Bizarre Patents
Pet Toilet-Like Water Disk and Food Storage
One pet-friendly inventor patented "a device for watering pets, e.g., a dog or cat." The device, he helpfully noted, "has the general shape of a toilet."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7199549 | Feedback parameter estimation for electric machines A method and system for estimating a parameter of an electric machine, including a controller and a switching device, the controller executes a parameter estimation process, which is responsive to at least one of: a current value and a torque command and the resulta... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7163080 | Method and apparatus for detecting a failed temperature sensor in an electric assist steering system A method and system are provided for controlling an electric assist motor in a vehicle steering system during an enablement of an overuse algorithm. Electric power is provided to the electric assist motor of the vehicle steering system via a switching circuit. Tempe... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7071649 | Active temperature estimation for electric machines A method and system for estimating a temperature of an electric machine comprising obtaining a temperature value responsive to a temperature signal from a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor is operatively connected to and transmitting the temperature signal ... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7044021 | Steering device for a motor vehicle A steering device for a motor vehicle comprises a stationary skeleton which has an essentially arc-shaped skeleton section, and an actuation member that is movably mounted on the skeleton section and that has two contact sections essentially opposite from each other... | 05/16/2006 |
| 6943516 | Method for controlling an adjuster on a motor vehicle A method for controlling a vehicle seat adjuster in an adjusting path having a first mechanical stop and a second mechanical stop. A user sets an adjustment position of the adjuster inside the adjusting path. A protective stop is also automatically set in the adjust... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6765323 | Method and device for detecting rotational drive force Several embodiments of electric power assisted manually operated devices wherein the manual input force is sensed by a sensor that does not require lost motion connections and significant movement in order to determine the force applied. Also a compact drive is disc... | 07/20/2004 |
| 6577030 | Electric power steering apparatus An electric power system having an electric motor, a speed-reduction mechanism, a power board on which components generating heat are mounted, a control board on which components generating little heat are mounted, a circuit case, and a heat sink for diss... | 06/10/2003 |
| 6525651 | Force-responsive detectors and systems A force-responsive sensor is disclosed, such as for incorporation in a safety system for detecting an obstruction in a window opening closable by a motorized slidable window pane. The sensor is mounted within a hollow volume in flexible material running a... | 02/25/2003 |
| 6515441 | Glass edge object detection sensor An object detection system includes a sensor in communication with a controller which identifies contact with the sensor. In a preferred embodiment the sensor is a piezo film which generates a signal when an object applies a predetermined force to the edg... | 02/04/2003 |
| 6448728 | Electric power steering apparatus The controller possesses a reference torque signal setting unit which generates a reference signal which becomes high when the detected signal becomes high based on at least the signal detected from the steering torque sensor; a correction torque signal s... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6448731 | Apparatus and method for controlling an electric motor An electric assist steering system (10) includes a torque sensor (16) that provides an applied torque signal (24) indicative of applied steering torque. A motor position sensor (36) provides a motor position signal (40) indicative of the relative position... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6272410 | Electric power steering system To keep low the cross frequency of current feedback control and provide a good steering feeling, a first operation expression is selected when a difference .xi. between a current instruction value computed based on a steering state of a steering wheel and... | 08/07/2001 |
| 6169379 | Power driven venting of a vehicle An obstruction detection apparatus is provided for use in closing a power driven vent, such as a window, that is located in an opening. When the vent includes a first closing edge that moves as the vent is closed and the opening includes a second closing ... | 01/02/2001 |
| 6153996 | Steering device with an actuating ring A steering device for a motor vehicle is proposed, with an actuating member to introduce a steering movement and with a steering linkage to transfer the steering movement to the wheels. The steering device is characterized according to the invention in that th... | 11/28/2000 |
| 6111376 | Motorizing awning with automatic safety control An awning, in particular an awning with a supporting arm, the cloth (1) of which can be unwound from a tube or winding shaft (2) driven by an electric motor (9) and in which are provided means for measuring the drive torque which supply a variable represe... | 08/29/2000 |
| 6013994 | Controller of electric power-steering system To provide a controller of an electric power-steering system, capable of improving the steering performance by presuming a motor angular speed ω in a range in which the angular speed of a motor is small and moreover very accurately presuming the motor an... | 01/11/2000 |
| 5982131 | Control device for motor driving system A stator 3 of a motor 1 is pivotally supported on a stationary system 5 by an elastic member 28, 11a, 42 provided along the circumferential direction of the stator 3, and a detector 11 for detecting a rotational force of the stator 3 is provided to execut... | 11/09/1999 |
| 5982126 | Power closure panel control apparatus A power closure panel control apparatus is independent of closure panel configuration and capable of a diverse range of remote and direct activation. Sophisticated safety features utilize an adaptive strategy to facilitate highly sensitive obstruction det... | 11/09/1999 |
| 5818189 | Electric power-assisted wheelchair A power-assisted wheelchair wherein the power-assist for the wheels is based upon the manual force exerted on both of the wheels. The power-assist is continued for a brief time period after manual power input is stopped. The continuing assist is provided ... | 10/06/1998 |
| 5780985 | Deformable system A deformation detection system including an elongated element having a hollow deformable wall member that defines a radiation transmission path. A sound radiation transmission source positioned at one end of the elongated member transmits acoustical radia... | 07/14/1998 |
| 5648708 | Force actuated machine controller An apparatus and method that allows a user to exert a force to control a motive machine. The exerted force is transferred by a force transferring means to force sensors which detect the amount and direction in which the force is exerted. The force sensors... | 07/15/1997 |
| 5150021 | Method of controlling electric power steering apparatus A method of controlling an electric power steering apparatus includes the steps of determining a steering state in accordance with a detection value and a retrieval value of a motor terminal across voltage, and limiting a motor current when a steering whe... | 09/22/1992 |
| 4939435 | Torque detecting apparatus First magnetic angular sensor outputs a sine-wave output and a cosine-wave output corresponding to positions of rotation of a rotary drum being fitted in a rotating drive shaft. Second magnetic angular sensor outputs a sine-wave output and a cosine-wave o... | 07/03/1990 |
| 4873475 | Electrically powered power steering system for industrial vehicle or the like In order to prevent a sudden kickback through the steering wheel which tends to occur when an electrically powered steering motor is de-energized and the vehicle tires are distorted by steering a low speeds and act as springs which cause the steering shaf... | 10/10/1989 |
| 4862046 | Zoom motor control The present invention is a zoom motor control for controlling an electric motor for use in combination with an auto zoom device for a movie camera. The auto zoom device includes a rotating member driven by the electric motor and a zoom-lens tube rotating ... | 08/29/1989 |
| 4812723 | Motor-operated brake system A motor-operated brake system includes an input rod coupled to a brake pedal and displaceable with an axial thrust force commensurate with the depressing force on the brake pedal, a cylinder having at least one piston operable by the thrust force applied ... | 03/14/1989 |
| 4769584 | Electronic controller for therapeutic table An electronic controller for a therapeutic table with a shaft encoder for sensing the angular position of a movably mounted patient support and means for controlling the movement in accordance with a comparison between the sensed angular position and an a... | 09/06/1988 |
| 4766985 | Power clutch system A vehicle power clutch system, whereby a clutch device is provided with a control lever designed to move between two operating positions, corresponding respectively to engagement and release, by virtue of an axially-mobile control member; at least a porti... | 08/30/1988 |
| 4756375 | Motor-driven power steering apparatus The present invention provides a controller for a power steering control system with a current limiter for limiting current to be fed to a power steering motor, in accordance with a power source voltage, whereby the power source is prevented from falling ... | 07/12/1988 |
| 4743817 | Electromagnetic servo unit An electromagnetic servo unit is constituted with an outer casing (1), a first shaft (8) and a second shaft (5) both rotatably supported by the casing, an electric motor (101) built in the casing coaxially with the second shaft, the electric motor having ... | 05/10/1988 |
| 4719396 | Electric motor drive circuit for electric power steering systems for vehicles An electric motor drive circuit (9; 209) in an electric power steering system (50) for vehicles includes a control mechanism (8, 9a) for producing a control signal (T2, T3, T4, T5) for controlling an electric mo... | 01/12/1988 |
| 4703821 | Electric power steering system for vehicles An electric power steering system (100) for vehicles includes a driving control circuit (50) adapted to generate a torque magnitude signal (Sa) and a torque direction signal (Sdr, Sdl), based on an output signal (VR, VL) from a torque detection mechanism ... | 11/03/1987 |
| 4686433 | Motor-driven power booster A motor-driven power booster suitable for use in a motor-driven power steering system. The power booster comprises a casing, input and output shafts rotatably supported on the casing, a first motor for driving the output shaft, a second motor for driving ... | 08/11/1987 |
| 4686438 | Electric power steering apparatus An electric power steering apparatus causes a bridge circuit and a driver circuit to control normal and reverse rotation operations of a motor. The bridge circuit is constituted by transistors. The driver circuit is connected to a power source and also is... | 08/11/1987 |
| 4614248 | Motor-driven power steering system having a stable output torque An electric motor driven power steering system is provided. The motor is prevented from operating at low torque command levels. After a first predetermined level of command torque is reached, the motor is controlled to generate torque at a predetermined r... | 09/30/1986 |
| 4613800 | Servo system for measuring and controlling the amount of torque being applied to rotating tools and method A power torque servo system (100) for roller swaging (122), including a servomotor (132) having a gear box (134) with a drive shaft (138). The motor is supported on two members (150, 152) on opposite sides of the drive shaft (138) and a third member (146)... | 09/23/1986 |
| 4611682 | Motor-driven power steering system An improved electric power steering system is disclosed. The system includes an electric motor as a driving device. Input system torque, motor current flow and motor temperature are detected and used to control the motor to prevent premature failure of th... | 09/16/1986 |
| 4587471 | Handle assembly for an x-ray examination apparatus A handle assembly for an x-ray examination apparatus for permitting a technician to position the apparatus above a patient with the aid of a support motor has a grip connected to the apparatus by two support elements, each of the support elements having a... | 05/06/1986 |
| 4492906 | Electric motor This invention discloses an electric motor comprising a stator, a rotor disposed concentrically within the stator, a drive shaft rotatably supporting the rotor with a circular gap between the stator and rotor and an output shaft connected to the drive sha... | 01/08/1985 |
| 4413214 | Vented pneumatic foot controller A speed controlling arrangement for an electric motor is provided with a pneumatic foot controller which includes a bulb that is opened to the atmosphere between operative periods to equalize pressure in both the bulb and a transducer, but is closed when ... | 11/01/1983 |