Patents by Inventor Michael J. Niel

Michael J. Niel 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).

  • Failure sensing and control system for cycle testing
    Patent number: 8862425
    Abstract: A sensing and control system terminates a cycle test when it senses the part being cycle tested is about to fail. The sensing and control system uses a sensor for generating a signal each time the test part completes a motion cycle. The sensing and control system uses a controller, responsive to the sensor, for determining whether a failure is about to occur and stopping the cycle test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian A. Trager, Michael J. Niel
  • Audible blind spot indicator
    Patent number: 8537031
    Abstract: An audible blind spot indicator for a motor vehicle having a blind spot detection system is provided. The audible blind spot indicator can include an audible module that has a first tone generator operable to generate a first tone frequency and a second tone generator operable to generate a second tone frequency that is different than the first tone frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Niel
  • FAILURE SENSING AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CYCLE TESTING
    Publication number: 20120150472
    Abstract: A sensing and control system terminates a cycle test when it senses the part being cycle tested is about to fail. The sensing and control system uses a sensor for generating a signal each time the test part completes a motion cycle. The sensing and control system uses a controller, responsive to the sensor, for determining whether a failure is about to occur and stopping the cycle test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Christian A. Trager, Michael J. Niel
  • AUDIBLE BLIND SPOT INDICATOR
    Publication number: 20120081233
    Abstract: An audible blind spot indicator for a motor vehicle having a blind spot detection system is provided. The audible blind spot indicator can include an audible module that has a first tone generator operable to generate a first tone frequency and a second tone generator operable to generate a second tone frequency that is different than the first tone frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Niel
  • Automatic speed calculation for scratch machine
    Patent number: 7275423
    Abstract: An improved surface testing apparatus, such as a scratch test apparatus, allows accurate determination of the test speed, for example using one or more magnetic sensors. An example scratch test apparatus comprises an arm assembly, and an attached blade moving over the surface during the scratch test. A pair of spaced apart reed switches are provided proximate to the arm assembly, the reed switches being successively actuated by a magnetic portion of the arm asssembly as it moves during the scratch test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Technical Center USA, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Hicks, Michael J. Niel