Patents Examined by Bernard Rojas
  • Patent number: 12712421
    Abstract: A haptic actuator includes a housing having a ferromagnetic wall. The ferromagnetic wall has a set of one or more half shear ferromagnetic features protruding from the ferromagnetic wall into the housing. A movable magnet is positioned within the housing. A pair of springs, respectively attached to opposite sides of the housing and opposite ends of the movable magnet, bias the movable magnet toward a position of rest between the pair of springs. An electric coil is attached to the set of one or more half shear ferromagnetic features and positioned between the movable magnet and the set of one or more half shear ferromagnetic features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2026
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Hiemstra, Nils E. Larson, Robert R. Ingersoll, Eddy Sugyarto
  • Patent number: 12712422
    Abstract: A multi-coil voice coil motor (VCM) may be configured to be used as a haptic actuator for providing haptic feedback to a user. When implemented in a handheld controller having one or more controls, the multi-coil VCM may be configured to provide haptic feedback to a user of the controller. The multi-coil VCM may include a housing, multiple concentric coils, and a magnet coupled to the housing. The multiple concentric coils may include a first coil disposed on a first support coupled to the housing and a second coil disposed on a second support coupled to the housing, wherein the multiple concentric coils may have different diameters to allow for the concentricity of the coils. A system may include one or more haptic actuators, such as the multi-coil VCM, the haptic actuator(s) being configured to provide haptic feedback by causing at least a portion of a finger-operated control(s) to vibrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2026
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Brett Thomas Angelo, Lucas Allen Whipple
  • Patent number: 12712472
    Abstract: A triboelectric film and its laminate that utilize a conductive primer are provided. The triboelectric effect is a type of contact electrification such that with a suitable configuration, a current may flow from one region to another. When decorative triboelectric films are touched, electrical charges are built up and the generated electrical charges between a human body and films flow through a conductive primer. This system based on the triboelectric effect and the conductive primer can provide electrical functions to decorative film products without there being any large changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2026
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Hiroki Arazoe, Tasuku Nakayama, Yuji Hiroshige, Shinsuke Kondo, Masaaki Furusawa
  • Patent number: 12700725
    Abstract: A circuit breaker device protects an electrical low-voltage current circuit. The level of a current of the low-voltage current circuit is ascertained periodically such that current values are provided incrementally. The level of the voltage of the low-voltage current circuit is ascertained periodically such that voltage values are provided incrementally. The change in the current is ascertained from the periodically ascertained current values over time such that current change values are provided incrementally, and a differential voltage is ascertained from the periodically ascertained voltage values and an expected value of the voltage such that differential voltage values are provided incrementally. Each current change value is compared with a second threshold, and each differential voltage value is compared with a first threshold. If the first and second thresholds are exceeded, an interruption of the current circuit is initiated by switching elements being set to a high-ohmic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2026
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Fabian Döbler, Christopher Fromme, Dominic Malane, Marvin Tannhäuser
  • Patent number: 12695040
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a housing assembly including a housing having a plug-in side and enclosing an electromechanical component, the housing configured for mounting on a carrier, wherein the housing has a first assembly guide configured for engaging in a first plug-in slot guide arranged on the carrier, and wherein the plug-in side of the housing is guidable into a plugged-in position on the carrier by this engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2026
    Assignee: TDK Electronics AG
    Inventors: Robert Hoffmann, Robert Minkwitz
  • Patent number: 12695015
    Abstract: There is provided electromagnetic actuator. The electromagnetic actuator comprises a mover, a tubular coil and a tubular coil holder. The mover has a magnet. The tubular coil holder holds the tubular coil. The tubular coil holder has a cylindrical inner space for receiving the mover. The tubular coil and the magnet are configured to cooperate with each other to generate a force to move the mover relative to the coil holder along an axial axis. The mover comprises a ferromagnetic element arranged to change an inductance of the tubular coil in dependency on a position of the mover relative to the tubular coil holder. Further, there is provided a valve for opening and closing a conduit. The valve comprises the electromagnetic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2026
    Assignee: MAGNETIC INNOVATIONS B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Adrianus Antonius Theodorus Dams, Rob Leonardus Hubertus Sanders, Stefan Albert Johan Folmer
  • Patent number: 12683106
    Abstract: An electromechanical system for an electrical switching device includes an energizing coil assembly having a first coil and a second coil each generating a magnetic field in response to an energizing current and a magnetic system providing a magnetic flux path passing along a plurality of magnetic flux lines of the magnetic field generated by the energizing coil assembly. The magnetic system includes a first pole member arranged on an upper side of the first coil, a second pole member arranged on an upper side of the second coil, and a rotation member arranged between the first pole member and the second pole member. The rotation member has a first lobe and a second lobe executing a rotation motion around a central axis. Magnetic field lines generated by the coils are directed toward the lobes and produce a resultant magnetic force that rotates the lobes toward the pole members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Austria GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Wesely, Markus Gutmann
  • Patent number: 12675126
    Abstract: An operation mechanism includes a magnet; a first movable plate formed of a magnetic material and connected to one pole of the magnet; and a second movable plate formed of a magnetic material and connected to another pole of the magnet, wherein, while the first movable plate is not being operated, the second movable plate is at a return position that overlaps the first movable plate, and wherein, while the first movable plate is being operated, the first movable plate pushes down a middle portion of the second movable plate, such that the middle portion of the second movable plate remains in contact with the first movable plate and the second movable plate is tilted, so as to cause a free end of the second movable plate to be separated from the first movable plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ohara
  • Patent number: 12671048
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay includes a drive shaft, a drive device, a movable piece, a first fixed terminal, and a second fixed terminal. The drive shaft is movable in a moving direction. The drive shaft extends in the moving direction. The drive device moves the drive shaft in the moving direction. The movable piece includes a center portion connected to the drive shaft. The movable piece extends in a longitudinal direction. The first fixed terminal and the second fixed terminal face the movable piece. The movable piece includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion. The first contact portion contacts the first fixed terminal. The second contact portion contacts the second fixed terminal. The first contact portion is disposed eccentrically with respect to a center line of the movable piece. The center line of the movable piece extends in the longitudinal direction through the center portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ayata Horie, Hiroyuki Iwasaka, Ryota Minowa, Shinichi Ogawa, Kohei Otsuka
  • Patent number: 12658394
    Abstract: A worker is prevented from being hindered. A safety switch includes a switch body including an electromagnet and an actuator attracted to the electromagnet. The switch body includes a drive control unit and a safety control unit which control the safety switch, and the drive control unit and the safety control unit are surrounded by a housing. The housing is arranged on a back surface side of the electromagnet of the switch body, and the housing forms an accommodating portion that accommodates the drive control unit and the safety control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Kojima, Satoru Tomoshi, Hiroshi Kashima, Choryon Oh, Manabu Tsuboyama
  • Patent number: 12640297
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a magnetic positioning holder for positioning a cylindrical storage container, comprising a main body and two magnetic strips. The main body features two guide surfaces on one side in the thickness direction, each adjacent to one of the sides of the main body, wherein each guide surface is concave toward the other side of the main body in the thickness direction to from an arc. Each magnetic strip is embedded in the main body and corresponds to each guide surface along the thickness direction of the main body. The distance between each magnetic strip and its corresponding guide surface, defined as the magnetic attraction distance, decreases from each width side toward the central part of the main body along the width direction. Thus, the storage container can be guided to move toward the central part of the main body in the width direction and positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2026
    Inventor: Chih-Chien Hsieh
  • Patent number: 12629803
    Abstract: A device is provided for the automated manufacture of screw connections. A jointed arm robot has an output element and an end link. The output element is arranged on the end link so as to be rotatable around an effector axis (wE). A screwdriving tool is rotatable around the effector axis (wE) by the output element. The device features at least one transmission operatively connected to the output element and the screwdriving tool, and transmits a speed between the output element and the screwdriving tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Shahriar Fakher, Frank Jagow, Miguel Lebrato-Rastrojo, Thomas Albert Röbbecke
  • Patent number: 12626876
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay includes a case, a contact device, and an electromagnet device. The contact device includes a fixed contact and a movable contact piece including a movable contact. The electromagnet device is configured to drive the contact device. The electromagnet device is housed in the case. The electromagnet device includes a yoke. The yoke includes an extending portion extending to outside the case. The yoke is secured to the case via the extending portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Ogawa, Ryota Minowa
  • Patent number: 12620539
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay includes a contact device; a driving device including a coil, a spool, and first and second yokes; and a coil terminal. The second yoke, which is attached to the first yoke, includes a first side portion, a second side portion, a center portion extending therebetween, and a notch. The center portion of the second yoke is disposed between the contact device and the spool. The notch is located in the first side portion of the second yoke, at a position closer to the contact device than to the portion of the first side portion in contact with the first yoke. The coil terminal extends out of the electromagnetic relay via the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryota Minowa, Shinichi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 12614686
    Abstract: Apparatus forming an arc-free hybrid relay having an air gap when in the off state. The apparatus comprises a first relay coupled to a second relay, and having a semiconductor switch arranged to temporarily shunt current around the second relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Chris Morrow Young
  • Patent number: 12614654
    Abstract: To suppress an increase in DC resistance due to surface roughening in a coil component including a spiral pattern. A coil component manufacturing method includes: a first step of forming a conductor layer including a spiral pattern spirally wound in a plurality of turns; a second step of selectively roughening an upper surface and an upper region of a peripheral-direction side surface of the spiral pattern; and a third step of forming an insulating resin layer so as to embed therein the conductor layer, and the first to third steps are repeatedly performed. Since the upper surface and the upper region of the side surface of the spiral pattern are selectively roughened, it is possible to suppress an increase in DC resistance due to excessive roughening at the lower region of the side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Michitaka Okazaki, Ikuya Kokubo, Takuya Takeuchi, Masaki Endo, Masaki Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 12614960
    Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include a surface mountable haptic actuator that includes a housing defining an interior chamber and a movable magnetic weight structure suspended within the interior chamber by a flexible member. The surface mountable haptic actuator further includes a stationary conductive coil positioned within the interior chamber proximate the movable magnetic weight structure and a plurality of conductive terminals extending through the housing and in electrical contact with the conductive coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
    Assignee: PUI AUDIO, INC.
    Inventor: Barry Ricks
  • Patent number: 12609259
    Abstract: A safety switch that has a lock function using an electromagnet and a member to be magnetized is downsized. The safety switch includes: a detection unit that detects that a movable actuator is within a predetermined range; a safety signal output unit that outputs a safety signal based on a detection result obtained by the detection unit; an electromagnet; a lock input unit that receives a lock instruction for locking movement of the actuator; a drive control unit that drives the electromagnet based on the lock instruction received via the lock input unit; and an attachment portion which is formed on the electromagnet and fixes a switch body to an installation place of the switch body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kashima
  • Patent number: 12609580
    Abstract: A rotor shaft for a rotor of an electric machine is provided. The rotor shaft includes a hollow shaft extending along an axial direction that is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation, which delimits a hollow shaft interior that can be flowed through by a coolant. Further, the rotor shaft includes a sensor device arranged in the hollow shaft interior for determining a current rotary position or/and current rotational speed of the hollow shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Marius Ebli, Mario Mohler
  • Patent number: 12609228
    Abstract: An electromagnetic device includes a first member having a first end face, a second member having a second end face facing the first end face through an air gap, and a coil wound around one of the first member and the second member. Each of the first member and the second member is formed from a laminated body of a plurality of steel plates, and a magnetic circuit formed from the first member and the second member includes a changing part at which a lamination direction of the laminated body changes at a right angle to generate a magnetic flux along a plane direction of each of the plurality of steel plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Sato, Shigeo Koya, Nobushige Korenaga