Patents Examined by Lisa Klaus
  • Patent number: 7750258
    Abstract: A pedal device for adjusting pedal effort includes a housing fixed to a car body, a pedal arm that is hinged about the housing, an elastic member that is disposed between the housing and the pivot end of the pedal arm and provides a return force to the pedal arm, a pedal effort adjusting unit that is movably disposed in the housing and has a sloped portion for adjusting a pre-compression force to the elastic member, and a pre-compression force setting unit that sets a fixed position of the pedal effort adjusting unit with respect to the housing and keeps a pre-compression force applied to the elastic member at a predetermined level. With this configuration, the pedal device can adjust the reaction force applied to the driver pressing the pedal corresponding to the driver's driving propensity, thereby improving the operability and reducing the fatigue of the driver's ankle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Donghee Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwanghyuck Lee
  • Patent number: 7750257
    Abstract: A load tap changer connected to a power source to control voltage supplied from the power source to a load includes a base assembly that includes a base element onto which multiple stationary contacts that connect to taps of a winding of an electrical control device are mounted. The load tap changer also includes a movable assembly that includes a movable element that rotates to connect at least one pair of movable contacts mounted on the movable element to a stationary contact to select a corresponding tap. The load tap changer also includes a cover assembly that includes a cover element onto which a motor that rotates the movable element relative to the base assembly is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Kurt L. Lindsey, Rick Alan Rachwal, Richard M. Marusinec
  • Patent number: 7745742
    Abstract: A button assembly includes a first-button assembly (70), and a second-button assembly (80). The first-button assembly comprises a first button (72), and a first-supporting frame (74) used for supporting the first button. The first supporting frame includes a plurality of latching poles (78) projecting therefrom. The second-button assembly includes a plurality of second buttons (82) arranged around the first button, and a second-supporting frame 86 for supporting the second buttons. The second-supporting frame includes a plurality of latching holes 842 for receiving the latching poles. An electronic product having the button assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiunn-Her Li, Shih-Chang Hsu, Tzu-Hsiu Hung
  • Patent number: 7745746
    Abstract: A mechanical switch is arranged to electrically connect a power source to an electrical component. The switch includes a resilient structure, a first electrically conductive element connected to the power source and a second conductive element connected to the electrical component. At least one of the conductive elements is attached to the resilient structure. The switch is arranged such that the conductive elements are positioned out of contact with one another in the absence of a force being applied to the switch, and the resilient structure is moveable in response to a force applied thereto, the force being applied upon rotation of a tire to which the switch is connected. Upon the application of a force above a predetermined threshold, the resilient structure moves to bring the conductive elements into contact with one another, the contact electrically connecting the power source to the electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Sensonor AS
    Inventors: Markus Lohndorf, Terje Kvisteroey
  • Patent number: 7745748
    Abstract: A diode unit (9) including at least one diode (13) and a pair of terminals (15) is mounted on a switch body (2) having an actuate-able key (6) and at least two terminal points (4). The diode unit (9) is positioned on the exposed end of the key (6) such that surface parts of the diode unit (9) is brought into engagement with corresponding surface parts of the switch body (2) so as to prevent the diode unit (9) from movement in relation to the switch body (2) in a predefined plane. The diode unit terminals (15) extend in a direction transverse to said plane, and the diode unit terminals (15) are connected to the terminal points (4) of the switch body (2) so as to prevent movement of the diode unit (9) in relation to the switch body (2) transversely to said predefined plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: MEC A/S
    Inventors: Jens Ejner Ingerslev Nielsen, Claus Enoch
  • Patent number: 7741572
    Abstract: A switching device module comprising a frame (2), the switching device module being adapted to be connected to another switching device module for providing a modular switching device. The frame (2) of the switching device module is provided with one or more wire troughs (8), each of which is adapted to receive at least one wire of an auxiliary circuit of said modular switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: ABB OY
    Inventors: Harri Mattlar, Rainer Kolmonen, Juho Salo, Osmo Pikkala, Aki Suutarinen, Jarkko Alanen, Martti Tuononen
  • Patent number: 7728240
    Abstract: An electrical control device is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Rohit Dodal, Feihong Chen
  • Patent number: 7728236
    Abstract: A keypad includes an elastic layer for providing a restoring force to the keypad and an electric paper on the elastic layer, in which a plurality of key button regions for providing symbols in the form of images are defined. A keypad assembly includes a keypad, which has an elastic layer for providing a restoring force to the keypad and an electric paper on the elastic layer, in which a plurality of key button regions for providing symbols in the form of images are defined, and a switch board under the keypad for converting a pressure applied by a user to the key button region into an electric contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo-Hoon Lee, Sun-Tae Jung
  • Patent number: 7728239
    Abstract: Buckle switching device for a buckle for safety belts for the purpose of electrically detecting whether a belt tongue is locked in the buckle, where the buckle switching device is at least partly enveloped by a housing, and the buckle switching device has a conductor arrangement and a first detection device which can be influenced by means of the belt tongue for electrically detecting whether the belt tongue is locked, where the conductor arrangement has first contact regions for an electrical connection to the first detection device and second contact regions for an electrical connection to a second detection device which can be influenced by means of the belt tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventors: Peter Borst, Dietmar Barth
  • Patent number: 7714246
    Abstract: A portable electronic device (10) is provided. The portable electronic device includes the keypad assembly (20). The keypad assembly includes key buttons (30 or 60). Each key button includes a key portion (32 or 62), a supporting portion (34 or 66), a switching portion (35 or 64), a pad portion (36 or 67), and a circuit board portion (38 or 68). The supporting portion defines a first through hole (344 or 664). The switching portion includes at least one switching elastic sheet (354 or 644). The pad portion includes a base body (362 or 672) and a protruding portion (364 or 674). The circuit board portion includes a first contacting point (3821 or 6821), a contacting sheet (384 or 684), and at least one second contacting point (3822 or 6822).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Yu-Yuan Lin
  • Patent number: 7705259
    Abstract: Mobile phones are in a trend of having thinner configuration due to emphasis on the design. Thus, in order to meet this demand, the present invention aims to thin the key sheet portion as much as possible. A thin key sheet and a thin key unit incorporating the thin key sheet are configured by providing on its surface a key top 2 made of a metal or a resin with indications such as letters, symbols, graphics or the like indicating the functions of keys are formed on the front surface or the back surface thereof, and switch elements 4 for turning ON/OFF of an electric circuit by the pressing of the key top, together with a printed circuit board 5 on which a circuit pattern involved therewith is formed; and by adhering and fixing the key top 2 and the printed circuit board 5 together via a cushion gasket 3 having appropriate elasticity and a filler layer 14 disposed between the key top and the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sunarrow Limited
    Inventor: Yoshio Kenmochi
  • Patent number: 7700889
    Abstract: A double-shot molded button includes a main portion including an operation surface and at least one inserted portion embedded in the main portion. The inserted portion includes an exposed surface exposed from the operation surface to configure a symbol for denoting an operation function and being pressed. An orthographic projection image of the inserted portion on the exposed surface is enclosed within the exposed surface. A method for making the double-shot molded button is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min Wang
  • Patent number: 7700886
    Abstract: A rubber key device is provide with a key top member, multiple rubber keys, a click feel generating mechanism and a load transmitting mechanism. When a depression area of the key top member is depressed by a user, the key top member is rotated to depress a top face of a rubber key via the load transmitting mechanism. The load transmitting mechanism transmits the load caused by the depression of the depression area to the top face of the corresponding rubber key such that the load is transmitted to only a substantially central portion of the top face of the corresponding one of the multiple rubber keys regardless of the depression amount of the depression area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7679013
    Abstract: There is provided an electronic device that enables and ensures the detection of the open/close condition and attached condition of a plurality of cover bodies by only one detection switch. Therefore, an electronic device comprises an upper cover, a front cover, an actuator, and a mechanical switch. The upper cover is provided openable and closable with respect to a rolled sheet holder storing case, and the front cover is removably attached on the rolled sheet holder storing case for covering a component, which is housed in the rolled sheet holder storing case. The actuator is provided on the front cover, and it makes an action when the upper cover is closed to the rolled sheet holder storing case, and the mechanical switch detects the action of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Kobayashi, Keiji Seo, Akira Sago, Atsushi Kasugai, Hiroaki Kita
  • Patent number: 7671287
    Abstract: An automatic timing control device case which is used for accommodating a timing control rotation shaft and a plurality of switches. A motor is disposed on the case for driving a gear set connected to the timing control rotation shaft to rotate, thereby controlling on or off of the switches through the timing control rotation shaft. The automatic timing control device case includes a body and a gear box. The body has an accommodation space for accommodating the timing control rotation shaft and the plurality of switches. The gear box is integrally formed in the body for accommodating the gear set. The gear box has at least one through-hole communicating the gear box and the accommodation space, such that the gear set is connected to and drives the timing control rotation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Norm Pacific Automation Corp.
    Inventors: Keng-Jen Lai, Ming-Teng Chu, Shih-Chi Chan
  • Patent number: 7671289
    Abstract: A capacitance type light-emitting switch and a light-emitting switch element are provided that operate properly by preventing failure in entry and for which a small number of parts are used. A light-emitting switch 61 has a light-emitting switch element 51 and a control element 31. A light-emitting switch element 51 has a panel 2 made of transparent materials, a decorated layer 3 arranged on at least one side of the panel, a light guide plate 4 arranged on the back sides of the panel and the decorated layer, a point light source 5 or a line light source arranged on the side of the light guide plate, and a reflective layer 1 that is made of an opaque metal film of less than 1?/cm2 of surface resistance measured by the four-point probe array measurement method, mounted on the back side of the light guide plate, and is formed to have an electrode unit 1a and a conductive unit 1b connected to the electrode unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Nissha Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke Matsukawa, Shuzo Okumura, Ryomei Omote
  • Patent number: 7663071
    Abstract: A keypad assembly having three-dimensional patterns includes a bottom layer, a light-guiding plate, a pattern layer, a coating layer and a surface layer. The light-guiding plate is overlapped on the bottom layer. The pattern layer is provided on the light-guiding plate. A plurality of three-dimensional patterns is provided on the pattern layer. The coating layer is coated on the upper surface of the pattern layer. The surface layer is overlapped on the coating layer. The surface layer is formed with a plurality of keycaps to correspond to the three-dimensional patterns. Via the above arrangement, patterns such as characters, symbols or icons can be displayed in the keycaps in a three-dimensional manner, thereby increasing recognition and visual effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ichia Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jian-Li Chang
  • Patent number: 7655876
    Abstract: A device for sensing the position of a contact carrier of a contact includes a housing, a sensor supported by the housing and a latch that is movable by the contact carrier. The latch has a latch member located in proximity to the sensor and that is generally non-reflective. The sensor is configured to sense a presence or an absence of the latch member at one particular location depending upon the position of the contact carrier. A method of sensing position of a contact carrier of a contact module is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeganathan Srinivasan, Nilanjan Ray Chaudhuri, Raghunath Prabhu, Sirosh Sivasankaran, Kalyana Sundaram
  • Patent number: 7655878
    Abstract: Disclosed is a key sheet having a base sheet equipped with a hard resin plate and a key sheet manufacturing method, wherein a reduction is achieved in the thickness of the base sheet and in the effort and cost for the molding. Further, accurate depressing operation is realized without impairing the outward appearance of the key sheet. The key sheet has a hard base plate having a communicating groove connecting through-holes with each other. The communicating groove has a connecting portion formed so as to be continuous and integral with operating portions formed respectively at the through-holes. Thus, there is no need to form inlets for a rubber-like elastic material respectively corresponding to the through-holes in the mold. As a result, the mold structure can be simplified to thereby achieve a reduction in cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Polymatech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7432464
    Abstract: A light guide (30) for illuminating a keypad (20) including a plurality of keys (22) includes a plurality of apertures (300) corresponding to the keys, and a plurality of slots (340). The slots are defined in a face of the light guide adjacent to the keypad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-An Chiu, Kuo-Chu Chang