METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FINANCING ACQUISITION OF VEHICLES
Granted: February 3, 2005
Application Number:
20050027646
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.
TELESCOPING ROOF RACK ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE HAVING A TRUCK BED
Granted: February 3, 2005
Application Number:
20050023314
A telescoping roof rack assembly (10) for attachment to a vehicle (12) having a truck bed (14) is provided. The rack assembly (10) includes a roof rack section (22) and a truck bed section (24). The roof rack section (22) includes a first pair of supports (26) that are fixedly attached to a roof (16) of the vehicle (12). These supports (26) are positioned substantially parallel to each other and generally along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle (12). The truck bed section (24) includes…
METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR AN INDEXING TABLE FOR MAKING SPRAY-FORMED HIGH COMPLEXITY ARTICLES
Granted: January 27, 2005
Application Number:
20050016705
The present invention discloses an apparatus and related method for making a spray-formed article in which a mold that is the inverse of the article is coated by a metallic spray. Specifically, this inverse mold is placed on a rotatable indexing table that is rotated in discrete increments as the mold is coated with the metallic spray. The mold is rotated one or more times until the exposed surface of the mold is coated with a sufficient amount of metallic coating.
VISION-BASED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE PARKING AID, REVERSING AID, AND PRE-COLLISION SENSING APPLICATION
Granted: January 27, 2005
Application Number:
20050017857
A vision-based object detection decision-making system (10) for a vehicle (12) includes multiple vision sensing systems (14) that have vision receivers (20) and that generate an object detection signal. A controller (16) includes a plurality of sensing system aid modules (18) that correspond to each of the vision sensing systems (14). The controller (16) operates the sensing system aid modules (18) in response to a vehicle parameter and generates a safety system signal in response to the…
Computer-implemented method and system for estimating facility water consumption
Granted: January 20, 2005
Application Number:
20050015210
Embodiments of the present invention include a computer-implemented method and system for estimating water consumption within a facility (e.g. residential, industrial, educational, medical, environmental, business, government facilities, etc.). More specifically, embodiments of the present invention estimate facility operation-specific water consumptions based on user-defined data. Another aspect of the present invention automatically generates a graphical water table for the facility.…
Method and system for modeling and simulating an automobile service facility
Granted: January 20, 2005
Application Number:
20050015294
Embodiments include receiving data defining customer characteristics, facility capabilities and financial data for an automobile service facility, generating a computer model of the service facility based on the customer characteristics, facility capabilities, and financial data, and calculating one or more quantitative indications of expected facility performance based on the model. Computer experiments may be conducted to identify one or more service facility characteristics that have…
MULTI-SPINDLE POSITIONING APPARATUS
Granted: January 13, 2005
Application Number:
20050005412
A spindle positioning apparatus for a robotic manipulator. The spindle positioning apparatus includes a mounting plate assembly, first and second spindles, and an actuator mechanism. The first spindle is disposed on the mounting plate assembly in a fixed position. The second spindle is disposed on the mounting plate assembly and is movable with respect to the first spindle. The actuator mechanism is adapted to move the second spindle with respect to the first spindle.
AUTOMATIC TOOL ATTACHMENT APPARATUS
Granted: January 13, 2005
Application Number:
20050005742
An apparatus for automatically coupling a tool to a manipulator having a spindle. The apparatus includes a first adapter and a second adapter. The first adapter includes a spindle mating portion and a first threaded portion. The second adapter includes a second threaded portion adapted to engage the first threaded portion and a tool mating portion adapted to engage the tool.
SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING WIRELESS DEVICES TO A VEHICLE
Granted: December 30, 2004
Application Number:
20040264387
The present invention relates to connecting a wireless device carried by an individual to a vehicle network by providing a hands-free means for notifying a vehicle module of the presence of a wireless device. In response to the notification, the vehicle module can connect the wireless device to the vehicle network through a wireless link.
Method and apparatus for pedestrian detection
Granted: December 23, 2004
Application Number:
20040258279
A vehicle vision system that identifies pedestrians located proximate a vehicle. The system comprises a sensor array that produces imagery that is processed to generate disparity images. A depth map can be produced from the disparity images. Either the depth map or the disparity images are processed and compared to pedestrian templates. A pedestrian list is produced from the results of that comparison. The pedestrian list is processed to eliminate false pedestrians as determined by…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE IDLE IN A VEHICLE
Granted: December 16, 2004
Application Number:
20040254045
A method for controlling engine idle in a vehicle having a motor connected to the engine through a power transfer unit is provide. Upon receiving a neutral command, the engine torque is commanded to approximately zero. The motor torque is adjusted to maintain an approximately constant engine speed as the engine torque is reduced. The torque from the engine transferred to the vehicle wheels is at or near zero. When the torque at the vehicle wheels is non-zero, a second motor is used to…
SPRAY FORMED ARTICLES MADE OF BORON STEEL
Granted: November 4, 2004
Application Number:
20040219383
The present invention relates to a method of spray forming a boron steel metal article, and to the formed article. In at least one embodiment, the method comprises (a) providing a spray forming pattern, (b) spraying metallic particles onto the spray forming pattern, and (c) allowing the sprayed metallic particles to cool to form a metal article. In at least one embodiment, the metallic particles are sprayed from a carbon steel feedstock having a boron content of 0.25-2.25 weight percent,…
A CONTROLLER FOR USE WITH A MOTOR VEHICLE
Granted: November 4, 2004
Application Number:
20040220811
A controller for use in a vehicle having a number of modules that can listen to a microphone signal. The controller comprises a router and a microprocessor. The controller can route the microphone signal to each of the modules. The microprocessor can authorize at least one of the modules to listen to the microphone signal.
COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REPLICATING STANDARD PRACTICES
Granted: October 21, 2004
Application Number:
20040210462
One aspect of the present invention is related to a computer-implemented system for replicating standard business practices in an organization and having a plurality of business units (BUs). The system generally comprises at least one computer configured to: receive a standard business practice from at least one BU using the standard business practice, receive benchmark information for the standard business practice with the aid of the at least one BU using the standard business…
Automotive synchronized communication networks
Granted: October 14, 2004
Application Number:
20040204850
Frequency hopping spread spectrum transceivers in an automotive communication system are synchronized using timing information extracted from GPS satellites. A GPS receiver in each vehicle generates a pulse per second (PPS) signal. The FHSS transceiver in each vehicle communicates with a plurality of FHSS transceivers in other vehicles. Control logic synchronizes discovery of at least one FHSS transceiver in another automotive vehicle based on the PPS signal. Switching between piconets…
FLANGING AND HEMMING PROCESS WITH RADIAL COMPRESSION OF THE BLANK STRETCHED SURFACE
Granted: September 30, 2004
Application Number:
20040187535
A method and tool for forming a hem flange pre-hem and a final hem on a sheet metal panel wherein elastomeric tooling elements are used to apply radial compression during a forming operation. The elastomeric tooling elements are compressed and apply pressure to a side of the sheet metal panel, for example an aluminum panel, that is stretched during a forming process step. A foil layer may be placed between the sheet metal blank and the elastomeric tooling element to reduce friction and…
FLANGING PROCESSES WITH RADIAL COMPRESSION OF THE BLANK STRETCHED SURFACE
Granted: September 30, 2004
Application Number:
20040187542
A method and tool for forming a hem flange. A larger radius bend is initially formed when a pre-hem flange is formed. A sharper radius bend is subsequently formed when the flange is formed. After the flange is formed, conventional hem forming methods and tools may be used to complete formation of a hem that may be used to join inner and outer panels.
METHOD FOR ENHANCING ADHESION OF METAL PARTICLES TO CERAMIC MODELS
Granted: September 30, 2004
Application Number:
20040191543
One method of the present invention relates to a method for enhancing adhesion of sprayed metal to a ceramic model. The method is comprised of providing the ceramic model having a spray surface, and modifying at least a portion of the spray surface of the ceramic model to enhance adhesion of spray metal to the spray surface.
TUBULAR FLAT PLATE FUEL CELLS AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME
Granted: September 23, 2004
Application Number:
20040185318
A solid oxide fuel cell employs an array of tubular flat plates that are sealed only at their extremities using compliant seals. The seals may be formed of talc and surround gas inlet and outlet openings in the tube extremities. Locating the seals remote from the higher temperature central areas of the tubes increases the service life of the seals and their tolerance to thermal cycling. The seals may incorporate an annular conductor for electrically interconnecting adjacent tubes into a…
SEALING SYSTEM FOR SUPER-PLASTIC GAS-PRESSURE FORMING OF ALUMINUM SHEETS
Granted: September 9, 2004
Application Number:
20040172998
A super-plastic forming tool for forming aluminum sheets is provided that includes a seal bead that is configured to facilitate removal of the aluminum sheet from the seal bead after a super-plastic forming operation. Contraction of the aluminum sheet at a faster rate than the super-plastic forming tool facilitates removal of the aluminum sheet due to the specific geometry of the seal bead. The seal bead has a more shallowly sloped outer surface than its inner surface and may be provided…
