Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Brooks & Kushman P
  • Patent number: 8293152
    Abstract: Proposed is a method for manufacturing a package out of foil, with a heating process for heating a foil section, as well as a packaging machine (1) for manufacturing a package out of foil, with a heating device (14) for heating a foil section (3?) and with a device (17) for generating negative pressures on each of the two sides of the foil section. In order to allow improved coordination of individual manufacturing steps, it is proposed that in a same time interval during the heating process, a negative pressure relative to the ambient pressure is generated on both sides of the foil section (3?) during the heating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Multivac Sepp Haggemueller GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bernhard Grimm
  • Patent number: 8296033
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes one or more driver intent detection devices to detect at least a curve-negotiating intention of a driver. The system also includes one or more curvature detection devices, to detect or otherwise determine a road curvature. The system further includes one or more overspeed control devices, to, based at least in part on data received from the one or more curvature detection devices and data received from the one or more driver intent detection devices, cause braking to one or more vehicle tires and/or reducing engine torque to keep a vehicle accurately negotiating the curved road for the current driving condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Daniel Domek Eisele, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Christopher Nave, Levasseur Tellis, Jeffrey Daniel Rupp
  • Patent number: 8290697
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a haptic actuator operatively associated with a pedal assembly of the vehicle, a human-machine interface (HMI) for enabling the driver to select between a plurality of fuel savings settings, and a controller coupled to a data interface in the vehicle and the HMI interface for causing the haptic actuator to provide feedback to the driver when an aspect of vehicle operation crosses at least one of a plurality of speed and acceleration thresholds responsive to the HMI setting. Additionally, a coaching method provides haptic-based feedback that will not interfere with the operation of the vehicle. This method of closed-loop feedback provides a timely signal to the driver in a way that will encourage a change in driver style over time, such as backing off the accelerator pedal to accelerate at a lower rate and braking earlier with less intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Bill Coughlin
  • Patent number: 8287174
    Abstract: Base compositions for addition-crosslinking silicone compositions are continuously produced by, in a first stage, homogeneously mixing and kneading organopolysiloxanes and flowable prehydrophobized oxidic reinforcing fillers in a continuous kneading machine with kneading chambers arranged alongside one another. In a second, downstream, stage of the process, the compositions produced in the first stage are subjected to aftertreatment in a mixing apparatus in which the compositions have been subjected to a mixing procedure with introduction of shear force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Thomas Frese, Thomas Hierstetter, Johann Schuster, Christof Woerner
  • Patent number: 8289145
    Abstract: A wireless seatbelt monitoring system and method is provided for informing a driver that a seatbelt that should be latched is unlatched. The system includes a wireless seatbelt assembly having a buckle equipped with a piezoelectric element and a transmitter. The transmitter sends a wireless seatbelt status signal when the seatbelt assembly is buckled by harvesting energy during the insertion process. The wireless seatbelt status signal is transmitted to a dedicated repeater module, which retransmits the wireless seatbelt status signal to a receiver. Based upon the wireless seatbelt status signal, the system informs the driver of the status of the seatbelt assemblies audibly, visually, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Hugh Miller, Aric David Shaffer
  • Patent number: 8289887
    Abstract: A late call forwarding method in the IMS centralized service. During a call setting up, an ICCF receives a call request from the CSCF serving the called user, called session A, and the ICCF acquires a called user's roaming number and initiates a call to the called user. After receiving the call request, the VMSC serving the called user triggers the late call forwarding service according its determination. A CAMEL service is triggered when the VMSC initiates a call to the forwarding target. The VMSC exchanges messages with the ICCF and informs the ICCE about session associated information and the forwarding reason. When the ICCF determines that the forwarding is needed, it sends a response to the session A does not send the response message, after a telecom application server (TAS) receives the indication, the TAS initiates a regular forwarding service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventors: Zhendong Li, Shilin You, Zhenwu Hao, Zhiming Yu, Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 8286772
    Abstract: A controllable coupling assembly including a coupling member and an overrunning coupling and control assembly utilizing same are provided wherein a set of actuators are supported on a control member of the assembly for movement therewith to move or pivot respective struts received within pockets of the coupling member. Apparatus is responsive to a control pressure signal to exert a control force on the control member to cause the control member to move from its first position which corresponds to a first mode of the coupling assembly to its second position which corresponds to a second mode of the coupling assembly. The coupling assembly may be an overrunning clutch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory M. Eisengruber
  • Patent number: 8288578
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing silanes which possess an isocyanate function, in which the silanes, after their chemical preparation, are purified and, after the purification, are handled exclusively in an atmosphere with a relative air humidity below 10%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Volker Stanjek, Frank Baumann, Thomas Frey
  • Patent number: 8287029
    Abstract: A retractable hardtop for a vehicle including a front panel and an intermediate panel disposed behind the front panel in an extended position. A back panel supports a back light and is disposed below and rearwardly adjacent to the intermediate panel in the extended position. A pair of sail panels are disposed below the intermediate panel and engage opposite lateral sides of the back panel in the extended position but are separated from the back panel in the retracted position. A linkage connects the front panel, intermediate panel, and back panel to the vehicle. The front panel is shifted by the linkage over the intermediate panel and the back panel is shifted below the intermediate panel as the retractable hardtop is moved from the extended position toward a retracted position. A method of retracting a retractable hardtop as described above is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Magna Car Top Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Robert E. Fallis, III, Michael T. Willard, Robert D. Wiechowski
  • Patent number: 8288982
    Abstract: A permanent-magnet electrical machine is disclosed in which the rotor has a fixed back iron and movable back iron segments. When the movable back iron segments are in a first position, such as in contact with the fixed back iron, the field strength is high. When the movable back iron segments are in a second position in which the movable back iron segments are displaced away from the fixed back iron, the field strength is low. The ability to weaken the field strength causes the constant-power, speed ratio to be increased and thereby increases the utility of the motor for applications in which a wide speed range is desired. The disclosure applies to both permanent-magnet motors and generators. In an alternative embodiment, the stator ring is provided with a fixed portion and at least one movable stator segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Current Motor Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Kauppi
  • Patent number: 8287027
    Abstract: A folding top apparatus for a vehicle includes a movable folding top and a support arm assembly. The folding top has front and rear roof parts and a corner bow. The support arm assembly includes a drive arm pivotably connected to the front roof part and pivotably connected to a main bearing, a coupling arm connected to the corner bow and pivotably connected to the drive arm, and a control arm pivotably connected to the main bearing and displaceably connected to the coupling arm whereby swivel motion of the corner bow is influenced by the coupling arm and the control arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Magna Car Top Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Gunnar Wilke, Holger Röder
  • Patent number: 8287982
    Abstract: The invention provides a knitted spacer fabric having a tightly knitted bottom layer, a more loosely knitted upper layer and pile yarns extending across the space between the lower and upper faces. Settable material, is introduced into the space between the upper and lower faces and can be caused to set by the addition of a liquid. 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Concrete Canvas Limited
    Inventors: Peter Brewin, William Crawford
  • Patent number: 8287011
    Abstract: An energy absorbing structure 10 for protecting an impacted body, such as a pedestrian 12. The structure has an incident surface that meets the pedestrian and has at least some expanded metallic structure 18. A pair of wall support surfaces 20, 22 lie substantially in-plane with respect to a normal component of the impacting force. They extend from the incident surface in a direction opposite to the direction of the impact. The substantially in-plane surfaces also have at least some expanded metallic structure. A pair of basal surfaces 26, 28 support the in-plane surfaces, and also have at least some expanded metallic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Oakwood Energy Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Matthew Cormier, Donald Scott Smith, Richard Francois Audi
  • Patent number: 8286428
    Abstract: An apparatus for improving the performance of a radial compressor 36 forming part of an inlet system of an engine 10 is disclosed in which the configuration and positioning of a flow management device 137 used to generate pre-whirl is optimized so as to produce a pressure drop below a maximum acceptable level. An inlet duct ‘I’ connected to the radial compressor 36 has a tapered end portion so that a flow management device 137 of a larger diameter d2 can be accommodated than the diameter d1 of an inlet port ‘IP’ to the radial compressor 36.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Geoffrey Charles Capon, Wa-Un Alexis Leong, Scott James Martin
  • Patent number: 8284234
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a three-dimensionally perceived image from a stereo endoscope by at least one viewer include an autostereoscopic display having a left projector and a right projector that project corresponding left and right images received from corresponding left and right cameras of the stereo endoscope onto a reflective holographic optical element that redirects light from the left projector to a left viewing zone for a left eye and redirects light from the right projector to a right viewing zone for a right eye of a viewer to create a three-dimensionally perceived image without glasses or optical headgear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Absolute Imaging LLC
    Inventors: Hans Ingmar Bjelkhagen, James Clement Fischbach
  • Patent number: 8285439
    Abstract: One aspect includes a system for monitoring a vehicle's health status. The system comprises a vehicle monitoring computer system configured to (1) receive information associating a cell phone with a vehicle, (2) receive vehicle diagnostic information including vehicle conditions, (3) automatically determine a severity status for the vehicle conditions based on pre-defined severity status values, and (4) if the severity status for any vehicle condition exceeds a pre-defined severity threshold value, automatically transmit a text message to the cellular telephone. Another aspect includes a system for detecting and monitoring a vehicle's health status. The system comprises (1) a vehicle monitoring computer system and (2) a vehicle computer system configured to communicate wirelessly with a cellular telephone located within a vehicle or its vicinity to transmit diagnostic information to a telecommunications network for communication with the vehicle monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Hodges
  • Patent number: 8282541
    Abstract: An apparatus for sterilizing a blood vessel in a patient's inner skin includes a generator for providing gaseous radioisotope and a chamber adapted to exposure of a portion of a patient's body to the gaseous radioisotopes. When a patient is contacted with gaseous radioisotopes, alpha and beta particles are emitted from the gaseous radioisotopes into inner skin of the patient. Ultraviolet rays, subsequently emitted from the skin, sterilize viruses or bacteria present in a blood vessel. A method of treating a patient with the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Young-Woong Park
  • Patent number: 8284041
    Abstract: A system for alerting a responsible party to the presence of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a vehicle includes a vibration sensor detecting movement of an occupant, a microphone detecting sound made by the occupant, a processor configured to receive signals output from the vibration sensor and the microphone and to use a combination of the signals to determine whether the occupant is present, and an alerting device to provide an alert to the responsible party if the processor determines that the occupant is present. The microphone may also be used in a communication or voice-recognition command system. Two or more microphones may be used to locate the sound's source of origin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Tai Luu, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante
  • Patent number: 8284038
    Abstract: A display system for a vehicle is provided. The display system includes an information display that changes color based upon an operating state of a vehicle. The information display includes display lighting that illuminates at least a portion of the display in a color associated with the vehicle's current operating state to indicate the operating state to a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Hongjie Wu
  • Patent number: 8286173
    Abstract: A system provides a task scheduler to define a priority queue with at least one window and a queue-window key. Each window is an ordered collection of tasks in a task pool of the priority queue and is identified by the queue-window key. The task scheduler sets a task-window key equal to a user-window key when the user-window key is greater than the minimum queue-window key. The task scheduler can further set the task-window key equal to the minimum queue-window key when the user-window key is less than the minimum queue-window key. A maximum task limit per user for each window and a priority increment for the user-window key are further applied to ensure fair scheduling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth T. Proctor, David A. Jurgens, David R. Chase