Robert A Downs

US Patent:

6376927, Apr 23, 2002

Filed:

Jan 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/483986

Inventors:

Goro Tamai - Warren MI
Tony T. Hoang - Warren MI
Robert Charles Downs - La Jolla CA

Assignee:

Saturn Corporation - Troy MI

International Classification:

E05C 106

US Classification:

290 40C, 290 31, 290 32, 290 40 R, 290 40 A, 290 40 B, 290 40 F

Abstract:

A fuel management control method for a hybrid electric vehicle drive having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor arranged in parallel such that both can propel the vehicle; the system including an electric motor driven fuel pump and a programmable microprocessor; and wherein the method further includes monitoring vehicle speed and sensing braking pressure and directing signals of both vehicle speed and braking to the microprocessor and processing such inputs in accordance with an aggressive fuel management program including shut-off of fuel flow to the gas engine in response to vehicle braking at vehicle speeds above a predetermined maximum hysteresis speed and maintaining the fuel shut off during vehicle coasting above a predetermined speed while controlling the electric motor to provide regenerative braking or vehicle start during such fuel shut off modes of operation.

US Patent:

6616569, Sep 9, 2003

Filed:

Jun 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/872617

Inventors:

Tony T. Hoang - Warren MI
Goro Tamai - Warren MI
Robert Charles Downs - La Jolla CA
Kenneth Robert Kridner - Holly MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60K 102

US Classification:

477 3, 180 652

Abstract:

A method of controlling a powertrain for a hybrid vehicle, the method including providing an internal combustion engine, providing a motor generator operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine, providing an automatic transmission operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine, and actuating the motor generator to a certain speed to restart the vehicle.

US Patent:

20050058577, Mar 17, 2005

Filed:

Apr 7, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/821127

Inventors:

Kenneth Micklash - Royal Oak MI, US
Robert Downs - La Jolla CA, US
Jim Chang - San Diego CA, US
James Mainquist - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

IRM, LLC - Hamilton

International Classification:

B01L003/00

US Classification:

422099000, 422102000

Abstract:

The present invention provides material removal heads and devices for noninvasively removing materials from the wells of multi-well plates. The material removal heads of the invention are structured to prevent cross-contamination among wells of multi-well plates as materials are removed from the plates. The invention also provides dispense heads and devices that include angled dispensers. Related systems, kits, and methods are additionally provided.

US Patent:

20060051247, Mar 9, 2006

Filed:

Aug 3, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/198918

Inventors:

Kenneth Micklash - Royal Oak MI, US
Robert Downs - La Jolla CA, US
Jim Chang - San Diego CA, US
James Mainquist - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

IRM, LLC - Hamilton

International Classification:

B01L 3/02

US Classification:

422100000

Abstract:

The present invention provides fluid removal heads and related multi-well container processing systems for the efficient removal of fluids from multi-well containers. Methods of removing fluid from multi-well containers are also provided.

US Patent:

20070105214, May 10, 2007

Filed:

Nov 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/271501

Inventors:

Kenneth Micklash - Royal Oak MI, US
Jiyong Hong - Chapel Hill NC, US
James Mainquist - San Diego CA, US
Sheng Ding - San Diego CA, US
Robert Downs - La Jolla CA, US
Peter Schultz - La Jolla CA, US

Assignee:

IRM, LLC - Hamilton
THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE - La Jolla CA

International Classification:

C12M 3/08
B01L 3/00
C12M 1/34

US Classification:

435306100, 435286200, 435287300, 422063000, 422099000

Abstract:

High throughput and automated cellular disruption systems that substantially uniformly disrupt cells as part of cellular motility assays as wells as other assay types are provided. In addition, various system components, including holding blocks, holding block loading devices, and system software, are also provided. Moreover, related methods that utilize these systems and system components are additionally provided.

US Patent:

55883273, Dec 31, 1996

Filed:

Sep 25, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/533571

Inventors:

Robert C. Downs - Clarkston MI
James K. Mainquist - Troy MI
Larry T. Nitz - Rochester MI
William L. Aldrich - Davisburg MI

Assignee:

Saturn Corporation - Troy MI

International Classification:

F16H 6108

US Classification:

74335

Abstract:

A five-speed parallel-shaft clutch-to-clutch shifting automatic transmission has an hydraulically responsive clutch priority valve effective to exhaust fluid pressure from lower priority clutches upon undesirable simultaneous application two or more clutches. Two clutches associated with numerically nonadjacent gear ratios are supplied fluid pressure from a single solenoid controlled fluid valve vis-a-vis a two mutually exclusive state multiplex valve. The clutch priority valve is interposed between the solenoid controlled fluid valve and the multi-plex valve thereby rendering the two clutch states associated with the single solenoid valve indistinguishable by the clutch priority valve. A fluid pressure control provides for a clutch priority valve override to prevent undesirable exhausting of the desired clutch supplied via the multi-plexed solenoid controlled fluid valve which otherwise may occur upon shifting to one of the two gear ratios corresponding to one of the two clutches supplied by the multi-plexed valve.

US Patent:

47077891, Nov 17, 1987

Filed:

Nov 29, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/802676

Inventors:

Robert C. Downs - Ortonville MI
Larry T. Nitz - Troy MI
Joseph L. Wanamaker - Rochester MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60K 4108

US Classification:

3644241

Abstract:

An adaptive shift control system for regulating the operation of a fluid operated torque establishing device associated with a specified speed ratio in a motor vehicle automatic transmission. Shifting from a currently engaged speed ratio to the specified speed ratio includes a preparation phase during which fluid is supplied to the torque establishing device for a predetermined time to fill the same in preparation for torque transmission, and a completion phase during which further fluid is supplied to the device to initiate and progressively increase the transmission of torque therethrough. The change in transmission input speed due to the initiation of torque transmission through the torque establishing device is identified and used to detect the occurrence of overfill or underfill conditions. The predetermined time is adjusted based on such detection so as to adaptively compensate for sources of error which degrade the shift quality by causing overfill or underfill conditions.

US Patent:

54819326, Jan 9, 1996

Filed:

Mar 29, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/219311

Inventors:

Robert C. Downs - Clarkston MI
John D. Malloy - Troy MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI
Saturn Corporation - Troy MI

International Classification:

F16H 308

US Classification:

74331

Abstract:

A power transmission has three axes on which rotatably supported gears and selectively operable clutches are disposed to provide five forward speed ratios. The two highest speed ratios (fourth and fifth) have identical input clutch and gear units. The fourth ratio, the torque transmission path, includes a transfer gear ratio and utilizes the second speed ratio gears to develop a speed ratio different from the fifth speed ratio.