Patents Assigned to Control Technology
  • Patent number: 8709664
    Abstract: A grid network for a battery plate is provided. The grid network includes a plurality of spaced apart grid wire elements, each grid wire element having opposed ends joined to one of a plurality of nodes. Each node includes the juncture of one of the opposed ends of a plurality of the grid wire elements to define a plurality of open spaces in the grid network. At least one of the grid wire elements has a first transverse cross-section intermediate its opposed ends that is a different shape than a second transverse cross-section at at least one of the grid wire element's opposed ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Schaeffer, Jeffrey L. Troxel, M. Eric Taylor, Wen-Hong Kao, Christian P. Hansen, Yu-Lin Chen, Dan J. Cantillon, Bart Sauer
  • Patent number: 8712781
    Abstract: A method for providing an audible prompt to a user within a vehicle. The method includes retrieving one or more data files from a memory device. The data files define certain characteristics of an audio prompt. The method also includes creating the audio prompt from the data files and outputting the audio prompt as an audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Mark Zeinstra, Richard J. Chutorash, Jeffrey Golden, Jon M. Skekloff
  • Patent number: 8705423
    Abstract: A method for pairing a first wireless device with a second wireless device includes gathering a first wireless communications characteristic about communications between the first wireless device and the second wireless device. The method further includes gathering second wireless communications characteristics about communications between the first wireless device and at least one wireless device other than the second wireless device. The method further includes generating a relative gain array from the communications characteristics and computing the pairing between the first wireless device and the second wireless device using the generated relative gain array. The method further includes configuring the first wireless device and/or the second wireless device based on the computed pairing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Timothy I. Salsbury, James S. Botic
  • Patent number: 8702168
    Abstract: A head restraint includes a contact surface movable toward and away from a seat occupant's head. The contact surface is connected to a fluid system that includes a piston rod. The fluid system adjusts the comfort and/or safety of the head contact surface. The fluid system comprises means for fixing the piston rod in a particular position in an accident situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Thomas Dillinger
  • Patent number: 8702172
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, such as a rear bench seat, includes a seat part, a backrest part and a fitting part. The backrest part and the fitting part are pivotable relative to the vehicle body about a first rotational axis. The first rotational axis is disposed below the seat part or behind the backrest part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Hans Schmodde, Stefan Josten, Stuart Woolston, Peter Lekat
  • Patent number: 8702176
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a floor latch (200) for connecting a vehicle seat base portion (204) with a vehicle floor portion, the floor latch (200) comprising an attachment means (301) and a riser (300), the floor latch (200) providing centering of the attachment means (301) for clamping the riser (300) with the seat base portion (204) or with the vehicle floor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Andrea Blackburn, Frederick Wilkinson, Benjamin Tong, Yannis Poulos, Shivaprasad Ramchandra, Frederic Winters, Steven White
  • Patent number: 8701250
    Abstract: A hinge assembly is provided that includes a follower and a cam disposed adjacent to the follower. The cam is capable of translating relative to the follower along a vertical direction and rotating relative to the follower about a rotational axis. The hinge assembly also includes an axle disposed through the cam to facilitate rotation of the cam about the rotational axis. The axle is configured to bias the cam toward the follower along the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Rick A. Anderson, Timothy J. Borgeson, Brent D. Rockafellow
  • Publication number: 20140105675
    Abstract: An equipment piece includes first and second components, such as a vehicle door armrest and a vehicle door. The first component is insertable in a recess, such as a slot, in the second component. The second component may be secured in the first by deformation of a projecting portion configured as a tab having a wall thickness smaller than its longitudinal extension. The tab is anchorable non-positively in the second component after inserting into the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Holger Kalus, Gunter Kascherus
  • Patent number: 8695389
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a key and to a mechanical module for a key having a key body and a key bit fitted to this key body such that it can pivot about a rotation axis between a use position and a stowed away position, the mechanical module being of the type comprising a pivoting support, holding the key bit and engaging with a control button, the control button having a first mechanical means for preventing rotation which is able to engage with a second mechanical means for preventing rotation of a casing element of the key body, it being possible for the control button to be positioned in a normal position and in a position in which it is depressed parallel to the rotation axis, the first mechanical means engaging with the second mechanical means at least at four points around the rotation axis when the control button is in its normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Christophe Gueble
  • Patent number: 8696972
    Abstract: A cushion element for a vehicle seat has fibers and foam particles bound by a binder. A precursor material for the cushion element is made by independently adding the fibers and the foam particles together with the binder. The addition and ratio of the fibers and foam particles may depend on their location in the cushion element, and may be influenced by electrostatic discharge means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Matthias Koeppe, Martin Werrn, Werner Klusmeier, Andreas Weingaertner
  • Publication number: 20140100740
    Abstract: A control system for mounting in a vehicle and for providing information to a portable electronic device for processing by the portable electronic device is shown and described. The control system includes a first interface for communicating with the portable electronic device and a memory device. The control system also includes a processing circuit communicably coupled to the first interface and the memory device, the processing circuit configured to extract information from the memory device and to provide the information to the first interface so that the first interface communicates the information to the portable electronic device. The processing circuit is further configured to determine the capabilities of the portable electronic device based on data received from the portable electronic device via the first interface and to determine whether or not to communicate the information to the portable electronic device based on the determined capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Richard J. CHUTORASH, Elisabet Anderson, Rodger W. Eich, Jeffrey Golden, Philip J. Vanderwall, Michael J. Sims
  • Patent number: 8693227
    Abstract: An inverter controller comprising a current regulator unit, a voltage regulator unit coupled to the current regulator unit, an inverter unit coupled to the voltage regulator unit, and a drive unit controlled by the inverter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: DRS Power & Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Gritter, James Ulrich
  • Patent number: 8689471
    Abstract: A control for an excavator of the type having a plurality of hydraulic cylinders for moving excavator components such that digging is accomplished at a worksite with an excavator bucket or other excavator implement, includes a plurality of hydraulic control valves, each of which is associated with a respective one of the hydraulic cylinders for controlling the application of hydraulic fluid pressure to the respective one of the hydraulic cylinders, and a plurality of manually actuated joystick valves for supplying hydraulic fluid pressure to the respective hydraulic control valves to control the movement of the hydraulic cylinders. The control includes a sensor arrangement for sensing the position of one or more excavator components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Hamish John Carpenter, Richard Paul Piekutowski, Mark Nichols
  • Patent number: 8694132
    Abstract: An extremum seeking control method optimizes a control process for a plant such as an air handling unit. The method improves the performance of an extremum seeking control strategy by limiting, removing or preventing the effects of an actuator saturation condition, particularly as the extremum seeking control strategy relates to HVAC applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Yaoyu Li, John E. Seem
  • Patent number: 8684462
    Abstract: An adjuster mechanism (14) includes a tilt bracket (52), a sector (54), and a motor and transmission assembly (56) and has minimal mass. The adjuster mechanism (14) is useful hi providing adjustability to a vehicle seat (12) for adjusting the front portion of a seat base cushion (16) between a plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: William Shawn Brewer, Ronald R. Siegrist
  • Patent number: 8686830
    Abstract: The invention relates to a communication system that comprises a vehicle electronic key, a vehicle telecommunication device and a portable telecommunication terminal, the electronic key including a first transmitter and the vehicle including a first receiver, the first transmitter and the first receiver being provided for carrying out the transmission of at least one information request from the electronic key to the vehicle, the vehicle telecommunication device including at least a second transmitter, the portable telecommunication terminal including at least a second receiver, the second transmitter and the second receiver being provided for carrying out the transmission of information from the vehicle to the portable telecommunication terminal, the portable telecommunication terminal being provided for displaying at least a portion of the information on a display member of the portable telecommunication terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Francis Lehomme
  • Patent number: 8683789
    Abstract: An exhaust valve assembly includes a flapper valve that is mounted on a shaft for rotation within an exhaust component housing between a closed position, an intermediate position, and an open position. An electric actuator is coupled to the shaft to control movement of the flapper valve. The electric actuator moves the flapper valve to the open position for high speed engine conditions. When engine speeds are lowered, and while all engine cylinders remain active, the electric actuator moves the flapper valve to the intermediate position. Once the flapper valve is in the intermediate position, if an engine cylinder is subsequently deactivated, the electric actuator quickly and quietly moves the flapper valve from the intermediate position to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies
    Inventors: Robin Willats, Joseph Callahan, Kwin Abram
  • Patent number: 8678496
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly 12 having a bracket assembly, the vehicle seat assembly 12 having a first seat back 22 having a seat frame member, and a second seat back 24 having a seat frame member, the bracket assembly having a first bracket 44 coupled to the first seat back 22, preferably the seat frame member, the first bracket 44 having an aperture 42, a second bracket 28 coupled to the second seat back 24, preferably the seat frame member, the second bracket 24 having a pivot pin 32 for insertion into the aperture 42 of the first bracket 22. The vehicle seat assembly 12 also including a retainer mechanism 34 for retaining the pivot pin 32 within the aperture 42 of the first bracket 22, the retainer mechanism 34 having a first bushing 40, a second bushing 36 and a retainer member 38.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Maxim Vladimirovich Zorine
  • Patent number: 8682921
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system for facilitating cross-subsystem queries of a plurality of building automation subsystems includes a first database storing a logical model for a building automation system. The system further includes a second database storing information for the plurality of building automation subsystems. The second database relates information for the plurality of building automation subsystems based on the logical model of the first database. The system also includes a query engine configured to decompose a cross-subsystem query received from an application into a plurality of subsystem queries using the information of the second database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Youngchoon Park, David S. Eidson
  • Patent number: 8672796
    Abstract: An adjustment device is disclosed for carrying out at least one adjustment function, such as for a motor vehicle seat. The device includes a drive in the form of a planetary gear mechanism. The mechanism has a planet carrier and an output. The output is stopped by a brake device when the drive is not actuated. The planet carrier cooperates with the brake device to release the brake device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Dirk Schulz, Stefan Haida