Patents Examined by Tyrone V. Walker
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Patent number: 5483451Abstract: Disclosed herein is a start control device for starting a vehicle passenger protecting device such as an air bag, which does not respond to an impact against which the vehicle passenger protecting device must not be started, but quickly responds to a collision against which the vehicle passenger protecting device must be started. The start control device includes a start level generator for setting a decision level of start signal generation to a higher level for a predetermined time from a rise timing of an acceleration signal obtained from an acceleration sensor in deciding a collision by using an integral value of the acceleration signal. With this arrangement, in case of the impact against which the vehicle passenger protecting device must not be started, the start signal can be prevented from being generated.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1995Date of Patent: January 9, 1996Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuhiko Ohmae, Yukihiro Okimoto, Takashi Furui
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Patent number: 5471403Abstract: A method of predicting the three-dimensional topography of a surface of a semiconductor device including a flowable material includes establishing reflow process conditions including a total process time; establishing a grid of three-dimensional cells encompassing at least part of a semiconductor device and including a flowable material; specifying the concentration of a flowable material in each cell; establishing polygonal surfaces of constant flowable material concentration that extend amongst the cells; calculating the chemical potential of each constant concentration polygonal surface; calculating the surface flux of flowable material between adjacent polygonal surfaces; calculating the material flow between cells for a time interval .increment.t less than the process time by multiplying the surface flux by the time .increment.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1992Date of Patent: November 28, 1995Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masato Fujimaga
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Patent number: 5469366Abstract: A technique is described which is generally directed to providing better delay determination for "nets" (equivalent circuits of point-to-point wiring) in integrated circuit designs on a semiconductor design automation system by adapting general RC-mesh networks representing those "nets" to efficient nodal matrix circuit solver techniques which are not inherently suited to general RC-mesh circuits. This is accomplished by "collapsing" the general RC-mesh network into an RC-tree equivalent circuit (network) which can be solved (simulated) by such nodal matrix techniques, thus determining node voltages and waveforms for each of the nodes of the simplified network. After solving the simplified network, the simplified network is re-expanded into its original RC-mesh form, determining the node voltages and waveforms at the re-expanded nodes thereof (eliminated during the collapse of the network) by applying simple circuit analysis techniques.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1993Date of Patent: November 21, 1995Assignee: LSI Logic CorporationInventors: Dian Yang, Hashain Karampurwala
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Patent number: 5467281Abstract: A controller for a power steering apparatus in which operation fluid for generating assist torque is pumped by a motor-driven pump. The controller controls the flow rate of the operation fluid by changing the voltage supplied to the motor. The controller is provided with a section for generating a target value representing a target voltage to be supplied to the motor, a section for detecting the voltage actuary supplied to the motor, and a section for generating a voltage compensation value based on the detected voltage. The voltage compensation value is obtained by integrating a voltage difference between the target voltage and the detected voltage. The voltage compensation value is added to the target value to obtain a compensated target value. The motor is driven by a voltage corresponding to the compensated target value.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1994Date of Patent: November 14, 1995Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shigeo Iwashita, Akihiro Ohno, Takashi Shirai
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Patent number: 5467280Abstract: A vehicular suspension system comprises a variable damping force shock absorber utilizing a variable semiactive hydraulic damper having a plurality of different damping characteristics, a sensor for detecting an absolute vertical velocity of a sprung mass of the vehicle, and a control unit responsive to the vertical velocity for generating a control signal based on the vertical velocity to adjust the damping characteristic of the damper. The control unit includes a dead-band controlling circuit for adjusting the damping characteristic to a minimum damping characteristic only when the control signal value is maintained within a dead band for the vertical velocity. The dead-band controlling circuit varies upper and lower thresholds of the dead band depending on the magnitude of the vertical velocity.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1993Date of Patent: November 14, 1995Assignee: Unisia Jecs CorporationInventor: Makoto Kimura
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Patent number: 5461567Abstract: A system having an accelerometer and a micro-controller responsive to acceleration signals for deploying an air bag as well as activating a pretensioner upon frontal impact includes an algorithm for activating the pretensioner upon rear impact. A frontal crash algorithm is executed when the acceleration exceeds a negative threshold and a rear impact algorithm is enabled when the acceleration exceeds a positive threshold. Rear impact severity is tested by integrating positive acceleration samples and issuing an activation command when the integrated value attains a severity threshold value. Noise immunity results from the positive threshold and from resetting the integrated value to zero whenever a negative acceleration sample intervenes in the severity test.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1994Date of Patent: October 24, 1995Assignee: Delco Electronics CorporationInventors: Jon P. Kelley, Jiyao Liu
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Patent number: 5461576Abstract: An electronic design automation tool embodiment uses a single slack graph structure throughout a process to provide communication between a placer (performing placement) and a timing constraint generator (performing slack distribution). The tool includes a slack graph generator, a timing calculator, a timing analyzer, a timing constraint generator and a net bounding box generator. A list of net constraints and a list of complete path constraints are fed to the slack graph generator during operation. Timing calculations from the delay calculator and zero net RC delays from a clustering process in a placer also provide input to the slack graph generator. The list of net constraints, a list of pin-to-pin constraints and a set of specifications for system clocking are input to the timing analyzer. The timing constraint generator receives a composite slack graph from the timing calculator, slack graph generator and timing analyzer.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1993Date of Patent: October 24, 1995Assignee: Arcsys, Inc.Inventors: Ren-Song Tsay, Chwen-Cher Chang
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Patent number: 5452210Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for evaluating gas bag inflator designs are disclosed, including an inflator state machine having slots for signals corresponding to predetermined gas dynamic and heat transfer characteristics of a gas bag inflator at a specified time. Inflator state machines having one or more chambers, and zero or more deflectors, screen packs, burst disks, and vents are supported. Initial temperatures, pressures, and chamber gas contents may be specified, as may the geometry and other characteristics of gas generant pills. A controller in the state machine accesses a chemical database to obtain information about enthalpy, viscosity, and other properties of gas generant combustion products, igniter combustion products, and other compounds present within the gas bag inflator.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 1994Date of Patent: September 19, 1995Assignee: Thiokol CorporationInventor: James D. Rozanski
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Patent number: 5446661Abstract: A method and system for discriminating motor vehicle crashes to actuate a safety restraint (10) utilizes an optical vehicle occupant position detector (12) to generate data (22) representative of the position of an occupant relative to fixed structure within the vehicle. The data (22) is subsequently used by a signal processor/discrimination unit (26) as criteria for a parameter based crash discrimination analysis, and for adjusting parameters of the discrimination analysis, such as changing the discrimination threshold values. The occupant position data optimizes the discrimination analysis used in the system (10) due to the system's ability to customize the discrimination analysis in real time to match actual conditions of a vehicle occupant. Occupant position is determined by detecting the relative intensity, or average of scattering angles of a light beam (34) reflectively scattered by the occupant (24).Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 1993Date of Patent: August 29, 1995Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: Tony Gioutsos, Edward J. Gillis, Walter E. Chapelle, Carolyn A. Swayze
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Suspension control system for controlling suspension of automotive vehicle based on wheel speed data
Patent number: 5444621Abstract: A suspension control system capable of controlling a suspension of an automotive vehicle in such a manner as to improve the riding comfort and maneuverability of the vehicle without the need for many sensors is disclosed, in which a speed difference signal obtained by subtracting an estimated vehicle speed from a wheel speed is filtered with band-pass filters which pass sprung resonance frequency components and unsprung resonance frequency components, respectively. After amplification, the filtered speed difference are compared with a reference value so that a damping force of a shock absorber is set in accordance with a road surface condition. Since the damping force of the shock absorber is shifter by using only information based on the wheel speed detected by a wheel speed sensor, a total number of sensor to be mounted on the vehicle for controlling the suspension can be considerably reduced. The suspension control system is simple in construction and can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1992Date of Patent: August 22, 1995Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.Inventors: Eiju Matsunaga, Akira Fukushima, Noriyuki Nakashima, Toshiyuki Murai, Shinya Takemoto, Mikio Tanabe, Hisashi Kinoshita -
Patent number: 5440485Abstract: A starting apparatus of a passenger protecting apparatus is actuated by detecting collision of a vehicle. The starting apparatus is provided so as to subtract a predetermined value from an acceleration signal fed from G sensor and integrate the subtracted acceleration signal, and forcedly set an integrated value to zero if the integrated value is less than zero. Further, the starting apparatus is provided so as to provide a starting signal when the integrated value exceeds a preset threshold value. Therefore, it is possible to discriminate collision to start the apparatus from other collision, prevent starting means from being unnecessarily actuated, and avoid malfunction of the starting means.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1993Date of Patent: August 8, 1995Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yukihiro Okimoto, Takashi Furui, Katsuhiko Ohmae
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Patent number: 5430649Abstract: A two-step deployment control method for a supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) in a vehicle. The deployment decision includes a "time to wait" step in which the control determines "when to deploy", and a "severity" step in which the control determines "whether to deploy". The "time to wait" step is based on an estimation of occupant displacement due to the crash, and the "severity" step is based on an estimation of the crash severity. The control method is modified to initiate earlier deployment when the acceleration data is indicative of a localized impact which does not involve the full front structure of the vehicle, such as an angle or pole impact.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1993Date of Patent: July 4, 1995Assignee: Delco Electronics CorporationInventors: Robert J. Cashler, Jon P. Kelley
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Patent number: 5428534Abstract: A tripping device for a safety device, such as a lateral air bag for protecting vehicle occupants in the event of a side crash evaluates for the purpose of reliable tripping of the safety device in the event of a dangerous side crash and effectively avoiding spurious tripping, the signals of a deformation sensor arranged in the lateral region of the vehicle, and a transverse acceleration sensor arranged on the vehicle longitudinal axis. In the event of the presence of a deformation signal, an acceleration evaluator is started and the tripping sensitivity is increased. The deformation rate is determinable from the signal of the deformation sensor, and an increase in the tripping sensitivity is stronger in the event of a crash when the deformation rate is higher.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1993Date of Patent: June 27, 1995Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AGInventors: Guido Wetzel, Manfred Muller, Michael Meyer, Ulrich Tschaschke
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Patent number: 5428538Abstract: An electronic sanding control system for enhancing the frictional adhesion existing between the track rail and the wheels of a railway vehicle by functionally controlling the energization and deenergization of a sanding magnet valve with a plurality of OR and AND logic gates and a sand control latch circuit.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1991Date of Patent: June 27, 1995Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake CompanyInventor: Vincent Ferri
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Patent number: 5420795Abstract: A navigational system for determining and displaying the position of a vessel on a navigational chart includes an optical projection system for establishing first and second reference points on the chart. The system also includes a computer and a keyboard or the like for entering the longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of the first and second reference points in the computer. A GPS or Loran receiver is also tied into the computer so that the present position of the vessel can be projected onto the chart.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 1994Date of Patent: May 30, 1995Inventor: Leonard M. Greene
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Patent number: 5420790Abstract: Large reserve capacitors store energy sufficient to operate the firing circuit and the deployment circuit for an SIR in the event of loss of battery or ignition voltage in a crash. A voltage doubling or tripling circuit charges the reserve capacitors. Normally the capacitors are isolated from the deployment circuit to minimize the load on the charging circuit. An isolation circuit detects the loss of ignition voltage and then connects a reserve capacitor to the deployment circuit for continued control operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1994Date of Patent: May 30, 1995Assignee: Delco Electronics CorporationInventors: Richard J. Ravas, Jr., Kevin D. Kincaid
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Patent number: 5418722Abstract: A supplemental inflatable restraint system has a deployment algorithm which is enabled when a threshold acceleration is reached and then, based on subsequent measured acceleration data, determines whether and when to deploy an air bag. Rough road conditions produce accelerations which can enable the algorithm and then produce a reset event to terminate the algorithm. Reset events are each stored for a short time and the number of unexpired reset events is a measure of the rough road condition. The deployment calculation is adjusted to delay deployment for a time proportional to the number of reset events to allow gathering of additional acceleration data for the deployment decision.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1994Date of Patent: May 23, 1995Assignee: Delco Electronics CorporationInventor: Robert J. Cashler
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Patent number: 5414639Abstract: In a testing method and a testing circuit design apparatus for a multi-terminal device, the testing circuit design apparatus includes an input unit for inputting data of an ideal testing circuit, a storage unit for storing the data of the ideal testing circuit input from the input unit, a knowledge base unit having a knowledge base in which a knowledge base and a testing method suitable for a tester of each manufacturer are described, and a testing circuit conversion unit for converting the data of the ideal testing circuit written in the storage unit to data of an actual testing circuit actually used for characteristic measurement on the basis of each knowledge base of the knowledge base unit, and for writing the converted data into the storage unit. The number n of points under test of the device board and the number M of resources of the tester are read out, and the number n of the points under test and the number M of the resources are compared with each other.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1994Date of Patent: May 9, 1995Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Takatoshi Sugimoto, Hideaki Yoshimura, Masayuki Suzuki
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Patent number: 5412571Abstract: A four-wheel steering apparatus for use with a motor vehicle supported on a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels. The apparatus comprises a control unit for steering the front wheels to provide a front wheel auxiliary steer angle satisfying the following equation: ##EQU1## where .theta..sub.(s) is a Laplace transform of the front wheel steer angle and .delta..sub.f(s) is a Laplace transform of the front wheel auxiliary steer angle, S is a Laplacian, and K, .tau..sub.1, .tau..sub.2, T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 are constants inherent on the motor vehicle and for steering the rear wheels to provide a rear wheel auxiliary steer angle satisfying the following equation: ##EQU2## where .theta..sub.(s) is a Laplace transform of the front wheel steer angle, .delta..sub.r(s) is a Laplace transform of the rear wheel auxiliary steer angle, and K', .tau..sub.1 ', .tau..sub.2 ', T.sub.1 ' and T.sub.2 ' are constants inherent on the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1994Date of Patent: May 2, 1995Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takaaki Eguchi, Hiroshi Mouri
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Patent number: 5408411Abstract: A system for detecting a physical amount of behavior of a vehicle includes, acceleration sensors arranged on at least two longitudinal axes of the vehicle, the vertical axis Of the vehicle and the lateral axis of the vehicle, a plurality of the acceleration sensors being disposed on each of the axes. A unit is provided for establishing a conversion equation for determining acceleration values of linear motion at an arbitrary point of the vehicle in the direction of each axis of an arbitrary coordinate system and acceleration values of rotational motion with respect to the each axis of the coordinate system while simultaneously using acceleration values detected by the acceleration sensors disposed on at least two of the vehicular longitudinal axes, the vertical axis and the lateral axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 1992Date of Patent: April 18, 1995Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuru Nakamura, Makoto Yamakado