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U.S. Patents Awarded to Inventors in Michigan (July 15)(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Targeted News Service Targeted News Service ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- The following federal patents were awarded to inventors in Michigan. *** Integrated Device Technology Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 14 -- Integrated Device Technology, San Jose, Calif., has been assigned a patent (7,978,017) developed by six co-inventors for a "control voltage generator for a clock, frequency reference, and other reference signal generator." The co-inventors are Scott Michael Pernia, Pinckney, Mich., Nam Duc Nguyen, San Jose, Calif., Michael Shannon McCorquodale, Ann Arbor, Mich., Justin O'Day, Detroit, Mich., Ralph Beaudouin, East Palo Alto, Calif., and Sundus Kubba, Saline, Mich. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a reference signal generator, system and method. An exemplary apparatus to generate a harmonic reference signal includes a reference resonator, such as an LC-tank, a control voltage generator adapted to provide a temperature-dependent control voltage, and a plurality of variable reactance modules. The reference resonator generates a first reference signal having a resonant frequency, and each reactance module is adapted to modify a corresponding reactance in response to the control voltage to maintain the resonant frequency substantially constant or within a predetermined variance over a predetermined temperature range. A frequency controller may also be included to maintain substantially constant a magnitude of a peak amplitude of the first reference signal and maintains substantially constant a common mode voltage level of the reference resonator." The patent application was filed on Jan. 12, 2008 (12/013,438). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=79,78,017.PN.&OS=PN/79,78,017&RS=PN/79,78,017 Written by Ruby Maibam; edited by Jaya Anand. *** GM Global Technology Operations Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- GM Global Technology Operations, Washington, has been assigned a patent (7,979,186) developed by Haytham A. Fayyad, Dexter, Mich., and William R. Mayhew, Ann Arbor, Mich., for a "torque converter clutch apply adapt and quality apply detection converter slip acceleration." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A torque converter clutch slip rate monitoring system includes a slip rate calculation module that receives a raw slip speed of a torque converter clutch and that calculates torque converter clutch slip acceleration based on the raw slip speed. A torque converter clutch slip rate monitoring module detects deviation of the slip acceleration from a predetermined range during a pulldown of the torque converter clutch." The patent application was filed on March 4, 2008 (11/829,224). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7,979,186.PN.&OS=PN/7,979,186&RS=PN/7,979,186 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Jaya Anand. *** GM Global Technology Operations Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- GM Global Technology Operations, Detroit, has been assigned a patent (7,979,195) developed by Allen B. Rayl, Waterford, Mich., for a "valvetrain control systems for internal combustion engines with multiple intake and exhaust timing based lift modes." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A valve control system for an internal combustion engine includes a valve actuation system that actuates each of an intake valve and an exhaust valve between N open lift modes where N is an integer greater than one. A control module defines a switching window having a start time based on intake valve timing and an end time based on exhaust valve timing. The control module enables transitioning of at least one of the intake and exhaust valves between the N open lift modes based on the switching window." The patent application was filed on April 4, 2008 (12/062,918). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7,979,195.PN.&OS=PN/7,979,195&RS=PN/7,979,195 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Ford Global Technologies Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- Ford Global Technologies, Dearborn, Mich., has been assigned a patent (7,979,171) developed by five co-inventors for a "permanent magnet temperature estimation." The co-inventors are Ji Wu, Dearborn, Mich., Franco Leonardi, Dearborn Heights, Mich., Feng Liang, Troy, Mich., Michael W. Degner, Novi, Mich., and Daniel Luedtke, Berkley, Mich. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method of controlling a vehicle including a permanent magnet (PM) synchronous motor is provided. The motor is controlled based on direct-axis (d-axis) and quadrature-axis (q-axis) current commands. The method includes estimating permanent magnet flux linkage based on q-axis voltage and electrical angular speed, and estimating permanent magnet temperature based on permanent magnet flux linkage and the temperature coefficient of the permanent magnet. The vehicle is controlled based on the estimated permanent magnet temperature." The patent application was filed on Sept. 21, 2010 (12/887,117). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7,979,171.PN.&OS=PN/7,979,171&RS=PN/7,979,171 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Jaya Anand. *** GM Global Technology Operations Assigned Patent for Serpentine Belt Useful Life Monitor ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- GM Global Technology Operations, Detroit, has been assigned a patent (7,979,176) developed by James R. Yurgil, Livonia, Mich., and Eric Brian Schutt, Oxford, Mich., for a "serpentine belt useful life monitor." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A control module of a vehicle comprises a drive diagnostic module and a power determination module. The drive diagnostic module determines a slip power of a belt based on engine speed, motor speed, and motor torque. The power determination module determines an accumulated power of the belt based on the slip power, the motor speed, and the motor torque. The control module diagnoses a condition of the belt based on the accumulated power." The patent application was filed on July 1, 2008 (12/165,856). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7,979,176.PN.&OS=PN/7,979,176&RS=PN/7,979,176 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Ford Motor Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- Ford Motor, Dearborn, Mich., has been assigned a patent (7,979,177) developed by Thomas Hermann, Troy, Mich., and Timothy P. Curtis, Northville, Mich., for a "system and method for updating vehicle computing platform configuration information." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A configurable vehicle computer is enabled based on identification information associated with a driver. Updates to the configurable vehicle computer are stored at a remote location. The updates are downloaded upon an authorized vehicle start-up." The patent application was filed on April 30, 2007 (11/742,091). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7,979,177.PN.&OS=PN/7,979,177&RS=PN/7,979,177 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Jaya Anand. *** University Of Michigan Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- The University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., has been assigned a patent (7,979,150) developed by Chia-Ying Lin, Ann Arbor, Mich., and Scott J. Hollister, Ann Arbor, Mich., for a "biodegradable/bioresorbable tissue augmentation/reconstruction device." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method of manufacturing biodegradable/bioresorbable tissue augmentation/reconstruction devices by defining material density distributions at selected time points during a material degradation lifecycle. These different density distributions are then superposed using general linear and/or nonlinear functions that could include both time and degraded base stiffness weighting factors. The material density distribution may be created using topology optimization, image-based design or computed aided design methods to create a degradable device that retains sufficient physical properties (ie modulus, strength, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity) through the material degradation lifecycle process. Thus, any bulk degrading material can be designed using this process for any tissue augmentation/reconstruction application." The patent application was filed on Dec. 3, 2004 (10/581,424). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7,979,150.PN.&OS=PN/7,979,150&RS=PN/7,979,150 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Gentex Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- Gentex, Zeeland, Mich., has been assigned a patent (7,978,393) developed by six co-inventors for a "vehicular rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating these elements." The co-inventors are William L. Tonar, Holland, Mich., David J. Cammenga, Zeeland, Mich., John S. Anderson, Holland, Mich., David L. Poll, Holland, Mich., George A. Neuman, Holland, Mich., and Joel A. Stray, Hudsonville, Mich. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. Area of the effective field of view of the electro-optic mirror element substantially equals to that defined by the outermost perimeter of the element." The patent application was filed on Sept. 21, 2009 (12/563,917). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7,978,393.PN.&OS=PN/7,978,393&RS=PN/7,978,393 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Juniper Networks Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- Juniper Networks, Sunnyvale, Calif., has been assigned a patent (7,978,609) developed by 10 co-inventors for "systems and methods for improving packet scheduling accuracy." The co-inventors are Sreeram Veeragandham, Ann Arbor, Mich., Rami Rahim, Sunnyvale, Calif., Song Zhang, San Jose, Calif., Anurag P. Gupta, Saratoga, Calif., Jorge Cruz-Rios, Los Altos, Calif., Jayabharat Boddu, Los Altos, Calif., Jeffrey R. Zimmer, Scotts Valley, Calif., Jia-Chang Wang, Saratoga, Calif., Srihari Shoroff, Fremont, Calif., and Chi-Chung K. Chen, Palo Alto, Calif. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A packet scheduler is configured to perform quality of service (QoS) scheduling on a per-data unit basis. A downstream processing engine is operatively connected to the packet scheduler for receiving forwarded packets. A feedback path is operatively connected between the downstream processing engine and the packet scheduler for transmitting a net data unit change value reflecting a change in packet size between an output of the packet scheduler and an output of the downstream processing engine." The patent application was filed on May 22, 2009 (12/470,627). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7,978,609&OS=7,978,609&RS=7,978,609 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** GM Global Technology Operations Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- GM Global Technology Operations, Detroit, has been assigned a patent (7,978,056) developed by five co-inventors for a "system for customizing lighting and sound effects in a vehicle." The co-inventors are Joseph F. Mercurio, Birmingham, Mich., Michael H. Thomas, Royal Oak, Mich., In Woong Lee, Rochester Hills, Mich., Marko Macura, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, and Peter G. Matthews, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A vehicle includes a passenger compartment, a touch-screen for receiving an input signal from an occupant when the occupant touches the touch-screen, an output device, and a controller. The controller changes a characteristic of an electromagnetic wave in the form of visible light and/or an audible sound, which is transmitted into the passenger compartment via the output device in response to the input signal. The output device includes light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LED) or electro-luminescent (EL) ribbon and a speaker. The controller presents a predetermined set of lighting and/or sound options on the touch-screen which the occupant can touch to generate the input signal, thus selectively illuminating the light sources or playing a particular sound file. The controller can also play a digital sound file whenever a corresponding vehicle condition is detected." The patent application was filed on June 2, 2008 (12/131,169). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,978,056.PN.&OS=PN/7,978,056&RS=PN/7,978,056 Written by Shabnam Sheikh; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Ovonyx Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- Ovonyx, Troy, Mich., has been assigned a patent (7,978,508) developed by Wolodymyr Czubatyj, Warren, Mich., for a "reduction of drift in phase-change memory via thermally-managed programming." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method of programming a phase-change material. The method includes providing a transformation pulse to the phase-change material, where the transformation pulse includes a programming waveform and a conditioning waveform. The programming waveform provides sufficient energy to alter the structural state of the phase-change material. In one embodiment, the programming waveform alters the volume fractions of crystalline and amorphous phase regions within the phase-change material. The conditioning waveform provides sufficient energy to heat the phase-change material to a temperature above the ambient temperature but below the crystallization temperature of the phase-change material. The method programs the phase-change material to a state that exhibits a reduced time variation of resistance." The patent application was filed on Jan. 20, 2009 (12/356,236). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7978508.PN.&OS=PN/7978508&RS=PN/7978508 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** TK Holdings Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- TK Holdings, Auburn Hills, Mich., has been assigned a patent (7,978,122) developed by Michael J. Schmidlin, Madison Heights, Mich., for an object sensing system. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An object sensing system includes a radar system including at least one aperture through which a radar signal is transmitted and at least one aperture through which reflected radar signals are received. The sensing system also includes a stereo vision system including a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor and the second sensor are separated by an offset. The stereo vision system is mounted to the radar system to form a single assembly. The radar system is positioned in the offset between the first sensor and the second sensor." The patent application was filed on Aug. 13, 2009 (12/461,489). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7,978,122.PN.&OS=PN/7,978,122&RS=PN/7,978,122 Written by Anjali Jha; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Ovonyx Assigned Patent for Thin Film Logic Device and System ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- Ovonyx, Troy, Mich., has been assigned a patent (7,978,506) developed by Tyler Lowrey, Rochester Hills, Mich., for a "thin film logic device and system." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Thin film logic circuits employ thin-film switching devices to execute complementary logic functions. Such logic devices operate, as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) logic devices do, in a manner that does not provide a direct conduction path between a system supply and a system return. Complementary logic circuits may employ three-terminal threshold switches as switching elements." The patent application was filed on June 6, 2008 (12/157,049). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7978506.PN.&OS=PN/7978506&RS=PN/7978506 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Visteon Global Technologies Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- Visteon Global Technologies, Van Buren Township, Mich., has been assigned a patent (7,978,453) developed by Imad Sharaa, Farmington, Mich., for a "low side driver with short to battery protection." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A driver circuit includes a driver module having a first transistor for receiving a driver voltage signal. In response to the driver voltage signal, the first transistor conducts current through an electronic device. A protection module includes a second transistor in electrical communication with the first transistor for receiving a logic voltage signal and for inhibiting current flow through the first transistor in response to receiving the logic voltage signal. The protection module further includes a digital logic gate having at least one input in electrical communication with the first transistor for detecting a short-circuit voltage signal. At least one output of the digital logic gate is in electrical communication with the second transistor for outputting the logic voltage signal in response to receiving the short-circuit voltage signal." The patent application was filed on Jan. 11, 2008 (11/972,974). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7978453.PN.&OS=PN/7978453&RS=PN/7978453 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Ford Global Technologies Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- Ford Global Technologies, Dearborn, Mich., has been assigned a patent (7,978,096) developed by Eric L. Reed, Livonia, Mich., Brian Bennie, Sterling Heights, Mich., and Steven Y. Schondorf, Dearborn, Mich., for a "parking angle determination and cross traffic alert." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The subject of the present invention is a vehicle that determines a parking angle while parking and employs the parking angle when using a cross traffic alert system while backing out of a parking space. The parking angle is used to determine areas of interest and areas not of interest within the fields of view of vehicle mounted sensors. The areas of interest are those used to determine if cross traffic alerts need to be issued." The patent application was filed on April 28, 2009 (12/431,145). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7,978,096.PN.&OS=PN/7,978,096&RS=PN/7,978,096 Written by Anjali Jha; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Donnelly Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- Donnelly, Holland, Mich., has been assigned a patent (7,978,094) developed by four co-inventors for a "mirror assembly for vehicle." The co-inventors are John T. Uken, Jenison, Mich., Lee Karner, Holland, Mich., Richard R. Hook, Hudsonville, Mich., and Niall R. Lynam, Holland, Mich. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element assembly portion and at least one cap portion adapted to attach to the reflective element assembly portion. The reflective element assembly portion includes a reflective element. The reflective element assembly portion comprises a first molding that encompasses at least a perimeter portion of the reflective element. The first molding is formed by molding a first resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor equal to or greater than about 1%. The cap portion comprises at least one second molding formed by molding a second resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor of less than or equal to about 1%. The cap portion preferably includes internal structure for supporting at least one accessory." The patent application was filed on Oct. 29, 2007 (11/926,882). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7,978,094.PN.&OS=PN/7,978,094&RS=PN/7,978,094 Written by Anjali Jha; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Lear Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- Lear, Southfield, Mich., has been assigned a patent (7,978,452) developed by David Anthony Hein, Sterling Heights, Mich., for an automotive overcurrent protection. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Overcurrent is prevented in an automotive vehicle based on sensing at least one operating condition. An overcurrent threshold is determined based on characteristics of the load and on the sensed condition. If the sensed flow of current exceeds the determined overcurrent threshold, the flow of current to the load is interrupted. The sensed condition may be, for example, ambient temperature." The patent application was filed on Sept. 26, 2007 (11/861,588). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7978452.PN.&OS=PN/7978452&RS=PN/7978452 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar. For more information about Targeted News Service products and services, please contact: Myron Struck, editor, Targeted News Service LLC, Springfield, Va., 703/304-1897; [email protected]; http://targetednews.com. -1054340 (c) 2011 Targeted News Service |