Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140150597 | TELESCOPING SHAFT ROLLER ASSEMBLY IN STEERING COLUMN - A telescoping shaft having a roller assembly in a steering column is provided. The telescoping shaft includes an outer shaft having at least one projection or at least one groove, and an inner shaft telescopically received in the outer shaft, the inner shaft having the other of the at least one groove and the at least one projection, the at least one groove matingly engaging the at least one projection, each of the at least one grooves having a mounting section formed therein. A roller assembly is positioned in the mounting section of each of the at least one grooves and includes a spring having a first biasing section and a second biasing section, a first plurality of rollers positioned on the first biasing section and a second plurality of rollers positioned on the second biasing section, the at least one projection extending between the first plurality of rollers and the second plurality of rollers. | 06-05-2014 |
20140171209 | TELESCOPING SHAFT ROLLER ASSEMBLY IN STEERING COLUMN - A telescoping shaft in a steering column in a steering column is provided. The telescoping shaft includes an outer shaft having a bore extending in a longitudinal direction, an inner shaft telescopically received in the bore, the inner shaft rotationally fixed relative to the outer shaft and moveable relative to the outer shaft in the longitudinal direction, and at least one roller assembly positioned between the inner shaft and outer shaft. Each roller assembly of the at least one the roller assembly includes a spring having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end, a first roller positioned on the first end of the spring, and a second roller positioned on the second end of the spring, the spring urging the first roller and the second roller into contact with the outer shaft. | 06-19-2014 |
20140349772 | ROLLING ELEMENT INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY - In one aspect, a rolling element intermediate shaft assembly is provided. The assembly includes a solid shaft having a first end and a second end and a tubular shaft configured to receive the shaft first end. The tubular shaft includes an inner wall with an axially extending groove formed therein, and the axially extending groove includes an inner surface. The assembly further includes a wear plate having a bottom surface and defining an axially extending channel, the wear plate being received in the tubular shaft axially extending groove, and at least one ball bearing disposed within the wear plate channel between the wear plate and the solid shaft. | 11-27-2014 |
20140349773 | HOT UPSET SOLID SHAFT SUB-ASSEMBLY - In one aspect, a solid shaft sub-assembly is provided. The solid shaft sub-assembly includes a solid shaft having a first portion and a second portion, and a yoke including an inner wall defining an aperture to receive the solid shaft. The aperture has a non-circular first cross-sectional profile, and the solid shaft first portion is positioned within the aperture and is deformed such that the first portion is formed with a second cross-sectional profile complementary to the first cross-sectional profile to axially and torsionally couple the solid shaft to the yoke. | 11-27-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110254512 | TRICKLE CHARGER FOR HIGH-ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS - A voltage converter for charging an energy storage module from an alternating current line voltage, includes a first charging stage, coupled to the energy storage module, converting the line voltage to a first rectified direct current module charging voltage communicated to the energy storage module, the first rectified direct current module charging voltage greater than the line voltage, the first charging stage including an inductance for communicating a first charging current to the energy storage module; a second charging stage, switchably coupled serially with the first charging stage, down-converting the alternating current line voltage to a second rectified direct current module voltage, the second rectified direct current module voltage less than the first rectified direct current module charging voltage, wherein the second charging stage produces a second charging current not greater than the first charging current; and a controller for selectably switching the second charging stage serially with the first charging stage when the line voltage has a peak value greater than a predefined relationship to a voltage of the energy storage module wherein the second charging stage communicates the second charging current to the energy storage module through the inductance. | 10-20-2011 |
20120091953 | AC CURRENT CONTROL OF MOBILE BATTERY CHARGERS - A charging system and method that improves utilization of available AC power during onboard charging of energy storage systems of electric vehicles. An onboard charging method for an energy storage system of an electric vehicle, the method using an AC power source, includes a) establishing a maximum DC charging current for the energy storage system responsive to a control signal indicating real-time available current/power from the AC source; and b) controlling a charging system to provide an actual DC charging current, up to the maximum DC charging current, to the energy storage system. | 04-19-2012 |
20120229098 | CHARGING EFFICIENCY USING SELECTABLE ISOLATION - The apparatus for charging an energy storage system (ESS) from an AC line voltage includes a boost stage for converting the AC line voltage to a first ESS charging voltage; an isolation stage, coupled to the boost stage, for converting the first ESS charging voltage to a second ESS charging voltage with the second ESS charging voltage less than the first ESS charging voltage, the isolation stage removing a common mode current between the ESS and the boost stage; a configurator, responsive to a control signal, to set a direct communication of the first ESS charging voltage to the ESS in a bypass mode and to open the direct communication of the first ESS charging voltage to the ESS in an isolation mode; and a controller, coupled to the configurator, for setting the modes responsive to a battery voltage, a peak of the AC line voltage, and a total leakage current at an input of the AC line voltage, the controller asserting the control signal to the configurator. | 09-13-2012 |
20120266914 | CLEANING FEATURE FOR ELECTRIC CHARGING CONNECTOR - A contamination cleaner for a socket of a charging connector used with a charging station for an electric vehicle wherein the charging connector mates to a charging coupler of the electric vehicle during charging includes a housing mechanically configured generally similarly to the charging coupler enabling the housing to mechanically mate to the charging connector; and a cleaning contact, coupled to the housing and complementary to the socket, for engaging the socket and removing surface contaminants from the socket whenever the housing mechanically mates to the charging connector. | 10-25-2012 |
20130285602 | INTEGRATED INDUCTIVE AND CONDUCTIVE ELECTRICAL CHARGING SYSTEM - An apparatus and method efficiently integrating inductive and conductive charging systems, including embodiments directed towards enabling user selection of either, or both, of conductive and inductive charging. Conductive charging and inductive charging both have, in certain contexts or when judged by different criteria, advantages over the other. Systems and methods relying on one or the other would not have as wide-spread value to a user with opportunities to access both types of charging modalities. | 10-31-2013 |
20160036256 | INTER-PROTOCOL CHARGING ADAPTER - An inter-protocol charging adapter for equipment to be charged via a bus includes: first connectors corresponding to a first charging protocol that requires the bus to be energized before the equipment closes onto the bus; second connectors corresponding to a second charging protocol that does not energize the bus before the equipment closes onto the bus; and a boost converter coupled to the bus and to at least one of the second connectors, wherein the boost converter uses energy from the second connector to energize the bus before the equipment closes onto the bus. | 02-04-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090266819 | WASTE RECEPTACLE - A waste receptacle has an outer cabinet housing and a waste or trash bag support frame that can be moved from a position where it is at least partially within the cabinet, to a position where the support frame is extended sufficiently so it can be rotated about an upright axis to provide access to a bag held on the support frame. The support frame has an open ring on which a waste bag can be placed. The ring is spaced upwardly from the bottom of the bag support frame so that when the waste bag is full, it can be detached from the ring and dropped down for removal, rather than being lifted up through a container opening or support. The waste receptacle can have a cover that can be actuated to move from a closed position overlying the bag support frame to an open position. | 10-29-2009 |
20100219191 | WASTE RECEPTACLE - A waste receptacle has an outer cabinet housing and a waste or trash bag support frame that can be moved from a position where it is at least partially within the cabinet, to a position where the support frame is extended sufficiently so it can be rotated about an upright axis to provide access to a bag held on the support frame. The support frame has an open ring on which a waste bag can be placed. The ring is spaced upwardly from the bottom of the bag support frame so that when the waste bag is full, it can be detached from the ring and dropped down for removal, rather than being lifted up through a container opening or support. The waste receptacle can have a cover that can be actuated to move from a closed position overlying the bag support frame to an open position. | 09-02-2010 |
20140353315 | WASTE RECEPTACLE - A waste receptacle has a front and a back and includes an outer cabinet having bottom and top walls secured together by a rear cabinet wall positioned at the back of the waste receptacle assembly. A waste bag support frame comprises a bottom pan with a peripheral wall including an upright front wall or part cylinder wall at the front of the waste receptacle assembly opposite the rear cabinet wall of the outer cabinet and extending upwardly to a height below the top wall. The waste bag support frame also comprises a waste bag support ring supportively coupled to the upright front wall and extending rearwardly of the upright front wall, the waste bag support ring configured to support an upper end of a waste bag. The waste receptacle also includes a swivel assembly having a top portion secured to the bottom pan of the waste bag support frame, a lower portion secured to the bottom wall of the outer cabinet, and a ring of ball bearings which supports the top portion and the lower portion relative to each other such that the top portion and the lower portion can rotate relative to each other within the outer cabinet. | 12-04-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090006567 | Providing Sender-Selected Sound Items to Conversation Participants - Functionality is described for allowing a first user to select a sound item. The first user can use a first device to send this sound item to a second device operated by a second user. Upon the occurrence of a triggering event, the sound item selected by the first user can be presented by the second device to the second user. The first device and the second device may correspond to two devices in an Instant Messaging (IM) system. According to another illustrative aspect, functionality is described that allows the first user to select the new sound item from a source sound item by adjusting the position and/or size (e.g., width) of a graphical selection unit that is presented over a graphical depiction of the source sound item. | 01-01-2009 |
20090307607 | Digital Notes - Techniques described herein allow for displaying a real-time communication client associated with a first user, the real-time communication client configured to receive an input from the first user and send, in response, a digital note to a second user. The real-time communication client may be configured to send the digital note to a desktop of the second user, a calendar of the second user, a real-time communication client of the second user, and a profile of the second user, potentially among other locations. These tools may also display, on the real-time communication client, one or more digital notes that have been sent by one or more other users and received at the real-time communication client associated with the first user. These notes may be displayed individually or collectively in the form of a notebook. | 12-10-2009 |
20100050092 | Content Sharing and Instant Messaging - Content sharing and instant messaging are described. In an implementation, a first user interface is displayed at a first client that is configured to provide instant messaging with a second client having a second user interface. One or more content items are output in the first user interface to be controllable via both the first user interface and the second user interface. | 02-25-2010 |
20100057754 | PERSISTING A GROUP IN AN INSTANT MESSAGING APPLICATION - A system described herein includes a receiver component that receives a request to create a persistent messaging group for an instant messaging application, wherein the request includes an indication of one or more entities that are desired to be members of the persistent messaging group. The system further includes a group creator component that creates the persistent messaging group based at least in part upon the received group creation request, wherein the persistent messaging group is persisted over multiple instant messaging sessions. | 03-04-2010 |
20110072098 | PERSISTING A GROUP IN AN INSTANT MESSAGING APPLICATION - A system described herein includes a receiver component that receives a request to create a persistent messaging group for an instant messaging application, wherein the request includes an indication of one or more entities that are desired to be members of the persistent messaging group. The system further includes a group creator component that creates the persistent messaging group based at least in part upon the received group creation request, wherein the persistent messaging group is persisted over multiple instant messaging sessions. | 03-24-2011 |
20120072515 | PERSISTING A GROUP IN AN INSTANT MESSAGING APPLICATION - Various technologies pertaining to instant messaging are described herein. A persistent instant messaging group is created, wherein the persistent instant messaging group comprises a plurality of members and persists over a plurality of instant messaging sessions. Instances of an instant messaging application are installed on mobile telephones, and the instant messaging application is used to transmit instant messages between members of the persistent instant messaging group. Messages directed towards offline members of the persistent instant messaging group are transmitted to such members when they come online. | 03-22-2012 |
20130080558 | PERSISTING A GROUP IN AN INSTANT MESSAGING APPLICATION - Various technologies pertaining to instant messaging are described herein. A persistent instant messaging group is created, wherein the persistent instant messaging group comprises a plurality of members and persists over a plurality of instant messaging sessions. Instances of an instant messaging application are installed on mobile telephones, and the instant messaging application is used to transmit instant messages between members of the persistent instant messaging group. Messages directed towards offline members of the persistent instant messaging group are transmitted to such members when they come online. | 03-28-2013 |
20140123007 | Providing Sender-Selected Sound Items to Conversation Participants - Functionality is described for allowing a first user to select a sound item. The first user can use a first device to send this sound item to a second device operated by a second user. Upon the occurrence of a triggering event, the sound item selected by the first user can be presented by the second device to the second user. The first device and the second device may correspond to two devices in an Instant Messaging (IM) system. According to another illustrative aspect, functionality is described that allows the first user to select the new sound item from a source sound item by adjusting the position and/or size (e.g., width) of a graphical selection unit that is presented over a graphical depiction of the source sound item. | 05-01-2014 |