Patents Assigned to Control Technology
  • Indicator With Screen Lit By Subdued And Warning Lights
    Publication number: 20080276857
    Abstract: The screen (3) is in a light box (6). Lighting means (5, 11) are arranged to light the screen (3) with a subdued light and a warning light. The subdued lighting means (5) are placed in the light box (6) and the warning lighting means (11) are remotely located outside the light box (6), to light the screen (3) via a light duct (8). The invention applies to motor vehicle dashboards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Joel Fournier
  • Low-profile, aimable lighting assembly
    Patent number: 7434962
    Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a bezel, a housing coupled to the bezel, the housing having a pivot point provided on a first surface, a lamp provided between the housing and the bezel, and a biasing member configured to bias the lamp against the bezel. The biasing member engages the housing at the pivot point, and the lamp pivots relative to the housing about the pivot point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Mark W. Stache
  • REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20080223074
    Abstract: Refrigeration systems are provided which include a first refrigeration system and a second refrigeration system that share a common heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a vessel that operates as a condenser for the second refrigeration system. A coil disposed in the vessel operates as an evaporator for the first refrigeration system. A method of operating a refrigeration system is also provided that includes exchanging energy between the refrigerant of the first refrigeration system and the refrigerant of the second refrigeration system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Alexander C. Pachai, John Ritmann
  • FORWARD MOUNTED POWER DRIVE ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20080197654
    Abstract: An adjustable vehicle seat assembly having a track system and a drive system for power adjustment of the seat position within a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Livesey, Ganesh Ramaseshadri, Sylvester Prusik
  • Vehicle Component and Method For Making a Vehicle Component
    Publication number: 20080197670
    Abstract: A trim panel includes a body portion and an extension (110). The extension is provided at a periphery of the body portion for securing the trim panel to the vehicle. The extension is formed of a cover stock (104) material and a substrate (102). The body portion and the extension (110) are formed during the same molding operation. According to one exemplary embodiment, the cover stock material (104) is positioned into a mold (200), the mold (200) is reconfigured to bend an edge of the cover stock material (104) inward, and a resin is injected into the mold (200) to form the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael J. VonHoltz, Jeffrey A. Cussimanio, Chad M. Baumann
  • Vehicular video system
    Patent number: 7401853
    Abstract: An entertainment system for a vehicle has a display configured such that it may be pivoted with respect to a seat. The display may be configured to be pivoted in either a forward direction or a direction opposite the forward direction. The display may be configured to face both the forward direction of travel and a different direction. The display may also be configured to be pivoted in a direction by generating a first torque, and pivoted farther in that direction by generating a second torque of greater force than the first torque. This may be accomplished by using a damper and a spring. The system may include a braking mechanism, may include a frame where the display is visible through a first side and protected by a second side, and may be pivotable along more than one axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Richard Boudinot
  • Method for making battery plates
    Patent number: 7398581
    Abstract: A method of making a plurality of battery plates includes forming a strip including a plurality of battery grids. Each battery grid includes a grid network bordered by a frame element and includes a plurality of spaced apart grid wire elements. Each grid wire element has opposed ends joined to one of a plurality of nodes to define a plurality of open spaces in the grid network. The method also includes deforming at least a portion of a plurality of the grid wire elements such that the deformed grid wire elements have a first transverse cross-section at a point intermediate their opposed ends that differs from a second transverse cross-section taken at at least one of their opposed ends. The method also includes applying a lead alloy coating to the strip, applying battery paste to the strip, and cutting the strip to form a plurality of battery plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Yu-Lin Chen
  • Temperature sensing device
    Patent number: 7395173
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature sensing device with a first temperature sensor mounted to a housing at a first location proximate a first surface of the housing. The first temperature sensor senses a first temperature while a second temperature sensor senses a second temperature. A processor circuit is coupled to the first and second temperature sensors and a mounting device is coupled to either the housing or the processor circuit. The mounting device mounts the second temperature sensor at a second location proximate a second surface of the housing which is spaced apart from the first surface. The processor circuit is configured to estimate a third temperature based on the first and second temperatures and a distance between the first and second locations which is an estimate of a temperature at a third location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Thomas O. Kautz, Dominic Ticali, Robert R. Freimuth, II
  • Multi-Block Circuit Multichannel Heat Exchanger
    Publication number: 20080141709
    Abstract: Heat exchangers containing various tube configurations and a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system employing these heat exchangers are provided which allow flexibility in directing fluids through a heat exchanger. Groups of tubes may be placed at different locations within a heat exchanger slab in order to tailor the heat transfer properties of each tube group to their location on the heat exchanger slab. Groups of tubes may be connected using manifolds to create coil circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: John T. Knight
  • Method for Making a Shaped Multichannel Heat Exchanger
    Publication number: 20080141525
    Abstract: A technique is provided for forming and coating heat exchangers. The heat exchanger may be of any suitable type, such as employing two or more manifolds, with tubes, such as multichannel tubes extending between the manifolds, with fins being provided around or between the tubes. The overall heat exchanger structure is made as a slab that is advanced through an oven, such as in a brazing zone. Heat applied in the brazing zone heats the entire slab to an elevated temperature, and immediately after the brazing zone the slab is hot formed to provide bends or other configurations or contours. A coating is then applied at the elevated temperature, and the heat exchanger may advance through a curing station at which cooling is controlled to promote curing of the coating. The overall process provides a streamlined integrated assembly and manufacturing procedure for formed and coated heat exchangers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Breiding, Charles B. Obosu, Jeffrey N. Nichols, Dan R. Burdette
  • Multichannel Evaporator with Flow Separating Manifold
    Publication number: 20080141707
    Abstract: Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems and heat exchangers are provided which include tube and manifold configurations designed to promote separation of vapor phase and liquid phase fluid. The manifolds contain multichannel tubes of various end geometries designed to dispose flow channels at different heights within the manifold. Individual tubes also may be disposed at different heights within the manifold. The various flow channel and tube heights permit direction of vapor phase and liquid phase refrigerant to certain flow channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: John T. Knight, Jeffrey Lee Tucker, Mahesh Valiya-Naduvath
  • Multichannel Heat Exchanger With Dissimilar Multichannel Tubes
    Publication number: 20080142203
    Abstract: Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems and heat exchangers are provided which include dissimilar internal configurations. The heat exchangers include multiple sets of multichannel tubes in fluid communication with each other. One set of multichannel tubes contains flow channels of one shape and size while the another set of multichannel tubes contains flow channels of a different shape and/or size. The dissimilar flow channels within the multichannel tube sets allow each set of tubes to be configured to the properties of the refrigerant flowing within the tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Mustafa K. Yanik, Jeffrey Lee Tucker, Mahesh Valiya-Naduvath, Dan R. Burdette, Charles B. Obosu, Jeffrey N. Nichols, William L. Kopko, Jose Ruel Yalung de la Cruz, Kevin E. Keller
  • Multichannel Evaporator with Flow Mixing Manifold
    Publication number: 20080141706
    Abstract: Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems and heat exchangers are provided which include manifold configurations designed to promote mixing of vapor phase and liquid phase refrigerant. The manifolds contain flow mixers such as a helical tape, sectioned volumes, and partitions containing apertures. The flow mixers direct the flow of refrigerant within the manifold to promote a more homogenous distribution of fluid within the multichannel tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jeffery Lee Tucker, Mahesh Valiya-Naduvath, John T. Knight, Judd M. Vance
  • Space-Saving Multichannel Heat Exchanger
    Publication number: 20080141708
    Abstract: A multichannel heat exchanger is provided that may be used in any suitable application, such as air conditioning, refrigeration, heat pump, and similar systems. The heat exchanger provides for enhanced thermal exchange density within reduced envelope dimensions. Multichannel tubes may be oriented such that their major width is generally in a vertical plane, but such that their edges are inclined with respect to the vertical. The resulting envelope dimensions are reduced. Moreover, liquid condensate that may collect on the heat exchangers (e.g., when used as evaporators) may be channeled toward lower edges of the multichannel tubes along which the condensate flows for evacuation and collection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Charles B. Obosu, Dan R. Burdette, Jeffrey N. Nichols, Peter J. Breiding
  • Seat latch
    Patent number: 7387333
    Abstract: A collapsing truss that completes a four-bar mechanism of a vehicle seat coupled to a vehicle floor. The vehicle seat includes a seat back coupled to a cushion structure via the collapsing truss which incorporates a pivot and a latch which engages on a pin. The collapsing truss includes a floor bracket coupled to the vehicle floor. A seat back bracket is coupled to the seat back and floor bracket. A cushion bracket is pivotally coupled to the cushion structure, the floor bracket, and the seat back bracket. The joints of the collapsing truss are defined by the seat back pivot, the cushion back/seat back bracket pivot, and the latch engagement pin. The seat back moves about the pivot when the collapsing truss operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Kurt A. Seibold
  • AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT DEVICE
    Publication number: 20080129021
    Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle seat having an airbag module coupled to a vehicle seat frame by a fastener assembly and substantially surrounded by a force cloth. An isolator is substantially disposed between the force cloth and the frame. The isolator generally includes a sheet of material and a spacer positioned, in proximity to the fastener assembly, between the airbag module and seat frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Vasile E. Bozintan, Jerry B. Moore, Robert D. Blair
  • Underwater vehicle
    Patent number: D573935
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Vehicle Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Tureaud, Daniel N. Dietz, Stacy J. Hills, Douglas E. Humphreys, Alexander V. Roup
  • Portion of a vehicle
    Patent number: D573937
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Vehicle Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Tureaud, Daniel N. Dietz, Stacy J. Hills, Douglas E. Humphreys, Alexander V. Roup
  • Underwater vehicle
    Patent number: D578463
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Vehicle Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Tureaud, Daniel N. Dietz, Stacy J. Hills, Douglas E. Humphreys, Alexander V. Roup
  • Docking slot portion of an object
    Patent number: D580341
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Vehicle Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Tureaud, Daniel N. Dietz, Stacy J Hills, Douglas E. Humphreys, Alexander V. Roup