Patents Assigned to Methode Electronics, Inc.
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Publication number: 20140029198Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Larry LOZON, Tim Hazzard
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Patent number: 8635917Abstract: A magnetic torque sensing device having a disk-shaped member with a magnetoelastically active region. The magnetoelastically active region has a magnetically conditioned region with an initial direction of magnetization that is 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: GrantFiled: February 7, 2012Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Seong-Jae Lee
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Patent number: 8610013Abstract: A rotary switch assembly includes a knob, a wheel joined to the knob, a first frame that moves toward the wheel, a second frame joined to the first frame, and a shape memory alloy member made from a shape memory alloy and joined to the second frame. The shape memory alloy member changes shape, and the second frame transforms the changing shape of the shape memory alloy member into movement of the first frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Robert Schmidt, Charles B. Banter
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Patent number: 8578794Abstract: The present invention involves a method and apparatus for canceling the effects of magnetic field noise in a torque sensor by placing three sets of magnetic field sensors around a shaft, the first set of field sensors being placed in the central region of the shaft and the second and third sets of field sensors being placed on the right side and left side of the field sensors placed at the central region, respectively. A torque-induced magnetic field is not cancelled with this arrangement of field sensors but a magnetic near field from a near field source is cancelled.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2011Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Seong-Jae Lee
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Patent number: 8558561Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 19, 2011Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Ian Sage
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Publication number: 20130177285Abstract: 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 that the first cable harness is terminated at the first connector element in the first position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2013Publication date: July 11, 2013Applicant: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Methode Electronics, Inc.
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Patent number: 8424393Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 18, 2011Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Seong-Jae Lee
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Publication number: 20130091960Abstract: A magnetic torque sensing device having a disk-shaped member with a magnetoelastically active region. The magnetoelastically active region has a magnetically conditioned region with an initial direction of magnetization that is 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: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2012Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: Methode Electronics,Inc.Inventor: Seong-Jae Lee
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Publication number: 20130088218Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2011Publication date: April 11, 2013Applicant: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Azizur RAHAMAN, Seong-Jae LEE
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Patent number: 8391663Abstract: 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 front end having cable pathway openings and a rear end having connector coupler plates 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 coupler plate mounted on the rear adjacent on the first side and the first connector plate 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 that the first cable harness is terminated at the first coupler plate in the first position.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Carter, David E. Hildreth, Tyler M. Miller, Robert C. Neumann
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Publication number: 20130004131Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2011Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Robert Skepnek, Alexandros Pirillis, Joseph Llorens, William Thomas Freed
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Patent number: 8339784Abstract: The present invention pertains to a cage for thermal management and housing an electric module comprising a cage housing and having a top, bottom and side walls joined to form an interior cavity and the side walls defining a width of the interior cavity. The top wall may have an air inlet port and an air outlet port and the air inlet and outlet ports spaced apart by a length. The length may be most or all of the width, so that air entering the inlet port will travel over a portion of a side of an electronic module mounted in the cavity prior to exiting the outlet port.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2010Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Alexandros Pirillis
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Patent number: 8335088Abstract: A retractable locking mechanism comprising a lever having a handle end opposite a rotation end and a pivot point positioned between the handle end and the rotation end such that the lever pivots about an axis of rotation of the lever; a first cam positioned on the rotation end of the lever; an actuator with a front end and a back end, the front end attached to the pivot point of the lever; a lock disposed adjacent to the actuator and the lock having a first end and a second end and an axis of rotation of the lock and wherein pivoting the lever moves the actuator along a plane of the actuator to contact and rotate the lock in one of a locked state and an unlocked state.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Alexandros Pirillis
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Publication number: 20120316814Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2012Publication date: December 13, 2012Applicant: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Azizur Rahaman, Timothy J. Moran
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Publication number: 20120301083Abstract: The present invention provides for a rack cabling system comprising 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 front end having cable pathway openings and a rear end having connector coupler plates 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 coupler plate mounted on the rear adjacent on the first side and the first connector plate 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 that the first cable harness is terminated at the first coupler plate in the first position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Carter, David E. Hildreth, Robert C. Neumann, Tyler M. Miller
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Patent number: 8151654Abstract: A sensor pad for controlling the deployment of an automobile airbag. Weight sensing pad 10 is used in the seat 54 of an automobile, (not illustrated), to detect the presence of an occupant on the seat. Weight sensing pad 10 is used in conjunction with the vehicle's airbag control module in order to allow deployment of the airbag, in the event of a collision, only if the seat is occupied by a person of a preselected weight. Weight sensing pad 10 is defined by a bladder member 15 having an interior volume subdivided into a plurality of individual cells 42 in fluid communication with each other and that is filled with a non-compressible fluid 18, such as silicon or a silica gel of medium viscosity. A pressure tube 22 is in fluid communication with bladder 15 and is in further fluid communication with a pressure activated electronic transducer 26 which in turn is in electronic communication with the airbag controller 30.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2006Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Frank H. Speckhart, Robert Scott Baker
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Patent number: 8040687Abstract: A retractable locking mechanism comprising: a lever having a handle end opposite a rotation end and a pivot point positioned between the handle end and the rotation end such that the lever pivots about an axis of rotation of the lever; a first cam positioned on the rotation end of the lever; an actuator with a front end and a back end, the front end attached to the pivot point of the lever; a lock disposed adjacent to the actuator and the lock having a first end and a second end and an axis of rotation of the lock; a second cam attached to the lock for bearing on the back end of the actuator; and wherein pivoting the lever moves the actuator along a plane of the actuator to contact and rotate the second cam such that the lock is disposed in one of a locked state and an unlocked state.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2008Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Alexandros Pirillis
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Publication number: 20110211904Abstract: A retractable locking mechanism comprising a lever having a handle end opposite a rotation end and a pivot point positioned between the handle end and the rotation end such that the lever pivots about an axis of rotation of the lever; a first cam positioned on the rotation end of the lever; an actuator with a front end and a back end, the front end attached to the pivot point of the lever; a lack disposed adjacent to the actuator and the lock having a first end and a second end and an axis of rotation of the lock and wherein pivoting the lever moves the actuator along a plane of the actuator to contact and rotate the lock in one of a locked state and an unlocked state.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2011Publication date: September 1, 2011Applicant: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Alexandros Pirillis
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Patent number: 7914317Abstract: A releasable locking mechanism is provided that includes a carrier, at least one projection and an actuator. The projection extends from the carrier and is rotatable along a rotational axis between a locked state and an unlocked state. The actuator is operably coupled to the projection and is movable along a first axis between a first position and a second position whereby in the first position the projection is rotated to the locked state and in the second position the projection is rotated to the unlocked state, the first axis being substantially perpendicular with the rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2007Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Alexandros Pirillis
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Patent number: 7833019Abstract: A multi-contact electrical connector wafer includes an insulating base and at least one bay on a first side of the base. A conductor is associated with the at least one bay and the conductor is adapted to contact a corresponding mating element. The wafer further includes a loading beam adapted to bias the first conductor toward the corresponding mating element upon deflection of the beam. A connector may be formed with a conductive component disposed in a connector housing defining a receptacle opening. The conductive component is arranged in the housing in a manner to allow the conductive component to move relative to the housing. As such, the connector can accommodate a mating connector of a first thickness or a mating connector of a second, different thickness. The connector may also be adapted to accommodate a mating connector that is inserted into the receptacle in a manner that is not collinear with respect to the receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2008Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Wallace, Michael Kelly