Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Harness, Dickey & Pierc PLC
  • Patent number: 8203413
    Abstract: [Problems] To realize a structure that is substantially highly reliable, that solves a problem of a wire break accompanied by an application of an external force to a terminal and at the same time solves a problem of a wire break caused by heat effects during dip soldering, without causing a strength reduction of the terminal, cost increase, and wire thinning. [Means for Solution] A winding component in which a terminal 12 is disposed in a protruding manner to a bobbin 14 provided with a winding portion, and a winding end is connected to the terminal, wherein a resin protrusion 40 is formed integral with the bobbin at a foot of the terminal, the resin protrusion is shaped with a part of its circumference notched so that a side surface of the terminal partially juts out, and a wire material that is wound around the resin protrusion a plurality of times comes into contact with the terminal and is to be connected by dip soldering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: FDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Hironaka, Hideyuki Akiyama, Toru Hirohashi, Katsuo Yamada, Akihiro Fujii
  • Patent number: 8204550
    Abstract: While an in-vehicle handsfree apparatus establishes a connection of a handsfree profile (HFP) with a first cellular phone, an audio visual profile (AVP) connection with a second cellular phone is requested. In such a case, the handsfree apparatus once cuts the HFP connection with the first cellular phone, and then connects the AVP with the second cellular phone. This can prevent the handsfree apparatus from connecting the HFP with the first and second cellular phones at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Soichi Saito
  • Patent number: 8204644
    Abstract: A vehicle communication apparatus has a main battery, and the main battery is switched to a supplemental battery when voltage of the main battery falls to a second threshold. Further, prior to voltage fall of the main battery to the second threshold, vehicle information at least including position of a vehicle is prepared for transmission from a report unit. By adapting the above voltage monitoring scheme, the removal of the main battery is appropriately detected, and the position information of the vehicle is appropriately reported wirelessly to an information center by the report unit, and working time of the report unit that is operated by the supplemental battery is extended without increasing the capacity of the supplemental battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yukiomi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8200396
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided to control a lighting angle of headlights installed in a vehicle. In the apparatus, a curve of the road is calculated and the radius of the curve is obtained, based on the current position and the road information. The curve is located ahead of the vehicle. A distance from the current position to a starting point of the curve is calculated based on the current position and the road information. Determination is made as to whether or not the curve is an S-shaped curve based on the road information, and line-shape information showing a line shape of the S-curve is set in response to the determination results of the curve. A lighting angle of the headlights is calculated based on the radius of the curve, the distance and the line-shape information, and the lighting angle of the headlights is controlled based on the calculated lighting angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, National University Corporation Hokkaido University
    Inventors: Masahiko Morishita, Toru Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 8196941
    Abstract: A strut assembly includes a top mount assembly, a shock absorber, a multi-piece lower spring seat and a spring extending between the top mount assembly and the multi-piece lower spring seat. The multi-piece lower spring seat includes a spring seat belt holding the spring and a plurality of seating supports that are attached to the shock absorber and which support the spring seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: Michal Nowak
  • Patent number: 8201199
    Abstract: A camera for taking a state behind a vehicle is installed in a position laterally shifted from the rear center of the vehicle. An image processing unit generates a rear image from a camera image by shifting merely a rectangular area of the camera image so that a vertical center line thereof can substantially accord with the center line along the lengthwise direction of the vehicle. Furthermore, processing for correcting lens distortion may be performed. As a result, when the vehicle is moved straight backward, an object present on the center line of the vehicle moves vertically in substantially the center of the screen, so that a user can be prevented from having an odd feeling to see the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shusaku Okamoto, Masamichi Nakagawa, Takashi Yoshida, Atsushi Iisaka, Atsushi Morimura
  • Patent number: 8196915
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a staple tray on which sheets are stacked temporarily and stapled after being aligned together and from which the stapled sheets are discharged to a discharge tray; a discharger to discharge the sheets to the staple tray; a rear end reference against which rear ends of the sheets are abutted to be aligned together; a returner to return the sheets discharged by the discharger and to align the sheets together in a conveying direction based on the rear end reference fence; a lifter to lift and lower the returner with respect to a sheet; and a guide configured to guide the sheets toward the rear end reference fence when the sheets are returned and to be lifted and lowered in synchronization with the lifting and lowering by the lifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hirabayashi, Shigefumi Soga, Terumitsu Azuma, Kentaro Fukami, Shinji Tanoue, Hiroki Yoshida, Toshikazu Satoh, Daishi Watanabe, Kazumasa Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8198970
    Abstract: A transformer of fully symmetric structure includes a primary coil assembly and a secondary coil assembly. The primary coil assembly includes a plurality of primary coils formed in a plurality of metal layers, and a first interlayer connection unit for connecting the primary coils. The secondary coil assembly includes a plurality of secondary coils formed in the plurality of metal layers, and a second interlayer connection unit for connecting the secondary coils. The primary and secondary coils formed in the same metal layer are concentric and axisymmetric with respect to a diameter line passing through a planar center point. A balanced-unbalanced transformer (balun) is a type of transformer that may be used to convert an unbalanced signal to a balanced one or vice versa. An integrated circuit may include a semiconductor substrate and a transformer. Electrical elements such as transistors may be formed on the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Hoon Choi, Chul-Ho Chung
  • Patent number: 8198797
    Abstract: [Object] In the control of electron beam focusing of a pierce-type electron gun, any influences from the space charge effect and space charge neutralizing action within the electron gun are eliminated to attain complete control of an electron beam. [Solving Means] Feedback control of the pressure within the electron gun is performed by directly measuring temperature at an internal of the pierce-type electron gun. It is desirable that locations where the direct measurement of the temperature at the internal of the electron gun is performed are an anode (39) and a flow register (43). Further, the direct measurement can be performed at any one of a ring, an aperture and an exhaust pipe provided at an outlet or an inlet of any one of a cathode chamber (31), an intermediate chamber, and a scanning chamber (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Ulvac, Inc.
    Inventors: Eiichi Iijima, Guo Hua Shen, Tohru Satake
  • Patent number: 8196942
    Abstract: A corner assembly includes a suspension module and a wheel assembly. In order to compensate for tolerance stack up in relation to a specified height of the corner assembly, the attachment between a damper of the suspension module and a knuckle of the wheel assembly is adjusted. The amount of adjustment is determined by measuring the assembled length of the suspension module, comparing the measured length to a standard length and determining an amount of adjustment necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: John Heeren, Herman Sanen, Maarten Maes
  • Patent number: 8196648
    Abstract: An air expandable bladder grips a beverage container within the vehicle and serves as a beverage holder. The container holder utilizes a hot air duct that receives its hot air from the heater core and its cold air from the evaporator, both of which may be located within the HVAC case. An air inlet duct receives the hot, cold, or blended air from an air mixing valve and directs the air into, and expands, the bladder. An exit orifice may exist in the bladder to release air from the bladder and provide back pressure in the bladder. A user-controlled switch permits a person to select whether hot, cold, or blended air will pass into the bladder inlet duct. The drink holder may be located within a center console, dash, door or other location within the vehicle interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Masashi Matsukawa
  • Patent number: 8191432
    Abstract: A load detecting device includes a substrate, a load receiver arranged on a first face of the substrate, a load detecting element arranged between the substrate and the load receiver, and a supporting portion to support the substrate. The supporting portion is made of metal. The supporting portion is located to overlap with the load receiver in a direction approximately perpendicular to the substrate. The supporting portion has a plurality of projections contacting with a second face of the substrate opposite from the first face. The projections located adjacent to each other are distanced from each other through a trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Hayakawa, Toshio Hosokawa, Kenji Morikawa
  • Patent number: 8191366
    Abstract: A system for separating and dispersing condensate formed in a charge air cooler of a turbocharged engine system. The system includes a drain tube on the charge air cooler lower surface that is plumbed to a reservoir, with a charge air recirculation tube plumbed from the reservoir to the turbocharger compressor inlet duct. The pressure difference between the charge air cooler and the compressor inlet draws any condensate formed in the charge air cooler back into the reservoir. A valve at the bottom of the condensate reservoir will open under predetermined vehicle operating conditions to drain the stored condensate out from the reservoir. The condensate could be simply drained to the ground, or a spray bar could be connected to the reservoir outlet to spay the condensate on to the outside surface of the charge air cooler, providing additional performance for brief periods of high engine load operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Dwayne Robert Taylor
  • Patent number: 8193820
    Abstract: An occupant detection system is a part of a vehicle occupant protection system. The vehicle occupant protection system is enabled to be activated when the occupant detection system determines an ON state indicative of existence of an occupant on a seat. The vehicle occupant protection system is disabled to be activated when the occupant detection system determines an OFF state. The system includes a capacitive sensor which detects the occupant based on a capacitance around the seat. The system determines the ON state or the OFF state based on the detected value of the capacitive sensor and a predetermined threshold value. The system evaluates whether the determination result in the determination block is appropriate or not. Then, the system biases the threshold value to suppress a reversal determination from the determination result which is evaluated as appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Nakagawa, Hiroyuki Ito, Shoichi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8192445
    Abstract: A trajectory guide assembly that guides an instrument relative to a patient includes a mounting seat configured to be supported by the patient. The assembly also includes a trajectory member moveably supported by the mounting seat. The trajectory member defines a trajectory passage. Also, the assembly includes a cap member moveably supported by the trajectory member. The cap member defines a cap opening, and the cap member is selectively moveable to a first position relative to the trajectory member to retain the instrument in both the cap opening and the trajectory passage. Additionally, the cap member is selectively moveable to a second position relative to the trajectory member to release the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kari Parmer, Thomas I. Miller, John David
  • Patent number: 8191383
    Abstract: An ejector device includes a nozzle having an inner wall surface defining a circular cross-sectional fluid passage extending from an inlet to a jet port. Furthermore, the fluid passage has a throat portion at a position between the inlet and the jet port, and a passage expanding portion in which the cross-sectional area of the fluid passage is enlarged from the throat portion as toward downstream. The passage expanding portion includes a middle portion in which the inner wall surface is expanded in a fluid flow direction by a first expanding angle, and an outlet portion from a downstream end of the middle portion to the jet port, in which the inner wall surface is expanded in the fluid flow direction by a second expanding angle that is larger than the first expanding angle. The ejector device can be suitably used for a refrigeration cycle apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Gouta Ogata, Haruyuki Nishijima, Etsuhisa Yamada, Mika Gocho, Hideya Matsui, Kenta Kayano, Teruyuki Hano
  • Patent number: 8195299
    Abstract: A method for identifying a coronal suture on a cranium can include acquiring image data of craniums for a plurality of patients. A database can be created that includes spatial relationships of various craniometric landmarks of the plurality of patients sorted by a desired population characteristic. A region of interest can be established that is based on a variance of locations of the craniometric landmarks between the plurality of patients for the desired characteristic. A criteria search can be performed of acquired image data from a specific patient that is limited to only the region of interest to identify a coronal suture for that specific patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic
    Inventor: Janardan Vaidyanathan
  • Patent number: 8194018
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a liquid crystal display device in which auxiliary capacitance lines are driven, thereby allowing the range of drive voltage to be kept narrow while increasing the difference between the maximum and minimum absolute values of voltage to be applied to liquid crystal, and in the present liquid crystal display device, the voltage ranges for an auxiliary capacitance line drive signal, a video signal, and a common potential are equally maintained as low as from 0V to 4V, while inverting the common potential every scanning period and causing the potential of the auxiliary capacitance line drive signal to rise in the same direction as the common potential at the time of the fall of the scanning signal such that the potential is maintained until the next frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hisashi Nagata
  • Patent number: 8195363
    Abstract: A steering control device for a vehicle includes: a position detection sensor for detecting a position of a road boundary and accessories in front of the vehicle; a road curvature radius calculator for calculating an outer curvature radius of a road; a turning radius calculator for calculating an appropriate turning radius; an appropriate distance calculator for calculating an appropriate road boundary distance between a front end of the vehicle and the road boundary in front of the vehicle; an actual distance detector for detecting an actual road boundary distance between the front end of the vehicle and the road boundary in front of the vehicle; and a steering wheel angle determination element for determining acceptability of the turning angle of the steering wheel based on comparison between the appropriate road boundary distance and the actual road boundary distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Isaji, Naohiko Tsuru
  • Patent number: 8194414
    Abstract: A sensor device includes a communication line having a high-level line and a low-level line, and printed wiring layers. The printed wiring layers are connected to the communication line so as to have a differential communication with an electronic control unit of an occupant protection system. First and second layers are ungrounded, and have a low-level conduction pattern connected to the low-level line and a circuit element having a standard corresponding to the low-level line. Third printed wiring layer is arranged between the first and second layers through insulations, and has a high-level conduction pattern connected to the high-level line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Inamoto, Tatsuki Tanaka