Printed Circuit Patents (Class 200/292)
  • Patent number: 11944713
    Abstract: The present inventive concept discloses a button which comprising a body, a lighting control unit and a cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Yen Hong-Lin
  • Patent number: 11610499
    Abstract: In an example, printed circuitry comprises a digitally printed switch, the printed switch comprising a first contact element printed using conductive print agent on a first substrate portion and a second contact element printed using conductive print agent on a second substrate portion. An interposed non-conductive printed spacer element is overprinted on at least one of the first and the second substrate portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gideon Amir, Niv Shem Tov
  • Patent number: 11571781
    Abstract: Provided is an electric tool in which the risk of short-circuiting between conductive members of multiple installed switching elements has been reduced by providing partitioning plates between the switching elements. An electric tool, which has a motor, an inverter circuit with multiple switching elements for performing switching operations and controlling the driving of the motor, a control unit for controlling switching element on-off operations, and a circuit board on which the switching elements are loaded, is configured so that the circuit board is housed inside a container-shaped case (40) and the circuit board is secured with a partitioning member (50) that is interposed between the multiple switching elements and has partitioning plates (51, 52a, 52b) obtained from an insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuki Takeda, Hironori Sakai
  • Patent number: 11388815
    Abstract: A flexible electronic foil (1,1?,1?) comprising a flexible substrate (2) and at least one electrically conducive portion (3) arranged to the substrate (2). The foil (1,1?,1?) comprises mechanical fastening means (6,6?,7) for mechanical fastening of the electronic foil (1,1?,1?), the mechanical fastening means being part of the substrate (2) of the electronic foil (1,1?,1?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Vesa Pentikäinen, Kimmo Jokelainen
  • Patent number: 11209925
    Abstract: Disclosed is a display device capable of reducing the thickness and the weigh thereof. A display device having a touch sensor realizes electrical connection of a routing line and a touch pad via an auxiliary conductive layer, which is connected to the routing line under an encapsulation unit, even if a disconnection fault occurs in the routing line, thereby achieving increased yield and reliability. In addition, through the provision of a touch sensor disposed above the encapsulation unit, a separate attachment process is unnecessary, which results in a simplified manufacturing process and reduced costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Hyun Song, Jeong-Oh Kim
  • Patent number: 11037119
    Abstract: A system, method and server are described for creating customized, in-store customer experiences. In one embodiment, a method is described, comprising receiving proprietary retail data from a first retail establishment over a wide-area network, the proprietary retail data comprising customer purchasing information formatted in a first proprietary format, converting the proprietary retail data into a standard retail data format to produce standardized retail data, receiving an indication from the first retail establishment over the wide-area network that an event relating to the first retail establishment has occurred, and in response to receiving the indication, retrieving standardized retail data relating to the customer from a memory, and providing at least some of the standardized retail data related to the customer to the retail establishment for presentation to the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Targetable Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Edelman, Trent Dethloff
  • Patent number: 10983598
    Abstract: Provided is an arithmetic processing to reduce a number of parts as it is not necessary to prepare an operation device for each input processing logic. A plurality of types of input processing logics is stored in the ROM, and CPU selects one of the plurality of types of input processing logics and executes input processing according to the selected input processing logic. As a result, there is no need to prepare the ECU for each input processing logic, reducing the number of parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakagawa, Tomonori Ohashi
  • Patent number: 10884535
    Abstract: Disclosed is a display device capable of reducing the thickness and the weigh thereof. A display device having a touch sensor realizes electrical connection of a routing line and a touch pad via an auxiliary conductive layer, which is connected to the routing line under an encapsulation unit, even if a disconnection fault occurs in the routing line, thereby achieving increased yield and reliability. In addition, through the provision of a touch sensor disposed above the encapsulation unit, a separate attachment process is unnecessary, which results in a simplified manufacturing process and reduced costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Hyun Song, Jeong-Oh Kim
  • Patent number: 10849230
    Abstract: A switch assembly for an electronic device is described. The switch assembly includes a switch member, a housing and a support member. The housing is mounted on a printed circuit board and the switch member is attached to the housing. The support member is mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board adjacent to a back surface of the switch member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS
    Inventor: Darin Bradley Ritter
  • Patent number: 10790102
    Abstract: A holding adapter for fixing control and signaling devices, including pushbuttons, on a front plate, includes: a housing having a first recess; and a mounting plate mounted in the housing and having a second recess. The second recess is arranged flush with the first recess so that a control or signaling device is guidable in an axial direction through the two recesses. The mounting plate is displaceable in the axial direction relative to the housing between a first end position and a second end position so as to provide a vertical compensation when the control or signaling device is fixed to the front plate, depending upon a thickness of the front plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Luetfiye Doenoglu, Joerg Schaefer, Deepak Sanan, Artur Wiese
  • Patent number: 10784743
    Abstract: A vehicle seat actuator includes an electric motor and a gear set that connects the drive motor to the seat and transmits the output of the motor to the vehicle seat. The drive motor and gear set are each disposed in an individual, dedicated housing component. The individual housing components are then assembled together to provide the actuator. The housing components are maintained in the assembled configuration using snap fit mechanical fasteners. Each snap-fit fastener includes a receiving portion provided on one housing component and a retaining portion provided on the other housing component. The receiving portion may be a blind hole formed in the drive motor housing that is partially obstructed by an elastic member, while the retaining component is a latch that protrudes from an outer surface of the gear housing and forms a snap-fit engagement with the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Luis Angel Ramirez Ortiz, Pablo Daniel Molina Cardozo, Alex Martin
  • Patent number: 10771061
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system include a pre-mount chassis system. The methods include attaching a chassis to an electrical wall box, the chassis comprising at least one hook extending in an upward direction and at least one opening, the at least one hook positioned along a peripheral portion of the at least one opening. The methods include hanging a base module from the at least one hook in the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Racepoint Energy, LLC
    Inventor: William Lark, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10741343
    Abstract: A keypad device includes a circuit board having raised buttons disposed on a first surface of the circuit board, resilient switches disposed on a periphery of the first surface, and through-holes, wherein each of the raised buttons and switches, when actuated, closes a circuit on the circuit board and affects an input to the device. The keypad device includes a faceplate fastened to the circuit board, the faceplate having an array of openings configured to allow the buttons to pass through, bosses extending from a first surface of the faceplate toward the circuit board and positioned to pass through the through-holes on the circuit board, and plungers aligned above and in contact with the resilient switches such that when the plate is pressed toward the circuit board, in a region at or near a subject plunger, the subject plunger actuates the resilient switch that is in contact with the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Jacobi Grillo
  • Patent number: 10727373
    Abstract: Provided are a light emitting diode capable of improving contrast, a method for manufacturing a light emitting diode, a light emitting diode display device, and a method for manufacturing a light emitting diode display device. The light emitting diode according to an embodiment comprises a package substrate having an electrode provided therein; a light emitting diode chip provided on the package substrate; a power line electrically connecting the light emitting diode chip to the electrode; and a black layer covering the electrode including a part connected to the power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yokote, Katsutoshi Sasaki, Dai Aoki, Tsubasa Fujiwara, Atsushi Sato
  • Patent number: 10642394
    Abstract: Disclosed is a display device capable of reducing the thickness and the weigh thereof. A display device having a touch sensor realizes electrical connection of a routing line and a touch pad via an auxiliary conductive layer, which is connected to the routing line under an encapsulation unit, even if a disconnection fault occurs in the routing line, thereby achieving increased yield and reliability. In addition, through the provision of a touch sensor disposed above the encapsulation unit, a separate attachment process is unnecessary, which results in a simplified manufacturing process and reduced costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Hyun Song, Jeong-Oh Kim
  • Patent number: 10479438
    Abstract: A bicycle brake and shift operating device is basically provided with a base member, a brake lever and a first shift switch. The base member includes a grip portion and a mounting portion. The mounting portion is configured to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar. The brake lever is pivotally connected to the base member at a pivot axis. The brake lever includes an inward facing surface and an outward facing surface. The first shift switch includes a first operating portion arranged along the inward facing surface of the brake lever. The first shift switch is arranged to electrically control a shifting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Toshio Tetsuka
  • Patent number: 10438159
    Abstract: A system, method and server are described for creating customized, in-store customer experiences. In one embodiment, a method is described, comprising receiving proprietary retail data from a first retail establishment over a wide-area network, the proprietary retail data comprising customer purchasing information formatted in a first proprietary format, converting the proprietary retail data into a standard retail data format to produce standardized retail data, receiving an indication from the first retail establishment over the wide-area network that an event relating to the first retail establishment has occurred, and in response to receiving the indication, retrieving standardized retail data relating to the customer from a memory, and providing at least some of the standardized retail data related to the customer to the retail establishment for presentation to the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Herofi Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Edelman, Trent Dethloff
  • Patent number: 10390399
    Abstract: An LED assembly is disclosed that comprises a based formed around terminals and a substrate. An LED array is positioned on the substrate in a recess. The LED array is electrically coupled to the terminals, which may be part of a connector formed in the base. An emission disk can be positioned over the LED array. If desired, circuitry can be supplied on the base that helps control or condition the supplied power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel B. McGowan, Victor Zaderej, Michael C. Picini
  • Patent number: 10354785
    Abstract: A passive thermal switch device, for regulating a temperature of a thermal component configured to generate heat, includes a first plate and a second plate. The first plate is provided on the thermal component. The first plate includes a thermal switch material that switches from an antiferromagnetic state to a ferromagnetic state upon exceeding a state transition temperature. The second plate includes a permanent magnet. The second plate is moveable between a thermal insulator position and a thermal conductor position based on a temperature of the thermal switch material. In the thermal insulator position, the second plate is spaced apart from the first plate. In the thermal conductor position, the second plate is in contact with the first plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Takeo Yamaguchi, Gaohua Zhu
  • Patent number: 10348156
    Abstract: An actuator comprising a housing defining an interior cavity for a motor, gear assemblies, and a printed circuit overlying the motor and the gear assemblies. An elastomeric seal band is located between the housing and the cover for sealing the interior cavity of the housing. The seal band includes a plurality of compressible elastomeric beads that abut against the cover and exert a force against the printed circuit board respectively for preventing the vibration of the printed circuit board in the housing. A plurality of curved clips are received in respective clip brackets formed on the housing and the cover respectively for clamping a cover to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: William Shelby Stewart, Eric David Andrina, Lei Zhao
  • Patent number: 10325734
    Abstract: A keyboard switch includes a key top movable vertically on receiving a depressing force, a plunger engaged with a lower portion of the key top and movable vertically with the key top, a cup rubber disposed under the plunger and supporting the plunger from below, a housing arranged on an outer peripheral side of the plunger and cup rubber, a plate supported on the housing and extending laterally, and a spacer interposed between the plate and key top. The spacer is removably mounted onto the keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: TOPRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Iijima
  • Patent number: 10276324
    Abstract: A keypad device includes a circuit board having raised buttons disposed on a first surface of the circuit board, resilient switches disposed on a periphery of the first surface, and through-holes, wherein each of the raised buttons and switches, when actuated, closes a circuit on the circuit board and affects an input to the device. The keypad device includes a faceplate fastened to the circuit board, the faceplate having an array of openings configured to allow the buttons to pass through, bosses extending from a first surface of the faceplate toward the circuit board and positioned to pass through the through-holes on the circuit board, and plungers aligned above and in contact with the resilient switches such that when the plate is pressed toward the circuit board, in a region at or near a subject plunger, the subject plunger actuates the resilient switch that is in contact with the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Jacobi Grillo
  • Patent number: 10180732
    Abstract: An input device that includes both a movement detector, such as mechanical switch, and positional indicator, such as touch pad touch screen, and/or touch sensing housing is disclosed. These two input devices can be used substantially simultaneously to provide a command to the device. In this manner, different commands can be associated with depressing a moveable member in different areas and a single moveable member can perform like several buttons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Prest, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Richard Hung Minh Dinh
  • Patent number: 10088936
    Abstract: Electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuators are used to create haptic effects on a user interface deface, such as a keyboard. The keys of the keyboard may be embossed in a top layer to provide better key definition and to house the EMP actuator. Specifically, an EMP actuator is housed inside an embossed graphic layer that covers a key of the keyboard. Such a keyboard has a significant user interface value. For example, the embossed key provides the tactile effect of the presence of a key with edges, while allowing for the localized control of haptic vibrations. For such applications, an EMP transducer provides high strains, vibrations or both under control of an electric field. Furthermore, the EMP transducer can generate strong vibrations. When the frequency of the vibrations falls within the acoustic range, the EMP transducer can generate audible sound, thereby functioning as an audio speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Novasentis, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Zellers, Li Jiang, Christophe Ramstein, Stephen Davis, M. Fabrice Domingues Dos Santos
  • Patent number: 10029609
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steering-column switch unit (1) for operating at least one electrical consumer, which is operated by an electric load current, in a motor vehicle, with a printed circuit board (5) on which strip conductors (9, 11) are arranged, said strip conductors being connected to electrically conductive contact surfaces (8, 10, 13) for contact elements (15, 15?) which are movable with a steering-column lever (16), wherein the strip conductors (9, 11) are configured for the load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: VALEO Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Simonis, Roland Gruener
  • Patent number: 10033845
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing a housing comprising a first surface and an second surface generally parallel to the first surface, the second surface including an opening extending to the first surface, the first and second surface being spaced apart from one another along an axis; a first conductive member being coupled to the first surface; a second conductive member spaced apart substantially from the first conductive member along the axis; and a conductive dome structure disposed between at least a part of the first conductive member and at least a part of the second conductive member and forming an electric path between the first conductive member and the second conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong Seok Park, Jong Chul Choi
  • Patent number: 10030474
    Abstract: A method for opening a port through the wall of a ported sub includes providing a sub with a port through its tubular side wall and providing a hydraulically actuable valve to cover the port. The valve can be actuable to move away from a position covering the port to thereby open the port. The method also includes increasing pressure within the sub to create a pressure differential across the valve to move the valve toward the low pressure side, while the port remains closed by the valve, and thereafter, reducing pressure within the sub to reduce the pressure differential to move valve away from a position covering the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Packers Plus Energy Services Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jon Themig, Kevin O. Trahan, Christopher Denis Desranleau, Frank DeLucia
  • Patent number: 10014602
    Abstract: An adapter for mounting electric units to be wired to an electric system comprises a hollow anchoring body (10) having an upper portion (17) with a hole (12) for the passage of a driving control (6), a lower portion (16) removably coupled with the upper portion (17), a pair of reciprocally opposite side faces (15) at least partially open to allow the wires to access to electric units (2) housed into the anchoring body (10), means (14) for removably mounting the anchoring body (10) to a support (R), first holding means (27) adapted to removably fix the electric unit (2) to the bottom wall (13) of the lower portion (16). The first holding means (27) comprise at least one first and one second recesses (29) formed in the bottom wall (13) at respective open side faces (15) to house and snap-hold the electric unit (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: PIZZATO ELETTRICA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Pizzato, Simone Zonta
  • Patent number: 9997856
    Abstract: A display apparatus in which a height of an AC socket protruding to a rear side of a printed circuit board is reduced and a power cord is provided to be in close contact with a product to provide a display apparatus in which a creeping distance is increased to prevent the printed circuit board from being damaged by a high voltage or a stroke of lightning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO,. LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Yong Joo, Jin Hyung Lee, Seok Yeol Chun
  • Patent number: 9959993
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a key connecting module for triggering a switch circuit board, where the key connecting module includes a frame having a support structure, and a triggering assembly, and the triggering assembly is accommodated in the support structure and is moveable relative to the frame to trigger the switch circuit board. The triggering assembly includes a first combining part corresponding to a first keycap and a second combining part corresponding to a second keycap. When the key connecting module is connected to the first keycap, the first keycap is combined with the first combining part. When the key connecting module is connected to the second keycap, the second keycap is combined with the second combining part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventor: Yi-Chen Wang
  • Patent number: 9907189
    Abstract: A multi-layer wiring board is configured having stacked therein, in a stacking direction, via an adhesive layer, a plurality of printed wiring bases in each of which a wiring pattern and a via are formed on/in a resin base. A multi-layer wiring board includes a movable portion configured from an elastic member and a void portion, the movable portion being formed in the printed wiring bases and adhesive layer in a periphery of a matrix-shaped plurality of multi-layer wiring portions disposed at a certain interval as viewed in a planar manner, and the movable portion joining the plurality of multi-layer wiring portions such that each of the multi-layer wiring portions is displaceable in the stacking direction and a direction of surfaces of the printed wiring bases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuki Ueta
  • Patent number: 9837220
    Abstract: A keyswitch structure includes a keycap having a lower surface and an engaging portion protruding from the lower surface, the keycap moving to a lower position when the keycap is pressed, a linking bar coupled with the engaging portion, a distal end of the engaging portion being lower than the linking bar when the keycap moves to the lower position, a baseplate disposed below the keycap, the baseplate having a recessed space corresponding to the engaging portion, and a buffer film disposed on the baseplate, the buffer film substantially extending over the recessed space and having a deformable portion corresponding to the recessed space, wherein when the keycap moves toward the baseplate to the lower position, the distal end of the engaging portion pushes the deformable portion to make the deformable portion extend into the recessed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignees: DARFON ELECTRONICS (SUZHOU) CO., LTD., DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Po-Chung Hou, Sung-Fu Yang
  • Patent number: 9831051
    Abstract: The keyboard having a plurality of plate-shaped keys which are connected to actuators stabilizes the keys by all the keys and all the actuators being connected to a bending-elastic but tension-resistant band-like membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: fm marketing gmbh
    Inventor: Ferdinand Maier
  • Patent number: 9823754
    Abstract: A keypad for an electronic device is provided and includes a substrate comprising an array of dome elements, an array of frets, an array of mechanical keys disposed in rows interleaved between the frets, a first deflection web supportively disposed adjacent to the substrate and a second deflection web disposed between the frets and the keys and the first deflection web. The substrate is configured to pre-load the first and second deflection webs toward the keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Chao Chen
  • Patent number: 9793070
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing input component assemblies for dome switches are provided. In some embodiments, an input component assembly may include a first conductive contact pad coupled to a first board of a switch, a second conductive contact pad coupled to a second board of the switch, and a layer of conductive adhesive between the first conductive pad and the second conductive pad, where the layer is operative to provide a seal for the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Lee E. Hooton
  • Patent number: 9727096
    Abstract: One embodiment provides an apparatus, including: a housing including: a compartment; the compartment having a panel and two side walls accommodating removable computer modules; the apparatus including a movable component that slides away from the compartment to reveal an inside of the compartment; the compartment including power and data connectors for coupling to the removable computer modules; where power is removed from the removable computer modules responsive to sliding away the movable component. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Cuong Huy Truong, Ali Kathryn Ent, David Wayne Hill, Cyan Godfrey, Samuel Jackson Patterson
  • Patent number: 9720553
    Abstract: A sensor substrate for use with an input device of an electronic system includes a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed on the sensor substrate; a first segment for use with a touch pad area of the input device; and a second segment for use with a button area of the input device; wherein the touch pad area and the button area do not overlap, and further wherein the first and second segments comprise a single, contiguous sheet of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Yi-Yun Chang
  • Patent number: 9718348
    Abstract: A method of producing a deflector device for a fuel tank system comprising producing a deflector device prototype from prefabricated components of a construction kit, performing fuel-refilling tests using the deflector device prototype, optionally modifying the deflector device prototype, creating a construction model for the deflector device prototype, producing a deflector device according to the construction model, optionally performing fuel-refilling tests with the deflector device produced according to the construction model and optionally producing the deflector device according to the construction model. The disclosure further provides a construction kit with prefabricated components for producing the prototype of the deflector device for the fuel tank system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Simon Aubreville
  • Patent number: 9685285
    Abstract: A control switch includes a key, a housing structure, in the upper portion of which the key is secured in a manner such that the key can rotate about a first fulcrum. A tip is secured at one end to the key and moving integrally therewith, so as to slide along a first axis (X) of the key is countered by an elastic element. A printed circuit board includes at least two push-buttons, arranged in the lower portion of the housing structure. The housing structure includes in its internal portion, a flared structure having two inclined contact planes specularly opposite with respect to a second vertical axis (Z) and forming a first obtuse angle (a), on which the tip can slide along its stroke. The flared structure is structurally secured to the housing structure. The switch includes at least one actuator positioned in proximity to the flared structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: BITRON SPA
    Inventors: Marco Barile, Michelangelo Bono
  • Patent number: 9627156
    Abstract: A snap-action switch has at least two switching contacts, at least one flexible circuit carrier carrying conductor tracks and at least one multifunction component receiving the flexible circuit carrier. The switching contacts and the conductor tracks are connected with each other via a non-detachable connection. The region of the flexible circuit carrier between the switching contacts is configured as a bending tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Electric S.A.
    Inventor: Martin Koepsell
  • Patent number: 9620895
    Abstract: A socket is to receive a memory module usable in a computing system. A latch is to retain the memory module seated in the socket. The latch is to generate a positive locking latch retention force to prevent removal of the memory module while the latch is in a latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Robert J Hastings, Joseph Allen, Minh H Nguyen, James Jeffery Schulze
  • Patent number: 9478370
    Abstract: An electrical switch for mounting into a surface of a component, has at least one shoulder region to be brought closer to this surface and which has at least one seal, which is assigned to an opening in the surface. The shoulder region has at least one region with at least one assigned indicator component, wherein this assignment is changed in terms of position in the case of complete sealing action of the seal compared to an incomplete sealing action of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: JOHNSON ELECTRIC S.A.
    Inventors: Dirk Weiss, Udo Balgheim, Martin Koepsell
  • Patent number: 9449769
    Abstract: A low travel switch and systems for using the same. A low travel switch may include a key cap and an elastomeric dome configured to provide a predefined tactile feedback over a predefined travel distance of the key cap when the key cap is depressed by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Craig C. Leong, James J. Niu, John M. Brock, Keith J. Hendren, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9418798
    Abstract: A keyboard including a plurality of keys, a baseplate which supports each of the keys, and a frame which is arranged to stand substantially perpendicularly to the baseplate and to surround the each of the keys, in which the each of the keys includes an keycap configured to be depressed, the keycap including a keycap top end which constitutes a top end of the keycap and a keycap sidewall which hangs down from an edge of the keycap top end to the baseplate, and in which the baseplate has a hole arranged at a site that corresponds to a bottom end of the keycap sidewall, the hole configured to insert the bottom end of the keycap sidewall therein from above, and in which, when the keycap is in a depressed state, the bottom end of the keycap sidewall is inserted into the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Nakatani, Atushi Sakata, Takahiro Tabata
  • Patent number: 9374911
    Abstract: A flexible printed circuit (FPC) is provided comprising a base plate and a pair of elongated resin strips disposed on the base plate. The resin strips comprise conductive traces embedded between the resin strips and configured to electrically couple a first unit of an electronic device at a tail end of the resin strips with a second unit of the electronic device at an opposing end of the resin strips. The resin strips have edges having cutouts formed therein adjacent to the tail end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Hosoya
  • Patent number: 9324516
    Abstract: A click module which gives a feeling of click when an operation knob which is tiltably and pivotally supported on a casing of an operation switch is tiltably operated has a click face on which a crest portion or a valley portion is formed, a click element which slides on the click face, and a resilient member which biases the click element to a click face side. The click module is detachably mounted on the casing. The click element and the click face slide relative to each other in an interlocking manner with a tilting operation of the operation knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: OMRON AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro Wada, Yasuhide Tanaka, Takashi Nose, Hidetoshi Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 9209785
    Abstract: A remote control apparatus which includes a first operation unit including a first key part having a plurality of keys operable when the remote control is in a first mode, a first control unit to generate a key signal corresponding to a key input through the first key part and a first transmission unit to transmit the key signal to the image apparatus, and a second operation unit including a second key part provided on a surface of the remote control apparatus, the second key part is different from the first key part and has a plurality of keys to be manipulated when the remote control is in a second mode, a second control unit to generate a key signal corresponding to a key input through the second key part, and a second transmission unit to transmit the key signal to the image apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 9159510
    Abstract: There is provided a fixed contact structure, including: a substrate; at least one fixed contact which is disposed on the substrate; a movable contact which slides on the corresponding fixed contact in a sliding direction; a resist layer which is consecutively disposed on the substrate outside both ends of the fixed contact with respect to the sliding direction; and gaps which are formed outside both ends of the fixed contact with respect to a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Shuhei Urakami
  • Patent number: 9006597
    Abstract: A push switch is configured to be mounted on an upper surface of a circuit board the circuit board having a land provided on the upper surface thereof and a side edge. The push switch includes a front section and a rear section. The front section includes a switch contact unit activated by being pushed in a predetermined direction, and is configured to be located outward from the side edge of the circuit board. The rear section includes a terminal connected with the switch contact unit the rear section extending from the front section, and is configured to be disposed on the upper surface of the circuit board. The rear section is connected with the front section, and configures substantially an L-shape in combination with the front section. The terminal is configured to be connected with the land of the circuit board. The predetermined direction is parallel to the upper surface of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuki Hirata
  • Patent number: 8878085
    Abstract: An input device and a manufacturing method of the input device are provided. The input device includes a circuit board and a plurality of mechanical switches. The circuit board has a first surface, a second surface and a plurality of conductive sheets, the second surface and the first second surface are opposed each other. A plurality of holes are formed on the circuit board and the conductive sheets are disposed at one side of the first surface in pairs around the hole, and each of the conductive sheets has a coupling section bent away from the first surface and the second surface. The mechanical switches are detachable from the circuit board, and each mechanical switch includes a plunger and a plurality of pins. Each of the mechanical switches has a positioning column inserted in the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Giga-Byte Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yin Yu Lin, Yen-Bo Lai, Shu I Chen