Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm King & Spalding
  • Patent number: 8350667
    Abstract: A method for the start-up of a lighting system having lamps and a central control system, wherein each lamp has an identification code independently of its position and a position code assigned by a control device, has the following steps: a) Separating the lamps into two groups by putting one group in a first state and the other group in a second state, b) selecting one of the lamps and entering its state into the operating device selecting the group of lamps that has the same state as the selected lamp for further steps, while the other group is no longer considered, d) when the selected group does not only have the selected lamp, the steps a)-d) are carried out again e) assigning the position code to the remaining lamp, to bring the code directly into relation with the identification code, f) carrying out the steps a)-e) for further lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Ferstl
  • Patent number: 8347863
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a fuel delivering device with a high-pressure pump which conveys fuel into a fuel reservoir, and a volume flow control valve that is assigned to the high-pressure pump. A control difference (FUP_DIF) is determined from a difference between a predefined fuel pressure (FUP_SP) and a detected fuel pressure (FUP_AV). The control difference (FUP_DIF) is fed to a controller that encompasses at least one integral portion (I_CTRL). A corrective value (COR) for an error value of a fuel flow rate is determined in accordance with the integral portion (I_CTRL) of the controller if a sum of the integral portion (I_CTRL) exceeds a given threshold value during a predefined mode of operation of the internal combustion engine. In addition, an actuating signal (PWM) for the volume flow control valve is generated according to a controller value (FUEL_MASS_FB_CTRL) and the corrective value (COR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Cwielong, Gerhard Eser, Gerhard Schopp
  • Patent number: 8347700
    Abstract: An association unit is designed to determine cylinder-individual lambda signals on the basis of a lambda probe signal and to determine lambda deviation signals for the respective cylinders based on the lambda signals in relation to an averaged lambda signal. Furthermore, an observer has a sensor model of the lambda probe that is arranged in a feedback branch. The lambda deviation signals are fed to the input side and observer output quantities in relation to the respective cylinder are representative of the injection characteristics deviations from predetermined injection characteristics. A parameter detection unit impresses a predetermined interference pattern from cylinder-individual mixture deviations. It further changes at least one sensor model parameter as a detection parameter in response to the respectively predetermined interference pattern for as long as the observer output quantities represent the portion of the interference pattern associated with the cylinders thereof in a predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Reza Azadeh
  • Patent number: 8348477
    Abstract: A recessed light fixture includes an LED module, which includes a single LED package that is configured to generate all light emitted by the recessed light fixture. For example, the LED package can include multiple LEDs mounted to a common substrate. The LED package can be coupled to a heat sink for dissipating heat from the LEDs. The heat sink can include a core member from which fins extend. Each fin can include one or more straight and/or curved portions. A reflector housing may be coupled to the heat sink and configured to receive a reflector. The reflector can have any geometry, such as a bell-shaped geometry including two radii of curvature that join together at an inflection point. An optic coupler can be coupled to the reflector housing and configured to cover electrical connections at the substrate and to guide light emitted by the LED package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Jerold Tickner, Scott David Wegner, Evans Edward Thompson, III
  • Patent number: 8349418
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a natural biodegradable material having both properties of biodegradability and mechanical strength; a biodegradable film or container produced from the natural biodegradable material; a binder for producing the biodegradable material; and a method for producing these. A natural polymeric substance which has a cellulose-like property of having hydroxy group which is not present in a petroleum-derived polymeric compound, and which moreover has a polypropylene-like structure is obtained by the steps of using a cereal starch such as Kaoliang starch as a culture raw material, adding a microorganism belonging to the genus Bacillus to the raw material to conduct a culture, and recovering a viscous polymeric substance. A biodegradable material having biodegradability comparable to that of cellulose and also having a mechanical strength property of polypropylene can be obtained by using the natural polymeric substance as a binder and mixing starch and/or shell powder thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Sato
    Inventor: Seiko Sato
  • Patent number: 8347864
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (1) has a fuel tank (18) and a fuel vapor reservoir (25). According to the method during the tank vent period—before opening the tank vent valve (28) a reference value is updated if a condition is met, and otherwise the existing reference value is maintained, —before opening the tank vent valve (28) an opening period is determined as a function of at least one variable, —the tank vent valve (28) is controlled such that the flow achieves the target flow value by the end of the opening period that was determined, —the load level of the fuel vapor reservoir (25) is computed based on the reference value, —a fuel amount is computed based on the load level, —and the fuel amount to be metered by the injection valve (22) is corrected based on the computer fuel amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Patent number: 8348479
    Abstract: A recessed light fixture includes an LED module, which includes a single LED package that is configured to generate all light emitted by the recessed light fixture. For example, the LED package can include multiple LEDs mounted to a common substrate. The LED package can be coupled to a heat sink for dissipating heat from the LEDs. The heat sink can include a core member from which fins extend. Each fin can include one or more straight and/or curved portions. A reflector housing may be coupled to the heat sink and configured to receive a reflector. The reflector can have any geometry, such as a bell-shaped geometry including two radii of curvature that join together at an inflection point. An optic coupler can be coupled to the reflector housing and configured to cover electrical connections at the substrate and to guide light emitted by the LED package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Jerold Tickner, Scott David Wegner, Evans Edward Thompson, III
  • Patent number: 8352144
    Abstract: In a method for controlling an electromechanical parking brake system (EPB) of a vehicle, wherein the electromechanical parking brake system (EPB) comprises at least one actuating element (BE), at least one brake mechanism unit (BME), and at least one control device (SG), in order to statically brake the vehicle, the actuating element (BE) is actuated and, depending thereon, the at least one brake mechanism unit (BME) is applied with a predetermined application speed (AV) controlled by a control and evaluation routine (SAR) run in the control device (SG). The vehicle speed (V) prevailing when the at least one actuating element (BE) is actuated is advantageously determined and the application speed (AV) of the brake mechanism unit (BME) is selected depending on the determined vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Bentner, Alexander Kalbeck
  • Patent number: 8345015
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus for generating electrical signals which indicate the position or movement of limbs relative to a reference area has a transmitter electrode apparatus, a voltage generator for applying an alternating voltage to the transmitter electrode, a first receiver electrode apparatus, a second receiver electrode apparatus, and a third receiver electrode apparatus, wherein the first, second, and third receiver electrode apparatuses are each connected to high-impedance tapping systems. The first, second, and third receiver electrode apparatuses are preferably each connected to high-impedance inputs of an impedance transformer system, wherein information indicative of a location or movement is obtained on the basis of differences between the electrical events present at the outputs of the respective impedance transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ident Technology AG
    Inventor: Artem Ivanov
  • Patent number: 8343644
    Abstract: A medical device having a battery pack comprising an indicator, wherein the battery pack indicator indicates the status of the battery pack when the battery pack is disassociated from the medical device and indicates the status of the medical device when associated with the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Defibtech, LLC
    Inventors: Gintaras A. Vaisnys, Giovanni C. Meier, Glenn W. Laub
  • Patent number: 8346391
    Abstract: A system and method can provide a command and control paradigm for integrating robotic assets into human teams. By integrating sensor to detect human interaction, movement, physiology, and location, a net-centric system can permit command of a robotic platform without an OCU. By eliminating the OCU and maintaining the advantages of a robotic platform, a robot can be used in the place of a human without fatigue, being immune to physiological effects, capable of non-humanoid tactics, a longer potential of hours per day on-station, capable of rapid and structured information transfer, has a personality-free response, can operate in contaminated areas, and is line-replaceable with identical responses. A system for controlling a robotic platform can comprise at least one perceiver for collecting information from a human or the environment; a reasoner for processing the information from the at least one perceiver and providing a directive; and at least one behavior for executing the directive of the reasoner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
    Inventors: David Anhalt, Keith D. Gremban
  • Patent number: 8346403
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device operates in more than one operating mode and includes a microcontroller, an occupancy detection sensor communicably coupled to the microcontroller, and at least one accessible user interface communicably coupled to the microcontroller. The accessible user interface is accessible to an end-user without having to disassemble any portion of the device. The accessible user interface is manipulated to select one of several operating modes. In some embodiments, the device includes a night light that also can be an accessible user interface. In some of those embodiments, one of the operating modes includes a night light operating mode, wherein the device's operation is dependent upon the status of the night light. In some embodiments, an indicator is included to inform the end-user when to stop manipulating the accessible user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Goyal, Oscar Neundorfer, James Fair, Ahmed Elgayyar
  • Patent number: 8342336
    Abstract: In a device and a method for extracting non-magnetic ores from a pulp comprising non-magnetic ore particles and having a solid fraction of at least 30 mass percent, the pulp flows continuously through a reactor in the direction of flow and magnetic or magnetizable magnet particles that form ore magnetic particle agglomerations with the non-magnetic ore particles are added to said pulp. The ore magnetic particle agglomerations are moved by a magnetic field into an accumulation range of the reactor, and are then discharged out of reactor range and separated into ore and magnetic particles. In a device and a method, the separated magnetic particles are treated, in particular hydrophobized, such that during a new interaction with non-magnetic ore particles, new ore magnetic particle agglomerations are formed. Accordingly, a high yield of ores can be obtained and the mine can be operated in an economical and environmentally friendly manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Diez, Imme Domke, Werner Hartmann, Hartmut Hibst, Wolfgang Krieglstein, Alexej Michailovski, Norbert Mronga, Michael Riebensahm, Wolfgang Schmidt, Thomas Servay
  • Patent number: 8346430
    Abstract: A method for generating operating software on a control device for a motor vehicle by executing control software in a production line end computer or in the control device, has the following steps: a) Executing a diagnosis function in the motor vehicle, with which the configuration of the motor vehicle can be established so that the functions to be performed by the control device (1) are clearly defined, b) Selecting only from among the necessary software components from an external data source (2), so that the configuration of the motor vehicle can be mapped with the operating software on the control device (1), and c) Generating the component-individual operating software on the control device (1) by inclusion of the selected software components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Przymusinski, Frank Queisser, Wolfgang Östreicher
  • Patent number: 8340834
    Abstract: An occupancy sensing and energy indicating load control device includes an occupancy sensor, an energy savings feedback indicator, and a manual controller. The occupancy sensor detects occupancy within a monitored area. The device is electrically coupled to at least one load positioned within the monitored area and controls the energy consumption of the load. The energy savings feedback indicator provides awareness to an end user regarding energy savings and provides the end user with opportunities for additional energy savings. The device optionally includes a demand response indicator for providing awareness to the end user regarding when a demand response condition exists, its severity, and opportunities for additional energy savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Walma, Matthew Conger, Angela Maddox
  • Patent number: 8339068
    Abstract: Perceived intensity (brightness) of light from a light emitting diode (LED) is controlled with a pulse train signal having fixed pulse width and voltage amplitude and then increasing or decreasing the frequency (increasing or decreasing the number of pulses over a time period) of this pulse train signal so as to vary the average current through the LED. This reduces the level of electro-magnetic interference (EMI) at any one frequency by varying the pulse train energy spectrum over a plurality of frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventor: Charles R. Simmers
  • Patent number: 8339147
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement has a field producing electrode device which is connected in an LC network and exposed to a spatial area of the field such that the capacity of the capacitor system with the electrode device alters according to dielectric properties of material present in the spatial area, an insulating layer extending on a rear side of the field electrode device which is oriented away from the spatial area, a screening electrode device which extends on the rear side of the insulating layer which is oriented away from the field electrode device and a field extinction electrode device which has an electrode surface which is oriented towards an extinction area. The field expansion electrode device and the field extinction electrode device are arranged such and impinged upon by a voltage that the spatial area of the field and the extinction area are superimposed on each other in sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ident Technology AG
    Inventor: Klaus Kaltner
  • Patent number: 8339113
    Abstract: A switch mode power supply (SMPS) response to a disturbance is improved by using a hysteretic control in combination with a fixed frequency, pulse-width modulated (PWM) controller for providing robust control and optimizing the response to disturbances in buck or buck derived switch mode power supply (SMPS) system topologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventor: Scott Dearborn
  • Patent number: 8337567
    Abstract: A device for inducing weight loss in a patient includes a tubular prosthesis self-expandable from a collapsed position in which the prosthesis has a first diameter to an expanded position in which the prosthesis has a second, larger, diameter. In a method for inducing weight loss, the prosthesis is placed in the collapsed position and inserted into a stomach of a patient. The prosthesis is allowed to self-expand from the collapsed position to the expanded position and into contact with the walls of the stomach, where it induces feelings of satiety and/or inhibits modulation of satiety-controlling factors such as Ghrelin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Barosense, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard S. Stack, Richard A. Glenn, Trevor J. Moody, Fred E. Silverstein, Nathan Every, William S. Eubanks, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8336523
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle having an emergency running device, there is the problem that, in the event of certain fault symptoms occurring, an emergency running function is initiated and the torque of the engine is in the process limited to an unsuitable low value. In the worst case, this can lead to insufficient acceleration, for example during an overtaking maneuver, and to an accident occurring. It is therefore proposed that the determination of an optimized emergency running function be defined as a function both of the present driving state of the motor vehicle and also of the type of fault symptom depending on which the risk and the level of danger are graded into classes and an optimized emergency running function is then determined and initiated. Thus, sufficient torque and rotational speed can be provided for reliable vehicle control even in an unfavorable traffic situation without damaging the endangered components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Käsbauer