Patents by Inventor William A. Peterson

William A. Peterson 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).

  • Publication number: 20040217213
    Abstract: A fuel injector that includes a housing, a seat, a metering disc and a closure member. The metering orifices can be located on a first virtual circle greater than a second virtual circle as defined by a projection of a sealing surface converging at a virtual apex projected on the metering disc. The metering disc can be dimpled to increase the spray angle. Various parameters can be utilized to achieve a desired cone size and spray angle. A method of controlling spray targeting of a fuel injector is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Nally, William A. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20040217207
    Abstract: A fuel injector that includes a housing, a seat, a metering disc and a closure member. The metering orifices can be located on a first virtual circle greater than a second virtual circle as defined by a projection of a sealing surface converging at a virtual apex projected on the metering disc. The metering disc can be dimpled to increase the spray angle. Various parameters can be utilized to achieve a desired cone size and spray angle. A method of controlling spray targeting of a fuel injector is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Nally, William A. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20040217208
    Abstract: A fuel injector that includes a housing, a seat, a metering disc and a closure member. The metering orifices can be located on a first virtual circle greater than a second virtual circle as defined by a projection of a sealing surface converging at a virtual apex projected on the metering disc. The metering disc can be dimpled to increase the spray angle. Various parameters can be utilized to achieve a desired cone size and spray angle. A method of controlling spray targeting of a fuel injector is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Nally, William A. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20040212492
    Abstract: A system and method for centralized security screening of packages including baggage. The system creates images and data concerning baggage to be reviewed, packetizes the data long with additional identification information, and conveys the data packets to a central screening location. All analysis of the baggage information is accomplished in a centralized way with risk assessments being provided to each image. Upon sensing of a package or baggage of concern, alerts may be sent to the screening location for action. Artificial intelligence tools are used to pre-screen images to assist with workload assignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Brian Boesch, William Peterson
  • Publication number: 20040195390
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector includes a housing, a valve seat, a metering orifice disc, and a needle. The housing has an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The valve seat is disposed proximate the outlet and includes a passage having a sealing surface and an orifice. The metering orifice disc is located at the outlet and has a plurality of metering openings extending therethrough. The needle is reciprocally located within the housing along the longitudinal axis between a first position wherein the needle is displaced from the valve seat, allowing fuel flow past the needle, and a second position wherein the needle is biased against the valve seat, precluding fuel flow past the needle. A generally annular channel is formed between the valve seat and the metering orifice disc. The channel tapers outwardly from a large height to a smaller height toward the orifice openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventor: William A. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20040196365
    Abstract: The invention provides an automated microscope system, a computer program product which may be programmed into the automated microscope system and a method for acquiring images at substantially the maximum acquisition rate of a camera while and as devices external to the camera, which vary various parameters of the acquired images, operate asynchronously with the camera so as to allow the acquired images to be displayed as a sequence that shows continuous variation in the acquisition parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel M. Green, William Peterson, Avrum Cohen, Michael D. Sjaastad, Jeffrey A. Stuckey
  • Publication number: 20040189231
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus permit: monitoring a level of a power source that provides operating power to a control circuit, the control circuit being of a type that senses signals in windings of a polyphase motor to maintain synchronization therewith; and converting kinetic energy of the polyphase motor into operating power for the control circuit when the level has fallen below a threshold level, such that the control circuit is capable of maintaining synchronization with the polyphase motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: William A. Peterson
  • Patent number: 6798441
    Abstract: A teleconference system including a plurality of personal presence cells positioned at a local communication site and at a remote communication site. The plurality of personal presence cells are characterized as either sensor cells or display cells. The sensor cells include at least one video camera positioned to sense and transmit an image of the local participant, and an image screen positioned to reflect an image of the local participant toward the at least one video camera and for viewing of an image through the screen. The display cells each include at least one projection display positioned to display a multi-dimensional image of a remote participant on a display screen. A transmission link interfaces the plurality of personal presence cells positioned at the local communication site and the plurality of presence cells positioned at the remote communication site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Davis H. Hartman, Fred Vincent Richard, Diana Chen, Karen E. Jachimowicz, Barbara McNeill Foley, William Peterson, Earnest J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6793416
    Abstract: A system and method for cleaning an optical device in a hostile environment. A camera system is mounted in a protective mounting structure which may be unitary or comprise layers of material. The camera lens is covered by a scratch resistant cover and is cleaned by user operated bursts of air when debris obstructs the view of the camera. Debris is blown out of the aperture of the unit. When water collects on the lens cover, it is drained by a channel that also provides air via a venturi effect when air is blasted over the lens cover during cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Professional Sounds, Inc.
    Inventors: William Peterson, Brian Boesch
  • Patent number: 6789754
    Abstract: Metering components of a fuel injector that allow spray targeting and distribution of fuel to be configured using non-angled or straight orifice having an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fuel metering components. Metering orifices are located about the longitudinal axis and defining a first virtual circle greater than a second virtual or bolt circle defined by a projection of the sealing surface onto the metering disc so that all of the metering orifices are disposed outside the second virtual or bolt circle within one quadrant of the circle. A channel is formed between the seat orifice and the metering disc that allows the fuel injector to generate a spray pattern along the longitudinal axis that forms a flow area on a virtual plane transverse to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Peterson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6786423
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector includes a housing, a valve seat, a metering orifice, and a needle. The housing has an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The valve seat is disposed proximate the outlet and includes a passage having a sealing surface and an orifice. The metering orifice is located at the outlet and has a plurality of metering openings extending therethrough. The needle is reciprocally located within the housing along the longitudinal axis between a first position wherein the needle is displaced from the valve seat, allowing fuel flow past the needle, and a second position wherein the needle is biased against the valve seat, precluding fuel flow past the needle. A generally annular channel is formed between the valve seat and the metering orifice. The channel tapers outwardly from a large height to a smaller height toward the orifice openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Peterson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6777898
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus permit: monitoring a level of a DC source that is used to provide an operating DC voltage to a control circuit and to provide DC bus voltage to a driver circuit for a polyphase motor, the control circuit being of a type that senses signals in windings of the polyphase motor to determine a rotor position thereof and to maintain synchronization therewith; converting kinetic energy of the polyphase motor into a secondary DC source when the level of the DC source has fallen and reached a threshold; and regulating a voltage level of the secondary DC source such that it is operable to provide the operating DC voltage to the control circuit, and such that the control circuit is capable of maintaining synchronization with the polyphase motor while the DC source remains substantially at or below the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: William A. Peterson
  • Patent number: 6769625
    Abstract: A valve subassembly of a fuel injector that allows spray targeting and distribution of fuel to be configured using non-angled or straight orifice having an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the subassembly. Metering orifices are located about the longitudinal axis and defining a first virtual circle greater than a second virtual circle defined by a projection of the sealing surface onto the metering disc so that all of the metering orifices are disposed outside the second virtual circle. The projection of the sealing surface converges at a virtual apex disposed within the metering disc. At least one channel extends between a first end and second end. The first end is disposed at a first radius from the longitudinal axis and spaced at a first distance from the metering disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Peterson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6748925
    Abstract: A fuel assembly is provided. The fuel assembly includes a fuel supply conduit, an air intake manifold, a fuel injector, and a spacer. The air intake manifold is disposed a predetermined distance from the fuel supply conduit. The fuel injector has a first end disposed in the fuel supply conduit and a second end disposed in the air intake manifold. The fuel injector has a length greater than the predetermined distance. The spacer is disposed about a portion of the fuel injector such that the spacer retains the first end of the fuel injector in the fuel supply conduit and the second end of the fuel injector in the air intake manifold. Methods of installing and removing the fuel injector into and from the fuel supply conduit and the air intake manifold are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Didier J. De Vulpillieres, Jack R. Lorraine, William Peterson
  • Patent number: 6742727
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector includes a housing, a valve seat, a metering orifice disc, and a needle. The housing has an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The valve seat is disposed proximate the outlet and includes a passage having a sealing surface and an orifice. The metering orifice disc is located at the outlet and has a plurality of metering openings extending therethrough. The needle is reciprocally located within the housing along the longitudinal axis between a first position wherein the needle is displaced from the valve seat, allowing fuel flow past the needle, and a second position wherein the needle is biased against the valve seat, precluding fuel flow past the needle. A generally annular channel is formed between the valve seat and the metering orifice disc. The channel tapers outwardly from a large height to a smaller height toward the orifice openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Peterson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6729563
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector includes a housing, a valve seat, a metering orifice, and a needle. The housing has an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The valve seat is disposed proximate the outlet and includes a passage having a sealing surface and an orifice. The metering orifice is located at the outlet and has a plurality of metering openings extending therethrough. The needle is reciprocally located within the housing along the longitudinal axis between a first position wherein the needle is displaced from the valve seat, allowing fuel flow past the needle, and a second position wherein the needle is biased against the valve seat, precluding fuel flow past the needle. A generally annular channel is formed between the valve seat and the metering orifice. The channel tapers outwardly from a large height to a smaller height toward the orifice openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: William A Peterson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6724419
    Abstract: The invention provides an automated microscope system, a computer program product in a computer readable medium and a method for acquiring images at substantially the maximum acquisition rate of a camera while and as devices external to the camera, which vary various parameters of the acquired images, operate asynchronously with the camera so as to allow the acquired images to be displayed as a sequence that shows continuous variation in the acquisition parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Universal Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel M. Green, William Peterson, Avrum Cohen, Michael D. Sjaastad, Jeffrey A. Stuckey
  • Patent number: 6715030
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for storing track layout information for performing update write operations is provided. In particular, the present invention provides an apparatus and method for storing track layout information based on cylinders which is then used to verify a quick write operation. A quick write operation is an update write operation in which track data need not be read from the physical storage device before performing an update of one or more records in the track. With the present invention, as tracks are written to or read from a storage device, such as a DASD or Non-Volatile Store (NVS), a cylinder table is populated with information identifying the tracks that meet criteria set for identifying tracks that are candidates for future quick write operations. The track layout information is stored on a cylinder basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Henk Vandenbergh, Gregory William Peterson, Michael Steven Milillo
  • Publication number: 20040056113
    Abstract: A subassembly of a fuel injector that allows spray targeting and distribution of fuel to be configured using non-angled or straight orifice having an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the subassembly. Metering orifices are located about the longitudinal axis and defining a first virtual circle greater than a second virtual circle defined by a projection of the sealing surface onto the metering disc so that all of the metering orifices are disposed outside the second virtual circle within one quadrant of the circle. A channel is formed between the seat orifice and the metering disc that allows the fuel injector to target fuel spray generally within an arcuate sector of at least 90 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the metering disc. A method of targeting is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20040056115
    Abstract: Fuel metering components of a fuel injector that allow spray targeting and distribution of fuel to be configured using non-angled or straight orifice having an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fuel metering components. Metering orifices are located about the longitudinal axis and defining a first virtual circle greater than a second virtual circle defined by a projection of the sealing surface onto the metering disc so that all of the metering orifices are disposed outside the second virtual or bolt circle within one quadrant of the circle. A channel is formed between the seat orifice and the metering disc that allows the fuel injector to generate an unified spray pattern along the longitudinal axis that forms a flow area with a plurality of uniform radii on a virtual plane transverse to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Peterson