Patents Assigned to Control Technology
  • Trainable transceiver
    Patent number: 7221256
    Abstract: A wireless control system for a vehicle includes a controller provided in a vehicle for controlling a vehicle component in response to a first signal transmitted from a first transmitter and a transceiver provided in the vehicle for receiving a second signal from a second transmitter. The second signal differs from the first signal. The transceiver is configured to transmit a third signal to the controller in response to the second signal, the third signal emulating at least a portion of the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jon M. Skekloff, Garry L. Krouse
  • Vanity for a vehicle
    Patent number: 7217017
    Abstract: A vanity is disclosed having a mirror and a light source adjacent the mirror to illuminate an object to be viewed in the mirror. A cover panel is coupled adjacent to the light source for movement to an open position to reveal the mirror and a closed position to conceal the mirror. The vanity includes a switch device to activate and deactivate the light source and a positioning device to maintain the cover panel in the open or closed position. The switch device and the positioning device cooperate to activate the light source when the cover panel is in the open position and to deactivate the light source when the cover panel is not in the open position. The cover panel is configured for rotational movement between the open and closed position in a plane generally parallel to a plane of the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Nels R. Smith
  • System and method for compensating for magnetic disturbance of a compass by a moveable vehicle accessory
    Publication number: 20070101596
    Abstract: A vehicle compass system for compensating for magnetic disturbances caused by a moveable vehicle accessory includes a magnetic field sensor and a control circuit coupled to the moveable vehicle accessory and the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor is positioned at a distance from the moveable vehicle accessory and is configured to determine an orientation of the magnetic field sensor with respect to the Earth's magnetic field and to generate magnetic field data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Thomas Olson, Thomas Wright, Sven Natus
  • High speed rotor
    Patent number: 7205695
    Abstract: An electromagnetic machine is provided. The machine includes a stator extending along a longitudinal axis and having an inner surface defining a rotor receipt cavity. The rotor extends along and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis within the rotor receipt cavity. A plurality of ring assemblies are supported on the rotor and a plurality of magnets are circumferentially spaced about the rotor and extend through the ring assembly. Each magnet is generally parallel to the axis of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: DRS Power & Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James S Smith
  • USB-to-VGA converter
    Patent number: 7203788
    Abstract: A USB-to-VGA converter includes a USB controller connectable to a USB port of a computer for receiving USB based display signals from the computer, a VGA controller connectable to a display device for conveying VGA signals to the display device and a bridge connected between the USB controller and the VGA controller. The bridge receives a bus control command from the USB controller and issues a first-in-first-out control signal to the USB controller to receive the USB based display signals from the USB controller in a first-in-first-out manner. The bridge circuit converts the USB based display signals into corresponding VGA signals and forwarding the VGA signals to the VGA controller, which in turn applies the VGA signals to the display device. No display interface card is required inside the host computer for generation of the VGA signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Magic Control Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Pei Chung Liu
  • Door module for vehicle door
    Patent number: 7198319
    Abstract: The invention relates to a door module (2) for a vehicle door, which is divided in a sealed manner into an outer wet chamber (44) that faces the door shell (1) and an inner dry chamber (43). Said door module is equipped with pre-assembled mechanical and/or electrical functional components that are fixed in the dry chamber and can be mechanically and/or electrically connected to door components that are located in the wet chamber. The seal between the dry chamber and the wet chamber is formed by a separation sheet (12), which is penetrated by sealed connecting elements of the functional components that are held on the dry side of said separation sheet in the door module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Helmut Schröder, Alexander Schidan, Hans-Helmut Mieglitz, Harald John, Derek Jones
  • Automotive vehicle seat insert
    Patent number: 7197801
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of manufacturing an insert suitable for placement within a seat of an automotive vehicle. The insert preferably includes multiple layers, one of which includes a heater for providing an occupant of the seat with warmth. The insert also preferably includes a blower or air pump for providing ventilation and/or cooling to the seat occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignees: W.E.T. Automotive Systems Ltd., Johnson Control Technology Company
    Inventors: Goran Bajic, Lindy Brennan, Brennon Lewis White, Anne Patrice Liss, Lucas Fernandez, Valerija Drobnjakovic, Marinko Lazanja
  • Flexible vehicle display screen
    Patent number: 7198393
    Abstract: A conformable vehicle display includes a flexible display screen coupled to a substrate. The substrate is a curved transparent substrate that is adapted to be coupled to a vehicle component having a curved exterior surface. The flexible display screen is at least partially separate from the exterior surface of the vehicle component and has a luminescent display. The exterior surface of the vehicle component is visible through the flexible display screen and the substrate when the flexible display screen is not activated. The flexible display screen may be a transparent organic light emitting diode display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Athanassios L. Tubidis, James J. Farber, John Krsteski, Ted W. Ringold, Samuel Centellas
  • Vehicle compass system with continuous automatic calibration
    Patent number: 7191533
    Abstract: The compass system of the present invention utilizes an improved calibration routine in which a processing circuit of the compass recalibrates the compass each time three data points are obtained from a magnetic field sensor that meet predetermined criteria. One such criterion is that the three data points define corners of a triangle that is substantially non-obtuse. When three data points have been obtained that define a triangle meeting this criterion, the processing circuit calculates a center point for a circle upon which all three data points lie by solving the equation x2+y2+Ax+By+C=0 for A, B, and C, using the coordinate values (x,y) for the three data points and defining the center point as (?A/2, ?B/2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Parks, Thomas R. Olson, David J. Slater
  • Electrification system for use in a vehicle
    Patent number: 7186118
    Abstract: An electrification system for use with an article slidably supported on a track within a vehicle is provided. The electrification system comprises a conductor assembly including a positive conductive interface supported parallel and adjacent to a negative conductive interface. The conductor assembly is configured to extend substantially the length of the track. The electrification system further comprises a contact assembly including a positive contact in electrical communication with the positive conductive interface and a negative contact in electrical communication with the negative conductive interface. The contact assembly is configured to be fixed relative to the article. The contact assembly remains in electrical communication with the conductor assembly as the article is selectively moved along the track to provide continuous electrical power to the article as the article is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Hansen, John D. Spencer, Jeremy J. Gauthier, Miklos A. Kovach, Elindo G. Castro
  • Modular system for a vehicle
    Patent number: 7182383
    Abstract: An overhead rail system for a vehicle interior includes an elongated rail configured to extend at least partially along a headliner panel within the vehicle interior. A longitudinal opening extends at least partially along a length of the rail. An article has a housing and a movable panel. The movable panel is configured to provide access to an object. A holder is coupled to the article and has a catch configured to coact with the opening in the rail, so that the article is mountable to the rail proximate the headliner panel for use by occupants within the vehicle interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kermit M. Anderson, Mark P. Kadzban, Matthew A. Kalis, Scott T. Williams, Alan G. Greene, Leif Norland
  • System and method for compensating for motor magnetic disturbance of a compass measurement
    Publication number: 20070028471
    Abstract: A method for correcting a vehicle compass measurement for an interfering magnetic field generated by a vehicle accessory, where the interfering magnetic field has an intensity sufficient to cause a compass measurement error, includes monitoring the operation of the vehicle accessory and detecting a characteristic of operation of the vehicle accessory. A measurement or timing signal is then generated based on the characteristic of operation. A magnetic field for direction is measured in response to the measurement signal and an offset or correction value is determined based at least one the measured magnetic field and the characteristic of operation of the vehicle accessory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Thomas Olson, Todd Witkowski, Thomas Wright
  • Vehicle seat having an electronic control system
    Patent number: 7170240
    Abstract: An electronic control system (24) for a vehicle seat is provided that includes a seat base (12), a seat back (14), an operator input device (30) and a control circuit (26). The seat base has a seat back motor (34) configured to move a seat base forward and backward. The seat back has a seat back motor (32) configured to adjust an angle of inclination of the seat back. The operator input (30) device is configured to received operator commands for movement of the vehicle seat. The control circuit is configured to receive the operator commands and to control the seat base motor and the seat back motor. The control circuit is also configured to move the seat base and the seat back at a ratio of approximately 1 degree of inclination to between approximately 1 mm to approximately 4 mm of forward or backward movement of the seat base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Hancock, Terrence M. Cussen, Joseph W. McElroy, Daniel J. Koester, Bruno Wevers
  • System and method for motion-based control of electronic devices
    Publication number: 20070010943
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for disabling distracting features of electronic devices in a moving vehicle in order to enhance vehicle operator safety. A safety controller system may be operatively connected with a motion monitor within a vehicle and with a computing device in communication with the motion monitor. The safety controller system may include a motion monitor communication component for continuously receiving data from the motion monitor, which may be a GPS system installed within the vehicle. The safety controller system may additionally include a feature disabling module for disabling a feature of the electronic device based on detected motion conditions determined from the received data and a feature enabling module for enabling the feature of the electronic device based on a detected lack of motion determined from the received data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicant: Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Pair, Michael Kaelin
  • Article attachment system
    Patent number: 7152897
    Abstract: An article attachment system for a vehicle includes an elongated rail attached to the interior of the vehicle. The rail has a partially enclosed space with at least one slide interface and a series of projections. A bracket engages the rail for mounting at least one article to the rail. A positioning device engages the bracket and has at least one extension movable between an engaged position for securing the article to the rail and a released position for moving the article relative to the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Keith A. Bonnes, Linh Pham, Kenneth M. Clark, Craig D. Flowerday
  • System and method for estimating quantization error in sampled data
    Patent number: 7146288
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining quantization error in data is disclosed. The method comprises gathering a plurality of data points, identifying a range of the data points, separating the data points into a plurality of segments, and estimating the quantization error by calculating the ratio between the data range and the quantity of segments. The apparatus comprises means for gathering a plurality of data points, means for identifying a range of the data points, means for separating the data points into a plurality of segments, and means estimating the quantization error by calculating the ratio between the range and the quantity of the segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Henry L. Welch
  • Adjusting device for a vehicle seat
    Patent number: 7140682
    Abstract: A vehicle seating system for adjusting, without rails, the vertical and longitudinal position and the inclination of a vehicle seat relative to a vehicle floor has, in one embodiment, first and second pivot levers, spaced apart from one another in an adjustment direction. The pivot levers are articulated respectively on the vehicle seat and on the vehicle floor by way of pivot pins extending parallel to one another. The pivot pins arranged on the vehicle seat and on the vehicle floor of at least one of the pivot levers are lockable independently of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: David Jaeger, Nick Xiromeritis, Tamas Karacsonyi, Marc Clark
  • Vehicle compass system with continuous automatic calibration
    Patent number: 7127823
    Abstract: The compass system of the present invention utilizes an improved calibration routine in which a processing circuit of the compass recalibrates the compass each time three data points are obtained from a magnetic field sensor that meet predetermined criteria. One such criterion is that the three data points define corners of a triangle that is substantially non-obtuse. When three data points have been obtained that define a triangle meeting this criterion, the processing circuit calculates a center point for a circle upon which all three data points lie by solving the equation x2+y2+Ax+By+C=0 for A, B, and C, using the coordinate values (x,y) for the three data points and defining the center point as (?A/2, ?B/2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Parks, Thomas R. Olson, David J. Slater
  • Determining amplitude limits for vibration spectra
    Patent number: 7124637
    Abstract: A method for determining vibration amplitude limits of a mechanical device. The method comprises identifying a mechanical device and a frequency range for a spectrum to be analyzed, retrieving vibration spectra comprising individual spectrum for the mechanical device and the frequency range, calculating frequency for the individual spectrum, and identifying the individual spectrum with the smallest number of frequency lines. In addition, the method comprises calculating noise bandwidths and a largest noise bandwidth, removing outlier data, calculating conditional kernel density, and calculating vibration amplitude limits to detect faults in the mechanical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ashish Singhal, John E. Seem, Mark J. Muench
  • System for processing interior environment complaints from building occupants
    Patent number: H2176
    Abstract: Occupants of a building are able to submit complaints regarding operating conditions, such as temperature, humidity and air quality, via a web site on an Intranet or Internet. The server for the web site logs the complaints and current environmental conditions in a storage device. The server also applies a filter criterion to each complaint and when the complaints satisfy the filter criterion a warning is sent to building management personnel. This filtering process enables the building management personnel to be alerted when the number of complaints exceeds a given number or when specific classes of occupants submit a complaint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Sheri L Meyer, Darrell E Standish