Patents Assigned to CoActive Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8492670
    Abstract: A rocker switch including a switching unit made up of a housing and including a spring-action switching element that moves back and forth with an actuating rocker that is connected to the switching element, whereby the switching element has a rotating axle rotatably supported within the housing and is surrounded by a spring. The spring is double wound and held in a prestressed state within the housing, one of the spring end shanks of the spring being fixedly supported within the housing, the other spring end shank being supported on a first arm that is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the rotating axle, and an extended central spring leg being both fixedly supported within the housing as well as being supported on a second arm that is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the rotating axle, and with an electrical switching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: CoActive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Uwe Gillmann, Rainer Maurer, Michael Stoffers
  • Publication number: 20120103773
    Abstract: A device for controlling an electronic apparatus, comprising: a generally flat upper panel; a lower armature of a support with respect to which armature the upper panel can move in a generally vertically downward movement; a switch; and at least two arms for actuating the switch, each arm comprising a first end which bears on the upper panel, a second end which bears on the switch, and an intermediate portion which bears on the armature, in which the arms cooperate with the upper panel and the armature in order to keep the upper panel parallel to a horizontal plane during its vertical movement with respect to the armature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jean-Christophe Villain
  • Publication number: 20110214969
    Abstract: A switch including a triggering member that is adapted to come to bear on two peripheral fixed contacts to make a first switchpath and that is deformable to make an electrical connection between these two fixed contacts and a central fixed contact to make a second switchpath consecutively to making the first switchpath. The triggering member may occupy an initial high rest position and a final low switching position toward which it is moved by an actuating member against a return force exerted by a spring that is disposed between the support for the contacts and the triggering member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: CoActive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thierry Burnel, Laurent Kubat
  • Publication number: 20110180378
    Abstract: A sliding electrical switch comprising a first slider which is able to establish a first electrical switching channel, a first actuator for the first slider, a second slider which is able to establish a second electrical switching channel, a second actuator for the second slider, and a common return spring which is a compression spring which is mounted axially compressed between the first and second sliders and which simultaneously stresses each of the two sliders towards its idle axial position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jean-Christophe Villain
  • Publication number: 20110114465
    Abstract: A rocker switch including a switching unit made up of a housing and including a spring-action switching element that moves back and forth with an actuating rocker that is connected to the switching element, whereby the switching element has a rotating axle rotatably supported within the housing and is surrounded by a spring. The spring is double wound and held in a prestressed state within the housing, one of the spring end shanks of the spring being fixedly supported within the housing, the other spring end shank being supported on a first arm that is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the rotating axle, and an extended central spring leg being both fixedly supported within the housing as well as being supported on a second arm that is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the rotating axle, and with an electrical switching unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Uwe Gillmann, Rainer Maurer, Michael Stoffers
  • Publication number: 20110036696
    Abstract: The invention proposes an electrical switch (10) comprising: a horizontal bottom plate (12), the horizontal top face (12s) of which supports at least two electrical contacts (16); a contactor (14) which is placed on the top face (12s) of the bottom plate (12) and which can be elastically deformed to electrically link the two electrical contacts (16); a pushbutton (24) which is positioned vertically above the contactor (14) and which can be manually displaced downward to provoke the elastic deformation of the contactor (14); and an elastic film (32) which consists of a elastic film protecting the contactor (14) which covers the contactor (14) and the pushbutton (24), which is fixed to the top face (12s) of the plate (12), so as to secure the contactor (14) vertically on the plate (12), characterized in that the pushbutton (24) is secured on the top portion (14s) of the contactor (14), and in that the elastic film (32) is secured on the top portion (14s) of the contactor (14) and secured on the top section (
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Villain, Michel Cour, Thierry Burnel
  • Publication number: 20110039440
    Abstract: A latching device for latching a first front connector to a complementary second rear connector. The latching device comprises at least a front latching element supported by the front connector, the front latching element comprising a rear latching segment. The latching device further comprises a rear latching element supported by the rear connector, the rear latching element comprising a front latching segment and being mounted moveable axially from a rear unlatching position to a front latching position in which the front and rear connectors are immobilize axially together, characterized in that the latching device comprises an axial sleeve supported by the rear connector, the sleeve being opened axially towards the front and the rear, the rear latching element being mounted movable axially into the sleeve from its rear unlatching position to its front latching position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Patrick Daubigney
  • Patent number: 7888613
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a membrane switch may include a flexible light guide having a first refractive index. The flexible light guide may include a first wall, an opposing second wall, and one or more additional walls. One or more of the first wall, the second wall and the additional walls may be disposed adjacent to a substance including a second refractive index that is lower than the first refractive index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: CoActive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Andrew Jeffery, Jason Tsi-Tsun Lin
  • Patent number: 7886632
    Abstract: A handle (10) for controlling a machine, has a largely vertical shaft (12) forming a grip part (11) and has an upper end forming a receptacle (14) that holds switch units (15-17) and a lower end forming a hand rest (20). The hand rest can be adjusted along the shaft (12) and can be detachably clamped to the shaft. The hand rest (20) comprises front and rear rest part (26, 27) that are pivotally, or swivelably, connected to one another. To prevent unintentional opening of the hand rest (20) by axial pressure on the latter, the two rest parts (26, 27) can be moved relative to one another in the axial direction to effect a locking and unlocking of their relative pivotabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: CoActive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stoffers, Rainer Maurer, Uwe Gillmann
  • Publication number: 20100323548
    Abstract: The invention related to a device (14) for latching a first connector (10) to a secondary complementary connector (12), the device (14) comprising a female element (38) which is fixed to the first connector (10) and which delimits a housing (52) which is open axially towards the read in which there is arranged at least one retaining finger (56), a male element (58) which is carried by the second connector (12), and which comprises a front latching segment (62) furnished with a retaining notch (66), the latching segment (62) being able to be inserted axially from the rear forwards into the housing (52) of the female element (38) until a forward position of latching with the retaining finger (56), the device (14) comprising an unlatching member (112) which is carried by the male element (58) and which is able to slide axially from the rear forwards in order to retract the retaining finger (56) out of the notch (66).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Patrick Daubigney
  • Patent number: 7838789
    Abstract: A rocker switch (10) is provided with a mechanical switch unit consisting of a switch housing (11) made of plastic, a switching element (14) supported in spring-loaded manner on said switch housing so as to be capable of moving back and forth, and an actuating rocker (16) connected to the switching element (14), and also with limit-stop elements (48, 49, 51, 52) for limiting the actuating angle of the actuating rocker (16), and with an electrical switch unit. In order to obtain variable actuating angles and overcompression functions, the invention provides that the actuating rocker (16) is provided with an overcompression element (36) which in one or both of the actuating directions comes to be operationally connected to an overcompression stop (46, 47) on the switch housing (11) before the limit-stop elements (51, 52) come into operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: CoActive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stoffers, Rainer Maurer, Uwe Gillmann
  • Publication number: 20100289484
    Abstract: A multi-output switch includes a dipole magnet configured to move from a central position to either a first position or a second position and a Hall Effect sensor having a first sensitive area with a first output and a second sensitive area with a second output, wherein the sensor is relatively positioned such that when the magnet is in the central position, the first output and second output read off, when the magnet is in the first position the first sensitive area is activated and the first output reads on, and when the magnet is in the second position the second sensitive area is activated and the second output reads on. The switch may further include a magnet holder configured to house the magnet and define a pathway of movement for the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Ian Winston Quinn
  • Publication number: 20100289486
    Abstract: A device for detecting an actuation angle of an element rotatable or pivotable about a shaft of the mentioned type. The device includes a sensor unit configured to emit an electrical signal depending on an angle of rotation and including an annular permanent magnet non-movably connected to the rotatable or pivotable element. The sensor includes a stationary Hall sensor array having two or more Hall sensors disposed at an angular distance about the annular permanent magnet, wherein an individual Hall sensor located in a linear zone defined by the movement of the rotatable or pivotable element is selected by a microcontroller according to a current position of the rotatable or pivotable element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Joerg Ehlebrecht, Thomas Luedtke, Henning Koschke, Christian Buchold-Tomazic
  • Publication number: 20100224474
    Abstract: A moveable contact body that includes a carrier sheet, a moveable contact, and an adhesive layer on at least a portion of a lower surface of the carrier sheet and an upper surface of the moveable contact. The adhesive layer may be water soluble or viscoelastic. A viscoelastic material may be positioned on an upper surface of the carrier film. At least a periphery of the moveable contact may be a rolled foot. Another embodiment may be a membrane switch including a carrier sheet, a moveable contact and an electrical contact having a central stationary damping conductive pill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Peter Andrew Jeffery
  • Publication number: 20100224473
    Abstract: A switch has multiple movable contacts, such as snap domes, positioned in a stacked relationship with each other. The stacked relationship may be such that the apexes of each dome point in the same orientation, or the apexes may be in an opposite orientation so that they point toward or away from each other. When the switch is initially depressed, one of the contacts forms a first electrical connection. When the switch is further depressed, a second one of the contacts forms a second electrical connection. Alternatively, multiple moveable contacts are positioned on the same plane under a single bubble of a carrier sheet. Multiple actuating elements may depress each of the domes. Adjacent domes may share common conductive traces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Peter Andrew Jeffery
  • Patent number: 7780482
    Abstract: An electrical connector may include an insulating body including a series of at least two parallel and adjacent longitudinal cells which may be aligned. The electrical connector may include a series of electrical contact elements, each of which may include a locking section which may include at least one locking notch and which may be configured to be received axially in one of the cells and to be axially immobilized therein. The electrical connector may include a series of locking elements each of which may be configured to retain axially, at least towards the rear, a locking section of an associated electrical contact element. Each locking element may include a locating base fixed axially relative to the insulating body and at least one locking finger, a free end of which may be received in a locking notch of the associated contact element to retain it axially, wherein each base may be arranged outside the locking section of the associated cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: CoActive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Daubigney
  • Publication number: 20100155211
    Abstract: A snap switch may include a housing, a lever having a handle portion and a base portion, a contact component having a first contact and a spring having a first end and a second end. The first end may be secured to the housing, the second end may be secured to the contact component, and a base portion of the lever may surround at least a first portion of the spring. The snap switch may include a first terminal component that may have a first prong and a second prong that may define an opening through which a second portion of the spring may be received. The snap switch may include a second terminal component that may have a second contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Frank Mark Domzalski
  • Publication number: 20100147099
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a machine or similar vehicle. The control device includes a control lever, a fixed console upon which the control lever is movably mounted about at least two intersecting axes, a plurality of crossing holders mounted to the fixed console, each crossing holder having a longitudinal slit for guiding the control lever, and a mechanical device having force modifying points configured to be detected by tactile means during any movement of the control lever, wherein the mechanical device is positioned between the fixed console and the crossing holders, and above an installing plane of the fixed console, and wherein the intersecting axes of the crossing holders pass below an installation plane of the fixed console.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Rainer Maurer, Christian Bartenwerfer, Henning Koschke, Michael Stoffers, Thomas Goebelt
  • Patent number: 7712485
    Abstract: A control lever (10) is provided with a grip (12), which in a joint (14) having two degrees of freedom is supported in a housing (11) and can be switched from an initial position in various directions for activating shift elements (18, 19), whereby spring elements (41, 42) are provided for returning the grip (12) to its initial position, and with a functional device for overcoming a pressure point during the activation and/or for retaining a desired shift position. In order to provide functional devices in greater numbers in a gearshift lever of this type without requiring substantially more installation space or substantially higher costs, provision is made that the functional device is constituted by an electrically controllable hydraulic arrangement (35), which connects to diametrically opposing shift elements (18, 19), which can be activated by the grip (12) in two opposing directions of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Coactive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Kitten, Joachim Meyer-Quade, Henning Koschke
  • Patent number: 7671284
    Abstract: The invention proposes a multidirectional actuator (18) comprising: a bottom support (22) with a main vertical axis “A”, a top actuation member (24) that is mounted so as to tilt relative to the bottom support (22) between a central rest position and several actuation positions that are distributed angularly about the vertical axis “A” of the support (22); and means (48, 60) of returning the actuation member (24) to its central rest position which exert on the actuation member (24) a return force, whose vertical component is not zero and is oriented upwards, at at least one bearing point “P” situated radially at a distance from the vertical axis “A” of the support (22), characterized in that the value of the vertical component of the return force varies according to the angular position of the actuation member (24) about the vertical axis “A” of the support (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: CoActive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Nourry, Gilles Salvaterra