Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100232960 | VARIABLE GEOMETRY TURBINE - There is provided a turbine having rotating blade surfaces that adjust their geometry based on incident fluid flow. In one aspect, there is provided a turbine having a least one pair of blades rotatably connected such that their geometry is adjusted based on incident fluid flow. In another aspect, there is provided, a turbine having at least one pair of blades connected such that they self-orient themselves to a neutral position under their own weight. In yet another aspect, there is provided, a control surface for a turbine blade which prevents meta-stable stall of the turbine blade in an fluid stream. | 09-16-2010 |
20110031097 | ELECTRICAL SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH ANGLED PLUNGER - An electrical switch assembly is provided comprising a housing; an actuator supported by the housing, the actuator having one or more downward extensions each having at least one rounded tip; an electrical circuit contained in the housing; an elastomeric pad comprising one or more collapsible domes overlying the electrical circuit; and one or more plunger elements supported in the housing between the at least one rounded tip and respective ones of the domes, the plunger element comprising a sloped surface to engage the rounded tip during movement of the actuator to cause the plunger element to collapse an underlying one of the domes. | 02-10-2011 |
20110303516 | Electrical Switch Assembly with Pivoting Actuator - An electrical switch assembly comprising: a housing; an actuation button supported by the housing, the actuation button having one or more downward extensions, each having an arcuate tip; an electrical circuit contained in the housing; an elastomeric pad comprising a collapsible dome overlying the electrical circuit; and one or more pivoting actuators pivotally supported in the housing between the tip and the dome, the pivoting actuator comprising a shoulder to engage the tip during movement of the actuation button to cause the pivoting actuator to collapse an underlying one of the domes. | 12-15-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100293473 | UNLOCKING EMOTICONS USING FEATURE CODES - Provided is a method of making a graphic available to be transmitted over a communication network. Access is granted to a graphic that a sender of a first communication can select for inclusion in the first communication to be transmitted over the communication network. Selection by the sender of a restricted graphic for inclusion in the first communication is prevented. Using a computer operatively connected to the communication network, the content of the first communication entered by the sender is received, and includes the graphic available for selection by the sender. The first communication including the graphic is transmitted over the communication network. A code associated with a product is received, and the product is registered based at least in part on the code. In response to successful registration of the product, the sender is granted access to the restricted graphic, allowing the sender to select the restricted graphic for inclusion in a second communication. | 11-18-2010 |
20110055734 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LIMITING THE NUMBER OF CHARACTERS DISPLAYED IN A COMMON AREA - A system providing a graphical chat room and/or virtual world on a website in which users can control avatars or other characters to participate in activities and interact with other users' avatars/characters. The chat room or virtual world has a large common location where a large number of users might participate with their characters/avatars, but where because display of all of the participants and/or all of the area becomes impractical or otherwise unwieldy, the system determines an appropriate portion of the area and a limited number of avatars/characters to display based on some criteria. | 03-03-2011 |
20110201423 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LIMITING THE NUMBER OF CHARACTERS DISPLAYED IN A COMMON AREA - A system providing a graphical chat room and/or virtual world on a website in which users can control avatars or other characters to participate in activities and interact with other users' avatars/characters. The chat room or virtual world has a large common location where a large number of users might participate with their characters/avatars, but where because display of all of the participants and/or all of the area becomes impractical or otherwise unwieldy, the system determines an appropriate portion of the area and a limited number of avatars/characters to display based on some criteria. | 08-18-2011 |
20110264741 | MATCHMAKING SYSTEM FOR VIRTUAL SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT - A matchmaking system is provided herein to facilitate the development of relationships in a virtual social environment. The amount of development (positive or negative) is measured through the detection and analysis of the villager's actions and activity in the virtual social environment. By performing actions including participating in events, activities, sharing an opinion, and giving gifts to other villagers or NPCs present in the environment, a villager creates relationships between herself and other villagers (regardless if owned by the same or different user) or NPCs which then contributes to the development of her own “life” in the virtual social environment. Through this system, villagers are able to meet again based on multiple factors to further develop life-like relationships. | 10-27-2011 |
20110264796 | SEARCH AND NAVIGATIONAL RATING SYSTEM FOR ONLINE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT - The subject application involves enhancing search and navigation through a social virtual environment through the use of a ratings system. The environment is comprised of smaller communities or villages. The rating of a village is determined in part by the activities performed in a village, by the user who is performing the activity, and the duration and recurrence of the activity. Another element that affects a village's current rating is the state of decline or decay to which it is subjected. Certain activities that are performed can effectively delay or negate an amount of decay to the rating, but even so, village ratings are in a continual state of decline. To increase or maintain a particular rating, village residents need to perform activities. | 10-27-2011 |
20110265018 | EMOTION AND MOOD CONTROL OF VIRTUAL CHARACTERS IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - A virtual world in which users can be represented by avatars that can communicate with both other avatars and with non-player characters (NPC's). During the communication, entering of an emotional text language causes the avatar itself to be animated to show emotion. | 10-27-2011 |
20110265041 | RADIAL USER INTERFACE AND SYSTEM FOR A VIRTUAL WORLD GAME - A user interface for a virtual world includes a circular area forming a display for an item in the virtual world, and controls surrounding only a portion of the display for controlling that item. | 10-27-2011 |
20110265044 | ACHIEVEMENTS FOR A VIRTUAL WORLD GAME - A user interface for a virtual world controls and allows registering new characters and also registering achievement when the user has carried out a number of different items. | 10-27-2011 |
20120178537 | SYNCHRONIZING SYSTEM FOR GAMEPLAYING - The subject application describes an activity performed with or without a website, such as a game. The game can be played either when in contact with the website or when disconnected from the website. The game playing can be carried out for example on a mobile device. The game can be used to earn virtual cash on the website, when playing from the mobile device. The game can also be played when the mobile device is not attached to the website, in which case the points that are received are saved along with an encryption to avoid a user's improper increasing of the points. | 07-12-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090082935 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO CONTROL BRAKING OF A TRAILER HITCHED TO A VEHICLE - A method for controlling braking of a trailer hitched to a vehicle with a braking control system during a braking event includes the steps of determining vehicle speed, measuring an amount of braking intent applied to the braking control system, determining a first level of braking output, providing the first level of braking output to the trailer if the vehicle speed is greater than a first predetermined threshold, and providing a second level of braking output to the trailer if the vehicle speed is less than the first predetermined threshold and the amount of braking intent has not exceeded a second predetermined threshold during the braking event. The first level of braking output corresponds to a function of the amount of braking intent. The second level of braking output is less than the first level of braking output. | 03-26-2009 |
20090216400 | FUEL DOOR SENSOR DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A diagnostic system for a vehicle comprises a refueling indicator module and a diagnostic module. The refueling indicator module selectively indicates when a refueling event occurs. The diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in a fuel door position sensor when the fuel door position sensor indicates that a fuel door is in one of an open position for less than a first predetermined period when the refueling event occurs and a closed position for greater than a second predetermined period when the refueling event occurs. | 08-27-2009 |
20120109483 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING TORQUE AT ONE OR MORE WHEELS OF A VEHICLE - An exemplary method for controlling torque at one or more wheels of a vehicle, including controlling both positive torque (acceleration) and negative torque (braking) with a single torque command. According to one embodiment, the method interprets the acceleration and braking intent of the driver, takes into consideration certain special conditions (e.g., vehicle dynamic conditions like wheel slip, over- and under-steer, etc.), and generates one or more individual torque commands that are sent to individual wheels or corners of the vehicle. The individual torque commands may address certain chassis and powertrain functions like acceleration and braking, and may provide full-feature torque control (i.e., acceleration, braking, vehicle dynamics, etc.) on an individual wheel basis. It is also possible for the method to be used in a system where a number of the common chassis, powertrain and/or vehicle dynamic modules have been integrated into a single torque control module or the like. | 05-03-2012 |
20120253547 | CONTROL SOFTWARE WITH PROGRAMMABLE ARRAYS THAT ARE CONFIGURABLE FOR VEHICLES HAVING DIFFERENT PROPULSION SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS - A method is provided for creating custom control software for a particular propulsion system configuration. Generic control software is provided that is configurable for use with a plurality of different propulsion system configurations. The generic control software is generically designed to control each of the different propulsion systems regardless of their different propulsion system configurations. The generic control software comprises a plurality of programmable arrays (or configuration tables). Information that characterizes a particular propulsion system configuration of the plurality of different propulsion system configurations is input into the programmable arrays to configure the generic control software into custom control software that is customized for use and designed to operate with the particular propulsion system configuration. The generic control software is configured into the custom control software that is applicable to and customized for use with the particular propulsion system configuration only after being programmed with the information that characterizes the particular propulsion system configuration. | 10-04-2012 |
20130253763 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A FAULT IN A RIDE HEIGHT SENSOR - A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a variance determination module and a fault detection module. The variance determination module determines a variance of samples generated from a ride height signal. The ride height signal is output by a ride height sensor that detects a ride height of a vehicle. The fault detection module detects a fault in the ride height sensor based on the variance. | 09-26-2013 |
20140038507 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTE TORQUE CONTROL OF AN AERODYNAMIC AIR SHUTTER MECHANISM - A system for controlling an aerodynamic shutter of a vehicle includes an ambient temperature estimation module that determines an ambient temperature. A shutter control module that determines whether to actuate the shutter based on the ambient temperature. The shutter control module also determines a predetermined period before selectively applying a predetermined torque value to the shutter. The predetermined period is selected based on the ambient temperature. | 02-06-2014 |