System and method of direct mesh manipulation
Granted: January 29, 2008
Patent Number:
7324103
A system and method for computer-aided engineering analysis using direct mesh manipulation of a mesh model is provided. The system includes a computer system having a memory, a processor, a user input device and a display device. The method includes the steps of selecting a geometric model in a computer-aided design (CAD) format, converting the CAD model into a mesh model and evaluating the mesh model using a computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis. The method also includes the steps…
Fog lamp
Granted: January 22, 2008
Patent Number:
D560303
Method and apparatus for refining target position and size estimates using image and depth data
Granted: January 22, 2008
Patent Number:
7321669
A vehicle vision system that uses a depth map, image intensity data, and system calibration parameter to determine a target's dimensions and relative position. Initial target boundary information is projected onto the depth map and onto the image intensity. A visibility analysis determines whether the rear of a target is within the system's field of view. If so, the mapped image boundary is analyzed to determine an upper boundary of the target. Then, vertical image edges of the mapped…
Active night vision image intensity balancing system
Granted: January 15, 2008
Patent Number:
7319805
A vision system (10) for a vehicle (14) includes a light source (46) that generates an illumination beam (20). A receiver (62) generates a first image signal and a second image signal. The first image signal is generated in response to a reflected portion of the illumination beam (20). A controller is coupled to the light source (46) and the receiver (62). The controller generates an image in response to the first image signal and the second image signal.
Vehicle mirror
Granted: January 8, 2008
Patent Number:
D559162
Impact reduction apparatus for stretch draw dies
Granted: January 8, 2008
Patent Number:
7316150
An accelerator cam set is provided that initiates movement of a binder ring against the force of spring elements, such as nitrogen cylinders. The accelerator cam set is engaged by a ram cam block that engages a transverse cam block that is moved transversely, or horizontally, into engagement with a binder cam block. The accelerator cam set may be used with a stretch draw die, double pad stretch draw die, or inverted toggle die.
Method and system for estimating spare parts costs
Granted: January 8, 2008
Patent Number:
7318008
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electronic method for estimating a quantity of spare parts needed for a machine is disclosed. The machine includes a number of replaceable part populations. The method includes receiving (1) life data for a number of part populations in the machine and (2) a duration for the life cycle of the machine. The method further includes calculating a failure distribution according to a failure distribution model for each of the number of…
Method of application protocol monitoring for programmable logic controllers
Granted: December 11, 2007
Patent Number:
7308327
A method is provided of application protocol monitoring for a manufacturing line including the steps of constructing a manufacturing line model for the manufacturing line, utilizing logic for a programmable logic controller (PLC), executing a control logic simulation of the PLC logic to validate the PLC logic against the manufacturing line model, creating a database containing validated I/O tag expected intents confirmed from the control logic simulation, and applying the application…
Mechanical returnless fuel system
Granted: December 4, 2007
Patent Number:
7302938
A mechanical returnless fuel system comprises a fuel pump having an output for supplying fuel to fuel injectors of an automotive engine. The fuel system includes a pressure regulating valve that returns a portion of the pump output in excess of engine fuel usage to the fuel supply. The pressure regulating valve results in a fuel pressure that varies as a function of engine fuel demand. During operation, a controller determines a projected engine fuel demand, then determines an estimated…
Method and system for optimizing a finite element mesh
Granted: November 13, 2007
Patent Number:
7295205
Computer-implemented method and system for optimizing a finite element mesh. Computing devices are configured to calculate a quality score for at least one original element in a finite element mesh based upon two or more quality attributes simultaneously. A quality score for at least one substitute element for the original element is calculated based upon the two or more quality attributes. If one or more substitute element(s) have a quality score that is better than the quality score of…
Apparatus for dislodging and moving contaminants from a surface of a machine tool
Granted: November 6, 2007
Patent Number:
7290966
An apparatus for dislodging contaminants from a surface of a machine tool. The apparatus includes a coupling, a housing, a cleaning mechanism, and a transport mechanism. The coupling is configured to be mounted on a spindle. The housing is disposed proximate the coupling and includes inlet and outlet openings. The cleaning mechanism is adapted to dislodge and direct contaminants into the inlet opening. The transport mechanism is adapted to move contaminants toward the outlet opening.
Method and system for managing carrier operations
Granted: November 6, 2007
Patent Number:
7292989
The method and system of the present invention use a plurality of timing data to determine a transportation schedule or schedule(s). The transpiration schedule or schedules include a series of precise timing windows for pickup and delivery of products moving from suppliers to plants. In addition, the products may move thorough cross docks and other suppliers. Further, the suppliers in the system may belong to different tiers in the supply chain. The schedule(s) are then transmitted to…
Crank shaft support assembly
Granted: October 23, 2007
Patent Number:
7284528
A crank shaft support assembly for increasing stiffness and reducing thermal mismatch distortion in a crank shaft bore of an engine comprising different materials. A cylinder block comprises a first material and at least two crank journal inserts are insert-molded into respective crank journal regions of the cylinder block and comprise a second material having greater stiffness and a lower thermal coefficient of expansion that the first material. At least two bearing caps are bolted to…
System and method for desensitizing the activation criteria of a rollover control system
Granted: October 2, 2007
Patent Number:
7277787
A method of densensitizing includes determining a relative roll angle, determining when the vehicle is in a transitional maneuver, and when the vehicle is in a transitional maneuver, setting a roll signal for control to the relative roll angle, reducing control effort and controlling a safety system (38) correspondingly.
System and method of interactively generating a family of mesh models
Granted: September 25, 2007
Patent Number:
7275023
A system and method for interactively generating a family of mesh models is provided for use in engineering analysis. The system includes a user computer system having a memory, a processor, a user input device and a display device. The system also includes a remotely located computer system having a processor, a memory, and a data storage means and in communication with the user computer system. The system further includes a computer-generated geometric mesh base model stored in the…
Differential assembly
Granted: September 18, 2007
Patent Number:
7270026
A differential having a differential case, a pair of side gears disposed in the differential case and a biasing element disposed between the side gears to force the side gears against the differential case, creating a torque bias between the side gears and the differential case. The torque bias may also include the torque bias between the biasing element and the side gears. In some embodiments, the differential may include washers disposed between the side gears and the differential…
Temperature-based vehicle wakeup strategy to initiate fuel cell freeze protection
Granted: September 18, 2007
Patent Number:
7270903
A method of removing moisture from a fuel cell stack is provided. The presence of liquid water in a fuel cell stack is undesirable should the temperature drop below freezing since the structures within the fuel cell are subject to degradation and potentially damage by ice formation. The method of the invention comprises measuring the temperature in the vicinity of a fuel cell vehicle when the fuel cell vehicle has been shut down, and then flowing a moisture-removing medium through the…
Fuel pump having single sided impeller
Granted: September 11, 2007
Patent Number:
7267524
A fuel pump is provided having improved efficiency by lowering the wet circle index of the pump while maintaining robust axial clearances to meet the demands of an automotive application. One embodiment includes a fuel pump for pressurizing fuel for delivery to an engine of a motor vehicle. The fuel pump generally comprises a housing, a motor, a single sided impeller, a cover and a body. The provision of a single sided impeller greatly reduces the wet circle index and improves the pump…
Calibration of a hall effect sensor
Granted: September 4, 2007
Patent Number:
7265539
An actuator having an output shaft, a motor for rotating the output shaft between a first position and a second position, and an electronic control module having a controller and a sensor. The sensor is configured to output a signal to the controller indicative of the position of the output shaft, and the controller is configured to determine whether the output shaft is in the first position or the second position.
Vehicular vision system
Granted: August 28, 2007
Patent Number:
7263209
A vision system for a vehicle that identifies and classifies objects (targets) located proximate a vehicle. The system comprises a sensor array that produces imagery that is processed to generate depth maps of the scene proximate a vehicle. The depth maps are processed and compared to pre-rendered templates of target objects that could appear proximate the vehicle. A target list is produced by matching the pre-rendered templates to the depth map imagery. The system processes the target…
