Patents Examined by Felix O. Figueroa
  • Patent number: 11727905
    Abstract: A button unit is suspended vertically and has a button body with an actuating surface and a shaft extending downwardly therefrom. An X-Y sensor unit is arranged below the button body for detecting X-Y positions on the actuating surface. The X-Y sensor unit has one opening such that the shaft can move therethrough. One transfer element is elastically suspended below the shaft and moved downwardly upon downward movement of the shaft. A Z sensor unit is arranged below the transfer element. The Z sensor unit has a detection element for detecting downward movement of the transfer element. The X-Y sensor unit may include a capacitive sensor. The Z sensor unit may include an inductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, or a magnetic sensor. The shaft and the extension may include a translucent material to form a light guide for illuminating the button body via a light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Ableton AG
    Inventor: Oliver Harms
  • Patent number: 11728580
    Abstract: A terminal includes: a flat surface portion; an extending portion continuous with the flat surface portion; a branch portion continuous with the extending portion and extending in a direction different from that in which the extending portion extends; and rotation stop portions continuous with the branch portion. When the terminal is attached to a bolt protruding from a fixing member and including a seat separated from the fixing member, the flat surface portion contacts the seat, the rotation stop portions extend from the branch portion toward a base end of the bolt in a protruding direction of the bolt, and at least a pair of the rotation stop portions are positioned to sandwich the seat in a direction intersecting the protruding direction to prevent rotation of the terminal with respect to the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takatatsu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11681377
    Abstract: A keyboard (110) includes a base board (116), keys (112), pitfalls (120) and a mode control mechanism (118). The keys (112) include cups (1124), and the mode control mechanism (118) may switch the keyboard (110) especially the key cups (1124) between different modes. In case that the keyboard (110) is not in use, these cups (1124) can be received in the pitfalls (120) to reduce the profile of the keyboard (110). In case that the keyboard (110) is to be used, the keys (112) may be raised up and arranged on the base board (116) in order to enable long keystroke and provide good typing experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Masaaki Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 11676781
    Abstract: A switch includes an actuator for moving the switch from an OFF position to an ON position. A resistor is connected in series between a first terminal and a second terminal, and limits inrush current that flows when the switch is moved from the OFF position to the ON position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventor: Charles W. Ziegler, IV
  • Patent number: 11653474
    Abstract: A connector assembly including a shielding cage and a liquid cooling cabin. The shielding cage has an insertion space and a window in communication with the insertion space. The liquid cooling cabin is configured to allow a cooling liquid to circulate and flow inside, the liquid cooling cabin comprises a shell having an opening, a thermal coupling cover provided at the opening of the shell, and an elastic sealing unit sealing a gap between the thermal coupling cover and the shell, the thermal coupling cover having a thermal coupling plate entering into the insertion space via the window of the shielding cage, the thermal coupling plate being capable of elastically moving in a direction close to the shell and elastically restoring in a direction away from the shell by a function of the elastic sealing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventors: You-Qian Lu, Che-Yuan Yang
  • Patent number: 11646507
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a male element and a female element configured to form a rivet for fastening the electrical connector to a piece of material; and a neck washer, which has a washer portion and a neck portion and which is configured to be placed between the male element and the female element of the rivet. The washer portion is configured to form an electrical connection area for an electrical conductor of the piece of textile and the neck portion is configured to electrically connect the washer portion to at least one of the male element and the female element. The electrical connector can be used independently of the position of the electrical conductor in relation to one or more layers of materials in the piece of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: INUHEAT GROUP AB
    Inventor: Stefan Carlsson
  • Patent number: 11615935
    Abstract: Flat surfaces out of two flat surfaces of each of flat electrical connection bodies of a relay bus bar and a bus bar of an electronic component are mating surfaces brought into contact with each other by a fixing structure. At least one of the flat electrical connection bodies of the relay bus bar and the bus bar applies a reaction force accompanying the elastic deformation to the other flat electrical connection body, to which the one flat electrical connection body is to be connected, in a state in which the flat electrical connection body of the bus bar at an accommodation completion position in a housing has not been connected to the relay bus bar. The housing includes a receiving portion receiving a force applied to the flat electrical connection body of the bus bar from the flat electrical connection body of the relay bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Tashiro, Ryouichi Yokoyama, Takuma Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11605907
    Abstract: A conductor connection terminal, having an insulating material housing, a busbar, a clamping spring and an operating lever which is pivotably received in the insulating material housing over a pivoting range and can be pivoted between an open position and a closed position, wherein the clamping spring has an operating arm which is deflected via a spring driver of the operating lever at least in the open position, characterized in that the operating lever is supported in the open position at a first and a second support point spaced from the first, and that the operating lever is pulled against the first and the second support point by a tensile force of the clamping spring acting on the spring driver from the operating arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Frank Hartmann
  • Patent number: 11600937
    Abstract: A terminal for mating with an exposed conductor of a flat flexible cable comprises an electrical contact and a crimping portion extending from the electrical contact. The crimping portion includes a base defining at least one protrusion extending therefrom, and first and second sidewalls extending from the base. The first sidewall includes a first section attached to the base and a second section attached to the first section on an end opposite the base. In a crimped state of the terminal, the first section of the first sidewall is folded into an opening of the terminal for crimping the conductor within the opening and against the protrusion, and the second section of the first sidewall is folded so as to overlap or oppose a side of the first section opposite the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventors: Hurley Chester Moll, John Mark Myer, Forrest Irving Kinsey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11581676
    Abstract: A pin terminal assembly includes a pin terminal having a retention section and a cavity adaptor formed of a non-conductive material and engaging the retention section. The cavity adaptor has an outer shape corresponding to a cavity of a housing in which the pin terminal is inserted. The cavity adaptor retains the pin terminal in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Ryan Raybold, John Mark Myer
  • Patent number: 11574779
    Abstract: A dual push button switch assembly for a vehicle includes an elastic button being moveable between a first unactuated position and a second actuated position, an actuator that is movable between a first position and a second position, and first and second switches. When the elastic button is in the first unactuated position, a resilient dome biases the actuator into the first position, and when the elastic button is moved towards the second actuated position, a force applied to the elastic button is transmitted to the actuator to move the actuator towards the second position, and wherein as the actuator moves towards the second position, the first and second switches are activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ARENS CONTROLS COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Roy F. Vollkommer, Andrew A. Vogel, Michael J. Nordengren
  • Patent number: 11557443
    Abstract: A coupler between an activator mounted on an enclosure and an electronic protection device located within the enclosure facilitates alignment between the coupler and the electronic protection device during installation and requires no tool for installation. The coupler is positioned over an opening in the electronic protection device and oriented such that a first coupling portion is configured to engage a complementary coupling portion on the electronic protection device. The coupler may be manually mounted, engaging the complementary coupling portions on the door handle coupler and the electronic protection device without requiring a tool for installation. The coupler includes an upper sleeve configured to receive an axle, connected to the activator, that rotates independently of a lower sleeve which is mounted to the electronic protection device, facilitating orientation of the activator on the outside of the enclosure. The coupler provides for local lock-out of the electronic protection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Strebel Marzano, Sadashiv Pimple, Dariusz Poczontek, Norbert Maschke, Andreas Weber
  • Patent number: 11551886
    Abstract: An enhanced push-button includes a keycap disposed on an elastic member and having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, and a reinforcing member mounted on the bottom surface of the keycap and having an outer surface facing the elastic member and an abutting portion located on the outer surface. The abutting portion has a contact surface recessed on the outer surface. The elastic member extends into the abutting portion such that the contact surface is abutted against the elastic member for allowing the keycap to be pressed with the reinforcing member against the elastic member to trigger a circuit switch. The invention can have better overall structural rigidity and operating feel and can maintain the pressing quality of the push-button and is suitable for low profile keyboards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: SOLID YEAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Tsung Huang, Chao-Hsin Lin, Shen-Jun Tang
  • Patent number: 11545317
    Abstract: Key assemblies having a foldable stabilizer are disclosed. The stabilizer can be positioned under a keycap to help guide the keycap and limit rotation or movement when the key is pressed. The stabilizer can have a pointed-star shape with multiple folding axes and can have multiple points of connection or linkage to the keycap or other surrounding components. The stabilizer can unfold or flatten as the keycap is pressed and can fold as the keycap is raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ian A. Guy, Ari P. Miller, Edward J. Cooper, Houtan R. Farahani, Kevin M. Robinson
  • Patent number: 11545773
    Abstract: Provided are terminal-free connectors for flexible interconnect circuits. A connector for connecting to a flexible interconnect circuit comprises a base comprising a housing chamber defined by at least a first side wall and a second side wall that are oppositely positioned about the base. A circuit clamp is coupled to the base via a first hinge, and is configured to move between a released position and a clamped position. A cover piece is coupled to the base via a second hinge, and is configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The circuit clamp is configured to secure the flexible interconnect circuit between the base and the circuit clamp in the clamped position. One or more protrusions on the circuit clamp are each configured to interface with a socket within the first or second side wall to secure the circuit clamp in the clamped position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: CelLink Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Michael Coakley, Malcolm Parker Brown, Mark Terlaak, Will Findlay
  • Patent number: 11545781
    Abstract: The length of a waterproof and dustproof connector can be reduced to decrease its occupation area so as to secure the occupied area of the circuit board for electronic equipment and so as to design the layout of the electronic equipment more freely and so as to downsize the electronic equipment. The connector for electronic equipment includes an approximately cylindrical housing 2, a support 21 provided in the form of a wall in the housing 2, a contact terminal 3 and a power terminal 4 supported by the support 21, a shell 5 mounted inside the housing 2, and a seal 6 provided along the outer circumference adjacent to the end on the connection terminal inserting side of the housing 2. Preferably, the seal 6 is welded to the housing 2 and made of a resin softer than the resin of the housing 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: EX COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Shinya Yudate, Masanobu Ozaki
  • Patent number: 11539173
    Abstract: A terminal equipped electric wire includes an electric wire including: a conductor and an insulating sheath covering the conductor, a part of the conductor extending out of an end portion of the insulating sheath being an exposed portion, a terminal fitting having an electric wire connection portion at a rear side of the terminal fitting, the electric wire connection portion being connected to the exposed portion, a water stop shrinkable tube covering the electric wire connection portion connected to the exposed portion in a watertight manner, a sensor disposed on an outer surface of the water stop shrinkable tube, the sensor contacting the outer surface of the water stop shrinkable tube and a sensor fixing shrinkable tube covering and fixing the sensor on the outer surface of the water stop shrinkable tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Saito, Tsutomu Sawada
  • Patent number: 11522327
    Abstract: An opening/closing mechanism of a cover member that can easily push down the cover member by the lever member even if the force from the base member side to the cover member is increased, improving the operability of the lever member. A solution is that the lever member 17 is rotatably supported to the base member 23 by the first shaft 31, the link plate 29 is mounted to the lever member 17 by the second shaft 32, the cover member 15 is mounted to the link plate 29 by the third shaft 33, and the link plate 29 is rotated around the axis of the first shaft 31 in the direction in which the lever member 17 closes, so that the link plate 29 moves through the second shaft 32, and the link plate 29 moves, so that the cover member 15 is depressed through the third shaft 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Osamu Hachuda
  • Patent number: 11515676
    Abstract: Thermal mitigation features may be included in a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable assembly or in the USB receptacle portion of a device. In one aspect, one or both ends of a USB cable jacket may have greater thermal conductivity than the portion between them. The portion having the greater thermal conductivity may dissipate excess heat from the cable into the environment. In another aspect, a USB cable connector or the USB receptacle portion of a device may include a thermoelectric heat pump. The thermoelectric heat pump may move excess heat from the cable assembly or receptacle into a portion of the cable assembly or device that dissipates the heat into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Lalan Jee Mishra, Richard Dominic Wietfeldt, James Lionel Panian, Georgios Konstantinos Paparrizos
  • Patent number: 11489297
    Abstract: An electrical connection mount extending along an axial direction and comprising a movable element that can move along the axial direction between a contact position and an insulated position, wherein the movable element is configured to come into contact with at least one complementary contact of a complementary electrical connection mount in the contact position while the movable element is configured to be remote from the at least one complementary contact of the complementary electrical connection mount in the insulated position, the electrical connection mount comprising a displacement mechanism configured to move the movable element between the contact position and the insulated position when the electrical connection mount and the complementary electrical connection mount are engaged with each other and rotated relative to each other around the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: MARECHAL ELECTRIC
    Inventor: Mounim Houir Alami