Patents Assigned to A-America, Inc.
  • ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION OF METAL CARBIDE FILMS USING ALUMINUM HYDROCARBON COMPOUNDS
    Publication number: 20090315093
    Abstract: Methods of forming metal carbide films are provided. In some embodiments, a substrate is exposed to alternating pulses of a transition metal species and an aluminum hydrocarbon compound, such as TMA, DMAH, or TEA. The aluminum hydrocarbon compound is selected to achieve the desired properties of the metal carbide film, such as aluminum concentration, resistivity, adhesion and oxidation resistance. In some embodiments, the methods are used to form a metal carbide layer that determines the work function of a control gate in a flash memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: ASM AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Dong LI, Steven MARCUS, Suvi P. HAUKKA, Wei-Min LI
  • Vegetable Containing Food Product and Method of Making
    Publication number: 20090317520
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing a vegetable containing half product and final product. The vegetable containing food products have a high content of non-potato vegetable puree and can be made to resemble French fries. The vegetable containing food product and half product can be easily inserted into the supply chain of a quick service restaurant for efficient delivery to the consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: FRITO-LAY NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Dimitris LYKOMITROS, David Wallice GRAHAM, Brian Peter JACOBY
  • Systems and Methods for Adaptive Hybrid Automatic Retransmission Requests
    Publication number: 20090319855
    Abstract: A turbo coded hybrid ARQ with both IR and repetition existing in one or more transmission blocks is designed. The mixed combining is performed at the receiver—Chase combining is performed for the repetitions first, followed by code combining for all code bits based on Chase combining outputs. The packet error probability is obtained by applying the union-Bhattacharyya (UB) bound for parallel channels. The throughput optimization of hybrid ARQ is determined as well as the optimal assignment rates by solving the optimization using a genetic algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: NEC LABORATORIES AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Guosen Yue, Xiaodong Wang
  • DESIZING PROCESS
    Publication number: 20090317893
    Abstract: A process for desizing of a sized fabric containing starch or starch derivatives during manufacture of a fabric, which process comprises incubating said sized fabric in an aqueous treating solution having a pH in the range between 1 and 5 which aqueous treating solution comprises an alpha-amylase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Novozymes North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiyin Liu, Sonja Salmon, Guifang Wu
  • Process To Make Core-Shell Structured Nanoparticles
    Publication number: 20090317557
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making a composite material that contains core-shell structured nanoparticles. The process includes providing a precursor in the form of a powder a liquid and/or a vapor of a liquid that contains a core material and a shell material, and suspending the precursor in an aerosol gas to produce an aerosol containing the precursor. In addition, the process includes providing a plasma that has a hot zone and passing the aerosol through the hot zone of the plasma. As the aerosol passes through the hot zone of the plasma, at least part of the core material and at least part of the shell material in the aerosol is vaporized. Vapor that contains the core material and the shell material that has been vaporized is removed from the hot zone of the plasma and allowed to condense into core-shell structured nanoparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., University of New Mexico
    Inventors: Claudia Luhrs, Jonathan Phillips, Monique N. Richard
  • Material With Core-Shell Structure
    Publication number: 20090317719
    Abstract: Disclosed is a material having a composite particle. The composite particle includes an outer shell containing an element such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur and an inner core made from a lithium alloying material such as tin, silicon, aluminum and/or germanium. If the outer shell is made from carbon, the outer shell of the composite particle has an average thickness of less than 20 nanometers and the composite particle has an outer mean diameter of less than 100 nanometers. In some instances, the inner core is made from tin, a tin binary alloy, a tin tertiary alloy or a tin quaternary alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The University of New Mexico
    Inventors: Claudia Luhrs, Jonathan Phillips, Monique N. Richard, Kimber L. Stamm
  • METHOD AND DEVICE FOR A COMBINED SIGNATURE DIVERTER AND SLOWDOWN DEVICE
    Publication number: 20090315255
    Abstract: A device for diverting printed products is provided. The device includes a first rotating support having a first pad mounted thereon, a second rotating support having a second pad mounted thereon, a third rotating support having a third pad mounted thereon and a fourth rotating support having a fourth pad mounted thereon. The first pad has a different thickness than the second pad and the first and second rotating supports rotate together. The third pad has a different thickness than the fourth pad and the third and fourth rotating supports rotate together. A method for diverting printed products is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Adrian ST. OURS, Kevin Lauren COTE, Lothar John SCHROEDER
  • METHOD FOR PROTECTING A LAMP CIRCUIT AND RELATED WIRING
    Publication number: 20090315465
    Abstract: A method for controlling a lamp circuit that includes: setting a first voltage threshold and a first time window within a control circuit corresponding to a characteristic of a first lamp type; providing a first signal through the lamp circuit to start a first time interval and create a first test voltage; comparing the first test voltage to the first voltage threshold; and operating a switch to couple an output of the lamp circuit to a source of electrical power if the first test voltage is greater than or equal to the first voltage threshold before the first time interval exceeds the first time window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang Li, Daniel Moore
  • Material With Core-Shell Structure
    Publication number: 20090317637
    Abstract: Disclosed is a material having a composite particle, the composite particle including an outer shell and a core. The core is made from a lithium alloying material and the outer shell has an inner volume that is greater in size than the core of the lithium alloying material. In some instances, the outer mean diameter of the outer shell is less than 500 nanometers and the core occupies between 5 and 99% of the inner volume. In addition, the outer shell can have an average wall thickness of less than 100 nanometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia C. Luhrs, Monique N. Richard, Aaron Dehne, Jonathan Phillips, Kimber L. Stamm, Paul T. Fanson
  • CONTACT-FREE VEHICLE AIR VENT
    Publication number: 20090318069
    Abstract: A contact-free air vent flow direction control device includes an air vent, a positioning mechanism, a touch-less motion sensor and a control unit. The air vent has at least one flow control blade configured to move between a plurality of predetermined orientations each corresponding to a direction of air flow from the air vent. The positioning mechanism is operably coupled to the flow control blade. The touch-less motion sensor is configured to detect relative movement of objects proximate the touch-less motion sensor. The control unit is operably connected to the touch-less motion sensor and the positioning mechanism to control operation of the positioning mechanism in order to position the flow control blade in a selected one of the predetermined orientations in response to a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined movements detected by the touch-less motion sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Heather KONET
  • Propeller shaft
    Patent number: 7635307
    Abstract: An illustrative embodiment includes a propshaft system including a first constant velocity joint generally defining a first axis and having an inner first race, an outer first race, and a first grease cover mated to the outer first race. The propshaft system also includes a first flange having a first flange mating surface and a first flange contour surface. The propshaft system also includes a second constant velocity joint generally defining a second axis and having an inner second race, an outer second race, and a second grease cover mated to the outer second race. The second grease cover is defined, at least in part, by a second grease cover flange surface and a second grease cover contour surface. The propshaft system additionally includes a propshaft portion extending at least partially between the first connection apparatus and the second connection apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: GKN Driveline North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason T. Curi
  • Article and method for monitoring temperature and pressure within a pressurized gas cylinder
    Patent number: 7636053
    Abstract: A wireless based sensor assembly incorporated within a sealed and pressurized vessel including an end plug secured against an inner surface of the vessel. Temperature and pressure sensors are mounted to inner exposed locations of the end plug and are capable of monitoring temperature and a pressure conditions existing within the sealed vessel. A power supply is communicated to the sensors within said vessel and such that the sensors communicate, in wireless fashion, information regarding the conditions existing internally within the vessel to an external location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Landon Spare, Justin David Ward
  • Configurable photo detector circuit
    Patent number: 7635836
    Abstract: A configurable photo detector circuit includes a photo detector array having a plurality of photo detectors. A switching matrix includes a first plurality of inputs coupled to outputs of the plurality of photo detector, a second plurality of inputs, and a plurality of matrix outputs. A controller is coupled to the second plurality of inputs of the switching matrix for configuring the switching matrix. The controller is operable to receive programmed commands for configuring the switching matrix. An output block having a plurality of inputs is coupled to receive the plurality of matrix outputs and a plurality of outputs, wherein electrical signals from the plurality of photo detectors are directed to respective ones of the plurality of outputs based on the switching matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Zheng, Daryl Chamberlin
  • Photovoltaic structure with a conductive nanowire array electrode
    Patent number: 7635600
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) structure is provided, along with a method for forming a PV structure with a conductive nanowire array electrode. The method comprises: forming a bottom electrode with conductive nanowires; forming a first semiconductor layer of a first dopant type (i.e., n-type) overlying the nanowires; forming a second semiconductor layer of a second dopant type, opposite of the first dopant type (i.e., p-type), overlying the first semiconductor layer; and, forming a top electrode overlying the second semiconductor layer. The first and second semiconductor layers can be a material such as a conductive polymer, a conjugated polymer with a fullerene derivative, and inorganic materials such as CdSe, CdS, Titania, or ZnO. The conductive nanowires can be a material such as IrO2, In2O3, SnO2, or indium tin oxide (ITO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Fengyan Zhang, Robert A. Barrowcliff, Sheng Teng Hsu
  • Air filter status evaluator
    Patent number: 7635402
    Abstract: An air filter system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle can have an indicator for signaling restricted flow of air through a replaceable air filter member mounted to a filter assembly. At least one sidewall can be associated with the replaceable air filter member to be positioned with an air stream passing through the air filter member. A resettable air filter status indicator can provide a visually perceivable signal external of the filter assembly. The resettable air filter status indicator can be integrally formed in the sidewall for indicating if a mounted air filter member requires replacement in response to air intake differential pressure with respect to atmospheric pressure on a downstream side of air flow through the replaceable filter member being above a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan Hoffman
  • Intelligent navigation system
    Patent number: 7636632
    Abstract: A system and method of intelligent navigation of a vehicle using a navigation system with artificial intelligence is provided. The system includes a global positioning means, a navigation means, a controller, and an information database containing a map of a location of a traffic control device. The method includes the steps of maintaining a map in an information database associated with the navigation system, and sensing a location of the vehicle using an input means in communication with the navigation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael John Wolterman
  • Purification of biodiesel with adsorbent materials
    Patent number: 7635398
    Abstract: A method of purifying a biodiesel fuel by contacting the biodiesel fuel with at least one adsorbent material, such as magnesium silicate. Such method removes impurities, such as soap, formed during the production of biodiesel fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: The Dallas Group of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Bertram, Christopher Abrams, Brian S. Cooke
  • Controlled Dissemination of Information in Mobile Networks
    Publication number: 20090310783
    Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods for controlled dissemination of information in mobile networks using encrypted broadcasts that are decrypted at the device. An encryption key is generated corresponding to a particular category or granularity of information. The information is encrypted before it is broadcast to the sector. A user within the sector sends a key request across the network, in response to which the encryption key is sent to the user. The user can decrypt the encrypted information received in the broadcast. Additionally, a credit-checking mechanism may be employed to ensure that the user has sufficient credit to purchase the key. In one embodiment, the information to be disseminated is divided into a plurality of categories, wherein each category corresponds to a granularity of information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: NEC LABORATORIES AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ravindranath Kokku, Karthikeyan Sundaresan, Guofei Jiang
  • Removably Clamped Platform
    Publication number: 20090309390
    Abstract: According to some preferred examples, a vehicle having a removable deck plate or platform is disclosed. The vehicle preferably includes: a) a frame; b) a platform for placement upon the frame; c) a clamping plate for clamping against the frame; d) a clamping arm engageable with the clamping plate via a hole in the platform; and e) the clamping arm and the clamping plate being configured so as to clamp the platform to the frame upon moving the clamping arm into a position adjacent the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Volvo Trucks North America, Inc
    Inventors: Chad Burchett, Rodney Phillips
  • USER SELECTABLE GAME INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH AN ASSET
    Publication number: 20090313084
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for interacting with a virtual world being displayed on a video display are described. The virtual world includes user selectable tagged images. The tagged images are related to an asset and can include a redemption feature that can be used when acquiring the asset. A user interacting with a game console can select the tagged images. Upon selection of the tagged image the game console can communicate information related to the tagged image, the related asset and/or the redemption feature to a mobile device. The tagged images can also be associated with distribution rules that can be evaluated to determine when and to whom to distribute digital coupons associated with the tagged images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
    Inventor: Yogesh Chugh