Patents by Inventor Stephen Nicholls
Stephen Nicholls 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).
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Patent number: 10196037Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle access system (1) having a tracking means (11; 23, 25, 27) for tracking a positional movement pattern of a user (D) relative to a vehicle (3). A controller (9) is provided for controlling the opening and/or closing of a vehicle opening (5). The controller (9) communicates with a storage device (15) and the tracking means (11; 23, 25, 27). The controller (9) has a comparator (17) for comparing the positional movement pattern with one or more pre-defined movement maps stored in the storage device (15). The controller is configured to open the vehicle opening when the comparator (17) determines that the positional movement pattern corresponds to a first of the pre-defined movement maps. Alternatively, or in addition the controller can be configured to close the vehicle opening when the comparator (17) determines that the positional movement pattern corresponds to a second of said pre-defined movement maps.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2013Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITEDInventors: Stephen Nicholls, Christopher Meredith, Immad Mir, Kevin Cockings, Dirk Parker, Damian Ward, Urmila Mistry, Hadric Khanu
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Patent number: 10147519Abstract: A fire and heat resistant sock for an internal cable of a vehicle traction battery protects both the cable and the exit aperture of the cable. By this means the effect of a fire within the battery casing can be addressed.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2013Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITEDInventor: Stephen Nicholls
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Publication number: 20180323413Abstract: An apparatus for providing a barrier between modules of a battery in a vehicle wherein the apparatus comprises: a thermally insulating material; and an intumescent material overlaying the thermally insulating material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2016Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventor: Stephen NICHOLLS
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Publication number: 20180301668Abstract: An apparatus (101, 101B, 101C, 101D, 101E), an electrical system (706), a vehicle (701) and a method (800) are disclosed. The apparatus (101) comprises a plurality of battery cells (102), each of the battery cells (102) comprising a layer of positive electrode material (103), a layer of electrolyte material (104) and a layer of negative electrode material (105). The apparatus also comprises a container means for containing battery cells (106, 106B, 106D, 6E) formed of an electrically conductive material and having a plurality of cavities (107). Each of the cavities contains at least a respective one of the battery cells (102), and the container means (106, 106B, 106D, 106E) is in direct contact with at least one of the positive electrode material (103) and the electrolyte material (104) of each battery cell (102) or alternatively at least one of the negative electrode material (105) and the electrolyte material (104) of each battery cell (102).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2016Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventor: Stephen NICHOLLS
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Publication number: 20180154754Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a battery in a vehicle wherein the apparatus (3) comprises: a floor section (5) comprising a plurality of internal coolant channels for receiving coolant; and at least one side member (7) comprising at least one internal supply channel for supplying coolant to the internal channels of the floor section.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2016Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Mark ROWLEY, Stephen NICHOLLS, Mark WHITE
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Patent number: 9971943Abstract: A vehicle 1 towing a trailer 4 is fitted with three video cameras 5, 6, 7 fitted to the rear of the vehicle and on each door mirror. A view from any camera can be presented to the driver on a display 11. A predicted trailer path, calculated in a computing unit 10, is also presented to the driver on the display 11 as guide lines overlaid on the camera view. The computing unit 10 is also configured to calculate a hitch angle by tracking the position of a trailer-mounted marker in the camera view.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jeremy John Greenwood, Stephen Nicholls, Andrew Stephen Bell Crawford
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Publication number: 20170331142Abstract: A rechargeable cell having an outer casing and a roll including layers of active and insulator material disposed within the outer casing. The rechargeable cell additionally includes an externally accessible hollow core which enables central cooling of the rechargeable cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2015Publication date: November 16, 2017Inventor: Stephen NICHOLLS
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Patent number: 9723367Abstract: Implementations disclose identifying content appropriate for children. A method includes selecting a list of candidate channels from a plurality of channels based on an automatically generated rating of each of the plurality of channels, filtering the list of candidate channels based on feedback received from a first group of reviewers with respect to appropriateness of content of each candidate channel for children, selecting a list of candidate videos based on an automatically generated rating of each video from every channel in the filtered list of candidate channels, and upon receiving, via a graphical user interface, a confirmation that a candidate video from the list of candidate videos is appropriate for children, setting a confirmation indicator of the candidate video to enable presentation of the candidate video to children.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Eileen Margaret Peters Long, Shirley Connie Gaw, Sertan Girgin, Geethmala Sridaran, Stephen Nicholls, Bosun Adeoti
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Publication number: 20170083773Abstract: A vehicle 1 towing a trailer 4 is fitted with three video cameras 5, 6, 7 fitted to the rear of the vehicle and on each door mirror. A view from any camera can be presented to the driver on a display 11. A predicted trailer path, calculated in a computing unit 10, is also presented to the driver on the display 11 as guide lines overlaid on the camera view. The computing unit 10 is also configured to calculate a hitch angle by tracking the position of a trailer-mounted marker in the camera view.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Jeremy John Greenwood, Stephen Nicholls, Andrew Stephen Bell Crawford
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Patent number: 9566911Abstract: A vehicle 1 towing a trailer 4 is fitted with three video cameras 5, 6, 7 fitted to the rear of the vehicle and on each door mirror. A view from any camera can be presented to the driver on a display 11. A predicted trailer path, calculated in a computing unit 10, is also presented to the driver on the display 11 as guide lines overlaid on the camera view. The computing unit 10 is also configured to calculate a hitch angle by tracking the position of a trailer-mounted marker in the camera view.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jeremy John Greenwood, Stephen Nicholls, Andrew Stephen Bell Crawford
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Patent number: 9334877Abstract: A fan arrangement (1), in particular for cooling an engine system, comprising: an impeller (10) having one or more blades (4) which in operation convey a medium in the direction of an axis of rotation of the impeller (10) from an inlet side (E) to an outlet side (A); a housing shroud (6) having a base part (61) which extends in the direction of the axis of rotation and surrounds the impeller (10) completely or partially, wherein, on an end of the base part (61) oriented towards the outlet side (A) of the impeller (10), there is provided a discharge flow element (63) which extends radially outwards from the end of the base part (61).Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2012Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Stephen Nicholls, Sebastian Hansen, Michael Burkart
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Publication number: 20160001705Abstract: A vehicle 1 towing a trailer 4 is fitted with three video cameras 5, 6, 7 fitted to the rear of the vehicle and on each door mirror. A view from any camera can be presented to the driver on a display 11. A predicted trailer path, calculated in a computing unit 10, is also presented to the driver on the display 11 as guide lines overlaid on the camera view. The computing unit 10 is also configured to calculate a hitch angle by tracking the position of a trailer-mounted marker in the camera view.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2015Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Jeremy John Greenwood, Stephen Nicholls, Andrew Stephen Bell Crawford
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Publication number: 20150291126Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle access system (1) having a tracking means (11; 23, 25, 27) for tracking a positional movement pattern of a user (D) relative to a vehicle (3). A controller (9) is provided for controlling the opening and/or closing of a vehicle opening (5). The controller (9) communicates with a storage device (15) and the tracking means (11; 23, 25, 27). The controller (9) has a comparator (17) for comparing the positional movement pattern with one or more pre-defined movement maps stored in the storage device (15). The controller is configured to open the vehicle opening when the comparator (17) determines that the positional movement pattern corresponds to a first of the pre-defined movement maps. Alternatively, or in addition the controller can be configured to close the vehicle opening when the comparator (17) determines that the positional movement pattern corresponds to a second of said pre-defined movement maps.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2013Publication date: October 15, 2015Inventors: Stephen Nicholls, Christopher Meredith, Immad Mir, Kevin Cockings, Dirk Parker, Damian Ward, Urmila Mistry
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Patent number: 9156496Abstract: A vehicle 1 towing a trailer 4 is fitted with three video cameras 5, 6, 7 fitted to the rear of the vehicle and on each door mirror. A view from any camera can be presented to the driver on a display 11. A predicted trailer path, calculated in a computing unit 10, is also presented to the driver on the display 11 as guide lines overlaid on the camera view. The computing unit 10 is also configured to calculate a hitch angle by tracking the position of a trailer-mounted marker in the camera view.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jeremy John Greenwood, Stephen Nicholls, Andrew Stephen Bell Crawford
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Publication number: 20150179304Abstract: A fire and heat resistant sock for an internal cable of a vehicle traction battery protects both the cable and the exit aperture of the cable. By this means the effect of a fire within the battery casing can be addressed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2013Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventor: Stephen Nicholls
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Publication number: 20150140366Abstract: A system for controlling the temperature of a rechargeable electric battery pack for a vehicle. The battery pack comprises a plurality of rechargeable electrochemical storage cells disposed in rows of one or more cells each. The system comprises two heat exchanger plates for each of said rows of one or more cells. Each heat exchanger plate may be structured and arranged to allow heat transfer fluid to flow internally thereof and a first of two heat exchanger plates for one of said rows is configured and arranged to allow heat transfer fluid to flow in a first general direction. A second of the two heat exchanger plates for said row is configured and arranged to allow heat transfer fluid to flow in a second general direction. And the first and second general directions are substantially different to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2013Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventor: Stephen Nicholls
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Patent number: 8386109Abstract: An apparatus includes a fuel burning actuator operable to burn fuel to drive generator means to generate charge to recharge an energy storage means. The apparatus is operable to motor the fuel burning actuator by means of motoring means comprising an electric machine, the fuel burning actuator being operable to pump gas when motored. Brake means comprising a second electric machine is operable to generate charge in a regenerative braking operation in order to recharge the energy storage device. The apparatus is operable automatically to motor the fuel burning actuator by means of the motoring means when the fuel burning actuator is not burning fuel responsive to at least one operating parameter associated with the energy storage means, the apparatus being operable automatically to restrict by means of restrictor means an amount of gas pumped by the fuel burning actuator thereby to increase an amount of work done by the motoring means when the fuel burning actuator is motored.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2011Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Jaguar Cars LimitedInventor: Stephen Nicholls
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Publication number: 20120200706Abstract: A vehicle 1 towing a trailer 4 is fitted with three video cameras 5, 6, 7 fitted to the rear of the vehicle and on each door mirror. A view from any camera can be presented to the driver on a display 11. A predicted trailer path, calculated in a computing unit 10, is also presented to the driver on the display 11 as guide lines overlaid on the camera view. The computing unit 10 is also configured to calculate a hitch angle by tracking the position of a trailer-mounted marker in the camera view.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2012Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Jeremy John Greenwood, Stephen Nicholls, Andrew Stephen Bell Crawford
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Publication number: 20120158230Abstract: An apparatus includes a fuel burning actuator operable to burn fuel to drive generator means to generate charge to recharge an energy storage means. The apparatus is operable to motor the fuel burning actuator by means of motoring means comprising an electric machine, the fuel burning actuator being operable to pump gas when motored. Brake means comprising a second electric machine is operable to generate charge in a regenerative braking operation in order to recharge the energy storage device. The apparatus is operable automatically to motor the fuel burning actuator by means of the motoring means when the fuel burning actuator is not burning fuel responsive to at least one operating parameter associated with the energy storage means, the apparatus being operable automatically to restrict by means of restrictor means an amount of gas pumped by the fuel burning actuator thereby to increase an amount of work done by the motoring means when the fuel burning actuator is motored.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2011Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventor: Stephen Nicholls
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Publication number: 20080231701Abstract: A vehicle 1 towing a trailer 4 is fitted with three video cameras 5, 6, 7 fitted to the rear of the vehicle and on each door mirror. A view from any camera can be presented to the driver on a display 11. A predicted trailer path, calculated in a computing unit 10, is also presented to the driver on the display 11 as guide lines overlaid on the camera view. The computing unit 10 is also configured to calculate a hitch angle by tracking the position of a trailer-mounted marker in the camera view.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2007Publication date: September 25, 2008Inventors: Jeremy John Greenwood, Stephen Nicholls, Andrew Stephen Bell Crawford