Patents Assigned to Engineering
  • Publication number: 20170346056
    Abstract: An insulation system for a vehicle includes a vehicle component that operates at an operating temperature that is higher than an initial temperature, an insulation member thermally coupled to the vehicle component and thermally coupled to an ambient medium, the insulation member including an enclosed chamber, the enclosed chamber including a chamber wall that defines an interior volume, and carbon dioxide positioned within the interior volume of the enclosed chamber, where the chamber wall prevents flow of the carbon dioxide out of the enclosed chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shailesh N. Joshi, Ercan M. Dede
  • Publication number: 20170341436
    Abstract: A pinion gear is coaxially attached to vicinity of an end of an inner bar. The pinion gear is engaged with a rack gear and rotates in response to upward and downward movements of the tension bar. When the pinion rotates, the inner bar correspondingly rotates. The inner bar and an outer bar, which is a tension applying bar, are connected to each other so as to freely rotate. When the pinion rotates, the inner bar correspondingly rotates, while the outer bar remains unrotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei NAKAMURA, Kazutaka TAMAKI
  • Publication number: 20170341629
    Abstract: A drive unit for actuating a brake device by a driver's operation, when a vehicle is parked or stopped, is disposed independently in a trailing arm for each of right and left rear wheels. Thus, the drive unit for actuating the brake device via a wire when the vehicle is stopped or parked can be loaded, even if the space of the vehicle is tight. That is, the drive unit for actuating the brake device via the wire when the vehicle is stopped or parked can be loaded, regardless of the space of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicants: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha, Hiruta Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji KUROYANAGI, Shinya KAGECHIKA, Hiromitsu TOYOTA, Koji ARAKI, Shunichi OHTSUKI, Yuuya HARUTA
  • Publication number: 20170341286
    Abstract: A molding apparatus includes: a die; a core disposed at the inner side of the die; a slider housed in a die recess provided in the die; a rod having a leading end portion housed in a slider recess formed in a face of the slider, the leading end portion of the rod being unconnected with the slider; and a movement mechanism, the die including a wall portion that forms part of an inner wall of the die recess, and the slider recess having a shape that widens on progression toward an outer side in a radial direction of the die or that runs along a radial direction of the die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, PLACO CO., LTD., TOYOTA PRODUCTION ENGINEERING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya SHIMOKAWA, Takashi IMAI, Kaoru SHIMOMURA
  • Publication number: 20170344334
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide an information display apparatus capable of suppressing a possibility that relevant information may be visibly recognized to a person except for a user. An information display apparatus includes a signboard, which is an information display unit configured to display information, an IC chip, which is an information storage unit configured to store therein relevant information of the information displayed on the signboard, and a communication unit, which is an information transmission unit configured to transmit the relevant information stored in the signboard to an external electronic device, which is a display apparatus different from the signboard and is a relevant information display apparatus configured to display the relevant information, in correspondence to a user's operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaru OHNISHI
  • Patent number: 9829363
    Abstract: Acoustic volume indicators for determining liquid or gas volume within a container comprise a contactor to vibrate a container wall, a detector to receive vibration data from the container wall, a processor to convert vibration data to frequency information and compare the frequency information to characteristic container frequency vs. volume data to obtain the measured volume, and an indicator for displaying the measured volume. The processor may comprise a microprocessor disposed within a housing having lights that each represent a particular volume. The microprocessor is calibrated to provide an output signal to a light that indicates the container volume. The processor may comprise a computer and computer program that converts the data to frequency information, analyzes the frequency information to identify a peak frequency, compares the peak frequency to the characteristic frequency vs. volume data to determine the measured volume, and displays the measured volume on a video monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Young Engineering & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Winston B. Young, Huey Wai
  • Patent number: 9831047
    Abstract: A switch is disclosed. In some examples, a switch includes a generally cylindrical housing; one or more sets of contact points enclosed by the housing; an indicator module, such as a multi-color LED illuminator, also enclosed by the housing; and a pushbutton actuator disposed to operate the contact points. The housing includes a display section spanning substantially the entire circumference of the housing such that the indication made by the indicator module is visible from all radial directions. When the pushbutton actuator is pressed, some of the contact points open to cut off power from hazards, while others are reconfigured to change the state of the indicator module to indicate the changed status of the switch. Multiple switches can be interfaced with each other, such as by serial connection, to facilitate multi-switch safety environment. Modular cables can be used to conveniently establish the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: BANNER ENGINEERING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Scott Carlson, Darrell Raymond Pikkaraine
  • Patent number: 9827993
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is configured for autonomous control of at least one actuatable vehicle system or component. The control system includes one or more sensors disposed on a vehicle, and a computing device in communication with the one or more sensors. The computing device is configured to acquire feedback relating to a ride quality feature from a vehicle occupant, identify vehicle control parameters affecting the ride quality feature; identify at least one autonomously controlled vehicle system affecting values of the identified vehicle control parameters; determine revisions to the vehicle control parameters necessary to implement the feedback relating to the ride quality feature; perform control parameter revisions necessary to implement the feedback relating to the ride quality feature, and control operation of the at least one autonomously controlled system or component so as to effect the control parameter revisions needed to implement the feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Danil V. Prokhorov
  • Patent number: 9827811
    Abstract: A vehicular haptic feedback system includes a haptic feedback controller configured to communicate with a vehicle. The haptic feedback controller including a plurality of haptic feedback actuators and processing circuitry configured to detect quality of operation information of the vehicle, a direction and an intensity of threat information corresponding to the vehicle, and a mode of operation of the vehicle. The haptic feedback controller is also configured to determine a desired direction of travel of the vehicle based on the quality of operation information, the direction and the intensity of threat information, and the mode of operation. The haptic feedback controller is further configured to provide haptic feedback corresponding to the quality of operation information, the direction and the intensity of threat information, the mode of operation and the desired direction of travel of the vehicle, via the plurality of haptic feedback actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: John-Michael McNew, Danil V. Prokhorov, Heishiro Toyoda
  • Patent number: 9828636
    Abstract: An in vitro method of prognostically assessing tissue regeneration capacity and/or cellular potency and/or the prospects of success of an implantation and/or transplantation, wherein the transcriptome and/or the gene expression of cells, the gene expression originating from the transcriptome, are analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TETEC Tissue Engineering Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Mollenhauer, Christoph Gaissmaier, Karin Benz
  • Patent number: 9828158
    Abstract: Packaging for visually impaired and blind user is disclosed. In one embodiment, a package includes an exterior surface, a first sub-component package, and a second sub-component package. The first sub-component package and the second sub-component package are enclosed by the exterior surface in an interior region of the package. The package further includes a first non-visual message element associated with the first sub-component package, and a second non-visual message element associated with the second sub-component package. The non-visual message elements may be configured as tactile and/or audio non-visual message elements. In some embodiments, wireless signal emitter devices are provided within the package to actuate one or more speaker devices to thereby play auditory signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas A. Moore
  • Patent number: 9831427
    Abstract: The present invention relates to memristive devices including a resistance-switching element and a barrier element. In particular examples, the barrier element is a monolayer of a transition metal chalcogenide that sufficiently inhibits diffusion of oxygen atoms or ions out of the switching element. As the location of these atoms and ions determine the state of the device, inhibiting diffusion would provide enhanced state retention and device reliability. Other types of barrier elements, as well as methods for forming such elements, are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventor: Gad S. Haase
  • Patent number: 9829885
    Abstract: Arrangements relating to personal storage with shared vehicles are described. A shared vehicle, a user device, a storage computing system, and/or a storage depot can be communicatively linked. A storage request can be sent from one of the computing systems. One or more storage parameters can be determined, and storage instructions can be sent based on the determined storage parameters. The storage instructions can provide routing instructions to a vehicle and loading instructions to a storage depot. Storage depots can automatically transfer storage compartments between storage space and a vehicle through the use of robotics. Systems and methods described herein can be implemented with shared autonomous vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. James
  • Patent number: 9829016
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flow conditioner for conditioning a fluid flow comprising a pipe having a constriction with a reduced pipe cross-section, at least one ring-shaped element arranged inside the pipe which has an outer diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe in the axial region of the pipe in which the at least one ring-shaped element is arranged, and having an areal web whose surface normal is not in parallel with the pipe axis. The invention further relates to a throughflow measurement system for measuring a fluid throughflow through a pipe having a measurement device and a flow conditioner in accordance with the invention arranged upstream of the measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SICK ENGINEERING GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Gurr, Gerry Schroter, Andreas Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 9831659
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of devices and related methods for detecting an electrical arc event using a motor management relay and for suppressing the electrical arc event. The motor management relay may incorporate an optical arc-flash sensor configured to detect an optical event. Control logic may analyze the optical event and determine whether the optical event corresponds to an electrical arc event. When an electrical arc event is detected an instruction may be issued via a control port in communication with the control logic to implement a protective action. According to various embodiments, a plurality of sensors for monitoring electrical characteristics of a motor may also be in communication with the control logic. Input from the sensors may be analyzed in order to determine whether the optical event corresponds to an electrical arc event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Angelo D'Aversa, James R. Kesler, Robert I. Jayne
  • Patent number: 9828597
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and a process in the field of self-cleaning system using digestive proteins. One composition includes a substrate, a digestive protein capable of decomposing a stain molecule, and a link moiety bound to both said digestive protein and said substrate. An alternative composition includes a digestive protein capable of decomposing a stain molecule and a coating substrate wherein said digestive protein may be dispersed in said coating substrate. The process claim includes binding a substrate to a surface and forming a linker moiety between a digestive protein and said substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Motor Corporation, The University of Akron
    Inventors: Ping Wang, Minjuan Zhang, Hongfei Jia, Archana H. Trivedi, Masahiko Ishii
  • Patent number: 9829028
    Abstract: The present application relates to connectors that use canted coil springs to retain a pin to a housing. The connectors have increased disconnect to connect force ratios. Dual concentric spring configuration allows for an initial locking configuration that can be overcome with higher force and deflection of the second spring. Dual springs in series in a constrained groove can require a high force for connector disconnect, since force vectors may be in a direction relatively close to being along the spring major axis. A curved groove wall can offer resistance to a spring that is required to slide first into the groove in order to allow disconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Bal Seal Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Changsrivong, Rick Dawson, Jim Sittler
  • Patent number: 9827058
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to surgical devices, systems, and methods. The system may include an end-effector assembly. The end-effector assembly may comprise an instrument assembly and a wrist assembly. The instrument assembly may comprise an instrument for performing a surgical action. The instrument assembly may further comprise an instrument driven portion configurable to be driven in such a way as to move the instrument relative to a first axis. The instrument assembly may further comprise an instrument insulative portion providable between the instrument and the instrument driven portion. The instrument insulative portion may be configurable to electrically isolate the instrument from at least the instrument driven portion when the instrument insulative portion is provided between the instrument and the instrument driven portion. The wrist assembly may include a wrist driven portion configurable to be driven in such a way as to move the instrument relative to a second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Bio-Medical Engineering (HK) Limited
    Inventors: Chung Kwong Yeung, Wing Fai Lam, Wai Lik Alik Chan
  • Patent number: 9828034
    Abstract: A motor vehicle bodywork beam including a main reinforcement having a bottom, two side walls and two flanges substantially parallel to the bottom and a secondary reinforcement. The secondary reinforcement is fixed to the main reinforcement. The main reinforcement and secondary reinforcement are fixed at each side wall level, and of the side walls and/or bottom of the main and/or secondary reinforcement comprise a transition, such that at least a part of the bottom of the secondary reinforcement is in contact with a part of the bottom of the main reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: AUTOTECH ENGINEERING A.I.E.
    Inventors: Christophe Cazes, Grégory Gatard, Vincent Barelli, Xavier Delgerie
  • Patent number: 9831369
    Abstract: A photovoltaic power generation system that includes a solar panel is described herein. The solar panel includes a photovoltaic sub-module, which includes a group of microsystem enabled photovoltaic cells. The group includes a first string of photovoltaic cells, a second string of photovoltaic cells, and a differing photovoltaic cell. Photovoltaic cells in the first string are electrically connected in series, and photovoltaic cells in the second string are electrically connected in series. Further, the first string of photovoltaic cells, the second string of photovoltaic cells, and the differing photovoltaic cell are electrically connected in parallel. Moreover, the differing photovoltaic cell is used as a bypass diode for the first string of photovoltaic cells and the second string of photovoltaic cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony L. Lentine, Gregory N. Nielson, Anna Tauke-Pedretti, Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, Murat Okandan