SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FLOW OF VEHICLES
Granted: September 18, 2003
Application Number:
20030173174
A guideway system for conveying vehicles includes a first guideway lane and a plurality of control cells. Each cell includes a particular portion of the first guideway lane and a cell controller for monitoring and controlling traffic flow on the first guideway lane portion within the respective cell. Furthermore, the cell controllers are in communication with each other so as to share information with each other.
Method For Financing Ownership Of A Vehicle
Granted: September 11, 2003
Application Number:
20030172016
The present invention relates to a method for financing ownership of a vehicle by a customer. A preferred method of the present invention includes financing the purchase of a vehicle with a RIC or loan. The RIC or loan is preferably repaid with a set of first payments followed by a set of second payments. The first payments preferably last until a decision point and are about 10 percent to about 40 percent lower than the second payments. The preferred method embodiment includes…
Method and apparatus for objective measurement of noise
Granted: August 14, 2003
Application Number:
20030154054
A method of objectively and subjectively monitoring noise and correspondingly level or loudness thereof in a product or assembly. The method includes placing a product on the vibration generator. Activating the vibration generator to move or shake the product to simulate usage conditions. A sound recording instrument measures and records the noise emitted by the product or assembly. An objective metric or N10 level is computed from the recorded noise. The objective metric or N10 level is…
Online method and system for issuing vehicle repossession assignments to vehicle repossession contractors
Granted: August 14, 2003
Application Number:
20030154119
An online method and system for issuing vehicle repossession assignments to vehicle repossession contractors. The invention includes at least one server computer configured to host a secure online account for a vehicle repossession contractor. The online account is remotely and securely accessible by the contractor and maintains at least one vehicle repossession assignment assigned to the contractor. Vehicle repossession agents access the server computer, define contractor profiles and…
Vehicle dynamics measuring apparatus and method using multiple GPS antennas
Granted: August 7, 2003
Application Number:
20030149512
An apparatus and method for measuring dynamic movement of a vehicle (10) by employing multiple GPS satellites and determining velocity based change in the carrier frequency of multiple satellite signals. The apparatus includes at least two GPS receiving antennas (12a and 12b) installed on a vehicle (10) at known locations and a controller (20) for processing received GPS signals (16a-16c) and monitoring a carrier frequency associated with the GPS signals. The controller (20) determines a…
System and method for retrieving information using position coordinates
Granted: July 24, 2003
Application Number:
20030140056
A system and method for providing information related to geographical sites based on position coordinates of a user information retrieval device. The user information retrieval device includes a positioning system unit, a transmitter, a receiver, and a user interface. The positioning system unit determines the position of the user information retrieval device and the transmitter transmits the position coordinates to a remote computer over a wireless network. A processor in the remote…
Method for determining a feature introduction timing plan for a product
Granted: May 29, 2003
Application Number:
20030101090
A method for determining a feature introduction timing plan has been disclosed. This method includes the step of determining a product attribute leadership strategy for a feature. This method further includes the step of categorizing the feature as one of a number of feature types. The method also includes estimating a first-to-market time for the feature. From this information, a feature introduction timing plan is generated that aligns this information with the overall business goals…
E-frame and dolly system for stocking production lines
Granted: May 29, 2003
Application Number:
20030099537
A component part container delivery rack used in manufacturing operations. An E-frame defining at least two compartments that are open on at least one side that extends between the front and back ends of the rack. The frame is supported on a plurality of wheels and is adapted to receive a dolly in the compartment. Each dolly is removably received in one of the compartments and locked in place when placed in the delivery rack. The locking element includes a pivoting lever that is rotated…
Method and arrangement for implementing heat treatment during the execution of sprayform techniques
Granted: May 29, 2003
Application Number:
20030098341
A method for implementing post-heat treatment during spray forming to achieve stress control in the manufacture of a spray formed metallic tool involves applying a metallic spray-forming material onto a mold substrate and causing substantially homogenous metallic phase transformations from the austenite phase, for example, via manipulation of either or both of the substrate temperature and the spray forming cell environment temperature.
Method and arrangement for controlling stresses based on one-dimensional modeling in sprayform techniques
Granted: May 29, 2003
Application Number:
20030098139
Method and apparatus for controlling stresses in a spray form process makes use of one dimensional modeling in which characteristics of a geometrical point are quantified by iterative detection, such as taking a surface temperature reading using a pyrometer. This temperature information is used in a one dimensional simulation to predict characteristics for a column from the point down through a spray-formed article to an interface with a substrate. The modeling technique can used with a…
Method and arrangement implementing heat treatment after the execution of sprayfrom techniques
Granted: May 29, 2003
Application Number:
20030098138
A method and arrangement for implementing post-heat treatment after spray forming is ended to achieve stress control in the manufacture of a spray formed metallic tool involves providing a spray-formed metallic tool by applying a spray-forming material on a mold substrate and causing substantially homogenous metallic phase transformations of the spray forming material within the spray-formed metallic tool to a substantially homogenous distribution of commingled metallic phases…
Method and arrangement for affecting time, temperature and transformation dependent stress relief in sprayform techniques
Granted: May 8, 2003
Application Number:
20030085015
Method and apparatus for controlling a spray-forming process incorporating time, temperature, and transformation dependent stress relief techniques involves the manipulation of both temperature and time for strategic phase changes that result in a specific and planned volumetric increase. This manipulation is made based on controlling ongoing spray parameters to spray-form an article having a mixed-phase and interspersed makeup of metallic phases that minimizes residual stress in the…
Integrated light and accessory assembly
Granted: April 3, 2003
Application Number:
20030063477
An integrated light and accessory assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. The assembly includes at least one lamp for illumination of a vehicle, and also includes reflective, conductive and insulative portions inside a housing, and a module for controlling or accessorizing the assembly. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the assembly. The method includes providing materials for molding or shaping the components of the assembly, selectively etching conductive materials, molding the…
Method for operating a pre-crash sensing system with object classifier in a vehicle having a countermeasure system
Granted: March 27, 2003
Application Number:
20030060956
A control system (10) for an automotive vehicle (50) coupled to a countermeasure system having a countermeasure includes an object sensor system (18) generating an object signal, an object distance signal, an object azimuth position signal, and object relative velocity signal. The control system (10) further includes an object classifier coupled to the object sensor system (18) generating an object classification signal in response to the object signal and a controller coupled to the…
Power steering system with vehicle braking state input for vibration reduction
Granted: January 30, 2003
Application Number:
20030019687
A power steering system in which an electric motor (9) makes available a damping torque to a steering system via a mechanical transmission (4). The transmission (4) is arranged between the steering wheel (2) and a steering rack (5). The electric motor (9) is actuated by a control unit (1) in accordance with the steering torque sensed by a sensor (3) and the vehicle speed sensed by a sensor (10). In addition, a damping module (8) of the control unit (1) receives binary or continuous…
Method and system for optimizing the design of a mechanical system
Granted: January 9, 2003
Application Number:
20030009317
The method and system of the present invention allow a designer of a mechanical system to quickly and easily determine the optimal design for the system. The steps include creating models of the mechanical system and simulating the performance of the models to achieve a set of results. From these results, Response Surface Models can be determined. These Response Surface Models act as surrogates for the more complex models of the mechanical system, and can be used to optimize the…
Method for implementing a best practice idea
Granted: January 2, 2003
Application Number:
20030004766
A best practice idea is received from a requester. The best practice idea is assigned to an ownership team and a functional champion within the organization. The process ownership team and the functional champion analyze the best practice idea to confirm that the best practice idea is a best practice, assess the feasibility of the best practice, and are responsible for the development and implementation of the best practice idea. The best practice idea is presented to an executive…
Device and method for applying lubricating oil
Granted: December 19, 2002
Application Number:
20020189904
The invention relates to a device (10) for depositing a flowable medium, in particular lubricating oil, onto a workpiece (16). The device (10) has a base body (13) having a duct (14a) for supplying the lubricating oil, the duct (14a) ending in a cavity (14d). The cavity (14d) is covered by a mask (15) having an opening. The opening of the mask (15) is closed by a hard metal sphere (11) which is prestressed into this closure position by a spring (12). When contact is made with a workpiece…
Method of manufacturing a permanent magnet using kinetic spray
Granted: December 5, 2002
Application Number:
20020182313
A method of manufacturing a permanent magnet by the steps of preparing an admixture of magnetic material and binder material, the admixture material having a particle size of less than 325 mesh. Then heating a carrier gas to a temperature substantially below the melting point of either component of the admixture. The admixture is introduced into the carrier gas and the admixture is sprayed atop a ductile carrier. The admixture adheres to the carrier and forms a solid permanent magnet. An…
Method of manufacturing electric machines using kinetic spray
Granted: December 5, 2002
Application Number:
20020182314
A method of manufacturing electric machines comprising the steps of kinetically spraying a powdered admixture of magnetic material and ductile binder material on to a substrate and applying a concentrated magnetic field to the sprayed admixture to cause magnetic dipole alignment in the sprayed admixture. The magnets of the present invention may be integrally formed atop carriers to form electrical machines such as motors, generators, alternators, solenoids, and actuators. The…
