Patents Represented by Attorney Alleman Hall McCoy
  • Patent number: 8241382
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle air cleaner comprises the filter assembly, an air-cleaner housing configured to fittably and removably accommodate the filter assembly and to enclose the main filter and the auxiliary filter separately when the filter assembly is accommodated in the air-cleaner housing. The motor-vehicle air cleaner further comprises a flow restrictor configured to restrict air flow to the auxiliary filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thanh Pham, Joseph Matthew McCann, Giriraj Srinivasan, Roger Khami, Michael Marvin Landgraf, Thomas Eric Svenson, William C. Ronzi
  • Patent number: 8243019
    Abstract: A computer mouse for use with a computing device is provided. The computer mouse may include a mouse body with an ulnar side digit support structure having a front concave region and a rear convex region formed proximate and behind the front concave region. The front concave region may include an overhang portion on a top side and an outwardly flared region on a bottom side. The front concave region may be sized to receive a distal end of a digit of a user, and the rear convex region may be sized to support a proximate end of a digit of a user. The mouse body may additionally include a radial side digit support structure that has a concave region with an outwardly flared region on a bottom side of the concavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Monique Chatterjee, Peter Bristol, Dan Odell, Steven Fisher, Hugh McLoone
  • Patent number: 8244443
    Abstract: A slip suppression control system for a vehicle includes a monitored value detecting device for detecting a monitored value corresponding to a difference between a rotational speed of a front wheel and a rotational speed of a rear wheel of the vehicle, a threshold determiner unit configured to determine a relationship between the monitored value detected by the monitored value detecting device and a threshold; and a controller configured to initiate traction control for reducing a driving power of a drive wheel when the threshold determiner unit determines that the monitored value exceeds a predetermined start threshold, wherein the threshold determiner unit is configured to count a return time which lapses from when the monitored value exceeds the start threshold until the monitored value becomes smaller than second threshold; and wherein the controller is configured to determine whether or not to terminate the traction control based on the return time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeru Oshima, Tatsuya Hirokami
  • Patent number: 8244499
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing aquifer operation are included. An exemplary method includes receiving at an analysis computing device, one or more water measurements from a plurality of sites in an aquifer, wherein water measurements are received at a plurality of time points. A site may include one or more groundwater extraction wells. The method may further include calculating well operational data for at least one groundwater extraction well based on the water measurements, wherein the well operational data includes a well efficiency over a time period. Further, the method may include receiving an aquifer objective input via a graphical user interface presented on the analysis computing device. The method may further include generating a pump operation signal based on the well operational data and the aquifer objective input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Aquifer Resource Management, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Lambie, John E. Dustman
  • Patent number: 8240297
    Abstract: A method for engine starting is provided. The method may include performing idle-stop operation, and during a subsequent re-start, applying multi-strike ignition operation for a first combustion cycle. In this way, improved engine starting may be achieved with reduced emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jianwen James Yi, Brad Alan VanDerWege, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Cindy Zhou, Steven Todd Wooldridge, David Reiche
  • Patent number: 8240135
    Abstract: A mixing device comprises a circular disc of fin sections positioned so as to create openings in the inner and outer regions of the mixing device that generate oppositely rotating flows of exhaust gas. Each fin section may be identical, and may be created by a stamping process. The smooth surface of each fin section reduces creases, and thus, is less prone to urea buildup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 8240412
    Abstract: A method of operating a hybrid vehicle propulsion system includes selectively operating the engine to consume fuel stored on-board the vehicle based on a residence time of the fuel stored on-board the vehicle and further based on a profile of ambient conditions over the residence time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Jon Andri
  • Patent number: 8244445
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle is provided for traction control. The method comprises controlling wheel slip to a first amount, the first amount independent of a driver requested output; and controlling the wheel slip to a second amount when a vehicle speed is less than a threshold for a first duration, the second amount based on the driver requested output. In this way, the driver is allowed to modify the wheel slip in a controlled way during specific traction control conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Luehrsen, Michael Glenn Fodor, Don Perlick, Daniel Dunn
  • Patent number: 8241177
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle engine, the engine including a turbocharger and a transmission. One example method comprises, operating the transmission at a first lower gear with a first boost level, increasing the boost from the first boost level before completing a shift from the first lower gear to a second higher gear, and after completing the shift, operating the transmission at the second higher gear with the increased boost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, John Eric Rollinger, De-Shiou Chen, Julia Helen Buckland, Suzanne Kay Wait, Matthew John Gerhart, Peter Douglas Kuechler
  • Patent number: 8240294
    Abstract: Various systems and method for heating an engine in a vehicle during a cold start are described. In one example, thermal efficiency of the engine is improved by heating engine coolant via a high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (HP-EGR) system. For example, after light-off of an exhaust catalyst, exhaust gas is routed through the HP-EGR system which includes a HP-EGR cooler. Heat from the exhaust gas is then used to warm the engine coolant via the HP-EGR cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, David Karl Bidner, Daniel Joseph Styles
  • Patent number: 8240194
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling and/or diagnosing an emission control system of a vehicle having a first SCR region upstream of a second SCR region are provided herein. One exemplary method includes, indicating degradation based on a first SCR region performance during a first condition; and indicating degradation based on a second SCR region performance during a second condition, the first condition different than the second condition. In this way, different levels of degradation among different SCR regions may be used to indicate emissions levels have increased above a threshold value, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Allen Dobson, Giovanni Cavataio, Ed Badillo, Christine Kay Lambert, Gang Guo
  • Patent number: 8243698
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for converting UMTS-FDD signals into WLAN signals, comprising a receiver unit for receiving the UMTS-FDD signals, means for converting the signals received into WLAN signals as well as means for providing or transmitting the WLAN signals. The invention furthermore relates to a device for converting UMTS signals into signals according to a telephone standard, comprising a receiver unit for receiving the UMTS signals, means for converting the signals received into signals according to a telephone standard as well as means for providing or transmitting the signals according to a telephone standard. Finally, the invention relates to a communication system comprising a device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 as well as at least one computer connected with the device and/or at least one telephone system or fax machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: 02 (Germany) GmbH & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Oliver Schmitt, Michael Fränkle
  • Patent number: 8240136
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling a selective catalytic reduction system coupled to an exhaust system of an engine, the selective catalytic reduction system including a catalyst and a diesel particulate filter. One example method comprises, before regeneration of the diesel particulate filter, adjusting an operating parameter to decrease an amount of ammonia stored in the SCR catalyst to a desired amount of stored ammonia, where the desired amount of ammonia storage is varied based on operating conditions, and initiating regeneration of the catalyst when the desired amount of stored ammonia is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Paul Joseph Tennison
  • Patent number: 8234867
    Abstract: A turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine includes a turbocharger with a utility pedestal extending between the turbocharger and the hard point associated with the cylinder block. The utility pedestal includes a mounting pad for attaching the combined turbocharger and pedestal assembly to an engine, as well as oil and coolant supply passages for supplying the turbocharger with coolant and lubricating oil under pressure. An internal, isolated, turbocharger oil drainback passage conducts waste oil from the turbocharger to a crankcase sump without permitting the waste oil to contact the engine's moving parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Kelly Palazzolo, Patrick Sexton, Christopher Cowland
  • Patent number: 8235818
    Abstract: Systems and method for providing a single sign in a gaming console that associates online activity that is out-of-game/cross game, and/or online activity that is in-game, and/or activity that is offline and in-game with that account. While online, a service tracks activity of gamers and provides usage statistics in a profile. While offline, the game console tracks the player's activity via a mechanism to collect detailed information about a specific player's in-game statistics and accomplishments. The offline activity is cached and uploaded when the console connects to the online service. Players can accumulate achievements offline that are credited towards online activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michal Bortnik, Erik John Arthur, James David Macauley, Ling Tony Chen, Yasser B. Asmi, Steven D. Lamb, James N. Helm
  • Patent number: 8234816
    Abstract: A door that is pivotable and slidable relative to a vehicle includes an articulated arm pivotably supported at a pivot joint, a guide carriage displaceably guided by a guide rail and coupled to the pivot joint, a tie rod, the tie rod being hingedly connected to the guide carriage, and a spring-loaded index bolt which is vertically displaceable. The door further comprises a rotary slide having a rotary slide surface which dictates vertical movement of the index bolt between a first position in which the articulated arm and the tie rod are engaged by the index bolt so that the articulated arm and the tie rod rotate in unison and a second position in which the tie rod is disengaged from the index bolt so that the articulated arm pivots relative to the tie rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Dura Automotive Plettenberg Entwicklungs-und Vertreibs GmbH
    Inventors: Gerd Heuel, Ralf Rottmann, Dirk Rau
  • Patent number: 8238694
    Abstract: The alignment of a sharp image of a subject and a blurred image of the same subject is disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of determining a series of trial images. The method comprises applying a corresponding series of coordinate transforms to the sharp image, the series of coordinate transforms differing with respect to one or more of a rotational operation and a scaling operation. The method further comprises computing a series blur kernels corresponding to the series of trial images, each blur kernel mapping a trial image from the series of trial images to the blurred image. The method further includes locating a sparsest blur kernel in the series of blur kernels, and identifying one or more of the rotational operation and the scaling operation of the coordinate transform mapping the trial image corresponding to the sparsest blur kernel to the blurred image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jian Sun, Heung-Yeung Shum
  • Patent number: 8239122
    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: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Eric Tseng, Davor David Hrovat, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Diana Yanakiev
  • Patent number: 8239126
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a method and a system for evaluating the driving style of a driver in a motor vehicle with respect to the use of fuel. A disclosed method includes: determining a first value which is characteristic of the current speed of the vehicle; calculation of a second value by low-pass filtering said first value; and evaluating of the driving style with respect to the use of fuel by evaluating the difference between said first value and said second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Andreas Urhahne
  • Patent number: D664871
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Yamato Scale Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayuki Nagai