Method and system for assessing the risk of a vehicle dealership defaulting on a financial obligation
Granted: November 3, 2005
Application Number:
20050246256
The present invention relates to a method and system of assessing the risk of a vehicle dealership defaulting on a financial obligation. A preferred method embodiment of the present invention includes receiving at least one financial factor with a plurality of point weights and vehicle dealership financial statement information and determining a dealership point weight for each financial factor based on the plurality of point weights and the financial statement data to obtain a default…
ACTIVE NIGHT VISION THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM
Granted: October 20, 2005
Application Number:
20050230623
A thermal control system (11) for a light source (46) of a vision system (10) includes a heater (63) that is thermally coupled to the light source (46). A thermal sensor (60) is thermally coupled to the light source (46) and generates a temperature signal. A controller (50) is coupled to the heater (63) and to the thermal sensor (60). The controller (50) operates the heater (63) when the temperature signal is below a maximum temperature limit.
TRANSFORMABLE VEHICLE
Granted: October 20, 2005
Application Number:
20050230988
A vehicle includes a transformable vehicle body having a first body configuration and a second body configuration. The first body configuration resembles a wagon-style vehicle that includes a fully enclosed passenger space and cargo area. The second body configuration resembles a pickup truck that includes a contracted enclosed passenger space and an open cargo area behind the contracted enclosed passenger space.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING SPARE PARTS INVENTORY WITHIN A MANUFACTURING PLANT
Granted: September 29, 2005
Application Number:
20050216366
A method and system for controlling spare parts inventory within a manufacturing plant by identifying and locating spare parts in the manufacturing plant. Signals representative of a spare parts search request from a user are transmitted to a base station. The base station processes the signals with inventory data to obtain a search result. The search results represent identification location data for each unit in the spare parts search request and also an available quantity of the spare…
SIDE AIRBAG FOR A VEHICLE
Granted: August 11, 2005
Application Number:
20050173900
A side airbag (14) for a supplemental restraint system (12) of a vehicle (10) includes an inflatable bag comprised of a shoulder-receiving portion (24) and a thorax-receiving portion (26) that extends from the shoulder-receiving portion (24). This airbag (14) is moveable between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration. In the inflated configuration, the thorax-receiving portion (26) is sized thinner than the shoulder-receiving portion (24) in a lateral direction.
COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHOD FOR ANALYZING A PROBLEM STATEMENT BASED ON AN INTEGRATION OF Six Sigma, LEAN MANUFACTURING, AND KAIZEN ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES
Granted: August 11, 2005
Application Number:
20050177260
A computer-implemented method for analyzing problem statements. The method includes focusing the problem statement into an operation definition and then assigning a level indicator to the operation definition. The method further includes analyzing the problem statement based on the operational definition and the level indicator in a cost and time effective manner and without the need for an expert to customize an analysis schedule for each problem.
Defect identification signal analysis method
Granted: August 11, 2005
Application Number:
20050177352
The present invention provides a method of identifying a defect in a part by forming a dot product between a vector related to a part with a known defect and a vector related to a part with an unknown defect. The magnitude of the dot product has been found to increase as the likelihood that unknown defect is the know defect increases. The components of each of these vectors determined from a quantifiable physical property capable of discriminating between parts with and without defects.…
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CLEANING A MACHINE TOOL
Granted: July 21, 2005
Application Number:
20050155626
An apparatus and a method for dislodging contaminants from a surface of a machine tool. A machine tool has a spindle and a housing disposed around the spindle. The apparatus includes a support plate, an arbor, and a cleaning member. The arbor is disposed on the support plate and is adapted to be attached to the spindle. The cleaning member is disposed on and extends from the support plate. The cleaning member contacts a surface of the machine tool to remove contaminants.
Method for manufacturing an item
Granted: July 14, 2005
Application Number:
20050150094
A method for notifying installers 14-22 of the existence, type, and location of a portion 26 of an item within an assembly line 10. The notification allows the installers 14-22 to respectively ensure that the components 40 which are needed to be placed upon the portion 26 are available for use by the installer 14-22 in a timely manner.
CONTROL ALGORITHM FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE
Granted: June 30, 2005
Application Number:
20050139400
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) manages engine operation in the event of an engine cooling system malfunction by operating the engine with fewer than the total number of engine cylinders, while extracting power, particularly during transient operation, from not only the engine, but also the vehicle's traction motor and battery.
Method for manufacturing an item
Granted: June 30, 2005
Application Number:
20050138785
A method for notifying installers 14-22 of the existence, type, and location of a portion 26 of an item within an assembly line 10. The notification allows the installers 14-22 to respectively ensure that the components 40 which are needed to be placed upon the portion 26 are available for use by the installer 14-22 in a timely manner.
METHOD TO FACILITATE FAILURE MODES AND EFFECTS ANALYSIS
Granted: June 23, 2005
Application Number:
20050138477
A method and system to facilitate failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) of one or more components of a system. The FMEA is indicated with the generation of an FMEA form. A graphical user interface provides a sequential order of completion for a number of steps. The steps are followed to generate graphical representations which are to be completed by an FMEA analyst and received by the graphical user interface to facilitate generating the FMEA form.
METHOD OF TESTING FRICTION COMPONENTS FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
Granted: June 16, 2005
Application Number:
20050126272
A method of testing a friction component for a transmission that has first and second parts. The first part of the friction component is attached to a drive shaft and the second part is attached to a grounding element. The first part of the friction component is rotated until the drive shaft and the first part of the friction component rotate at a target sliding speed Vtarget. An actuation force is applied to the friction component at a time t0. Operation of the motor drive is continued…
COLOR-CORRECTED LASER ILLUMINATION SYSTEM FOR NIGHT VISION APPLICATIONS
Granted: June 16, 2005
Application Number:
20050128727
A color-corrected lighting system for night vision applications includes a near infrared light source and a thin-sheet optical element disposed a distance from the near infrared source. The optical element includes an input surface for receiving light from the near infrared source and an output surface for emitting the received light in a desired emission pattern. The system also includes a visible, non-red light source in the form of a plate having a plurality of non-red LEDs arranged…
Method and system for automating occupational health and safety information management
Granted: June 16, 2005
Application Number:
20050131737
An electronic medical record module receives data concerning patient medical visits resulting from occupational health or safety incidents processes the data based on pre-defined OSHA logic to automatically identify one or more patient medical visits that are OSHA-recordable, and outputs a plurality of different reports including patient medical visits that are OSHA-recordable. An incident investigation module electronically dispatches an investigator to investigate occupational health…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUDITING
Granted: June 16, 2005
Application Number:
20050131781
A Computer-implemented system and method for auditing that allows an auditor to comment on responses made by an audited entity. The comments are classified according to the subject matter and content of the comment for use in processing and monitoring correction of the comment.
Modular vehicle rail system for vehicle
Granted: June 2, 2005
Application Number:
20050116487
A modular vehicle system for a vehicle is provided which includes one or more elongated modular members adapted to be coupled to an interior portion of a vehicle, where one or more removable articles are configured for attachment to one or more of the members and a utility system provides utilities to the articles. One or more holders are positioned to align with the members and are coupled to the articles for attaching the articles to one or more of the members. The articles are…
SOLDER FILLERS FOR ALUMINUM BODY PARTS AND METHODS OF APPLYING THE SAME
Granted: May 26, 2005
Application Number:
20050109822
One aspect of the present invention is a method of applying a solder filler to an aluminum body part. The method includes abrading the surface of an aluminum body part at a temperature of at least about 300 degrees Celsius with a solder filler at a temperature of at least about 300 degrees Celsius.
DIRECT OPERATION OF LOW TEMPERATURE SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS USING OXYGENATED FUEL
Granted: May 19, 2005
Application Number:
20050106427
The present invention provides a method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell having an anode and a cathode using a methyl ether. The method of this embodiment comprises forming a first mixture comprising molecular oxygen and the methyl ether. The first reaction mixture is then heated to a sufficient temperature to form a second mixture comprising carbon monoxide and molecular hydrogen. Finally, the anode of a solid oxide fuel cell is in contact with the second gaseous mixture. In another…
Adaptive pressure control method for achieving synchronous upshifts in a multiple-ratio transmission
Granted: May 19, 2005
Application Number:
20050107201
An adaptive shift control method for a geared multiple ratio transmission having friction elements for clutches and brakes to establish and disestablish gear ratio changes wherein at least one ratio change involves engagement of one friction element in synchronism with disengagement of another friction element. Operating parameters are adapted throughout the life of the transmission to reduce synchronous errors by developing and learning pressure and time adjustments for the friction…
