SKIN PASS FOR CLADDING THIN METAL SHEETS
Granted: December 30, 2010
Application Number:
20100330389
According to at least one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for cladding a thin metal sheet for enhanced formability and manufacturability thereof. In at least one embodiment, the method includes contacting at least one metal cladding layer with the thin metal sheet to form a thin metal sandwich having an original thickness, wherein the metal cladding layer may be a thin metal foil or a plated or deposited thin metal film, and then subjecting the thin metal sandwich…
Sled Buck Testing System
Granted: December 30, 2010
Application Number:
20100326168
A sled carriage is configured to move in a direction of an axis. A platform is attached with the sled carriage and a sled buck is attached with the platform. Upon acceleration of the sled carriage, the sled buck and platform move relative to the sled carriage.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONICALLY SCHEDULING A VEHICLE ORDER
Granted: November 18, 2010
Application Number:
20100293022
A method and system for scheduling an electronic vehicle order. The method includes receiving an electronic vehicle order, which has a plurality of associated vehicle-option inputs, from a customer; expanding the order by associating each vehicle option with a plurality of part codes to generate a subset of part codes; applying a first set of rules that has non-deterministic criteria to the subset of part codes for conflict determination; resolving any conflict(s) between part codes by…
FUEL CELL HAVING PERFORATED FLOW FIELD
Granted: October 14, 2010
Application Number:
20100261087
A fuel cell system includes a bipolar plate having a flow field formed therein. The flow field is partially defined by at least two adjacent channel portions separated by a wall portion. The wall portion includes a surface at least partially defining a passageway between the channel portions. The passageway may be sized so as to create a pressure difference between the channel portions. The pressure difference may draw at least a portion of a liquid droplet obstructing one of the channel…
Method and System for Emergency Call Handling
Granted: September 9, 2010
Application Number:
20100227582
A vehicle communication system includes a computer processor in communication with persistent and non-persistent memory. The system also includes a local wireless transceiver in communication with the computer processor and configured to communicate wirelessly with a cellular telephone located at the vehicle. The system further includes a backup power circuit comprising a charge storage device such as a local battery or capacitor having enough charge to power the computer processor and…
Vehicle Statistical Measurement Game
Granted: August 26, 2010
Application Number:
20100214089
A vehicle communication system is operable to calculate and compare vehicle statistics based on information received from a vehicle sensor. This statistic information can be used by the vehicle communication system to execute a plurality of statistic based games. Additionally, relevant statistic information may be transmitted to a remote network for the purpose of playing games against other drivers. The vehicle communication system can report statistical changes to a driver, thus…
FUEL STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A GAS PRESSURE THEREIN
Granted: August 19, 2010
Application Number:
20100206887
A fuel storage system includes a storage vessel including a dielectric liner, a voltage sensor formed by a pair of plates disposed on opposing surfaces of the liner, and a controller configured to determine a gas pressure in the storage vessel based on voltages measured by the sensor.
TIE-DOWN DEVICE
Granted: August 12, 2010
Application Number:
20100202850
The present invention relates to a tie-down device comprising a base member and a retaining member, the retaining member having first and second retaining means suitable to retain the device in a channel, recess or the like, the first retaining means being engageable with a part of the channel or structure associated with the channel, and the second retaining means being engageable with another part of the channel or structure associated with the channel by pushing the retaining member…
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FINANCING ACQUISITION OF VEHICLES
Granted: August 12, 2010
Application Number:
20100205111
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for financing acquisition of a vehicle is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a future interest in a vehicle in consideration for a future interest price upon transfer of a legal title in the vehicle in consideration for a legal title price.
METHOD FOR MONITORING HYDROGEN VEHICLES
Granted: August 5, 2010
Application Number:
20100198430
A system and method for remotely monitoring the status of a hydrogen vehicle includes a data acquisition/communication module configured to receive a plurality of signals representing one or more status conditions associated with the vehicle. The data acquisition/communication module is further configured to report one or more of the status conditions to a computer remote from the vehicle. The system is further configured to receive one or more signals from the remote computer in…
TECHNICAL HOTLINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM
Granted: August 5, 2010
Application Number:
20100198647
A technical hotline resource management method and system provides a business solution for contact centers which receive contacts both through telephone-based inquiries and web-based inquiries. The disclosed method and system provides, among other things, intelligent calculation of projected resource requirements, a common schedule template for all groups engaged in providing technical assistance, simple input and maintenance screens, a readily-viewed calendar of employee schedules,…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICULAR AD-HOC GAMING NETWORKING
Granted: August 5, 2010
Application Number:
20100197406
A game is provided which can be played over a vehicular ad hoc network. Because vehicles may rapidly change locations, the game is capable of switching to new instances of the same game with relatively seamless transitions. Players who are no longer in a new instance, but were in the previous instance, may be replaced by computer controlled players to add to the seamlessness of the transition.
TEXTURING OF THIN METAL SHEETS/FOILS FOR ENHANCED FORMABILITY AND MANUFACTURABILITY
Granted: July 22, 2010
Application Number:
20100180427
According to at least one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for enhancing formability and manufacturability of a thin metal sheet/foil. In at least one embodiment, the method includes texturing a thin metal sheet/foil to accumulate additional metal materials in the areas to be formed, and providing a textured thin metal sheet/foil with a wavy topography of various peak-to-valley amplitudes and peak-to-peak wave lengths, depending on part design complexity and forming…
FUELING SYSTEM AND METHOD
Granted: July 22, 2010
Application Number:
20100180983
A fuel storage system includes a fuel tank, a fueling receptacle in fluid communication with the tank, and a coil adjacent the fueling receptacle. The system also includes a controller configured to determine information about a state of fuel in the tank, and to cause a modulated current to be driven into the coil to generate an electromagnetic field. The modulated current represents the information about the state of fuel in the tank.
MODULAR FUEL CELL POWER SYSTEM
Granted: July 22, 2010
Application Number:
20100183936
A modular fuel cell power system includes a coolant source, a reactant source and a plurality of fuel cell modules. Each of the fuel cell modules includes a fuel cell stack and a fluid distribution plant in fluid communication with the reactant source, coolant source and fuel cell stack. The fluid distribution plant controls the flow of reactant between the reactant source and fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stacks are configured to be selectively electrically connected.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A FUEL CELL ANODE GAS COMPOSITION
Granted: July 15, 2010
Application Number:
20100178578
In at least one embodiment, a purge system for a fuel cell stack is provided. The system comprises a blower, a differential pressure sensor and a purge valve. The blower delivers a recirculated gas back to the stack at varying electrical power levels and blower speeds. The differential pressure sensor senses pressure of the recirculated gas across the blower. The purge valve purges the recirculated gas based on at least one of a blower power level, a blower speed, and the pressure of the…
Apparatus and Method for Managing Fluids in a Fuel Cell Stack
Granted: March 11, 2010
Application Number:
20100062289
A plurality of flow field plate assemblies forms a fuel cell stack. Each flow field plate assembly has a first flow field plate positionable on an anode side of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of a first fuel cell, a second flow field plate positionable on a cathode side of an MEA of a second fuel cell, adjacent the first fuel cell. At least one back-feed channel is interposed between the first and second flow field plates. At least a portion of the back-feed channel or a reactant…
METHOD AND SYSTEM OF MEASURING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WITH PURCHASED VEHICLE
Granted: February 11, 2010
Application Number:
20100036709
A method of measuring customer satisfaction with a product. The method may assess customer satisfaction from information collected after purchasing the product. This post-purchase information may be collected, for example, by monitoring customer expressions made while interacting with the product. Optionally, the settings and operating conditions of the product may be separately monitored and cross-referenced with the customer expressions to tie the expressions with specific…
Computer-implemented method and system for collecting and communicating inspection information for a mechanism
Granted: February 4, 2010
Application Number:
20100030615
A method for collecting and communicating inspection information for a vehicle is provided. The method comprises electrically transmitting repair order information from an original electronic repair order to initiate a repair on the vehicle. The repair order information designates a technician to perform the repair. The method further comprises electronically receiving a notification to indicate that the technician received the repair order information and electronically generating an…
SATTELLITE RADIO SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ACTIVATING SAME
Granted: January 28, 2010
Application Number:
20100022182
A satellite radio system may include at least one computing device configured to receive a transaction date associated with a vehicle, to determine a preactivation duration based on the date, and to determine whether the preactivation duration exceeds a predetermined time period. The at least one computing device may be further configured to initiate the transmission of deactivation information for a satellite radio module in the vehicle if the preactivation duration exceeds the…
