Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Tuttle
  • Mouse dongle storage
    Patent number: 8154515
    Abstract: A computer mouse for use with a computing device, and a user input device assembly including a computer mouse and a communications dongle, are provided. The computer mouse may include a body having an outer casing, the outer casing having a battery compartment formed therein, and a battery door releasably secured to the outer casing in an orientation that covers the battery compartment. The battery door may include a mounting structure configured to releasably secure a communications dongle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Monique Chatterjee, Eric Wahl, Ge Weiguo, William R. Wylde, KeLong Zhao
  • Optic having a dichroic reflector
    Patent number: 8153977
    Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed that are related to an optic with a dichroic coating. In one embodiment, sn optic comprises a wedge-shaped light guide having opposing first and second faces and a turning film bonded to the wedge-shaped light guide. The turning film comprises a plurality of facets oblique to the first face of the wedge-shaped light guide and supports a dichroic coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy Andrew Large
  • Plant growth system
    Patent number: 8151517
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a plant growth system wherein light sources are located close to plants so as to efficiently ensure a sufficient amount of light for the plants to grow and simultaneously ensure air flow, thereby providing a favorable growth environment for the plants. In a plant growth chamber, there are provided multiple shelf parts for irradiating the plants with light for the growth, a cover surrounding the light sources wherein multiple ventilation bores are formed on a plant-facing face of a transparent light-permeable wall, an air inlet that opens in the space within the cover for sucking the air in the space, and a circulation channel that cools down the air sucked through the air inlet and blows out the sucked air into the plant growth chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fairy Plant Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji Emoto
  • Illumination device and method for manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 8154683
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for easily manufacturing an illumination device in which a surface mount chip-type LED is used, and a wiring board is formed into a truncated conical or another shape. The method includes, in a flexible strip-like wiring board having a partial ring or a linear shape, providing a through-hole T for filling with solder paste S at a wiring end portion L to be connected with a terminal of an LED, temporarily fixing the LED with bond B onto the wiring board held in a plate-like state, filling the through-hole T with the solder paste S from a back surface of the wiring board, rounding the wiring board mounted with the LED into a truncated conical or cylindrical shape, and reflowing the wiring board in the rounded state to solder the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: CCS Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Yoneda, Kenji Miura
  • Internal combustion engine comprising a variable valve lift profile system and a method for controlling valve lift profile shifting
    Patent number: 8151748
    Abstract: A method for an internal combustion engine that reduces the possibility of misfire during transitions between a lower valve lift mode and a higher valve lift mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Litorell, Thomas Lyngfelt
  • End reflector for a flat panel lens
    Patent number: 8152349
    Abstract: End reflectors, flat panel lens that may utilize the end reflector, and methods are provided. The end reflector for a flat panel lens may include a first grating having a first set of parallel planes. The first set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a first angle with a central plane of the flat panel lens. The end reflector may also include a second grating having a second set of parallel planes. The second set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a second angle with the central plane. The second angle may be equivalent to the first angle reflected about the central plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian Travis, Timothy Andrew Large, Neil Emerton
  • Hay bale collection and stacking system
    Patent number: 8152429
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved system for collecting and stacking round hay bales on a flat bed trailer, particularly for use in agricultural applications such as farming or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: John Lionel Rennie
  • Utility vehicle
    Patent number: 8152215
    Abstract: A utility vehicle comprises a vehicle body frame; a seat frame including a seat bottom support member and a seat backrest support member, at least the seat bottom support member and the seat backrest support member being formed by square pipes with rectangular cross-sections; a seat bottom fastened to the seat bottom support member; and a seat backrest fastened to the seat backrest support member; wherein the seat bottom support member and the seat backrest support member of the seat frame are integral with each other to have a bent portion; and the seat bottom support member of the seat frame is fastened to the vehicle body frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Hidetoshi Kaku, Tyler Furman, Kazuhiro Maeda
  • Gear arrangement
    Patent number: 8151663
    Abstract: A gear arrangement is provided with a built-up for a shaft or pinion to rotate in unison therewith. The gear includes a gear rim and two flanges arranged axially on both sides and fixed them against the gear rim in a positive-locking connection. A hub, over which the respective other parts of the gear are pushed, is formed on at least one of the parts of the gear. The parts of the gear are held together without the use of rivets or screws by a clamped connection including a clamping ring, which is caused to mesh with a groove extending circumferentially on the circumference of the hub or shaft. The clamped connection presses the respective flange outer surface in a spring-mounted manner. Mutually corresponding elevations and depressions on the axial outer surfaces of the gear rim as well as on the axially inner surfaces of the flanges mesh with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Olaf Beutler, Waldemar Rogowski, Remt Blankenspeck, Günter Lohfink
  • Sensor system for monitoring the synchronism of control surfaces of an aircraft
    Patent number: 8152110
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor system for monitoring the synchronism of control surfaces of an aircraft with two transmission links for the mechanical transmission of the movements of one or more control surfaces to at least one sensor, wherein the two transmission links are coupled with each other mechanically and/or via the at least one sensor, whereby a difference between the movements transmitted by the transmission links can be monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Schlegel, Juergen Riech
  • Double-faced electrode package and its manufacturing method
    Patent number: 8154110
    Abstract: A dual-face package has an LSI chip sealed with a mold resin, and electrodes for external connections on both of the front face and the back face. The LSI chip is bonded onto the die pad of a leadframe whose outer lead portions are exposed as back-face electrodes at least the back face. The LSI chip and a plurality of inner lead portions of the leadframe are connected by wiring. At least some of the plurality of inner lead portions have front-face electrodes integrally formed by working a portion of the leadframe. Head faces of the front-face electrodes, or bump electrodes connected to the respective head faces of the front-face electrodes serve as electrodes for external connections to another substrate, element, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Masamichi Ishihara, Harufumi Kobayashi
  • Fuel control for direct injection fuel system
    Patent number: 8151767
    Abstract: A method for controlling a direct injection fuel system of a vehicle, the method comprising generating fuel pressure via an electronically controlled lift pump and a second pump, the electronically controlled lift pump actuated responsive to a command during an initial start-up duration, translating the fuel pump command via a first mapping to drive the fuel pump, where the first mapping includes mapping a default signal to active pump operation and after the initial start-up duration, translating the fuel pump command via a second mapping to drive the fuel pump where the second mapping includes mapping the default signal to pump deactivation. This method may achieve near immediate lift pump actuation upon system power-up while preserving favorable degradation modes and maintaining a simple, cost-effective inter-module communication scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, James Knight
  • Adaptive learning system and method of vane position for a variable geometry turbocharger
    Patent number: 8151567
    Abstract: A method of operation for an engine system having a variable geometry turbocharger with a vane is disclosed. In one example, an EGR valve is closed while vane position is adjusted. The method can reduce vane positioning errors during engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, David Bell, Michael John Cullen, Brien Lloyd Fulton
  • System and method for monitoring particulate filter performance
    Patent number: 8151560
    Abstract: In an apparatus having an internal combustion engine, an exhaust system for transporting engine exhaust from the engine is described. In one example, a particulate filter disposed in the exhaust system is assessed for degradation. The approach may be particularly useful for an image charge sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Margherita Zanini-Fisher, Michiel J. van Nieuwstadt
  • Antibody against aflatoxins, support using the antibody, method of immunologically detecting aflatoxins and method of concentrating and purifying aflatoxins
    Patent number: 8153767
    Abstract: It is intended to detect, concentrate and purify aflatoxins of all types which are possibly contained in a sample such as a food. It is also intended to detect the total amount or the individual amounts thereof at a high sensitivity. By using aflatoxin B2 or its derivative as a hapten compound, an antibody, which shows the same reactivity to individual aflatoxin analogs and is highly tolerant to organic solvents, is obtained. Then, a detection/concentration/purification means and an immunological detection means with the use of the above antibody are constructed. The detection means thus constructed achieves a high sensitivity and excellent quantification properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: HORIBA, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikiko Uchigashima, Shiro Miyake, Hiroshi Yamashita
  • Side airbag structure
    Patent number: 8152197
    Abstract: A side airbag unit disposed in a side support of a seat capable of absorbing collision energy sufficiently during a side collision of a vehicle is described. In one example, the airbag unit comprises: a low expansion member disposed inside of a front skin of the seat, wherein one end of the low expansion member is attached to the inside of the front skin in the vicinity of a fragile part of the seat and the other end of the low expansion member is attached to the seatback frame through a slit. The low expansion member inhibits the front skin from expanding due to the inflation of the airbag, and a cushion pad located outside of the slit in the vehicle width direction and inside of the fragile part in the vehicle width direction is moved outward and frontward by the inflation of the airbag in a vehicle collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Seigo Taguchi, Kazuya Fukutani, Hideharu Saiki, Nobuo Inoue
  • Device for positioning components
    Patent number: 8152148
    Abstract: A device for positioning components, in particular for use in bodymaking of the motor vehicle industry, is provided with a rotatable receiving plate (1) for the components and a drive device for turning the receiving plate (1) about an axis of rotation (18), preferably arranged perpendicularly in relation to the plane of the receiving plate (1). A drive device is provided with a toggle clamping device (5) known per se, wherein a linear drive (6) is connected via a toggle lever to a swivel pin (16). The swivel pin (16) is positively and/or non-positively connected via a receptacle (15) to the receiving plate (1) and provides an adjustable swivelling movement of the receiving plate (1) into a locked, advanced end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Drauz Nothelfer GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Kipping, Rüdiger Schütz
  • Control strategy for multi-mode vehicle propulsion system
    Patent number: 8147377
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle operation in the transmission lash region. One method includes transitioning a combustion mode of a cylinder, and varying a timing of said transition responsive to whether the transmission is operating within the lash region of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Harald Stoffels, Klemens Grieser
  • Joint arrangement for a vehicle
    Patent number: 8147161
    Abstract: A joint arrangement, for a vehicle, is provided with a joint (7), which has a joint housing (8) and a pivot pin (9) mounted movably in relation thereto. The arrangement also includes a rod (4), which has a cavity (6) and is connected to the joint (7); a sealing bellows (10), which defines an interior space (10) and in which the joint (7) is arranged at least partially; and a gas-permeable connection (13), which connects the cavity (6) of the rod (4) to the interior space (11) of the sealing bellows (10) and has at least one groove (15), which is formed in a front side (21) of the joint (7), which said front side faces the rod (4), opens into the interior space (11) and has a radially outer end (27). The groove (15) with its radially outer end ends at a spaced location from the outer circumferential contour of the front surface (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Hahn, Thomas Herrmann
  • Auditing tool for a legacy software modernization system
    Patent number: 8150896
    Abstract: A database modernization auditing system and method is disclosed. One embodiment comprises a method for loading a legacy data object, transforming the legacy data object into a modern data object according to a rule set, wherein transforming the legacy data object into the modern data object further includes abstracting at least a portion of the legacy data object into semantic information and transforming the semantic information into the modern data object, and generating an audit log entry corresponding to an error that occurs while transforming the semantic information into the modern data object, wherein the audit log entry contains a unique identifier that relates the audit log entry with the legacy data object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: MAKE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Cotichini, Michael E. F. White, David John Green