Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080285916 | All-Fiber Architecture for an Embedded Flight Sensor for Aeropropulsion Applications - An embedded flight sensor system having a laser and one or more flight sensors in optical communication with the laser plus a data processing device in optical communication with the flight sensors. The flight sensors may be laser based optical components such as a fiber Bragg grating in combination with an optical detector, a spectroscopy grating and detector or an optical detector associated with catch optics. The parameters sensed by the flight sensors may be used to determine any flight parameter. Representative flight parameters include but are not limited to an airframe or external surface temperature, airstream velocity, combustion zone temperature, engine inlet temperature, a gas concentration or a shock front position. | 11-20-2008 |
20080289342 | Method and Apparatus for Spectroscopic Measurements in the Combustion Zone of a Gas Turbine Engine - A method for measuring combustion parameters within a combustion zone of a gas turbine engine, the combustion zone being defined between an inner and outer casing. The method comprises transmitting a beam from a transmit optic optically coupled to a bore in the outer casing off a portion of the inner casing and receiving a portion of the beam reflected off the inner casing with a receiving optic optically coupled to a bore in the outer casing. An apparatus for practicing the method comprises a laser generating a beam and a transmitting/receiving optics pair, the transmitting/receiving optics pair being configured for operative association with a port in an outer casing of a gas turbine engine, whereby the transmitting/receiving optics are in optical communication by reflecting the beam off a portion of an inner casing. | 11-27-2008 |
20110300492 | Method and Apparatus for Monitoring Combustion Properties in an Interior of a Boiler - A method of monitoring combustion properties in an interior of a boiler of the type having walls comprising a plurality of parallel steam tubes separated by a metal membrane. First and second penetrations are provided in the metal membrane between adjacent tubes on opposite sides of the boiler. A beam of light is projected through a pitch optic comprising a pitch collimating lens and a pitch relay lens, both residing outside the boiler interior. The pitch relay lens projects the beam through a penetration into the boiler interior. The beam of light is received with a catch optic substantially identical to the pitch optic residing outside the boiler interior. The strength of the collimated received beam of light is determined. At least one of the pitch collimating lens and the catch collimating lens may then be aligned to maximize the strength of the collimated received beam. | 12-08-2011 |
20120140234 | Mitigation Of Optical Signal Noise Using A Multimode Transmit Fiber - An apparatus and methods for measuring combustion parameters in the measurement zone of a gas turbine engine. The measurement zone is defined as being between an outer casing and an engine component having a reflecting surface inside the outer casing. The apparatus comprises a laser generating a transmitting beam of light of a select wavelength and a multimode transmitting fiber optically coupled to the laser. A transmitting optic is optically coupled to the multimode optical fiber for transmitting the beam into the measurement zone. The reflecting surface is configured to provide a Lambertian reflection. A receiving optic is positioned to receive the Lambertian reflection. Means are provided in operative association with the multimode transmitting fiber for averaging modal noise induced signal level variation of light propagating within the multimode transmitting fiber. | 06-07-2012 |
20150109618 | In-Furnace Retro-Reflectors with Steerable Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectrometer - A method of monitoring combustion properties in an interior of a furnace is described. A beam of light is projected through a pitch optic including a pitch collimating lens residing outside the boiler interior. The pitch collimating lens projects the beam through a penetration into the boiler interior. The beam of light projected by the pitch collimating lens is reflected from at least one in-furnace retro-reflector, and received with a catch optic substantially identical to the pitch optic residing outside the boiler interior. The pitch optic and the catch optic may be embodied in the same pitch/catch optic. The pitch collimating lens may also be steered toward another of the at least one in-furnace retro-reflectors. Combustion properties may be calculated for each retro-reflector based on retro-reflector zones within the furnace. | 04-23-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130254110 | Systems and Methods for Processing Payment Transactions - Embodiments of the disclosure relate to systems and methods for communicating transaction-related data to a recipient device. In at least one embodiment, a computer-implemented method can be provided. The method can include directing storage of transaction-related information comprising payment data and value added services data. The method can further include communicating the transaction-related information to a recipient device during a card emulation communication initiated by the recipient device, wherein the recipient device utilizes the transaction-related information to complete a payment transaction and provide one or more value added services associated with the payment transaction. | 09-26-2013 |
20130282563 | Systems and Methods for Routing Debit Transactions - Systems and methods for routing debit transactions. In one embodiment, a method for routing debit transactions can be provided. The method can include obtaining, by a routing determination system comprising one or more computers, information associated with a proposed debit transaction. The method can also include identifying, by the routing determination system based at least in part upon the obtained information, one or more merchant parameters associated with a merchant on whose behalf the proposed debit transaction will be submitted to a transaction processor. Further, the method can include determining, by the routing determination system based at least in part upon the one or more merchant parameters, a debit transaction network for routing the proposed debit transaction to the transaction processor, wherein the debit transaction network is included in a plurality of available debit transaction networks. | 10-24-2013 |
20130339240 | Systems and Methods for Tokenizing Financial Information - This disclosure describes systems and methods related to authorizing payment transactions using verbal recognition of a customer. In some embodiments, a payment transaction service provider system may receive payment authorization information from a user device. The payment authorization information may include a recording. The payment authorization information may be authenticated based at least in part on the recording. A payment credential may be communicated in response to authenticating the payment authorization information. | 12-19-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080242498 | HYBRID VEHICLE INTEGRATED TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - A transmission for an alternatively powered vehicle includes an accessory unit selectively powered by at least one of an engine and a motor associated with the transmission. Clutches are used to selectively engage and disengage the engine and motor with the accessory unit. | 10-02-2008 |
20080302324 | Engine start detection in a hybrid electric vehicle - A method for detecting sustained combustion in the engine of a hybrid electric powertrain that includes a starter/generator driveably connected to the engine, a transmission for driving a load, and an input clutch for opening and closing a drive connection between the electric machine and the transmission, includes the steps of using the starter/generator to produce torque and crank the engine, preparing the engine to produce combustion, producing torque capacity across the input clutch while slipping the clutch, and continuing use of the starter/generator until a sum of the crankshaft torque applied by the starter/generator and the crankshaft torque applied by the transmission is less than some torque threshold for a predetermined period length. | 12-11-2008 |
20090112439 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING AN ADJUSTABLE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RESPONSE IN A VEHICLE POWERTRAIN - The disclosed system and method changes a traction torque request in a vehicle powertrain with a driver-controlled vehicle accelerator pedal. A desired transfer function parameter in a powertrain control module is chosen by the driver to obtain a desired functional relationship between a traction torque request or a power plant torque request and accelerator pedal position. | 04-30-2009 |
20100218916 | PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE SECONDARY COOLING SYSTEM - A system for utilizing heat generated by a component of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle includes a first component having a first coolant system extending therethrough. The first coolant circulation system includes a first radiator. The system also includes a second component having a second coolant circulation system extending therethrough. The second coolant circulation system is in fluid communication with the first coolant circulation system. The first coolant system is configured is to selectively direct heated coolant from the first component to the second component. | 09-02-2010 |
20100230197 | Auto-Seek Electrical Connection for a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle - An auto-seek operating mode for a vehicle adjusts the vehicle in a direction transverse to a vehicle central axis using a vehicle power steering system and using a motor and a battery to advance the vehicle toward a target connector for a utility power grid for charging the battery. If needed, vertical vehicle position adjustments are made using a controllable vehicle suspension system. | 09-16-2010 |
20110118078 | Vehicle And Method For Controlling Engine Start In A Vehicle - A vehicle includes a motor/generator, a starter motor, a disconnect clutch disposed between the engine and the motor/generator, and at least one clutch disposed between the motor/generator and the vehicle drive wheels. When an engine start is requested, various parameters are controlled to ensure a smooth engine start wherein driveline torque disturbances are minimized. The starter motor is used to crank the engine at the lowest engine speeds when the engine-required torque is the highest. This reduces the amount of torque necessary to be supplied from the motor/generator, and further helps to reduce torque disturbances in the driveline. If the motor/generator is producing torque to propel the vehicle at the time the engine start is requested, a launch clutch or one or more transmission clutches can be controlled to provide slip between the motor/generator and the vehicle drive wheels to further reduce torque disturbances in the driveline. | 05-19-2011 |
20110118915 | Vehicle And Method For Controlling Engine Start In A Vehicle - A vehicle includes a motor/generator, a starter motor, a disconnect clutch disposed between the engine and the motor/generator, and at least one clutch disposed between the motor/generator and the vehicle drive wheels. When an engine start is requested, various parameters are controlled to ensure a smooth engine start wherein driveline torque disturbances are minimized. The starter motor is used to crank the engine upon an engine start request, thereby eliminating the need to transfer torque from the motor/generator to the engine. This helps to further reduce torque disturbances in the driveline when the engine is started. | 05-19-2011 |
20110166730 | ENGINE TRANSIENT MITIGATION FOR HYBRID VEHICLES - A method and system for limiting a fast transient in an engine in a hybrid vehicle is provided. The predicted fuel loss percentage is calculated from an inferred air-fuel ratio (inferred lambda). The rate limit term is calculated from a measured air-fuel ratio (measured lambda) and an engine torque command change rate. The predicted fuel loss percentage and the rate limit term are inputs into a calibration table to determine an engine power rate limit and an engine torque rate limit. An engine torque command is limited using the engine torque rate limit to control a fast engine torque transient for an engine. An engine power command is limited using the engine power rate limit to control the fast engine power transient for the engine. | 07-07-2011 |
20110202223 | VEHICLE BATTERY STATE OF CHARGE HOLD FUNCTION AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT - A method and a system for controlling a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has first and second propulsion devices. The vehicle determines a calculated decline in state of charge (SOC) for a charge depleting mode for a battery coupled to the first propulsion device. The vehicle is operated to achieve the calculated decline in SOC. The vehicle operates the second propulsion device for at least a predetermined time after the second propulsion device is turned on during the charge depleting mode. | 08-18-2011 |
20120029750 | AUTO-SEEK ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR A PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE - An auto-seek operating mode for an electric vehicle adjusts the vehicle in a direction transverse to a vehicle central axis using a vehicle power steering system and using a motor and a battery to advance the vehicle toward a target connector for a utility power grid for charging the battery. If needed, vertical vehicle position adjustments are made using a controllable vehicle suspension system. | 02-02-2012 |
20130012347 | Multi-Mode Powersplit Powertrain for Electric Vehicle - A powertrain includes a countershaft, a gearset including a sun gear, a carrier connected to an engine, a ring gear releaseably held against rotation and connectable to the countershaft, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear, an electric machine connected to the sun gear and connectable to the countershaft, and a second electric machine driveably connected to the countershaft. | 01-10-2013 |
20130012355 | Controlling Vehicle Creep - A method for controlling vehicle creep includes controlling motor speed to produce the desired creep speed, if desired creep speed exceeds vehicle speed; controlling motor torque to produce the desired wheel torque, if desired wheel torque exceeds actual wheel torque; and controlling motor torque to decelerate the vehicle to creep speed, if vehicle speed is decreasing and exceeds the desired speed. | 01-10-2013 |
20130151054 | AUTO-SEEK ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR A PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE - An auto-seek operating mode for an electric vehicle adjusts the vehicle using a vehicle power steering system and a vehicle traction motor to move the vehicle toward a target connector for a utility power grid to charge a vehicle traction battery. If needed, vertical vehicle position adjustments may be made using a controllable vehicle suspension system. | 06-13-2013 |
20130297111 | DRIVELINE LASH CONTROL METHOD DURING DRIVER TIP-IN/OUT - A hybrid electric vehicle has a traction motor, a driveline connected to a vehicle wheel, and a controller. The controller is configured to control motor torque through a region surrounding vehicle wheel torque reversal, control driveline input torque during torque reversal of driveline output torque to limit rate of change of driveline output torque, and control motor torque during a torque reversal of at least one driveline component to limit rate of change of the torque applied to the driveline component. A method for controlling a vehicle having a traction motor includes controlling the traction motor torque through a region surrounding a vehicle wheel torque reversal, controlling driveline input torque during torque reversal of driveline output torque to limit rate of change of output torque, and controlling traction motor torque during a torque reversal of a powertrain component to limit rate of change of the torque applied to the component. | 11-07-2013 |
20150291144 | PRESTROKING ENGINE DISCONNECT CLUTCH IN A HYBRID VEHICLE - A hybrid vehicle includes an engine and an electric machine selectively coupled to one another via a clutch. In one mode of operation, the vehicle can be propelled by only the electric machine while the engine is off. When additional torque is required from the engine, at least one controller transmits an engine start request. In order to start the engine, the clutch can be prestroked such that it fills with pressure prior to the engine to start the engine. While the vehicle is on, at least one controller is programmed to prestroke the clutch prior to the engine start request based at least upon the electric machine and the engine generating substantially zero torque. This increases the overall engine start time. | 10-15-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110210163 | Package Having An Adhesive-Based Reclosable Fastener And Methods Therefor - A reclosable package for a plurality of products is described herein. The reclosable package includes an adhesive-based fastener that utilizes a low tack adhesive and pivotably connected first and second compartments, each compartment configured to receive the plurality of products therein. The adhesive-based fastener includes opposing portions of resealable adhesive on interior surfaces of the first and second compartments respectively, so that the interior surfaces can be pivoted together to close the reclosable package. | 09-01-2011 |
20110211778 | Reclosable Fasteners, Packages Having Reclosable Fasteners, and Methods for Creating Reclosable Fasteners - A UV-curable pressure sensitive adhesive, a package having an adhesive-based reclosable fastener including the pressure sensitive adhesive, and a method of forming the package is described herein. The package includes a cavity and opposing panels configured to cover an opening to the cavity. The reclosable fastener is a UV-cured pressure sensitive adhesive comprised of one or more UV-curable acrylic oligomers, one or more tack control components, and, optionally, an elastomeric material. An adhesive component ratio defines an effective ratio made up of the weight percent of the UV-curable acrylic oligomer relative to the sum of the weight percents of the tack control component and elastomeric component, where the ratio provides a fastener with a first peel adhesion and subsequent peel adhesions effective to form the adhesive-based fastener into a reclosable fastener. | 09-01-2011 |
20110213092 | Low-Tack, UV-Cured Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Suitable for Reclosable Packages - UV-cured pressure sensitive adhesive including one or more UV-curable acrylic oligomers, one or more tack control components, and, optionally, an elastomeric material is described herein. The adhesive includes an adhesive component ratio of the various adhesive components effective to provide desired first peel adhesions and subsequent peel adhesions. | 09-01-2011 |
20130091667 | Mechanical And Adhesive Based Reclosable Fasteners - A hybrid reclosable fastener with both mechanical mating and adhesive reclosable mating elements and a method of forming the hybrid reclosable fastener is described herein. Mechanical mating elements include mating portions having cooperating coupling parts configured to provide mechanical mating along with adhesive mating elements including an adhesive material formed on the cooperating coupling parts configured to provide an adhesive mating. | 04-18-2013 |
20130178554 | Low-Tack, UV-Cured Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Suitable for Reclosable Packages - UV-cured pressure sensitive adhesive including one or more UV-curable acrylic oligomers, one or more tack control components, and, optionally, an elastomeric material is described herein. The adhesive includes an adhesive component ratio of the various adhesive components effective to provide desired first peel adhesions and subsequent peel adhesions. | 07-11-2013 |
20140250641 | MECHANICAL AND ADHESIVE BASED RECLOSABLE FASTENERS - A hybrid reclosable fastener with both mechanical mating and adhesive reclosable mating elements and a method of forming the hybrid reclosable fastener is described herein. Mechanical mating elements include mating portions having cooperating coupling parts configured to provide mechanical mating along with adhesive mating elements including an adhesive material formed on the cooperating coupling parts configured to provide an adhesive mating. | 09-11-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130211975 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC KIT FOR PAYROLL VOUCHER, TIME TRACKING, AND PRODUCTION ADMINISTRATION IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY - The invention discloses a portable luggage-sized kit and integrated hardware-software system for streamlined digital administration of production projects in the entertainment industry, said kit comprising a suite of electronic devices and a GUI-driven interface specially adapted for the unique demands of payroll, time and attendance monitoring, prop and wardrobe inventory, and administrative management of projects according to customizable settings for compliance with relevant guild, union, and project-specific rules. The kit includes handheld scanners, card and tag readers, badge and voucher printers, database architecture, web services, fillable forms and intelligent menu navigation that share data in real time across a network linking an expandable range of nodes in horizontal and vertical hierarchies of project roles. The system electronically processes payroll vouchers, check-in and check-out events, miscellaneous adjustments and any other personnel data management tasks smoothly and intelligently, saving time, increasing project flexibility, and preventing mistakes. | 08-15-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080282290 | Interactive Viewer for Advertisements - A system, method, and computer-readable media are presented for displaying an interactive viewer associated with an advertisement within a user interface. In one aspect, the system includes an advertisement manager for providing advertisements in response to request from clients. The system further includes a rendering component for determining if an advertisement has an associated interactive viewer, determining features associated with the advertisement, and displaying the interactive viewer including the determined features. Additionally, the system includes an event tracking module for monitoring a user's interaction with the interactive viewer, and reporting feedback regarding the interaction to the advertisement manager. | 11-13-2008 |
20090070190 | UPDATING CONTENTS OF ASYNCHRONOUSLY REFRESHABLE WEBPAGES - Embodiments of the invention provide ways to update and permit third-party advertising content of a webpage developed using Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (“AJAX”) techniques. An illustrative method includes registering a set of possible triggering events that can invoke an advertisement-update process, registering advertisement containers (portions of the webpage that can present the advertisements), receiving an indication that a triggering event has occurred, identifying (in some cases) advertisement containers whose advertisement content is to be updated, accessing third-party advertisement data that is stored outside of the domain of the webpage to receive the fresh advertising content, and presenting the fresh advertising content in the one or more advertisement containers. | 03-12-2009 |
20100235238 | Registering Media For Configurable Advertising - A method for registering a media for configurable advertising is described herein. Advertising policies from a publisher of the media may be received at a video advertising platform. A request from the publisher to register the media for advertising may be received at a video advertising platform. The request may have media metadata. A media manifest may be generated at the video advertising platform. The media manifest may be based on the media metadata and the advertising policies. The media manifest may be configured to be received by a media player. The media player may play the media with one or more advertisements as specified by the media manifest. | 09-16-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090088144 | MANAGING CONTACT STATUS UPDATES IN A PRESENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Managing online presence information for contacts involves propagating contact status updates from a contact to an interested identity. A contact list may include hundreds to thousands of contacts for an identity. When one of those contacts changes presence status (e.g., from available to do-not-disturb), the change is propagated from a device of the contact, to a server, to one or more devices of the identity maintaining the contact list. Although that single change or status update consumes a small amount of resources, status updates for a larger number of contacts occurring at various times consumes a more substantial amount of resources, including bandwidth and power. Although power consumption may not be a factor for a desktop computer, power consumption for large scale and/or frequent status updates on devices with more limited power sources (e.g., mobile phones, personal data assistants, etc.) may be a significant factor. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089308 | MAPPING ONLINE CONTACT INFORMATION INTO A CONTACTS LIST - A presence management system may communicate contact information with mapped values. Contact information may be stored in a hierarchical, extensible structure (“hierarchical extensible contact structure”). Devices in a presence management system utilize a mapping scheme to map contact values (e.g., e-mail address, phone number, etc.) to the appropriate field of the hierarchical extensible contact structure. When devices in the presence management system communicate information for thousands of contacts, employing mapped values to navigate the hierarchical extensible contact structure reduces the size of the messages, thus reducing resource consumption (e.g., bandwidth), particularly on the scale of an enterprise. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089804 | PRIORITIZATION FOR ONLINE CONTACT STATUS UPDATES - Communicating information about a contact, such as presence status, may be regulated in accordance with priority values associated with contacts. Various parameters about contacts with respect to a particular environment may be collected and utilized to assign priority values to the contacts. Flow of information about the contacts is regulated based on the assigned priority values. Information about contacts with higher priority values may be communicated more frequently to client devices from one or more servers than those contacts with lower priority values. In addition, information about contacts associated with priority values that satisfy one or more criteria may be prefetched from a server to a client device. | 04-02-2009 |
20090175282 | Using a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) Channel to Save Power for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) That Use User Datagram Protocol (UDP) - Provided is a method for maintaining a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection between a mobile device and a server over a wireless network in a manner that conserves the power supply of the mobile device and is suitable for connections that employ server-initiated traffic. After a successful login to a VPN server, a VPN client establishes a Transport Control Protocol (TCP) connection and a UDP connection with the server. After a power timeout, the server calculates the elapsed time between the current transmission and the last tunnel traffic. If the elapsed time exceeds a power timeout value, the VPN server transmits a simple control message to the client via the TCP channel. The client then reestablishes the UDP connection to the client and the server resumes transmission on the reestablished UDP channel. | 07-09-2009 |
20090275346 | System and Method for Predictive Caching of Data for a Mobile Computing Device - Provided is a method for providing data buffering at a wireless communication nodes. Communication nodes maintain data buffering capabilities so that a data cache related to a particular mobile computing device is forwarded among communication nodes in anticipation the movement of the mobile computing device. A decision to forward a specific data cache associated with a particular mobile computing device to a particular end relay communication node is based upon the type, history or other knowledge of the data, knowledge of communication node configuration and/or knowledge of the particular mobile computing device. Intelligent predictions of advantageous buffer forwarding are employed to transmit data caches over high-speed connections between communication nodes to mitigate data buffering issues relating to the transmission of large amounts of data over slower end links between communication nodes and end user devices. | 11-05-2009 |
20120287833 | Using a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) Channel to Save Power for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) That Use User Datagram Protocol (UDP) - Provided is a method for maintaining a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection between a mobile device and a server over a wireless network in a manner that conserves the power supply of the mobile device and is suitable for connections that employ server-initiated traffic. After a successful login to a VPN server, a VPN client establishes a Transport Control Protocol (TCP) connection and a UDP connection with the server. After a power timeout, the server calculates the elapsed time between the current transmission and the last tunnel traffic. If the elapsed time exceeds a power timeout value, the VPN server transmits a simple control message to the client via the TCP channel. The client then reestablishes the UDP connection to the client and the server resumes transmission on the reestablished UDP channel. | 11-15-2012 |