Patents Assigned to Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.
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Patent number: 6774587Abstract: A motor circuit includes a first brush-type motor, a second brush-type motor, a switch, and a pulse width modulation circuit. The first brush-type motor has a first voltage connection and a second voltage connection, the second voltage connection adapted to be coupled to a source of DC voltage. The second brush-type motor has a third voltage connection and a fourth voltage connection, the fourth voltage connection adapted to be coupled to the source of DC voltage. The switch has a control input, a first contact and a second contact, the first contact coupled to the source of DC voltage, and the second contact coupled to the first voltage connection and the third voltage connection. The switch is operable to selectively connect the first contact to the second contact based on a voltage at the control input. The pulse width modulation circuit is operable to generate a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2002Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventors: John E. Makaran, Dragan Radavcovic
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Patent number: 6772743Abstract: An emission control valve is operated by an electric actuator that has an electric coil, stator structure, and a positioning mechanism, including an armature that is selectively positionable along an axis, for selectively positioning a valve element. The stator structure is separated from the armature by an air gap that includes a non-ferromagnetic guide sleeve that is in surface-to-surface contact with the armature for guiding armature motion along the axis. The guide sleeve and the stator structure are in surface-to-surface contact for mutually concentricity with the axis. Along a region of mutual overlapping a minimum air gap is provided between the guide sleeve and the stator structure by radial spacing between the stator structure and the guide sleeve. Various embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2001Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventor: Kenneth Peter Nydam
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Patent number: 6775384Abstract: The air induction system comprises an air induction body with a mouth and a speaker forming an interface with the mouth. A fender portion of a vehicle at least partially covers the interface, protecting the interface from environmental conditions. A control unit controls with the speaker to thereby generate a noise attenuating sound.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2001Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventors: Ian R. McLean, James K. Vanderveen, Zhouxuan Xia
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Patent number: 6769410Abstract: A fuel module carrier assembly mounted between an intake manifold and an internal combustion engine includes an electrical lead, coil assemblies, fuel modules, fuel module seals, a molded carrier and runner seals. The fuel module carrier assembly retains and protects the electric fuel module components.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2003Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventors: Ki-Ho Lee, James K. Vanderveen, Jeffrey J. Powell, Lisa Whaley
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Patent number: 6764062Abstract: A throttle valve for throttling the flow of combustion air to an internal combustion engine is disclosed having a throttle body made of a first plastic and defining a throat for passing combustion air and an intersecting passageway to rotatably support a throttle shaft. The throttle shaft is made of a second plastic that is filled with a solid lubricant and extends through the intersecting passageway supported on each end by a boss that is molded concurrently with the throat. The inside surfaces of the bosses support the throttle shaft and are molded in the same molding process that forms the throat. A butterfly is mounted to the shaft for rotation in the conduit to throttle the flow of combustion air. Boss to throat volumetric ratios of 0.5 or less are provided by this construction.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1999Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc.Inventor: Paul D. Daly
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Publication number: 20040135530Abstract: A method and system for determining the commutation position in a brushless DC machine using a single-bit position sensor and the back EMF signal from a stator winding by measuring a delay value, which is equal to the time elapsed between detection of the position signal and the back EMF signal, and establishing commutation after a period of time equal to the delay value has elapsed from when the position signal is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventors: Ke Liu, Scott Kirkpatrick, John Makaran
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Patent number: 6758192Abstract: An intake manifold (10) includes a fuel rail cavity (30) which receives a metallic fuel rail (14) enclosed by a molded fuel rail cavity cover (32). The fuel rail (14) communicates with each of a plurality of engine cylinders (16) through a fuel module (18). An injector cup (28) fits upon each module cylinder to provide an interface between the fuel module and the fuel rail. Another intake manifold (10) includes a fuel rail (14) which directly interfaces with each fuel module (18) through a bellows (38) attached directly thereto.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2003Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventors: James K. Vanderveen, James Russell Morris, Ki-Ho Lee
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Patent number: 6758304Abstract: A Helmholtz resonator includes a chamber at least partially defining a cavity. The chamber has a neck which defines a passage that is in fluid communication with the cavity. The chamber and the neck produce a passive response to a sound wave produced by the internal combustion engine. The sound wave negatively effects engine performance. An active resonator is disposed within the chamber. The active resonator produces a forced response for supplementing the passive response and increasing the band width of the noise attenuating pressure wave. The Helmholtz resonator is in fluid communication with a portion of an air induction system that defines a passageway that carries the sound wave. A driver is connected to the active resonator, which is preferably a loud speaker, to drive the loud speaker and produce the forced response. The driver preferably utilizes a signal source, such as an engine speed signal, to synchronize the forced response with the engine speed.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventor: Ian R. McLean
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Patent number: 6758191Abstract: An intake manifold (10) includes an integral fuel rail (14) at least partially surrounded by a volume (22). The volume (22), being adjacent the fuel rail (14), minimizes the permeation of fuel out of the fuel rail (14). The volume (22) is also utilizable as a sealed storage space to contain an air induction component (26) to more effectively utilize the packaging space of the intake manifold (10).Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2003Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventors: James K. Vanderveen, Ki-Ho Lee
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Patent number: 6756754Abstract: A windowlift control system 10 is provided for controlling movement of a window of a vehicle. The system 10 includes a DC bush motor 12 constructed and arranged to cause movement of the window up and down, and electronics 14 integral with the motor for controlling the motor to selectively move the window up and down. The electronics includes analog obstruction signal inputs 18, 20 for receiving analog obstruction signals from an obstruction sensor 16, associated with the window, that directly senses an obstruction in a travel path of the window. The electronics includes digital obstruction signal inputs 22, 24 for receiving digital obstruction signals from an obstruction sensor 16′, associated with the window, that directly senses an obstruction in a travel path of the window. The electronics also includes switch decoding inputs 23, 25, 27 for signaling a manual or one-touch up mode of operation of the motor to move the window in an upward direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventors: Robert Bent, Martin F. Bass
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Patent number: 6755897Abstract: A vehicle air cleaner system 10 includes a cyclone chamber 14 and a variable inlet 30. The variable inlet 30 communicates airflow to the cyclone chamber 14 at a relatively constant velocity by varying an opening 32 in response to airflow which enters the inlet 12. During a relatively low airflow condition the variable inlet 30 directs airflow closer to a center of the cyclone chamber 14 which increase the angular velocity of the airflow by directing airflow toward smaller radii 42s within the cyclone chamber. During a relatively high airflow condition the variable inlet directs airflow toward the outer diameter of the cyclone chamber 14 and larger radii 42 L to assure an angular speed sufficient to separate out undesirable particles yet prevent an undesirable pressure drop across the air cleaner system 10. By varying communication of airflow to particular radii within the cyclone chamber 14, a relatively constant pressure drop across the air cleaner system 10 is provided regardless of airflow velocity.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventor: Paul Desmond Daly
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Publication number: 20040118631Abstract: An HQ tube arrangement suitable for packaging within a vehicle may be designed by creating a mathematical model representing a tube arrangement having a first passageway and a second passageway fluidly connected to the first passageway at first and second junctions. The second passageway is divided by the junctions into first, second, and third passages. Lengths may be associated with each of the first passageway and the first, second, and third passages to produce a particular length combination. A filter parameter, which may be passed upon an average transmission loss for a particular frequency over a standard deviation, is calculated for the particular length combination. Other lengths may be associated with the tube arrangement to calculate other filter parameters for the other length combinations.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2003Publication date: June 24, 2004Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc.Inventors: Zhouxuan Zia, James Kenneth Vanderveen, Ian McLean, Jason Pettipiece, Phillip Edward Arthur Stuart, Robert Franklin Glassford
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Patent number: 6748926Abstract: Steel fuel rails are provided with the mechanical components of a plurality of fuel injector valve bodies. The electronics for operating those valves are molded into an injector pack. The valve bodies are inserted into the passages associated with the injector pack such that the electronics are part of a single molded plastic portion. A corrugated seal is sealed to an outer portion of the passage on the injector pack. Thus, the present invention eliminates the number of connections for supplying fuel that needed to be sealed in the prior art. Further, the number of required assembly steps is reduced over the prior art.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2003Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventors: Ki-Ho Lee, James K. Vanderveen, James R. Morris
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Patent number: 6749460Abstract: A mounting arrangement and a method for preventing a migration of soldering materials from an electric terminal into the body of an electric device via electric contacts that project from the body of the electric device. The mount comprises a platform that is adapted for spacing a base of the electric device from the electric terminal. The method comprises providing a surface of the electrical terminal with a depressed surface portion. The platform at least partially overlays the depressed surface portion and supports the body of the electric device such that the electric contacts project toward the depressed surface portion. Soldering materials are used to electrically connect the electric contact to the depressed surface portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2001Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventors: Paul D. Perry, Dennis Alan Nocent
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Patent number: 6748915Abstract: A cuff is clamped to a boss on an air resonator. The cuff has an inner leg with an o-ring seal sized to provide a seal against an inner periphery of the air resonator boss. A throttle body has a boss to be received within the inner leg of the cuff, and will also deform the o-ring seal. The inner leg preferably includes a second forward seal which also contacts the throttle body boss. Preferably, this second seal includes a spring for biasing the second seal against the throttle body boss. The cuff is initially placed on the air resonator which may then be mounted within the engine compartment. The throttle body may be then simply snapped into the cuff. In this way, no space around the connection is necessary, while a dust-free connection is still provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2002Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventors: Roderic Cole, Mark Letourneau, Frances Warren
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Patent number: 6739032Abstract: A method for creating a hot melt foamed form for an air induction system. A block of thermal mastic elastomer is melted and blended with nitrogen gas to create a foamed material. The foamed material is applied by robotic techniques over a base material on the surface of a polypropylene glass lower shell. After the foamed material cures, a polypropylene glass cover is applied over the foamed material form to create an air tight dust/water seal. The cover does not adhere to the cured foamed material and is removable when service is necessary. The foam material can also be dispensed into a mold and then transferred to the base, allowing for changes in the shape and profile of the foamed material. This method can also be employed to create an isolation pad on an air induction system to absorb engine shock. The thermal mastic elastomer can also be employed to create a seal between the cover neck of an air induction assembly and a mass air flow sensor.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2001Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventors: Gordon R. Boyes, Robert John Lidster, Roderic Cole
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Patent number: 6740992Abstract: A motor assembly 10 includes a DC motor 12 having a motor housing 14 defining a stator, a rotor assembly 18 supported for rotational movement with respect to the stator, and a shaft 22 coupled to the rotor assembly for rotation about an axis of rotation A. The assembly 10 includes a supporting structure 30 carrying the motor and decoupling structure 32. The decoupling structure 32 mounts the motor housing 14 to the supporting structure 30 in a manner to provide a certain natural frequency of the motor in torsion around the axis of rotation A of the shaft 22 while providing natural frequencies higher than the certain natural frequency for degrees of freedom of the motor other than torsion. The assembly 10 also includes pivot structure 44 and 46, associated with the supporting structure and the motor defining a pivot between the motor and the supporting structure with a center of the pivot being aligned with the axis of rotation.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2002Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventors: Sylvain Nadeau, Bryan Fisher, Steve Van Horne
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Patent number: 6737780Abstract: An electric motor 10 has an armature 12 including windings 14. The armature is constructed and arranged to rotate a shaft 16. The motor includes a commutator 18 and a brush card assembly 20 having brushes to engage the commutator and conduct electrical current to the windings. A permanent magnet structure 21 is disposed about the armature. A frame assembly 22 carries the permanent magnet structure. A coil spring structure 36, containing iron, is disposed about and contacts the permanent magnet structure to define a flux path of the motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2003Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventors: Bryan Todd Fisher, Stan Simpson, Eric Bartlett, Dumitru Plavosin
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Publication number: 20040086135Abstract: An active noise control system for controlling induction noise of an internal combustion engine having a speaker and a controller. The controller generates a control signal that drives the speaker, wherein the signal is based on at least one current vehicle operating condition. The signal is also based on a determination of a first sound pressure for each order of sound generated by the engine during a run up of the engine. In addition, the signal is based on a determination of a second sound pressure computed for each of a plurality of operating conditions of the engine, wherein the signal controls each of order of sound generated by the engine independently to drive the speaker to generate an audio output to control intake noise.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.Inventor: Manish Vaishya
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Publication number: 20040079229Abstract: A vehicle air cleaner system 10 includes a cyclone chamber 14 and a variable inlet 30. The variable inlet 30 communicates airflow to the cyclone chamber 14 at a relatively constant velocity by varying an opening 32 in response to airflow which enters the inlet 12. During a relatively low airflow condition the variable inlet 30 directs airflow closer to a center of the cyclone chamber 14 which increase the angular velocity of the airflow by directing airflow toward smaller radii 42s within the cyclone chamber. During a relatively high airflow condition the variable inlet directs airflow toward the outer diameter of the cyclone chamber 14 and larger radii 42 L to assure an angular speed sufficient to separate out undesirable particles yet prevent an undesirable pressure drop across the air cleaner system 10. By varying communication of airflow to particular radii within the cyclone chamber 14, a relatively constant pressure drop across the air cleaner system 10 is provided regardless of airflow velocity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2002Publication date: April 29, 2004Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc.Inventor: Paul Desmond Daly