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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7267367 | Reversibly expandable energy absorbing assembly utilizing shape memory foams for impact management and methods for operating the same A reversible energy absorbing assembly including a shape memory foam disposed within an interior region, wherein the shape memory foam is adapted to expand to an expanded configuration in response to fluid communication with a fluid source. The shape memory foam is ... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7246736 | Supplying shielding gas A flexible articulate tubular device has a shank, a plurality of pivot rings, and a terminus with heat sensors and a fiber optic device. The flexible articulate tubular device is initially positioned, either manually or automatically, near a target weld path with th... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7247120 | Multi-speed planetary transmissions having seven torque-transmitting devices engaged in combinations of two The family of transmissions has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission family members include three planetary gear sets having seven torque-transmitting ... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7246007 | System and method of communicating traffic information A system and method of automatically communicating traffic information from a traffic probe vehicle to a traffic information and management system when the probe vehicle is operated within an active traffic information reporting region. Geographic information about ... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7245231 | Collision avoidance system A method of collision avoidance. The method includes receiving a signal indicative of a potential collision of a vehicle. The method also includes generating a haptic collision alert in response to the signal. ... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7240576 | Corrosion resistant weldable bosses A corrosion resistant weldable boss includes a body portion having a lower portion formed of a sintered powder, e.g., ferrous powder, which is readily welded to a vehicle structure surface. A capping member is sintered to an upper portion of the body portion and is ... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7240485 | Power steering system A power steering system for a vehicle includes a hydraulic pump connected to a power steering gear of the vehicle and a fluid coupling interconnecting a drive shaft of an engine of the vehicle with the hydraulic pump. The power steering system also includes an elect... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7238911 | Resistance welding tip with improved cooling system An improved cooling system for adapting to a two-component welding electrode device having a shank and cap, includes a retractable nozzle tube, a manifold, and an adjustment element for adjustably interconnecting the tube and manifold. A threaded bushing or plunger ... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7238131 | Electrically variable transmission having three planetary gear sets and three fixed interconnections A family of electrically variable transmissions providing low-content, low-cost electrically variable transmission mechanisms including first, second and third differential gear sets, a battery, two electric machines serving interchangeably as motors or generators, ... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7234716 | Vehicle step apparatus and method of operation thereof A step apparatus for a vehicle having a door and a rocker panel includes a step disposed at and in operable communication with the door, wherein the step has a retracted position in response to the door being closed and a deployed position in response to the door be... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7233861 | Prediction of vehicle operator destinations A method for predicting vehicle operator destinations including receiving vehicle position data for a vehicle. The vehicle position data for a current trip is compared to vehicle position data for a previous trip to predict a destination for the vehicle. A path to t... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7233296 | Transparent thin film antenna A method for improving the efficiency of antennas having transparent thin-film conductive surfaces, and antennas improved by the method are disclosed. For a selected frequency of antenna operation, values for surface current density in areas distributed over the sur... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7232178 | Vehicle hood assembly and method of elevating vehicle hood This invention relates to a vehicle hood assembly that is operative to raise the rearward and frontward portions of a vehicle hood. The system includes an actuator selectively extendable to raise the rearward portion of a vehicle hood from a first position to a high... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7232016 | Fluid damper having continuously variable damping response An improved damping apparatus that utilizes a fluid having a viscosity that may be varied by the application of an electromagnetic field, such as a magnetorheological fluid or an electrorheological fluid, to provide the damping response. The damping apparatus includ... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7231906 | Simultaneous EGR correction and individual cylinder combustion phase balancing An internal combustion engine is configured with combustion chamber pressure sensing and exhaust gas recirculation apparatus. Fuel injection timing is adjusted based on combustion phasing and exhaust gas recirculation is controlled based on average fuel injection ti... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7231905 | Internal combustion engine exhaust gas recirculation control An internal combustion engine is configured with combustion chamber pressure sensing and exhaust gas recirculation apparatus. Exhaust gas recirculation control includes closed-loop controlling exhaust gas recirculation apparatus in accordance with a predetermined co... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7232393 | Electrically variable transmission having two planetary gear sets with two fixed interconnections The electrically variable transmission family of the present invention provides low-content, low-cost electrically variable transmission mechanisms including first and second differential gear sets, a battery, two electric machines serving interchangeably as motors ... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7228839 | NOx emission control for a controlled auto-ignition four-stroke internal combustion engine A four-stroke internal combustion engine is operated in controlled auto-ignition mode by any of a variety of valve control strategies conducive to controlled auto-ignition conditions in conjunction with in-cylinder fuel charges that are at either stoichiometric or l... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7225542 | Vehicle body compartment lid method of manufacturing A vehicle body compartment lid includes a unitary, one-piece panel. The panel has both an inner panel portion and an outer panel portion, and is bent or folded such that the inner panel portion and the outer panel portion are in juxtaposition with one another. A met... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7226665 | Barrier coat for open tool molding A multilayer composite contains a gel coat layer, a laminate layer, and a barrier layer disposed between the gel coat and the laminate layer. The laminate contains from 40–80% by weight paste and from 20–60% by weight reinforcing fibers. The barrier coat also co... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7226382 | Multi-speed planetary transmissions having three interconnected gear members and multiple input clutches The family of transmissions has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission family members include three planetary gear sets having seven torque-transmitting ... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7225969 | Friction stir processing for surface properties A surface of an article is heated and subjected to pressure by operation of a friction stir tool. The pressure of the face of the tool on the article surface, and the speed of rotation of the tool and of its progression along the surface of the article, are controll... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7225905 | Magnetorheological fluid damper A magnetorheological damper device is provided having an increased shear interface area per unit volume of device, which enhances the stroking force of the damper. The damper generally includes a thrust shaft comprising an external threaded surface in threaded commu... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7225796 | Control of induction system hydrocarbon emissions A method and apparatus for reducing or preventing hydrocarbon emissions from an air induction system of an automotive vehicle during diurnal periods opens the fuel line to ambient fuel tank pressure when fuel pressure in the fuel line decreases due to cooling of the... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7225776 | Valvetrain with two-step switchable rocker and deactivating stationary lash adjuster The invention provides a valvetrain configuration in an internal combustion engine in which a plurality of two-step rockers enable the engine poppet valves to switch between two lift profiles. In addition, a lost-motion stationary lash adjuster enables the deactivat... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7225049 | Lost foam casting analysis method Parameters specifying properties of the materials used in the lost foam casting process are input at an input step. Numerical methods may be used to simultaneously solve a set of coupled equations relating thermal properties, flow properties, and other physical prop... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7220927 | Turn signal assemblies and methods for operating the same Turn signal assemblies for motor vehicles that employ shape memory alloy actuators to provide automatic cancellation of turn signals. A controller is in operative communication with the shape memory alloy actuator and is programmed to provide an activation signal to... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7220509 | Constituents and methods for protecting fuel cell components, including PEMs A fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that is made up of a membrane sandwiched between first and second electrodes, a contaminant peroxide, damaging to the MEA, and at least one constituent with the contaminant peroxide that prevents, or at leas... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7220201 | Electrically variable transmission having two planetary gear sets with two fixed interconnections and clutch input The electrically variable transmission family of the present invention provides low-content, low-cost electrically variable transmission mechanisms including first and second differential gear sets, a battery, two electric machines serving interchangeably as motors ... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7222011 | Engine and driveline torque transfer device control A starting clutch control includes an engine control state and a slip control state. The engine and slip control states include feedforward and driveline damping control terms. The engine state control may further include an engine speed control term. The slip contr... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7216927 | Lightweight hybrid tubular/casting instrument panel beam An instrument panel beam includes an elongated main member having a bent tubular configuration, and a plurality of structural supports connected to the member. The beam is formed of a lightweight material, such as a magnesium or aluminum alloy. The beam is preferabl... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7213673 | Reconfigurable by-wire foot pedals A vehicle chassis having substantially all of the mechanical, electrical and structural componentry necessary for a fully functional vehicle, including at least energy conversion system, a steering system and a braking system. The chassis is configured for releasabl... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7213570 | Method and apparatus for controlling throttle during vehicle coasting A method and system to improve fuel economy of an engine on a vehicle is offered. An electronic throttle control device is commanded to a wide open throttle position during vehicle coast down, thus improving engine breathing and reducing pumping losses, and improvin... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7212876 | Maintenance opportunity planning system and method A system, method, and apparatus are provided for maintenance opportunity planning in a production line having a plurality of machines and buffers between machines on the production line, with the buffers processing production units between at least two of the machin... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7210323 | Binder apparatus for sheet forming A forming apparatus and method for minimizing wrinkling in the forming of a three-dimensional component from a two-dimensional blank. The forming apparatus includes vertically opposed sets of tools or binders. A first tool or binder apparatus has first and second se... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7210212 | Bayonet collet pickup tool for agile fixturing A bayonet collet pickup tool includes a collet chuck having a collet portion including a bore disposed therein. A collet is held in the bore and is operable therein. A bayonet cap is mounted to an outer surface of the collet chuck proximate the bore. The bayonet cap... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7209799 | Predictive modeling of machining line variation A multistage machining process includes a plurality of stations. Workpiece feature quality is predicted based on decomposition of the machining process into sources of variation, reticulation of the machining process into machining stations and error models that acc... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7206997 | Functional visualization of spreadsheets A method for providing a functional visualization of a spreadsheet. The method includes correlating spreadsheet cells with both data entities and calculation entities in an influence diagram, and then automatically updating the entities in the influence diagram in r... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7204481 | Magnetorheological reconfigurable clamp for a flexible manufacturing system A reconfigurable clamp for a flexible manufacturing system comprises a body portion, a plurality of pins slidably engaged within sleeves formed in the body portion, a compression spring attached to each shaft of the plurality of pins, a reservoir comprising a magnet... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7204472 | Active pressure relief valves and methods of use Active pressure relief valves and methods of use for regulating atmospheric conditions within an interior compartment of a vehicle generally include an active material to effect movement of a flap relative to an opening. The active material has the ability to rememb... | 04/17/2007 |
