Patents Assigned to Niles Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 7078638
    Abstract: An inhibitor switch is joined to a manual shaft inside a mission case which can be readily positioned. The inhibitor switch in which a movable base is interlocked and linked to a manual shaft of an automatic transmission inside a mission case of the automatic transmission detects the rotation position of the manual shaft by the rotational movement of movable contacts with respect to fixed contacts. A pole base side is positioned by mating with the mission case in the rotational direction of the manual shaft. An insertion portion having a spacing in the axial direction of the manual shaft is provided in the pole base side, and one end of a positioning bracket is secured to the mission case side and the other end thereof is provided with an insert portion for insertion into insertion portion. The pole base side is positioned in the axial direction of the manual shaft by inserting the insert portion into insertion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakazawa, Takeshi Okuhara
  • Patent number: 7050949
    Abstract: A signal processing method and a signal processing device are provided in which a signal obtained from an object as an input signal, a time lag signal is generated from the input signal, a difference between the input signal and the time lag signal, and the generation of the difference is detected, so that a portion of the object at a position where the difference is generated is featured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuto Kokuryo, Shinji Nagao
  • Patent number: 7034932
    Abstract: The present invention provides an object-sensing device capable of estimating the presence of an object attached on a sensing surface, the kind of the object and the state of the object. An image is formed by a lens with light via the sensing surface, and the light is received by a light-receiving element portion in which a plurality of micro-light-receiving elements are arranged. In the object detection mode, totally reflected light from the sensing surface is received by the light-receiving element portion. The components are arranged at an angle that allows total reflection when there is no object, and does not allow the total reflection condition to be satisfied when there is an object. In the light scattering object detection mode, scattered light from the sensing surface is received by the light-receiving element portion. A signal pattern is obtained by joining detection signal levels of the micro-light-receiving elements in accordance with the arrangement of the micro-light-receiving elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumitoshi Kobayashi, Keiji Tsunetomo, Hideki Imanishi, Harunobu Yoshida, Masahide Wakisaka, Tatsumi Tokuda
  • Patent number: 7034326
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heat-reflecting windshield that includes a laminated glass sheet and a detecting device for optically detecting a target object such as water droplets. The laminated glass sheet includes a first glass sheet, a heat-reflecting film formed on the first glass sheet, an intermediate film and a second glass sheet. The detecting device is disposed on a main surface of the laminated glass such that a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element in the device are arranged in a predetermined region of the main surface, and the predetermined region is rubbed by a windshield wiper. The heat-reflecting film includes at least three dielectric layers and at least two metal layers, and the heat-reflecting film is not formed in said predetermined region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Noguchi, Hideki Imanishi, Seiichiro Honjo
  • Patent number: 7019232
    Abstract: An operation lever structure of a lever switch for a vehicle has a knob, a lever guide inserted inside the knob, and a pair of guide ribs formed in an outer surface of the lever guide. A pair of guide ribs are formed projecting from and integrating with the knob at a position opposed to the pair of the guide ribs of the lever guide and extend to the outer surface of the lever guide between the pair of the guide ribs of the lever guide, wherein harnesses are inserted between the pair of the guide ribs of the knob. Thereby, sandwich of the harnesses on assembly is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norio Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 7019321
    Abstract: In a rain sensing device, a sensing device that can estimate the size of raindrops or the like without a large amount of hardware resources, and its sensing method, and a wiper controlling apparatus using the same can be provided. In a sensing device, light emitted from a light-emitting member is introduced to a transparent plate, reflected by a sensing surface of the transparent plate and then received by a photo-detector, thereby detecting a condition of the sensing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuto Kokuryo, Shinji Nagao
  • Patent number: 7002480
    Abstract: A deposit detector in which deposit on a detection surface has a surface shape effect, and generation of a flashing phenomenon caused by irregular reflection of the light incident on the deposit from the outside is estimated. In a deposit detection mode, light emitted from a light source (10) for total reflection and total-reflected from the detection surface is received by a light-receiving element unit (50). Each element is disposed at such an angle that the light undergoes total reflection when no deposit is present or the condition of total reflection is not satisfied when deposit is present. Further, in a light-scattering deposit detection mode, light emitted from a scattering light source (20) and scattered by the detection surface is received by the light-receiving element unit (50). In an extraneous light quantity increase detection mode, extraneous light is received by the light-receiving element unit (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumitoshi Kobayashi, Keiji Tsunetomo, Harunobu Yoshida, Tatsumi Tokuda
  • Patent number: 6989771
    Abstract: An encoder includes comparators CP4 and CP5 which are provided in such a manner as to correspond to phase A and B respectively and detect a state where the output voltages deviate from their normal ranges. Transistors TR4 and TR5 which operate according to the outputs of the respective corresponding comparators are connected through resistors R8 and R18, respectively, to an output line of phase Z. When each output line connecting to a phase-A output terminal QA or a phase-B output terminal QB is short-circuited to ground, or a signal line 41A or 42B connecting the output terminal with a electronic control unit 40 is broken, the transistor TR4 or TR5 is turned on and the output of phase Z falls below its normal range, thereby a malfunction is detected. Even if one of the transistors of phase A and phase B breaks down, a malfunction in the other phase is transmitted to phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Tokue
  • Publication number: 20050258370
    Abstract: The imaging means comprises an IR lamp to radiate an infrared light forward, a CCD camera to image forward and convert to electrical signals and an image processing unit to change the signal storage time duration of the CCD camera at a predetermined period and sequentially and periodically output images with the different light exposure. The image processing unit extends the images with the different light exposure in the longitudinal direction and averages the signal level of both images after extending to form a composite image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Applicant: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawamura, Hironori Hoshino, Takeshi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 6921871
    Abstract: To enable to restrain a portion only of a resin at a pole board made of the resin to restrain warp or a sink mark, in a slide switch including a pole board 3 made of a resin insert-molded with fixed contacts 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 and a movable board supporting a movable contact and capable of sliding the movable contact relative to the fixed contacts 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 by predetermined contact pressure by moving along the pole board 3, a metal plate 21 is insert-molded to a portion of the pole board 1 at which the fixed contacts 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 are not present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakazawa, Tsutomu Watada
  • Patent number: 6919961
    Abstract: An object sensor is provided, which has a high object detection rate with respect to an object such as a raindrop adhering to a detection surface, and which is capable of detecting the presence/absence of an object with a high sensitivity. A light source 10, a detection surface 110, a focusing lens 40, and a plurality of photodetecting elements of a photodetecting unit 50 form a focusing system of equal magnification that is capable of catching an image in a size smaller than an object to be detected. Light emitted from the light source 10 is incident on the detection surface 110 via a prism 20 at a predetermined incident angle. Without a raindrop 120, the total internal reflection condition is satisfied as shown by a path 140 of a beam, so that the beam is subjected to the total internal reflection. Then, the beam passes through a prism 30, and is focused on a photodetecting surface of the photodetecting unit 50 by the focusing lens 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Tsunetomo, Fumitoshi Kobayashi, Hideki Imanishi, Harunobu Yoshida, Masahide Wakisaka, Tatsumi Tokuda
  • Publication number: 20050140819
    Abstract: An imaging system according to the present invention is capable of outputting an image which is less unnatural while elongating a signal storage time of a CCD camera gradually. It includes an IR lamp for radiating an infrared ray, a CCD camera 5 for taking the place radiated by the IR lamp and converting it into an electric signal, and an image processing unit 7 capable of outputting an image with a different exposure value continuously and periodically, while varying a signal storage time of the CCD camera 5 at a predetermined period. The image processing unit 7 is characterized by outputting an image that is different in exposure depending upon a signal storage time according to the extent to which how strongly light strikes on the CCD camera 5, and elongating gradually the signal storage time when there is no strong light falling on CCD camera 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Applicant: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawamura, Tomoyuki Ohata, Hironori Hoshino
  • Patent number: 6897386
    Abstract: Increase in size can be controlled, manufacturing cost can be reduced, and accurate detection is possible even when the number of fixed contacts is increased. An inhibitor switch comprising a pole base on the fixed side supporting fixed contacts and movable bases that support movable contacts 31a and can move rotationally so as to cause movable contacts to slide under the prescribed contact pressure against fixed contacts the rotation position of manual shaft 5 side being detected by the sliding position of sliding contacts with respect to fixed contacts wherein fixed contacts are provided on each of the two side surfaces of pole base, and movable bases are arranged singly on each of the two side surfaces of pole base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakazawa, Takeshi Okuhara
  • Patent number: 6872906
    Abstract: To enable to facilitate integration and part control by reducing a number of parts and a number of integrating steps and restrain electric contact performance from being deteriorated by preventing play, in a slide switch including a pole board (3) having a fixed contact and a movable board (11) made of a resin fixedly supporting a base portion (21) of a movable contact (19) and capable of sliding contact portions (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e), at a front end of the movable contact (19) relative to the fixed contact by moving along the pole board (3), the base portion (21) of the movable contact (19) is formed in a shape of a flat plate, the base portion (21) of the movable contact (19) is fixed to the movable board (11) by insert-molding of the resin and the movable contact (19) is inclinedly supported by the movable board (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakazawa, Yukihiro Kakegawa