Offensive material control method for digital transmissions
Granted: October 14, 2004
Application Number:
20040205334
The present invention is a method and a system for screening offensive material in a digital transmission. A digital transmission including at least one embedded offensive material code associated with a portion of the digital transmission is received. The digital transmission is monitored for the offensive material code. The digital transmission is modified based on the embedded offensive material code and an offensive-material control input, and the modified digital transmission is…
Magnetorheological nanocomposite elastomer for releasable attachment applications
Granted: October 7, 2004
Application Number:
20040194261
A releasable fastener system comprises a loop portion and a hook portion. The loop portion includes a support and a loop material disposed on one side thereof whereas the hook portion includes a support and a plurality of closely spaced upstanding hook elements extending from one side thereof. When the hook portion and loop portion are pressed together they interlock to form a releasable engagement. The resulting joint created by the engagement is relatively resistant to shear and pull…
Method of hydroforming articles and the articles formed thereby
Granted: October 7, 2004
Application Number:
20040195817
A hydroformable frame element is formed from the combination of at least two elements. The at least two elements are designed with a partially overlapping region, with an annular space defined within the overlapping region. The annular space is filled with adhesive, which is then cured to bond the at least two elements together. The adhesive bond is designed to withstand the stresses caused by the hydroforming operation and to retain its strength so that the hydroformed article is then…
Bi-direction self-piercing riveting
Granted: October 7, 2004
Application Number:
20040197137
A sheet metal assembly includes first and second metal sheets having flanges extending from the sheets. The flanges overlap and are in engaged parallel facing relation for a width between outer edges and flanges. At least one pair of self-piercing rivets joins the flanges at spaced locations along the width. The rivets each have a head and a shank extending into the flanges from opposite sides. The rivet heads of each pair are located in opposite flanges and are spaced further from the…
Communication retry method over digital wireless systems
Granted: October 7, 2004
Application Number:
20040198366
The invention provides a method of reestablishing wireless communications for a mobile vehicle. After a communication link failure on a first communication link is detected, it is determined whether to reconnect on the first communication link based on at least one communication condition factor, and then an attempt is made to establish a second communication link based on the communication condition factor determination.
Method and system for amending wireless assisted global positioning system networks
Granted: October 7, 2004
Application Number:
20040198378
The invention provides a method for amending wireless assisted global positioning system networks by querying at least one global position system satellite information node, receiving at least one satellite performance attribute from the global position system satellite information node, and determining an optimal satellite selection as a function of the satellite performance attribute.
Method and system for providing user-selected telematic services
Granted: September 30, 2004
Application Number:
20040190693
The present invention provides a system and method for providing user-selected telematics services in a mobile vehicle. The method includes accessing a menu of available telematics services and selecting a desired telematics service. The method also includes determining a telematics service fee based on the user selected service and paying the user selected telematics service fee via remote resource. The method further includes receiving the selected telematics service.
Computerized system for network-based management of engineering projects
Granted: September 30, 2004
Application Number:
20040193679
A computer system used for carrying out engineering tasks as a part of an engineering project. The system includes a plurality of client computers and one or more server computers accessible by the client computers via a communications network. Distributed across these computers is a multi-tiered software system that includes system programs, application programs, and database programs. The system programs include a system objects module, a job manager module, an event manager module,…
FIBER PREFORMING PROCESS AND COATING FOR SCREEN TOOLING THEREFOR
Granted: September 16, 2004
Application Number:
20040178320
An improved screen tooling for a fiber preforming process, and a durable coating system for such tooling. The coating system comprises a surface layer of a porcelain enamel composition that is generally a borosilicate glass, and preferable contains quartz, borax, boric oxide, potassium nitrate, sodium silicofluoride, and manganese dioxide, and optionally contains titanium dioxide, antimony oxide, cobalt oxide and/or barium oxide. Preferred compositions are dependent in part on the screen…
Telematics unit access method
Granted: September 16, 2004
Application Number:
20040180647
The present invention is a system and method of providing access to a telematics unit in a mobile vehicle. A telematics unit access request corresponding to the telematics unit is received, and a mobile identification number and a telematics unit identifier associated with the telematics unit are determined. The mobile identification number and the telematics unit identifier are compared with a database of identifier records, after which a calling-state message is sent to the telematics…
Volume filling mechanical structures for modifying crash deceleration pulse
Granted: September 2, 2004
Application Number:
20040169398
A mechanical, active crash pulse management structure for providing modification of crash pulse, wherein the structure has a dormant (initial) state volume, but then in the event of a crash, timely expands into a much larger deployed volume for providing management of an expectant crash energy. The preferred crash energy management structure is a before expansion honeycomb celled material brick, wherein expansion of the honeycomb brick is in a plane transverse to the cellular axis of the…
Adhesive dispersing rivet
Granted: September 2, 2004
Application Number:
20040170490
A rivet and method for riveting metal members, and particularly, metal sheets is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rivet assembly for driving a piercing rivet into stacked metal sheets and a die for assisting in supporting the sheets during driving of the rivet and for assisting in securing the rivets to the sheets. The rivet of the invention includes an adhesive that is forced through passages in the rivet for assisting in fastening the rivet to the sheets and for assisting in…
Rolling regeneration diesel particulate trap
Granted: August 26, 2004
Application Number:
20040166041
A rolling regeneration diesel particulate filter and filtering process that utilizes NO produced in the process to generate additional amounts of NO2 than the NO2 produced by the diesel engine. The process includes the step of flowing diesel engine combustion exhaust through a filter system including a first section and a second section. The first section is positioned upstream of the second section with respect to the direction of the flow of the diesel engine exhaust through the…
Lubrication control device
Granted: August 26, 2004
Application Number:
20040166982
An automatic transmission is comprised of a housing and a hub rotatable about a shaft at differing speeds and having an axial assembly gap therebetween. The axial assembly gap defines an annular flow path in fluid communication with a source lubrication path and a lubrication-requiring mechanism. A lubrication control device is disposed in the annular flow path. The device includes a washer in constant contact with the housing and having a radial slot to permit a prescribed flow of…
Low contact resistance PEM fuel cell
Granted: August 12, 2004
Application Number:
20040157108
A PEM fuel cell having a current collector comprising a polymer composite and a diffusion media engaging said polymer composite. The polymer composite has a hyperconductive surface layer engaging the diffusion media to reduce the contact resistance therebetween. The hyperconductive surface layer is formed by depositing or smearing an electrically-conductive material on the surface of the polymer composite.
Magnetorheological fluids with stearate and thiophosphate additives
Granted: July 15, 2004
Application Number:
20040135115
One embodiment of the invention includes an MR fluid of improved durability. The MR fluid is particularly useful in devices that subject the fluid to substantial centrifugal forces, such as large fan clutches. A particular embodiment includes a magnetorheological fluid including a liquid, magnetizable particles, a stearate and a thiophosphate.
Method and system for inband emergency notification for voice calls
Granted: July 1, 2004
Application Number:
20040125764
The invention provides a method for inband emergency notification for voice calls by multiplexing at least one emergency signal within an audible data stream and transmitting the audible data stream from a telematic communication unit to a mobile vehicle communication system. The mobile vehicle communication system decodes the emergency signal from the audible data stream and provides an emergency service as a function of the emergency signal.
Automatic sun visor and solar shade system for vehicles
Granted: June 24, 2004
Application Number:
20040119313
An automatic sun visor system for a vehicle includes a light detecting apparatus for detecting sunlight incident upon the face of an occupant of the vehicle. A microcontroller receives a control signal from the light detecting apparatus, and an adjustable sun visor receives a darkening control signal from the microcontroller. The darkening control signal activates the adjustable sun visor in response to the degree of sunlight detected.
Radio frequency selection method and system for audio channel output
Granted: June 24, 2004
Application Number:
20040121748
The present invention is a method and system for connecting an in-vehicle radio to a wireless device. A user selection input is provided to the in-vehicle radio. A local broadcast frequency is determined based on the user selection input. A broadcast request message including the local broadcast frequency is sent to the wireless device, and the radio is tuned to the local broadcast frequency.
Foundry sand with oxidation promoter
Granted: June 10, 2004
Application Number:
20040108094
Coating foundry sand with a thin layer of an oxidation-promoting catalyst. Preferred catalysts comprise ferric and cupric oxides. The catalysts promote the oxidation of any polymeric binder or residues admixed with the sand. The sand is coated by wetting the grains with a solution of a catalyst precursor, drying the sand and baking the sand in air to convert the precursor to the catalyst.
