Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Tuttle
  • Patent number: 7946322
    Abstract: An interchangeable bag and cover system is provided that comprises a body with a first connection portion. A first securing mechanism is coupled to the body. A plurality of covers are interchangeably connectable to the body. Each cover has a second connection portion releasably attachable to the first connection portion of the body, wherein the cover is moveable relative to the body between open position and closed positions. Each cover has a free end portion positionable adjacent to the body when the cover is in the close position. Each cover has a second securing mechanism configured to releasably engage the first securing mechanism to retain the cover in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Overland Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Valvano, Jeffrey Levis, Gregory Fritsch, Rory W. Fuerst
  • Patent number: 7948474
    Abstract: A computer mouse for use with a computing device is provided. The computer mouse may include a mouse body with an ulnar side digit support structure having a front concave region and a rear convex region formed proximate and behind the front concave region. The front concave region may include an overhang portion on a top side and an outwardly flared region on a bottom side. The front concave region may be sized to receive a distal end of a digit of a user, and the rear convex region may be sized to support a proximate end of a digit of a user. The mouse body may additionally include a radial side digit support structure that has a concave region with an outwardly flared region on a bottom side of the concavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Monique Chatterjee, Peter Bristol, Dan Odell, Steven Fisher, Hugh McLoone
  • Patent number: 7946263
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling cylinder valve switching between a first valve condition and a second valve condition for transitioning between combustion modes of an engine. The method includes adjusting timing of a signal to switch between the valve conditions based on an oil degradation condition from an oil sensor, wherein the combustion modes include spark ignition and homogenous charge compression ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jon O'Neill, Themi Philemon Petridis
  • Patent number: 7946259
    Abstract: An engine system and method of its operation are described. The method includes: operating the combustion chamber in a four stroke cycle by repeatedly opening a first exhaust valve of the combustion chamber once every four piston strokes while holding closed a second exhaust valve of the combustion chamber; after operating the combustion chamber in the four stroke cycle, operating the combustion chamber in a two stroke cycle by repeatedly opening the first exhaust valve once every four piston strokes and repeatedly opening the second exhaust valve once every four piston strokes during a different exhaust stroke than the first exhaust valve; and after operating the combustion chamber in the two stroke cycle, operating the combustion chamber in the four stroke cycle by repeatedly opening the second exhaust valve of the combustion chamber once every four piston strokes while holding closed the first exhaust valve of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 7946273
    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: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Allan J. Lippa, Donald J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7942120
    Abstract: A variable camshaft timing (VCT) system for an internal combustion engine is described. In one example, the system includes a spool valve that displaces oil from one phaser chamber to another phaser chamber when the spool valve is moved. The system may respond faster than systems that employ a pump to move oil between phaser chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Quanbao Zhou
  • Patent number: 7942128
    Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising of a cylinder of the engine; a first injector configured to inject a first substance to said cylinder; a second injector configured to inject a second substance to said cylinder; and a controller configured to commence combustion in the engine by injecting fuel into said cylinder, where said fuel is injected by only one of said first and second injectors during said start and/or warm-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Donald J. Lewis, Robert A. Stein
  • Patent number: 7942127
    Abstract: A system and method are described for operating an engine of a vehicle, the engine having a combustion chamber. In one example, the method may include controlling a stability of the vehicle in response to a vehicle acceleration; and adjusting dilution in the combustion chamber of the engine to reduce surge in response to the vehicle acceleration. The dilution may be adjusted by adjusting cam timing, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Eric Tseng, Davor David Hrovat, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Diana Yanakiev
  • Patent number: 7942389
    Abstract: An evaporator defines an evaporator volume, and boils the liquid inside evaporator volume. A mixing chamber is in communication with the evaporator volume and mixes the vapor or moisture from the liquid in the evaporator with the breathing gas of the patient. The mixing chamber is a separate structure than the evaporator. The mixing chamber and the evaporator are connected by a first connection that is repetitively connectable and disconnectable without significant destruction of a respective connection. A heater is arranged outside of the evaporator and in a heat conducting connection with the evaporator. The heater is a separate structure than the evaporator. The evaporator and the heater are connected by a second connection that is repetitively connectable and disconnectable. A liquid storage tank is in communication with the evaporator and supplies a liquid to the evaporator through a flow channel. The liquid storage tank is larger than the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Dräger Medical GmbH
    Inventors: Jochim Koch, Klaus Radomski, Andreas Krause
  • Patent number: 7944358
    Abstract: A traffic and population counting device system and method is provided. The traffic and population counting device may be executable by a computing device and may include an entry selector configured to be selected to indicate that a shopper has entered a shopping zone and to keep a running count of a number of shoppers who enter the shopping zone. An exit selector may be configured to be selected to indicate that a shopper has exited a shopping zone and to keep a running count of a number of shoppers who exit the shopping zone. Further, a display may be configured to display a running population count of shoppers within the shopping zone. The running population count may be determined by a running difference between the running count of the number of shoppers who enter the shopping zone and the running count of the number of shoppers who exit the shopping zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Shopper Scientist, LLC
    Inventors: Herb Sorensen, David Albers
  • Patent number: 7945377
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine system is described in which a back-pressure valve of a low pressure EGR system can be modulated at a lower frequency during an EGR operation, and at a higher frequency when additional exhaust gas sensing is requested. Back-pressure valve modulation can therefore be used to promote exhaust gas mixing while providing EGR. Exhaust gas constituents in the mixed exhaust gas can then be sensed with higher accuracy by downstream exhaust gas sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, William Charles Ruona, Paul Joseph Tennison, Michael Hopka
  • Patent number: 7941994
    Abstract: An engine having a first and second bank of cylinders is disclosed. The engine may have improved fuel economy and emission as compared to other similar engines. In one example, engine cylinders may be deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Christian T. Goralski, Jr., Stephen B. Smith, James P. O'Neill, Garry Zawacki
  • Patent number: 7938111
    Abstract: A connection head for an absorber (4) of an anesthetic breathing system has a simple design and can be easily taken apart. A valve device (2) is inserted into a guide sleeve (7), which is open towards the absorber (4). A sealing ring (16), which has two sealing areas (23, 24) and fixes the valve means (2) within the guide sleeve (7), is arranged on the underside of the guide sleeve (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Dräger Medical GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Lischinski
  • Patent number: 7938105
    Abstract: In one approach, a method for measuring exhaust gas recirculation flow in an engine is provided. The method comprises separating EGR flow into at least a first flow and a second flow, passing the separated first flow through a restriction region, where the first flow passes through the restriction region separately from the separated second flow, combining the separated second flow and inducting the combined flows into a cylinder of the engine, where the EGR flow is separated and then combined within a common EGR passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Freeman Gates, Hossein Bina, Joseph Grandas, Gitanjli McRoy
  • Patent number: 7941210
    Abstract: An electroimpedance tomograph with a plurality of electrodes (1) is provided, which can be placed on the body of a patient and are connected via a selector switch (60) with a control and evaluating unit (20). The control and evaluating unit (20) cooperates with the selector switch (60) such that two electrodes each are supplied with an alternating current from an AC power source (22) and the detected analog voltage signals of the other electrodes are processed in order to reconstruct therefrom the impedance distribution of the body in the plane of the electrodes, wherein a symmetrical AC power source is used to reduce common-mode signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Dräger Medical GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Matthiessen, Dieter Weismann, Jianhua Li, Yvo Gärber, Arndt Pöcher, Markus Steeger
  • Patent number: 7940018
    Abstract: A control system and method for a hybrid electric vehicle. One example control system includes a current calculating module to calculate a current, the current being at least one of a current to drive a motor of the vehicle and a current generated by the motor, and a feed controller to selectively implement a first mode when the calculated current is below a predetermined current value and to selectively implement a second mode when the calculated current is more than the predetermined current value, wherein either the first feed circuit or the second feed circuit is used in the first mode and both the first feed circuit and the second feed circuit are used in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Yonemori, Nobuhide Seo, Kohei Saito, Hirofumi Akagi, Hideaki Fujita
  • Patent number: 7939437
    Abstract: A method for the production of a contact structure of a solar cell allows p-contacts and n-contacts to be produced simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Deutsche Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Krause, Bernd Bitnar, Holger Neuhaus
  • Patent number: 7938107
    Abstract: A flow control valve, comprising a flow controlling valve configured to deflect from a generally planar posture to an increasingly nonplanar posture responsive to a relative increase in pressure difference and flow across the valve element; and a support element including a support structure supporting the valve element in its undeflected state; at least a first contact surface recessed from the support structure and configured to engage the valve element only when the valve element is deflected; and a flow passage wherein an effective flow-through volume through the at least one opening and the flow passage decreases as deflection of the valve element increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David C. Freeman, Alexander H. Slocum, Daniel Kabat
  • Patent number: 7940175
    Abstract: A device with a water trap. The device has a gas sensor and is designed to send a gas sample flow through the water trap (2) and to feed it to the gas sensor (3). The water trap (2) is designed to be separably connected to the device. The device has a mount for connection to the water trap. The water trap (2) has a radio frequency marking (5). The device has a radio frequency detection device (6) with a detection area (7) for the radio frequency marking, which is designed to detect the radio frequency marking in the detection area and to generate a marking signal, which represents marking information of the radio frequency marking. The device is designed to be controlled as a function of the marking signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Dräger Medical GmbH
    Inventors: Gerd Peter, Thomas Maxeiner
  • Patent number: D637792
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Jun Ashida Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Ashida