Patents Assigned to Control Technology
  • Publication number: 20120315532
    Abstract: A battery terminal cover is provided. The battery terminal cover has a base arranged to cover a battery terminal root, a tower arranged to cover a battery terminal post, and a projection coupled to the battery terminal cover. The projection has a retention area for temporary storage of a later used fastener for coupling to the battery terminal post. A battery is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Glenn W. Andersen, William J. Ross, Micah C. Mahnke, Jeff Hindman
  • Patent number: 8330569
    Abstract: A system for receiving data for training a trainable transmitter used to subsequently transmit a modulated RF signal having the received data includes an antenna, a capacitive detection circuit and a control circuit. The capacitive detection circuit is coupled to the antenna and configured to detect data provided in a control signal of a remote control transmitter used to remotely actuate a device. The control circuit is coupled to the capacitive detection circuit and is configured to store the received data and to generate the RF signal having the received data to be transmitted by the trainable transmitter to actuate the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: David A. Blaker, Matthew W. Cardwell
  • Patent number: 8332075
    Abstract: Controllers for controlling heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and cooling (HVAC) systems are provided. The controllers include graphical user interfaces for user adjustment of system settings. The graphical user interfaces also may be designed to present information that facilitates user understanding of system operations. In certain embodiments, the controllers may allow users to adjust balance point and/or LTCO temperature values. In these embodiments, the graphical user interfaces may include slide bars for adjusting the balance point and/or LTCO temperature values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ralph Harrod, Bradley A. Beers, Grant E. Carmichael, Brian D. Rigg
  • Publication number: 20120308869
    Abstract: Provided herein are electrochemical cells having improved heat collection and transfer systems. For example, one electrochemical cell includes a drawn can having a blind side and a second side opposite the blind side. The cell also includes a positive terminal disposed in the blind side of the can and electrically coupled to at least one positive electrode disposed within the can and a negative terminal disposed in the blind side of the can and electrically coupled to at least one negative electrode disposed within the can. The cell further includes a base coupled to a substantially flat edge disposed on the second side of the can. A bottom surface of the base is adapted to maintain a substantially flat configuration when coupled to a heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Johnson Control Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kem Obasih, Robert J. Mack, Richard M. DeKeuster
  • Publication number: 20120305734
    Abstract: A seat track system for use in a vehicle seat assembly having a seat base frame. The seat track system includes a lower track assembly having a first lower track and a second lower track and an upper track assembly having a first upper track slidably disposed within the first lower track and a second upper track slidably disposed within the second lower track. The first upper track has a portion extending upwards that forms a first side member of the seat base frame and the second upper track has a portion extending upwards that forms a second side member of the seat base frame. The first upper track and the first side member are formed integrally to form a one-piece unitary member and the second upper track and the second side member are formed integrally to form a one-piece unitary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Alexander I. Balin, Kyle Doxey, Alexander Saveski, Kurt A. Seibold, Ornela Zekavica
  • Publication number: 20120308897
    Abstract: A grid for a battery is disclosed. The battery grid includes an electrically conductive grid body having opposed top and bottom frame elements. At least one of the frame elements has a cross section with coined edges. The battery grid also includes a plurality of interconnecting electrically conductive grid elements spanning between the opposed top and bottom frame elements defining a grid pattern. Methods of forming a battery grid are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Johnson Control Technology Company
    Inventor: Richard R. Binder
  • Publication number: 20120306637
    Abstract: A vehicle interface is provided that includes a controller configured to selectively alter content presented by the vehicle interface in response to receiving a signal indicative of driver distraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Beth A. McGough, Tony M. Lamb
  • Patent number: 8325637
    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 matrix using the first and second wireless communications characteristics and generating a relative gain array from the matrix 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: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Timothy I. Salsbury, James S. Botic
  • Patent number: 8322781
    Abstract: A hybrid cross bar is provided, such as for supporting a vehicle dash board. The cross bar is supported, directly or indirectly, on at least one body location of the vehicle by a deformation element. The deformation element has a first sub-region enclosed by a plastic encapsulation. A second sub-region of the deformation element has a deformation region outside of the plastic encapsulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Paul Angenheister, Thomas Beer, Alfred Mai, Klaus Kierspel, Norberto Silva, Jochen Zimmermann, Viktor Arbanas, Michael Maag, Carsten Manneck, Max Oertle, Christian Dornscheidt, Matthias Hein, Martin Hinz, Mark Hirt, Peter Seyfried, Markus Zörnack
  • Patent number: 8322773
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism (100) configured for selectively adjusting a seat back in a second row of a vehicle (10), such as a sedan, includes a close out device (200) in the form of an adjustable package shelf (210) of the vehicle (10) to cover a gap between the seat back (20) and the vehicle structure (11) as the seat back (20) is moved from the fully reclined position. This package shelf recliner mechanism (100) further includes a track system (110) mounted relative to the vehicle structure (11), a cross plate (130) coupled to the track system (110) and configured for translational movement relative thereto, a latch system (150) for releasably securing the cross plate (130) and an actuator, such as a handle or lever, for the user to selectively actuate the recliner mechanism (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Yednesh A. Parnaik, Keith R. Ziegler, Michael C. Nazione, Mihai Butas, Kurt A. Seibold
  • Publication number: 20120298637
    Abstract: A method of laser welding structures having different steel grades together. The method includes providing a first structure made from a first steel grade and composition and providing a second structure made from a second steel grade composition. The first structure is positioned adjacent the second structure to create a weld zone area wherein at least a portion of the first structure overlaps at least a portion of the second structure. A filler material is selected that has a composition that will create a weld joint between the first structure, the second structure and the filler material such that the weld joint has a predetermined microstructure. The filler material is positioned adjacent the weld zone area. A laser beam is directed at the weld zone area to create a weld joint between the first structure, the second structure and the filler material wherein the weld joint has a predetermined microstructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Daniel James Sakkinen, Ornela Zekavica, Anthony Kestian
  • Publication number: 20120299329
    Abstract: A vehicle door arrangement includes a trim panel, a structural element and a second trim panel. A connection between the first trim panel and the second trim panel comprises a sealing element. The first trim panel comprises an attachment element which extends along the sealing element and interacts with the sealing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Johnson Control Technology Company
    Inventors: Alexander Schidan, Hans-Helmut Mieglitz
  • Publication number: 20120292000
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to heat transfer turbulators that can be disposed within heat exchanger tubes. The heat transfer turbulators are designed to promote turbulent flow of a heat transfer fluid through the heat exchanger tubes. The heat transfer turbulators include a helically shaped body portion that extends within the tubes and is constructed at least partially of plastic. The heat transfer turbulators also include an extension portion that extends outside of the tube from the body portion and has an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Tabraiz Ali Khan, Gregory Kenneth Reaser, Ronald Lee Griffith, Thomas Dale Chase, George Nasrallah Tahan
  • Patent number: 8308311
    Abstract: Provided are several reconfigurable instrument clusters for instrument panels in an automotive vehicle. Instrument cluster comprises a value indicia configured to indicate a value of a plurality of vehicle data and an appliqué comprising first and second indicia. A control circuit is configured to receive first and second vehicle data from different data sources and further configured to control the value indicia and first indicia to indicate the first vehicle data and, in response to a signal, to control the value indicia and second indicia to indicate the second vehicle data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Roger W. Eich
  • Patent number: 8311490
    Abstract: Control systems for mounting in a vehicle and for transmitting a signal to a receiver associated with a device for opening or closing a movable barrier when the receiver receives an authorized signal are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Carl Shearer, Steven L. Geerlings, Thomas D. Klaver
  • Patent number: 8311584
    Abstract: A method is provided for creating a phonebook for a hands-free telephone system in a vehicle using phonebook entries retrieved from a remote phonebook of a mobile phone over a wireless communication link between a control module of the hands-free telephone system and the mobile phone. The method includes receiving a remote phonebook from the mobile phone, the remote phonebook including a plurality of entries, each entry including text data and numeric data, identifying the text data in each entry, generating an acoustic baseform for each entry based on the text data for each entry, storing the acoustic baseform for each entry in a baseform list, and storing the plurality of entries in a mobile phonebook associated with the baseform list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Brian L. Douthitt, Steven G. Schultz, Ted W. Ringold, Jeffrey N. Golden, Mark L. Zeinstra
  • Patent number: 8309241
    Abstract: A battery system to monitor temperature includes at least one cell with a temperature sensing device proximate the at least one cell. The battery system also includes a flexible member that holds the temperature sensor proximate to the at least one cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Wood, Dale B. Trester
  • Publication number: 20120280104
    Abstract: A bracket 34 for mounting a motor 32 to a vehicle seat assembly 20. The bracket including a body portion 53 having a first end 46 and a second end 48 for attachment to a vehicle seat assembly 20; a recess 54 located at the first end 46 of the body portion 53 for housing a motor 32; an attachment rib 56 extending vertically from the body portion 53 and located in the recess 54, the attachment rib 56 for attaching to the motor 32 and securing the motor 32 within the recess 54; and an attachment member 62 extending horizontally from the body portion 53 and into the recess 54, the attachment member 62 for insertion into the motor 32 and interlocking the motor 32 thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Gerald Raymond Veen, Thomas David Novitsky, Kristen Clements
  • Patent number: 8303018
    Abstract: A device and method for reducing noises created by a movable seat back that is tethered to a cabin wall. The seat back has a latch bracket that hooks over a rigid striker pin extending from the cabin wall. A dynamic hook insert, manufactured from a polymeric material, lines the latch bracket and makes direct contact with the striker pin. The insert is provided with a resiliently bendable section spaced from direct contact with the latch bracket. The resiliently bendable section is dynamically movable for absorbing vibrations transferred to and from the striker pin and for automatically accommodating dimensional variances in the striker pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Control Technology Company
    Inventors: Tony A. Zambon, James D. Biebel
  • Patent number: 8302426
    Abstract: An heat exchanger for use in a vapor compression system is disclosed and includes a shell, a first tube bundle, a hood and a distributor. The first tube bundle includes a plurality of tubes extending substantially horizontally in the shell. The hood covers the first tube bundle. The distributor is configured and positioned to distribute fluid onto at least one tube of the plurality of tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Paul de Larminat, Jeb Schreiber, Jay A. Kohler, John C. Hansen, Mustafa Kemal Yanik, William F. McQuade, Justin Kauffman, Soren Bierre Poulsen, Lee Li Wang, Satheesh Kulankara