Patents Examined by Iman Malakooti
  • Patent number: 9978544
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus of an electronic apparatus includes a key-switch structure including a membrane switch having contact points, keycaps for operating the contact points of the membrane switch, and actuators configured to urge the keycaps upwardly upon the keycaps being pressed down, and an upper cover configured to be part of a housing of the electronic apparatus and having a mount part, the mount part supporting the key-switch structure that is placed on an upper surface of the mount part, wherein the mount part is formed integrally with the upper cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Tamotsu Koike, Akihiko Takemae, Satoshi Takeda
  • Patent number: 9953787
    Abstract: Systems and methods for forming an electrostatic MEMS switch include forming a movable cantilevered beam on a first substrate, forming the electrical contacts on a second substrate, and coupling the two substrates using a hermetic seal. Electrical access to the electrostatic MEMS switch may be made by forming vias through the thickness of the second substrate. The cantilevered beam may be formed by etching the perimeter shape in the device layer of an SOI substrate. An additional void may be formed in the movable beam such that it bends about an additional hinge line as a result of the additional void. This may give the beam and switch advantageous kinematic characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Innovative Micro Technology
    Inventors: Christopher S. Gudeman, Paul J. Rubel, Marin Sigurdson
  • Patent number: 9955594
    Abstract: An operation device driven by an internal battery includes: a casing; an operation element; a mechanical switch; a pressing part; and a support part. The operation element is located on a plane continuing from a front surface of the casing. The mechanical switch is disposed in the casing such that a distance between the mechanical switch and the operation element is fixed. The mechanical switch has a flexible region located to oppose to a rear surface of the casing. The pressing part is located between the mechanical switch and an attachment surface, and presses the flexible region from a side opposite from the operation element. The support part supports the casing such that a distance between the operation element and the attachment surface is changeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Wataru Sugiyama, Yuya Morita
  • Patent number: 9947486
    Abstract: A switch unit, preferably implementing a circuit breaker, includes a contact slide unit formed by a contact slide, a fixed contact piece and a moveable contact piece), and a short-circuit release that acts to displace the moveable contact piece by means of a tappet in the event of a short-circuit. A moveable braking device is configured and arranged such that, following circuit opening displacement of the moveable contact piece in response to a short-circuit, the moveable brake device dampens the return, rebound movement of the moveable contact piece to reclose the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rainer Kreutzer
  • Patent number: 9941036
    Abstract: A resistor includes a first resistor element. The first resistor element is connected to at least a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal. The first resistor element is configured to directly contact cooling media on at least two surfaces of the first resistor element in order to transfer heat away from the first resistor element. The resistor may also include a second resistor element connected to at least the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal, where the second resistor element is configured to directly contact the cooling media on at least two surfaces of the second resistor element in order to transfer heat away from the second resistor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter D. Morico, Bradley S. Jaworski
  • Patent number: 9931935
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle steering wheel (10) has a closed, touch-sensitive, preferably three-dimensionally shaped sensor surface (20), at least two mechanical switching elements (22) which are arranged below the sensor surface (20) and can be actuated by deforming the sensor surface (20), the touch-sensitive sensor surface (20) being designed to be so flexible that the mechanical switching elements (22) can be actuated separately, and a change-over switch (24) which can activate and/or deactivate the mechanical switching elements (22) and/or the touch-sensitive sensor surface (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Koch, Joachim Korherr
  • Patent number: 9922786
    Abstract: A pressure switch is equipped with a pressure sensor, a housing that houses the pressure sensor, an annular seal member arranged in a hole of the housing and which is interposed between the pressure sensor and the housing, and a pressing member that is fixed to the housing. The pressing member includes a base section that faces the seal member, and engagement arms that extend from the base section, are elastically deformable, and engage with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuta Oshima
  • Patent number: 9922779
    Abstract: A transfer assembly is for a switching assembly of an electrical enclosure. The switching assembly includes an electrical switching apparatus having an operating handle structured to move from an OFF position to an ON position. The transfer assembly includes a driving handle; a first shaft member coupled to the driving handle; a second shaft member structured to be coupled to the operating handle; and a transmission assembly having a first component and a second component, the first component being coupled to the first shaft member, the second component being coupled to the second shaft member. The transfer assembly is structured to move from a FIRST position to a SECOND position. When the transfer assembly moves from the FIRST position to the SECOND position, the first component drives the second component, thereby causing the second shaft member to move the operating handle from the OFF position to the ON position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xuecheng Zhang, Matthew Rain Darr, Xuan Guo
  • Patent number: 9916942
    Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure includes an electronic device including an enclosure (214), a button (106), and a processing element (not shown). The button is connected to the enclosure and includes a button cap (234) defining a user input surface, a flexible member (238) having an interior surface (270) and exterior surface. The flexible member is aligned with the button cap and is connected thereto. The button further includes a strain sensor (244) connected to the interior surface of the flexible member, the strain sensor is in communication with the processing element. When a force is exerted on the button cap, the flexible member bends and the strain sensor detects a user input corresponding to the force and provides a signal to the processing element corresponding to the user input. In some embodiments, the button may be substantially or completely waterproof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Patent number: 9911549
    Abstract: A key structure includes a supporting board, a base board, a pre-stressing force applying assembly, a key cap, a pivot assembly, an attractable element and a magnetic element. The pre-stressing force applying assembly is connected to the supporting board or the base board. When the magnetic element is under the first attractive position, the first end of the attractable element is attracted by the magnetic force and moved to the first attractive position, and the pre-stressing force applying assembly generates a first pre-stressing force; when the magnetic element is under the second attractive position, the second end of the attractable element is attracted by the magnetic force and moved to the second attractive position, and the pre-stressing force applying assembly generates a second pre-stressing force. The first pre-stressing force or the second pre-stressing force reduces the resistance during the sliding of the base board or the supporting board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chun-Lin Chen, Hsin-Fu Liu
  • Patent number: 9911554
    Abstract: System and methods for providing a keyframe module for a input device are disclosed. In an embodiment, the input device includes a keyframe having a key opening, and a key disposed within the key opening. The key includes a keycap having a bottom surface, a plurality of tabs that extend laterally from the bottom surface of the keycap, and a protrusion extending from the bottom surface of the keycap. A compressible dome structure is disposed underneath the protrusion, and a plate is coupled to the keyframe and disposed underneath the compressible dome structure. A plurality of openings is disposed within the plate, where a location of the plurality of openings corresponds to a location of the plurality of tabs such that one or more of the plurality of tabs pass through one or more of the plurality of openings in response to the depression of the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventors: Linus Chien, Chia Feng Lee
  • Patent number: 9905379
    Abstract: A pin assembly is for a charging ram assembly of an electrical switching apparatus. The charging ram assembly has a biasing element, a ram member structured to bias the biasing element, and a plate member. The pin assembly includes a pin member structured to extend through the biasing element and the plate member, the pin member having an end portion; a first collar member and a second collar member coupled to the end portion; and a securing apparatus including a retaining member coupled to the first collar member and the second collar member in order to prevent the pin member from moving with respect to the first collar member and the second collar member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew Lawrence Gottschalk, Neil Andrew Buzzard
  • Patent number: 9905340
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a chip resistive element including a substrate, a resistor formed on the substrate, and electrodes connected to opposite ends of the resistor, the method including an electrode forming step of forming the electrodes on the substrate. The electrode forming step includes a step of forming a first electrode layer on the substrate using a first electrode material containing silver, and a step of forming a second electrode layer on the first electrode layer using a second electrode material containing silver and palladium. The first electrode material has a higher silver content than the second electrode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: KOA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sohei Koda, Yuya Takeue
  • Patent number: 9903061
    Abstract: A laundry appliance (1) has a control-panel assembly (3, 30) having: an outer shell (5) which is coupled to a casing of the laundry appliance and provides a user interface; an internal printed circuit board (6) provided with one or more sensors; and a protecting box (7) firmly attached to the printed circuit board (6) and at least partially interposed between the outer shell and the printed circuit board; one or more spring detectors (18) which transmit to the one or more sensors a signal related to the capacitive variation that is generated when the user interface is touched. The protecting box (7) has one or more head zones (11) compressing the one or more spring detectors (18) when the protecting box (7) is attached to the printed circuit board (6). The capacitive variation is sensed by the one or more spring detectors (18) through the one or more head zones (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Riccardo Russo
  • Patent number: 9905380
    Abstract: A magnetic key includes a keycap, a base plate, a membrane circuit member, a frame, a first magnetic element, a second magnetic element, and a third magnetic element. The frame includes a first concave structure, a second concave structure and an opening. An accommodation space is defined by the frame and a first protrusion structure and a second protrusion structure of the base plate. The first magnetic element is received within the first concave structure. The second magnetic element is received within the second concave structure. The third magnetic element is disposed under the keycap and accommodated within the accommodation space. In response to a first magnetic force between the first and third magnetic elements and a second magnetic force between the second and third magnetic elements, the keycap is protruded out of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Yung Huang, Hsien-Tsan Chang
  • Patent number: 9905377
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit breaker comprising a first and a second contact assembly, wherein one of the contact assemblies comprises contact fingers arranged in a finger cage configuration and the other contact assembly comprises a tube or rod contact. The contact fingers comprise an impact point where the tube or rod impacts the contact fingers for the first time during electrical connection establishment, and a contact zone which contacts the tube or rod when the electrical connection is established. The contact zone comprises two contact points separated from one another and arranged on a line which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Francesco Pisu, Fredrik Lundqvist, Jakub Korbel, Johan Costyson, Kansara Krunal, Mattias Runnberg, Sami Kotilainen, Raphael Rijo-Rude
  • Patent number: 9899166
    Abstract: A high voltage folding disconnect switch including a folding switch blade that folds as it opens or closes and which is divided into a fixed blade portion attached to a rotating insulator and a folded blade portion having an electric contact surface engaging a break jaw contact surface. A trigger lever-locking bar is mounted to the fixed blade portion. The trigger lever-locking bar includes a trigger finger for contacting a trigger surface mounted on a stationary insulator. The trigger lever-locking bar has a cam slot for interaction with a cam follower pin that locks the movement of the folding blade so that premature straightening of the blade is prevented until any ice build-up on the switch has been alleviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: CLEAVELAND /PRICE INC.
    Inventors: James R. Shychuck, Peter M. Kowalik
  • Patent number: 9871330
    Abstract: A waterproof key apparatus, as an electronic device, is provided. The waterproof key apparatus includes a main case, a key module attached to a side of the main case and comprises a key actuator, a window to which the key module is coupled, a universal serial bus (USB) coupling module and a printed circuit board (PCB) attached to an opposite side of the main case, with a dome sheet therebetween, a key bracket and an antenna cap coupled to the lower portion of the PCB, and a sealing part attached between the main case and the PCB to seal the rear surface of the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaeil Seo, Daeyoung Noh
  • Patent number: 9870882
    Abstract: The invention relates to a button of the push-button type, comprising: a fixed part (3) forming a chassis, a mobile part (5) capable of translational movement between a rest position, adopted in the absence of actuation by a user, and an actuating position, adopted when the mobile part (5) is depressed with respect to the fixed part (3), a switch (7) toggling from a first state to a second when the mobile part (3) is brought into the actuating position, a flexible membrane (9) positioned between the mobile part (5) and the switch (7), connected by its edges to the fixed part (3) and returning the mobile part (5) to the rest position in the absence of actuation by the user, characterized in that: the membrane (9) has a thinning (15) of its thickness facing the switch (7). The invention also relates to the vehicle key module comprising at least one such button (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: VALEO SECURITE HABITACLE
    Inventors: BenoƮt Delande, Karim Namar
  • Patent number: 9865405
    Abstract: A fixed contact for joining a bus bar and a sliding contact of an electrical switchgear is provided. The fixed contact includes a plurality of circumferential segments operatively coupled to each other. The fixed contact also includes an axial extent extending along a longitudinal axis of the fixed contact from a first end of the fixed contact to a second end of the fixed contact, the axial extent comprising a mounting region, a central region and a sliding contact engagement region. The mounting region extends axially from the first end of the fixed contact to the central region, the mounting region configured to be operatively coupled to the bus bar. The sliding contact engagement region extends axially from the central region to the second end of the fixed contact, the sliding contact region configured to be slidably engaged with a sliding contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Samir Rajauria, Ayyappa Reddy Jakkireddy, Guru Moorthy Kurra, Lenin Pokkula