Patents Examined by Robert E. Nappi
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Patent number: 6637545Abstract: A device for silencing a flowing gas which includes a valve housing in which a valve is mounted. A separate pressure regulator is provided which is in communication with the flowing gas and which is responsive to gas pressure to thereby influence movement of a mechanical actuating device which controls movement of the valve such that the valve may be opened at least two different rates dependent upon the pressure of the flowing gas.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2002Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Inventors: Erik Jonsson, Mikael Persson
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Patent number: 6634456Abstract: A kind of vibrating diaphragm of false speaker structure which includes a center piece with integrated formation directly on a larger outer diameter surface layer body, a connected suspended edge provided at the side way of the surface layer body in circle, and the hardness of the center piece is greater than the surface layer body and a gap reserved at the separation of the formation of the surface layer body and the suspended edge; with this provision, it provides aesthetic and consistence in appearance to the vibrating diaphragm formation, and save the adhesion of the suspended edge and the center piece which reduce the process and lower cost and make the center piece embedded with the product firmly without loosen, meeting various test condition and prolong the service life of the structure in practice.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Meiloon Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jack Peng
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Patent number: 6636693Abstract: A regenerative converter for a DC motor (55) having an armature (A, B) and a field (57), comprises a conventional three-phase matrix converter (6) including a three-phase bridge (7), the output of two phases being connected (52, 53) across the armature of the motor, the third phase being connected (58) to one end (I) of the DC motor field (57). The other end (K) of the DC motor field (57) is connected (59a) through a plurality of diodes (61-63) to respective phases of the input power.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventor: Vladimir Blasko
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Patent number: 6636009Abstract: A fault-tolerant electromechanical actuating device for converting an electrical actuating signal into a mechanical output actuating value for use in vehicles, having two mutually independent control loops. Each loop has at least one controller and at least one electric motor which is driven by this controller and which, in each case via a self-locking transmission, drives the input to a summing transmission, which superimposes the actuating values of the actuating motors to form the output actuating value. The fault tolerance or reliability of the actuating device is ensured by a comparator controller, which monitors the functions of the other controllers. Interfaces between the controllers and between the subsystems ensure stringent isolation of electrical potential.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Renk AktiengesellschaftInventor: Alexander Walter
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Patent number: 6636012Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating stator and rotor resistance estimate, the method including the steps of providing high frequency injection voltage signals to a three phase motor, rotating three phase feedback current therefrom, converting the feedback currents to two phase currents that represent the high frequency component of the current vector wherein the d and q axis components are within a two phase voltage coordinate system and driving a regulator via one of the current components to generate a lag angle estimate, the lag angle estimate used to solve any of several different equations to calculate the stator and rotor resistance estimates.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Semyon Royak, Mark M. Harbaugh, Russel J. Kerkman
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Patent number: 6634457Abstract: An apparatus for damping acoustic vibrations in a combustor as well as a corresponding combustor arrangement with the apparatus. The apparatus includes a Helmholtz resonator (4) that can be connected via a connecting channel (2) with a combustor (1). The Helmholtz resonator (4) contains a hollow body (6) the volume of which can be changed by adding or draining a fluid via a supply line (5), or is located adjacent to such a hollow body in such a way that the resonance volume (3) of the Helmholtz resonator (4) is changed when the volume of the hollow body (6) is changed. This apparatus makes it possible to adjust the resonance frequency of a Helmholtz resonator arranged inside a pressure container in accordance with the respective current operating point of the combustor to be damped, without having to pass movable components through the pressure container.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) LtdInventors: Christian Oliver Paschereit, Wolfgang Weisenstein, Peter Flohr, Wolfgang Polifke
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Patent number: 6633148Abstract: The invention relates to a process for adjusting a motor vehicle part between at least two positions, the motor vehicle part being driven by an electric motor, pulse signals being generated according to the rotary motion of the electric motor and being supplied to a control unit for controlling the electric motor, in the first computation (50) with a first parameter set the first value for the instantaneous force acting on the motor vehicle part is determined from the acquired pulse signals at certain first instants. Parallel to the first computation, in at least the second computation (52) with a second parameter set which differs from the first parameter set the second value for the instantaneous force acting on the motor vehicle part is determined from the acquired pulse signals at certain second instants, the two values being considered for the instantaneous action of the force in order to decide whether the electric motor is turned off or reversed or not.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2001Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: Webasto Dachsysteme GmbHInventor: Joachim Klesing
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Patent number: 6631783Abstract: This invention relates to mapping the hydrocarbon reservoir characteristics by mapping the reservoir formations that display dynamic elastic nonlinearity responses to the seismic signals. The main reason of this nonlinear behavior in the reservoir rocks is their bulk rock property: the porosity, fractures, differential pressure and pore saturation. To map these bulk rock properties, the interaction of the two seismic waves as they propagate through elastically nonlinear rocks is recorded. Two compressional seismic signals are transmitted from the surface. Seismic reflection data using surface or borehole detectors are recorded. One of the transmitted signals is a conventional swept frequency and the other is a mono-frequency signal. During the propagation of these two signals through the elastically nonlinear reservoir rocks, there is an interaction between the two signals. The sum and difference frequencies of the two primary seismic signals that were transmitted from the surface are created.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2001Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: Nonlinear Seismic Imaging, Inc.Inventor: Tawassul Ali Khan
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Patent number: 6633147Abstract: A method for closing a motor-driven window is disclosed, including the steps of raising the window after the window has been stopped; evaluating the torque after initially raising the window; and stopping the window if the pinch force exceeds a predetermined limit. Torque is preferably estimated according to the present invention using the sum of dynamic torque, electromagnetic torque, and core loss compensation. Consistent values of torque are estimated during window starts and stops, which is beneficial in providing accurate pinch force measurements and avoiding false pinch indications.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2001Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventor: Robert Gerbetz
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Patent number: 6631785Abstract: Sound attenuating composite articles for use within vehicles as floor coverings and other interior trim components are provided. A sound attenuating composite article includes a damping layer, decoupler layer, scrim/web layer, and a porous upholstery material sandwiched together. The damping layer has a thickness of less than about 5 mm and is configured to be attached to a surface of a panel of a vehicle (e.g., a sheet metal or polymeric component of a vehicle, such as a floor panel, door panel, etc.) in face-to-face contacting relationship therewith. The decoupler layer has a thickness of less than about 70 mm and is attached to a surface of the damping layer in face-to-face contacting relationship. The scrim/web layer has a thickness of less than or equal to about two millimeters (2 mm). The porous upholstery material (e.g., carpeting) is attached to a surface of the scrim/web layer of material in face-to-face contacting relationship therewith.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2001Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: Collins & Aikman Products Co.Inventors: Surendra Khambete, Fred Skidmore, Melvyn J. Care, Chris Griffen
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Patent number: 6631784Abstract: A device for reducing the noise emissions of a machine for printing flat material, wherein flat material is transportable across an impression cylinder, comprising at least one muffling element disposed across a portion of a transport path of the flat material extending along the impression cylinder, directly behind or downline from a nip, as viewed in the direction of the transport path, and at a spaced distance from the impression cylinder; and a machine including the device.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2001Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: Heidelberger Drucksmaschinen AGInventors: Christian Hieb, Daniel Conzelmann, Günter Stephan
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Patent number: 6633144Abstract: A system and method determine the parameters of a field of a DC motor. The method comprises obtaining parameters of the DC motor; and performing an iterative processing loop, the iterative processing loop being performed n times. The iterative processing loop includes regulating field current based on the parameters of the DC motor, and calculating a field resistance from a field voltage and the field current measured during the regulating of the field current; operating in a closed loop mode to determine a first field firing angle and a second field firing angle; operating in an open loop mode to determine a first time constant and a second time constant based on applying the first field firing angle and the second field firing angle; and determining at least one parameter of the field of the DC motor based on the first time constant, the second time constant, and the calculated field resistance.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2001Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: Sidney A. Barker, Eddy Ying Yin Ho
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Patent number: 6633150Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving traction for mobile robots where traction is a concern. The mobile robot of the invention includes wheels and brushes. The wheels are mounted to the body of the robot. The brush is mounted to the body close to the wheels. When the wheels are rotating, the brush rubs against the wheel to get rid of debris on the tread of the wheel and cleans the wheel so that traction for the robot can be improved. An alternative way to improve traction by reducing slippage utilizes suction cups or wiper elements mounted on the wheel.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2001Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: Personal Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Bret A. Wallach, Harvey Koselka, David Gollaher
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Patent number: 6633151Abstract: An electric drive system is provided to generate varying amounts of output torque supplied to a driven member over a wide range of constant revolutions per minute speeds to reduce power consumption. The electric motor includes a rotor and a stator assembly. The stator assembly is disposed around the rotor and is inductively coupled to the rotor. The stator assembly further includes a plurality of poles, each pole consisting of a plurality of split windings wound so that the magnetic fluxes generated therefrom are added. Power switching circuits are provided for energizing the partition drives of split windings on each of the stator poles. A controller is used to selectively control the frequency, pulse width modulation, and partition configuration to vary the rotational speed and torque generation supplied to the driven member.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2001Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: Eltra Systems, Inc.Inventor: Ronald A. Johnson
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Patent number: 6630807Abstract: A method and system of controlling a movable body portion of a vehicle where the body portion is moved by a motor responding to a control input. Power is applied to the motor upon actuation of the control input and a timer is maintained concurrent with the application of power. Power is removed from the motor as a function of expiration of the timer or relinquishment of the control input. The timer provides a maximum amount of time that power may be applied to the motor, thereby preventing damage to the movable body portion in the event it becomes jammed while being moved by the motor.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2002Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Alona E Pehrson, James E Zondag, Kenneth R Martek
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Patent number: 6629579Abstract: A headphone/earmuff includes a headband, a pair of ear cups and associated positioning devices attaching each ear cup to the headband. Each ear cup positioning device has a cylinder attached to either the ear cup or the headband, and a piston received slidably within the cylinder and attached to the other of the headband or the ear cup.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2002Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: TWD-Acoustic Products Ltd.Inventor: Hiroshi Hasegawa
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Patent number: 6628097Abstract: A machine tool and a control method therefor providing an improved machining accuracy even when a numerical control and electronic cam control coexist. The CPU determines the moving position of the workpiece, the tool, and the drilling tool according to the command from each channel machining sequence storage portion, and outputs the determined position as a command signal in response to the pulse signal generated at the pulse signal generating circuit. The workpiece, the tool, and the drilling tool are thereby electronic cam controlled. The CPU also determines the moving position of the workpiece and the tool according to the command from each channel machining sequence storage portion, and outputs the determined position as a command signal in response to the divided timing signal generated at the divided timing signal generating circuit. The workpiece and the tool are thereby numerically controlled.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2002Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Star Micronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyuki Endo, Yukihiro Inoue, Takehisa Kajiyama
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Patent number: 6628095Abstract: An actuator for remote operation of a switch, such as a recloser-type circuit breaker in a power distribution network, comprises an electric mechanism including an electric motor and electro-magnetic clutch mechanism, which is energisable to connect the motor drive to mechanically operate the switch on command and which is otherwise mechanically disengaged from the switch such that the switch may operate freely, and a receiver arranged to receive remotely transmitted command signals for the electric mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Tyco Electronics Logistics A.G.Inventors: Bruce Raymond Mc Kinnon, Owen Ross Gregory
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Patent number: 6628098Abstract: A method for the acceleration of the adjusting movement in a positioning system in which at least one stepping motor is controlled at a variable control frequency f, the adjusting speed is dependent upon the control frequency f, and a positioning step of the adjusting movement is initiated at every period of the control frequency f.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbHInventors: Tobias Kaufhold, Ralf Joram
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Patent number: 6628893Abstract: A direct current motor rotation control apparatus, a method and device for controlling a rotational speed of a direct current motor, and an apparatus having the direct current motor rotation control apparatus. The apparatus and device control rotational operations of a direct current motor such that the direct current motor rotation control apparatus includes at least one rotation detecting brush which detects a signal indicative of an operation of the direct current motor, a motor driving circuit which drives the direct current motor by applying the direct current drive voltage to the pair of electrode brushes, a reference voltage generating device which generates a reference voltage a comparator which compares a voltage detected by the rotation detecting brush with the reference voltage generated by the reference voltage generating device and produces an output comparison voltage, and a motor control circuit which adjusts the direct current drive voltage based on the output comparison voltage.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshimi Ohno, Ikuya Tsurukawa, Kenji Koyama