Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Tuttle
  • Swash plate type piston pump motor
    Patent number: 8118567
    Abstract: A swash plate type piston pump motor is configured such that: a plurality of pistons are arranged in a circumferential direction in a cylinder block configured to rotate with a rotating shaft; the pistons reciprocate such that tip end portions thereof are guided by a smooth surface of a swash plate; and the swash plate is slidably supported by a concave surface of a swash plate support of a convex surface to be able to tilt with respect to a rotating axis, and concave surfaces and of the swash plate support include quenched portions which are partially quenched by laser light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawasaki Precision Machinery
    Inventors: Takashi Mori, Yasuo Ohmi, Hideki Okado
  • Management system for game arcade
    Patent number: 8118150
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a management system for a game arcade which does not decrease authenticity of money information, and is manageable without changing setting even if the number of a game machine is increased. A transmitting side includes money identification units, a slave processing unit connected to each money identification unit, and a slave wireless communication unit connected to each slave processing unit. A receiving side includes a master processing unit, and a master wireless communication unit connected to the master processing unit and communicating with the slave wireless communication unit. The system establishes a communication channel between the master wireless communication unit and the slave wireless communication unit, and the slave processing unit transmits the money information and the check information to the slave wireless communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abe, Masaru Miyaji
  • Fuel system for multi-fuel engine
    Patent number: 8118014
    Abstract: An engine system and corresponding control method are described. As one example, the control method includes transferring one type of fuel from one fuel tank to a second fuel tank holding another type of fuel and adjusting an engine operating parameter based on the blended fuel mixture by selective operation of a first and second fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Allan J. Lippa, Donald J. Lewis
  • Engine and exhaust heating
    Patent number: 8118008
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided. The method comprises: during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to before a peak torque timing, and retarding spark timing from the advanced timing toward the peak torque timing in response to decreased engine speed to maintain idling speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Nate Trask
  • Gas sensor shield without perforations
    Patent number: 8117906
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a heated gas sensor with a porous metal shield without perforations are disclosed. In one example, the gas sensor is used in an intake manifold of an engine. In another embodiment, the gas sensor is used in an exhaust passage of an engine. The porous metal shield without perforations allows gas to permeate the shield for measurement while retarding flame propagation if gases ignite in the vicinity of a sensing element of the heated gas sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert F. Novak, Richard E. Soltis
  • On-board fuel vapor separation for multi-fuel vehicle
    Patent number: 8118009
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a fuel burning engine of a vehicle and a method of operating the fuel delivery system is provided. As one example, the method includes separating a first fuel and a second fuel from a fuel vapor on-board the vehicle, said fuel vapor including at least an alcohol component and a hydrocarbon component and said first fuel including a higher concentration of the alcohol component than the fuel vapor and the second fuel; condensing the separated first fuel from a vapor phase to a liquid phase; delivering the condensed liquid phase of the first fuel to the engine; and combusting at least the condensed liquid phase of the first fuel at the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Mark Allen Dearth
  • System and method for operating a high temperature fuel cell as a back-up power supply with reduced performance decay
    Patent number: 8119294
    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: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: ClearEdge Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Song, Zakiul Kabir, Craig Evans, Lin Qiu, Donald L. Maricle
  • Multi-stroke internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 8118000
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system and method of its operation are described. As one example, the method includes: repeatedly opening a first intake valve of a combustion chamber of the engine once every four piston strokes; transitioning operation of the combustion chamber from a four stroke cycle to a two stroke cycle by activating a second intake valve of the combustion chamber to repeatedly open once every four piston strokes during a different intake stroke than the first intake valve; and transitioning operation of the combustion chamber from the two stroke cycle to the four stroke cycle by deactivating the second intake valve in a closed position. In this way, the engine may be selectively operated in a two stroke cycle or a four stroke cycle by activating or deactivating or activating one of the intake valves while another of the intake valves continues to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Taking cover in a simulated environment
    Patent number: 8118653
    Abstract: An approach is described for instructing a player character to automatically take cover in a region of a simulated environment without receiving express commands from a user. The approach determines whether the player character should take cover based on one or more factors. Such factors may include: the presence of an enemy-type character in the region; the presence of a nearby object in the region that can be used to seek cover; and a determination whether the player character's behavior is consistent with a decision to seek cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Adam J. Langridge
  • Fuel injector diagnostic for dual fuel engine
    Patent number: 8118006
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling fuel injection of a dual fuel engine which includes first and second fuel rails and first and second fuel pumps. In one example, while pumping is suspended in the second fuel rail, the first fuel is injected to all but one cylinder of the engine and the second fuel is injected to the one cylinder in a predetermined sequence. As such, the fuel injector injecting to the one cylinder is isolated and its performance may be assessed without significantly affecting engine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • System and method for desulfating a NOtrap
    Patent number: 8112988
    Abstract: A method is described for controlling an engine with a NOx trap. The method may include adjusting timing of subsequent desulfation based upon a delay between initiating the desulfation process and a temperature increase in the NOx trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Shane Elwart
  • Training a driver of a vehicle to achieve improved fuel economy
    Patent number: 8116971
    Abstract: A system for training a driver to achieve improved fuel economy monitors the driving parameters of a vehicle, analyzes the monitored driving parameters, calculates suggested driving behavior adjustments, and communicates the driving behavior adjustments to the driver as the driver is driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Tzu Chen, Joseph Figueroa
  • Game of chance
    Patent number: 8113944
    Abstract: A game of chance includes receiving a stake corresponding to a target game-item from a player. In each phase of the game, a random integer is selected and a game-item corresponding to that integer is removed from play. If the target game-item is removed from play, the player is awarded a return and the game of chance ends. If specific game-items or combinations of game items are removed from play, the player is defeated, and the game of chance ends. A subsequent phase of the game of chance begins if the player is not defeated or awarded a return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Miller, Jason York, Jeffrey Blazier
  • Dissimilar joint structure, tank skirt including dissimilar joint structure, transport ship including tank skirt, and method for joining dissimilar metal members
    Patent number: 8113133
    Abstract: A dissimilar joint structure according to the present invention is provided at a first metal member and a second metal member which are made of dissimilar metals to each other. The dissimilar joint structure couples the first metal member and the second metal member 7. An inserting groove 8a is formed at the first metal member. The second metal member includes an inserting portion which is able to be inserted into the inserting groove. The first metal member is joined to the inserting portion 9 with the inserting portion 9 inserted into the inserting groove 8a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukichi Takaoka, Noriko Omichi, Mitsuo Fujimoto, Hidehito Nishida
  • Managing reductant slip in an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 8112986
    Abstract: A method for controlling operation of vehicle system including an internal combustion engine and a catalytic emission control device coupled in an exhaust of the engine, the method including delivering, which may include injecting into the exhaust, reductant to the emission control device responsive to vehicle operating conditions, and increasing emission control device inlet-NOx in response to reductant release from the emission control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Method for idle speed control
    Patent number: 8113170
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling engine output in a vehicle having a hydraulic power steering system. The method may include, during an idle condition where an engine speed is set to an idle speed, adjusting engine output based on a learned absolute steering wheel angle to compensate for changes in engine load caused by operation of the hydraulic power steering system. The learned absolute steering wheel angle may be based on a steering wheel angle relative to a steering wheel position at vehicle startup and operating conditions from previous vehicle operation before the vehicle startup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brent Jacobsen, Mike Ryan Scannell, Ron Reichenbach, Hugh Hamilton, Marian Sue Chupa
  • Multi-component transient fuel compensation
    Patent number: 8113180
    Abstract: A method adjusts fuel injection to account for fuel puddling in the engine intake. The fuel is adjusted based on the ethanol content of the fuel in the puddle, and the make-up of the various fuel components in the puddle. In this way, it is possible to better account for the effects of these parameters on puddle evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Stephen Lee Cooper
  • Hydrocarbon retaining system configuration for combustion engine
    Patent number: 8112985
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Shane Elwart, James Michael Kerns, Jason Aaron Lupescu
  • Controlling of a vehicle responsive to reductant conditions
    Patent number: 8116961
    Abstract: Controlling a vehicle responsive to reductant conditions is provided. The method for controlling a vehicle having an engine with an exhaust, the exhaust having a reductant injection system including a reductant storage vessel, the engine further having a fuel system including a fuel storage vessel, may include under degraded reductant conditions, restricting vehicle motion in response to a fuel refill of the fuel storage vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Paul Bogema, Bret Alan Zimmerman, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Ed Kulik, James Edwin Blatchford
  • Pouch for portable electronic communication device
    Patent number: D653855
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Namsung Corporation
    Inventor: Seong-ho Yoon