Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Brooks & Kushman P.C.
  • Patent number: 8346423
    Abstract: To prevent damage of a cord set used to charge a plug-in electric vehicle when the vehicle is driven away while the cord set is attached, an interlock can be provided to disable the vehicle. Such interlock may be based on a protective door over the charging receptacle being open or detection that a cord set is plugged in. However, in the event that the vehicle is in an activated state, the interlock is prevented from disabling the vehicle according to an embodiment of the disclosure. That is, undesirable disabling of the vehicle is prevented when either there is no indication of a cord set being coupled to the vehicle or the vehicle is in an activated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Dale Scott Crombez
  • Patent number: 8343609
    Abstract: A knitted spacer fabric having a tightly knitted bottom layer, a more loosely knitted upper layer and linking fibres extending across the space between the lower and upper faces. Settable material, e.g. cement, is introduced into the space between the upper and lower faces and can be caused to set by the addition of a liquid, e.g. water. Until set, the fabric is flexible and can be shaped but after the material in space has set, the fabric is rigid and can be used as a structural element in a wide range of situations. The bottom layer has an extension that extends beyond the upper face and is connected to the upper face by elastic connecting fibres that draw the extension towards the other face, thereby at least partly closing the space at the edge of the cloth and preventing the settable material from spilling out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Concrete Canvas Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: William Campbell Crawford, Peter Eric Brewin
  • Patent number: 8343646
    Abstract: An energy storage system according to the present disclosure includes a cell having an electrode and a deposition facilitating structure proximate the electrode for facilitating deposition of material on the electrode. The deposition facilitating structure includes first and second outer layers and an intermediate support arrangement positioned between the outer layers and connected to the outer layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Zinc Air Incorporated
    Inventors: Howard F. Wilkins, Gretchen M. Bothwell, Ronald D. Brost, Kristine M. Brost, Steven L. Peace, Paul A. Trudeau, Jr., Richard M. Bendert, Gerald P. Backer
  • Patent number: 8343618
    Abstract: A silicon wafer in which both occurrences of slip dislocation and warpage are suppressed in device manufacturing processes is a silicon wafer having BMDs having an octahedral shape, wherein BMDs located at a position below the silicon wafer surface to a depth of 20 ?m and having a diagonal length of 200 nm or more are present at a concentration of ?2×109/cm3, and BMDs located at a position below a depth ?50 ?m have a diagonal length of ?10 nm to ?50 nm and a concentration of ?1×1012/cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Masayuki Fukuda, Katsuhiko Nakai
  • Patent number: 8342300
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy absorber device (1) for damping the movements of a load support (2) relative to a stationary base (3), the load support being connected to the stationary base (3) via a hydromechanical connection. The device includes automatic and self-contained setting elements serving firstly to adapt under static conditions to the weight of the loads supported by the support (2), and secondly under dynamic conditions, e.g. in the event of a sudden movement of the crash type, to subject the subassembly including the support (2) and the loads to acceleration or deceleration values that are below a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventor: Gérard Guillon
  • Patent number: 8346381
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for recommending one or more materials used in designing and manufacturing parts may include receiving data from at least three data sources. The data sources may include a sourcing, manufacturing, and design data source. The data source data may be standardized to obtain a collection of data including a dataset of materials for consideration in recommending one or more materials for use in one or more parts. The method may also include receiving optimization metrics and constraints for the dataset of materials. Optimization values for each material based on the dataset of materials and the one or more optimization metrics may be determined. An optimization algorithm on each material may be performed based at least on the optimization values and the constraints to obtain one or more recommended materials from the dataset of materials for use in a design of one or more parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Raja Shekar Sohmshetty, Nicholas P. Warrick, Shawn Michael Morgans, Zhiyong Cedric Xia, Michael James Freeman
  • Patent number: 8342455
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method of assisting the piloting of a rotorcraft, the rotorcraft having a flight control (10) for controlling a rotor (20, 21) via at least one linkage (35), during which method an additional force is generated by at least one piloting assistance means (100) mechanically linked to the linkage (35), the additional force being a function of the position of the flight control (10) and of an instantaneous force as measured on the linkage (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: EUROCOPTER
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Allieta, Bruno Chaduc, Jean-Francois Lafisse, Olivier Honnorat
  • Patent number: 8346310
    Abstract: A vehicle-based computing apparatus includes a computer processor in communication with persistent and non-persistent memory. The apparatus also includes a local wireless transceiver in communication with the computer processor and configured to communicate wirelessly with a wireless device located at the vehicle. The processor is operable to receive, through the wireless transceiver, a connection request sent from a nomadic wireless device, the connection request including at least a name of an application seeking to communicate with the processor. The processor is further operable to receive at least one secondary communication from the nomadic device, once the connection request has been processed. The secondary communication is at least one of a speak alert command, a display text command, a create phrase command, and a prompt and listen command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David P. Boll, Nello Joseph Santori, Joseph N. Ross, Mark Shaker, Micah J. Kaiser, Brian Woogeun Joh, Mark Schunder
  • Patent number: 8342019
    Abstract: A probe unit includes a gas sensor having multiple gas introduction bores for introducing a gas into an inside of the gas sensor, and a sensor holder inside of which the gas sensor is held and that is arranged inside of a duct so as to introduce an exhaust gas flowing in the duct into the gas sensor. A calibration gas flow channel is arranged in the sensor holder and has an opening at an inner surface of a side wall, surrounding the gas introduction bores of the gas sensor, of the sensor holder so as to supply a calibration gas to the gas sensor. A guide groove is arranged continuous to the opening of the calibration gas flow channel and arranged on the inner surface of the side wall along an arranging direction of the multiple gas introduction bores to face the multiple gas introduction bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Horiba, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeyuki Hokamura
  • Patent number: 8342893
    Abstract: An electrical terminal operable to facilitate electrical connectivity between the terminal and an electrical connector. The electrical terminal may include a conducting element, such as but not limited to a coil spring, within a open end used to connect to an electrically conducting connector. The conducting element may facilitate electrical connectivity between the inserted connector and the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Glick, Slobodan Pavlovic, Cecil Lamar Brown, II
  • Patent number: 8344867
    Abstract: A system and method for activating a safety system when a vehicle may be involved in a spin, roll, and/or a spin-to-roll condition. The system and method include determining a side slip angle of the vehicle using the arctangent of the ratio of a lateral and longitudinal velocity. The system and method also include receiving a roll rate signal and determining a roll angle using the roll rate signal. The system and method also include determining a roll warning threshold that is a function of a relationship between the roll rate signal and the roll angle. Lastly, the system and method include activating the safety system when a side slip angle threshold and/or the roll warning threshold are exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jialiang Le, Todd Clark, Manoharprasad K. Rao
  • Patent number: 8342283
    Abstract: A pneumatic vehicle is provided with a chassis, wheels, a compressed air tank, a heat exchanger to heat the compressed air, and an air motor driven by the heated air and connected to at least one wheel. A pneumatic vehicle is provided with a chassis, wheels, a compressed air tank, and an air motor driven by the compressed air and connected to a wheel. The vehicle also has a ventilation system for the passenger compartment, a heat exchanger, and a restrictive solenoid valve for directing ventilation system air to the heat exchanger. A pneumatic vehicle is provided with a chassis, wheels, an aluminum compressed air tank, a carbon filament reinforced plastic layer over the tank, a fiberglass and aramid-fiber layer over the carbon filament reinforced plastic layer, and an air motor driven by the compressed air and connected to at least one wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Deakin University
    Inventors: Bernard Frank Rolfe, Timothy Ian De Souza, Gregory Ryan Pitts, Stuart James McFarlane Hanafin, Steven Lewis Anthony Agius, Benjamin Paul Adamson, Michael Pio Gordon Pereira, Timothy John Black, Christopher James Hurren, Noel Egan Miller
  • Patent number: 8346432
    Abstract: A method for remotely controlling one or more vehicle components includes receiving over a telecommunications network signals originating from a remote terminal. The signals include remote operation instructions for remotely operating a vehicle entertainment system component. The remote operation instructions are executed. Operation status identifiers transmitted over a vehicle data bus are received from the vehicle entertainment system component. Based on the operation status identifiers, an operating status of the vehicle entertainment system component is determined. A return signal including an operation status message and an instruction for displaying the operation status message at the remote terminal is generated. The signal is transmitted to the remote terminal for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Robert Bruce Kleve, Steven Yellin Schondorf, Thomas Lee Miller, Brian Bennie, Dae Wook Kwon, Paul Aldighieri
  • Patent number: 8343409
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a molding system for creating a molded-in-color panel has a first mold member with a first forming surface for forming a portion of a panel with an exposed surface. The molding system has a second mold member having a second forming surface for forming a concealed portion of the panel. One of the first and second mold members is translatable relative to the other to collectively receive a heated molded-in-color resin to form the panel. The molding system has an injector for injecting molded-in-color resin into the mold. The second forming surface is sufficiently smooth so that the exposed surface of the panel is free of visible flow lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: LaRon Brown, Brandon Papazian
  • Patent number: 8339907
    Abstract: An optical storage focus servo system may include an optical pickup unit that includes an astigmatic focusing lens, a focusing actuator that controls a position of the lens relative to an optical media, and a plurality of detectors that detect an intensity and shape of a reflected beam from the media. The system may also include a controller that controls the focusing actuator based on the intensity and shape of the reflected beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventor: Faramarz Mahnad
  • Patent number: 8341086
    Abstract: Systems and method for performing secure electronic payment transactions to allow merchants to perform payment processing such that the merchant payment system is not required to store data specific to a particular payment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: ProPay, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary B. Goodrich, Gregori Pesci, Bryce Weldon Thacker, Wayne William Peck
  • Patent number: 8336929
    Abstract: A double latch assembly for a motor vehicle having two pivotably mounted closure members is disclosed in which a sequencing lever is used to release first and second pawls used to hold first and second rotatable claws in respective latched positions. A single actuator A1 is used to release both of the pawls but because of the use of a disengageable coupling between the sequencing lever and the second pawl it is ensured that the first pawl is always released before the second pawl. Only a single actuator A1 is required to release both pawls and no sensors are required to control the sequencing of the pawls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Land Rover
    Inventor: Martin Charles Halliwell
  • Patent number: 8337935
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of processing porkhide dog chews. The method includes the step of first subjecting pigskin rawhide to defatting and depilation treatment. Then the rawhide is split to obtain a first, a second, a third and a fourth layer of rawhide material. The rawhide material undergoes defatting, rinsing, and sun-drying to produce a finished hide product. The hide product is smoked to achieve objectives of dying and flavoring to result in a finished porkhide dog chew product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Prestige Pet Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Zhu Zhao Chong
  • Patent number: 8338710
    Abstract: A device for preventing electrical shorting between positive and negative terminals of a wiring harness includes a clip securable to conductors of the harness, a wall extending from the clip to be positioned between first and second terminals of the conductors when the clip, and a shield attached to the clip and movable between a first position wherein it blocks contact between a tool and the first terminal while allowing contact between the tool and the second terminal, and a second position wherein it blocks contact between the tool and the second terminal while allowing contact between the tool and the first terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Daniel Maguire, Philip Michael Gonzales
  • Patent number: 8338302
    Abstract: Semiconductor wafer provided with a strain-relaxed layer of Si1-xGex, are polished in a first step of mechanical machining of the Si1-xGex layer of the semiconductor wafer in a polishing machine using a polishing pad containing fixedly bonded abrasive materials having a particle size of 0.55 ?m or less, and also a second step of a chemomechanical machining of the previously mechanically machined Si1-xGex layer of the semiconductor wafer using a polishing pad and with supply of a polishing agent slurry containing abrasive materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Juergen Schwandner, Roland Koppert