Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Brook & Kushman P.C.
  • Variable damping of haptic feedback for a flight-attitude changing linkage of an aircraft
    Patent number: 8240617
    Abstract: The present invention relates to haptic feedback for operating at least one manual flight control device (21) for controlling the cyclic pitch of the blades (5) of a rotary wing (4) of a hybrid helicopter (1) via power assistance (27). Said operations of said control device (21) are defined according to a predetermined damping force relationship (A) that is a function of an instantaneous load factor of the hybrid helicopter (1) in such a manner that the instantaneous load factor is maintained between its minimum and maximum limit values in proportion to a position of a thrust control member (20) between its minimum and maximum thrust values (23, 22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Romuald Biest, Bernard Gemmati, Julien Pruss
  • Hybrid trackwidth read element
    Patent number: 8243398
    Abstract: A magneto-resistive (MR) device for reading at least one of a legacy data and a present data magnetically recorded on at least one legacy track and a least one present track, respectively, is provided. The device comprises first and second MR elements, and first, second, and third permanent magnets. The first MR read element is positioned between the first and the second permanent magnets to stabilize the first MR read element while reading the legacy data from the media. The second MR element is positioned adjacent to the second permanent magnet and configured to read the present data from the media. The third permanent magnet is positioned adjacent to the second MR element and opposite to the second permanent magnet. The second and the third permanent magnets cooperate with each other to stabilize the second MR read element while reading the present data from the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles C. Partee, John P. Nibarger
  • Environmental control system and method for a battery in a vehicle
    Patent number: 8241097
    Abstract: An environmental control system for a battery in a vehicle includes an air intake for receiving ambient air from outside the vehicle. A duct system provides communication between the air intake and the battery. The duct system includes a movable door which can facilitate or inhibit movement of air between the air intake and the battery. An air outlet facilitates air flow from the duct system to the ambient environment outside the vehicle. A fan cooperates with the duct system for moving the air through a heat exchanger in the duct system and across the battery. A control system controls operation of the fan and the movable door, and is configured to determine whether the battery environment requires fresh air or recirculated air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Zhu, Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka
  • Electrical connector housing
    Patent number: 8242874
    Abstract: A fuse holder for an electrical fuse includes a first housing portion which has first and second electrical terminals disposed therein. A second housing portion is pivotally attached to the first housing portion, and is configured to carry the electrical fuse. Pivoting the first and second housing portions together automatically and sequentially connects the fuse carried by the second housing portion to the terminals disposed within the first housing portion. This provides a convenient mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the fuse, and facilitates the use of a fuse without its own insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Slobadan Pavlovic, Mohamad Zeidan, David Menzies
  • Method and system for restraint deployment using lateral kinetic energy
    Patent number: 8244437
    Abstract: A safety system for a motor vehicle has a yaw rate sensor for detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle and impact sensors for detecting a side impact. A control module calculates a lateral kinetic energy of the vehicle if the yaw rate exceeds a threshold value, and an occupant restraint is activated based upon the lateral kinetic energy and signals from the side impact sensors. The disclosed system and method provide for improved restraint deployment decisions when a vehicle has a lateral velocity associated with a high yaw rate, as may be the case during a spin or a skid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Todd Clark
  • Epitaxial wafer and production method thereof
    Patent number: 8241421
    Abstract: The epitaxial layer defects generated from voids of a silicon substrate wafer containing added hydrogen are suppressed by a method for producing an epitaxial wafer by: growing a silicon crystal by the Czochralski method comprising adding hydrogen and nitrogen to a silicon melt and growing from the silicon melt a silicon crystal having a nitrogen concentration of from 3×1013 cm?3 to 3×1014 cm?3, preparing a silicon substrate by machining the silicon crystal, and forming an epitaxial layer at the surface of the silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Nakai, Timo Mueller, Atsushi Ikari, Wilfried von Ammon, Martin Weber
  • Coupling with slack-takeup, a rotor, and a rotary wing aircraft
    Patent number: 8240601
    Abstract: A coaxial rotary coupling (11) includes a hollow inner tube (4) and a hollow outer tube (7), with inner and outer splines (12 and 13) in mutual engagement. The coupling (11) further includes: approach elements for longitudinally approaching the inner and outer tubes (4, 7) together with elements presenting a wedge arrangement for causing the inner and outer tubes (4, 7) to turn (23) relative to each other in opposite directions so as to limit tangential assembly slack; a soleplate (16) of the driven tube (7); and a flange (17); the driving tubes (4) having complementary splines (12, 13, 18) together with dogs including force-transformation ramps (31) that are distributed peripherally within the coupling (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Etienne Rampal, Elio Zoppitelli
  • Stop armature for aircraft doors
    Patent number: 8240722
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stop armature of an armature system of an aircraft door with a fuselage stop armature (10) and a door stop armature (12, 79), with a stop screw (30; 40; 60) in one of the two stop armatures (10, 12 or 79), which can be pressurized by the other stop armature (10) in the longitudinal direction of the screw (30; 40; 60; 80) on a locating face (34; 52; 70; 88). It is further developed by virtue of the fact that the screw (30; 40; 60; 80) encompasses a screw head (32; 42; 69) with a ball (36; 50; 68; 85) held therein that can rotate around its midpoint (M) as the fulcrum. The invention also relates to a stop screw for a stop armature and the use of a ball thrust screw as the stop screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Dieling, Volker Müncheberg, Dirk Trott
  • Child seat tethering system
    Patent number: 8235463
    Abstract: A system and method to tether a child seat to a vehicle seat is disclosed. The child seat has a latch strap engaging with a lower back of the child seat and a top tether strap coupled to a top of the child seat. An adapter plate is provided which has first, second, and third apertures with the first and second apertures receiving first and second connectors coupled to first and second ends of the latch strap and the third aperture receiving a third connector coupled to the top tether strap. The latch strap ends are threaded through the seat bight and coupled to first and second apertures of the adapter plate. The top tether strap connector is coupled to the third aperture. Each strap has a cinch, which is adjusted to tighten the straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Stiyer, Robin J. Stiyer, Brian Robert Spahn
  • System and method for programming keys to vehicle to establish primary and secondary drivers
    Patent number: 8237554
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a method for programming keys to a vehicle to establish primary keys and secondary keys to control vehicle functionality is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a key identification signal from a first key. The method further comprises generating a key status signal indicative of whether the first key is one of a primary key and a secondary key in response to the key identification signal. The method further comprises transmitting the key status signal to a vehicle interface display. The method further comprises allowing a user to change a status of at least one of the first key and an additional key with the vehicle interface display in response to determining that the key status signal corresponds to the primary key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Lee Miller, Brian Bennie, Scott Alan Watkins, Michael L. Gusta, Eric L. Reed
  • Method and system for automatically inspecting parts and for automatically generating calibration data for use in inspecting parts
    Patent number: 8237935
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically inspecting parts and for automatically generating calibration data for use in inspecting parts are provided. The system includes a support for supporting a part to be inspected and/or a calibration device along a measurement axis. The system further includes a head apparatus including a plurality of radiation plane generators for directing an array of planes of radiation at the part and/or device so that the part and/or device occludes each of the planes of radiation to create a corresponding array of unobstructed planar portions of the planes of radiation. Each of the unobstructed planar portions contains an amount of radiation which is representative of a respective geometric dimension of the part and/or device. The head apparatus further includes a plurality of radiation plane receivers or cameras such as line scan cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: GII Acquisition, LLC
    Inventors: Michael G. Nygaard, Gregory M. Nygaard, George M. Nygaard, John D. Spalding
  • Partial flow cell
    Patent number: 8236440
    Abstract: A partial flow cell may include a cathode chamber, an anode chamber, and a separator arrangement sandwiched between the cathode and anode chambers. The separator arrangement may be configured to permit ionic flow between electroactive materials disposed within the cathode and anode chambers. One of the cathode and anode chambers may be configured to permit an electroactive material to flow through the chamber during operation. The other of the cathode and anode chambers may be configured to hold an electroactive material fixed within the chamber during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Zinc Air Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard M. Bendert
  • Method and system for enhancing fuel economy of a hybrid electric vehicle
    Patent number: 8239082
    Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for enhancing fuel economy of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) with a high-voltage storage battery and a heat transfer device. Whether a user has elected to enhance the fuel economy of the HEV is determined. When the user has elected to enhance the fuel economy, a command signal is generated increasing operation of the heat transfer device to reduce a temperature of the high-voltage storage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush
  • Method and system for controlling a power converter system connected to a DC-bus capacitor
    Patent number: 8233294
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a power converter system with first, second, and third phase legs with respective first, second, and third associated phase currents determine direction of current flow in at least two phase legs and switch states of the power converter system in response to the current flow directions to reduce ripple current in a connected direct current (DC)-bus capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chingchi Chen, Michael W. Degner, Satish Thuta
  • Semiconductor wafers of silicon and method for their production
    Patent number: 8231725
    Abstract: Semiconductor wafers of silicon are produced by pulling a single crystal growing on a phase boundary from a melt contained in a crucible and cutting of semiconductor wafers therefrom, wherein during pulling of the single crystal, heat is delivered to a center of the phase boundary and a radial profile of a ratio V/G from the center to an edge of the phase boundary is controlled, G being the temperature gradient perpendicular to the phase boundary and V being the pull rate. The radial profile of the ratio V/G is controlled so that the effect of thermomechanical stress in the single crystal adjoining the phase boundary, is compensated with respect to creation of intrinsic point defects. The invention also relates to defect-free semiconductor wafers of silicon, which can be produced economically by this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Andreas Sattler, Wilfried von Ammon, Martin Weber, Walter Haeckl, Herbert Schmidt
  • Dual clutch transmission with multiple range gearing
    Patent number: 8230753
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain comprising dual torque input clutches and a multiple speed transmission with ratio range gearing is disclosed. The range gearing provides increased gear ratio coverage. A transition between a low speed ratio range and a high speed ratio range is achieved with no torque interruption. A shift from one gear ratio to an adjacent gear ratio in a speed ratio range during a shift sequence is preceded by preselecting the adjacent gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Graeme A. Jackson
  • Support basket of a screen centrifuge
    Patent number: 8231782
    Abstract: The invention relates to an outer support basket of the centrifuge basket of a screen centrifuge, wherein screen segments can be secured by conical means in the support basket, the support basket has a plurality of concentric support rings with a rectangular cross section with greater width than thickness and the broad sides of the rings lie parallel to one another and at right angles to the basket axis, wherein the support rings are spaced apart from one another by axially parallel rods which run through the support rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Seibtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Dietschreit
  • Dynamic method and apparatus for direct marketing
    Patent number: 8234169
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for direct marketing comprising establishing a first communications link between a prospective customer using a device having a unique identification number and a communications device, automatically transmitting the unique identification number associated with the prospective customer's device to the communications device, establishing a second communications link between the communication device and a computer operably connected to a tangible memory apparatus having a prospective customer database comprising prospective customer information associated with the unique identification number of the prospective customer's device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Eileen A. Fraser
  • Bipolar plates for electrochemical cells
    Patent number: 8232026
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell such as a fuel cell is provided to include a bipolar plate. The bipolar plate includes a metal substrate defining at least one flow channel having a channel span of no greater than 1.0 millimeter; and the metal substrate includes a stainless steel material less precious than stainless steel SS316L. In certain instances, the channel span is of 0.7 to 0.9 millimeters. In certain other instances, the flow channel has a channel depth of 0.3 to 0.5 millimeters. In yet other instances, the plate substrate includes stainless steel SS301, stainless steel SS302, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the electrochemical cell further includes a gas diffusion layer disposed next to the bipolar plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Atul Kumar, Mark Stephens Ricketts, Shinichi Hirano
  • Energy conversion system for a vehicle
    Patent number: 8232669
    Abstract: An energy conversion system transfers energy between an energy source, or storage unit, and an electric device via a first port and a second port and at least one of receives and provides energy via a third port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chingchi Chen, Michael Degner