Patents Examined by Elvin Enad
  • Electronic controller for a vehicle leveling system and vehicle leveling system comprising same
    Patent number: 7294797
    Abstract: An electronic controller for a vehicle leveling system comprises an extend-enable switch, a retract-enable switch, an all-activate switch, and at least one group-activate switch. It is configured to generate an all-extend electronic signal upon coordinated actuation of the extend-enable switch and the all-activate switch, an all-retract electronic signal upon coordinated actuation of the retract-enable switch and the all-activate switch, a group-extend electronic signal upon coordinated actuation of the extend-enable switch and the group-activate switch, and a group-retract electronic signal upon coordinated actuation of the retract-enable switch and the group-activate switch. Vehicle leveling systems having the electronic controller further include a plurality of jacks operably controlled by the electronic controller and a power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Atwood Mobile Products, Inc.
    Inventor: John Scott Erickson
  • Key pad and keypad assembly
    Patent number: 7294803
    Abstract: A keypad includes a light guide panel, the interior of which light propagates through; at least one key button positioned on the upper surface of the light guide panel; and at least one reflective pattern fixedly positioned with respect to the light guide panel to reflect a part of the light, which propagates through the interior of the light guide panel, towards the key button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo-Hoon Lee, Sun-Tae Jung, Kyoung-Youm Kim, Byung-Duck Cho, Dong-Hoon Jang
  • Switch device
    Patent number: 7291798
    Abstract: A switch device for vehicle use is provided with a switch case fixed to a handle bar of a vehicle. A unit case attached to the switch case is capable of rotating with respect to the switch case. An operation lever arranged in the unit case is capable of rotating together with the unit case. The operation lever is capable of operating a predetermined electrical component. The unit case can be freely rotated over a plurality of positions of use at which the operation lever can operate a predetermined electrical component. An object to be operated by the operation lever is made to be different according to a stopping position of the unit case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Asahi Denso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Yagi
  • Press switch having a force-to-detach function
    Patent number: 7291796
    Abstract: A press switch includes a base, a contractible pulling rod, an upper casing, and an actuator, and when the actuator is pressed to compress a resilient spring between the upper casing and the actuator, such that the contractible pulling rod and its press terminal move downward until two movable contact points are in contact with two fixed contact points of input/output terminal on both sides of the base to electrically connect to power supply If the actuator is released, the extension of the resilient spring lifts the contractible pulling rod and its press terminal, and thus the two movable contact points are forced to be detached from the fixed contact points of the input/output terminals on both sides, so as to disconnect the power supply. The invention can assure the safety of the use of an electric appliance product such a tool machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Solteam Electronics Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Song Liu, Fumiaki Miyaoka, Chih-Yang Chen, Hu-Chuan Wei
  • Mn-Zn based ferrite member
    Patent number: 7289010
    Abstract: There is provided a Mn—Zn based ferrite member excellent in mass productivity, high in withstand voltage, low in loss and excellent in direct current superposition property. The Mn—Zn based ferrite member is provided with a surface layer portion having the properties that ?5 defined in the specification satisfies the relation that ?5?103 ?m and ?50 defined in the specification satisfies the relation that ?50?102 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kajino, Kenya Takagawa, Taku Murase, Takuya Aoki
  • Multidirectional input device
    Patent number: 7288732
    Abstract: A multidirectional input device is provided. A multidirectional input device includes a keytop capable of moving up and down through pressing. A membrane switch that has a plurality of switch elements and is arranged on the side that faces the reverse side of said key top. A plurality of domed switch operating assembly arranged above said plurality of switch elements are capable of switching on said switching elements. The plurality of switch operating assemblies are connected with strip-shaped joint portions to be integrated. Upon pressing the key top, at least one of said plurality of switch operating assemblies is pressed, and thereby at least one of said plurality of switch elements can be switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junji Hashida
  • Vehicle switch
    Patent number: 7288734
    Abstract: A vehicle switch includes a case having a through-hole through the top face thereof, an operating body, a switch contact, an elastic cover, and a sliding part. The top end of the operating body projects from the through-hole. The operating body is housed in the case vertically movable. The switch contact is brought into and out of electrical contact by the vertical movement of the operating body. The elastic cover covers the through-hole of the case and the top end of the operating body. The sliding part that has a smaller friction coefficient than that of the elastic cover is provided in the top portion of the elastic cover, and covers at least the rim of the top portion of the elastic cover, or protrudes from the top face of the top portion and has an arc-shaped curved surface in the outer periphery of the upper rim thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Manabu Shiroshita
  • Switching device
    Patent number: 7285742
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switching device with a switching structure (1), which includes a cage assembly (21) having two opposite first sidewalls (5) and a bottom wall (6) integrally connecting the first sidewalls. The cage assembly (21) is at least partly configured as a cage (24) in which a slide (4) is displaceably arranged. A moving contact bridge (3) associated with stationary contact members is held in an opening (15) of the slide (4) under the pressure of a contact pressure spring (2). A clearance (26) is provided between the two first sidewalls (5) for the displacement of the contact bridge (3). A limit stop (18) is provided to retain the slide (4). Arcing chambers (7) formed by insulating second sidewalls (23) form part of the switching structure (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rudolf Kinzler, Ludwig Niebler, Anton Scharf
  • Magnets with varying magnetization direction and method of making such magnets
    Patent number: 7286034
    Abstract: A permanent magnet in which the magnetization direction varies with location to optimize or restrict a magnetic field property in a selected direction at a selected point. The magnetic field property may be, for example, the transverse magnetic field, axial magnetic field, axial gradient of the transverse magnetic field, transverse gradient of the transverse magnetic field, axis gradient of the axial magnetic field, transverse gradient of the axial magnetic field, the product of the transverse magnetic field and the transverse gradient of the transverse magnetic field, the product of the transverse magnetic field and the axial gradient of the transverse magnetic field, the product of the axial magnetic field and the transverse gradient of the axial magnetic field, or the product of the axial magnetic field and the axial gradient of the axial magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Stereotaxis, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis M. Creighton
  • Push-button switch
    Patent number: 7285741
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a push-button switch capable of providing a comfortable and natural click touch. To achieve the purpose, the button turns downward about the point which joins the buckling wall to the base on the back face side. Accordingly, the pulling force on the buckling wall does not occur when the button is pressed. Consequently, a user needs less pressing force, and can feel a clear and quite natural click touch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuo Kato
  • Control knob and control panel
    Patent number: 7285738
    Abstract: A control knob for a control panel assembly having a panel to which a push-and-turn switch assembly is mounted, with the switch assembly having a stem axially movable and rotatable to effect actuation of the switch assembly. The control knob has a cap and a skirt. The cap is axially immobile relative to the stem, and the skirt is coupled with the stem for axial movement therewith. The skirt is axially moveable relative to the cap. An axial force acting on the cap is not transferred to the stem and an axial force acting on the skirt will cause axial movement of the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kim Cyril Lavigne, Phillip Henry DeRuiter
  • Shielded encapsulated vacuum interrupter
    Patent number: 7285743
    Abstract: A shielded encapsulated vacuum interrupter with a ceramic vacuum chamber and opposing conductive end caps is provided. One end cap is electrically connected to a fixed contact, while an opposing end cap is connected to a moving contact. The moving contact is actuatable with the fixed contact for opening or closing an electric circuit. A floating shield inside the vacuum chamber connected to the vacuum chamber ceramic wall and spaced from the fixed and moving contacts is isolated and has a floating voltage potential. A portion of the vacuum chamber exterior ceramic wall is coated with a semi-conductive material and conductive voltage screens enclose a portion of the vacuum chamber exterior and are electrically connected to each conductive end cap of the vacuum chamber. The chamber and connected screens are encapsulated in a molded dielectric housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: G & W Electric Co.
    Inventor: Donald R. Martin
  • Supporting structure of fixed contact terminals
    Patent number: 7286031
    Abstract: In the supporting structure of fixed contact terminals, a pair of fixed contact terminals with respective fixed contacts provided on their free ends are supported by fixed contact bases and the both ends of a movable contact piece contact with and separate from the pair of the fixed contacts. Cut-off grooves are provided on the surfaces of the fixed contact bases at each position near the fixed contacts, and they are formed in a converted T shape on a cross section, partitioning the pair of fixed contact terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Nishida, Yasuyuki Masui, Takeshi Miyasaka
  • Toggle button structure
    Patent number: 7285740
    Abstract: A button, having two end portions along a particular direction that can be selectively depressed, is supported by a support member. Pins are formed on the support member at locations corresponding to the respective two end portions of the button, the axes of the pins being perpendicular to the direction of depressing of the button. Elongate apertures are formed on the button in locations corresponding to the respective pins, the elongate apertures configured to have the pins slidably fitted therein and having their lengthwise directions generally parallel to the direction of depressing. A biasing unit is further provided to bias the button in a direction opposite to the direction of depressing. When the button is in a neutral condition, the button is biased by the biasing unit so that the pins are located respectively on one side of the elongate apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokatsu Nakajima
  • Ferro-magnetic force field generator
    Patent number: 7286033
    Abstract: A strong-magnetic-force field generating device is provided which can increase a magnetic force field and which can make the magnetic force field spatially uniform without adding an additional superconducting magnet to a commercially-available superconducting magnet. In the strong-magnetic-force field generating device, a disc ferromagnetic element is arranged inside a bore and above the equatorial plane thereof in a solenoid superconducting magnet, whose central axis is directed in a vertical direction, so as to be symmetric with respect to the central axis; and a ring ferromagnetic element is arranged above the disc ferromagnetic element so as to be out of contact with the disc ferromagnetic element and so as to be symmetric with respect to the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignees: Japan Science and Technology Corporation, National Institute for Materials Science
    Inventors: Osamu Ozaki, Tsukasa Kiyoshi, Shinji Matsumoto, Hitoshi Wada
  • MEMS switch stopper bumps with adjustable height
    Patent number: 7283024
    Abstract: In a Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) switch, a common switch failure is a short between the upper and the lower electrostatic actuation plates. Such shorts may occur due to torque deformation. Stopper bumps having a slightly lower height profile than that of the contact bumps are provided to prevent such shorts. The stopper bumps may be made using the same mask as that used to create the contact bump with the height of the respective bumps controlled by determining the diameter of the bumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Hanan Bar, John Heck
  • Assembly having an electric switching function as well as a method of producing such an assembly
    Patent number: 7282657
    Abstract: An assembly having an electric switching function, comprises a switch device which has associated electric conductors and a movable actuating part, on which a hood member is mounted, and which is provided in a housing comprised by an outer injection-molded body; the hood member has its rim resting on a first injection-molded synthetic material body that fixes and partially encloses the electric conductors, and is sealingly connected to the first injection-molded synthetic material body by means of the outer, second injection-molded synthetic material body that both covers the rim of the hood member and also adjoins the first injection-molded synthetic material body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Pollmann Austria OHG
    Inventors: Walter Wimmer, Robert Pollmann
  • Electrostatic micro-switch for components with low operating voltages
    Patent number: 7283023
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrostatic micro-switch intended to connect two conductor paths (4, 5) placed on a support, the connection between the two conductor paths being created by means of a contact stud (6) fitted to the distortion means (3) made in insulating material and capable of distorting in relation to the support, under the influence of an electrostatic force generated by control electrodes, the contact stud connecting the ends (14, 15) of the two conductor paths (4, 5) when the distortion means are sufficiently distorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventor: Philippe Robert
  • Electric switching device, relay, socket and electric apparatuses comprising such a device
    Patent number: 7283027
    Abstract: Switching device comprising a contact block having a fixed part connected to at least one electric terminal and having at least one electric contact zone able to be in contact with a contact zone of a movable part, an actuating device enabling the movable part to be moved from a closed position to an open position of said contact zones. The fixed part comprises two bases. The actuating device is formed by at least one electric coil placed between the bases. The movable part comprises a magnet able to move between two stable positions. The magnet comprises an electric contact zone electrically connected to a first electric terminal and able to be electrically in contact with contact zones connected to a second electric terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Pierre Batteux, Oleg Garelli
  • Micro-electromechanical systems switch and method of fabricating the same
    Patent number: 7283025
    Abstract: Provided is a micro-electromechanical systems switch for controlling signal delivery in a high frequency band wireless communication and a radio frequency (RF) system and, comprising: a substrate; a signal line formed on the substrate and having a predetermined opening portion; at least one supporting frame each formed on the substrate at both sides of the signal line; a ground line formed on the substrate between the supporting frame and the signal line; a moving plate fixed to the supporting frame at both sides thereof, the moving plate being movable upward and downward; a switching unit positioned on the moving plate, the switching unit comprising contact means for connecting the opened signal line; and a supporting layer for supporting the moving plate and the switching unit, wherein the supporting layer comprises a support protrusion portion for maintaining a distance from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jae Woo Lee, Chang Han Je, Sung Weon Kang