Patents Examined by Elvin Enad
  • Patent number: 7310033
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch is provided which includes a moveable electrode with an opening arranged over at least a portion of the signal trace. In some cases, the opening may include a notch arranged along a periphery of the moveable electrode. In particular, the opening may include a notch bound by two edges of the moveable electrode which are respectively arranged relative to opposing sides of the signal trace. In other embodiments, the opening may include a hole arranged interior to the peripheral edge of the moveable electrode. In some cases, the MEMS switch may include a plurality of contact structures coupled to signal traces. In such cases, the moveable electrode may include openings specifically arranged above a plurality of the signal traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Teravicta Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Goins
  • Patent number: 7310032
    Abstract: A remote controlled circuit breaker switch handle engagement apparatus is provided. The apparatus is adapted to be removably attached across a circuit breaker face-plate of a traditional residential and commercial circuit breaker in order to facilitate remote completion of a circuit between a source and load, thereby reestablishing electrical service having been previously interrupted. The apparatus utilizes a handle trip assembly which engages an operating switch handle of the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Inventor: Harry Kouris
  • Patent number: 7307227
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit breaker device comprising a bottom switch part (2) that can be brought into electrical contact with bus bars, a top switch part (1) which can be placed onto the bottom switch part (2) and is provided with at least one fuse link, switch module, contactor or similar, and a terminal module (3) for especially at least one outgoing feeder (42). The bottom switch part (2) is provided with contact elements (5, 6, 7) that are in electrical contact with the bus bars (9, 10, 11) and can be contacted in a contact-proof manner by means of plug-in contacts (17, 18, 19) of the top switch part (1) via one respective access slot (12, 13, 14) located in a top area of the bottom switch part (2). The terminal module (3) is pivotally mounted (50) on the side of the top switch part (1) of bottom switch part (2) and is provided with electrical contacts (38, 39, 40) that can be laterally inserted into the top switch part (1) and are allocated to each outgoing feeder (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Woehner GmbH & Co. KG Elektrotechnische Systeme
    Inventor: Alex Buettner
  • Patent number: 7307230
    Abstract: A mechanism for controlling circuit-closing/opening of power ratchet wrench, including: an elongated tubular main body for a user's hand to hold; a driving motor disposed in the main body; a transmission member disposed in the main body and connected with the driving motor for transmitting the power of the driving motor; a driving end disposed at the first end of the main body and drivable by the driving motor via the transmission member; a power supply for supplying power to the driving motor; a driving power supplying circuit disposed in the main body and electrically connected between the power supply and the driving motor, whereby the power supply can power on the driving motor via the driving power supplying circuit a controlling trigger, one end of the controlling trigger being pivotally connected with the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Tranmax Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsin-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 7307232
    Abstract: A rotary switch for installation in the dashboard of a vehicle has a switch housing, an actuation shaft that is arranged rotatably in the switch housing, a knob that is mounted on one end of the actuation shaft, and a ring-shaped faceplate that surrounds the knob and that is detachably fastened to the switch housing. The faceplate is connected to the switch housing by a locking mechanism. This locking mechanism can be released by a relative rotation between the faceplate and the switch housing. The knob can be moved axially in a predetermined rotational position and is coupled non-rotatably to the faceplate by means of this axial movement. In order to detach the faceplate from the switch housing, the knob is moved into the predetermined rotational position and then moved axially and turned at the same time, whereby the faceplate also turns and the latched connection between the faceplate and the switch housing is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Altmann, Karl-Heinz Wohlfahrt
  • Patent number: 7307229
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switch provided with self-cleaning contacts used, in particular for actuating a horn for a steering wheel of a motor vehicle. The inventive switch comprises at least two opposite contacts one of which is movable and touches the opposite contact by means of an actuating element. The self-cleaning of the contacts is carried out by the reciprocal sliding thereof, the contact associated with the actuating element is fixed to a supporting element which is embodied in such a way that it is elastic and fixed to an end, an opposite end being free and moveable. Said invention is characterized in that the supporting element from the fixing side outward has an inclined line with respect to the direction of actuation in the direction of said actuating element, and subsequently in the direction of the free end thereof. A line is also inclined in the direction of the free end thereof with respect to the direction of actuation starting from the actuating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
    Inventors: Helmut Bonn, Uwe Esskuchen
  • Patent number: 7307501
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a package for permanent magnets in which the amount of magnetic field that leaks externally is reduced, and that is stable. There is provided a permanent magnet package 1 comprising: a plurality of magnet rows, wherein each of the magnet rows comprises a plurality of permanent magnets 2, wherein the magnetization direction of all the permanent magnets in a single magnet row is the same, and is parallel to the magnet row, and wherein the plurality of the magnet rows are arranged such that the magnetization direction of adjacent rows is opposite; and the method for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuhito Doi
  • Patent number: 7304262
    Abstract: A vacuum assembly including a vacuum interrupter may be sealed with a compliant material and/or rubber plugs, so that a cavity is created and maintained within the assembly for use with a current exchange housing and/or bellows, during operation of the vacuum interrupter. During vacuum molding of the vacuum assembly to encapsulate the vacuum assembly in an epoxy, a resulting pressure differential caused by the vacuum molding is prevented from disturbing the seal around the vacuum assembly, by way of a needle or tube included in the seal. In this way, air from within the cavity is allowed to escape, while the epoxy is prevented from entering the cavity. Then, once encapsulation is complete, the vacuum assembly can be joined with an operating rod and other components to complete a vacuum switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Paul N. Stoving, E. Fred Bestel
  • Patent number: 7304256
    Abstract: A thin, film-form seating switch able to detect whether an occupant sits on the seat or not, wherein, with a spacer (5) in-between, a film-form substrate (3) is disposed on one surface of the spacer and a film-form member (7) on the other surface, a first conductor (13) equipped with a first terminal (9) and a first electrode (11A) conductive with this and a second conductor (19) equipped with a second terminal (15) and a second electrode (17A) conductive with this are fixed to one surface of the film-form substrate, and a third conductor (21A) for letting the first electrode conduct with the second electrode when an occupant is seated is fixed to the film-form member (7). The above arrangement solves a conventional problem that it is troublesome to connect the connection terminals of wires or the like provided on a wiring harness or the like to respective terminals that are separately provided on a film-form substrate and a film-form member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignees: Fujikura Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kawahira, Takahiro Ishii, Mikihito Kojima, Toyohiko Shindo, Naotaka Kumakiri, Masashi Yoshifuku, Takashi Furukawa, Nobuhiro Koyota, Tsutomu Terasaki
  • Patent number: 7304253
    Abstract: A switching device of an image recording and replaying apparatus, having: a frame with a button sheet having a guide boss opening positioned in a center of the button sheet and operation boss openings positioned around the guide boss opening, pairs of the operation boss openings being oppositely disposed with respect to the guide boss opening; a switchboard placed on a first side of the frame and having tact switches facing respective operation boss openings; an integrated button disposed to be elastically biased toward a second side of the frame opposite the first side, and having a guide boss inserted into the guide boss opening and operation bosses inserted into respective operation boss openings; and a fixation holder disposed on the guide boss to fix the integrated button to the frame, such that the operation bosses continuously contact with corresponding tact switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-in Lee
  • Patent number: 7304254
    Abstract: A shock absorbing roller thumb wheel is disclosed. The shock absorbing thumb wheel includes a central hub that can be secured to an electro-mechanical switch, a rim encircling the central hub, and force dispersion spokes extending from the central hub and connected to the rim. The configuration of the force dispersion spokes and the resilient material of the force dispersion spokes and the rim allow for radial and lateral deflection of the rim in response to an applied impact force. The impact force is thereby at least partially absorbed by the radial and lateral deflection of the rim and spokes, such that less impact force is transferred to connections between the electro-mechanical switch and any assembly to which the switch is attached. Hence, the probability of connection failures is reduced, and the lifetime of a device that uses the thumb wheel can be extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Dave M. Ma, Herrebertus Tempelman, John A. Holmes
  • Patent number: 7304562
    Abstract: There is provided a process for producing an organic PTC thermistor including the steps of: mixing an organic binder with a filler to obtain a mixture; forming on a first conductive foil, a mixture layer including the mixture to obtain a laminate; and laminating on the laminate, a second conductive foil or another of the laminate to obtain a sandwich so that the mixture layer can be sandwiched by the opposing conductive foils. At least one of the mixing step, the layer-forming step and the laminating step is conducted under reduced pressure. An organic PTC thermistor obtained by the production process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Shirai, Yukie Mori, Tokuhiko Handa
  • Patent number: 7304556
    Abstract: A buckling actuator has a connecting section of a supporting beam that is provided with a rotatable supporter for allowing a movable member to be stably maintained at one of two switch positions. A substrate, stationary members, rotatable supporters, and supporting beams support a movable member in a shiftable manner in a y-axis direction, such that the movable member can be shifted between first and second switch positions. Moreover, the rotatable supporters are each provided with arm portions which extend in a radial fashion and support the corresponding supporting beam in a rotatable manner. When the movable member is being shifted, each supporting beam can be rotated without having to bend a corresponding end by a significant amount. Thus, a large barrier ?E of potential energy of the movable member is set between the first and second switch positions. The movable member can therefore be stably maintained at each of the switch positions even when electric power is not supplied to electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Tamura, Shinji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7301114
    Abstract: A movable contact unit includes a first movable contact stuck on an adhesive layer beneath a lower face of an insulating film, and a second movable contact placed on the insulating film such that it is overlaid on the first movable contact via the insulating film in between. The movable contact unit has greater repulsive force and is excellent in durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Sano, Masahiro Ito
  • Patent number: 7297883
    Abstract: The invention proposes an electrical switch (20) with multiple switching ways comprising a bottom support (22) in the bottom (32) of which are arranged fixed contacts (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d), a top member (26) that is mounted to be movable relative to the bottom support (22) from a central rest position to four main actuation positions distributed angularly at 90°, and a contact plate (28) that comprises four contact blades (34) each of which is capable of coming into contact with a fixed contact (30b), characterized in that the actuation member (26) is mounted to be movable relative to the support (22) to one or other of four intermediate actuation positions that are offset angularly by 45° relative to the main actuation positions, and in each of which two contact blades (34) are simultaneously in contact with the associated fixed contacts (30b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Sylvain Rochon, Michel Bruno
  • Patent number: 7298237
    Abstract: A shock sensor has a housing with a Terfenol-D type sensing element positioned inside a sensing coil. A permanent biasing magnet is positioned in engagement with the Terfenol-D sensing element, and a spacer engages the Terfenol-D sensing element and extends from the housing. The housing has a beam with one or two mounting holes through which fasteners extend to mount the shock sensor to a structural member. The housing places the spacer in compression against the structural member. In an alternative embodiment a DC current can be supplied to the sensing coil to provide the biasing magnetic field. A high frequency filter separates the shock sensing signal from the applied DC biasing current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven R. Stuve
  • Patent number: 7297890
    Abstract: An earthing switch for a medium voltage switchgear comprising a plurality of fixed contacts, a plurality of movable contact surfaces which are suitable to contact said plurality of fixed contacts and a support structure suitable to support moving means which allow the movement of said second plurality of contact surfaces. The earthing switch comprises at least one guide which comprises a fixed element and a moving element coaxially coupled therewith, said moving element being operatively connected to said movable contact surfaces so as to allow their movement along a substantially rectilinear direction from a first position, corresponding to an open condition of said switch, to a second position corresponding to a closed condition of said switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Davide Corti
  • Patent number: 7297881
    Abstract: A composite switch having a configuration in which: on the upper part of movable contacts of a first switch to a fourth switch disposed in a case, two driving bodies made of an inelastic insulating material such as polyamide are mounted in parallel to a swing center shaft; an upper surface of the case is covered with a cover having two long holes from which upper parts of the two driving bodies protrude; and the two driving bodies are pressed by an operation body, made of an inelastic insulating resin, which is swingably supported. With a composite switch having this configuration, an operation stroke is short and the generation of noise can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 7297889
    Abstract: A rotary switch is disclosed which has a central handle (12) which is rotatable about a central axis (Z), a ring-shaped shield (16) surrounding the handle (12), a rotary button (18) which is arranged on the shield (16) and is rotatable about an axis (V) offset from and parallel to said central axis (Z), and a potentiometer (28) which is adjustable by means of the rotary button (18). The potentiometer (28) is radially spaced from the offset axis (V), and is coupled with the rotary button (18) by means of a gear (24, 26). The potentiometer (28) is offset radially inwards from the offset axis (V) towards the central axis (Z).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Bornhorst, Klaus Mueller, Hans-Joachim Frohne
  • Patent number: 7294794
    Abstract: A button input apparatus with a display function, which generates a switch signal in response to a user's press, and a portable electronic device having the same. The button input apparatus includes: a plurality of lever buttons each having a transparent window in at least a portion thereof, and one fixed edge on one side of the transparent window, so that the buttons are elastically vertically flexible; a switch substrate, which is disposed below the plurality of lever buttons, including openings respectively corresponding to the transparent windows, and generating a switch signal according to a motion of any of the plurality of lever buttons via a plurality of switches disposed to respectively correspond to elastic parts of the lever buttons; and a display panel, which provides an image in an area corresponding to each of the transparent windows, at least a portion of the display panel being disposed below the plurality of lever buttons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-kyu Choi, Seong-woon Kim, Sungi Hong, Jun-ho Park, Kwangil Hwang, Hongseok Yang, Yillmyung Yim, Yeun-bae Kim, Namwoo Kim, Byungin Yoo