Patents Issued in May 14, 2024
  • Patent number: 11981136
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a plurality of head chips having a nozzle surface; a thermally conductive holder holding the plurality of head chips; a thermally conductive flow path structure provided with a flow path of a liquid supplied to the plurality of head chips; and a planar heater disposed between the holder and the flow path structure and along a direction parallel to the nozzle surface, in which the heater overlaps the plurality of head chips in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Kanegae, Katsuhiro Okubo, Kentaro Murakami, Shingo Tomimatsu, Hiroki Kobayashi, Haruhisa Uezawa
  • Patent number: 11981137
    Abstract: A method for producing a liquid-ejection head substrate includes forming a protective film covering the surface of a portion of a cavitation resistant film provided at a position where the heating resistor is covered with a metallic material containing at least one of titanium, tungsten, and titanium tungsten and etching the substrate after forming the protective film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuaki Shibata
  • Patent number: 11981138
    Abstract: An information processing system includes a storage portion that stores a learned model obtained by performing machine learning on a maintenance condition for a print head based on a data set in which nozzle surface image information obtained by photographing a nozzle plate surface of the print head and maintenance information representing necessity of maintenance of the print head or a recommended execution timing of the maintenance are associated with each other, an acquisition portion that acquires the nozzle surface image information, and a processing portion that outputs the maintenance information based on the nozzle surface image information and the learned model at a timing before a discharge defect of the print head occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunaga Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11981139
    Abstract: A recording device includes a device body, a recording unit configured to record by ejecting liquid onto a medium, a waste liquid collecting unit configured to collect waste liquid generated inside the device body, a waste liquid storage unit configured to store the waste liquid collected via the waste liquid collecting unit, wherein the waste liquid storage unit is configured to be mountable to and removable from the device body and the waste liquid collecting unit includes a discharge portion configured to discharge the collected waste liquid to the waste liquid storage unit, and the discharge portion has a dam portion for blocking the waste liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Nakata
  • Patent number: 11981140
    Abstract: When printing is performed on a recording medium of a second size larger than a first size, a control portion, after passage of the recording medium of the first size at a position opposite a recording head before arrival of the recording medium of the second size at the position opposite the recording head, makes the recording head perform preparatory flushing processing in which ink is ejected toward openings from first nozzles that have not been set as target nozzles during printing on the recording medium of the first size but will be newly set as the target nozzles during printing on the recording medium of the second size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Takeshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11981141
    Abstract: A wiping method for wiping a nozzle surface of a liquid discharge head includes the step of relatively moving the liquid discharge head and a wiper impregnated with a cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid contains a lactone compound in an amount of 5% by mass or more. The wiper includes a first layer configured to contact the nozzle surface and one or more layers other than the first layer. The first layer has a thickness of t1, the one or more layers other than the first layer have a total thickness of t2, and t1 is smaller than t2. A void ratio of the first layer is smaller than a void ratio of at least one of the one or more layers other than the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiroh Fujii, Takumi Atake, Yohta Sakon, Akira Izutani, Hiroko Ohkura
  • Patent number: 11981142
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a recording element substrate having a substrate provided with a plurality of flow paths for liquid to be ejected on a recording material by a recording element and a cover member that is provided with a plurality of communication holes in communication with the plurality of flow paths and that is joined to the substrate, a liquid supply member supplying the liquid to the plurality of flow paths through the plurality of communication holes of the cover member, and an adhesive member adhering the cover member and the liquid supply member. At least a part of an abutment region of the cover member in abutment against the substrate and apart from a region provided with the plurality of communication holes has a cover member opening for contacting the adhesive member and the substrate to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Tamaru, Kyosuke Toda
  • Patent number: 11981143
    Abstract: An interface structure connectable to a separate liquid reservoir, to connect that liquid reservoir to a receiving station, comprising a liquid interface to fluidically connect to at least one liquid needle of the receiving station, a liquid channel, to fluidically connect the liquid interface to the reservoir, a support wall supporting an integrated circuit laterally next to the liquid channel, the integrated circuit having contact pad contact surfaces, and a front push area adjacent the liquid, the front push area terminating at a front edge that defines a profile height of the interface structure, between said front edge and an opposite distal edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Judson M. Leiser, Miquel Boleda Busquets, Bernd Karlsboeck, David Olsen, Michael E. Peterschmidt
  • Patent number: 11981144
    Abstract: An example printing material cartridge may include an input/output device and a memory. The memory may store an identifier of the cartridge, a usage counter of the cartridge, and an indicator that the cartridge has reached a usage threshold. The memory may also store a usage offset equal to a historical usage of the cartridge, the usage offset for determining a new remaining usage of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul L Jeran, Alex Oaks
  • Patent number: 11981145
    Abstract: A printing liquid container fits to one of first and second tanks each including a fitted portion. The printing liquid container includes a first member having a supply port, and a second member having a valve configured to open or close the supply port. The first member and the second member are rotatable with respect to each other between a first state and a second state. The valve closes the supply port in the first state and opens the supply port in the second state. The first member has a fitting portion configured to fit to the fitted portion. The second member is rotatable with respect to the fitted portion when at least a portion of the second member is inserted into the fitted portion. The first member does not rotate by the rotation of the second member due to the fitting between the fitted portion and the fitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Satoru Oki, Nanami Ashida, Naoya Okazaki
  • Patent number: 11981146
    Abstract: A drainage container configured to be attached and detached in an attachment/detachment direction to and from an apparatus including a discharge portion to discharge drainage and configured to store the drainage discharged from the discharge portion, includes: a housing that stores the drainage and includes an opening formed in an upper surface of the housing; an accepting portion that accepts the drainage discharged from the discharge portion; and a lid portion configured to open and close the opening, in which the lid portion takes on an open state to open the opening when the drainage container is attached to the apparatus, and the lid portion takes on a closed state to close the opening when the drainage container is detached from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakata, Masahito Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 11981147
    Abstract: A first printing unit and a second printing unit are supplied with ink from a first sub-tank and a second sub-tank, respectively. The first sub-tank and the second sub-tank are supplied with the ink from a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe, respectively. The first branch pipe is provided with a first valve, and the second branch pipe is provided with a second valve. A central control unit determines which one of the first sub-tank and the second sub-tank is to be preferentially supplied with ink based on at least one of the amount of remaining ink in each of the first sub-tank and the second sub-tank, and an estimated amount of consumption of ink in each of the first printing unit and the second printing unit, and controls the first valve and the second valve based on a result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohisa Mizuta, Mitsuru Tanemoto, Yuto Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11981148
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wear compensation device (1) of a label printer (2) which prints labels (3) by means of thermal printing, having a thermal head (4) which has a thermal strip (5) with a plurality of heating resistors (6), having a label feeding device (8) which feeds the respective label (3) to the active region (9) of the heating resistors (6), and having a control device (10) which actuates the thermal head (4) for printing the respective label (3). It is proposed that the control device (10) is configured to monitor the electric resistance (R) of one or more of the heating resistors (6) and, if a predefined threshold value (R1) for the electric resistance (R) is exceeded, to increase the energization duration of the respective heating resistor (6) during a printing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Espera-Werke GmbH
    Inventor: Guillaume De Miranda
  • Patent number: 11981149
    Abstract: A device includes an image formation medium supply, a first portion, and a second portion. The image formation medium supply is to supply a non-absorptive, image formation medium along a travel path and to which a ground element is to be electrically connected. The first portion along the travel path is to receive droplets of ink particles and a non-aqueous resin within a dielectric, non-aqueous carrier fluid on the image formation medium to form at least a portion of an image on the image formation medium. The second portion is downstream from the first portion and is to apply, via heat and pressure, a second polymer structure onto the ink particles, the resin, and the image formation medium to produce an image formation medium assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Rajesh Kelekar
  • Patent number: 11981150
    Abstract: This application discloses processing equipment, electrode plate processing equipment, battery processing equipment, and a sheet processing method. The processing equipment includes a rotation roller and a laser assembly. The rotation roller is rotatable around a first axis. An outer peripheral surface of the rotation roller around the first axis is configured to allow winding of a sheet. The outer peripheral surface of the rotation roller is able to move synchronously with the sheet around the first axis. The laser assembly is disposed on the rotation roller and able to rotate with the rotation roller. The laser assembly is configured to drive a laser beam to be emitted toward the sheet, and further configured to drive the laser beam to move linearly and/or oscillate around a second axis that intersects the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Chao Guo, Yinyong Qiao
  • Patent number: 11981151
    Abstract: A three-dimensional object printing apparatus includes: a head having a nozzle surface; and a robot that has a base portion and an arm portion that supports the head, and changes a position of the head with respect to the base portion, in which the three-dimensional object printing apparatus is configured to execute: a first printing operation of causing the head to print an image to a three-dimensional first medium, and a second printing operation of causing the head to print a test pattern while causing the robot to change a position of the head with respect to the second medium, and a yaw angle of the head during the execution of the first printing operation and a yaw angle of the head during the execution of the second printing operation are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakamura, Yuta Abe, Yuichiro Matsuura, Keigo Sugai, Yuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 11981152
    Abstract: There is provided a three-dimensional object printing apparatus including a first robot supporting a head having a nozzle for discharging a liquid and changing a position and a posture of the head, a second robot supporting a three-dimensional workpiece and changing a position and a posture of the workpiece, a curing unit that emits energy to cure or solidify the liquid discharged from the head, and a maintenance unit that performs maintenance on the head. The first robot has a first base portion fixed to a base. The second robot has a second base portion fixed to the base. In a plan view of the base, a virtual line segment connecting the first base portion and the second base portion passes between the curing unit and the maintenance unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Kumagai, Shinichi Nakamura, Tomonaga Hasegawa, Yuichiro Matsuura, Yuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 11981153
    Abstract: A label printer includes: a feed control lever configured to rotate following a change in length of a roll paper between a transport roller pair and a feed roller pair, a first detector configured to detect a rotational angle of the feed control lever, a second detector configured to detect the rotational angle of the feed control lever, and a printing control unit, wherein the transport roller pair has a first mode in which the roll paper is transported at a first transport speed, and a second mode in which the roll paper is transported at a second transport speed that is slower than the first transport speed, the printing control unit is configured to control the feed roller pair based on the first detector in the first mode, and is configured to control the feed roller pair based on the second detector in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Kawajiri
  • Patent number: 11981154
    Abstract: Printing multi-color images on non-vinyl plastic identification documents in identification document printing systems. A non-linear pixel density adjustment curve is used to adjust the pixel density data of a multi-color image to be printed which adjusts the power applied to the thermal print head. The use of a non-linear pixel density adjustment curve to adjust the pixel density data improves the quality of the resulting multi-color printed image, reduces mass transfer of the dye donor layer, and reduces breaking of the carrier film of the print ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ENTRUST CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wade Kragtorp
  • Patent number: 11981155
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for decorating natural leather including the steps of: jetting a decorative image with one or more radiation curable inkjet inks on a leather surface; and curing the radiation curable inkjet inks jetted on the leather surface; wherein the one or more radiation curable inkjet inks include a colorant and a polymerizable composition containing 0 to 15.0 wt % of one or more polyfunctional polymerizable compounds and at least 85.0 wt % of one or more monofunctional polymerizable compounds with the weight percentages based on the total weight of the polymerizable composition; wherein the one or more radiation curable inkjet inks include 0 to 35.0 wt % of organic solvent; and at least 85.0 wt % of one or more monofunctional polymerizable compounds; and wherein the glass transition temperature of the one or more radiation curable inkjet inks (I) is less than 25° C.; and wherein one of the one or more radiation curable inkjet inks includes a white pigment in an amount of at least 17.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Agfa NV
    Inventors: Vincent Courtet, Jens Lenaerts, Yiru Li
  • Patent number: 11981156
    Abstract: To provide a thermal transfer sheet capable of preventing print omission from occurring on a transfer layer to be transferred and producing of a print having a good gloss. A back face layer 20 is provided on one surface of the substrate 1 and a transfer layer 10 is provided on the other surface of the substrate, the transfer layer 10 has a single-layer or layered structure including a protective layer 5, the back face layer contains spherical particles 25, and when the surface of the back face layer is observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at a magnification of 5000 times, the proportion of the total of the projected areas of the spherical particles is 1.8% or more and 20% or less based on the area of the entire observed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroto Matsui
  • Patent number: 11981157
    Abstract: Disclosed are an optical anti-counterfeiting element and an optical anti-counterfeiting product utilizing the same, the optical anti-counterfeiting element comprising: a substrate (12) including a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other; micro-sampling tools (11) on the first surface; and one or more micro graphic and text units formed on the second surface, wherein the micro graphic and text unit includes micro graphic and text strokes, the micro graphic and text strokes are arranged in a non-periodic and non-fixed-geometry manner, and when the second surface is observed through the micro-sampling tools, a stereoscopic animated anti-counterfeiting feature can be seen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignees: ZHONGCHAO SPECIAL SECURITY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD, CHINA BANKNOTE PRINTING AND MINTING CORP.
    Inventors: Kai Sun, Baoli Zhang, Jun Zhu, Xiaoli Wang
  • Patent number: 11981158
    Abstract: A grating painting device based on fixed viewing angle is disclosed, which includes a painting board, a grating board, a support frame and a reciprocating moving mechanism, the grating board is arranged above the painting board, the support frame is fixed at the bottom of the painting board, the support frame is arranged perpendicular to the painting board, and the reciprocating movement mechanism is arranged on the support frame. The reciprocating mechanism is used to drive the support frame to move, and then the painting board is driven to move left and right, and the moving distance is guaranteed to be a multiple of more than 1/N (N is the number of lines of the grating board) inches. Under the condition that the observation position is unchanged, multiple pictures can be seen to appear continuously, and a animation or video can be visually experienced to be repeatedly displayed on the pictures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Inventor: Gang Shi
  • Patent number: 11981159
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a bead-locking wheel for mechanically coupling a tire to a wheel rim of an off-road vehicle. The bead-locking wheel includes a barrel for mounting the tire and a bead lock face for fastening the barrel and tire to a wheel hub of the vehicle. The bead lock face is fastened to a shoulder disposed around an outboard end of the barrel. The shoulder and an outboard flange of the barrel cooperate with a periphery of the bead lock face to mechanically retain an outboard bead of the tire. Mechanically retaining the outboard bead facilitates a relatively low inflation pressure within the tire to accommodate off-road conditions and high tractive forces. The bead lock face maximizes a positive offset and backspacing of the bead-locking wheel to accommodate a relatively wide hub and spindle assembly while maintaining an advantageous steering geometry and track width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Inventor: Robby Gordon
  • Patent number: 11981160
    Abstract: The technology provides a multi-piece wheel for a vehicle that is disassembled to laterally rotate directional tires without needing to dismount a tire from a rim. The multi-piece wheel includes a rim housing with threaded apertures provided at side edges proximate to an outboard flange and an inboard flange. The multi-piece wheel includes a face that is removably coupled to the rim housing, the face having a bore that centers the face on an axle hub, a disk that is concentric with the bore; and spokes that are mechanically coupled to the disk and extend outwardly therefrom, the spokes having apertures at an end opposite to the disk that align with the threaded apertures in the rim housing. The multi-piece wheel further includes a fastener that releasably couples the face and the rim housing and a secondary fastening mechanism that mechanically engages the spokes and the rim housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Inventor: Austin Daniel Martell
  • Patent number: 11981161
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an all-steel tire with 100% definite elongations of an upper tread and a lower tread being interrelated to each other. The all-steel tire of the present disclosure includes a lower tread rubber layer B and an upper tread rubber layer A. Through repeated multiple experiments of the applicant, when a ratio of stresses at 100% definite elongation of the upper tread rubber layer A to the lower tread rubber layer B is (0.7-0.8):1, and the 100% stress at definite elongation of the lower tread rubber layer B is 3.2-5.5 Mpa, it can be ensured that after any tread of the tire is subjected to performance adjustment, the performance balance of the whole tire crown is continuously maintained, so that no new problem is generated after the tread performance of the all-steel radial tire is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: GUIZHOU TYRE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tenglong She, Gege Huang, Daiqiang Li, Kan Heng
  • Patent number: 11981162
    Abstract: A tire includes a tread portion 2. A middle land portion 7 of the tread portion 2 has a first middle lateral groove 11. The first middle lateral groove 11 includes a first groove portion 31, a second groove portion 32 inclined in the same direction as the first groove portion 31, and a third groove portion 33 located between the first groove portion 31 and the second groove portion 32 and inclined relative to a tire axial direction in a direction opposite to that of the first groove portion 31. The first groove portion 31 has a groove width increasing from the third groove portion 33 toward an outer side in the tire axial direction. The second groove portion 32 has a groove width increasing from the third groove portion 33 toward an inner side in the tire axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 11981163
    Abstract: A tire wear state estimation system includes a first sensor unit that is mounted on a tire and includes a footprint centerline length measurement sensor. A second sensor unit is mounted on the tire and includes a shoulder length measurement sensor. At least one of the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit includes a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and electronic memory capacity for storing tire identification information. A processor is in electronic communication with the sensor units and receives the measured centerline length, the measured pressure, the measured temperature, the identification information, and the measured shoulder length. The identification information is correlated to tire construction data. An analysis module stored on the processor receives the measured values, the identification information, and the tire construction data as inputs. The analysis module includes a prediction model that generates an estimated wear state for the tire from the inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Kanwar Bharat Singh, Mustafa Ali Arat
  • Patent number: 11981164
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a tyre comprising a monitoring device fixed on the inner surface at a crown portion of the tyre, wherein the monitoring device comprises an electronic unit and an electric power supplier electrically connected to the electronic unit, the electronic unit comprising a sensor for detecting at least one of temperature, pressure, acceleration, deformation, a processing unit; a transceiver, wherein the monitoring device comprises a flexible support in a single body, the electronic unit being fixed on said the flexible support, wherein the electric power supplier comprises a plurality of electric energy accumulators electrically connected to the electronic unit for supplying the electronic unit, and wherein each accumulator is fixed onto the flexible support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Cristiano Puppi, Ivan Gildo Boscaino, Andrea Natta
  • Patent number: 11981165
    Abstract: A method for locating wheels of a motor vehicle. The vehicle including at least one central processing unit which includes a main ultra-wideband radio frequency transceiver and a plurality of wheel units, each including a secondary ultra-wideband radio frequency transceiver adapted for communicating with the main transceiver. The method includes at least one step of measuring the distance between the main transceiver and the secondary transceiver to be located, by analyzing the propagation time of an exchanged message, and a step of locating the wheel unit associated with the secondary transceiver to be located, on the basis of the distance measured in the measurement step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Stéphane Billy, Rachid Benbouhout, Jérôme Lee
  • Patent number: 11981166
    Abstract: A tire fitted with a transponder comprises: a crown comprising a crown reinforcement having an axial end at each of its edges, connected at each of its axial ends by a sidewall to a bead having an interior end; a carcass reinforcement layer formed of parallel reinforcers, which is anchored in each bead around a bead wire to form a main part and a turn-up; and the transponder comprising a dipole antenna consisting of a spring defined by a pitch P and a diameter D. A ratio between the pitch (P1) and the diameter (D1) for a loop of a first region of the spring is greater than 0.8, and the transponder is situated axially on the outside of an interior end of the bead and radially between the upper end of the bead wire and the axial end of the crown reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Julien Destraves, Laurent Couturier, Pierre Guinault, Emmanuel Joulin, Sebastien Fredon
  • Patent number: 11981167
    Abstract: A method of checking tyre pressures using a control device having a wireless communication interface and at least one tyre monitoring device is disclosed. Each tyre monitoring device is mounted on a respective wheel of a vehicle and comprises a wireless communication interface and a pressure sensor for sensing an inflation pressure of a tyre on the respective wheel. The method includes, at the control device: receiving an input and, responsive to the input: identifying a plurality of tyre monitoring devices within a wireless communication range of the control device, wherein the identifying comprises receiving responses from each tyre monitoring device within the wireless communication range, each response including a vehicle identifier associated with a vehicle upon which the tyre monitoring device is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Patent number: 11981168
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing tire information is provided. The apparatus includes a detector that detects driving information as a vehicle is being driven and a controller that calculates a relative speed of a tire of the vehicle and a resonance frequency of the tire based on the driving information. The controller then compares the calculated relative speed and the calculated resonance frequency with a previously learned determination reference value to determine whether the tire is deflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Han Seon Ga, Joon Sang Jo, Hyun Dong Her, Myung Ki Yeom, Ju Yong Kang
  • Patent number: 11981169
    Abstract: A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube mounted within a tire sidewall groove. The air tube is in contacting engagement with opposite angled groove surfaces surrounding the air tube. A segment of the air tube is flattened from an expanded diameter to a flat diameter by bending and compression of the groove in a rolling tire footprint to force air evacuated from the flattened segment along a tube air passageway. The sidewall groove extends into an annular, axially extending, sidewall surface such as an axially oriented surface of a tire chafer protrusion located in non-contacting relationship with the rim. The air tube is extruded from a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: a diene based rubber; from 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
    Inventors: Andreas Frantzen, Carolin Anna Welter, Anne Therese Peronnet-Paquin, Mingliang Du, Stephan Rodewald, Betul Buehler, Benjamin Isaiah Garn, Daniel Vojtko, Jungmee Kang, Dinesh Chandra
  • Patent number: 11981170
    Abstract: A winch rigging link has a body defining a cable retainer and a soft shackle retainer at opposite ends. The body has a length, a width less than the length, and a depth less than the width. Furthermore, the body defines opposing faces bounded by the length and width and spaced apart by the depth. The soft shackle retainer comprises a channel running widthwise across the soft shackle retainer an in between the faces. The channel defines a bearing surface having curvature in a lengthwise and widthwise plane. The cable retainer may be permanently attached to a winch cable and the soft shackle retainer attached to a soft shackle or the like when required for winch rigging. The configuration of the link maximises the bend radius of the soft shackle or the like retained by the soft shackle retainer, despite the relatively narrow profile of the body thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Inventor: Stephen Handbury
  • Patent number: 11981171
    Abstract: An automated trailer coupling arrangement includes a receiver member fixed to a towed vehicle and including pneumatic and electrical couplers, a shuttle member including pneumatic and electrical couplers, a control arm assembly supported on a towing vehicle and including a carrier member configured to operably couple and uncouple with the shuttle member, and an actuator coupled to the carrier member configured to move the carrier member between a first position where the carrier member is coupled with the shuttle member and the shuttle member is spaced from the receiver member, and a second position where the pneumatic and electrical couplers are respectively coupled and the carrier member is uncoupled and spaced from the shuttle member, wherein the control arm is configured to move a vertical and horizontal directions as the carrier member is moved between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SAF-Holland, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc R. Johnson, Bryan A. Redeker, Larry D. Hewitt
  • Patent number: 11981172
    Abstract: A cover system for covering a vehicle tow hitch connector includes at least a first retention member including a first retention slot, and a first door support coupled to the first retention member. A second door support is positioned opposite the first door support. A door is rotatably coupled to the first and second door supports. The door includes a first retention projection structured to be received in the first retention slot to position the door in a closed orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jose Hernan Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11981173
    Abstract: A hitch lock for securing a trailer attachment during to a towing vehicle. The hitch lock comprises two substantially symmetrically mirrored upside-down L-shaped brackets and a rectangular plate comprising downwardly angled ends. The brackets form an enclosed U-shape, covering the hitch ball when assembled, while the plate fits into multiple slots on the brackets, forming a locked position. The adjustable slots on the brackets facilitate accommodation of diverse trailer hitch configurations, ensuring a precise fit. The angled ends of the plate enhance stability, mitigating lateral movement and prevent unauthorized individuals from sliding the brackets off of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Inventor: James Milton Odom
  • Patent number: 11981174
    Abstract: A ball assembly for a trailer hitch has a ball and an extended length neck connected to a threaded shaft. The ball assembly is made of a steel material such as 4140 or 4142 carbon steel which has a tensile strength of at least 95,000 psi to better withstand lateral and torsional forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Inventor: Daniel Cardenas
  • Patent number: 11981175
    Abstract: A method for operating a chassis of a motor vehicle according to the principle of a skyhook control, the chassis having at least one adjustable damper according to which body movements of the motor vehicle body resulting from road bumps are damped using the skyhook damping value (dsky). When driving over a road bump, a classification is made as to whether a critical body movement of the motor vehicle body is to be expected, and that in case of a classification as a critical body movement, the critical classified body movement is compensated for using a stored critical skyhook damping value (dsky-crit) which is greater than the skyhook damping value (dsky).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Andreas Unger
  • Patent number: 11981176
    Abstract: An active damper is provided for a motor vehicle including a sprung mass, an unsprung mass coupled thereto and at least one wheel and tire combination coupled to the unsprung mass such that road terrain movement acting on the at least one wheel and tire combination along a z-axis induces movement of the unsprung mass along the z-axis which, in turn, induces movement of the sprung mass along the z-axis. The active damper may include a housing configured to be mounted to the unsprung mass, a damper mass received within the housing and movable relative to the housing, and an actuator configured to be responsive to a drive signal to cause the damper mass to move within the housing so as to cancel, or at least reduce, movement of the unsprung mass resulting from the road terrain movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Inventor: Gene Hawkins
  • Patent number: 11981177
    Abstract: A dynamic anti-roll bar link for a vehicle suspension is provided. The link selectively transfers movement of the suspension system to the anti-roll bar, depending on a locked or unlocked state of the link. The anti-roll bar link includes an elongate link rod; a sliding assembly configured to translate axially along the elongate link; and a latch assembly configured to extend between the second retention member and the sliding assembly. In a locked state, the pawl portion can receive the pawl engaging member, and the retention member interface portion abuts the second retention member to prevent axial translation of the sliding assembly along the elongate link rod. In an unlocked state, the sliding assembly is permitted to translate axially along the elongate link rod. The primary and secondary latch bodies are pinned together in an over-center configuration in the locked state to prevent inadvertent unlocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Christopher Cox Creative
    Inventor: Christopher Paul Cox
  • Patent number: 11981178
    Abstract: A stabilizer bar assembly for a suspension system of a vehicle. The stabilizer bar assembly includes a first bar configured to be coupled to the vehicle suspension system proximate to a first wheel. A second bar is adjacent to the first bar. A coupling assembly is at an interface between the first bar and the second bar. The coupling assembly includes a magnetorheological material in contact with both the first bar and the second bar. The magnetorheological material is configured to transform from a fluid state to a viscoelastic solid state when subject to a magnetic field. A magnet is configured to apply the magnetic field to the magnetorheological material. In the viscoelastic solid state, the magnetorheological material resists relative movement between the first bar and the second bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Saylor, Robert Patrick Marble
  • Patent number: 11981179
    Abstract: A suspension includes a housing, links, a radius arm, and a radius arm bush. The radius arm bush is provided on a front end of the radius arm, couples the radius arm to a vehicle body, with an elastic body in between, and is disposed vehicle-widthwise inwardly of a wheel center contact point of the rear wheel. The radius arm bush has higher rigidity with respect to turn of the radius arm with respect to the vehicle body in a direction in which an underside of the radius arm is displaced vehicle-widthwise outwardly from an upside of the radius arm, than rigidity with respect to turn of the radius arm with respect to the vehicle body in a direction in which the underside of the radius arm is displaced vehicle-widthwise inwardly from the upside of the radius arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro Furuse, Ryuma Mine, Koichi Uchikawa
  • Patent number: 11981180
    Abstract: A thermal management system, the thermal management system including a refrigerant system, a first heat exchange system and a second heat exchange system. In a circulation mode of the thermal management system, the cooling liquid in the first heat exchange system and the second heat exchange system can be exchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Hangzhou Sanhua Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yongxiang Tan
  • Patent number: 11981181
    Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to managing and using an electronic key. In some embodiments, the electronic key is utilized to cause a vehicle to unlock one or more doors of the vehicle when a computer system that includes the electronic key is positioned within a first threshold distance of the vehicle. In some embodiments, a user interface object associated with the electronic key is displayed in a first position of an accounts user interface when a computer system that includes the electronic key is positioned within a second threshold distance of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Sanders, Mayura Dhananjaya Deshpande, Vitalii Kramar, Thomas John Miller, Marcel Van Os, Trevor W. Young
  • Patent number: 11981182
    Abstract: A heat control method for a heat control device, particularly for a vehicle interior, is disclosed. The method involves detecting, delimiting and positioning various parts of the body of an occupant (U), measuring thermal or physiological parameters regarding various parts of the body of the occupant (U) and/or the vehicle interior around the occupant (U), establishing a plurality of thermal comfort indices (In), each thermal comfort index (In) corresponding to one of the parts of the body of the occupant (U) taking into account a feeling of warmth or of cold in the associated body part, and of which the absolute value is at a minimum in a comfortable situation, and regulating the operation of a heat control device (3) to minimize a sum of the absolute values of the comfort indices (?|In|) in order to create a regulated thermal environment around the occupant (U).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES
    Inventors: Georges De Pelsemaeker, Daniel Neveu, Lucas Trevalinet, Clement Bassignani
  • Patent number: 11981183
    Abstract: This air conditioning device for a vehicle has: an indoor condenser; an indoor evaporator; a first expansion valve; a second expansion valve; a refrigerant line; an expansion valve control detector; and a controller. The expansion valve control detector is constituted by: only one temperature sensor that detects the temperature of refrigerant in an inter-expansion valve line of the refrigerant line; and only one pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the refrigerant in the inter-expansion valve line. During a cooling operation, the controller issues, to the first expansion valve, an opening command corresponding to a state quantity of the refrigerant that has been detected by the expansion valve control detector, and during a heating operation, the controller issues, to the second expansion valve, an opening command corresponding to a state quantity of the refrigerant that has been detected by the expansion valve control detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES THERMAL SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuya Nakagawa, Yasuo Katayama, Soichiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 11981184
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical connection device (2) for electrically connecting a first pad (10) and a second pad (12) of an electrical power source (4) and electrical contacts (18, 19) of heating modules (6, 7), the first pad (10) having a first electrical potential that differs from that of the second pad (12), said connection device (2) comprising: —at least one first electrically conductive tongue (32), intended to be electrically connected to the first pad (10) and to at least one electrical contact (19) of at least one heating module (6, 7); —at least two second electrically conductive tongues (41), intended to be electrically connected to the second pad (12), and to other electrical contacts (18) of at least one heating module (6, 7), characterized in that the connection device (2) is electrically capable of electrically connecting the first pad (10) and the second pad (12) and the electrical contacts (18, 19) of a single heating module (6, 7) and that the connection device (2) is also capable
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES
    Inventors: Bertrand Puzenat, Serif Karaaslan, Mickael Bigey, Frèdèric Pierron
  • Patent number: 11981185
    Abstract: An integrated thermal management system for a vehicle may make refrigerant-related components compact by modularizing the refrigerant-related components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Hyundai Wia Corporation
    Inventors: Man Ju Oh, Sang Shin Lee, Ki Mok Kim, Man Hee Kim, Se Min Lee, Bong Jun Park