adjusting spark timing in response to the vehicle acceleration to reduce surge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Eric Tseng, Davor David Hrovat, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Diana Yanakiev
  • Patent number: D673929
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Sol Republic, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Combs, Kevin Lee