Patents Examined by Gregory Prather
  • Patent number: 8261630
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for electronically controllable transmission, and more particularly, an apparatus for electronically controllable transmission, the apparatus capable of shifting gears by moving a shift lever and sensing the magnetic flux density of a magnet, which moves in accordance with the rotation of the shift lever, by using a three-dimensional (3D) hall sensor. The apparatus includes: a shift lever including one end which is connected to a magnet and shifting gears by moving the shift lever; a shift lever body which is connected to the shift lever and is allowing the shift lever to move around shift axis or select axis; and a sensor unit including a 3D sensor which is mounted fixedly in the place intersecting the shift axis and select axis within the shift lever body and can sense the movement of the magnet around an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis as the magnet moves, wherein the 3D sensor is mounted at a tilted angle for providing at least two of three output signals with linearity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Jeong-Ho Bak, Byung-Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 8250945
    Abstract: An adjustable operating mechanism for a kick down switch includes a stopper formed on a stopper bracket and having a slope surface inclined in one direction, a kick down switch including a member for providing different mechanical operating feeling and a protrusion having a slope surface corresponding to the slope surface of the stopper, and a groove formed on an acceleration pedal arm to receive the kick down switch, the kick down switch being configured and dimensioned to be movable therein to a predetermined position so that a kick down-generating time point is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Eansoo Cho, Joonyoung Park
  • Patent number: 8230755
    Abstract: A multi-directional input apparatus includes a swinging member (first drive lever) having a through hole and an operating lever including a drive shaft which is inserted through the long hole. When the operating lever is tilted in a direction that crosses an axial direction of the swinging member, the swinging member is rotated by the drive shaft. A leaf spring is attached to the swinging member, and the drive shaft of the leaf spring is elastically biased against a side surface of an inner wall of the long hole. The leaf spring includes a bent portion which extends substantially parallel to the axial direction of the swinging member and which is in elastic contact with the drive shaft. A hole at which the long hole is completely exposed is formed in the leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Ishikawa, Kuniharu Kutsuna, Yasuhiko Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8215198
    Abstract: A backlash eliminator includes an input shaft (15) coupled to a driving motor (20) and having a drive gear (52); an output shaft (14) fixing a gear (W), as an object to be cut, thereon, and having a driven gear (42); and a stationary intermediate shaft (16) and a moving intermediate shaft (17) disposed parallel to the input shaft and the output shaft, and having large intermediate gears (62, 72) meshing with the drive gear, and small intermediate gears (63, 73) meshing with the driven gear, and a switching regulating valve (31) for pressing the moving intermediate shaft in its axial direction so that an output-side backlash elimination torque (Ts) between the driven gear and the small intermediate gear (73) acts in the same direction as the direction of generation of a cutting load torque (Tw) generated in the circumferential direction of the gear during machining of the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Masuo, Kazuyuki Ishizu
  • Patent number: 8156839
    Abstract: A vehicle gear box shift actuator and apparatus including the same. The actuator includes a lead screw; a drive nut threaded on the lead screw; a plunger; a first spring disposed between the drive nut and a first end of the plunger; a second spring disposed between the drive nut and a second end of the plunger opposite from the first end. Non-contact position sensing of the actuator output is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Meaney, Thomas P. Schregardus, Robert Cicerchia, David Medina