Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Tuttle
  • Selective auto-revocation of firewall security settings
    Patent number: 8214889
    Abstract: Management of security firewall settings in a networked computing environment is described. One example embodiment includes applying security settings and exceptions to the security settings based on network class for network communication, and upon detection of an event, revoking at least one exception for at least one network in a specified class.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Pradeep Bahl, Gerardo Diaz Cuellar, Rajesh Dadhia
  • Methods and systems for engine control
    Patent number: 8209981
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling an engine are provided. In some examples, the engine has at least a cylinder and a compression device coupled to an intake of the engine, and the method includes, during engine re-start operation of an engine idle-stop condition, commencing combustion in the cylinder from a non-combusting condition, the combustion in a two-stroke combustion cycle of the cylinder. However, in some examples, at least partially electrically powered boosting operation may also be used to extend the two-stroke operation during a start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Turbocharger system for internal combustion engine with reduced footprint turbocharger mounting pedestal
    Patent number: 8209983
    Abstract: A turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine includes a turbocharger with a utility pedestal extending between the turbocharger and a mounting point associated with the cylinder block. The utility pedestal includes a mounting pad for attaching the combined turbocharger and pedestal assembly to an engine, as well as oil and coolant supply passages for supplying the turbocharger with coolant and lubricating oil under pressure. The utility pedestal's fastening system is configured so as to cover a minimum amount of space of the engine surface to which the pedestal is mounted, so as to reduce the footprint of the turbocharger system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Kelly Palazzolo, Patrick Sexton
  • Reduction of particulate, NOx, and ammonia emissions
    Patent number: 8209955
    Abstract: A method for controlling emissions from an engine includes reducing trapped nitrogen oxides to ammonia on an LNT catalyst while concurrently oxidizing soot accumulated on the LNT catalyst, and, flowing the ammonia so formed to an SCR catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Karen Marie Adams, Yisun Cheng, Giovanni Cavataio
  • Hybrid vehicle propulsion system utilizing knock suppression
    Patent number: 8214130
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle propulsion system and method of operation have been provided. As one example, the system comprises an internal combustion engine including at least a combustion chamber configured to propel the vehicle via at least a drive wheel, a motor configured to propel the vehicle via at least a drive wheel, an energy storage device configured to store energy that is usable by the motor to propel the vehicle, a fuel system configured to deliver gasoline and alcohol to the combustion chamber in varying relative amounts, a control system configured to operate the motor to propel the vehicle and to vary the relative amounts of the gasoline and alcohol provided to the combustion chamber in response to an output of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Andri
  • Engine-off ammonia vapor management system and method
    Patent number: 8209961
    Abstract: A method of managing vapors generated from an ammonia-containing reductant delivery system for a vehicle is described. The method may include storing ammonia containing vapors generated in the reductant delivery system during engine-off and then purging said stored ammonia into an exhaust of the engine to react in a catalyst in the exhaust flow during engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Oberski, Giovanni Cavataio, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Timothy Webb, William Ruona
  • Fuel system with electrically-controllable mechanical pressure regulator
    Patent number: 8210156
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine direct injection fuel system is provided. The direct injection fuel system includes a mechanical fuel pressure regulator that has a spring actuatable by an electric motor. The method includes adjusting a preload of the spring by operating the electric motor to adjust a set-point fuel pressure from a first set-point fuel pressure to a second set-point fuel pressure in response to an operating condition, and maintaining the preload of the spring mechanically when the electric motor is not operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vladimir V. Kokotovic, Ilya Vladimir Kolmanovsky, Yan Wang
  • Adjusting difficulty level of a multiplayer game
    Patent number: 8210925
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a difficulty level of a multiplayer networked game are provided herein. One exemplary method includes setting an initial difficulty level at a gaming server for a game played by a main gaming client and one or more challenger gaming clients. The method further includes sending an input request to the main gaming client and each challenger gaming client based on the initial difficulty level. The method further includes receiving main user input from the main gaming client, and challenger user input from each challenger gaming client responsive to the input request. The method also includes adjusting the initial difficulty level to an adjusted difficulty level based on the challenger user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Brett Johnson
  • Engine balance masses and drives
    Patent number: 8210148
    Abstract: The present application relates to a drive and balance mass. In one example, an engine includes, a camshaft, a balance shaft disposed within an interior of the camshaft, and a first gear, intermediate the balance shaft and the camshaft and driving the balance shaft to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to a crankshaft of the engine in a direction opposite of the crankshaft. In another example, a balance mass and drive for an engine includes, a planetary gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and a plurality of pinions mounted on a carrier, an input coupled to an input gear of the planetary gear set, a balance mass coupled to an output gear of the planetary gear set, the output gear configured to drive the balance mass to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to the crankshaft in a direction opposite of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick B. Morgan, Kenneth L. Nowaczyk
  • Air cleaner filter assembly for motor vehicles operating in extreme weather conditions
    Patent number: 8211197
    Abstract: A filter assembly for a motor-vehicle air cleaner includes a main filter, an auxiliary filter set apart from the main filter, and a filter mount fixed to and configured to support the main filter and the auxiliary filter. In one embodiment, the filter mount is fittable in and removable from a housing of the air cleaner, and comprises a sealing element passing between the main filter and the auxiliary filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Giriraj Srinivasan, Thanh Pham, Roger Khami, William C. Ronzi
  • Device and process for controlling the depth of sedation of a mechanically respirated patient
    Patent number: 8206341
    Abstract: A device is provided for controlling the depth of sedation of a respirated patient. The device includes a respirator (2) and a sensor array (1) for detecting the tidal volume and/or the respiration rate of the patient being respirated. A computing unit (5) is provided for calculating the measured values determined with the sensor array (1). A drug regulating unit (3), a drug dispensing unit (4), and a central control device (6) are provided. The central control device (6) has stored desired values for the drug concentration to be dispensed as a function of a preselected depth of sedation corresponding to the corresponding variability over time of the tidal volume and/or respiration rate. The drug regulating unit (3) sets the drug dispensing unit (4) as a function of the tidal volume detected and/or the respiration rate for a preselected depth of sedation of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Dräger Medical GmbH
    Inventor: Hartmut Schmidt
  • Freezable-liquid dispenser for motor vehicles
    Patent number: 8206656
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes an exterior surface and an interior surface. The interior surface encloses a volume that tapers outwardly in a downward direction so that any horizontal cross-section of the volume fits inside each horizontal cross-section below it from a full to an empty level of the dispenser. The interior surface also includes a projection oriented opposite the exterior surface and configured to limit a motion of solids within the dispenser. The structure so provided enables the solid, e.g., a frozen liquid, to slide to the heated, bottom portion of the dispenser as liquid is drawn from the dispenser thus providing faster melting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Goebelbecker
  • Exhaust muffler
    Patent number: 8205716
    Abstract: An exhaust muffler (1) for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, especially of a motor vehicle, includes two front-side end panels (2) facing away from each other, a circumferential jacket (3) closed in the circumferential direction, at least one exhaust muffler insert (4), with at least one inlet pipe (5) and with at least one outlet pipe (6). At least one of the pipes (5, 6) extends through the jacket (3) into the interior (8) of the exhaust muffler and is fastened to the jacket (3). Manufacture can be simplified if the pipe (5, 6) extending through the jacket (3) has a cone (10) at its inner end, if the exhaust muffler insert (4) has a countercone (11) and if the cone (10) meshes with the countercone (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: J. Eberspächer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Georg Wirth
  • Vehicle silencer
    Patent number: 8205713
    Abstract: A silencer for an exhaust system, more preferably of a motor vehicle, is provided with a silencer insert arranged in a silencer housing. The silencer includes a jacket, with at least one pipe section penetrating a through-opening of the jacket. Through welding of the pipe section to the silencer insert a weld seam formed pressure-tight between pipe section and jacket is relieved of mechanical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: J. Eberspaecher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Gorke, Andrei Buchhammer
  • Control unit heat management
    Patent number: 8206204
    Abstract: A method of cooling an engine control unit (ECU) coupled to an engine in a vehicle having a cabin climate control system, comprising operating the vehicle cabin climate control system according to a customer-based climate control setting during a first operating condition, and overriding said customer-based setting during a second operating condition including an ECU over-temperature condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Bryant, Suresh Sureshbabu, Michiel J. van Nieuwstadt
  • Cylinder charge temperature control for an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 8205583
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating an engine with a first cylinder providing a net flow of gases from the intake to the exhaust while combusting; and a second cylinder providing a net flow of gases from the exhaust to the intake. Both the first and second cylinders may carry out combustion during such operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Vincent J. Winstead
  • Method for compensating an operating imbalance between different banks of a turbocharged engine
    Patent number: 8209109
    Abstract: A method for controlling differences in cylinder mixtures for a two cylinder bank engine having a turbocharger is presented. In one example, the description includes a method for adjusting valve timing to reduce cylinder mixture variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Storhok, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • Calibration scheme for an exhaust gas sensor
    Patent number: 8209110
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling an engine in a vehicle in response to an equilibrium value of an exhaust gas constituent generated from an exhaust gas sensor. One example method comprises during engine fueling below a threshold amount where at least one intake valve and one exhaust valve of the engine are operating: generating an equilibrium value of an exhaust gas constituent reading of the exhaust gas sensor, the equilibrium value based on a trajectory of the exhaust gas constituent reading, and under selected engine combusting conditions, adjusting the sensor signal based on the equilibrium value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dave Charles Weber, David John Kubinski, Chuan He, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Magnet pole for magnetic levitation vehicles
    Patent number: 8201502
    Abstract: A magnet pole, for magnetically levitated vehicles, includes a core (10) and a winding provided with winding disks that are arranged axially on top of each other. Both of the disks contain conduction band sections (6a, 6b) that are wound counter to the direction of winding and in several layers about the core (10). The conduction band sections are connected together in an electrically conductive manner by means of a connection part (1) on the core (10) near ends. The connection part (1) is bent in an outward manner on lateral longitudinal edges that are parallel to each other thus forming a curved outlet (12a, 12b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Transrapid GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Bugiel, Harald Pfannkuch, Wolfgang Hahn, Qinghua Zheng
  • System and method for operating a high temperature fuel cell as a back-up power supply with reduced performance decay
    Patent number: 8202655
    Abstract: A method is provided for reducing degradation in a fuel cell assembly, including at least one fuel cell with a PBI membrane, during standby, operation. The method may include electrochemically consuming an oxidant from a cathode coupled to the PBI membrane in response to a disconnection of an external load and supplying fuel to remove or electrochemically consume any back-diffused oxidant to the associated fuel cell sufficient to replace or consume the back-diffused oxidant while the external load is removed, and/or also may include controlling a standby temperature of the fuel cell. In this way, it may be possible to avoid increased cell voltage decay associated with degradation of the PBI in a simple and cost effective system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: ClearEdge Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Song, Zakiul Kabir, Craig Evans, Lin Qiu, Donald L. Maricle