Quotables
"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza."
Dave Barry
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7195092 | Occupant restraint system incorporating rotatable seat back An occupant restraint system (11) for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a rollover sensor (30) that generates a rollover signal. A seat (12) having a seat base (16) rotatably coupled to a seat back (18) may be included in ... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7195009 | Detection of a humidity sensor failure in an internal combustion engine A system and method for utilizing a humidity sensor with an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is described. Specifically, information from the humidity sensor is used to adjust a desired air-fuel ratio to reduce engine misfire while improving vehicle fuel econ... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7195001 | Fuel injector activity verification An engine system comprising of at least one fuel injector sensor coupled to at least one fuel injector of a first group of cylinders; at least one fuel injector sensor coupled to at least one fuel injector of a second group of cylinders; and a controller configured ... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7194996 | Internal combustion engine and method for auto-ignition operation of said engine The invention relates to an internal combustion engine that can be operated in compression ignition mode, the engine comprising a fuel injector for each cylinder; a fuel injection controller for controlling fuel injection quantity and a piston in each cylinder whose... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7194993 | Starting an engine with valves that may be deactivated A system and method to control engine valve timing to during the start of an internal combustion engine. Valves that may be deactivated are controlled in a manner to reduce hydrocarbon emissions during the start of an internal combustion engine. ... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7194854 | Method for improved performance of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine An engine control system for managing lean operation of an internal combustion engine coupled to a lean NOx trap uses an indication of vehicle activity. A target amount of tailpipe emission per distance is adjusted based on the vehicle activity indication. Then, eng... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7194398 | Method and apparatus for designing and developing a vehicular damper An assembly 10 which allows a vehicular damper to be virtually created and evaluated. Particularly, the assembly 10 includes a torque producer 31, a frequency filter generator 50, and analyzers 32, 34, 36 and 38. The torque ... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7194351 | System and method for determining a wheel departure angle for a rollover control system A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle includes roll rate sensor (34) generating a roll rate signal, a lateral acceleration sensor (32) generating a lateral acceleration signal, a pitch rate sensor (37) generating a pi... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7192257 | Jet pump for boosting pressure at an inlet supplied from a sump and second fluid source The automatic transmission for motor vehicles includes a positive displacement pump, a sump hydraulically connected by a passage to the pump inlet, a line pressure control valve having a high pressure outlet, a passage carrying fluid from the control valve through a... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7192005 | Control method and controller for a solenoid-operated electrohydraulic control valve A method and system for controlling a solenoid-operated pressure regulator valve to achieve high compliance with respect to a commanded current in accordance with a precalibrated transfer function. A dither frequency imposed on applied current is changed at precalib... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7191756 | System and method for controling crankshaft position during engine shutdown using cylinder pressure Systems and methods for controlling stopping position of a crankshaft during shutdown of a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine influence cylinder pressure independent of associated intake/exhaust valves during shutdown of the engine so the crankshaft stops ... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7191747 | Method for starting an internal combustion engine The description relates to a method for starting a direct-injection internal combustion engine equipped with an engine management system and having n cylinders, in which n pistons oscillate between a top dead center (TDC) and a bottom dead center (BDC), and a cranks... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7191739 | Integral coolant reservoir and air cleaner for automotive vehicle In integral utility assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a coolant reservoir and an air cleaner. A mounting bracket for attaching the assembly to an engine compartment structure is co-molded with an air cleaner base and a lower portion of a coolant reservoir,... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7191641 | Rotary position sensing assembly for internal combustion engine A rotary position sensing assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a mounting socket rigidly attached to a structural support of a rotating component and a position sensor slidably engaged with the socket. A slidably engageable retainer maintains the sens... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7191104 | Method of real-time collision detection between solid geometric models A system and method of real-time collision detection between solid geometric objects is provided. The system includes a computer system, a computer-generated geometric model and a haptic device in communication with the computer system having a haptic end effector f... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7188890 | Energy-absorbing device with a reduced initial peak load An energy-absorbing device (34) with a reduced initial peak load (50) for enhancing the management of crash energy in an end structure (30′) for a vehicle (30). The energy-absorbing device (34) has a deformable construction adapt... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7188883 | Collapsible seat assembly A multi-positional collapsible seat assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The seat assembly includes a seat bottom having a load surface provided on an underside thereof and a seat back having a load surface provided on the back side thereof. As the seat assemb... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7188517 | System and method for detection of degradation of vacuum brake booster sensor Systems and methods for detecting degradation of a sensor in a vacuum brake booster coupled to a manifold of an internal combustion engine include measuring an engine or vehicle operating parameter to detect operating or control conditions and detecting degradation ... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7188514 | Method for providing an oil change indication to an operator of an internal combustion engine A method for providing an oil change indication to an operator of an internal combustion engine having an exhaust-after-treatment system requiring regeneration, The method includes detecting regeneration events performed on the exhaust-after-treatment system; detect... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7184879 | Method for controlling valves during the stop of an engine having a variable event valvetrain A method for controlling valves during an engine stop is presented. The valves are controlled in a manner that can quiet the engine during a stop. In addition, the valves may be selectively controlled to direct the contents of the cylinder in a desired direction so ... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7182711 | Vehicle trajectory control system A method for controlling an engine coupled to a transmission is described. The method is especially suited for a transmission having at least one gear in which an over-running clutch is present. The invention describes a method for adjusting an engine operating para... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7182072 | Purge fuel vapor control A system and method for controlling the introduction of purge fuel vapor into a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is provided. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a schedule for opening and closing an on-off, pulse-width-modulated, purge control valve... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7182065 | Vehicle and method for operating an engine in a vehicle A method for selectively adjusting an amount of fuel to an engine in a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes an electric machine operatively connected to the engine and capable of controlling a speed of the engine. The method includes providing an amount of fuel... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7182047 | Cooling fan system for automotive vehicle A cooling system for an internal combustion engine mounted within a vehicle includes a radiator for rejecting heat to ambient air and an axial fan mounted within a fan shroud associated with a radiator. The fan has a stationary hub equipped with louvers which may be... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7181905 | Lean-burn engine exhaust air-fuel and temperature management strategy for improved catalyst durability A system is described for improving engine and vehicle performance by considering the effects of exhaust conditions on catalyst particle growth. Specifically, engine operation is adjusted to reduce operating in such conditions, and a diagnostic routine is described ... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7182603 | Electronic valve actuator electrical connector An electrical connector for mounting to an electronically controlled valve assembly of an internal combustion engine and for electrically connecting the valve assembly to a control system for the engine. The electrical connector has disposed in a housing thereof: a ... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7179539 | Electromagnetic device An electric machine made from kinetically sprayed permanent magnet material and a binder material form a composite admixture having microstructure of permanent magnet material embedded in the binder material. The admixture has a permanent magnetic moment. The magnet... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7178827 | Occupant ejection prevention assembly An automotive ejection prevention assembly is provided comprising an airbag mounted within the beltline of a vehicle door. The airbag has an airbag stored condition and an airbag deployed position. The airbag expands vertically upwards from the beltline when in the ... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7178497 | Inertial torque reaction management with selectively engageable counter rotating component A system and method for managing inertial torque reaction of a powertrain include a selectively engageable counter-rotating component to reduce or eliminate torque reaction on stationary powertrain structure. Selectively engageable counter-rotating inertia may be pr... | 02/20/2007 |
| 6498974 | Method for controlling a transfer case which utilizes a proportional and an integral control component A transfer case control system or apparatus 10 is provided for use on a four-wheel drive vehicle of the type having a transfer case 32, a front driveshaft 22 and a rear driveshaft 26. Transfer case control system 10 includes a conventional microcontroller... | 12/24/2002 |
| 6473968 | Telescoping joint assembly and a method for making the same A telescoping joint assembly and a method for making a telescope joint assembly 10. The joint assembly 10 has a pair of members 12, 14 which are telescopically engaged. Assembly 10 further includes a resinous, plastic and/or polymer material 16 which shri... | 11/05/2002 |
| 6450286 | Rack and pinion power steering system with variable damping characteristics A rack and pinion power steering system 10 is provided and includes a variable orifice valve 22 which controls the flow of fluid in and out of a hydraulic cylinder 20. Variable orifice valve 22 is communicatively coupled to a source of pressurized fluid 3... | 09/17/2002 |
| 6451117 | Paint mask and a method for utilizing the same A non-contact mask 10 which is selectively deployed in close proximity to an object 12 and which has a certain type of electrical charge. A substance 16, to be selectively applied to the object 12, is provided with the certain type of electrical charge an... | 09/17/2002 |
| 6439329 | Integrated battery tray and reservoir assembly An integrated battery tray and reservoir assembly 10 is provided which is adapted to be operatively installed within the engine compartment of a conventional vehicle. Assembly 10 includes a battery tray portion 12 having a back wall 14 which includes a ge... | 08/27/2002 |
| 6438844 | Method and apparatus for manufacturing constant velocity joints A method and tool are provided for manufacturing an outer race for constant velocity joints by plastic deformation of a preform having a cavity open on one side to produce axial ball tracks and cage guide surfaces. the preform is inserted within an outer ... | 08/27/2002 |
| 6434827 | Method for creating a gear assembly A method for producing a gear assembly 108 which allows for the relatively efficient transfer of energy. Assembly 108 is created by forming a first member 10 and a second member 40, by placing pinion support members 80 within the second member 40, by plac... | 08/20/2002 |
| 6427640 | System and method for heating vehicle fluids A system 10 which utilizes engine coolant to selectively heat and cool fluid or oil used by another vehicle system, such as a transmission 14. System 10 includes a first cooling path or circuit 28 having a fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger 18 which is fluidly... | 08/06/2002 |
| 6425243 | Hybrid exhaust manifold for combustion engines An exhaust manifold 10 having a body 12 and a plurality of flanges 14-24. The body 12 is separately fabricated apart from flanges 14-24. The flanges 14-24 are later joined to the body and cooperatively form an exhaust manifold 10.... | 07/30/2002 |
| 6422027 | System and method for cooling a battery pack A battery cooling system 10 for use with a vehicle 14 including several batteries or battery modules 16-38 which provide power to the vehicle 12. The system 10 includes a refrigerant gas channeling or conduit system which is effective to store, compress, ... | 07/23/2002 |
| 6420874 | Electrostatic painting system and method A system 10 for electrostatically painting a product or vehicle 12. The system 10 ensures that each product or vehicle 12 which is painted is sufficiently and completely grounded prior to being painted, thereby substantially preventing the products or veh... | 07/16/2002 |
