Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Other

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Michael Lambert

Nicholas Scott Sitarski

Jonathan Joseph Quijano

Steven J Lambert

Scott L Weiss

John Michael Fischer

Adam Pagryzinski

Charan Singh Lota

Erik Anthony Wippler

Christopher Lee Rovik

John Jeffrey Pfeiffer

Earnee Jones Gilling

Harold Bernard Samuels

Robert J Crawford

Benjamin J Jones

Randy Stephens

Surya Sagiraju

A system includes a processor configured to display a traveled-portion of a route, responsive to a request, the traveled-portion representing an entire route traveled since the request was received, including scaling the display so that an entire route is included in a window of fixed size, regardless of how large a distance the displayed traveled-portion represents.

Method and apparatus for adaptive scaling route display

A system includes a processor configured to receive a track-creation request. The processor is also configured to initiate track recording, responsive to the request and record GPS points corresponding to vehicle movement. Further, the processor is configured to receive a track-completion instruction and store the recorded GPS points, and a line connecting the points, as representing a recorded track.

Method and apparatus for adaptive vehicle route-related data gathering

A console assembly for an automotive vehicle and use with a mobile device. The console assembly including a storage compartment having a floor, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of end walls. An opening permits access into the storage area and a slidable top wall is operable to move between a covered position and a retracted position relative to the opening. An anti-slip surface is provided on the top wall and configured to receive the mobile device thereon. A wireless charging unit is also incorporated into and moveable with the top wall. The wireless charging unit is located immediately below the anti-slip surface. When the mobile device is placed on the anti-slip surface, the device is moveable with the top wall, between the covered position and retracted position, while being charged.

Mobile device retention and charging tray

A charging system for regulating the temperature of an electronic device. The charging system includes a base having a top surface configured to support the electronic device. The base is configured to draw heat away from the electronic device. The base may include at least one channel disposed along the top surface. A charger is operable to electrically charge the electronic device and a blower is configured to blow air along the channel so as to facilitate cooling of the electronic device during charging operations.

Charging system

A console assembly and a system operable to provide visual identification of the charging state of an electronic device is provided. The console assembly and system includes a processor operable to processing the charging state of the electronic device. A light source is in communication with the processor. The light source is configured to change the character of light being emitted. The processor is operable to actuate the light source so as to change the character of the emitted light source to reflect the charging state of the electronic device.

Console assembly with charging state indicator

A graphic display apparatus within an automotive vehicle wherein the display apparatus includes at least two display units operable to display graphics and/or video, a wire connector connecting the at least two display units together, and a control system connected to the wire connector wherein the control system is operable to play video or graphics on the at least two display units. A method is provided to all the system to be universal for both audio and navigation systems wherein each system calls for a predetermined delay of the animation. The display units are in communication with one another providing for a coordinated or synchronized display of graphics. If, by way of example, a firework explodes on the main display screen, the remnants of that single firework will be exploded onto the secondary display screens.

Graphic display apparatus

An adsorber unit has an outer shell, a plurality of internal tubes extending through the shell for carrying heat transfer fluid, each tube having outwardly projecting fins along its entire length, and a solid adsorbent material in the shell surrounding the tubes such that the fins project into the adsorbent material, the fins being of a material (e.g., metal) of higher thermal conductivity than the adsorbent material. Metal wool loosely packed inside the tubes, or internal radial fins swaged into the tubes, increase internal surface area thereby enhancing convective heat transfer. Metal wool loosely packed between the external fins, or fine wire metal coils lightly squeezed between the external fins, further increase external surface area of the heat exchanger in contact with the adsorbent thereby enhancing contact heat transfer. Performance is enhanced because the external fins and wool or wire coils transport heat more efficiently to all regions of the adsorbent, and permit less non-adsorbent heat exchanger material (e.g., metal) to be used for a given amount of adsorbent. Two or more such units are used in an adsorption heat pump. This design utilizes existing components (e.g., shell-&-tube heat exchanger, internally and externally finned tubing, and metal wool or wire coils) in a novel manner heretofore untried. In one exemplary embodiment, automobile air conditioning, exhaust heat is used to power such an air conditioner.

Automotive adsorption heat pump

A continuously variable drive ratio transmission includes a support, a first shaft rotatably mounted to the support so that shaft can rotate about a first axis, a helical rack supported by the first shaft so that the rack has a plurality of toothed convolutions facing away from and spaced apart along the first shaft, the diameters of said convolutions being such that together they define a conical envelope encircling the first shaft. A second shaft is rotatably mounted to the support so that the second shaft is spaced from and extends parallel to the envelope, and a gear member is mounted to the second shaft for rotation therewith, the gear member having teeth which mesh with those of the rack. The gear member is slidable along the second shaft so that the gear member may be positioned at any location along the rack.

Gear drive having continuously variable drive ratio

A rotary valve assembly includes a housing for positioning on an engine of the piston and cylinder type. The housing includes an intake passage for conducting a working fluid to the cylinder and an exhaust passage for conducting the working fluid from the cylinder. The housing has an internal cavity which intercepts the intake and exhaust passages, which cavity contains a rotary valve member having a window. The window is so positioned that when the member is rotated, it opens and closes the intake and exhaust passages in a periodic manner. The valve assembly may also include a throttle member mounted in the housing parallel to the rotary valve member. The throttle member has a hole which may be positioned opposite the intake passage. The throttle member is movable relative to the axis of the rotary valve member between a first position which places the hole in the throttle means opposite a first portion of the valve member and a second position which places that hole opposite a second portion of the valve member so that when the valve member is rotated, the open time of the intake passage can be controlled by the position of the throttle member. In some applications, the rotary valve member itself can function as the throttle member. A plurality of similar valve assemblies can be positioned adjacent to one another and concatenated so that they all operate in unison to control the working fluid flow to and from all the cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine. The assembly is particularly suitable for converting an internal combustion engine so that it operates under steam power. Other applications for the assembly are also disclosed.

Rotary valve assembly for engines and other applications

A modular rotary discoid valve assembly includes a housing for positioning on an engine of the piston and cylinder type. The housing includes an intake passage for conducting a working fluid to the cylinder and an exhaust passage for conducting the working fluid from the cylinder. The housing has an internal cavity which intercepts the intake and exhaust passages, which cavity contains a rotary valve member having a window whose size may vary with increasing distance from the disc axis and/or angular position on the member. The window is so positioned that when the member is rotated, it opens and closes the intake and exhaust passages in a periodic manner. The valve assembly also includes a throttle member mounted in the housing parallel to the rotary valve member. The throttle member has a hole which may be positioned opposite the intake passage. The throttle member is movable relative to the axis of the rotary valve member between a first position which places the hole in the shutter means opposite a first portion of the valve member and a second position which places that hole opposite a second portion of the valve member so that when the valve member is rotated, the open time of the intake passage can be controlled by the position of the throttle member. A plurality of similar valve assemblies can be positioned adjacent to one another and concatenated so that they all operate in unison to control the working fluid flow to and from all the cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine. The assembly is particularly suitable for converting an internal combustion engine so that it operates under steam power. Other applications for the assembly are also disclosed.

Modular rotary discoid valve assembly for engines and other applications

A modular rotary discoid valve assembly includes a housing for positioning on an engine the piston and cylinder type. The housing includes an intake passage for conducting a working fluid to the cylinder and an exhaust passage for conducting the working fluid from the cylinder. The housing is formed with an internal cavity which intercepts the intake and exhaust passages, which cavity contains a rotary valve member having a window whose shape and/or angular positions on the disc varies with increasing distance from the disc axis. The window is so positioned that when the member is rotated to a first angular position, the window is located opposite the intake passage whereby the working fluid can flow along the intake passage through the window to the cylinder and when the member is rotated to a second angular position, the window is located opposite the exhaust passage so that the working fluid can flow from the cylinder through the window along the exhaust passage. Thus, the assembly alternately opens and closes the intake and exhaust passages in a periodic manner. Preferably also, the valve assembly includes a throttle bar slidably mounted in the housing parallel to the rotary valve member. The throttle bar has a hole which is positioned opposite the intake passage. The bar is movable toward and away from the axis of the rotary valve member between a first position which places the hole in the throttle bar opposite a radially inner portion of the valve member and a second position which places that hole opposite a radially outer portion of the valve member so that when the valve member is rotated, the open time of the intake passage can be controlled by the position of the throttle bar. A plurality of similar valve assemblies can be positioned adjacent to one another and concatenated so that they all operate in unison to control the working fluid flow to and from all the cylinders of a multi cylinder engine. The assembly is particularly suitable for converting an internal combustion engine so that it operates under steam power. Other applications for the assembly are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Michael Lambert