Patents Represented by Attorney Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
  • Patent number: 6946611
    Abstract: A keyboard switch with an internal air escape network, such as a series of channels or through holes, for containing air or fluid escaping from the switching cavities when a key is depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 6945696
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic thrust bearing, particularly forming a part of a bearing system for a rotary bearing of spindle motors utilized to power hard disk drives. The thrust bearing includes at least one annular thrust plate and a counter bearing corresponding to the thrust plate. The thrust plate is fixedly mounted on a shaft rotatably supported by means of a radial bearing system. The thrust plate is arranged on the shaft which is provided with an axial bore in the area where the thrust plate is to be positioned. A spherical element fixing the thrust plate is pressed into the axial bore. An outer diameter of the fixing element is greater than the inner diameter of the axial bore. This type of press connection between the thrust plate and the shaft allows comparatively thinner thrust plates to be used while the performance of the thrust bearing remains the same or improves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ralf Dittes, Helmut Hueneke, Joerg Hoffman, Jürgen Oelsch, Thilo Rehm, Mathias Wildpreth, Olaf Winterhalter
  • Patent number: 6946765
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for an electric motor having a rotor shaft and at least one permanent magnet arranged on the rotor shaft. The rotor shaft with the permanent magnet is accommodated in a sleeve the rotor shaft being freely rotatable within the sleeve. The sleeve is closed off by a flange at a first end face. An inner-rotor electric motor having a stator and a rotor assembly of the type described above, with the stator being inserted over the sleeve of the rotor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harald Rapp, Oswald Kuwert, Jurgen Oelsch
  • Patent number: 6942547
    Abstract: A stepping motor stator stack and rotor stack finishing method whereby the burrs remaining on the small tooth surfaces of the stacks can be eliminated and prevented from lodging in the spaces between laminations of a plurality of stacked steel plates, without causing a dulling of these small teeth. After abrasive finishing is carried out, a high pressure liquid jet spray nozzle is introduced into the central cylindrical cavity of a stator stack, and while this is moved relatively along the central axis of the central cylindrical cavity and rotated relatively centered on the central axis of the central cylindrical cavity, the high pressure liquid jet sprayed from the jet orifices strikes the small tooth surfaces of the stator stack facing the central cylindrical cavity so as to remove the burrs remaining on the small tooth surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takae Matsuda, Takashi Toda, Noriyuki Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 6939113
    Abstract: A fan with increased air flow having a casing in which an air passage hole is formed. A motor is connected to this casing and is held in the center of the air passage hole by a motor base positioned within the air passage hole. Multiple blades are rotated by the motor and covey air from the air passage hole intake port side to the exhaust port side. The annular outer wall of the fan is inclined with respect to the center axis towards the air passage hole exhaust port. By this means, a fan is capable of attaining a greater airflow volume than conventional fans, while having the same outward shape as a conventional fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Otsuka, Jinko Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6939046
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing having a shaft, which is fixedly connected at one end to a rotating component, and a bearing sleeve, which encompasses the shaft at its other free end with a slight clearance. The sleeve and the shaft form a concentric bearing gap. The shaft and/or the bearing sleeve is provided with at least one groove pattern which forms at least one radial hydrodynamic bearing. A volume equalizing cavity and at least one connecting passage connecting the bearing gap with the volume equalizing cavity extend radially outwards at an angle to the bearing gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Juergen Oelsch
  • Patent number: 6940193
    Abstract: Permanent electro-conductive connection is achieved between a bearing component and a baseplate/flange by providing at least one solid-state contact element between the baseplate/flange and the bearing component. The contact element establishes an electric contact between these parts by exercising mechanical force on the baseplate/flange and/or the bearing component. Alternatively, at least one welding seam may be formed between the baseplate/flange and the bearing component to establish the electro-conductive connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joerg Hoffmann, Thilo Rehm
  • Patent number: 6939048
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic thrust bearing, forming a part of a bearing system for a rotary bearing of spindle motors utilized to power hard disk drives, which includes at least one annular thrust plate and a counter bearing corresponding to the thrust plate. The thrust plate is firmly connected to a shaft rotatably supported by a radial bearing system. The shaft features an axial bore extends from one shaft end located outside the bearing system until the area where the thrust plate is to be positioned. A fixing element is inserted into the axial bore, an outer diameter of the fixing element being greater than the smallest inner diameter of the bore. This enables the thrust plate to be easily mounted in a press fit even in the area around the middle of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Juergen Oelsch
  • Patent number: 6934466
    Abstract: Buzz reduction circuit for eliminating a vertical period buzz without being influenced by amplifier circuits in an audio signal line. A video signal of a VCR video head is input to a vertical synchronizing signal separating circuit to separate a vertical synchronizing signal. A vertical synchronizing pulse is obtained by an integral circuit and a vertical period buzz reduction signal is produced by a vertical period buzz reduction circuit, said vertical period buzz reduction signal having an equal output level and an inverted phase in comparison with the vertical period buzz. The vertical period buzz reduction signal is inputted to a pre-stage of an audio amplifier circuit in an audio output line of a linear audio head to reduce the vertical period buzz included in an output signal of the linear audio head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Orion Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Tsubokawa
  • Patent number: 6933688
    Abstract: A brushless direct current motor drive circuit having a serially connected motor coil energizing circuit, a serially connected feedback circuit, a pre-drive circuit, a position sensor, and a duty ratio controller. This circuit can decrease the heat generation from the switching elements on the power source side, perform absorption of the current flowing back in the direction of the switching elements on the power source side when the duty ratio is set to less than 100% without using an electrolytic capacitor group that causes a shortening of the motor lifetime, and solve various problems caused by the use of an electrolytic capacitor group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xi Junnan, Mitsuo Konno
  • Patent number: 6929879
    Abstract: In order to provide a battery in which a molded section can be fixed to a battery cell, a battery comprises a battery cell, a circuit board which is attached to the battery cell, an electrode terminal which connects the battery cell and the circuit board electrically, a molded section which adheres the circuit board and the electrode terminal to the battery cell as an entire unit, adhesion strengthened areas which are formed between the electrode terminal and the battery, and electrode terminal inner surface resin sections which are formed in a part of the molded section of the adhesion strengthened area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6925854
    Abstract: A method of verifying and inspecting the bearing gap between a shaft and a shaft seat of a hydrodynamic bearing includes positioning the shaft in its functional position in the shaft seat of the test bearing. A measuring fluid is then caused to flow through the bearing gap. One or more parameters characterizing the fluid flow through the bearing gap can then be measured. Because these parameters of the fluid flow are affected by the dimensions of the bearing gap, the bearing gap can thus be reliably verified. A corresponding device for verifying and inspecting the bearing gap is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Rudolf Neumann
  • Patent number: 6919659
    Abstract: An electric motor having a stator arranged on a sleeve; and a rotor assembly having a rotor shaft and at least one permanent magnet arranged on the rotor shaft, the rotor shaft being rotatbly housed in the sleeve. An external dimension of the rotor assembly and an internal dimension of the stator are selected such that the rotor assembly is free to move in the axial direction while the rotor assembly is inserted into the stator. The rotor assembly is aligned within the stator in the magnetic center of the stator by self-centering magnetic forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Harald Rapp
  • Patent number: 6917780
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of non-contact developing method using two-component developer material which is capable of obtaining a clear image free from fogging, ghost and toner contamination. The image forming apparatus has at least one developing unit which includes a developing roll and a magnetic roll, the developing unit develops an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body with a toner thin layer formed on the surface of a developing roll wherein a toner thin layer forming region on the developing roll is smaller than a magnetic brush forming region on the magnetic roll. A high resistivity region is adjacent each end of the toner thin layer forming region on the developing roll. A control device controls a developer material replenishment and controls the biasing to the developing roll and magnetic roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Ozawa, Eiji Ochiai, Shoichi Sakata, Toshinori Nishimura, Masayoshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 6913444
    Abstract: A small, lightweight and inexpensive thin-form centrifugal fan having a first moving blade; a second moving blade; and a stationary blade disposed between the first moving blade and the second moving blade and directing gas taken in by rotation of the first moving blade to the second moving blade. The first and second moving blades are formed such that the rigidity of their central portions is smaller than the rigidity of their outer perimeter areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kariya, Hiroki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6910564
    Abstract: A rotor ring and an armature for use in a toothed electromagnetic clutch or a toothed electromagnetic clutch brake. A method of manufacturing rotor rings and armatures used in toothed electromagnetic clutch or a toothed electromagnetic clutch brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Manabu Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 6911172
    Abstract: A wireless ad hoc pico network is formed by eyewear and other devices such as a computer, a bracelet and a telephone having similar transceivers mounted on them. The eyewear includes a frame and connected to the frame are two temples. Temples are connected to frame via hinges. Temples have a male portion of a connector incorporated in them. Female portion of the connector is made integral with the hinges. When the male portion is inserted in the female portion the temple is attached to the frame. The temples can be removed by pulling the connector apart, and a temple with different apparatus within it can be inserted in place of the removed temples. The temple may have co-molded within its body, an apparatus such as an audio device, a camera, a speaker, and a microphone, and a display device such as liquid crystal or an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Q.R. Spex, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Swab, James E. Malackowski, Mikal Greaves, Rolf Milesi, Christine Ligtenberg, Thomas Meier
  • Patent number: 6907216
    Abstract: In order to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a quality image by restricting a distance between a developing roll and a magnetic roll with a simple structure, an image forming apparatus comprises a magnetic roll 1 and a developing roll 2 that are disposed in parallel with a predetermined distance and a developing unit 50 that develops an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body drum 3 disposed on the image forming apparatus main body using a toner thin layer formed on the surface of the developing roll by the magnetic roll, wherein a member for holding rotational axes having a pair of openings for holding, which fits and holds rotatably and integrally each of rotational axes of the magnetic roll and the developing roll is provided, the opening for holding of the developing roll being capable of swinging around the axis center of the opening for holding of the magnetic roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Toshinori Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6890105
    Abstract: A deep channel type of radial ball bearing having a retainer. The bearing has an outer ring and an inner ring. Running channels are formed on the mutually opposing orbiting surfaces of the outer ring and inner ring. A specified number of balls are fit into the running channels. The retainer having pockets is placed between the outer ring and the inner ring. Each ball is captured in one of the pockets. A ball contact surface is formed on the inner surface of each edge on the opening side of the pockets. A curved ridge line forms the boundary between the inner surface of the pocket and the contact surface. This curved ridge line that forms the boundary is substantially parallel to the direction of rotation of the balls. A channel is formed at the bottom surface of the pocket. The channel extends from the inner perimeter to the outer perimeter of the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiko Ide, Takuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6887288
    Abstract: A superfinishing grindstone suitable for precision grinding, that contains either RB (rice bran) ceramic fine grains or CRB (carbonized rice bran) ceramic fine grains or a combination of both, for use as abrasive grains. The grains of RB ceramic fine grains and CRB ceramic fine grains have multiple small pores which allow the grains to be easily removed from a finished structure. These fine grains have a high Vickers hardness, which makes them highly resistant to bending, scratching, abrasion or cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Hokkirigawa, Motoharu Akiyama, Noriyuki Yoshimura