Patents Represented by Attorney Rankin, Hill and Clark LLP
  • Patent number: 8336223
    Abstract: A roundness measuring apparatus includes a stylus stocker and a controller. The stylus stocker stores plural types of styli prepared corresponding to shapes of measurement sites of a measurement target object. The stylus stocker can store styli in such a manner that each stylus can be held thereon and taken out thereof. The stylus stocker is provided outside a measurement region, which is determined on the basis of the operation range of a turntable and a detector driving mechanism. The detector driving mechanism can move the detector to the outside of the measurement region. When a measurement command is given, the controller carries out roundness measurement of the object while controlling the turntable and the detector driving mechanism. When a stylus replacement command is given, the controller carries out stylus replacement operation between a detector main unit and the stylus stocker while controlling the detector driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuki Nakayama, Hideki Shindo
  • Patent number: 8336187
    Abstract: A fuel insertion tube tool for installing a fuel tube on a barb. The tool has first and second arms that are pivotably attached through an arm pivot axis. Each arm has a grip to engage the fuel tube. A tab extends from the first arm and is pivotably attached to a proximal end of a bar with a pivot pin that defines a bar axis. The bar axis and the arm axis are perpendicular to each other. A hook is disposed at a distal end of the bar for engagement with an attachment site. The tab functions as a fulcrum to reduce the amount of force required to install the fuel tube on the barb. The bar has weight reducing holes and the grips have straight knurls for frictional engagement with the fuel tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chad Marshall
  • Patent number: 8338289
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor substrate, a through via provided in a through hole that passes through the semiconductor substrate, insulating layers laminated on the semiconductor substrate, a multi-layered wiring structure having a first wiring pattern and a second wiring pattern, and an external connection terminal provided on an uppermost layer of the multi-layered wiring structure, wherein the through via and the external connection terminal are connected electrically by the second wiring pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Murayama, Mitsutoshi Higashi
  • Patent number: 8336946
    Abstract: A tonneau cover assembly includes a flexible cover, a rigid cross member connected with the cover, and a tensioning and/or latching mechanism connected with the cross member. The flexible cover includes a first end and a second end. The first end is disposed adjacent a cab of a vehicle to which the tonneau covers assembly is configured to attach. The second end is disposed adjacent a tailgate of the vehicle. The rigid cross member connects with the cover such that the cross member moves with the cover as the cover is rolled or folded toward the first end. The tensioning and/or latching mechanism connects with the cross member such that the tensioning and/or latching mechanism moves along with the cover as the cover is rolled or folded toward the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael A. Schrader, Michael Peterson
  • Patent number: 8340823
    Abstract: A controller of a mobile robot that moves an object such that the position of a representative point of the object and the posture of the object follow a desired position and posture trajectory is provided. The desired posture trajectory of the object includes the desired value of the angular difference about a yaw axis between a reference direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the yaw axis of the object, and the direction of the moving velocity vector of the representative point of the object, defined by the desired position trajectory. The controller has a desired angular difference setting means which variably sets the desired value of the angular difference according to at least a required condition related to a movement mode of the object. This allows the object to be moved at a posture which meets the required condition of the movement mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Ohno, Tadaaki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8336949
    Abstract: A sliding door mechanism includes an upper slide rail and a lower slide rail fixed to a vehicle side body structure. An upper slider is associated with the upper rail, and a lower slider is associated with the lower rail. An upper link includes a control arm pivotally connected to both the upper slider and a vehicle door. A lower link includes a control arm pivotally connected to both the lower slider and the vehicle door. A control mechanism is operatively associated with a selected one of the upper link and the lower link. The control mechanism includes a first control fixed to the vehicle side body structure and a second control fixed to the control arm of the selected link. Movement of the second control is based on predetermined structural constraints associated with the first control. The control mechanism controls rotation and translation of the upper and lower links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eric J. Boettcher
  • Patent number: 8340867
    Abstract: A steering controller for an electric power steering device 110 includes a base signal computing part 51 for computing a base signal DT in accordance with at least the steering torque; a damper compensation signal computing part 52 for computing a damper compensation signal in accordance with an angular velocity of an electric motor 4 or a speed of steering wheel turn; and an inertia compensation signal computing part 53 for compensating inertia and viscosity in the steering unit. The electric motor is driven by a target signal IM1 obtained by compensating the base signal with a damper compensation signal and an inertia compensation signal, to provide a steering auxiliary force. The target signal of the auxiliary torque is compensated so that a difference between a reference self-aligning torque of front wheel in a front wheel steering vehicle and a self-aligning torque of front wheel in an all-wheel steering vehicle is provided to a driver as a responsive feeling from the steering torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouhei Maruyama, Yasuhiro Terada, Yutaka Horiuchi, Nobuo Sugitani, Takashi Yanagi
  • Patent number: 8336184
    Abstract: A device capable of smoothly, easily and automatically installing a molding on a door panel for an automobile is provided and includes a molding installation jig and a dynamic sensor located between a jig body and an arm. The dynamic sensor is designed to detect a force applied from the molding installation jig to the molding. A finger is supported on a side of the jig body to contact and hold an end section of the molding. Three suction pads, which communicate with a vacuum device, are provided on a surface of the jig body at equal intervals. A pair of brackets having a C-shaped cross section are provided on a side surface of the jig body, which is perpendicular to the surface on which the suction pads are provided. A first roller, a second roller, and a third roller 19 are rotatably supported in each of the brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Yamamoto, Takahiro Yogoro
  • Patent number: 8334679
    Abstract: A generator control system is provided in a vehicle having an engine that drives an electric power generator arranged to selectively provide electric power to an electrical load of the vehicle and to selectively charge a battery of the vehicle. The generator control system includes: a sensor that detects a state of charge (SOC) of the battery; and, a controller that controls a voltage output mode of the generator in response to the SOC detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Owens, Tadashi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8333426
    Abstract: A rise-up panoramic roof provided on a roof opening of a body of a vehicle comprises a frame member and a lift assembly. The frame member has a forward portion and a rear portion. The forward portion is hingedly connected to the vehicle body such that the frame member does not slide relative to the body. The frame member is configured to hold a roof panel. The lift assembly is configured to move the frame member between a closed position where the rear portion of the frame member closes the opening of the vehicle body and a raised, open position where the frame member is raised from the vehicle body and the rear portion is located above the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Inc., Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kitayama, Michael A. Schrader, Matthew Weyand Schmitt, Yoshitaka Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8327462
    Abstract: A device for dispersing and dampening impact forces that includes a first sheet structure and a second sheet structure that are joined together at a boundary zone. The boundary zone joins the first sheet structure and the second sheet structure together to define at least one gas-tight chamber having two sides. A gas is contained within the gas-tight chamber at a pressure within a predetermined range of acceptable pressures for dispersing impact forces translated against one side of the device such that a blunt force trauma producing impact force is not transferred through the device to a wearer's body disposed proximal to the other side of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Panoply Industries LLC
    Inventors: Vladimir Feldman, Leonid Miroshnik, Eli Gunzburg
  • Patent number: 8327725
    Abstract: There is provided a sample collection container, a sample collection apparatus, and a sample collection method used in a supercritical fluid system capable of collecting a multi-constituent sample contained in a supercritical fluid at low cost and high collection efficiency. The pressure of a supercritical fluid containing a sample is reduced to a pressure close to the atmospheric pressure, and the depressurized supercritical fluid is forced to undergo adiabatic expansion to form gas-phase CO2 containing a liquid component in the form of aerosol. The gas-phase CO2 is fractionated for each constituent of the contained sample, transferred to a probe 60 of Liquid Handler, and dispensed into a large number of collection vials 300 under the atmospheric pressure, each of which is provided with a vial cap 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: JASCO Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Kanomata
  • Patent number: 8330277
    Abstract: A semiconductor element built-in device includes: a first substrate having a first pad thereon; a semiconductor element on the first substrate; a second substrate having a second pad thereon and mounted on the first substrate via a solder terminal having a solder coated thereon; a resin layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate such that the solder terminal and the semiconductor element are embedded in the resin layer; and a dam provided at least partially around at least one of the first and second pads, the dam being configured to restrain the solder flowing from the solder terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Machida
  • Patent number: 8328014
    Abstract: A consumer packaged good includes a case, a plurality of translucent vessels vertically stacked within the case, a beverage stored in each of the plurality of the vessels and a barrier sealed to each vessel for containing the beverage in the respective vessel. The case includes a base wall and at least one side wall extending upwardly from the base wall. The plurality of translucent vessels are surrounded by the sidewall. Each vessel includes an opening for drinking from the vessel and a base surface for supporting the vessel on an associated support surface. The barrier seals to each vessel for covering the opening and containing the beverage in the respective vessel. The barrier is peelable from the vessel without destroying the vessel to provide access to the beverage stored in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Nottingham Spirk Partners LLC
    Inventors: Craig Saunders, John Evan Spirk, Jeffrey Kalman, Jens P. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8328001
    Abstract: In a method and a device for opening printed products (26), folded printed products (20) are held on a back (28) and transported. Thereby, they are aligned at an edge region (44) lying opposite the back (28), for example by way of co-running lugs (98?). Subsequently, the edge region (44) is encompassed by a holding element (50) and held in a preferably loose manner. Preferably, the uppermost sheet of the printed product (26) is gripped with a revolving opening element (72) engaging on the printed product (26) behind the edge region (44), and pulled out of the holding element (50), while the remaining sheet or the remaining sheets of the printed product (26) remain in the holding element (50). After moving a holding-open element (102) into the printed product (26) opened in such a manner, the holding element (50) moves away to the bottom and thus the edge region (44) of the printed product (26) slips out of the holding element (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Marc-Andreas Benz
  • Patent number: 8328270
    Abstract: A vehicle closure assembly includes a vehicle body defining an opening, a latch assembly mounted to the vehicle body, a track mounted to the vehicle body, a slidable closure movable with respect to the vehicle body for selectively covering the opening, and a roller and striker assembly connected with the slidable closure for movement with the slidable closure. The roller and striker assembly includes a roller riding on the track and a striker for cooperating with the latch assembly. The roller moves with respect to the track to allow the slidable closure to move with respect to the vehicle body. The striker engages with the latch assembly to preclude movement of the slidable closure with respect to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kitayama, Matthew Weyand Schmitt, Michael A. Schrader
  • Patent number: 8332112
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a front wheel drive force and a rear wheel drive force of a vehicle includes a first controller for controlling a drive force of main drive wheels and a drive force of auxiliary drive wheels, wherein the drive force of the main drive wheel is one of the front-wheel drive force and the rear-wheel drive force, and the drive force of the auxiliary drive wheel is another of the front-wheel drive force and the rear-wheel drive force, and a second controller for sending to the first controller an auxiliary-drive-wheels-limiting drive force for limiting the drive force of the auxiliary drive wheels. The second controller has a preparatory unit for preparing reference drive force, a first limiting unit for limiting a reduction in the auxiliary-drive-wheels-limiting drive force, and a second limiting unit for limiting an increase in the auxiliary-drive-wheels-limiting drive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Handa, James W. Post, II
  • Patent number: D672314
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiharu Miyoshi
  • Patent number: D672316
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiharu Miyoshi
  • Patent number: D672867
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Yen, Jiro Watanabe, Hiromitsu Kuribayashi, Shigekazu Mitomo