Patents Assigned to CoActive Technologies, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20100025205
    Abstract: A switch for selectively establishing a first conductive way between a first conductive fixed contact and a second conductive fixed contact or a second conductive way between the first conductive fixed contact and a third conductive fixed contact. The switch includes a housing and a pushbutton extending out of the housing and comprising a driving portion formed by an extension extending into the housing, the pushbutton being arranged, when an external force is applied to the pushbutton, to be moved relative to the housing between a first pushbutton active position in which the first conductive way is established and a second pushbutton active position in which the second conductive way is established.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Frank Mark Domzalski
  • Publication number: 20100011903
    Abstract: A joystick for controlling the functions of machines and/or vehicles comprises an actuator which can be moved in different directions by means of a joint having preferably two degrees of freedom, wherein the back-and-forth motions of the actuator occurring in a first plane are subjected to an active force feedback in the form of an electromotor and a reduction gear, and the back-and-forth movement of the actuator which occurs in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane is subjected to a passive force feedback in the form of a sprung reset device. In order to make such a joystick which allows for a low-cost serial production, the invention proposes that the reduction gear is designed with low backlash and is connected on the output side to the actuator via a preferably leaf-spring assembly which connects a swing arm to a joint part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Henning Koschke, Thomas Goebelt, Michael Cemerika, Christian Buchhold-Tomazic, Joachim Meyer-Quade
  • Publication number: 20090272640
    Abstract: An electrical switch including a supporting base, a top button mounted to the supporting base wherein the top button has a top face configured to receive a first force for actuating the electrical switch, and a detecting interrupter mounted to the top button configured to detect contact on the top face as well as to establish a signal representative of any detection of the contact on the top button when the first force is greater than or equal to a first threshold value. The detecting interrupter further includes a blade configured to deform elastically under the top button to establish the signal and further configured to exert a resistance force on the top button, wherein the resistance force increases continuously while the first force is exerted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Villain, Michel Cour
  • Patent number: 7589607
    Abstract: The contactor comprises a fixed contact plate (14), a moveable contact plate (16) and means for retaining the two contact plates (14, 16). The moveable contact plate (16) is resiliently deformable between a position remote from the fixed contact plate (14) and a position in contact with the fixed contact plate (14). The retaining means comprise an adhesive insulating sheet (18) which is interposed between the two contact plates (14, 16), which sheet (18) adheres along the two opposing faces thereof to each of the two contact plates (14, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: CoActive Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Sylvain Rochon, Aurélien Carvalho
  • Publication number: 20090167722
    Abstract: The invention proposes a touch-sensitive faceplate (18) comprising: a horizontal upper panel (32); means (34) for locating the point (P) of contact of a pointing element (30) on the upper face (32s) of the upper panel (32); and means for detecting at least one control action, independently of the location of the point of contact (P) on the upper face (32s) of the upper panel (32), characterized in that it comprises means (48, 52) for producing a mechanical impulse of a vertical principal orientation on the upper panel (32), when the value of the pressure (F2) is greater than or equal to the threshold value and that is transmitted to the pointing element (30) to generate a tactile sensation in response to the control action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jean-Christophe Villain
  • Publication number: 20090145736
    Abstract: An electrical switch may include a support bearing contacts, at least one elastically deformable release element for establishing an electrical connection between two contacts, an actuation pusher that is configured to be movable relative to the support along an overall horizontal path in the plane of the plate bearing electronic components and a lever that is configured to be mounted in a hinged manner relative to the support about a horizontal axis and which converts the horizontal actuation force exerted on the pusher into a vertical release force applied to the release element. The lever may be elastically deformable to allow a movement of the pusher beyond the actuation position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Villain, Michel Cour
  • Patent number: 7528331
    Abstract: A control includes a drum (36) that is rotatably mounted in a housing (22), and includes devices for generating signals to indicate the direction in which the drum is turning and for generating signals to indicate which end of the drum is depressed. A gear (100) is fixed to the drum, and as the drum rotates a deflectable contact element (T6) is repeatedly deflected by teeth of the gear to repeatedly engage a stationary contact (T4, T5). The deflectable contact element is in the form of a wire with a deflectable part (104) deflected by gear teeth, a mount part (110) mounted on the housing, and a contacting part (108) that repeatedly engages the stationary contact, all being part of the wire. Depression of one end of the drum results in depression of a corresponding end of a sheet metal trigger member (30) that is free to snap down against a stationary contact (T2, T3). Stationary contacts that are repeatedly contacted, are in the form of wires with fixed first end and with free or fixed second ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: CoActive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Herve′ Bricaud, Yves Pizard, David Ferraton
  • Publication number: 20090111335
    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: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Patrick Daubigney
  • Patent number: 7525920
    Abstract: A method and system for extracting and building end-to-end route information in a multi-area Internet protocol (IP) autonomous system (AS) is disclosed. The method and system enable a user, such as a network administrator, to explicitly identify a full set of paths (links and routers) that a given IP packet would potentially traverse from its entry point in the source area of the AS where it originates until its exit point in its intended destination area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: CoActive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roch Guerin, Rajendran Rajan
  • Patent number: 7520780
    Abstract: A security arrangement for an electrical connector for connecting an electrical memory card to contacts wherein the connector includes a bottom plate made of insulating material including a series of blades for contact with a land of the card. The arrangement includes a protection element which bears at least one protection conductor circuit that at least partly surrounds the bottom plate of the connector. The bottom plate of the connector includes at least one additional contact blade including a top portion for connecting with the protection circuit of the protection element and a bottom portion for connecting with the at least one track connected to a detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: CoActive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Daubigney, Rodolphe Gie, Guillaume Pinon, Damien Duprat
  • Publication number: 20090095611
    Abstract: An electrical switch with multiple switching channels may include a frame, a panel with which a pointing element comes into contact. The electrical switch may have a location element which locates the point of contact of the pointing element on the panel which may include a plurality of switching elements. The electrical switch may have a detection element which detects at least one control action independent of the position of the point of contact with the panel. The electrical switch may have an intermediate plate on which the panel acts in order to cause the change in state of the switching elements. The intermediate plate may be configured to cause the change in state of switching elements and detection element. The plate can be at least in part deformed in order to actuate the detection element after changing the state of the switching elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Villain, Michel Cour
  • Publication number: 20080302647
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device for controlling an electronic apparatus may include a top panel which can produce at least one control signal for the electronic apparatus when a pointing element comes into contact on the top face of the top panel. The device may include a support frame relative to which the top panel is fitted to move, a disengageable endstop for the top panel in a raised position, wherein the top panel is supported by a guide deck which is linked to the support frame so as to maintain the top panel orthogonal to a first plane when the top panel is moved relative to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Villain, Michel Cour
  • Patent number: 7442894
    Abstract: An electrical switch system may include a contact-bearing support configured to delimit a recess in a substantially horizontal bottom, wherein at least two fixed electrical contacts are positioned in the recess. Additionally, the electrical switch system may include at least one dome-shaped first triggering device configured to be elastically deformable from a top rest position to form an electrical link between the at least two fixed electrical contacts. The electrical switch system may also include an actuating push-button mounted to be displaced substantially vertically downward relative to the support. Further, the electrical switch system may include a mechanism configured to return the push-button to the rest position and an elastic element configured to exert an elastic force on the push-button, wherein the elastic force is directed upward when the push-button is displaced downward beyond a contact position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: CoActive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Villain, Michel Cour
  • Publication number: 20080251369
    Abstract: An electronic switch may include a horizontal bottom plate, a top side of the plate may support at least two electrical contacts. A contactor may be positioned on the top side of the plate and may be elastically deformable to electrically link the at least two electrical contacts. A pushbutton may be positioned vertically above the contactor such that manual displacement of the pushbutton downward may provoke the elastic deformation of the contactor. A first elastic sheet may include a top film protecting the contactor. The top film may be fixed to the top side of the plate to secure the contactor vertically on the plate to form an opening so that the pushbutton may act directly on the contactor. A second elastic sheet may position the pushbutton horizontally relative to the contactor on a top side of which the top film may be fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Villain, Michel Cour
  • Patent number: 7427724
    Abstract: An invention proposes a switch comprising a lower casing in the bottom of which are placed two contact elements. A trip member is elastically deformable through the action of an actuating member. At least one light source is supported by a support plate which straddles the actuating member and has terminals for electrical connection of the light source. The lower face of the support plate rests on the lower casing. The electrical connection terminals of the light source extend outwards from the casing along the vertical lateral faces of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: CoActive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sylvain Rochon, Jeremy Hebras, Lourent Bouvier, Aurelien Carvalho
  • Publication number: 20080227547
    Abstract: A multidirectional control unit includes a lower body of main axis A, an intermediate part which is mounted to move relative to the body in a radial plane, radial displacement guidance means for the intermediate part, a handle of secondary axis B, which is supported by the intermediate part and which is linked to it in radial displacement, between a neutral central position and a plurality of radial actuation positions. The handle may be mounted to slide axially on the secondary axis B, between a top idle axial position and a bottom active axial position. At least one electrical switch may be able to change state when the handle is displaced towards its bottom active axial position. The handle is mounted to rotate freely, about the secondary axis B, relative to the body of the multidirectional control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Nourry
  • Publication number: 20080217155
    Abstract: An electrical switch system may include a contact-bearing support configured to delimit a recess in a substantially horizontal bottom, wherein at least two fixed electrical contacts are positioned in the recess. Additionally, the electrical switch system may include at least one dome-shaped first triggering device configured to be elastically deformable from a top rest position to form an electrical link between the at least two fixed electrical contacts. The electrical switch system may also include an actuating push-button mounted to be displaced substantially vertically downward relative to the support. Further, the electrical switch system may include a mechanism configured to return the push-button to the rest position and an elastic element configured to exert an elastic force on the push-button, wherein the elastic force is directed upward when the push-button is displaced downward beyond a contact position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Villain, Michel Cour
  • Publication number: 20080197002
    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: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Andrew Jeffery, Jason Tsi-Tsun Lin
  • Publication number: 20080128255
    Abstract: An arrangement may include a substrate and an electrical component. The electrical component may include a base made of an insulating material and a plurality of connection terminals. Each connection terminal is connected to a corresponding connection pad of the substrate by means of a spot of solder paste. The arrangement may further include a block interposed between the substrate and the base of the electrical component. The block may be located substantially on the axis of application of a force for actuating the electrical component and may be designed to inhibit deformation of the base. The block may include a spot of solder paste soldered to an associated conducting pad on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Villain, Michel Cour
  • Publication number: 20080132119
    Abstract: A security arrangement for an electrical connector for connecting an electrical memory card to contacts wherein the connector includes a bottom plate made of insulating material including a series of blades for contact with a land of the card. The arrangement includes a protection element which bears at least one protection conductor circuit that at least partly surrounds the bottom plate of the connector. The bottom plate of the connector includes at least one additional contact blade including a top portion for connecting with the protection circuit of the protection element and a bottom portion for connecting with the at least one track connected to a detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Daubigney, Rodolphe Gie, Guillaume Pinon, Damien Duprat