Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Tuttle
  • Patent number: 8281772
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a glow plug are disclosed. In one example, current supplied to a glow plug can be controlled to promote combustion stability of a cylinder after an engine start. Engine feedgas hydrocarbons may be reduced during conditions where combustion stability may be otherwise reduced in order to reduce tailpipe emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Kurtz, Paul Joseph Tennison, David A. May
  • Patent number: 8281578
    Abstract: A method for correcting an estimated amount of NH3 store within a SCR is described. In one example, SCR efficiency is determined from a NOx sensor output and the estimated amount of NH3 is corrected based on the SCR efficiency. Engine emissions may be reduced via improving the estimated NH3 storage level, at least during some conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Devesh Upadhyay, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 8281765
    Abstract: Systems, methods and a processor are provided for adjusting the spark timing of an internal combustion engine. The systems, methods and processor include adjusting the spark timing of an internal combustion engine configured to power a vehicle toward peak torque timing based on an output of a longitudinal acceleration sensor configured to sense a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hongtei Eric Tseng, Diana Yanakiev, Davor David Hrovat, Mrdjan J. Jankovic
  • Patent number: 8282518
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided, which includes a plurality of elongated strands having joinder regions uniting adjacent strands at a distance along a length of an outer perimeter of the elongated strands, the elongate strands being configured to couple together for a distance along their lengths. The elongated strands form a surface of a mesh when the joinder regions are coupled. The apparatus may further include a manducable protrusion coupled to the mesh and extending a distance away from an exterior surface of the mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: GOT I, LLC
    Inventors: David E. Silverglate, Brian Gulassa
  • Patent number: 8280235
    Abstract: A liquid material vaporizer comprises a gas-liquid mixing section for mixing a liquid material and a carrier gas to generate a gas-liquid mixture; a heating type vaporizing section for vaporizing the gas-liquid mixture from the gas-liquid mixing section and exhausting outside with an assistance of the carrier gas a gas generated by the vaporization; a connecting section for making a connection between the gas-liquid mixing section and the vaporizing section, the connecting section having inside a flow path for the gas-liquid mixture; and a connecting section cooling section for cooling the connecting section. Thus, the liquid material vaporizer which performs suitable vaporization by preventing residue from being generated even in the case of vaporizing a liquid material composed of a plurality of materials having different boiling points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Horiba Stec, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Nishikawa, Takeshi Kawano
  • Patent number: 8276469
    Abstract: A stack-gas measuring apparatus includes a sample introducing unit (sampling unit and heating conduit pipe) for introducing stack-gas, a cooling unit (containing wet filter) in which dust components in the stack-gas are agglomerated, a filter column containing a filter element made of a polymer material for collecting the dust components, a mist scrubber which is disposed downstream of the filter column and which contains an adsorbent for removing acid mist in the stack-gas, and an analyzer in which the cleaning-processed gas is introduced to measure a particular component in the stack-gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: HORIBA, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Akiyama, Atsushi Yamamoto, Takuji Oida
  • Patent number: 8279200
    Abstract: A light-induced shape-memory polymer display screen is provided herein. One example display device includes a display screen having a topography-changing layer including a light-induced shape-memory polymer. The display device further includes an imaging engine configured to project visible light onto the display screen, where the visible light may be modulated at a pixel level to form a display image thereon. The display device further includes a topography-changing engine configured to project agitation light of an ultraviolet band towards the display screen, where the agitation light is modulated at a pixel level to selectively change a topography of the topography-changing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Erez Kikin-Gil
  • Patent number: 8279241
    Abstract: A method of presenting a hierarchically-organized collection of objects includes displaying a first-level set of first-level objects in a prominent scale; and while displaying the first-level set of first-level objects in the prominent scale, displaying one or more second-level sets of second-level objects in a diminished scale. Each second-level set of second-level objects is linked to a different first-level object. The method further includes recognizing selection of a chosen first-level object, and after recognizing selection of the chosen first-level object: displaying a second-level set of second-level objects linked to the chosen first-level object in a prominent scale; displaying a portion of the chosen first-level object in an enlarged scale; and displaying one or more third-level sets of third-level objects in a diminished scale. Each third-level set of third-level objects is linked to a different one of the second-level objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey Fong
  • Patent number: 8272362
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heating a catalyst during engine cold-start conditions. One example embodiment uses positive valve overlap to drive a boosted blow-through airflow through the cylinders of an engine. Fuel is injected with the blow-through airflow during the valve overlap, and also injected into engine cylinders outside the valve overlap. The catalyst is heated by the resulting exothermic reaction of the blow-through airflow with the combustion products and the injected fuel in the exhaust manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Daniel Shane, James David Pakko, Paul M. Laing
  • Patent number: 8275523
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a commercial vehicle with a control unit connected with the drive of the commercial vehicle and to a method for controlling a commercial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Nenzing GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Krimbacher
  • Patent number: 8272207
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling an engine in a vehicle, the engine having a cylinder with a bowl. One example method comprises, during regeneration of a particulate filter positioned in an engine exhaust, timing a late post injection of fuel in an exhaust stroke to spray at least some of the injected fuel into the bowl and without hitting cylinder walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Patent number: 8272365
    Abstract: An engine with two vacuum sources is disclosed. In one example, a valve position is adjusted when engine load is low and intake manifold pressure is low to arbitrate vacuum between the two vacuum sources. The approach may increase engine operating efficiency during at least some conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Amey Y. Karnik
  • Patent number: 8272215
    Abstract: A method for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger coupled to an engine of a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving a signal responsive to an operating condition of the turbocharger and adjusting one or more operating parameters of the motor vehicle when a power of the signal, integrated over a pre-selected range of non-zero frequencies, exceeds a pre-selected threshold. Other embodiments provide related systems for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yong Shu, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Frank M. Korpics, Harold Huimin Sun
  • Patent number: 8275538
    Abstract: Various example approaches are described, one of which includes a method for controlling injection of gaseous and liquid fuel to a cylinder during engine starting. Specifically, gaseous fuel is injected during or before an intake stroke of the cycle to form a well-mixed overall lean air-fuel mixture, and then liquid fuel is directly injected to the cylinder at least during one of a compression and expansion stroke of the engine cycle to form a rich air-fuel cloud near the spark plug, where a spark initiates combustion of the injected fuels. In one example, the rich cloud enables additional spark retard, and thus faster catalyst light-off, while maintain acceptable combustion stability of the gaseous fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8273315
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reducing exhaust NOx species using a monolith substrate having a plurality of channels configured with radially varying cell density. An injector injects reductant into the substrate unobstructedly, without use of a mixer. In some embodiments, a twist angle of the channels is based on a distance from an inlet of the substrate and varies exponentially as a function of the distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeong Yeol Kim, Giovanni Cavataio
  • Patent number: 8267066
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving fluid usage while addressing knock by adjusting the use of spark retard and direct injection of a fluid based on engine operating conditions and the composition of the injected fluid. One or more engine parameters, such as EGR, VCT, boost, throttle position, are coordinated with the direct injection to reduce torque and EGR transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, John Nelson, Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 8267072
    Abstract: An engine with an efficient selectively operable vacuum source is disclosed. In one example, an electric vacuum pump with oil wetted seals provides vacuum to a vehicle. The approach may provide for improved efficiency when generating vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8268160
    Abstract: In one example, a specimen is immersed in an electrolyte, and a plurality of potentials of the specimen are experimentally related to a plurality of currents by applying the potentials to the specimen while measuring the currents, or, by drawing the currents through the specimen while measuring the potentials. The potentials are referenced to a hydrogen reference electrode. Hydrogen is supplied to the hydrogen reference electrode via an electrolysis cathode distinct from the hydrogen reference electrode. In another example, an electrochemical cell confines a head gas disposed over the electrolyte. A partial pressure of water vapor in the head gas is adjusted so that the concentration of water in the electrolyte, when equilibrated with the head gas, falls within a predetermined concentration range. The head gas and electrolyte are then equilibrated, thereby controlling the concentration of water in the electrolyte, and an electrochemical property of the specimen is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: ClearEdge Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason M. Tang, Yang Song
  • Patent number: D668030
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Keen, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan Kime Youngs
  • Patent number: D668787
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Schmitz-Werke GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Kramer