Patents by Inventor James Webster

James Webster 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: 10655591
    Abstract: A multiple-keyed crankshaft and flywheel provides for different ignition timing options for an internal combustion engine. The crankshaft of the engine includes multiple keyways set at designated angular displacements of the crankshaft that correspond with keyways on a flywheel for providing different timing options for the engine. The flywheel may be mounted to the crankshaft by aligning one of the keyways of the flywheel to one of the keyways of the crankshaft related to a particular ignition timing selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Michael Kleczewski, James Webster
  • Publication number: 20190310678
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a body having a passenger compartment and a movable pedal housing which is movable between first and second positions with respect to the passenger compartment. The vehicle additionally includes at least one pedal which is operably coupled to the housing and actuatable by an occupant. The vehicle also includes an actuator operably coupled to the pedal and to the housing. The actuator is configured to apply a resistive force to the pedal to resist motion of the pedal. The actuator is configured to selectively move the housing between the first and second positions. The vehicle further includes at least one controller configured to, in response to satisfaction of a first operating condition, control the actuator to move the pedal housing to the first position, and, in response to satisfaction of a second operating condition, control the actuator to move the pedal housing to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: James Wojciechowski, Tomasz R. Warzecha, James A. Webster
  • Publication number: 20190302827
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a body having a passenger compartment and at least one pedal box for controlling vehicle acceleration or braking. The pedal box is movably coupled to an interior structural point disposed within the passenger compartment and movable between first and second positions with respect to the structural point. At least one pedal, actuatable by an occupant, is coupled to the pedal box. The vehicle additionally includes an actuator operably coupled to the pedal box and configured to selectively move the pedal box between the first position and the second position. The vehicle further includes at least one controller. The controller is configured to, in response to satisfaction of a first operating condition, control the actuator to move the pedal box to the first position, and, in response to satisfaction of a second operating condition, control the actuator to move the pedal box to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: James Wojciechowski, Tomasz R. Warzecha, James A. Webster, Daniel D. Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 10378599
    Abstract: A brake rotor comprising a brake pad wear surface; a hat surface; and a decorative insert comprising an insert material, the decorative insert disposed on the brake pad wear surface, the hat surface, or both; wherein at least one of a friction coefficient between the decorative insert and a brake pad is substantially the same as a friction coefficient between the brake pad wear surface and the brake pad, a wear rate of the decorative insert is substantially the same as or greater than a wear rate of the brake pad wear surface, or a wear rate of the decorative insert is substantially the same as or greater than a wear rate of the hat surface; and at least a portion of the decorative insert is visible on the brake pad wear surface, the hat surface, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher J. Mettrick, Mark T. Riefe, Michael L. Holly, James A. Webster, Michael J. Walker, Anil K. Sachdev
  • Publication number: 20190137449
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an apparatus for measuring binding kinetics of an interaction of an analyte material present in a fluid sample are disclosed. The apparatus includes a sensing resonator having at least one binding site for the analyte material; actuation circuitry adapted to drive the sensing resonator into an oscillating motion; measurement circuitry coupled to the sensing resonator and adapted to measure an output signal of the sensing resonator representing resonance characteristics of the oscillating motion of the sensing resonator; and a controller coupled to the actuation and measurement circuitry, wherein the controller is adapted to detect an individual binding event between the at least one binding site and a molecule of the analyte material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventor: James Webster
  • Publication number: 20190024619
    Abstract: A multiple-keyed crankshaft and flywheel provides for different ignition timing options for an internal combustion engine. The crankshaft of the engine includes multiple keyways set at designated angular displacements of the crankshaft that correspond with keyways on a flywheel for providing different timing options for the engine. The flywheel may be mounted to the crankshaft by aligning one of the keyways of the flywheel to one of the keyways of the crankshaft related to a particular ignition timing selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Kleczewski, James Webster
  • Publication number: 20190011004
    Abstract: A brake rotor comprising a brake pad wear surface; a hat surface; and a decorative insert comprising an insert material, the decorative insert disposed on the brake pad wear surface, the hat surface, or both; wherein at least one of a friction coefficient between the decorative insert and a brake pad is substantially the same as a friction coefficient between the brake pad wear surface and the brake pad, a wear rate of the decorative insert is substantially the same as or greater than a wear rate of the brake pad wear surface, or a wear rate of the decorative insert is substantially the same as or greater than a wear rate of the hat surface; and at least a portion of the decorative insert is visible on the brake pad wear surface, the hat surface, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher J. Mettrick, Mark T. Riefe, Michael L. Holly, James A. Webster, Michael J. Walker, Anil K. Sachdev
  • Publication number: 20180345920
    Abstract: A vehicle having an electronic parking brake system is provided. The vehicle includes a braking system having a first rotor and a first caliper. An electric motor is coupled to operate the first caliper. At least one sensor coupled to the vehicle to determine a braking characteristic. A controller electrically is coupled to the electric motor and the at least one sensor, the controller transmitting a first signal to the electric motor in response to receiving a second signal from the at least one sensor and determining that the braking system is performing below a predetermined level, the electric motor actuating the first caliper to apply a clamping force on the first rotor in response to the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Eric E. Krueger, Steven J. Weber, Brian W. Quinn, James A. Webster
  • Patent number: 10107250
    Abstract: A multiple-keyed crankshaft and flywheel provides for different ignition timing options for an internal combustion engine. The crankshaft of the engine includes multiple keyways set at designated angular displacements of the crankshaft that correspond with keyways on a flywheel for providing different timing options for the engine. The flywheel may be mounted to the crankshaft by aligning one of the keyways of the flywheel to one of the keyways of the crankshaft related to a particular ignition timing selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Michael Kleczewski, James Webster
  • Patent number: 10088689
    Abstract: An optical light engine includes a pair of lenticular microlenslet arrays (MLAs) located on each side of a polarization converter. Non-polarized light from a source in the engine is focused by the first MLA onto cells of the polarization converter which converts the light to a common state of polarization to increase efficiency and improve contrast in the system. A half wave retarder is included on the polarization converter to change the polarization of any light that is reflected from downstream optical components to match that of the forward propagating light. The second MLA, which includes a relatively large number of microlenslet elements, collects the light from the polarization converter and homogenizes the light to be highly uniform when received at a downstream imaging panel in the light engine such as a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Yarn Chee Poon, Steve Robbins, Angus Wu, Jeb Wu, James Webster, Richard Andrew Wall, Richard James, Robin Hsiung, RuPing Huang, Freeway Lin
  • Publication number: 20180242694
    Abstract: A method of forming an upper for an article of footwear includes providing a first material layer over a shoe last, providing a second material layer over the first material layer such that the first and second material layers adhere to each other at an interface between the first and second material layers, where one or both of the first material layer and second material layer is provided by spray forming a polymer material onto the last. The material layers are removed from the last and turned inside out such that the first material layer includes an exposed surface that forms an exterior surface of the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventor: James Webster
  • Publication number: 20180242690
    Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear includes a spray formed first layer including a first material, and a second layer including a second material, the second layer being adhered to the first layer. A transition zone is defined at a transition between the first layer and the second layer, and the transition zone includes a mixture of the first and second materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventor: James Webster
  • Publication number: 20180242693
    Abstract: A last for forming an upper of an article of footwear includes an exterior surface, where the exterior surface includes a plurality of three dimensional structural surface components disposed over at least 50% of the exterior surface of the last.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: James Webster, Thomas Foxen, David McManus
  • Publication number: 20180232951
    Abstract: Systems for controlling concentric tube probes are disclosed. In some examples, the system includes a concentric tube position display interface and a control system. The concentric tube display interface includes a display for displaying visual feedback to a user indicating a position (and possibly orientation) of a tip of a concentric tube probe and a user input device for receiving user input from the user designating a goal position (and possibly orientation) for the tip of the concentric tube probe. The control system is configured for interactive-rate motion planning of the concentric tube probe by creating, in real-time or near real-time, a motion plan to move the tip of the concentric tube probe to the goal position (and possibly orientation) while avoiding contact by the concentric tube probe with one or more obstacles and for configuring the concentric tube probe as specified by the motion plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicants: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Ron Alterovitz, Luis Guillermo Torres, Philip Joseph Swaney, Hunter Bryant Gilbert, Robert James Webster, Richard Joseph Hendrick
  • Publication number: 20180214010
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for transoral lung access. In some examples, the system includes a bronchoscope, a concentric tube probe deployable from within the bronchoscope, and a steerable needle nested deployable from within the concentric tube probe. The system can include a control system for deploying the concentric tube probe from the bronchoscope into a lung to a location where a target is within a range of the steerable needle and for deploying the steerable needle from the location to the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Ron Alterovitz, Richard Harry Feins, Bryan Irby Hartley, Alan David Kuntz, Erik Lamers, Arthur William Mahoney, Andria Annette Remirez, Philip Joseph Swaney, Robert James Webster, III
  • Publication number: 20180073480
    Abstract: A multiple-keyed crankshaft and flywheel provides for different ignition timing options for an internal combustion engine. The crankshaft of the engine includes multiple keyways set at designated angular displacements of the crankshaft that correspond with keyways on a flywheel for providing different timing options for the engine. The flywheel may be mounted to the crankshaft by aligning one of the keyways of the flywheel to one of the keyways of the crankshaft related to a particular ignition timing selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Kleczewski, James Webster
  • Patent number: 9814300
    Abstract: An earplug container is combined with a reusable clip such as a snap bolt fastener and the clip is rigidly attached to a wall of the container, for example by an E-clip or by integral molding. The resulting clip-on earplug container provides a secure and compact earplug case for attachment to the exterior of clothing of an active user such as a lumberjack or tree trimmer. Other exemplary embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Inventor: Monty James Webster
  • Publication number: 20170307036
    Abstract: Brake system telemetry systems and methods utilize wireless communication technology to communicate brake system data to one or more vehicle electronic control modules. A wireless transceiver is provided and is operably disposed with the brake system components. The wireless transceiver is coupled to receive data from various components of the brake system at the respective and to communicate the data to one or more electronic control units within the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: ANDREW M. NUESSER, JAMES A. WEBSTER, STEVEN J. WEBER, MARK T. RIEFE, BRIAN S. PAPROCKI, MICHAEL J. SHENBERGER
  • Patent number: 9758135
    Abstract: A ferritically nitrocarburized rotational member of a vehicle brake is disclosed, including a rotational member having a friction surface configured for braking engagement with a corresponding friction material. A compound zone is disposed at the friction surface. An exposed surface of the compound zone is exposed to an atmosphere. The area of the exposed surface includes from about 0 percent to about 14 percent graphite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Hanna, Michael L. Holly, Ronnie T. Brown, James A. Webster, Lisa G. Devoe, Donna Y. Sekulovski, Kee Hyuk Im
  • Publication number: 20160266398
    Abstract: An optical light engine includes a pair of lenticular microlenslet arrays (MLAs) located on each side of a polarization converter. Non-polarized light from a source in the engine is focused by the first MLA onto cells of the polarization converter which converts the light to a common state of polarization to increase efficiency and improve contrast in the system. A half wave retarder is included on the polarization converter to change the polarization of any light that is reflected from downstream optical components to match that of the forward propagating light. The second MLA, which includes a relatively large number of microlenslet elements, collects the light from the polarization converter and homogenizes the light to be highly uniform when received at a downstream imaging panel in the light engine such as a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Yarn Chee Poon, Steve Robbins, Angus Wu, Jeb Wu, James Webster, Richard Andrew Wall, Richard James, Robin Hsiung, RuPing Huang, Freeway Lin