Patents by Inventor Nick Sarafopoulos

Nick Sarafopoulos 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: 6914543
    Abstract: A method for detecting an absolute rotational position of an electromechanical device or the at least one component thereof comprising determining a first absolute position of the electromechanical device or the at least one component thereof based on a commutation index signal, obtaining a Z-index signal, and determining a second absolute position of the electromechanical device or the at least one component thereof based on the Z-index signal. The method initially determines a coarse rotational position of the electromechanical device such as a rotor or steering wheel based on the commutation index signal. When a device's position is first initialized by a commutation index signal before the Z-index pulse is detected, the device's position is re-initialized upon detection of the Z-Index pulse to provide a more accurate absolute device rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Floros, Nick Sarafopoulos, Paul T. Jordan
  • Publication number: 20030222798
    Abstract: A method for detecting an absolute rotational position of an electromechanical device or the at least one component thereof comprising determining a first absolute position of the electromechanical device or the at least one component thereof based on a commutation index signal, obtaining a Z-index signal, and determining a second absolute position of the electromechanical device or the at least one component thereof based on the Z-index signal. The method initially determines a coarse rotational position of the electromechanical device such as a rotor or steering wheel based on the commutation index signal. When a device's position is first initialized by a commutation index signal before the Z-index pulse is detected, the device's position is re-initialized upon detection of the Z-Index pulse to provide a more accurate absolute device rotational position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Floros, Nick Sarafopoulos, Paul T. Jordan
  • Patent number: 5301113
    Abstract: A system for calculating the distance to empty available from the remaining fuel in a motor vehicle, wherein an average value of the distance traveled per unit of fuel consumed is multiplied by the quantity of fuel remaining, thereby producing an intermediate distance-to-empty value. Responsive to a first type signal being in a first state, a displayed value of DTE is allowed only to decrement. When the first type signal is in a second state, the displayed value of DTE is allowed to both increment and decrement. When the first type signal is in the first state, the updating of the calculation of the DTE value is recalculated as a function of the distance traveled by the vehicle and as a function of the fuel consumed by the vehicle. If the first type signal is in a second state, then the recalculation is controlled as a function of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Viet Q. To, Michael J. Burke, Nick Sarafopoulos