| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090120071 | Hydrocarbon Retaining System for Flex-Fuel Combustion Engine - Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090260349 | AIR-INJECTION SYSTEM TO IMPROVE EFFECTIVENESS OF SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTION CATALYST FOR GASOLINE ENGINES - Embodiments are described to improve the durability of a lean NO | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090266063 | SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTION CATALYST SYSTEM WITH EXPANDED TEMPERATURE WINDOW - According to one embodiment of the present invention a selective reduction catalyst system with a broad temperature window for lean-burn gasoline and diesel engines is disclosed. The system includes a first and second zone, wherein the first zone is composed of an iron SCR catalyst and a second zone is composed of a copper SCR catalyst, and wherein the second zone is positioned downstream of the first zone. In another embodiment, a small copper SCR catalyst is placed in front of a second zone composed of an iron SCR catalyst and a third zone composed of a copper SCR catalyst, wherein the volume of the first copper SCR catalyst is a fraction of the volume of the second copper SCR catalyst. In yet another embodiment, a diverter valve would be included in the system to eliminate any NO | 10-29-2009 |
| 20100024396 | HYDROCARBON RETAINING AND PURGING SYSTEM - Method and systems are provided for operating an engine having a hydrocarbon retaining system coupled to an engine exhaust and an engine intake. One example method comprises, during an engine cold start, routing exhaust gas to the hydrocarbon retaining system to store hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon retaining system. The method further comprises, during a first purging condition where the exhaust gas is at a first temperature, purging the hydrocarbon retaining system with at least exhaust gas, and during a second purging condition where the exhaust gas is at a second temperature, said second temperature being higher than said first temperature, mixing the exhaust gas with an amount of fresh air to form a purging gas mixture, and purging the hydrocarbon retaining system with said purging gas mixture. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100175372 | COMPACT DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST TREATMENT SYSTEM - A diesel engine exhaust treatment system and method is provided which utilizes a diesel particulate filter positioned in the exhaust gas stream of a vehicle which includes an SCR catalyst, an ammonia oxidation catalyst, and/or a diesel oxidation catalyst. The system is capable of performing multiple functions including converting NO | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100266471 | EXHAUST AFTERTREATMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF TREATING EXHAUST GAS - A diesel exhaust aftertreatment system and method are provided. The system includes a lean NO | 10-21-2010 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090301810 | Adjustable Sound Panel - A panel that can change its stiffness and/or surface roughness and thereby its sound quality is provided. The panel includes a layer having an outer surface and an inner surface oppositely disposed from the outer surface. The panel can also include an electroactive actuator that is operable to change its shape when a voltage is applied thereto. The change in shape of the electroactive actuator results in a change in stiffness and/or surface roughness of the panel and therefore a change in the panel's acoustic characteristics. In some instances, the electroactive actuator is at least partially within the panel and upon changing of its shape results in a change in the roughness of a surface that faces a sound source. In other instances, the activation of the electroactive actuator results in an increase in stiffness of the panel. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100011666 | Seal For Sliding Glass Window - A seal for a sliding glass window is provided. The seal can include a sliding glass guide and an elastomeric channel member that is at least partially within the sliding glass guide. Located between the elastomeric channel member and the sliding glass guide can be an electroactive actuator that is operable to change its shape when a voltage is applied thereto. Also included can be an electrical source of power that is electrically connected to the electroactive actuator. In some instances, the electroactive actuator is an electroactive polymer and can be a dielectric electroactive polymer or an ionic electroactive polymer. If the electroactive polymer is a dielectric electroactive polymer, it can be made from silicones and/or acrylic elastomers. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100036567 | Seat Assemblies for Vehicles - Seat assemblies for a vehicles include seat panels in communication with a controller and having a fiber optic sensing device that measures pressure exerted at various locations of the seat panels and cushioning materials comprising active materials, wherein upon receipt of pressure signals by the controller from the sensing device, the controller generates activation signals that adapt physical characteristics of the active materials. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100237634 | Adaptive Door Handles - A force adjustment system that inhibits door handle actuation is provided. The force adjustment system includes a sensor configured to provide a signal in response to an input. An energy source is configured to provide an output in response to the signal. A force adjustment component is configured to be linked to a door handle assembly. The force adjustment component comprises a material having a property that is changed in response to the output provided by the energy source to change a force applied to a handle of the door handle assembly. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100264629 | Adjustable Airbag Systems for Vehicles - Adjustable airbag systems for a vehicle may comprise an airbag assembly having an inflatable airbag within a housing and an actuator associated with the housing, a sensor operable to measure a physical characteristic of an occupant of the vehicle, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the actuator such that upon receiving a feedback signal from the sensor relating to the physical characteristic of the occupant, the controller sends a control signal to the actuator to adjust a position of the housing with respect to the occupant. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100264693 | Prestressed Structural Members and Methods of Making Same - Methods of prestressing a vehicle structural member include forming a support structure, applying a preformed reinforcing component to the support structure, the preformed reinforcing component having a size changing material that changes in dimension upon application of a stimulus and transforming the preformed reinforcing component from a first configuration to a second configuration. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100300096 | Systems and Method for Producing Mechanical Energy - A system is provided for producing mechanical energy. The system may include a solar collector configured to receive solar energy and an external heater configured to provide secondary thermal energy. Furthermore, the system may include an engine disposed in communication with the solar collector and the external heater. To this end, the engine may be operable to receive the solar energy from the solar collector, receive the secondary thermal energy from the external heater, and convert the solar energy and the secondary thermal energy to mechanical energy. Additionally, the system may include a controller in communication with the solar collector, the engine, and the external heater. The controller may be configured to control an amount of solar energy and an amount of secondary thermal energy received by the engine. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20110301816 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT USING AN ACTUATOR ATTACHED TO A HEADLINER - The present invention is a method and system for improving curtain air bag deployment using an actuator attached to a headliner. The present invention can include an automobile having a roof, a headliner, an actuator, a curtain air bag, a door, a sensor, and/or a processor. The roof can also include a roof rail. The roof rail and the headliner enclose the curtain air bag. The actuator is attached to the headliner. The sensor is located within the door and detects collision data. The processor analyzes the collision data to determine when to deploy the curtain airbag. In deploying the curtain airbag, the processor activates the actuator, which reduces the overlap between the headliner and the roof rail. The curtain airbags deploys by either pushing through the reduced overlap between the headliner and the roof rail or by easily forming through a gap between the headliner and the roof rail. | 12-08-2011 |
