Patents by Inventor Charles Banter

Charles Banter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10152132
    Abstract: A system for amplifying haptic effects provided by a push-pull actuator includes a housing component, a push-pull actuator coupled to the housing component and configured to provide a force and a displacement, a lever component including a lever arm and a fulcrum, and a haptic touch surface coupled to the lever arm via an output interface. The push-pull actuator is via an actuator mount. The amount of displacement transferred to the haptic touch surface from the push-pull actuator is reduced by the lever component and the amount of force transferred to the haptic touch surface from the push-pull actuator is increased by the lever component. The system may include a material stop coupled to the housing component that when compressed by the haptic touch surface exhibits hysteresis to dampen the haptic touch surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benoit Paul Belley, Charles Banter, Daniel Parker, Kohei Imoto
  • Publication number: 20170249011
    Abstract: A system for amplifying haptic effects provided by a push-pull actuator includes a housing component, a push-pull actuator coupled to the housing component and configured to provide a force and a displacement, a lever component including a lever arm and a fulcrum, and a haptic touch surface coupled to the lever arm via an output interface. The push-pull actuator is via an actuator mount. The amount of displacement transferred to the haptic touch surface from the push-pull actuator is reduced by the lever component and the amount of force transferred to the haptic touch surface from the push-pull actuator is increased by the lever component. The system may include a material stop coupled to the housing component that when compressed by the haptic touch surface exhibits hysteresis to dampen the haptic touch surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Benoit Paul BELLEY, Charles BANTER, Daniel PARKER, Kohei IMOTO
  • Publication number: 20060061315
    Abstract: A controller for selectively adjusting a power seat includes a seat adjuster including a base panel, a stepped panel extending laterally from a surface of the base panel, selector areas inclined with respect to and extending between the base panel and the stepped panel and along at least a portion of a periphery of the stepped panel. Multiple spaced depressions are formed on an outer surface of the selector areas. A contactless sensor is secured to an inner surface of the selector areas at each a depression, each sensor selectively producing a signal representing a seat adjustment function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Schmidt, James Wright, Charles Banter
  • Publication number: 20060036335
    Abstract: A vehicle accessory control panel is provided for controlling at least two vehicle accessory systems. A plurality of switches is reconfigurable for providing at least two sets of switch functions. A plurality of graphics is provided for identifying the switch functions. A plurality of illumination elements is provided for illuminating the plurality of graphics. The respective set of illumination elements is activated for illuminating a respective set of graphics identifiable with a selected set of accessory switch functions. A first set of graphics identifies a first set of accessory switch functions in response to enabling the first set of accessory switch functions. A second set of graphics identifies a second set of accessory switch functions in response to enabling the second set of accessory switch functions. A wakeup protocol includes a sequential illumination learning mode scheme for visually identifying each respective set of accessory switch functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Charles Banter, Robert Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20050205407
    Abstract: A conductive plastic touch switch includes a plastic substrate having a first side surface including at least two channels formed within the first side surface and a second side surface including a manual activation region opposite of the at least two channels. At least two conductive traces are formed within the at least two channels, respectively. A printed circuit board is electrically attached to the at least two conductive traces. The plastic substrate is formed during a first mold process and said at least two conductive traces are in-molded during a second mold process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: David Hein, Michael Cass, Todd DePue, Charles Banter