Patents Assigned to Methode Electronics, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9448087
    Abstract: In a position sensor, two field sensors are placed along a line parallel to the movement to be detected. Two magnets are placed at an angle to each other to generate a magnetic field such that their position is a linear or approximately linear function of the difference between the outputs of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: METHODE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Azizur Rahaman, Seong-Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 9395418
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the state of health of a battery. In particular, the present invention is related to a system and method for determining the state of health of an electrochemical battery cell by obtaining state of charge measurements for the battery cell, and using the state of charge measurements to calculate the state of health of the battery cell, wherein the state of charge measurements are based on the magnetic susceptibility of the battery cell. The system includes a sensing device for measuring the magnetic susceptibility of the battery cell, and a computing device for performing the steps of the disclosed method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Azizur Rahaman, Timothy J. Moran
  • Patent number: 9397409
    Abstract: An electrical connector adapted for connection to a bus bar includes a dielectric housing, a conductive insert, and a cable interface. The cable interface may include a cable crimp lug and clinch nut, a combined cable crimp and crimp nut, or an integral cable crimp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: METHODE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Russell G. Larsen
  • Patent number: 9291782
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-channel transceiver module comprising a unitary housing having a first channel body and a second channel body. Each channel body includes a male plug end and a receptacle plug end. A bridge member is provided for joining the first and second bodies. The bridge members disposed at the receptacle end. A gap is provided between the plug ends of each channel body. The gap extends from each plug end to the bridge member to partially divide each channel so that each plug end is insertable within a separate receptacle cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Skepnek, Alexandros Pirillis, Joseph Llorens, William Thomas Freed
  • Patent number: 9103861
    Abstract: A multi-function sensor apparatus includes multiple sensing electrodes and a control circuit adapted to receive signals from each of the sensing electrodes and to deem whether the sensing electrodes are in a touched state or an untouched state. The control circuit also is adapted to selectively provide an output based on the sensor's states and the manner in which the sensors came to be in such states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: METHODE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Ian Sage
  • Patent number: 9086460
    Abstract: The invention relates to an object's state or properties being monitored, such as a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) or other type of electrical battery containing one or more LFP or other type of electrical battery cell within the battery, and one or more sensors for measuring the state or property of the object, such as the state of charge of the battery cells, by measuring the magnetic susceptibility or other properties, such as the magnetic susceptibility of electrolyte or the electrodes within the battery cells. The state of charge of the battery cells within the battery are monitored by the one or more sensors, which are coupled to electrical circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Maria F. Rice, Christopher Jones
  • Patent number: 9075218
    Abstract: A rack cabling system including a rack having mounted thereon a first hardware component and a patch panel housing mounted on the rack adjacent the first hardware component. The patch panel housing populates no more than a three rack unit (RU space), the patch panel housing including a first end having cable pathway openings and a second end having connector elements mounted therein. The patch panel may have a first cable pathway opening located adjacent the first side of the housing and defining a primary position and a first connector element mounted on the second end and the first connector element having a first position corresponding to the primary position of the first cable pathway opening. Cable harnesses are routed with less than three bends of the cables between the first hardware component and the patch panel housing, so the first cable harness is terminated at the first connector element in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Carter, David E. Hildreth, Robert C. Neumann, Tyler M. Miller
  • Patent number: 9046430
    Abstract: A system and method for creating one or more magnetically conditioned regions on a rotatable shaft or disk-shaped torque sensing element, wherein rotation noise produced by the element due to magnetic field variations is substantially negated. Upon magnetization of the torque sensing element, rotation noise produced by the magnetically conditioned region is measured. Adjustment factors are calculated based on the measured rotation noise, and the adjustment factors are used to adjust a magnetic field source during subsequent magnetization of the torque sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Moran, Frank Ursetta
  • Patent number: 8976012
    Abstract: An assembly for providing haptic effects includes a panel adapted to be mated to another structure, a frame placed around and spaced apart from the panel, at least one flexible coupling to connect the panel to the frame, a display connected to the panel so as to be stationary with respect to the panel, and a touch screen assembly connected to the frame. The touch screen assembly is placed over the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8963411
    Abstract: A control console assembly includes a diffusion layer and an electrode of a capacitive sensor. The diffusion layer has an outer surface and an inner surface substantially opposite the outer surface. The electrode of the capacitive sensor is mated to at least one of the inner surface or the outer surface of the diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Boelstler, Eluid David Carter
  • Patent number: 8917513
    Abstract: A cabinet frame enclosure is provided having a first side wall, a second side wall, a first opening and a second opening each in combination defining an interior space for accommodating a plurality of equipment, the equipment being removable through the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tim Hazzard
  • Patent number: 8917512
    Abstract: The cabinet information center integrates an array of electronic sensors and controls to both standard and purpose built data center equipment cabinets to improve operational efficiencies, reduce costs and protect assets typically installed within standard equipment cabinets utilized in data centers by providing a common point of information display and cabinet interaction without the need to physically access assets and vital sensory components internal to the equipment cabinet itself. Equipment can include any standard rack mount devices such as servers, storage arrays and networking devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Lozon, Tim Hazzard
  • Patent number: 8893562
    Abstract: A torque sensing device for measuring the torque applied to a rotatable shaft, and also measuring the magnetic field noise affecting the device. The device incorporates a switching function thereby enabling the device to operate in a common signal detection mode and a differential noise detection mode. The device is capable of determining the torque applied to the rotatable shaft based upon output signals obtained from magnetic field sensors operating in both the common signal detection mode and the differential noise detection mode. The device is capable of accurately measuring a torque induced magnetic field and is capable of canceling measurement error resulting from noise induced magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ignazio Barraco, Christopher Liston
  • Patent number: 8885342
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cage for thermal management and for housing an electronic module. The cage includes top, bottom and side walls joined to form an interior cavity. The side walls form an enclosure having a first panel. A thermally conductive pathway is disposed on the first panel. The enclosure receives an electronic device such as a transceiver module and a heat sink mounted on the first panel. The thermally conductive pathway is disposed between the electronic device and the heat sink so that heat from the electronic device is transmitted via the thermally conductive pathway to the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Skepnek, Alexandros Pirillis, Andrius Zernaitis
  • Publication number: 20140307258
    Abstract: Ethanol is non-invasively tested using temperature-modulated spectroscopy (TMS). The TMS approach uses the active control of temperature to vary the spectral response of the IR-LED output, effectively sliding a spectral pulse across the ethanol sample, revealing the peaks and valleys of ethanol's spectral response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shane Kirkbride, Terrance E. Boult
  • Patent number: 8854822
    Abstract: A cabinet frame enclosure is provided having a first side wall, a second side wall, a first opening and a second opening each in combination defining an interior space for accommodating a plurality of equipment, the equipment being removable through the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Hazzard, Larry Lozon
  • Publication number: 20140259650
    Abstract: The invention provides for a shell having four sides including a front side and a front side having contact points to simulate a host component where the number of contact points and spacing between the contact points on the front side of the shell simulate the number and spacing of receptacles located on the host component so that the shell may be temporarily populated with accessories and the accessories capable of being serially removed and serially attached to the receptacles of the host component. The shell may be carried in a shipment container along with the accessories for shipping to the location of the host component. The accessories may include cable harnesses and have fiber optic connectors temporarily mounted to the component simulation shell during shipping and upon arrival at the host component, the connectors may be removed in a one-to-one matching sequence between the component simulation shell and the host component where the connectors are finally mated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Carter, David E. Hildreth, Tyler M. Miller
  • Publication number: 20140273664
    Abstract: An electrical connector adapted for connection to a bus bar includes a dielectric housing, a conductive insert, and a cable interface. The cable interface may include a cable crimp lug and clinch nut, a combined cable crimp and crimp nut, or an integral cable crimp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: METHODE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Russell G. Larsen
  • Publication number: 20140260686
    Abstract: A system and method for creating one or more magnetically conditioned regions on a rotatable shaft or disk-shaped torque sensing element, wherein rotation noise produced by the element due to magnetic field variations is substantially negated. Upon magnetization of the torque sensing element, rotation noise produced by the magnetically conditioned region is measured. Adjustment factors are calculated based on the measured rotation noise, and the adjustment factors are used to adjust a magnetic field source during subsequent magnetization of the torque sensing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. MORAN, Frank URSETTA
  • Patent number: 8836458
    Abstract: A magnetic torque sensing device having a disk-shaped member with a magnetoelastically active region. The magnetoelastically active region has oppositely polarized magnetically conditioned regions with initial directions of magnetization that are perpendicular to the sensitive directions of magnetic field sensor pairs placed proximate to the magnetically active region. Magnetic field sensors are specially positioned in relation to the disk-shaped member to accurately measure torque while providing improved RSU performance and reducing the detrimental effects of compassing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Seong-Jae Lee