Patents by Inventor Lee Becker

Lee Becker 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: 7010407
    Abstract: In a hydraulic system for controlling the rate at which fluid flows to an oncoming clutch and for quickly disengaging the clutch, a source of pressurized fluid, a valve hydraulically connected to the fluid source including a spool for alternately opening and closing communication through the valve between the fluid source and the clutch, a seat located between the valve and the clutch, and a plate moveable by fluid flow in a first direction into contact with the seat and moveable by fluid flow in a second direction away from the seat, the plate having an orifice through which fluid enters the clutch when the plate contacts the seat, and openings through which fluid from the clutch passes when the plate is away from the seat. A tube, located between the plate and the clutch, includes a head adjacent the plate and is formed with the seat, and a shank having a passage hydraulically communicating with the clutch, the orifice being aligned with the passage when the plate contacts the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Karczag, Lee Becker, Arnold Gomez-Mesquita, Vladimir Yasnogorodskiy, Gerald Young
  • Publication number: 20050223346
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for automatically generating test instructions for use in testing a microprocessor design. A configuration file includes a plurality of knobs which specify a probability distribution of a plurality of microprocessor instructions. A random code generator takes the configuration file as an input and generates test instructions which are distributed according to the probability distribution specified by the knobs. The test instructions are executed on the microprocessor design. The microprocessor behaviors that are exercised by the test instructions are measured and a fitness value is assigned to the configuration file using a fitness function. The configuration file and its fitness value are added to a pool of configuration files. A configuration file synthesizer uses a genetic algorithm to synthesize a new configuration file from the pool of existing configuration files.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Zachary Smith, Lee Becker, David Heckman
  • Patent number: 6944529
    Abstract: In a hydraulic system for an automatic transmission, a method for automatically draining fluid from an oil cooler and related hydraulic lines when power is off to prevent fluid leakage, escape and outflow when they are disconnected from the system. A control system includes a source of relatively high pressure when power is on, an oil cooler, fluid circuit lines for supplying transmission oil to the cooler, a source of low pressure for containing fluid, such as an oil sump, and a valve hydraulically connected to the circuit, high pressure source, and low pressure source, the valve having a first state at which a hydraulic connection through the valve between the circuit and the source of low pressure is closed when power is on, and a second state at which a hydraulic connection through the valve between the circuit and the low pressure source is open when power is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Person, Lee Becker
  • Patent number: 6918098
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for automatically generating test instructions for use in testing a microprocessor design. A configuration file includes a plurality of knobs which specify a probability distribution of a plurality of microprocessor instructions. A random code generator takes the configuration file as an input and generates test instructions which are distributed according to the probability distribution specified by the knobs. The test instructions are executed on the microprocessor design. The microprocessor behaviors that are exercised by the test instructions are measured and a fitness value is assigned to the configuration file using a fitness function. The configuration file and its fitness value are added to a pool of configuration files. A configuration file synthesizer uses a genetic algorithm to synthesize a new configuration file from the pool of existing configuration files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Zachary Steven Smith, Lee Becker, David Albert Heckman
  • Publication number: 20050056515
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for controlling the engagement and disengagement of a friction element includes a source of line pressure, a source of exhaust pressure, a manual valve having a forward state and a reverse state, connected to the exhaust pressure source and line pressure source and including a first outlet and a second outlet, for opening and closing communication between said outlets and said pressure sources in response to changes in the states, a friction element communicating with the line pressure source through the manual valve in the reverse state, and a control valve including a port communicating with the friction element, the control valve producing control pressure at the port when the manual valve is in the forward state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Kurt Nickerson, Lee Becker, Charles Barnes, Rodney Smith
  • Publication number: 20050060078
    Abstract: In a hydraulic system for an automatic transmission, a method for automatically draining fluid from an oil cooler and related hydraulic lines when power is off to prevent fluid leakage, escape and outflow when they are disconnected from the system. A control system includes a source of relatively high pressure when power is on, an oil cooler, fluid circuit lines for supplying transmission oil to the cooler, a source of low pressure for containing fluid, such as an oil sump, and a valve hydraulically connected to the circuit, high pressure source, and low pressure source, the valve having a first state at which a hydraulic connection through the valve between the circuit and the source of low pressure is closed when power is on, and a second state at which a hydraulic connection through the valve between the circuit and the low pressure source is open when power is off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Dennis Person, Lee Becker
  • Publication number: 20050060081
    Abstract: In a hydraulic system for controlling the rate at which fluid flows to an oncoming clutch and for quickly disengaging the clutch, a source of pressurized fluid, a valve hydraulically connected to the fluid source including a spool for alternately opening and closing communication through the valve between the fluid source and the clutch, a seat located between the valve and the clutch, and a plate moveable by fluid flow in a first direction into contact with the seat and moveable by fluid flow in a second direction away from the seat, the plate having an orifice through which fluid enters the clutch when the plate contacts the seat, and openings through which fluid from the clutch passes when the plate is away from the seat. A tube, located between the plate and the clutch, includes a head adjacent the plate and is formed with the seat, and a shank having a passage hydraulically communicating with the clutch, the orifice being aligned with the passage when the plate contacts the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Dennis Karczag, Lee Becker, Amold Gomez-Mesquita, Vladimir Yasnogorodskiy, Gerald Young
  • Publication number: 20050058550
    Abstract: The automatic transmission for motor vehicles includes a positive displacement pump, a sump hydraulically connected by a passage to the pump inlet, a line pressure control valve having a high pressure outlet, a passage carrying fluid from the control valve through a nozzle and an nozzle exit opening to the passage that connects the sump to the pump inlet. The high pressure passage has a cross section whose area decreases in the direction toward the pump inlet and terminates in a nozzle through which a high speed jet enters the low pressure passage through the nozzle exit opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Lee Becker, Timothy Droste, Vladimir Yasnogorodskiy, Thomas Tibbles
  • Publication number: 20040015791
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for automatically generating test instructions for use in testing a microprocessor design. A configuration file includes a plurality of knobs which specify a probability distribution of a plurality of microprocessor instructions. A random code generator takes the configuration file as an input and generates test instructions which are distributed according to the probability distribution specified by the knobs. The test instructions are executed on the microprocessor design. The microprocessor behaviors that are exercised by the test instructions are measured and a fitness value is assigned to the configuration file using a fitness function. The configuration file and its fitness value are added to a pool of configuration files. A configuration file synthesizer uses a genetic algorithm to synthesize a new configuration file from the pool of existing configuration files.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Zachary Steven Smith, Lee Becker, David Albert Heckman
  • Patent number: 5638732
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting an elongated body of elastomeric material includes a tensioned wire which is oscillated in a generally up and down motion while traversing through the elastomeric material. The wire acts as a cutting blade and prepares the cut surface of the elastomeric material to improve splices. The wire is suspended between a pair of pivotally mounted arms so that the wire oscillates as the arms are rocked by an eccentric mounted to a rotating shaft. The cutter wire passes through the body of elastomeric material at an angle relative to the plane in which the body of elastomeric material lies. The body of elastomeric material is secured in place by clamp segments which conform themselves to the cross-sectional shape of the body. The cutter wire is traversed through the elastomeric material on a cutter frame which is moved by a ball screw driven by a variable speed electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Michael Lee Becker, Klaus Beer, Daniel Ray Downing, William Frank Dunn, James Michael Hart, Dennis Alan Lundell
  • Patent number: 4079017
    Abstract: A low energy process for the production of hydrogen-rich gas which involves the process sequence of primary reforming and secondary reforming includes parallel steam reformers for the primary reforming of the hydrocarbon feed, one portion of the hydrocarbon feed being heated using radiant heat, i.e., a steam reforming furnace, and another portion of the hydrocarbon feed being heated using indirect heat exchange with the effluent from the secondary reforming, i.e., an exchanger-reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1978
    Assignee: Pullman Incorporated
    Inventors: Duffer Brooks Crawford, Colman Lee Becker, Joseph Ray LeBlanc
  • Patent number: D442121
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Inventors: John A. LaBonte, Dennis Lee Becker
  • Patent number: D442122
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Inventors: John A. LaBonte, Dennis Lee Becker