Patents Examined by Bradley H Thomas
  • Patent number: 7715198
    Abstract: A package structure of an inverter apparatus includes at least four metal column supports arranged vertically to be spaced apart from each other, and sheet-metal bent beams connecting the column supports in transverse direction and longitudinal direction to form rectangular package structure. The metal column support is an aluminum die-cast support, and the sheet-metal bent beam has a U-shape with sharp edges in cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Mori, Makoto Takano
  • Patent number: 7710236
    Abstract: A fuse system has both a non-serviceable fuse and a fuse terminal system for selectively installing a serviceable fuse. When installed, the serviceable fuse provides a current flow path parallel to the non-serviceable fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew J. Jozwiak
  • Patent number: 7705706
    Abstract: A plug with a replaceable fuse is provided. The plug includes an outer housing, an inner core, a pair of prongs and a pair of conductive cords. The outer housing includes a fuse uninstall button opening and an inner core install opening. The inner core is installed into the outer housing through the inner core install opening, and the inner core includes a fuse socket and a fuse uninstall button. The fuse socket has an uninstall opening. When it is intended to replace the fuse, the fuse uninstall button is pressed from the fuse uninstall button opening, the fuse is ejected or pushed out of the fuse socket by one end of the fuse uninstall button extending to the uninstall opening. When the fuse uninstall button is not pressed, the fuse uninstall button restores to the original position, such that a new fuse is installed into the fuse socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Yun Meng Yun Xi Lighting Products Co Ltd
    Inventor: Feng Ding
  • Patent number: 7701708
    Abstract: A heat dissipation assembly for dissipating heat from a heat-generating component includes a first heat sink mounted on the heat-generating component for dissipating heat therefrom, and a second heat sink movably mounted to the first heat sink, to be adjustable relative to the first heat sink. The second heat sink can be moved to a desired position to fit a need of heat dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Yi Wu, Zhen-Xing Ye, Ke Sun, Ming-Ke Chen, Xiao-Zhu Chen
  • Patent number: 7696854
    Abstract: A heavy current coupling that includes an electrically conductive elastic fastening and fuse element supported by the housing. The fastening and fuse element is configured to electrically connect first and second contacts, with the first and second contacts being spaced from one another. Wherein the fastening and fuse element burns through when a predetermined maximum current is exceeded, thereby interrupting the electrical connection between the first and second contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Amphenol Tuchel Electronics GmbH
    Inventors: Henning Rittstieg, Wolfgang Langhoff
  • Patent number: 7688572
    Abstract: A system and method for connecting supply power to motor control components includes use of a motor control center subunit with moveable supply power contacts. After a motor control center subunit is secured into a motor control center compartment, the supply power contacts may be advanced to engage supply power buses. For disconnection, the supply power contacts may be retracted and isolated from the buses before physical removal of the subunit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Edgar Yee, Robert Allan Morris, Scott Edward McPherren, Neal Edward Rowe
  • Patent number: 7688592
    Abstract: A cooling system for devices having power semiconductors and a method for cooling the device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the cooling system has printed circuit boards arranged on a circuit carrier in plug-in contact strips. The cooling system itself has a cooling plate, which is mounted in a pivotable manner on one of the plug-in contact strips in the region of the power semiconductor component. The cooling plate can be pivoted about an axis in such a way that it assumes a first position, which is pivoted away from the printed circuit board, and a second position, in which the cooling plate bears on the power semiconductor component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Gerold Gruendler, Juergen Hoegerl, Volker Strutz, Erick Syri
  • Patent number: 7679893
    Abstract: An improved housing for a computing device is disclosed. The improved housing can have one or more of the following aspects. A first aspect of the invention pertains to a computer housing having a logo or other symbol that can be illuminated using light from the backside of a display panel. A second aspect of the invention pertains to a suspended frame that is able to support a display panel within a display housing. A third aspect of the invention pertains to a computing device provided with an internal antenna. A fourth aspect of the invention pertains to a stiffener for a computer housing so as to increase the rigidity and strength of the computer housing. A fifth aspect of the invention pertains to a housing having a logo, symbol or other device that can be illuminated using light from the backside of a display panel. A sixth aspect of the invention pertains to a lid for a computing device, such as a portable computer, that is provided with a translucent housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Lam, Jory Bell, Chris J. Stringer, Roy Riccomini
  • Patent number: 7663466
    Abstract: A fuse device for fitting over and around a corner of a battery housing has a top wall and two side walls extending downward from the top wall. The side walls are joined at a corner. A battery terminal for mechanical and electrical attachment to a battery post is provided in the top wall. Electrical connectors for connection to terminals on the ends of electrical cables are mounted on the side walls of the fuse device. The electrical connectors are linked through the walls to the battery terminal by fuses. Ribs extending down the side walls from the top wall pass close by each electrical connector to strengthen the structure of the fuse device and prevent rotation of the terminals on the ends of the cables as they are secured to the fuse device. Recessed strengthening ribs in the top wall extend radially outward from the battery terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventor: James Thomas Jetton
  • Patent number: 7659805
    Abstract: A thermostat has a movable place where a spring point and a securing plate portion are integrally formed. The spring point is provided with a movable contact at a position that faces a fixed contact, a protrusion with which a bimetal that counter turns comes into contact, a hole for inserting the head of a bimetal holding point, and a protrusion for holding the bimetal, and the spring point is valley-folded at a folding point so as to face the securing plate portion. The securing plate portion is integrally constituted of a terminal point connected to one external terminal, a fixation point for securing an insulating plate, which has the fixed contact in a manner to hold the plate from both sides, and a holding point folded and set up, penetrating a central hole of the bimetal to hold the bimetal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Uchiya Thermostat Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Takeda
  • Patent number: 7659804
    Abstract: A fuse for a high voltage/high current application, such as a hydro-electric vehicle (“HEV”) application is provided. The fuse employs a variety of arc quenching features to handle a large amount of arcing energy that is generated when such fuse is opened due to a fuse opening event. In one embodiment, an insulative substrate, such as a melamine substrate, is metallized with a fuse element. The fuse element extends to multiple surfaces of the substrate. A fuse opening portion of the element is located so that the arcing energy is forced to travel along multiple insulative planes, increasing an impedance across the opening of the element and decreasing the likelihood of a sustained arc. Also, the substrate and element are disposed in a sealed housing, which is packed in one embodiment with an arc quenching material, such as sand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Harris, Jeffrey J. Ribordy, William P. Brown, John Adamczyk, Douglas Fischer, Gregory Stumpo
  • Patent number: 7656268
    Abstract: A switch includes a body and a switch member pivotably engaged with the top opening of the body. A link has one end pivotably connected to a first end of the switch member and the other end of the link is movably received in a guide path is defined in the body. The second end of the link is located at an inner periphery of the guide path when the switch member is in “ON” position to let two contact points be in contact with each other, and a space is defined between the second end of the link and the outer periphery of the guide path so that the second end of the link is allowed to move toward the outer periphery when a contact portion is deformed upward when overloaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 7652878
    Abstract: A computer housing includes a main housing, a mounting frame, and a first cover. The main housing defines an accommodation space adapted to receive a motherboard module and a data-reading device therein. The mounting frame is disposed removably within the main housing, and is adapted to be mounted with the data-reading device thereon. The first cover is attached openably and closably to the main housing, and is disposed in proximity to the mounting frame for covering a top end of the accommodation space in the main housing. A first notch in the main housing is aligned with a second notch in the first cover such that the first and second notches form cooperatively an opening aligned with a disk slot in the data-reading device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Aopen Inc.
    Inventor: Hung-Chieh Tsai
  • Patent number: 7652553
    Abstract: A thermally activated electrical interrupt device incorporates a thermally activated portion (110) engaging with an electrical interrupt portion (120). The thermally activated material (114) expands when heated, causing an interrupt control rod (140, 180) to open an electrical contact (123, 125, 126/132, 134). When the interrupt device is placed into an interrupt state, a reset mechanism maintains the interrupt control rod (140) in the interrupt state until specifically reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Thermal Interrupt Devices, Ltd.
    Inventors: William C. Neilly, Kevin L. Gabrey
  • Patent number: 7646608
    Abstract: An apparatus for coupling a heat-generating device to a heat-removing device. The apparatus includes a thermally-conductive plate having a first side and a second side. The apparatus also includes a plurality of first channels that intersect with a plurality of second channels formed on at least one of the first side and the second side. The formation of the first channels and the second channels weaken the thermally-conductive plate. The apparatus further includes a plurality of protrusions formed by the intersection of the first channels and the second channels. The protrusions are deformable by coupling the thermally-conductive plate between the heat-generating device and the heat-removing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Thompson, Terence G. Ward
  • Patent number: 7643285
    Abstract: A storage apparatus has a cabinet stored with an array of memory mediums, a power supply unit housed at the bottom of the cabinet, a fan provided immediately under the top surface of the cabinet and immediately above the memory mediums, and a partition member provided insides the cabinet and configured to partition a first cooling path from mixing with a second cooling path inside the cabinet. The first cooling path of first external air for cooling the memory mediums starts at an inlet on a side surface of the cabinet and ends at the top surface of the cabinet to discharge the first external air out of the cabinet form the top surface. The second cooling path of second external air for cooling the power supply unit ends at the top surface of the cabinet and discharges the second external air out of the cabinet at the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Nishiyama, Kenichi Miyamoto, Shigeaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7639114
    Abstract: A temperature fuse protection device uses a hot melt metal to rivet for connecting two terminals in the circuit that are separated for making the two terminals electrically-connected and the circuit complete. There is a spacing in between the two free ends of the two terminals when no external force is being imposed. When an electric overloading or high circuit temperature event occurs, the hot melt metal would be heated to melt and break, which would then make the free ends of the two terminals to be disconnected, and therefore, the circuit will be at “OFF” status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 7636233
    Abstract: A compartmental transformer and a method maintenance therefore is provided. The transformer includes a first compartment housing first equipment electrically coupled to the high voltage side of the transformer and a second compartment housing second equipment electrically coupled with the low voltage side of the transformer. The transformer further includes a maintenance compartment, separate from the first and second compartments, for housing a plurality of maintenance devices used for servicing the transformer while the transformer is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Commonwealth Edison Co.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Callsen, Martin A. Rave
  • Patent number: 7633758
    Abstract: A multiphase inverter has two card shaped arm modules facing each other along a stacking direction. Each module has semiconductor switching elements disposed along an element arranging direction substantially perpendicular to the stacking direction, a common heat sink plate connecting direct current electrodes of the elements with one of terminals of the power source, and phase heat sink plates connecting respective alternating current electrodes of the elements with respective multiphase terminals of a motor. The elements of each module correspond to all phases of an alternating current. Each common heat sink plate forms a principal surface of the corresponding module, and the phase heat sink plates of each module forms another principal surface. The principal surfaces of each module face each other along the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichi Oohama
  • Patent number: 7633745
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a movable unit having a top surface; a main body in which the movable unit is stowed and from which the movable unit is deployed by sliding the movable unit, the main body having a first surface opposed to the top surface when the movable unit is in a stowed state and in a deployed state; and a changing mechanism which changes a distance between the top surface and the first surface during a sliding operation of the movable unit so that the top surface and the first surface during the sliding operation are separated from each other by a distance greater than a distance between the top surface and the first surface in the stowed state and the deployed state of the movable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Sakakibara, Naka Shibata