Patents by Inventor Douglas Edward Cosby

Douglas Edward Cosby has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11814016
    Abstract: There is disclosed a valve assembly for washing cameras or sensors of an autonomous vehicle. The valve assembly includes a single fluid injector having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid passage in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A cup is disposed over an upstream portion of the fluid injector, relative to a direction of fluid flow through the fluid injector. A lower housing is disposed over and surrounds a downstream portion of the fluid injector, relative to the direction of fluid flow therethrough. A bracket member extends from the lower housing. The bracket member is configured for connecting to an anchor member for attachment within the autonomous vehicle. In this way, the valve assembly may be easily secured within a vehicle for providing a desired amount of fluid to the lens of the vehicle camera or sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventors: Douglas Edward Cosby, Stephen C Bugos, Michael J. Hornby
  • Patent number: 11349341
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission method of control is disclosed where equalization of the reactive voltages of a series resonant circuit, which is part of a transmitter antenna tuning and coupling unit, is obtained by adjusting the switching frequency and thereby used to determine a switching frequency of the driving high frequency inverter. By measuring and largely equalizing the voltage parameters of the series resonant circuit to establish an inverter switching frequency, improved efficiency of the wireless power transmission method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC
    Inventors: Perry Robert Czimmek, Willem Nicolaas Van Vuuren, Douglas Edward Cosby
  • Patent number: 11316373
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission method of control where an electrical parameter of a resonant circuit, which is part of a transmitter antenna tuning and coupling unit, determines in some part the regulation current level target or power level target of the resonant circuit. By using an electrical parameter of a resonant circuit to establish a current or power regulation level of the resonant circuit, a maximum limitation is established for the electrical current and voltage of the antenna tuning and coupling unit in order to operate the electrical elements within safe design limits. Additionally, energy is managed entering the transmitter antenna tuning and coupling unit for variable load at the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC
    Inventors: Perry Robert Czimmek, Douglas Edward Cosby
  • Publication number: 20210159732
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission method of control where an electrical parameter of a resonant circuit, which is part of a transmitter antenna tuning and coupling unit, determines in some part the regulation current level target or power level target of the resonant circuit. By using an electrical parameter of a resonant circuit to establish a current or power regulation level of the resonant circuit, a maximum limitation is established for the electrical current and voltage of the antenna tuning and coupling unit in order to operate the electrical elements within safe design limits. Additionally, energy is managed entering the transmitter antenna tuning and coupling unit for variable load at the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC
    Inventors: Perry Robert Czimmek, Douglas Edward Cosby
  • Publication number: 20210159733
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission method of control is disclosed where equalization of the reactive voltages of a series resonant circuit, which is part of a transmitter antenna tuning and coupling unit, is obtained by adjusting the switching frequency and thereby used to determine a switching frequency of the driving high frequency inverter. By measuring and largely equalizing the voltage parameters of the series resonant circuit to establish an inverter switching frequency, improved efficiency of the wireless power transmission method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC
    Inventors: Perry Robert Czimmek, Willem Nicolaas Van Vuuren, Douglas Edward Cosby
  • Publication number: 20210001811
    Abstract: There is disclosed a valve assembly for washing cameras or sensors of an autonomous vehicle. The valve assembly includes a single fluid injector having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid passage in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A cup is disposed over an upstream portion of the fluid injector, relative to a direction of fluid flow through the fluid injector. A lower housing is disposed over and surrounds a downstream portion of the fluid injector, relative to the direction of fluid flow therethrough. A bracket member extends from the lower housing. The bracket member is configured for connecting to an anchor member for attachment within the autonomous vehicle. In this way, the valve assembly may be easily secured within a vehicle for providing a desired amount of fluid to the lens of the vehicle camera or sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: Continental Powertrain USA, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Edward Cosby, Stephen C Bugos, Michael J. Hornby
  • Patent number: 10539057
    Abstract: An RDU fluid injector includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; a fluid path; an actuator unit including a pole piece, a movable armature and a coil; a valve assembly including a valve seat and a seal member connected to the armature and engageable with the valve seat; and a volume reduction member upstream of the actuator unit. The volume reduction member includes a throughbore partly defining the fluid path. The actuator unit, the valve assembly and the volume reduction member are disposed in one or more body portions of the injector, wherein each of the actuator unit, the valve assembly, the volume reduction member and the one or more body portions includes one or more components of the fluid injector. A ratio of a volume of the fluid path to a volume of the components of the fluid injector is between 0.08 and 0.30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC
    Inventors: Willem Nicolaas VanVuuren, Stephen C Bugos, Michael J Hornby, Douglas Edward Cosby
  • Patent number: 10364758
    Abstract: An injector, including: a moveable armature having a bore and upper and lower control surfaces; a lower housing including a bore and upper and lower stationary control surfaces; and a flow geometry defined along an exterior of the armature. The armature includes a transverse flow path fluidly coupled with the armature bore and the flow geometry. The lower housing includes a transverse flow path fluidly coupled with the lower housing bore. Upon moving the armature from a first position to a second position, a first flow path is formed between the flow geometry and the lower housing transverse flow geometry through a space between the lower stationary control surface and the lower armature control surface, and a second flow path is formed between the armature bore and the lower housing transverse flow geometry through a space between the upper stationary control surface and the armature upper control surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Powertrain, USA, LLC
    Inventors: Perry Robert Czimmek, Michael J Hornby, Douglas Edward Cosby
  • Publication number: 20190078482
    Abstract: A fluid injector for a reductant delivery unit includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the injector defining a fluid path from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet; an actuator unit including a pole piece disposed in a fixed position within the injector, a movable armature, a spring coupled to the pole piece and the moveable armature, and a coil disposed near the pole piece and the movable armature. A valve assembly includes a valve seat and a seal member connected to the armature and engageable with the valve seat. The armature includes an armature pocket receiving a first end of the spring and the pole piece includes a pole piece pocket receiving a second end of the spring, each of the armature pocket and the pole piece pocket includes an end wall, the end wall of the armature pocket contacting the first end of the spring and the end wall of the pole piece pocket contacting the second end of the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Edward Cosby, Steven C. Bugos
  • Publication number: 20190078485
    Abstract: An RDU fluid injector includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; a fluid path; an actuator unit including a pole piece, a movable armature and a coil; a valve assembly including a valve seat and a seal member connected to the armature and engageable with the valve seat; and a volume reduction member upstream of the actuator unit. The volume reduction member includes a throughbore partly defining the fluid path. The actuator unit, the valve assembly and the volume reduction member are disposed in one or more body portions of the injector, wherein each of the actuator unit, the valve assembly, the volume reduction member and the one or more body portions includes one or more components of the fluid injector. A ratio of a volume of the fluid path to a volume of the components of the fluid injector is between 0.08 and 0.30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Willem Nicolaas VanVuuren, Stephen C. Bugos, Michael J. Hornby, Douglas Edward Cosby
  • Publication number: 20180171888
    Abstract: An injector, including: a moveable armature having a bore and upper and lower control surfaces; a lower housing including a bore and upper and lower stationary control surfaces; and a flow geometry defined along an exterior of the armature. The armature includes a transverse flow path fluidly coupled with the armature bore and the flow geometry. The lower housing includes a transverse flow path fluidly coupled with the lower housing bore. Upon moving the armature from a first position to a second position, a first flow path is formed between the flow geometry and the lower housing transverse flow geometry through a space between the lower stationary control surface and the lower armature control surface, and a second flow path is formed between the armature bore and the lower housing transverse flow geometry through a space between the upper stationary control surface and the armature upper control surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Perry Robert Czimmek, Michael J Hornby, Douglas Edward Cosby
  • Patent number: 9334843
    Abstract: A temperature of a heated component is determined for control and monitoring. The heater driver, upon receipt of a turn-on signal, generates a current within a component of a heated fuel injector, wherein the current through the component generates an appropriate loss to generate heat for a variable spray fuel injection system. The heater driver regulates the energy to the heated component based on the electrical resistance of that component as a function of temperature and a predetermined reference value for that temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, INC.
    Inventors: Perry Robert Czimmek, Michael Joseph Hornby, Douglas Edward Cosby
  • Patent number: 9212591
    Abstract: A temperature of a heated component is determined for control and monitoring. The heater driver, upon receipt of a turn-on signal, generates a current within a component of an electronic catalyst or exhaust after-treatment component, wherein the current through the component generates an appropriate loss to generate heat for facilitation of an exhaust after-treatment process. The heater driver regulates the energy to the heated component based on the electrical resistance of that component as a function of temperature and a predetermined reference value for that temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Perry Robert Czimmek, Michael Joseph Hornby, Douglas Edward Cosby
  • Publication number: 20140373508
    Abstract: A trigger circuit is provided for a peak and hold driver circuit for a reductant delivery unit (RDU) having a solenoid-operated injector for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) after-treatment for vehicles. The peak and hold driver circuit is constructed and arranged to actuate the injector in a rise-to-peak current phase followed by a low current hold phase. The trigger circuit includes an injector open detection circuit constructed and arranged, based on a detected opening event of the injector, to trigger a transition from the rise-to-peak phase to the subsequent hold phase of the injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Willem Nicolaas van Vuuren, Douglas Edward Cosby
  • Publication number: 20140182366
    Abstract: A temperature of a heated component is determined for control and monitoring. The heater driver, upon receipt of a turn-on signal, generates a current within a component of a heated fuel injector, wherein the current through the component generates an appropriate loss to generate heat for a variable spray fuel injection system. The heater driver regulates the energy to the heated component based on the electrical resistance of that component as a function of temperature and a predetermined reference value for that temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Perry Robert Czimmek, Michael Joseph Hornby, Douglas Edward Cosby
  • Publication number: 20140182272
    Abstract: A temperature of a heated component is determined for control and monitoring. The heater driver, upon receipt of a turn-on signal, generates a current within a component of an electronic catalyst or exhaust after-treatment component, wherein the current through the component generates an appropriate loss to generate heat for facilitation of an exhaust after-treatment process. The heater driver regulates the energy to the heated component based on the electrical resistance of that component as a function of temperature and a predetermined reference value for that temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Perry Robert Czimmek, Michael Joseph Hornby, Douglas Edward Cosby
  • Patent number: 8723614
    Abstract: A method adjusts a pulse width of a signal. The method provides a fixed voltage input trigger pulse (34), of a certain pulse width, to a pulse width generator circuit (10) and provides an output pulse (52) from the pulse width generator circuit such that a pulse width of the output pulse is longer than the certain pulse width, without changing a voltage or frequency of the input trigger pulse. The method is used to drive an injector of a diesel reductant delivery system to inject fluid into an exhaust flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Edward Cosby, Perry Robert Czimmek
  • Publication number: 20130074473
    Abstract: A method adjusts a pulse width of a signal. The method provides a fixed voltage input trigger pulse (34), of a certain pulse width, to a pulse width generator circuit (10) and provides an output pulse (52) from the pulse width generator circuit such that a pulse width of the output pulse is longer than the certain pulse width, without changing a voltage or frequency of the input trigger pulse. The method is used to drive an injector of a diesel reductant delivery system to inject fluid into an exhaust flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS US, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Edward Cosby, Perry Robert Czimmek