Patents Examined by A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8415861
    Abstract: A wave power generator comprises a transmitting module and a piezoelectric generator, the transmitting module comprises a raft, a transmission member and a coupling member, the raft has a surface, and the transmission member is disposed at the first surface. The piezoelectric generator has a case and at least one piezoelectric module. The transmitting member has a vibrating portion. The coupling member comprises a rotating wheel and a crank rod, the rotating wheel is driven by the vibrating portion, and the crank rod is driven by the rotating wheel. The case comprises a second surface and at least one accommodating slot recessed into the second surface. The piezoelectric module is disposed into the accommodating slot and comprises at least one frame body, a moving member and a plurality of piezoelectric portions. The moving member is penetrated into the frame body and moved back and forth in the frame body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: National Sun Yat-Sen University
    Inventors: Hsien-Hua Lee, Teng-Chieh Tsou
  • Patent number: 8417864
    Abstract: A cascade-able serial bus device for coupling between a host device and another serial bus device is disclosed. The host device includes a serial bus interface. The serial bus device includes a first connection interface, a second connection interface and a bypassing module. The first connection interface is coupled to the serial bus interface of the host device. The second connection interface is coupled to the second serial bus device. The bypassing module is coupled to a chip select (CS) signal line of the serial bus interface and the second connection interface for selectively bypassing or non-bypassing the CS signal to the second serial bus device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yuan-Heng Sun, Yeu-Horng Shiau
  • Patent number: 8417416
    Abstract: An electric auxiliary heating unit for a motor vehicle reliably avoids temperature overshoots of the heated air, especially during acceleration phases of the vehicle. The temperature of adjustment the discharged hot air is adjusted in dependence upon the vehicle speed. This is preferably done via a stored characteristic field via which a plurality of vehicle parameters, such as the vehicle speed, the opening condition of the convertible top, the outside temperature, etc., can easily be taken into account. The temperature of the incoming air can also be derived from temperature values which are already available in the vehicle. This heating can preferably be used locally in the vehicle, e.g. in the vehicle seat or in the rear of the passenger compartment. Temperature fluctuations in the heated air can be avoided reliably and easily even in the case of dynamically varying operating conditions of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franz Bohlender, Michael Zeven, Ulrich Mundt
  • Patent number: 8413623
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is equipped with a variable valve control system which is operable to selectively actuate an engine valve using one of two cams of a camshaft, by sliding a rocker arm in the axial direction of a rocker-arm shaft. The system is capable of restricting the axial-direction movement of the rocker arm within a predetermined range, using a simple structure without unduly increasing the number of component parts. Position-restriction portions are formed in a rocker arm, and abut on a trigger arm to restrict sliding movement of the rocker arm within a predetermined amount, when the trigger arm is disengaged from the rocker arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Takada, Katsuhiro Kubo, Yuichi Tawarada, Masahiro Nakashima, Hiroyuki Natsui
  • Patent number: 8415722
    Abstract: A memory device includes an array of memory cells and peripheral devices. At least some of the individual memory cells include carbonated portions that contain SiC. At least some of the peripheral devices do not include any carbonated portions. A transistor includes a first source/drain, a second source/drain, a channel including a carbonated portion of a semiconductive substrate that contains SiC between the first and second sources/drains and a gate operationally associated with opposing sides of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chandra Mouli
  • Patent number: 8413421
    Abstract: Two different flows for air-fuel mixture are formed by two different variational amounts for changing the air-fuel ratio of the mixture. Response delay times for different exhaust gas flows are measured as time periods from a first time point at which the air-fuel ratio of the mixture is changed to a second time point at which an output of an oxygen sensor is changed. The oxygen sensor is provided in an exhaust pipe of an engine at a downstream side of an exhaust gas purifying catalyst. A difference between the two response delay times is compared with a predetermined threshold value to carry out the diagnosis for the catalyst deterioration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 8414638
    Abstract: Polymer stents with break-away links and methods of forming the links for improved stent retention on an expandable member during delivery are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Pacetti, Timothy A. Limon, Yunbing Wang
  • Patent number: 8417927
    Abstract: A function providing apparatus includes a first reading unit, a second reading unit, a first initializing unit, a second initializing unit, a first receiving unit, a second receiving unit, and a control unit. The first reading unit reads a first control program relating to a first function provided by a particular device. The second reading unit reads a second control program relating to a second function provided by data processing without using the particular device. The first initializing unit causes the processor to initialize the first control program. The second initializing unit causes the processor to initialize the second control program. The first receiving unit receives a first instruction. The second receiving unit receives a second instruction. The control unit establishes a power saving state in which power is supplied to the memory is continued, and makes a transition from the power saving state to the ordinary state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kobata, Taketoshi Yamashita, Satoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 8417407
    Abstract: A vehicular electric power source control device provided on a vehicle provided with an engine that may be stopped even in a vehicle drivable state which is established when a predetermined condition is satisfied and in which a vehicle drive force can be generated, and an electric-energy storage device which is charged by an operation of said engine, the vehicular electric power source control device permitting implementation of an automatic engine starting control to start said engine when an amount of an electric energy stored in said electric-energy storage device has been reduced to or below a predetermined charging start threshold value while the engine is held at rest in said vehicle drivable state, the vehicle electric power source control device includes an engine start permitting portion configured to permit the implementation of said automatic engine starting control under a condition that any passenger is present within the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8415250
    Abstract: A structure and method for fabricating silicide contacts for semiconductor devices is provided. Specifically, the structure and method involves utilizing chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and annealing to form silicide contacts of different shapes, selectively on regions of a semiconductor field effect transistor (FET), such as on source and drain regions. The shape of silicide contacts is a critical factor that can be manipulated to reduce contact resistance. Thus, the structure and method provide silicide contacts of different shapes with low contact resistance, wherein the silicide contacts also mitigate leakage current to enhance the utility and performance of FETs in low power applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Emre Alptekin, Dong-Ick Lee, Viraj Yashawant Sardesai, Cung Do Tran, Jian Yu, Reinaldo Ariel Vega, Rajasekhar Venigalla
  • Patent number: 8413490
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for obtaining a sample underwater. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a syringe pump comprising a plurality of syringes, a sampling probe coupled to the syringe pump for collecting the sample underwater and an analyzer module coupled to the syringe pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Ryan J. Bell, R. Timothy Short, Strawn K. Toler, Bill Huzar
  • Patent number: 8413436
    Abstract: An accumulator system is configured to store energy and includes an accumulator having a liquid chamber coupled to a liquid port and an air chamber coupled to an air port. The liquid chamber and the air chamber are separated by a moveable isolation barrier. An air motor/compressor coupled to the air port is configured to receive a mechanical input and responsively pump air into the accumulator, and to receive pressurized air from the air port and responsively provide a mechanical output. A liquid reservoir is coupled to the liquid port to receive liquid from the liquid chamber as air is pumped into the air chamber and to provide liquid to the liquid chamber as air is removed from the air chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Perry Y. Li, James D. Van de Ven
  • Patent number: 8413280
    Abstract: This invention includes a connection device for securing a ramp to a vehicle. The connection device has a bracket with an upper surface opposite a lower surface. The bracket is configured to be releasably secured to the ramp. A pivot pin extends from the lower surface of the bracket has an end spaced from the bracket. The end of the pivot pin is configured to be received in an opening of a cargo bed in the vehicle. The bracket is capable of being pivoted about the pivot pin along a pivot axis defined by the pivot pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventors: Hugh L. Goin, Clay J. Goin
  • Patent number: 8413427
    Abstract: A dosing control system for a vehicle includes a pump control module and an enabling/disabling module. The pump control module controls a pump that provides dosing agent to a dosing agent injector located upstream of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst in an exhaust system. The enabling/disabling module disables the pump for a predetermined melting period after engine startup when the dosing agent is frozen and selectively activates the pump during the predetermined melting period to cool the dosing agent injector when a tip temperature of the dosing agent injector is greater than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventors: Jason Daniel Mullins, Justin A. Shetney, Kyle E. Crawford, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Rebecca J Darr
  • Patent number: 8417453
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and programs update map information stored in a storage medium based on map update information distributed from a map distribution center. The devices, methods, and programs search for a vehicle route based on the stored map information, perform first guidance along the route, and identify a target area on the route that will be updated when the map information is updated. The devices, methods and programs determine whether the update of the target area will be complete when the vehicle reaches the target area. If the update of the target area will not be complete when the vehicle reaches the target area, the devices, methods, and programs request second guidance for the target area from the map distribution center, switch from proving the first guidance to providing the second guidance through the target area, and return to performing the first guidance when the vehicle exits the target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Masuda, Kentaro Yanagi
  • Patent number: 8417425
    Abstract: An apparatus for improving the stability of a payload of granular material loaded onto the bed of a vehicle that will traverse at least one grade is disclosed. The bed of the vehicle may be coupled to a hoist mechanism which may be linked to a controller with a memory for entering a value for the grade the vehicle may traverse while carrying the payload on the bed. The controller may send a signal to the hoist mechanism to tilt the bed to a tilted position having an angle about the value of the grade. An optional tilt support mechanism may be used to engage and support the bed after the bed has been tilted by the hoist mechanism to support the bed in the tilted position while the bed is loaded with the granular material. The hoist mechanism can be used to move the bed back to the horizontal position after the payload has been deposited on the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Gustavo Fortmann
  • Patent number: 8416919
    Abstract: One facilitates capturing samples as pertain to an object to be imaged by providing N pulsed sampling chains (where N is an integer greater than 1) where these sampling chains are in planes substantially parallel to one another and are substantially equidistant from adjacent others by a given distance. By one approach, the ratio of this given distance to a desired sample interval is approximately an integer that is relatively prime to N. So configured, a complete set of samples of the object can be captured by the sampling chains in a single pass notwithstanding that the object and the sampling chains are moving quickly with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R. Fox, David T. Nisius
  • Patent number: 8414037
    Abstract: A push-push type latch mechanism is disclosed, which includes a platform, a slide hook with an incline disposed on the platform, a spring disposed on the platform and connected to the slide hook, and at least one damping component disposed on the platform and touching the slide hook. An electronic device with the push-push type latch mechanism is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Cheng Wang, Wen-Chieh Liao
  • Patent number: 8413621
    Abstract: A hydraulic assembly (5) for a cylinder head (2) of an internal combustion engine having a hydraulically variable valve train (1) is provided. A high pressure chamber (11), a medium pressure chamber (12) and a low pressure chamber (16), which serves as a hydraulic medium reservoir, are configured in the hydraulic assembly. The low pressure chamber communicates through a throttling point (17) with the medium pressure chamber, which throttling point is formed by a displaceable valve body (19) and, depending on the position of the valve body, provides flow cross-sections of different sizes in order to minimize the leakage out of the hydraulic assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Rinnert
  • Patent number: D679583
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Wada, Masahiro Yoshida