Honda Patents Granted
Patents granted to Honda by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7269900Abstract: A production organizing method and a method and apparatus for assembling vehicle body are provided. The production line organizing method comprises the steps of classifying all parts for all types of vehicles to be assembled into groups of main part, synchronous subparts, and non-synchronous subparts, and the manhour for the non-synchronous subparts are assigned to the difference in manhours for assembly of main parts and synchronous subparts. In addition, a vehicle body assembly method and a vehicle body assembly line are also provided, which are capable of reducing a length of a main line and increasing the productivity by classifying all of the parts used for all vehicle types into three groups of main parts and two groups of subparts including non-synchronous main parts and subparts, and by assembling and storing the non-synchronous main parts and subparts in the separate section and supplying the sub-assembled non-synchronous subparts to the main line when necessary.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2005Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Fumio Moriya, Takehiro Kouno, Kiyoshi Ikumi, Hiroshi Miyashita, Haruji Yoshida, Tatsuaki Son, Kouichi Hosono, Masakazu Kanda, Gengo Kajima, Tomoyoshi Takeuchi, Masanori Yoshida, Jyun Toyoda, Kenji Tatsuda, Yasuo Miyaoka, Michinao Iwami, Ikuo Kanazawa
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Patent number: 7270798Abstract: The invention relates to methods of using noble metal-free nickel catalysts to generate a hydrogen-rich gas from gas mixtures containing carbon monoxide and water, such as water-containing syngas mixtures, where the nickel may exist in either a supported or a bulk state. The noble metal-free water gas shift catalyst of the invention comprises Ni in either a supported or a bulk state and at least one of Ge, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Pb, their oxides and mixtures thereof. The invention is also directed toward noble metal-free nickel catalysts that exhibit both high activity and selectivity to hydrogen generation and carbon monoxide oxidation.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2003Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Symyx Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Alfred Hagemeyer, Christopher James Brooks, Raymond E. Carhart, Karin Yaccato, Michael Herrmann
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Patent number: 7271730Abstract: An occupant determination apparatus and an occupant determination method accurately determine a size of an occupant, with a simple configuration where a plurality of electrodes are arranged on one layer, and eliminate errors due to the capacitance between an occupant and surrounding car-body metal parts or the like, and thus suppress erroneous determination. The apparatus includes a sensor having a plurality of seat section electrodes arranged on a sitting section, and a determination section. The determination section includes an oscillator, a capacitance detecting section which detects the current flowing through a seat section electrode in order to detect the capacitance, a switching circuit which switches the connection of the capacitance detecting section to the seat section electrode, and a controlling section which outputs a switch control signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2003Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Honda Elesys Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Kimura, Masahiro Miyamori, Seiji Yamashita, Shinya Deguchi, Junji Kanamoto
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Patent number: 7270104Abstract: An engine balancer system is provided in which a balancer housing disposed so as to face an oil pan beneath a crankshaft is formed by joining an upper housing and a lower housing via mating faces, and the height of the mating faces is lower on a vehicle front side than on a vehicle rear side. Oil discharge holes or discharging oil that is within the balancer housing are formed in the mating faces on the higher side of the balancer housing and in the upper housing above the mating faces on the lower side of the balancer housing. This enables the position of the oil discharge hole on the lower side to be as high as possible, thereby suppressing penetration of oil into the interior of the balancer housing through the oil discharge hole.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2006Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hisayuki Hashimoto, Tomoji Suganami, Haruo Watanabe, Kazuhito Okazaki
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Patent number: 7269890Abstract: In a slotless permanent magnet rotary electric machinery, comprising a substantially cylindrical rotor (53) incorporated with a permanent magnet (52), a stator iron core (54) surrounding the rotor; and a coil (55) provided between the rotor (53) and stator core (54) in a spaced relationship with respect to the rotor (53), the coil (55) comprises a plurality of turns which are shifted from one turn to another along the circumferential direction in a mutually overlapping manner; and the coil turns are formed by a conductor (60, 60a, 60b) having an elongated cross section, a long axis of the cross section extending in a radial direction. This provides rotary electric machinery which can significantly reduce loss in a high speed range without substantially increasing copper loss.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2003Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masao Nagano, Masaru Ozawa
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Patent number: 7269434Abstract: A communication system is provided with a group registration function, which is capable of setting a group mode with the reduced number of operation, and simply selecting one of full duplex communication and half duplex communication by a rider, as needed. When a power supply switch and a registration switch are turned on simultaneously, member ID registration is executed. When the power supply switch is turned on and then the registration switch is turned on, visitor ID registration is executed. Accordingly, the registration of a group mode can be simplified. After the registration is ended, at the time of turn-off of a visitor conversation switch, full duplex communication is performed among communication devices subjected to member ID registration, and at the time of turn-on of the visitor conversation switch, half duplex communication is performed between the master and all of the slaves.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2001Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hajime Tabata, Yukio Miyamaru
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Patent number: 7264086Abstract: A lubricating system for an internal combustion engine includes lubricating oil recovery oil passages through which lubricating oil dropping to and dwelling in a bottom portion of a crankcase after lubricating individual portions of an internal combustion engine is fed to a lubricating oil tank through an oil cooler by a recovery pump. Lubricating oil supply oil passages supply the lubricating oil from the lubricating oil tank to the individual portions of the internal combustion engine needing lubrication and cooling through an oil filter by a supply pump. The lubricating system includes a branch passage branched from the lubricating oil recovery oil passage communicating from the oil cooler to the lubricating oil tank. The branch passage supplies the lubricating oil to at least one of the individual portions of the internal combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2003Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuhiko Ito, Shinya Koyama, Ken Oike
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Patent number: 7261974Abstract: A battery power supply system (1) for suppressing the overall temperature variation of a plurality of battery module groups (61 to 65) includes a box (2) having a cooling air inlet (3) on one end face and a suction fan (4) within a section at the other end, and a battery assembly (5) installed in an intermediate section within the box (2). The battery assembly (5) includes a plurality of battery module groups (61 to 65). Each of the battery module groups (61 to 65) includes a plurality of rod-shaped battery modules (7). When a gap between outer peripheral faces of two adjacent rod-shaped battery modules (7) of the first battery module group (61), which is closest to the cooling air inlet (3), is a, and a gap between the outer peripheral face of the rod-shaped battery modules (7) of the first battery module group (61) and the outer peripheral face of the adjacent rod-shaped battery modules (7) of the second battery module group (62) is b, the ratio a/b of the gaps a and b is set so that 1.0<a/b?2.0.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2002Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Watanabe, Noboru Sato, Junichi Kikuchi, Atsuhiro Naganuma, Satoyoshi Ohya
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Patent number: 7261822Abstract: A process of activating water by leading water to pass through energy concentrated fields which are generated in particles, being composed of a single elementary material selected from a group of silicon, titanium, nickel and samarium or composed of fluorocarbon, of which the single elementary material or the fluorocarbon is placed at a position where wave energy intrinsic to each atom or said fluorocarbon is amplified and constructing activation structural bodies are concurrently carried out with increasing quantity of dissolved oxygen in the water. Water can be activated without externally supplying energy or with a little energy.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2003Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masayoshi Kitada
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Patent number: 7259684Abstract: A device and method for extending the lifetime of a battery of a tire pressure sensor disposed in a tire are described, in which the battery can be recharged through the valve stem of the tire. The device includes an electrical power source and an electrode adapted to be coupled to the valve stem and supply power from the electrical power source to the valve stem.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2004Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Raj Manakkal
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Patent number: 7258031Abstract: In the transmissions of the background art, two larger-diameter gears are mounted on a final shaft thereby causing an increase in weight of the transmission. The present invention reduces the weight of a transmission by mounting only one larger-diameter gear on a final shaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2005Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshiaki Hori, Seiji Hamaoka
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Patent number: 7258944Abstract: A fuel cell includes separators and electrolyte electrode assemblies in a first area between the separators. Each separator includes a first plate and a second plate stacked together to form a second area between the first plate and the second plate. The second area is divided by an outer ridge into a fuel gas channel, and an oxygen-containing gas channel. The fuel gas channel formed in one separator is connected to a fuel gas flow passage in the first area through fuel gas inlets for supplying a fuel gas to anodes. The oxygen-containing gas channel in the other separators is connected to an oxygen-containing gas flow passage in the first area through oxygen-containing gas inlets for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to cathodes.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2003Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tadashi Tsunoda
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Patent number: 7258943Abstract: A fuel cell of the invention has unified a processing circuit processing a cell voltage output signal of a fuel cell stack and a connector connecting an circuit unit with terminals provided extending from separators of the fuel cell, thereby having abolished connection points (in which harnesses are attached and detached) of an electrical circuit unit with the connector. So, for connection, reliability can be improved, and downsizing is possible. Moreover, with a casing enclosing the connector and electrical circuit unit, the fuel cell can be made compact and the processing circuit can be surely protected thanks to being shielded from surroundings, thereby handling as a unit being able to be facilitated.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2003Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiaki Ariyoshi, Masahiko Sato, Ken Takahashi, Yuya Sato, Daisuke Wachi
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Patent number: 7260441Abstract: A method of inspecting a workpiece during a production run in which workpieces are supplied to workstations by an autoloader. In accordance with the method, the supply of the workpieces by the autoloader is performed in accordance with a supply control routine. When it is desired to inspect a workpiece in a workstation, the supply control routine is interrupted after its then current cycle and the autoloader is used to move the workpiece to a quality control station. The supply of the workpieces in accordance with the supply control routine is then resumed. While the autoloader is operating in accordance with the supply control routine, the workpiece is inspected. If the workpiece is acceptable, the supply control routine is again interrupted after its then current cycle and the autoloader is used to move the workpiece to an output area. The supply of the workpieces in accordance with the supply control routine is then resumed again.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2003Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Jim Hranica, Yasunori Yamazaki, Scott Costello
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Patent number: 7258209Abstract: A brake drum includes a ring-shaped drum body, and a friction member secured to the inner circumferential surface of the drum body. Because the drum body is formed of a lightweight Al alloy and the friction member is formed of an Al-base composite material, the brake drum can be reduced in weight as a whole. Further, because the friction member, having projection portions formed on its outer periphery, is cast enveloped by molten metal of the Al alloy, the friction member and the drum body can be firmly fastened together. Thus, even when a great braking force is applied to the drum brake, the friction member can be prevented from being undesirably detached from the drum body.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2004Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Koizumi, Takaharu Echigo, Hiroto Shoji, Yasuhiro Nakao, Kunitoshi Sugaya
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Patent number: 7254887Abstract: A fuel cell separator manufacturing method including the steps of removing an abnormal layer (91) arising at the surface layer of a metal material for use as a separator (20) when it is rolled, exposing portions of conductors (92) included in a surface layer part of the metal material itself to project, and carrying out a passivation treatment on the surface layer part of the metal material itself. The steps of removing the abnormal layer and exposing portions of the conductors are possible in the same process, chemically or electro-chemically. Therefore, the number of steps can be cut and increased productivity and reduced cost of separators can be achieved.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2002Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Ishigami, Tetsuya Kondo
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Patent number: 7256378Abstract: An output compensating device capable of optimally compensating output signals of an image sensor composed of a number of light-sensor circuits, each of which represents a unit pixel and is capable of producing in a photoelectric converting element a sensor current proportional to a quantity of light falling thereon, converting the current into a voltage signal by a MOS type transistor with a logarithmic output characteristic in a weak inverse state, initializing itself by removing a charge accumulated in a parasitic capacitor of the photoelectric converting element by changing a drain voltage of the transistor to a value lower than a normal value for a specified time and outputting a pixel signal having a logarithmic characteristic at a large quantity of the sensor current and a pixel signal having a non-logarithmic characteristic at a small quantity of the sensor current.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2003Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Makoto Furukawa, Sukeyuki Shinotsuka, Jiro Kurita, Katsuhiko Takebe
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Patent number: 7257522Abstract: A simulator comprising computer-aided design programs for simulating a shift control algorithm stored in an ECU of an automatic transmission having hydraulic clutches. In the simulator, a simplified hydraulic model describes the entire system so as to design a third model based on which simulation is conducted. With this, by using such a simplified model, it becomes possible to decrease simulation time to 4 sec., enabling to simulation in a time close to an actual shift of approximately 1.5 sec. Moreover, the durability of transmission is tested by repeating the simulation. When the occurrence of undesirable shift phenomenon is forecast in the simulation, the shift control algorithm is corrected until the phenomenon disappears in the next simulation. With this, the manufacturing of a test transmission and a preliminary test are no longer needed, thereby further improving the efficiency and costs of transmission development.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2001Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Hagiwara, Youhei Takeda, Shoichi Suzuki, Tsutomu Kamiyamaguchi, Satoshi Terayama, Ko Yoda
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Patent number: 7255945Abstract: A fuel cell system for supplying electricity to a main motor as a power source includes a fuel cell stack and pumps for supplying a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas to the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell system further includes a driving force transmitting mechanism. The driving force transmitting mechanism connects the main motor, the pumps, and the supercharger for driving the pumps and the supercharger by the main motor.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2002Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoyuki Enjoji, Masaharu Suzuki, Hideaki Kikuchi
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Patent number: 7254240Abstract: An active noise control system is capable of canceling out noise in the passenger compartment of a vehicle based on low-frequency road noise. The active noise control system has a feed-forward control unit for being supplied with reference signals highly correlated to noise from a noise source and generating a noise cancellation signal which is out of phase to noise in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and a canceling sound generating unit disposed in the passenger compartment for generating a noise canceling sound in response to the noise cancellation signal from said feed-forward control unit. The active noise control system also has microphones for generating reference signals which are positioned respectively near the base of the front seat, near the center of a roof, and within a trunk compartment, i.e., respectively at vibrational antinodes of a primary or secondary acoustic normal mode of the passenger compartment in the longitudinal direction thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2006Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshio Inoue, Hisashi Sano, Akira Takahashi, Kenichi Terai, Hiroyuki Hashimoto, Isao Kakuhari
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Patent number: 7249450Abstract: A lawn mower comprises a power source for rotatably driving an output shaft, a housing having an interior space having a generally spiral-shaped portion, and a cutting blade disposed in the interior space of the housing and connected to the output shaft for rotation therewith to cut grass. The rotating cutting blade coacts with the spiral-shaped portion of the interior space to generate a swirling air flow that causes the cut grass to swirl within the interior space. A grass discharge passage communicates with the interior space of the housing and discharges therethrough grass cut by the cutting blade and swirling within the interior space of the housing. A pivotal shutter is pivoted about a generally vertical axis by manual operation of a control member to open and close the grass discharge passage. The pivotal shutter comprises a pivotal shaft and a unitary shutter member mounted on the pivotal shaft to undergo pivotal movement therewith for opening and closing the grass discharge passage.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2004Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Iida, Takao Kobayashi, Hiromitsu Sasaki, Kenzo Shimada, Masanori Shin
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Patent number: 7251536Abstract: A control system for a plant is disclosed. The control system includes a controller for controlling the plant based on a controlled object model which is obtained by modeling the plant. The controlled object model is modeled using an input and an output of the plant which are sampled at intervals of a sampling period which is longer than a control period of the controller. The sampled input of the plant is a filtered control output which is obtained by filtering an output of the controller. The controller carries out a control process of the plant at intervals of the control period.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2003Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Eiji Hashimoto, Tetsuya Ishiguro, Masahiro Sato, Shusuke Akazaki, Yoshihisa Iwaki, Yuji Yasui
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Patent number: 7251545Abstract: The present invention provides a production system capable of further improving production efficiency and quality. The ring management system comprises size measurement unit 300 for measuring size (l, t) of the ring w, first convey unit 400 for moving the ring w whose size has been measured, a first stocker 500 having a plurality of storage positions for storing rings conveyed in by the first convey unit 400, a second convey unit 700 for conveying out the rings from the first stocker 500 means for stacking, and a control unit 900.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2002Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazutoshi Takada, Takaji Mukumoto, Hideshi Sato, Osamu Takenaka, Tetsuo Sugizono, Katsumune Inaki, Hiroki Tahira, Koji Saito, Katsuyuki Nakajima
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Patent number: 7251593Abstract: A system, a method and a computer readable medium are provided for simulating a combined musculoskeletal and augmentation device system. The dynamics model of the combined musculoskeletal and augmentation device system receives computed torques at the joints as inputs and delivers simulated kinematic data of the segments as outputs. The augmentation device controller for control of the augmentation device, receives the simulated kinematic data as inputs and delivers assist torques as outputs. The inverse dynamics model for the musculoskeletal and augmentation device system, receives the simulated kinematic data, desired kinematic data of the segments and the assit torques as inputs and delivers the computed net joint torque and muscle torque. The muscle force and muscle capacity module for checking and adjusting the computed torques, receives the computed torques as inputs and delivers computed torques as outputs after the checking and adjustment.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2002Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Behzad Dariush, Victor Ng-Thow-Hing, Darryl Gerard Thelen
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Patent number: 7250070Abstract: A method of forming a powder metal fractured bearing component, such as a connecting rod, includes the step of forming a component blank having a bearing aperture for separation of the component blank into a main body and a bearing cap, wherein the component has a hardness in the range of about HRC 22 to about HRC 34. The method also includes the steps of forming a stress riser in the blank where the fracture is to occur, and fracturing the component blank of the connecting rod into a main body and a bearing cap by applying tensile force thereto, in order to form a surface area ratio of >113% on the mating surfaces of the main body and the bearing cap.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2003Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaki Amano, Hideaki Ushio
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Patent number: 7248943Abstract: Provided is a method in which a communication state between a main control unit and each sub control unit can be judged to be normal or abnormal, in a condition where a noise may be generated from a drive system power line. This method includes a power supply step s4, a test communication step (see arrows (3) and (4)), and a judgment step s6. In the power supply step s4, power is supplied to first sub control units 2a from a drive system power source 6 while no power is supplied to actuators 7 from the power source 6. In the test communication step, communication of a test signal is performed between the main control unit 1 and each of the sub control units 2. In the judgment step s6, whether the communication state is normal or abnormal is judged based on the result of the communication of the test signal between the main control unit 1 and each of the sub control units 2.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2002Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masaki Aihara
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Patent number: 7243904Abstract: A door lifting apparatus includes a frame and a lift mechanism. The lift mechanism includes a slide and a lever. The slide includes a plurality of holders and a plurality of glides, wherein the holders are operable to engage and support a door while the glides cooperate with rails provided upon the frame to guide the slide along the rails. Pivotal movement of the lever moves the slide vertically relative to the upright supports, thereby raising or lowering the door.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2005Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Mark Grimes
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Patent number: 7245210Abstract: A vehicle electronic key system includes a control device mounted on a vehicle and an electronic key for transmitting a response signal in response to reception of a request signal from the control device. The control device includes means for outputting a request signal to the electronic key in response to the ON operation of a main switch of the vehicle (request signal generation means, a transmission circuit, and a transmission antenna), means for detecting a response signal from the electronic key (a reception circuit and response signal matching means), and means for performing an alarm output (monitoring means, a third drive circuit, and an alarm lamp) when no response signal is detected in spite of the output of the request signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2003Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takeshi Konno
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Patent number: 7245050Abstract: A journal of a crankshaft is rotatably supported by a journal-supporting portion of a cylinder block and a bearing cap. An arcuate oil guide groove is defined in a side face of the bearing cap, and coils which are portions of a stator of a generator or motor are fitted into an oil guide groove. Oil flowing down from an oil return passage provided in the cylinder block and oil flowing down from a blow-by gas passage, flow downwards from an upper end of the oil guide groove and return through an opening to an oil pan. In this process, the oil is brought into contact with the coils to cool the stator. Therefore, even if the stator is located above the oil stored in the oil pan, the stator having a raised temperature can be cooled efficiently, to thereby prevent degradation of the performance of the generator or motor.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2002Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuyuki Iwata, Takehiko Sayama
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Patent number: 7240748Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle in which front wheels are driven by an engine and a front motor, and rear wheels are driven by a main rear motor and a sub rear motor, both main rear motor and the sub rear motor are driven when a large driving force is required as when the vehicle is driven at low speed to haul a trailer or the like or to run on a sandy ground, whereas when the required driving force is small, only the main rear motor is driven.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2003Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuhiro Kira, Tetsuya Hasebe, Ryo Nishikawa
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Patent number: 7240747Abstract: A legged mobile robot leg structure is provided in which a lower leg part (24) is connected to the lower end of an upper leg part (23) through a knee joint (27), a foot part (25) having a six-axis force sensor (60) is connected to the lower end of the lower leg part (24) through an ankle joint (28), and the ankle joint (28) supports the foot part (25) so that the foot part (25) can pitch around a lateral axis (Ly) and roll around a fore-and-aft axis (Lx) relative to the lower leg part (24). A pitch motor (34) for making the foot part (25) pitch around the lateral axis (Ly) is supported on the lower leg part (24) at a position above the ankle joint (28), and a roll motor (35) for making the foot part (25) roll around the fore-and-aft axis (Lx) is supported on the lower leg part (24) at a position above the ankle joint (28).Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2001Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Susumu Miyazaki, Hideaki Takahashi
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Patent number: 7240399Abstract: In a door checker for an automobile, including: a case; a check plate which movably extends through the case and which has on its opposite sides ball guide grooves extending in a lengthwise direction; a pair of ball holders accommodated in the case; a pair of balls which are retained in hemispherical ball housings of the ball holders and which are rollably engaged in the ball guide grooves; and a check spring for biasing the ball holders toward said check plate; and a recess for retaining a grease on an inner surface of each of the ball housings and for accommodating a dust therein is formed in the inner surface of each of the ball housings. Thus, the sticking of the balls due to an entering dust can be prevented, and the smooth rotation and rolling of the balls can be ensured over a long term.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2003Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignees: Rikenkaki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuji Murayama, Makiko Honno
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Patent number: 7237344Abstract: A jig for positioning vehicular exterior parts, which can improve workability as well as accuracy of a mounting location. A jig 1 used when aching exterior parts to a vehicle 20 includes a first engagement portion 4 prescribing a location in a height direction of the vehicle 20, and a second engagement portion 5 prescribing a location in a direction orthogonal to the height direction of the vehicle 20. At least one of the first engagement portion 4 and the second engagement portions 5 is fixed between a vehicle body 22 and a door 21. The jig 1 is formed from a tabular member. As a result, positioning in mutually orthogonal two directions can be carried out simultaneously, simplifying attachment works.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2005Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Honda Access Corp.Inventor: Yasuyuki Shishikura
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Patent number: 7239339Abstract: A position detection apparatus that is able to easily detect self-position during autonomous movement by a humanoid robot that moves by the use of legs or automobile.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2001Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takaaki Nagai, Shinichi Matsunaga, Yoshiaki Sakagami
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Patent number: 7236846Abstract: A product quality information control method including the act of feeding repair information for making a repair based on imperfection information found during an inspection process of a product back to a manufacture control department. The repair information includes graphic and character information indicative of the contents of the repair made by a repair person. As a result, it becomes possible for the manufacture control department to accurately grasp an imperfection found by an inspection department and a temporary measure taken to cure the imperfection.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1999Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shoichi Koyama, Yasunobu Fukushima, Chuji Nakagawa, Satoshi Sakamoto
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Patent number: 7235323Abstract: In a fuel cell assembly with at least one cell including an electrolyte layer, a pair of gas diffusion electrode layers interposing said electrolyte layer between them, and a pair of flow distribution plates (5) for defining passages (10, 11) for fuel and oxidizer gases that contact said gas diffusion electrode layers, a heater 62 and various sensors (61a, 61b and 61c) are formed on at least one of the flow distribution plates so that the work needed for installing the heater and sensors is simplified. By embedding them in a substrate, the need for a complex sealing arrangement can be eliminated. In particular, if each flow distribution plate is formed by performing an etching process on a substrate, and forming the heater and sensors in succession to the step of forming each flow distribution plate, the installation of sensors and fabrication of the fuel call are simplified.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2001Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Nariaki Kuriyama, Jun Sasahara, Tadahiro Kubota, Toshifumi Suzuki, Yuji Isogal, Sang-Joon John Lee
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Patent number: 7232351Abstract: A personal watercraft includes a saddle ride type seat provided at a roughly central portion of a watercraft body, an engine mounted on the lower side of the seat and directed in a front-rear direction of the watercraft body, and cylinders provided in the engine are arranged in the front-rear direction of the watercraft body. First to fourth intake pipes communicated with the cylinders are extended from a side surface of the engine, and an air box containing the intake pipes is provided in a space between the engine and a left side wall. The air box includes a box main body and a cover body, and the cover body is disposed facing toward the left side wall. The left side wall facing toward the cover body is provided with an opening, and a side cover is provided to be capable of being fitted to and detached from the opening. Maintenance or inspection of intake system equipment can be easily carried out with the aforementioned personal watercraft.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2002Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Jun Nakajima
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Patent number: 7233815Abstract: A radio communication system for a vehicle which allows communication not only between a driver and a passenger of one vehicle but also with a driver or a passenger of another vehicle without increasing the scale of a radio communication apparatus to be mounted on a helmet. A radio wave signaled from a radio wave transmitter-receiver of a driver or a passenger of a vehicle is received by a repeating apparatus of the self-vehicle and amplified by and re-signaled from the repeating apparatus. The radio wave signaled from the repeating apparatus is received by a radio wave transmitter-receiver of a driver or a passenger of another vehicle and reproduced by a speaker. A radio wave signaled from the radio wave transmitter-receiver of the driver or a passenger of the vehicle is received by a repeating apparatus of the self-vehicle and amplified by and re-signaled from the repeating apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2004Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hajime Tabata, Yukio Miyamaru
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Patent number: 7232582Abstract: First and second separators include first and second metal plates. The first metal plate has first embossed protrusions protruding toward a membrane electrode assembly to form an oxygen-containing gas flow passage. The second metal plate has second embossed protrusions protruding toward another membrane electrode assembly to form a fuel gas flow passage. Further, the second metal plate has third small embossed protrusions protruding toward the first metal plate.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2003Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideaki Kikuchi, Naoyuki Enjoji, Masaharu Suzuki, Masaru Oda
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Patent number: 7232002Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the rigidity of vehicle body according to the present invention comprises a controller for controlling a buckling form, which controls the buckling form by adding to a member to be inputted to a collision load a lateral force in the direction substantially perpendicular to the member.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2003Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignees: University of Washington, Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Minoru Taya, Taishi Wada, Shunji Suzuki, Yuta Urushiyama
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Patent number: 7228923Abstract: A landing shock absorbing device 18 disposed in a foot mechanism 6 of a leg of a robot, wherein an inflatable bag-like member 19 (a variable capacity element) is provided at a ground-contacting face side of the foot mechanism 6. The bag-like member 19 is constructed of an elastic material such as rubber and has a restoring force. An interior portion of the bag-like member 19 is communicated with the atmosphere side through a flow passage 20. During a landing motion of the leg, the bag-like member 19 makes contact with the ground to be compressed, and the air in the interior portion thereof flows out into the atmosphere through the flow passage 20, so that its outflow resistance is generated. Accordingly, a landing shock is reduced. In a lifting state of the leg, the restoring force of the bag-like member 19 allows the bag-like member 19 to be inflated while the air flows into the interior portion thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2002Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toru Takenaka, Hiroshi Gomi, Kazushi Hamaya, Yoshinari Takemura, Takashi Matsumoto, Takahide Yoshiike, Yoichi Nishimura, Kazushi Akimoto, Taro Yokoyama
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Patent number: 7231052Abstract: An engine is supported on a vehicle body frame through an active vibration-isolating device. The vibration of the engine is prevented from being transmitted to the vehicle body frame by controlling the active vibration-isolating device. A speaker is disposed within a vehicle compartment. The noise is reduced by adaptively controlling the speaker based on a rotational speed of the engine and a noise detected by a microphone disposed within the vehicle compartment. Thus, the vibration and noise characteristics of the vehicle can be improved by a synergic effect of reducing both the vibration and the noise. Further, because the microphone is inexpensive and the speaker for an audio set can be used without any modification, the present invention can be achieved with a low cost.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2003Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideki Matsuoka, Toshio Inoue
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Patent number: 7231265Abstract: A control system for a plant is disclosed. The control system includes a controller which controls the plant based on a controlled object model which is obtained by modeling the plant. The controlled object model is modeled using an input and an output of the plant which are sampled at intervals of a period which is longer than a control period of the controller. The controller carries out a control process of the plant at intervals of the control period.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2003Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuji Yasui, Yoshihisa Iwaki, Eiji Hashimoto
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Patent number: 7226008Abstract: A briquette meeting required strength that is formed in an energy-saving manner from ferrous metal working scrap, such as grinding chips, and a method of making the briquette are provided. In a briquette formed by applying a pressing pressure to a ferrous metal working scrap, the percentage by weight of grinding chips is in the range of 10 wt % to 35 wt %. Viscous water-containing grinding chips crushed to a desired size and metal working scrap, such as gear cutting chips, are mixed in a feed hopper 7, and a pressing pressure is then applied to the raw mix by use of a compression pressing machine 8 to form a briquette B of ferrous metal working scrap. The content of a grinding fluid of the viscous water-containing grinding chips is 20 wt % to 60 wt %.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2003Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akira Nishio
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Patent number: 7226667Abstract: A cylinder liner has an outer circumferential surface around which another metal is to be cast. The cylinder liner also has a plurality of protrusions disposed on the outer circumferential surface and having respective substantially conical undercuts or necks which are progressively spread outwardly from the outer circumferential surface. The protrusions have respective flat faces on the distal ends of the undercuts.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2003Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Haruki Kodama, Tomonori Fukumoto
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Patent number: 7226678Abstract: A fuel cell stack which comprises a plurality of unit fuel cells laminated via separators, and is connected to external resistors each allowing a feeble current to flow to each unit fuel cell, whereby such problems as an open-circuit voltage generation and corrosion that may be caused by fuel gas remaining after operation shutdown can be resolved. A switch is preferably attached in series with an external resistor.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2002Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideo Kato, Katsumi Hayashi, Shigeru Inai
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Patent number: 7225897Abstract: A structure is provided for receiving and delivering oil from a first oil path in a wall of a casing to a second oil path within a rotating shaft supported by the casing on an inner side surface of the casing. A recess is formed in which the first oil path is opened. A collar is positioned on an inner peripheral surface of the recess. The collar is fitted in a floating state through an O-ring. On the inner peripheral surface of the collar an end portion of the rotating shaft is pivotally fitted to open the second oil path within the recess.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2003Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshiaki Hori, Kinya Mizuno
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Patent number: 7226120Abstract: A skeleton member structure having a tubular structural member (11, 211) filled with granular materials for absorbing impact energy. The granular materials includes a granular material having a hollow portion (12a, 212a) or a porous granular material. When the skeleton member receives an impact, the granular materials are deformed or collapsed, and impact energy is stably absorbed. Since the granular materials are hollow or porous, the weight of the skeleton member filled with the granular materials is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2003Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shouji Yamazaki
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Patent number: D548658Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2002Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Katayama Kogyo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mamoru Kagawa, Hiroyuki Sase, Tetsuji Tamura
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Patent number: D551206Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2005Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Honda Access Corp.Inventor: Noriyuki Ishida